Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "resurrection-body"
Crockpots and Crackpots – Part 1
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves [2 Corinthians 4:7].
I’ve been thinking… No, I don’t mean to suggest that’s something new! It’s what I’ve been thinking about that’s the issue here. I’ve been thinking about why I’m not in heaven already. Why am I still stumbling and bumbling through life, ill-equipped to overcome sin and win the victories in spiritual warfare.
Oh, I know I’m not supposed to say such things. It’s not PC—not “politically correct” but “powerful Christian”, for you spiritual novices. We Christians are supposed to be spiritual macho men. We can conquer anybody and anything because Jesus can…yada yada ho hum. Fine sounding words, but I’ve yet to see the reality.
No Christian this side of eternity overcomes sin perfectly. The Apostle Paul didn’t, and he was a giant among Christians! Don’t believe me? Read Philippians 3:12-16 and 1 Timothy 1:15. I personally become suffused with a flushed face, at the mere suggestion that I am without sin.
No, dear friends. We Christians are not Jesus. Only He is without sin. Because He died for our sins, while having none of His own, He pays the penalty for our sins. This removes them from our account and leaves our balance at zero, paid-in-full, tetelestai!
But after being born again we still need to avail ourselves of His payment daily. We do this through confession of sin and repentance. God reckons our debt as paid-in-full because of what Jesus did on our behalf, not because we are without sin in our own right. Theology textbooks call this as justification.
Simultaneously though, we have to work out the salvation which God already worked in us. Theology textbooks call this sanctification. This side of eternity we Christians, every last one of us, stand before God justified; but our day-to-day state is that we are being sanctified. We aren’t there yet, but praise the Lord we are working on it!
In the Scripture quoted at the start of this study, the Apostle Paul noted that we have salvation “in earthen vessels”. Our frail earthly bodies come from the dust of the ground (cf., Genesis 1): they are “earthen vessels”. At the rapture these frail earthen vessels will be transformed in the twinkling of an eye into new resurrection bodies, just like the Lord Jesus has! But this side of eternity we are still weighed down by frail earthen vessels.
Which brings me back to where I began this study. Why am I not already in heaven? Why do I still have to carry around this body of sin, the frail earthen vessel? Why don’t I already have my resurrection body? Is God a sadist? I don’t mean that last question in a blasphemous way, dear friends. Logically the question follows, if we don’t know the truth of Scripture.
But not to fear. Paul afforded us the answer. We only need refer once more to the Scripture quoted at the start of this study. We still have our frail earthen vessels because…because…because… “so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves”.
Huh? What does that mean? You say you feel let down by the answer? I’m sorry. We’ll have to do something about that. But we can’t today because we are out of time! Tomorrow we will though. For now enjoy some time with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
I’ve been thinking… No, I don’t mean to suggest that’s something new! It’s what I’ve been thinking about that’s the issue here. I’ve been thinking about why I’m not in heaven already. Why am I still stumbling and bumbling through life, ill-equipped to overcome sin and win the victories in spiritual warfare.
Oh, I know I’m not supposed to say such things. It’s not PC—not “politically correct” but “powerful Christian”, for you spiritual novices. We Christians are supposed to be spiritual macho men. We can conquer anybody and anything because Jesus can…yada yada ho hum. Fine sounding words, but I’ve yet to see the reality.
No Christian this side of eternity overcomes sin perfectly. The Apostle Paul didn’t, and he was a giant among Christians! Don’t believe me? Read Philippians 3:12-16 and 1 Timothy 1:15. I personally become suffused with a flushed face, at the mere suggestion that I am without sin.
No, dear friends. We Christians are not Jesus. Only He is without sin. Because He died for our sins, while having none of His own, He pays the penalty for our sins. This removes them from our account and leaves our balance at zero, paid-in-full, tetelestai!
But after being born again we still need to avail ourselves of His payment daily. We do this through confession of sin and repentance. God reckons our debt as paid-in-full because of what Jesus did on our behalf, not because we are without sin in our own right. Theology textbooks call this as justification.
Simultaneously though, we have to work out the salvation which God already worked in us. Theology textbooks call this sanctification. This side of eternity we Christians, every last one of us, stand before God justified; but our day-to-day state is that we are being sanctified. We aren’t there yet, but praise the Lord we are working on it!
In the Scripture quoted at the start of this study, the Apostle Paul noted that we have salvation “in earthen vessels”. Our frail earthly bodies come from the dust of the ground (cf., Genesis 1): they are “earthen vessels”. At the rapture these frail earthen vessels will be transformed in the twinkling of an eye into new resurrection bodies, just like the Lord Jesus has! But this side of eternity we are still weighed down by frail earthen vessels.
Which brings me back to where I began this study. Why am I not already in heaven? Why do I still have to carry around this body of sin, the frail earthen vessel? Why don’t I already have my resurrection body? Is God a sadist? I don’t mean that last question in a blasphemous way, dear friends. Logically the question follows, if we don’t know the truth of Scripture.
But not to fear. Paul afforded us the answer. We only need refer once more to the Scripture quoted at the start of this study. We still have our frail earthen vessels because…because…because… “so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves”.
Huh? What does that mean? You say you feel let down by the answer? I’m sorry. We’ll have to do something about that. But we can’t today because we are out of time! Tomorrow we will though. For now enjoy some time with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Crockpots and Crackpots – Part 2
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves [2 Corinthians 4:7].
Yesterday we left you feeling let down. Paul’s answer as to why we still have our frail earthly bodies after salvation didn’t register? Well, you shouldn’t be befuddled, dear friends! Let me tell you why.
Our salvation is powerful. We have seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. We have at our disposal all the riches of the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Whatever is bound on earth is bound in heaven because we are in Christ Jesus. This is awesome!
But beware. It is also dangerous because we frail humans are full of ourselves. We have a penchant for taking the bows when the power of God is manifested in our lives, as if we do great things rather than Jesus does them in and through us.
And there is the answer to my question about why I am not already in heaven with my resurrection body. The Lord leaves us on earth to be His body, the Church. He indwells us and conducts His ministry in and through us throughout the earth during the Church Age.
If we remained on the earth but had our resurrection bodies already, we would no longer be like unsaved humans. In order to demonstrate to them how Christ can change their lives and deliver them from enslavement to sin, we need to have the same frail earthen vessels they have—that would be those earthen vessels we had before being saved.
Ergo, the Lord leaves us in our earthen vessels, as weak as everyone who isn’t saved, as dependent on Him for victory as everyone else. In this way it is evident to all that we are not some sort of supermen, to whom others cannot relate. Rather, the unsaved folks as well as the saved folks can see that we are not capable in our own might of having the victories we experience.
In this way we are witnesses of the Lord Jesus because it is apparent that the surpassing greatness of the power is from God, not us. The Lord Jesus receives the glory. The unsaved flock to Him for their deliverance—a deliverance, I might add, which we are incapable of giving them.
Paul expressed this best when he made the observation, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” [2 Corinthians 12:10] Just as relevant is Jesus’ response to Paul for removal of his weakness. Jesus denied Paul’s request, noting, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” [2 Corinthians 12:9]
When I am doing well in life, I tend to think I am good and have less need of God’s grace. This is the reverse of spiritual maturity which says, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” When I am weak, then the power of God can work in and through me. This makes me strong. It is real strength, God’s power in me.
What say ye? Do you want your good things now? Do you want to be seen as Mr. Macho? Do you want folks to be allured by your mighty works and witty thoughts? The world is full of suchlike crackpots.
Or do prefer that the Lord be mighty and witty in you and through you to others? We have this surpassing power in earthen vessels—in crockpots if you would—for a godly purpose. We cannot improve on God’s plan, dear friends. Why not surrender to Him and allow Him to fulfill His plan in our earthen vessels?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Yesterday we left you feeling let down. Paul’s answer as to why we still have our frail earthly bodies after salvation didn’t register? Well, you shouldn’t be befuddled, dear friends! Let me tell you why.
Our salvation is powerful. We have seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. We have at our disposal all the riches of the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Whatever is bound on earth is bound in heaven because we are in Christ Jesus. This is awesome!
But beware. It is also dangerous because we frail humans are full of ourselves. We have a penchant for taking the bows when the power of God is manifested in our lives, as if we do great things rather than Jesus does them in and through us.
And there is the answer to my question about why I am not already in heaven with my resurrection body. The Lord leaves us on earth to be His body, the Church. He indwells us and conducts His ministry in and through us throughout the earth during the Church Age.
If we remained on the earth but had our resurrection bodies already, we would no longer be like unsaved humans. In order to demonstrate to them how Christ can change their lives and deliver them from enslavement to sin, we need to have the same frail earthen vessels they have—that would be those earthen vessels we had before being saved.
Ergo, the Lord leaves us in our earthen vessels, as weak as everyone who isn’t saved, as dependent on Him for victory as everyone else. In this way it is evident to all that we are not some sort of supermen, to whom others cannot relate. Rather, the unsaved folks as well as the saved folks can see that we are not capable in our own might of having the victories we experience.
In this way we are witnesses of the Lord Jesus because it is apparent that the surpassing greatness of the power is from God, not us. The Lord Jesus receives the glory. The unsaved flock to Him for their deliverance—a deliverance, I might add, which we are incapable of giving them.
Paul expressed this best when he made the observation, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” [2 Corinthians 12:10] Just as relevant is Jesus’ response to Paul for removal of his weakness. Jesus denied Paul’s request, noting, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” [2 Corinthians 12:9]
When I am doing well in life, I tend to think I am good and have less need of God’s grace. This is the reverse of spiritual maturity which says, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” When I am weak, then the power of God can work in and through me. This makes me strong. It is real strength, God’s power in me.
What say ye? Do you want your good things now? Do you want to be seen as Mr. Macho? Do you want folks to be allured by your mighty works and witty thoughts? The world is full of suchlike crackpots.
Or do prefer that the Lord be mighty and witty in you and through you to others? We have this surpassing power in earthen vessels—in crockpots if you would—for a godly purpose. We cannot improve on God’s plan, dear friends. Why not surrender to Him and allow Him to fulfill His plan in our earthen vessels?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Crockpots and Crackpots – Part 1
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves [2 Corinthians 4:7].
I’ve been thinking… No, I don’t mean to suggest that’s something new! It’s what I’ve been thinking about that’s the issue here. I’ve been thinking about why I’m not in heaven already. Why am I still stumbling and bumbling through life, ill-equipped to overcome sin and win the victories in spiritual warfare.
Oh, I know I’m not supposed to say such things. It’s not PC—not “politically correct” but “powerful Christian”, for you spiritual novices. We Christians are supposed to be spiritual macho men. We can conquer anybody and anything because Jesus can…yada yada ho hum. Fine sounding words, but I’ve yet to see the reality.
No Christian this side of eternity overcomes sin perfectly. The Apostle Paul didn’t, and he was a giant among Christians! Don’t believe me? Read Philippians 3:12-16 and 1 Timothy 1:15. I personally become suffused with a flushed face, at the mere suggestion that I am without sin.
No, dear friends. We Christians are not Jesus. Only He is without sin. Because He died for our sins, while having none of His own, He pays the penalty for our sins. This removes them from our account and leaves our balance at zero, paid-in-full, tetelestai!
But after being born again we still need to avail ourselves of His payment daily. We do this through confession of sin and repentance. God reckons our debt as paid-in-full because of what Jesus did on our behalf, not because we are without sin in our own right. Theology textbooks call this as justification.
Simultaneously though, we have to work out the salvation which God already worked in us. Theology textbooks call this sanctification. This side of eternity we Christians, every last one of us, stand before God justified; but our day-to-day state is that we are being sanctified. We aren’t there yet, but praise the Lord we are working on it!
In the Scripture quoted at the start of this study, the Apostle Paul noted that we have salvation “in earthen vessels”. Our frail earthly bodies come from the dust of the ground (cf., Genesis 1): they are “earthen vessels”. At the rapture these frail earthen vessels will be transformed in the twinkling of an eye into new resurrection bodies, just like the Lord Jesus has! But this side of eternity we are still weighed down by frail earthen vessels.
Which brings me back to where I began this study. Why am I not already in heaven? Why do I still have to carry around this body of sin, the frail earthen vessel? Why don’t I already have my resurrection body? Is God a sadist? I don’t mean that last question in a blasphemous way, dear friends. Logically the question follows, if we don’t know the truth of Scripture.
But not to fear. Paul afforded us the answer. We only need refer once more to the Scripture quoted at the start of this study. We still have our frail earthen vessels because…because…because… “so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves”.
Huh? What does that mean? You say you feel let down by the answer? I’m sorry. We’ll have to do something about that. But we can’t today because we are out of time! Tomorrow we will though. For now enjoy some time with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
I’ve been thinking… No, I don’t mean to suggest that’s something new! It’s what I’ve been thinking about that’s the issue here. I’ve been thinking about why I’m not in heaven already. Why am I still stumbling and bumbling through life, ill-equipped to overcome sin and win the victories in spiritual warfare.
Oh, I know I’m not supposed to say such things. It’s not PC—not “politically correct” but “powerful Christian”, for you spiritual novices. We Christians are supposed to be spiritual macho men. We can conquer anybody and anything because Jesus can…yada yada ho hum. Fine sounding words, but I’ve yet to see the reality.
No Christian this side of eternity overcomes sin perfectly. The Apostle Paul didn’t, and he was a giant among Christians! Don’t believe me? Read Philippians 3:12-16 and 1 Timothy 1:15. I personally become suffused with a flushed face, at the mere suggestion that I am without sin.
No, dear friends. We Christians are not Jesus. Only He is without sin. Because He died for our sins, while having none of His own, He pays the penalty for our sins. This removes them from our account and leaves our balance at zero, paid-in-full, tetelestai!
But after being born again we still need to avail ourselves of His payment daily. We do this through confession of sin and repentance. God reckons our debt as paid-in-full because of what Jesus did on our behalf, not because we are without sin in our own right. Theology textbooks call this as justification.
Simultaneously though, we have to work out the salvation which God already worked in us. Theology textbooks call this sanctification. This side of eternity we Christians, every last one of us, stand before God justified; but our day-to-day state is that we are being sanctified. We aren’t there yet, but praise the Lord we are working on it!
In the Scripture quoted at the start of this study, the Apostle Paul noted that we have salvation “in earthen vessels”. Our frail earthly bodies come from the dust of the ground (cf., Genesis 1): they are “earthen vessels”. At the rapture these frail earthen vessels will be transformed in the twinkling of an eye into new resurrection bodies, just like the Lord Jesus has! But this side of eternity we are still weighed down by frail earthen vessels.
Which brings me back to where I began this study. Why am I not already in heaven? Why do I still have to carry around this body of sin, the frail earthen vessel? Why don’t I already have my resurrection body? Is God a sadist? I don’t mean that last question in a blasphemous way, dear friends. Logically the question follows, if we don’t know the truth of Scripture.
But not to fear. Paul afforded us the answer. We only need refer once more to the Scripture quoted at the start of this study. We still have our frail earthen vessels because…because…because… “so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves”.
Huh? What does that mean? You say you feel let down by the answer? I’m sorry. We’ll have to do something about that. But we can’t today because we are out of time! Tomorrow we will though. For now enjoy some time with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Crockpots and Crackpots – Part 2
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves [2 Corinthians 4:7].
Yesterday we left you feeling let down. Paul’s answer as to why we still have our frail earthly bodies after salvation didn’t register? Well, you shouldn’t be befuddled, dear friends! Let me tell you why.
Our salvation is powerful. We have seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. We have at our disposal all the riches of the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Whatever is bound on earth is bound in heaven because we are in Christ Jesus. This is awesome!
But beware. It is also dangerous because we frail humans are full of ourselves. We have a penchant for taking the bows when the power of God is manifested in our lives, as if we do great things rather than Jesus does them in and through us.
And there is the answer to my question about why I am not already in heaven with my resurrection body. The Lord leaves us on earth to be His body, the Church. He indwells us and conducts His ministry in and through us throughout the earth during the Church Age.
If we remained on the earth but had our resurrection bodies already, we would no longer be like unsaved humans. In order to demonstrate to them how Christ can change their lives and deliver them from enslavement to sin, we need to have the same frail earthen vessels they have—that would be those earthen vessels we had before being saved.
Ergo, the Lord leaves us in our earthen vessels, as weak as everyone who isn’t saved, as dependent on Him for victory as everyone else. In this way it is evident to all that we are not some sort of supermen, to whom others cannot relate. Rather, the unsaved folks as well as the saved folks can see that we are not capable in our own might of having the victories we experience.
In this way we are witnesses of the Lord Jesus because it is apparent that the surpassing greatness of the power is from God, not us. The Lord Jesus receives the glory. The unsaved flock to Him for their deliverance—a deliverance, I might add, which we are incapable of giving them.
Paul expressed this best when he made the observation, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” [2 Corinthians 12:10] Just as relevant is Jesus’ response to Paul for removal of his weakness. Jesus denied Paul’s request, noting, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” [2 Corinthians 12:9]
When I am doing well in life, I tend to think I am good and have less need of God’s grace. This is the reverse of spiritual maturity which says, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” When I am weak, then the power of God can work in and through me. This makes me strong. It is real strength, God’s power in me.
What say ye? Do you want your good things now? Do you want to be seen as Mr. Macho? Do you want folks to be allured by your mighty works and witty thoughts? The world is full of suchlike crackpots.
Or do prefer that the Lord be mighty and witty in you and through you to others? We have this surpassing power in earthen vessels—in crockpots if you would—for a godly purpose. We cannot improve on God’s plan, dear friends. Why not surrender to Him and allow Him to fulfill His plan in our earthen vessels?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Yesterday we left you feeling let down. Paul’s answer as to why we still have our frail earthly bodies after salvation didn’t register? Well, you shouldn’t be befuddled, dear friends! Let me tell you why.
Our salvation is powerful. We have seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. We have at our disposal all the riches of the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Whatever is bound on earth is bound in heaven because we are in Christ Jesus. This is awesome!
But beware. It is also dangerous because we frail humans are full of ourselves. We have a penchant for taking the bows when the power of God is manifested in our lives, as if we do great things rather than Jesus does them in and through us.
And there is the answer to my question about why I am not already in heaven with my resurrection body. The Lord leaves us on earth to be His body, the Church. He indwells us and conducts His ministry in and through us throughout the earth during the Church Age.
If we remained on the earth but had our resurrection bodies already, we would no longer be like unsaved humans. In order to demonstrate to them how Christ can change their lives and deliver them from enslavement to sin, we need to have the same frail earthen vessels they have—that would be those earthen vessels we had before being saved.
Ergo, the Lord leaves us in our earthen vessels, as weak as everyone who isn’t saved, as dependent on Him for victory as everyone else. In this way it is evident to all that we are not some sort of supermen, to whom others cannot relate. Rather, the unsaved folks as well as the saved folks can see that we are not capable in our own might of having the victories we experience.
In this way we are witnesses of the Lord Jesus because it is apparent that the surpassing greatness of the power is from God, not us. The Lord Jesus receives the glory. The unsaved flock to Him for their deliverance—a deliverance, I might add, which we are incapable of giving them.
Paul expressed this best when he made the observation, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” [2 Corinthians 12:10] Just as relevant is Jesus’ response to Paul for removal of his weakness. Jesus denied Paul’s request, noting, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” [2 Corinthians 12:9]
When I am doing well in life, I tend to think I am good and have less need of God’s grace. This is the reverse of spiritual maturity which says, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” When I am weak, then the power of God can work in and through me. This makes me strong. It is real strength, God’s power in me.
What say ye? Do you want your good things now? Do you want to be seen as Mr. Macho? Do you want folks to be allured by your mighty works and witty thoughts? The world is full of suchlike crackpots.
Or do prefer that the Lord be mighty and witty in you and through you to others? We have this surpassing power in earthen vessels—in crockpots if you would—for a godly purpose. We cannot improve on God’s plan, dear friends. Why not surrender to Him and allow Him to fulfill His plan in our earthen vessels?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Crockpots and Crackpots – Part 1
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves [2 Corinthians 4:7].
I’ve been thinking… No, I don’t mean to suggest that’s something new! It’s what I’ve been thinking about that’s the issue here. I’ve been thinking about why I’m not in heaven already. Why am I still stumbling and bumbling through life, ill-equipped to overcome sin and win the victories in spiritual warfare.
Oh, I know I’m not supposed to say such things. It’s not PC—not “politically correct” but “powerful Christian”, for you spiritual novices. We Christians are supposed to be spiritual macho men. We can conquer anybody and anything because Jesus can…yada yada ho hum. Fine sounding words, but I’ve yet to see the reality.
No Christian this side of eternity overcomes sin perfectly. The Apostle Paul didn’t, and he was a giant among Christians! Don’t believe me? Read Philippians 3:12-16 and 1 Timothy 1:15. I personally become suffused with a flushed face, at the mere suggestion that I am without sin.
No, dear friends. We Christians are not Jesus. Only He is without sin. Because He died for our sins, while having none of His own, He pays the penalty for our sins. This removes them from our account and leaves our balance at zero, paid-in-full, tetelestai!
But after being born again we still need to avail ourselves of His payment daily. We do this through confession of sin and repentance. God reckons our debt as paid-in-full because of what Jesus did on our behalf, not because we are without sin in our own right. Theology textbooks call this as justification.
Simultaneously though, we have to work out the salvation which God already worked in us. Theology textbooks call this sanctification. This side of eternity we Christians, every last one of us, stand before God justified; but our day-to-day state is that we are being sanctified. We aren’t there yet, but praise the Lord we are working on it!
In the Scripture quoted at the start of this study, the Apostle Paul noted that we have salvation “in earthen vessels”. Our frail earthly bodies come from the dust of the ground (cf., Genesis 1): they are “earthen vessels”. At the rapture these frail earthen vessels will be transformed in the twinkling of an eye into new resurrection bodies, just like the Lord Jesus has! But this side of eternity we are still weighed down by frail earthen vessels.
Which brings me back to where I began this study. Why am I not already in heaven? Why do I still have to carry around this body of sin, the frail earthen vessel? Why don’t I already have my resurrection body? Is God a sadist? I don’t mean that last question in a blasphemous way, dear friends. Logically the question follows, if we don’t know the truth of Scripture.
But not to fear. Paul afforded us the answer. We only need refer once more to the Scripture quoted at the start of this study. We still have our frail earthen vessels because…because…because… “so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves”.
Huh? What does that mean? You say you feel let down by the answer? I’m sorry. We’ll have to do something about that. But we can’t today because we are out of time! Tomorrow we will though. For now enjoy some time with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
I’ve been thinking… No, I don’t mean to suggest that’s something new! It’s what I’ve been thinking about that’s the issue here. I’ve been thinking about why I’m not in heaven already. Why am I still stumbling and bumbling through life, ill-equipped to overcome sin and win the victories in spiritual warfare.
Oh, I know I’m not supposed to say such things. It’s not PC—not “politically correct” but “powerful Christian”, for you spiritual novices. We Christians are supposed to be spiritual macho men. We can conquer anybody and anything because Jesus can…yada yada ho hum. Fine sounding words, but I’ve yet to see the reality.
No Christian this side of eternity overcomes sin perfectly. The Apostle Paul didn’t, and he was a giant among Christians! Don’t believe me? Read Philippians 3:12-16 and 1 Timothy 1:15. I personally become suffused with a flushed face, at the mere suggestion that I am without sin.
No, dear friends. We Christians are not Jesus. Only He is without sin. Because He died for our sins, while having none of His own, He pays the penalty for our sins. This removes them from our account and leaves our balance at zero, paid-in-full, tetelestai!
But after being born again we still need to avail ourselves of His payment daily. We do this through confession of sin and repentance. God reckons our debt as paid-in-full because of what Jesus did on our behalf, not because we are without sin in our own right. Theology textbooks call this as justification.
Simultaneously though, we have to work out the salvation which God already worked in us. Theology textbooks call this sanctification. This side of eternity we Christians, every last one of us, stand before God justified; but our day-to-day state is that we are being sanctified. We aren’t there yet, but praise the Lord we are working on it!
In the Scripture quoted at the start of this study, the Apostle Paul noted that we have salvation “in earthen vessels”. Our frail earthly bodies come from the dust of the ground (cf., Genesis 1): they are “earthen vessels”. At the rapture these frail earthen vessels will be transformed in the twinkling of an eye into new resurrection bodies, just like the Lord Jesus has! But this side of eternity we are still weighed down by frail earthen vessels.
Which brings me back to where I began this study. Why am I not already in heaven? Why do I still have to carry around this body of sin, the frail earthen vessel? Why don’t I already have my resurrection body? Is God a sadist? I don’t mean that last question in a blasphemous way, dear friends. Logically the question follows, if we don’t know the truth of Scripture.
But not to fear. Paul afforded us the answer. We only need refer once more to the Scripture quoted at the start of this study. We still have our frail earthen vessels because…because…because… “so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves”.
Huh? What does that mean? You say you feel let down by the answer? I’m sorry. We’ll have to do something about that. But we can’t today because we are out of time! Tomorrow we will though. For now enjoy some time with Jesus.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Crockpots and Crackpots – Part 2
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves [2 Corinthians 4:7].
Yesterday we left you feeling let down. Paul’s answer as to why we still have our frail earthly bodies after salvation didn’t register? Well, you shouldn’t be befuddled, dear friends! Let me tell you why.
Our salvation is powerful. We have seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. We have at our disposal all the riches of the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Whatever is bound on earth is bound in heaven because we are in Christ Jesus. This is awesome!
But beware. It is also dangerous because we frail humans are full of ourselves. We have a penchant for taking the bows when the power of God is manifested in our lives, as if we do great things rather than Jesus does them in and through us.
And there is the answer to my question about why I am not already in heaven with my resurrection body. The Lord leaves us on earth to be His body, the Church. He indwells us and conducts His ministry in and through us throughout the earth during the Church Age.
If we remained on the earth but had our resurrection bodies already, we would no longer be like unsaved humans. In order to demonstrate to them how Christ can change their lives and deliver them from enslavement to sin, we need to have the same frail earthen vessels they have—that would be those earthen vessels we had before being saved.
Ergo, the Lord leaves us in our earthen vessels, as weak as everyone who isn’t saved, as dependent on Him for victory as everyone else. In this way it is evident to all that we are not some sort of supermen, to whom others cannot relate. Rather, the unsaved folks as well as the saved folks can see that we are not capable in our own might of having the victories we experience.
In this way we are witnesses of the Lord Jesus because it is apparent that the surpassing greatness of the power is from God, not us. The Lord Jesus receives the glory. The unsaved flock to Him for their deliverance—a deliverance, I might add, which we are incapable of giving them.
Paul expressed this best when he made the observation, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” [2 Corinthians 12:10] Just as relevant is Jesus’ response to Paul for removal of his weakness. Jesus denied Paul’s request, noting, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” [2 Corinthians 12:9]
When I am doing well in life, I tend to think I am good and have less need of God’s grace. This is the reverse of spiritual maturity which says, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” When I am weak, then the power of God can work in and through me. This makes me strong. It is real strength, God’s power in me.
What say ye? Do you want your good things now? Do you want to be seen as Mr. Macho? Do you want folks to be allured by your mighty works and witty thoughts? The world is full of suchlike crackpots.
Or do prefer that the Lord be mighty and witty in you and through you to others? We have this surpassing power in earthen vessels—in crockpots if you would—for a godly purpose. We cannot improve on God’s plan, dear friends. Why not surrender to Him and allow Him to fulfill His plan in our earthen vessels?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Yesterday we left you feeling let down. Paul’s answer as to why we still have our frail earthly bodies after salvation didn’t register? Well, you shouldn’t be befuddled, dear friends! Let me tell you why.
Our salvation is powerful. We have seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. We have at our disposal all the riches of the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Whatever is bound on earth is bound in heaven because we are in Christ Jesus. This is awesome!
But beware. It is also dangerous because we frail humans are full of ourselves. We have a penchant for taking the bows when the power of God is manifested in our lives, as if we do great things rather than Jesus does them in and through us.
And there is the answer to my question about why I am not already in heaven with my resurrection body. The Lord leaves us on earth to be His body, the Church. He indwells us and conducts His ministry in and through us throughout the earth during the Church Age.
If we remained on the earth but had our resurrection bodies already, we would no longer be like unsaved humans. In order to demonstrate to them how Christ can change their lives and deliver them from enslavement to sin, we need to have the same frail earthen vessels they have—that would be those earthen vessels we had before being saved.
Ergo, the Lord leaves us in our earthen vessels, as weak as everyone who isn’t saved, as dependent on Him for victory as everyone else. In this way it is evident to all that we are not some sort of supermen, to whom others cannot relate. Rather, the unsaved folks as well as the saved folks can see that we are not capable in our own might of having the victories we experience.
In this way we are witnesses of the Lord Jesus because it is apparent that the surpassing greatness of the power is from God, not us. The Lord Jesus receives the glory. The unsaved flock to Him for their deliverance—a deliverance, I might add, which we are incapable of giving them.
Paul expressed this best when he made the observation, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” [2 Corinthians 12:10] Just as relevant is Jesus’ response to Paul for removal of his weakness. Jesus denied Paul’s request, noting, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” [2 Corinthians 12:9]
When I am doing well in life, I tend to think I am good and have less need of God’s grace. This is the reverse of spiritual maturity which says, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” When I am weak, then the power of God can work in and through me. This makes me strong. It is real strength, God’s power in me.
What say ye? Do you want your good things now? Do you want to be seen as Mr. Macho? Do you want folks to be allured by your mighty works and witty thoughts? The world is full of suchlike crackpots.
Or do prefer that the Lord be mighty and witty in you and through you to others? We have this surpassing power in earthen vessels—in crockpots if you would—for a godly purpose. We cannot improve on God’s plan, dear friends. Why not surrender to Him and allow Him to fulfill His plan in our earthen vessels?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
