1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.
In this series we have been exploring important foundations for making Godly decisions. Thus far we have gleaned the following scriptural principles:
1. Choose based upon what builds up or promotes Christian harmony (Romans 14:19)
2. Choose based upon what will yield the greatest benefit for the glory of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:12a)
3. Choose based upon what will yield to Christ's control, rather than to the control (or mastery) of another person or thing
Today we will look at one last principle: Choose based upon what will spiritually build-up others
Christianity must be self-less if it is going to succeed
Jesus tells us in John 13:35 that the world will know we are His disciples by our love for one another. Putting one another ahead of our own self-interests must be evident if we are going to name the name of Christ. But there is more. To say that I am putting others ahead of myself is not enough. Many non-Christians advocate such an idea. However this idea must be aimed at a particular purpose. Only Christianity fulfills this important principle of selflessness by suggesting that the aim is not focusing back upon the person who did the act, but rather pointing to one's love for Christ as the reason.
The difference between "hero-ism" and Christianity
Who doesn't like heroes? We are living in a day and age where people aim to escape through the idea of heroes. Heroism is based in the realm of ancient Greece. The Greeks had four cardinal ideals that they used to mark a hero: courage, self-control, virtue and moral purity. The Greek culture developed dramas to depict various characters playing out these roles. Once Greece was conquered by Rome, Rome adapted these ideas to their culture. Once Rome collapsed, in its wake Europe took up much of these same ideas. As we are inheritors of this long-standing cultural heritage (more or less), we today still talk about heroes - as seen in movies and books and comic books. Now heroism is not a bad idea; however it does not adequately describe the selflessness outlined in the Bible.
The scriptures give us three other concepts that distinguish self-less Christianity from mere "heroism" - namely "faith, hope and love". 1 Corinthians 13 and other New Testament scriptures bring out these three important elements that are essential to a self-less Christianity. Heroism does not go far enough since despite the noble efforts of the hero, the applause goes to man. Whenever we consider "faith, hope and love", these uniquely Christian traits reveal that selflessness is a "means", with the "praise of Jesus Christ" being the end.
Base your decision making upon what will increase "faith, hope and love" in others
In order for Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 10:23 to be accomplished, we must edify or build up others in these three spiritual virtues. Whenever I put others ahead of myself in this way, I am evidencing Godly decision making. Truly the way I know I have made the right decision is when Jesus Christ's presence is seen more clearly by others.
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Friday, November 11, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Godly decision making and defeating addictions
1 Corinthians 6:12b All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.
Over the course of the past couple of days we have been discovering the foundation necessary for making godly decisions. So far we have discovered two such principles as guidelines for godly decision making:
-Choose based upon what builds up or promotes Christian harmony (Romans 14:19)
-Choose based upon what will yield the greatest benefit for the glory of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:12a)
Today we consider the third principle in Godly decision making:
Choose based upon what will not master me
Addictions and the idea of "who is your master?"
Now when we consider things that master us - we enter into the realm of addictive behavior. We understand that at salvation, Jesus not only becomes our Savior, but also our Lord. (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 10:9). As Jesus Himself notes, you cannot serve two masters, you will love the one and hate the other, or despise the one and cling to the other, you cannot serve God and money. (please compare Matthew 6:24).
So for the Christian, the most fundamental question to ask is this: who owns the rights to my life? Scripture makes it plain that we are not our own, we have been bought with a price. (1 Corinthians 6:20) Thus no other person, thing or influence should have mastery over me. As Paul explains in Romans 6:16 - "Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?"
All addictions have their beginning in the thought-life
The Holy Spirit states through Paul in Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace." Grace is what God does for me that I cannot do for myself. Grace is given to every believer in Jesus Christ. Thus when you are dealing with an addiction - you are dealing with a lifestyle that had its root in your thought-life. Remember this: A thought reaps an action; an action, done repeatedly reaps a habit; a habit done repeatedly reaps a lifestyle; and a lifestyle reaps a destiny. Now that statement applies postiviely to the things of God, and negatively to addictions.
The first step to defeating addiction - Deal with "what you don't have to do"
The first step towards defeating an addiction is recognizing that you don't have to do it. When I am mastered by a controlled substance, or certain lifestyle, or another person, I'm convinced that I have no choice. Dear friend, if you are a child of God, you can claim the above passage - "I will not be mastered by anything." Now Paul makes that statement in the realm of lawful things. However he recognizes that whether they be lawful, or unlawful, being mastered by anything else other than Jesus Christ leads to ruin.
The second step to defeating addictions - "Understand that you can get out of the addiction"
So if you believe you don't have to be mastered by anything other than Christ, then do you believe that you can get out of that addiction? This second part is harder than the first. When Paul makes the statement that he will not be mastered by anything, he is basing that upon the power of God that he has at his disposal. Every Christian has this -we call it the scripture. Philippians 4:13 for instance states - "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". Do you believe that? Say it to yourself, repeatedly. Romans 10:17 tells us that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ". As one preacher friend of mine has said: "There is no chain forged in hell that Jesus can't break".
The third step to defeating addictions - use the scripture to get a hold of your thought-life
In this final step, you have agreed with God that you don't have to be mastered by anything other than Christ. You have agreed that in Christ, you can get out of that addiction. But now lets deal with the thought pattern that began it. All behaviors, all addictions, are rooted in the heart and fed by the mind. If we can cut off the food supply to that addicition, your heart will change, leading to a change in behavior.
2 Corinthians 10:5 states - "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." Again as we take our principle of "choose based upon what will not master me", we look for those thought patterns that are pressing us into the opposite direction of Christ and His word. By His grace we can control what we think. We can tell our eyes: "We won't watch this today, rather we'll watch this". We can tell our ears: "I'm not listening to that, rather I'm going to listen to this". These are the "gates" to our mind. Scripture tells us to "be transformed by the renewing of our mind" (Romans 12:1-2).
Thus this principle, when combined with what we learned from the previous two blogs, gains us entry into a solid foundation for Godly decision making and Christian victory.
Over the course of the past couple of days we have been discovering the foundation necessary for making godly decisions. So far we have discovered two such principles as guidelines for godly decision making:
-Choose based upon what builds up or promotes Christian harmony (Romans 14:19)
-Choose based upon what will yield the greatest benefit for the glory of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:12a)
Today we consider the third principle in Godly decision making:
Choose based upon what will not master me
Addictions and the idea of "who is your master?"
Now when we consider things that master us - we enter into the realm of addictive behavior. We understand that at salvation, Jesus not only becomes our Savior, but also our Lord. (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 10:9). As Jesus Himself notes, you cannot serve two masters, you will love the one and hate the other, or despise the one and cling to the other, you cannot serve God and money. (please compare Matthew 6:24).
So for the Christian, the most fundamental question to ask is this: who owns the rights to my life? Scripture makes it plain that we are not our own, we have been bought with a price. (1 Corinthians 6:20) Thus no other person, thing or influence should have mastery over me. As Paul explains in Romans 6:16 - "Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?"
All addictions have their beginning in the thought-life
The Holy Spirit states through Paul in Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace." Grace is what God does for me that I cannot do for myself. Grace is given to every believer in Jesus Christ. Thus when you are dealing with an addiction - you are dealing with a lifestyle that had its root in your thought-life. Remember this: A thought reaps an action; an action, done repeatedly reaps a habit; a habit done repeatedly reaps a lifestyle; and a lifestyle reaps a destiny. Now that statement applies postiviely to the things of God, and negatively to addictions.
The first step to defeating addiction - Deal with "what you don't have to do"
The first step towards defeating an addiction is recognizing that you don't have to do it. When I am mastered by a controlled substance, or certain lifestyle, or another person, I'm convinced that I have no choice. Dear friend, if you are a child of God, you can claim the above passage - "I will not be mastered by anything." Now Paul makes that statement in the realm of lawful things. However he recognizes that whether they be lawful, or unlawful, being mastered by anything else other than Jesus Christ leads to ruin.
The second step to defeating addictions - "Understand that you can get out of the addiction"
So if you believe you don't have to be mastered by anything other than Christ, then do you believe that you can get out of that addiction? This second part is harder than the first. When Paul makes the statement that he will not be mastered by anything, he is basing that upon the power of God that he has at his disposal. Every Christian has this -we call it the scripture. Philippians 4:13 for instance states - "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". Do you believe that? Say it to yourself, repeatedly. Romans 10:17 tells us that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ". As one preacher friend of mine has said: "There is no chain forged in hell that Jesus can't break".
The third step to defeating addictions - use the scripture to get a hold of your thought-life
In this final step, you have agreed with God that you don't have to be mastered by anything other than Christ. You have agreed that in Christ, you can get out of that addiction. But now lets deal with the thought pattern that began it. All behaviors, all addictions, are rooted in the heart and fed by the mind. If we can cut off the food supply to that addicition, your heart will change, leading to a change in behavior.
2 Corinthians 10:5 states - "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." Again as we take our principle of "choose based upon what will not master me", we look for those thought patterns that are pressing us into the opposite direction of Christ and His word. By His grace we can control what we think. We can tell our eyes: "We won't watch this today, rather we'll watch this". We can tell our ears: "I'm not listening to that, rather I'm going to listen to this". These are the "gates" to our mind. Scripture tells us to "be transformed by the renewing of our mind" (Romans 12:1-2).
Thus this principle, when combined with what we learned from the previous two blogs, gains us entry into a solid foundation for Godly decision making and Christian victory.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Godly Decision making that truly profits
1 Corinthians 6:12a All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable.
Yesterday we began exploring ways in which we can make informed godly decisions in areas that can be deemed debatable areas. We also discovered that using a principle - a universal standard from God's word that can be applied to specific situations - is the best way to approach decision making.
The first principle we looked at was: Choose according to what builds up and promotes Christian harmony
Today we look at the second principle, gleaned from the text above: "Choose based upon what is the most profitable"
Choosing what is most profitable in the area of food and drink
I find it interesting that Paul uses food and the area of physical relationships as his test cases for applying this general principle - since it is those areas that many people are challenged with in today's world in the realm of godly decisions. When it comes to eating or drinking - too often people choose according to their desires, rather than according to what is most profitable or beneficial. Other scriptures speaks of the Christian's body as "the temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19). If Christians looked at themselves not as mere physical beings - but as God's temple - we would change what we take into our bodies, as well as how we use them.
Choosing what is most profitable in the area of physical relationships
Likewise in the realm of physical relationships- the scriptures make it clear that in marriage is found to be of sole benefit to both man and woman as a husband and wife. Once again, many people will chart their moral course in this area based upon what feels good. What about what is most beneficial? Outside of the marriage relationship, physical relationships are frought with emotional and relational problems, as well as medical disease. Whenever we live in the revealed will of God as it pertains to marriage - we will find that what He deems most beneficial is what leads to the best benefit.
Taking this principle along with the last principle as the building blocks for godly decision-making
Now if we take what we learned today and combine it with our last lesson - choices based upon what builds up and promotes godly peace, we begin to build a solid - biblical foundation for Godly decision making. For instance - is what I am eating or drinking going to lead to building up and promoting harmony, as well as benefiting others? If not - then I need to conclude that I can't pursue that course. Likewise - biblical marriage is the only context in which I can have a relationship wherein the highest benefit is attained for the other person. Finally, marriage, as biblically followed, will achieve the building up of the other person as God originally planned.
Tomorrow we will look at the second part of 1 Corinthians 6:12 as we continue in this blog series - "Principles for Godly decision making".
Yesterday we began exploring ways in which we can make informed godly decisions in areas that can be deemed debatable areas. We also discovered that using a principle - a universal standard from God's word that can be applied to specific situations - is the best way to approach decision making.
The first principle we looked at was: Choose according to what builds up and promotes Christian harmony
Today we look at the second principle, gleaned from the text above: "Choose based upon what is the most profitable"
Choosing what is most profitable in the area of food and drink
I find it interesting that Paul uses food and the area of physical relationships as his test cases for applying this general principle - since it is those areas that many people are challenged with in today's world in the realm of godly decisions. When it comes to eating or drinking - too often people choose according to their desires, rather than according to what is most profitable or beneficial. Other scriptures speaks of the Christian's body as "the temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19). If Christians looked at themselves not as mere physical beings - but as God's temple - we would change what we take into our bodies, as well as how we use them.
Choosing what is most profitable in the area of physical relationships
Likewise in the realm of physical relationships- the scriptures make it clear that in marriage is found to be of sole benefit to both man and woman as a husband and wife. Once again, many people will chart their moral course in this area based upon what feels good. What about what is most beneficial? Outside of the marriage relationship, physical relationships are frought with emotional and relational problems, as well as medical disease. Whenever we live in the revealed will of God as it pertains to marriage - we will find that what He deems most beneficial is what leads to the best benefit.
Taking this principle along with the last principle as the building blocks for godly decision-making
Now if we take what we learned today and combine it with our last lesson - choices based upon what builds up and promotes godly peace, we begin to build a solid - biblical foundation for Godly decision making. For instance - is what I am eating or drinking going to lead to building up and promoting harmony, as well as benefiting others? If not - then I need to conclude that I can't pursue that course. Likewise - biblical marriage is the only context in which I can have a relationship wherein the highest benefit is attained for the other person. Finally, marriage, as biblically followed, will achieve the building up of the other person as God originally planned.
Tomorrow we will look at the second part of 1 Corinthians 6:12 as we continue in this blog series - "Principles for Godly decision making".
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Principles for Godly decision making
Romans 14:19 then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
What happens when you are faced with a decision that might be considered by some to be a so-called "grey area"? Now even though I firmly believe in moral absolutes (there being a system of right and wrong that is the same no matter where you are), there can be those situations that many would say are subject for debate. Debatable areas - such as "Whom should I marry?" or "What school should I attend?" are areas the we need insight from God's word in knowing what to do.
In the next several blogs I want to point the reader to scriptures that can greatly aid in making decisions that might not always seem obvious. Whenever we apply scripture, the best method is to discover what we call "principles". Principles are simply those universal standards that can be readily applied to specific situations.
In the above text we discover our first pricinple for Godly decision making:
Will this decision build up or tear down others
Often when we are faced with decisions, we will usually asked: "How will this affect me". The better starting place, according to this text, should be -- "How will this decision impact others?" If we aim to make our decisions on the building up of others in Christ, or for the sake of promoting the peace of God in a given situation, this pricinple will helps us sort out the lesser alternatives.
Paul even uses a specific example - what many consider to be a "debateable area" - namely alcohol consumption. He writes -"It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles." Will taking that drink lead to a tearing down or building up of others? Willl it promote more or lesser harmony in my home. Then in a more personal application - will drinking alcohol or eating certain food help my body or hurt it. WIll I be left with a clearer mind or a more cloud one?
What we have just done is take a general principle and apply it directly to a specific situation. According to scripture - it would be far better to abstain, since the outcome will lead to a lesser building up and a lesser promotion of harmony.
In tomorrow's blog we will consider another passage that gives us further principles for guiding us in our daily decision making.
What happens when you are faced with a decision that might be considered by some to be a so-called "grey area"? Now even though I firmly believe in moral absolutes (there being a system of right and wrong that is the same no matter where you are), there can be those situations that many would say are subject for debate. Debatable areas - such as "Whom should I marry?" or "What school should I attend?" are areas the we need insight from God's word in knowing what to do.
In the next several blogs I want to point the reader to scriptures that can greatly aid in making decisions that might not always seem obvious. Whenever we apply scripture, the best method is to discover what we call "principles". Principles are simply those universal standards that can be readily applied to specific situations.
In the above text we discover our first pricinple for Godly decision making:
Will this decision build up or tear down others
Often when we are faced with decisions, we will usually asked: "How will this affect me". The better starting place, according to this text, should be -- "How will this decision impact others?" If we aim to make our decisions on the building up of others in Christ, or for the sake of promoting the peace of God in a given situation, this pricinple will helps us sort out the lesser alternatives.
Paul even uses a specific example - what many consider to be a "debateable area" - namely alcohol consumption. He writes -"It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles." Will taking that drink lead to a tearing down or building up of others? Willl it promote more or lesser harmony in my home. Then in a more personal application - will drinking alcohol or eating certain food help my body or hurt it. WIll I be left with a clearer mind or a more cloud one?
What we have just done is take a general principle and apply it directly to a specific situation. According to scripture - it would be far better to abstain, since the outcome will lead to a lesser building up and a lesser promotion of harmony.
In tomorrow's blog we will consider another passage that gives us further principles for guiding us in our daily decision making.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Jesus Christ in the Old Testament
1 Peter 1:11 states concerning the Old Testament Prophets - "Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow."
The testimony of scripture concerning the pre-existence of Jesus Christ before is virgin birth in Bethlehem is abundant. To appreciate the richness and value of the Old Testament, one must understand it in light of Christ's coming to earth as God who became man, and understand His appearances in types and shadows in the Old Testament.
By the time we come to the New Testament, we discover that 109 Old Testament scriptures predicted events surrounding his 1st coming and hundreds more speak about events that will have to do with His future second coming. Some examples below from the Old Testament gives evidence of Christ's Pre-existence and appearance throughout the Old Testament:
1. Melechizedek, the Kingly Priest of Salem in Genesis 14, is stated to be Christ appearing to Abraham in Hebrews 5,6,7.
2. The Rock that gushed forth water for Moses and the people of God in the wilderness is stated to be somehow an appearance of Christ in 1 Cornthians 10
3. The Tabernacle, with its types, ceremonies and symbolism pictures Christ
4. The Passover celebration is a pictureof Christ, the sacrifice for sin (Exodus 12-15 and 1 Corinthians 5:7
5. Joshua and the people of God conquering the seven Canaanite nations in the book of Joshua is a picture of Christ leading Christians to take possession of their Christian walk (Joshua and Hebrews 3 & 4)
These are but just a few examples of what Bible teachers call "Christophanies" or "appearances of Christ in the Old Testament". Jesus stated to His disciples in Luke 24 that the Old Testament scriptures speak about Him. Let us turn to them and listen, since they too are scripture and point us to our crucified, risen and exalted Lord.
The testimony of scripture concerning the pre-existence of Jesus Christ before is virgin birth in Bethlehem is abundant. To appreciate the richness and value of the Old Testament, one must understand it in light of Christ's coming to earth as God who became man, and understand His appearances in types and shadows in the Old Testament.
By the time we come to the New Testament, we discover that 109 Old Testament scriptures predicted events surrounding his 1st coming and hundreds more speak about events that will have to do with His future second coming. Some examples below from the Old Testament gives evidence of Christ's Pre-existence and appearance throughout the Old Testament:
1. Melechizedek, the Kingly Priest of Salem in Genesis 14, is stated to be Christ appearing to Abraham in Hebrews 5,6,7.
2. The Rock that gushed forth water for Moses and the people of God in the wilderness is stated to be somehow an appearance of Christ in 1 Cornthians 10
3. The Tabernacle, with its types, ceremonies and symbolism pictures Christ
4. The Passover celebration is a pictureof Christ, the sacrifice for sin (Exodus 12-15 and 1 Corinthians 5:7
5. Joshua and the people of God conquering the seven Canaanite nations in the book of Joshua is a picture of Christ leading Christians to take possession of their Christian walk (Joshua and Hebrews 3 & 4)
These are but just a few examples of what Bible teachers call "Christophanies" or "appearances of Christ in the Old Testament". Jesus stated to His disciples in Luke 24 that the Old Testament scriptures speak about Him. Let us turn to them and listen, since they too are scripture and point us to our crucified, risen and exalted Lord.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Senders and Goers
3 John 7-8 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.
At the church where I pastor we are celebrating missions day. Missions day is where various missions organizations come and have the opportunity to interract and communicate God's work to His people. The Apostle John, one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, wrote the above text under the inspritation of the Holy Spirit. Any time a Christian goes out and shares the gospel, they are a missionary. The word "missionary" comes from the latin missio meaning "arrow" or "a thrown spear" (where we also get our word 'missle'). Thus God literally desires for every Christian to be used in His hand to target the lost and reach the world for Jesus.
Today we will be hosting some missionaries who do the very thing John is speaking of here. We must understand that the mission to reach the world for Christ's sake is not our idea, nor the idea of the missionaries going abroad. Rather it is the passion of God reaching forth through the heart, minds and mouths of those who go forth in obedience to His call. (Please compare 2 Corinthians 5:15-21) Now notice some of the things John commands concerning those missionaries that go abroad.
1. This mission needs our support
John writes - "Therefore we ought to support such men". (3 John 8). The word there for "support" gives the idea of "bearing up, coming up from underneath". And notice too how John emphasizes "ought". Not should, not perhaps, not if it is convenient, but "ought". This speaks of responsibility. As God's people, we all have a stake in the great commission, and not just those few who go out and proclaim the message to an unbelieving world.
2. The mission includes us
John continues in verse 8 of his short letter - "so that we may be fellow workers with the truth". When you and I give of our finances, our time and our prayers, we are as much a part of the mission as those going forth. In any Great Commission activity for Christ's glory there are two elements - senders and goers. The senders support and the goers report. The senders give for the gospel and the goers live out the gospel. The senders pray and the goers proclaim. Without one of those elements, the other could not fulfill its purpose.
Senders need goers. If there are currently no goers, pray to the Lord of the harvest that He may raise them up. If the goers have no senders, the senders need to heed the call of their master. May we, by the grace and power of Christ, work together and spreading the goodnews of Jesus Christ. For He has sent us to go!
At the church where I pastor we are celebrating missions day. Missions day is where various missions organizations come and have the opportunity to interract and communicate God's work to His people. The Apostle John, one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, wrote the above text under the inspritation of the Holy Spirit. Any time a Christian goes out and shares the gospel, they are a missionary. The word "missionary" comes from the latin missio meaning "arrow" or "a thrown spear" (where we also get our word 'missle'). Thus God literally desires for every Christian to be used in His hand to target the lost and reach the world for Jesus.
Today we will be hosting some missionaries who do the very thing John is speaking of here. We must understand that the mission to reach the world for Christ's sake is not our idea, nor the idea of the missionaries going abroad. Rather it is the passion of God reaching forth through the heart, minds and mouths of those who go forth in obedience to His call. (Please compare 2 Corinthians 5:15-21) Now notice some of the things John commands concerning those missionaries that go abroad.
1. This mission needs our support
John writes - "Therefore we ought to support such men". (3 John 8). The word there for "support" gives the idea of "bearing up, coming up from underneath". And notice too how John emphasizes "ought". Not should, not perhaps, not if it is convenient, but "ought". This speaks of responsibility. As God's people, we all have a stake in the great commission, and not just those few who go out and proclaim the message to an unbelieving world.
2. The mission includes us
John continues in verse 8 of his short letter - "so that we may be fellow workers with the truth". When you and I give of our finances, our time and our prayers, we are as much a part of the mission as those going forth. In any Great Commission activity for Christ's glory there are two elements - senders and goers. The senders support and the goers report. The senders give for the gospel and the goers live out the gospel. The senders pray and the goers proclaim. Without one of those elements, the other could not fulfill its purpose.
Senders need goers. If there are currently no goers, pray to the Lord of the harvest that He may raise them up. If the goers have no senders, the senders need to heed the call of their master. May we, by the grace and power of Christ, work together and spreading the goodnews of Jesus Christ. For He has sent us to go!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
A New Creation
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
If anyone is in Christ....
This one verse tells us about the the truth of the incorruptible life of God transforming the human nature of the Christian. It sets forth the condition: "If any anyone is in Christ". To be "in Christ" refers to being "in association with Him" or "connected to Him" by faith. When I by grace through faith believe on Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and treasure, the Holy Spirit of God takes me and transfers me from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of the Beloved Son. (please compare Acts 26:18)
My natural bent from birth is to do nothing but sin - do corruption. However when I become a believer in Jesus Christ - it is because the Spirit of God was doing a work of grace. As He so touched my heart, I turned to Christ in faith, and thus I evidence a changed nature - a changed "bent". Now I want to more and more everyday to wage war on sin and do the will of the Father. (please compare Ephesians 2:10).
He is a new Creature....
I am literally made a "new creature". When God creates something, He creates it out of nothing. When He made the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1:1, He did not have some pre-existent material lying around. He spoke the worlds into existence and they were so. (Psalm 33:6; John 1:1-3). When God sets His affection upon a person, He comes to them and calls them and literally creates a new nature out of "nothing". He speaks forth into the otherwise darkened, dead spirit inside of us (with no pre-existing spiritual life), and penetrates our human soul (mind, emotions, will) by bringing into it the light of His glory. (please compare 2 Corinthians 4:1-6).
As the text above states - we "become a new creature". The corruption of spiritual deadness and darkness is no more in my human spirit. My "nature" is changed into incorruption. Now my soul - where my mind, emotions and will are located , is being progressively affected by the reality in my human spirit. I am set free from having to participate in corruption. Though I will never reach the point in this life where I'll never sin again (for sinless perfection will not take place until I in Heaven with the Lord) - yet the last time I did sin, I did not have to.
Old things have passed away, and behold, all things have become (and are still becoming) new
To be a new creature in Jesus Christ points to the reality of the incorruptible life of God living in, and out and through the life of the Christian. That is why Paul writes - "old things have passed away, behold all things become new". That last verbal phrase "become new" is in a special tense in the original language. It speaks of a reality that took place in the past and still has present, ongoing results. At salvation I was made a new creature in my human spirit. In sanctification my soulish realm (mind, emotions and will) are being progressively affected to desire more and more the incorruptible life. Only at glorificiation will my body and whole being be set free from the presence of corruption.
If anyone is in Christ....
This one verse tells us about the the truth of the incorruptible life of God transforming the human nature of the Christian. It sets forth the condition: "If any anyone is in Christ". To be "in Christ" refers to being "in association with Him" or "connected to Him" by faith. When I by grace through faith believe on Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and treasure, the Holy Spirit of God takes me and transfers me from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of the Beloved Son. (please compare Acts 26:18)
My natural bent from birth is to do nothing but sin - do corruption. However when I become a believer in Jesus Christ - it is because the Spirit of God was doing a work of grace. As He so touched my heart, I turned to Christ in faith, and thus I evidence a changed nature - a changed "bent". Now I want to more and more everyday to wage war on sin and do the will of the Father. (please compare Ephesians 2:10).
He is a new Creature....
I am literally made a "new creature". When God creates something, He creates it out of nothing. When He made the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1:1, He did not have some pre-existent material lying around. He spoke the worlds into existence and they were so. (Psalm 33:6; John 1:1-3). When God sets His affection upon a person, He comes to them and calls them and literally creates a new nature out of "nothing". He speaks forth into the otherwise darkened, dead spirit inside of us (with no pre-existing spiritual life), and penetrates our human soul (mind, emotions, will) by bringing into it the light of His glory. (please compare 2 Corinthians 4:1-6).
As the text above states - we "become a new creature". The corruption of spiritual deadness and darkness is no more in my human spirit. My "nature" is changed into incorruption. Now my soul - where my mind, emotions and will are located , is being progressively affected by the reality in my human spirit. I am set free from having to participate in corruption. Though I will never reach the point in this life where I'll never sin again (for sinless perfection will not take place until I in Heaven with the Lord) - yet the last time I did sin, I did not have to.
Old things have passed away, and behold, all things have become (and are still becoming) new
To be a new creature in Jesus Christ points to the reality of the incorruptible life of God living in, and out and through the life of the Christian. That is why Paul writes - "old things have passed away, behold all things become new". That last verbal phrase "become new" is in a special tense in the original language. It speaks of a reality that took place in the past and still has present, ongoing results. At salvation I was made a new creature in my human spirit. In sanctification my soulish realm (mind, emotions and will) are being progressively affected to desire more and more the incorruptible life. Only at glorificiation will my body and whole being be set free from the presence of corruption.
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