Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "sanctification"
Like being sanctified...
I remember a popular song back in the day with the lyrics, "like being sanctified". No, that song hasn't a thing to do with this post. So if you want to discuss the song, go to your mp3s!
Imagine a person who commits a crime and is hauled before the judge to stand trial. The evidence against him is inconclusive so the judge pounds his gavel on the judge's bench and thunders, "Not guilty!" The man has just been justified. Trouble is, he IS guilty of the crime. In fact his life is filled with guilt for breaking the law.
This is where sanctification enters the picture. The guilty person has been freed from guilt for his crime. Double jeopardy prevents him from being retried for it. However, he does have a penchant for committing crimes. Will he return to his life of crime, or will he turn over a new leaf?
The word sanctification is a theology textbook word for turning over a new leaf. A saint is a sinner who has been justified. He/she has accepted the Lord's provision of forgiveness for sins, based upon the death on the cross of Jesus Christ for man's sins and his resurrection out of death. This acceptance was achieved by grace through faith. This means that the Bible stated this to be true, and he/she accepted in both the head and the heart that the Bible is true and acted accordingly.
The word sanctification refers to the continual present tense of a person's life, the day-to-day actions of a person in rejecting the old life of living for self and instead substitute the new life of living for Jesus. This is NOT a life of doing what seems good in our own estimation. It IS a life of faith, of feeding on the Bible daily in quiet time alone with the Lord to learn what He wants us to do, and then doing it.
Justification is a once-for-all act where we accept God's offer of forgiveness for sins by accepting the Lord Jesus' death on the cross as our substitute death, and receiving His new resurrection life in its place. Sanctification is our day-to-day action of refusing to live the old life of doing what seems right in our own eyes and living for self, but instead living according to what the Bible teaches us to do. This can only be done by quiet time alone with the Lord Jesus daily, in prayer and meditation on the Bible.
Justification is a one time, once-for-all act, with consequences which continue through the present time. In Grammar this is known as the perfect tense. Sanctification, contrariwise, is a present tense affair. It continues day in and day out throughout our lifetime.
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure [Philippians 2:12-13]. God already worked His salvation in us. That is justification. Our job as those who are born again and therefore kids in God's family is to live like it, to work out what God has already worked in us. This is sanctification.
Imagine a person who commits a crime and is hauled before the judge to stand trial. The evidence against him is inconclusive so the judge pounds his gavel on the judge's bench and thunders, "Not guilty!" The man has just been justified. Trouble is, he IS guilty of the crime. In fact his life is filled with guilt for breaking the law.
This is where sanctification enters the picture. The guilty person has been freed from guilt for his crime. Double jeopardy prevents him from being retried for it. However, he does have a penchant for committing crimes. Will he return to his life of crime, or will he turn over a new leaf?
The word sanctification is a theology textbook word for turning over a new leaf. A saint is a sinner who has been justified. He/she has accepted the Lord's provision of forgiveness for sins, based upon the death on the cross of Jesus Christ for man's sins and his resurrection out of death. This acceptance was achieved by grace through faith. This means that the Bible stated this to be true, and he/she accepted in both the head and the heart that the Bible is true and acted accordingly.
The word sanctification refers to the continual present tense of a person's life, the day-to-day actions of a person in rejecting the old life of living for self and instead substitute the new life of living for Jesus. This is NOT a life of doing what seems good in our own estimation. It IS a life of faith, of feeding on the Bible daily in quiet time alone with the Lord to learn what He wants us to do, and then doing it.
Justification is a once-for-all act where we accept God's offer of forgiveness for sins by accepting the Lord Jesus' death on the cross as our substitute death, and receiving His new resurrection life in its place. Sanctification is our day-to-day action of refusing to live the old life of doing what seems right in our own eyes and living for self, but instead living according to what the Bible teaches us to do. This can only be done by quiet time alone with the Lord Jesus daily, in prayer and meditation on the Bible.
Justification is a one time, once-for-all act, with consequences which continue through the present time. In Grammar this is known as the perfect tense. Sanctification, contrariwise, is a present tense affair. It continues day in and day out throughout our lifetime.
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure [Philippians 2:12-13]. God already worked His salvation in us. That is justification. Our job as those who are born again and therefore kids in God's family is to live like it, to work out what God has already worked in us. This is sanctification.
Now that is glorious!
We've spent the last two posts vetting the theological concepts of justification and sanctification. The concept of justification occurs throughout the New Testament.
For example, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus [ Romans 3:26]. God can justify the sinner and still be just because the Son of God, Jesus Christ, paid the penalty for the sins of all mankind for all of time. His death on the cross served that purpose. The wages of sin is death [Rom.6:23]. Jesus had no sin because He is God. Ergo, His death wasn't for His own sins but for everyone else's. Consequently God is both just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus as their personal substitute sin offering.
Sanctification also fills the pages of the New Testament. By way of example, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure [Philippians 2:12-13]. God lives in the saved person, the born again person, the person who has been justified by faith in Christ Jesus.
The Christian has God's new life already in him/her. Our job is to mature spiritually so that we learn how to allow God control over our life. Instead of living in the power of our old life according to what we think, we live in the power of the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God . This maturing process is known as sanctification, and it lasts throughout our time here on earth. The old life remains inside the Christian and he/she has to choose to submit to it or else heed the Holy Spirit.
The third stage of salvation occurs when Christians are raptured, that point of time when the Lord Jesus calls us to meet Him in the clouds. At that time God's kids will be clothed in their new resurrection bodies, and this is their state through all eternity. This resurrection body is like that of the resurrected Christ. He is totally without sin, and so will we be thenceforth. No longer will temptation find a home in us. We will nevermore commit sin.
An example of glorification in the New Testament is in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, Behold, I tell you a )mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
In Scripture the number "3" often typifies the superlative degree. For instance, we drive a car, someone else drives a better car, and then there is the best car. "Car" is the base degree, "better car" is the comparative degree, and "best car" is the superlative degree. Consider that there is the thrice holy God, and He is holy, holy, holy. This is Scripture typology to mean that God is the MOST HOLY GOD, the holiest God. No one can compare with Him.
By the same token man's salvation is comprised of three stages: the past or perfect tense stage, the continuous present tense stage, and the future tense stage. Biblical typology reads this as meaning that our salvation is the most complete in every way. Nothing can be added to it. It is lacking in nary a thing. Praise the Lord!Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book I: Chapters 1-16, Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book II: Chapters 17-34, Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesNumbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesExodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book II: Chapters 17-34: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book I: Chapters 1-16: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesHeavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes: An Exposition of the Scriptures for Disciples and Young Christians: Volume 1: GenesisGenesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes
For example, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus [ Romans 3:26]. God can justify the sinner and still be just because the Son of God, Jesus Christ, paid the penalty for the sins of all mankind for all of time. His death on the cross served that purpose. The wages of sin is death [Rom.6:23]. Jesus had no sin because He is God. Ergo, His death wasn't for His own sins but for everyone else's. Consequently God is both just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus as their personal substitute sin offering.
Sanctification also fills the pages of the New Testament. By way of example, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure [Philippians 2:12-13]. God lives in the saved person, the born again person, the person who has been justified by faith in Christ Jesus.
The Christian has God's new life already in him/her. Our job is to mature spiritually so that we learn how to allow God control over our life. Instead of living in the power of our old life according to what we think, we live in the power of the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God . This maturing process is known as sanctification, and it lasts throughout our time here on earth. The old life remains inside the Christian and he/she has to choose to submit to it or else heed the Holy Spirit.
The third stage of salvation occurs when Christians are raptured, that point of time when the Lord Jesus calls us to meet Him in the clouds. At that time God's kids will be clothed in their new resurrection bodies, and this is their state through all eternity. This resurrection body is like that of the resurrected Christ. He is totally without sin, and so will we be thenceforth. No longer will temptation find a home in us. We will nevermore commit sin.
An example of glorification in the New Testament is in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, Behold, I tell you a )mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
In Scripture the number "3" often typifies the superlative degree. For instance, we drive a car, someone else drives a better car, and then there is the best car. "Car" is the base degree, "better car" is the comparative degree, and "best car" is the superlative degree. Consider that there is the thrice holy God, and He is holy, holy, holy. This is Scripture typology to mean that God is the MOST HOLY GOD, the holiest God. No one can compare with Him.
By the same token man's salvation is comprised of three stages: the past or perfect tense stage, the continuous present tense stage, and the future tense stage. Biblical typology reads this as meaning that our salvation is the most complete in every way. Nothing can be added to it. It is lacking in nary a thing. Praise the Lord!Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book I: Chapters 1-16, Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book II: Chapters 17-34, Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesNumbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesExodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book II: Chapters 17-34: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesDeuteronomy Book I: Chapters 1-16: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly ShoesHeavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes: An Exposition of the Scriptures for Disciples and Young Christians: Volume 1: GenesisGenesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes
Time To Cut the Grass
A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever [Isaiah 40:6-8].
What to do when I encounter a deluge of difficulties? Hmm. Now let me think... I guess I could throw a pity party and invite all the naysayers I know. That might be fun. Naw. I think I'll take a rain check on that one.
I got it! I'll go to bed, pull the covers over my head, and hope I never have to wake up. Ah, the old ostrich policy at its finest. That always works. Not! Toss that one on the rubbish heap too.
Dear me. What shall I do? I could stand on the street corner and strum my guitar, giving my best impersonation of Bob Dylan with some poetry set to music. I could sing all about how no one likes me and life isn't fair, and soar off into the nether world as I reminisce about the good old times back in the day. Yeah, but that's a dead horse I don't want to beat.
Okay. So what will I do in response to the doldrums of my existence? Well, thus far all my approaches were to gaze far and wide in all directions horizontally. What I failed to do was to take a gander vertically. The horizontal gaze fixes the eyes on man—or as Isaiah worded it, on "all flesh", both myself and other people.
And therein lies the crux of the matter, my dear friends. "All flesh" is like grass and its loveliness is no more than the flowers in the field. Have you noticed how long grass and flowers last? Let me tell you: not long!
The contrast to "all flesh" is to be found in the phrase "the word of our God ". So how long does the Word of God last? That would be "forever", and methinks "forever" is a wee bit longer than how long grass and flowers last.
That settles it. Isaiah's logic is irrefutable and irresistible. I'm going to handle my deluge of difficulties by hieing off to the prayer closet with my Bible, and spending time alone with the Lord Jesus. Why don't we all go and do likewise?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
What to do when I encounter a deluge of difficulties? Hmm. Now let me think... I guess I could throw a pity party and invite all the naysayers I know. That might be fun. Naw. I think I'll take a rain check on that one.
I got it! I'll go to bed, pull the covers over my head, and hope I never have to wake up. Ah, the old ostrich policy at its finest. That always works. Not! Toss that one on the rubbish heap too.
Dear me. What shall I do? I could stand on the street corner and strum my guitar, giving my best impersonation of Bob Dylan with some poetry set to music. I could sing all about how no one likes me and life isn't fair, and soar off into the nether world as I reminisce about the good old times back in the day. Yeah, but that's a dead horse I don't want to beat.
Okay. So what will I do in response to the doldrums of my existence? Well, thus far all my approaches were to gaze far and wide in all directions horizontally. What I failed to do was to take a gander vertically. The horizontal gaze fixes the eyes on man—or as Isaiah worded it, on "all flesh", both myself and other people.
And therein lies the crux of the matter, my dear friends. "All flesh" is like grass and its loveliness is no more than the flowers in the field. Have you noticed how long grass and flowers last? Let me tell you: not long!
The contrast to "all flesh" is to be found in the phrase "the word of our God ". So how long does the Word of God last? That would be "forever", and methinks "forever" is a wee bit longer than how long grass and flowers last.
That settles it. Isaiah's logic is irrefutable and irresistible. I'm going to handle my deluge of difficulties by hieing off to the prayer closet with my Bible, and spending time alone with the Lord Jesus. Why don't we all go and do likewise?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The Lord of the Beings
He must increase, but I must decrease [John 3:30].
When I was a young tyke in Christ circa 1978, a Christian lady who made it a practice to encourage me gave me a gift. It was a small metal placard which sat on the desk or bookshelf. Inscribed on it were the words of John 3:30, He must increase, but I must decrease. I’ve spent over thirty years struggling with this issue, wrestling with the Lord in prayer to make it so. I suspect I’ll be doing the same until I am promoted to eternity.
This is not to say the Lord hasn’t changed me one iota. Indeed, when I think back to the days before I was born again and then compare that person with me now, there is no comparison. The old man most assuredly is dead on the cross with Christ, and the new man now lives. I AM in Christ the righteousness of God (cf., 2 Corinthians 5:21).
This is my standing before the throne of God (i.e., justification), but it is not my actual state (i.e., sanctification). The same truth applies to every son of Adam the First, so long as his address is this side of eternity. What varies with each of us is the extent of our actual state, and even that is in a constant state of flux. Some of us were born again, and then we left it at that. Our state, then, is that of a spiritual newborn. It is sad to remain in the crib our entire lives, sipping from the nipple, being burped, and having our diapers changed. What a drain on the church and an affront to the name of Christ!
Others of us have fed on the Word of God every day from the beginning of our new life in Christ; sat as His feet alone with Him as He taught us His Word; learned to hear His voice instead of depending on man’s words about Him; and made our way through the entire Bible on a regular basis. After all, the Bible is the Christian’s spiritual food, in contrast to books about the Bible. We learned to personally relate to the Lord Jesus on a daily basis, allowing Him to transform us into His image.
Those are the two extremes for Christians. On the one hand we have the newborn babies, on the other the mature men and women of God. I don’t fit at either extreme, but I cannot state exactly where I do fit because that knowledge belongs to the purview of Christ alone. Only Christ can know my heart. You can’t, and for that matter neither can I. We can know to an extent, but not specifically.
At times I see more Christ in me and am humbled by it. I see Him doing His work in me and through me to others and am excited by this. During such times I would place myself much closer to the extreme of the mature man of God.
Alas, but there are those other times, those pesky rascals who embarrass anyone who has an ounce of spiritual maturity. Such times would be equivalent in natural life to the crying baby in the crib who needs his diaper changed, or the refractory teenage urchin at his best. During those times I would place myself much closer to the extreme of the newborn baby.
What to do? Hmm. That’s a toughie. Not! The Apostle Paul afforded us the answer when he taught the Philippian saints,
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude [Philippians 3:13-15].
Yes, He must increase, but I must decrease. The word must is intensive and demanding. It allows for no exception and brooks no indolence. It requires a regimen of spiritual exercise and discipline on a consistent basis, much like that of an athlete.
So what say ye? Will it be increase or decrease? Better yet, who will increase and who will decrease? This applies to every Christian throughout his or her entire lifetime. After all, it is the act of growing up in real spiritual life. It never stops until we are dead to the world and alive in eternity.
I personally don’t like to see me in the mirror. I much prefer to see the Lord Jesus in the mirror. Sometimes I get my preference. What I try to do is get it more frequently with more regularity.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 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...
When I was a young tyke in Christ circa 1978, a Christian lady who made it a practice to encourage me gave me a gift. It was a small metal placard which sat on the desk or bookshelf. Inscribed on it were the words of John 3:30, He must increase, but I must decrease. I’ve spent over thirty years struggling with this issue, wrestling with the Lord in prayer to make it so. I suspect I’ll be doing the same until I am promoted to eternity.
This is not to say the Lord hasn’t changed me one iota. Indeed, when I think back to the days before I was born again and then compare that person with me now, there is no comparison. The old man most assuredly is dead on the cross with Christ, and the new man now lives. I AM in Christ the righteousness of God (cf., 2 Corinthians 5:21).
This is my standing before the throne of God (i.e., justification), but it is not my actual state (i.e., sanctification). The same truth applies to every son of Adam the First, so long as his address is this side of eternity. What varies with each of us is the extent of our actual state, and even that is in a constant state of flux. Some of us were born again, and then we left it at that. Our state, then, is that of a spiritual newborn. It is sad to remain in the crib our entire lives, sipping from the nipple, being burped, and having our diapers changed. What a drain on the church and an affront to the name of Christ!
Others of us have fed on the Word of God every day from the beginning of our new life in Christ; sat as His feet alone with Him as He taught us His Word; learned to hear His voice instead of depending on man’s words about Him; and made our way through the entire Bible on a regular basis. After all, the Bible is the Christian’s spiritual food, in contrast to books about the Bible. We learned to personally relate to the Lord Jesus on a daily basis, allowing Him to transform us into His image.
Those are the two extremes for Christians. On the one hand we have the newborn babies, on the other the mature men and women of God. I don’t fit at either extreme, but I cannot state exactly where I do fit because that knowledge belongs to the purview of Christ alone. Only Christ can know my heart. You can’t, and for that matter neither can I. We can know to an extent, but not specifically.
At times I see more Christ in me and am humbled by it. I see Him doing His work in me and through me to others and am excited by this. During such times I would place myself much closer to the extreme of the mature man of God.
Alas, but there are those other times, those pesky rascals who embarrass anyone who has an ounce of spiritual maturity. Such times would be equivalent in natural life to the crying baby in the crib who needs his diaper changed, or the refractory teenage urchin at his best. During those times I would place myself much closer to the extreme of the newborn baby.
What to do? Hmm. That’s a toughie. Not! The Apostle Paul afforded us the answer when he taught the Philippian saints,
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude [Philippians 3:13-15].
Yes, He must increase, but I must decrease. The word must is intensive and demanding. It allows for no exception and brooks no indolence. It requires a regimen of spiritual exercise and discipline on a consistent basis, much like that of an athlete.
So what say ye? Will it be increase or decrease? Better yet, who will increase and who will decrease? This applies to every Christian throughout his or her entire lifetime. After all, it is the act of growing up in real spiritual life. It never stops until we are dead to the world and alive in eternity.
I personally don’t like to see me in the mirror. I much prefer to see the Lord Jesus in the mirror. Sometimes I get my preference. What I try to do is get it more frequently with more regularity.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 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...
Silver Jewelry and Missing Noses – Part 1
Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes out a vessel for the smith. Take away the wicked before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness [Proverbs 25:4-5].
There is an old expression, an aphorism if you would, which states, “That’s like cutting off your nose to spite your face!” Indeed. Sometimes when things we don’t like are so irksome, we go to extremes to be rid of them…even to our own detriment.
Such is not the case with the spiritual truth taught us in the Bible verses quoted at the start of this study. In fact the exact opposite is the case. It isn’t our nose we should cut off and remove from our presence, in order to be rid of troubling circumstances. It’s the troublemakers and instigators who need to be sent packing. And that’s a good thing.
The first verse quoted makes reference to metallurgy. The silversmith takes the precious silver ore and melts it in his furnace. The molten metal collects at the bottom of the furnace in a crucible. Floating on top the molten metal is the impure residue that is lighter than the pure metal, which is why it floats on top. This residue is known as “dross”.
In order to work with a purer form of silver, the silversmith must scrape off this top layer of dross. This leaves the pure silver for making jewelry and other assorted silver items. Without the dross the silver is much more valuable, and accordingly so are the silver items made from the pure silver.
Such items even have a noticeably more appealing appearance. No one would buy “silver” jewelry made from silver with the dross not removed, if it was placed side-by-side with silver jewelry made from pure silver. Ugh! The dross is disgusting!
This was the point the writer wanted to make, when he penned Proverbs 25. Verses 4 and 5 employ the Biblical Hebrew poetic form of synonymous parallelism. Let me define this technical term for you.
Today we tend to rhyme words at the end of two lines and identify the result as “poetry”. The Hebrews of the Bible didn’t rhyme words at the end of lines for their poetry. They rhymed ideas between lines to create poetry.
When the ideas were of things which were comparable, then the parallel ideas received the jargon synonymous parallelism. When the ideas presented a contrast between things, the parallel ideas were labeled antonymous parallelism.
The hour is late and the shadows are fast overtaking us. We will pause and refresh ourselves in the presence of the Lord at this time, and take up this topic tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 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...
There is an old expression, an aphorism if you would, which states, “That’s like cutting off your nose to spite your face!” Indeed. Sometimes when things we don’t like are so irksome, we go to extremes to be rid of them…even to our own detriment.
Such is not the case with the spiritual truth taught us in the Bible verses quoted at the start of this study. In fact the exact opposite is the case. It isn’t our nose we should cut off and remove from our presence, in order to be rid of troubling circumstances. It’s the troublemakers and instigators who need to be sent packing. And that’s a good thing.
The first verse quoted makes reference to metallurgy. The silversmith takes the precious silver ore and melts it in his furnace. The molten metal collects at the bottom of the furnace in a crucible. Floating on top the molten metal is the impure residue that is lighter than the pure metal, which is why it floats on top. This residue is known as “dross”.
In order to work with a purer form of silver, the silversmith must scrape off this top layer of dross. This leaves the pure silver for making jewelry and other assorted silver items. Without the dross the silver is much more valuable, and accordingly so are the silver items made from the pure silver.
Such items even have a noticeably more appealing appearance. No one would buy “silver” jewelry made from silver with the dross not removed, if it was placed side-by-side with silver jewelry made from pure silver. Ugh! The dross is disgusting!
This was the point the writer wanted to make, when he penned Proverbs 25. Verses 4 and 5 employ the Biblical Hebrew poetic form of synonymous parallelism. Let me define this technical term for you.
Today we tend to rhyme words at the end of two lines and identify the result as “poetry”. The Hebrews of the Bible didn’t rhyme words at the end of lines for their poetry. They rhymed ideas between lines to create poetry.
When the ideas were of things which were comparable, then the parallel ideas received the jargon synonymous parallelism. When the ideas presented a contrast between things, the parallel ideas were labeled antonymous parallelism.
The hour is late and the shadows are fast overtaking us. We will pause and refresh ourselves in the presence of the Lord at this time, and take up this topic tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 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...
Silver Jewelry and Missing Noses – Part 2
Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes out a vessel for the smith. Take away the wicked before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness [Proverbs 25:4-5].
We paused in our last lesson by noting that v.4 and v.5 of Proverbs 25 were written in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s continue in that vein now.
The two verses of Proverbs with which we have to do in this study present comparable things, so they are in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s diagram the two verses for clarity’s sake.
A. take away the dross from the silver
B. and there comes out a vessel for the smith
A. take away the wicked before the king
B. and his throne will be established in righteousness
Notice the letters “A” and “B” which precede each line. The first “A” and “B” diagram verse 4, while the second “A” and “B” do the same for verse 5. The phrases which are preceded by “A” are parallel, and that by way of comparability (i.e., synonymously). The phrases preceded by “B” are also comparable. Let’s vet this issue now.
The “dross” of v.4 is comparable to the “wicked” of verse 5, while the “silver” of v.4 is comparable to the “king” of verse 5. By the same manner silver is purified and made fit to serve its purpose (i.e., for jewelry products, etc.), in this way is a king made fit to serve his purpose of ruling his subjects righteously.
Silver is purified by removing the dross, and a king’s rule is purified (i.e., made righteous) by removing the wicked (i.e., the unrighteous) from his presence. When the wicked are dispatched out of the king’s presence, they cannot influence him to rule in an unrighteous manner.
This teaching is a reaffirmation of the Biblical doctrine of separation. You’ve heard the expression, “What we eat is what we are.” It is equally true that those with whom we choose to associate establishes who we are. Bad company corrupts good morals (cf., 1 Corinthians 15:33).
In order not to be duped into living for self and the world and the devil, the Word of God calls for us to come out from their presence and live apart from them (i.e., separation). I direct you to read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 for a straightforward presentation of this spiritual truth.
This leaves us standing at a crossroads, dear friends. Now that we’ve been confronted with the Word of God about separation from the world and its ways, what response will we make to what He just taught us? Will we say “Amen, Lord!” and make necessary changes in our lifestyle? Or will we leave it in the church building or the prayer closet and continue on as before?
What say ye? Shall it be living for self or shall we live for the Lord in accordance with the Bible? Only one way is right, as Proverbs 25:4-5 taught us today. I trust you will make the right choice.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 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...
We paused in our last lesson by noting that v.4 and v.5 of Proverbs 25 were written in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s continue in that vein now.
The two verses of Proverbs with which we have to do in this study present comparable things, so they are in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s diagram the two verses for clarity’s sake.
A. take away the dross from the silver
B. and there comes out a vessel for the smith
A. take away the wicked before the king
B. and his throne will be established in righteousness
Notice the letters “A” and “B” which precede each line. The first “A” and “B” diagram verse 4, while the second “A” and “B” do the same for verse 5. The phrases which are preceded by “A” are parallel, and that by way of comparability (i.e., synonymously). The phrases preceded by “B” are also comparable. Let’s vet this issue now.
The “dross” of v.4 is comparable to the “wicked” of verse 5, while the “silver” of v.4 is comparable to the “king” of verse 5. By the same manner silver is purified and made fit to serve its purpose (i.e., for jewelry products, etc.), in this way is a king made fit to serve his purpose of ruling his subjects righteously.
Silver is purified by removing the dross, and a king’s rule is purified (i.e., made righteous) by removing the wicked (i.e., the unrighteous) from his presence. When the wicked are dispatched out of the king’s presence, they cannot influence him to rule in an unrighteous manner.
This teaching is a reaffirmation of the Biblical doctrine of separation. You’ve heard the expression, “What we eat is what we are.” It is equally true that those with whom we choose to associate establishes who we are. Bad company corrupts good morals (cf., 1 Corinthians 15:33).
In order not to be duped into living for self and the world and the devil, the Word of God calls for us to come out from their presence and live apart from them (i.e., separation). I direct you to read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 for a straightforward presentation of this spiritual truth.
This leaves us standing at a crossroads, dear friends. Now that we’ve been confronted with the Word of God about separation from the world and its ways, what response will we make to what He just taught us? Will we say “Amen, Lord!” and make necessary changes in our lifestyle? Or will we leave it in the church building or the prayer closet and continue on as before?
What say ye? Shall it be living for self or shall we live for the Lord in accordance with the Bible? Only one way is right, as Proverbs 25:4-5 taught us today. I trust you will make the right choice.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 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...
Spiritual Amnesiacs – Part 1
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God…For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory [Colossians 3:1, 3-4].
He was a most pathetic character indeed. He got up in the morning and didn’t know who he was. He didn’t know where he came from. For that matter he didn’t even know where he was! Sounds like a cartoon or a joke, right? Wrong! It’s called amnesia.
Sometimes amnesia is mental, other times physical. Sometimes it is accident related, other times emotional due to shock. Sometimes amnesia occurs as a symptom of illness. Anyone knowing a poor unfortunate with Alzheimer’s Disease abruptly recognizes their memory problems. Stroke victims don’t only face loss of motor skills. They sometimes encounter memory malfunction.
How horrible not to remember a foundational part of one’s life. What must go through the minds of those still in their right senses, as far as recognizing the reality around them, yet they don’t recall their name or where they’re at or what they should be doing. Could anything be more disconcerting, dear friends?
Yes, I can think of something much more disconcerting. Spiritual amnesia is qualitatively more disconcerting! The problem with spiritual amnesia, what makes it so devastating to life, is that those afflicted with it don’t know they have it.
In the natural realm amnesiacs know that they don’t know. They recognize that something’s amiss. In the spiritual realm amnesiacs go right on thinking all is well with the world, when in fact all is anything but well.
The reason for this discrepancy between amnesia in the natural realm versus in the spiritual realm is simple. We live and breath and conduct our lives in the natural realm. I mean, if we didn’t we would no longer be in the natural realm. We would have died already and gone into eternity! Ergo, since we function in the natural realm, we recognize when our natural functioning is out of kilter.
Alas, but this isn’t necessarily the case with our spiritual functioning. Even more, it isn’t usually the case, which is what makes it so dangerous and life-threatening. When we become new creations, born again as spiritual recreations, we are still in our natural bodies in time, space, and matter.
Before a person is born again, he functions only naturally. Christians function both naturally and spiritually. Any person, including a Christian, can easily enough function naturally. After all, it’s natural! A Christian must attempt to function spiritually because it doesn’t happen naturally.
To function spiritually a person must first be born again. Next the person must grow up as a new creation. He must mature spiritually. He must stop being conformed to this world and instead be transformed by the renewing of his mind, so that he recognizes what the good and perfect will of God is (cf., Romans 12:1-2).
We will press the pause button here and call it a day. See you tomorrow. Enjoy Jesus today!
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...
He was a most pathetic character indeed. He got up in the morning and didn’t know who he was. He didn’t know where he came from. For that matter he didn’t even know where he was! Sounds like a cartoon or a joke, right? Wrong! It’s called amnesia.
Sometimes amnesia is mental, other times physical. Sometimes it is accident related, other times emotional due to shock. Sometimes amnesia occurs as a symptom of illness. Anyone knowing a poor unfortunate with Alzheimer’s Disease abruptly recognizes their memory problems. Stroke victims don’t only face loss of motor skills. They sometimes encounter memory malfunction.
How horrible not to remember a foundational part of one’s life. What must go through the minds of those still in their right senses, as far as recognizing the reality around them, yet they don’t recall their name or where they’re at or what they should be doing. Could anything be more disconcerting, dear friends?
Yes, I can think of something much more disconcerting. Spiritual amnesia is qualitatively more disconcerting! The problem with spiritual amnesia, what makes it so devastating to life, is that those afflicted with it don’t know they have it.
In the natural realm amnesiacs know that they don’t know. They recognize that something’s amiss. In the spiritual realm amnesiacs go right on thinking all is well with the world, when in fact all is anything but well.
The reason for this discrepancy between amnesia in the natural realm versus in the spiritual realm is simple. We live and breath and conduct our lives in the natural realm. I mean, if we didn’t we would no longer be in the natural realm. We would have died already and gone into eternity! Ergo, since we function in the natural realm, we recognize when our natural functioning is out of kilter.
Alas, but this isn’t necessarily the case with our spiritual functioning. Even more, it isn’t usually the case, which is what makes it so dangerous and life-threatening. When we become new creations, born again as spiritual recreations, we are still in our natural bodies in time, space, and matter.
Before a person is born again, he functions only naturally. Christians function both naturally and spiritually. Any person, including a Christian, can easily enough function naturally. After all, it’s natural! A Christian must attempt to function spiritually because it doesn’t happen naturally.
To function spiritually a person must first be born again. Next the person must grow up as a new creation. He must mature spiritually. He must stop being conformed to this world and instead be transformed by the renewing of his mind, so that he recognizes what the good and perfect will of God is (cf., Romans 12:1-2).
We will press the pause button here and call it a day. See you tomorrow. Enjoy Jesus today!
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...
Spiritual Amnesiacs – Part 2
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God…For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory [Colossians 3:1, 3-4].
In our last study we were discussing being born again and then growing up spiritually. Let’s continue with this discussion now.
The born again part is known as justification. The growing up part is called sanctification. The born again part occurs as a one time act, just as being born is a one time act. The spiritual growing up part is a continuous process for the rest of our lives, just as is the case of growing up in the natural realm.
And therein lies the problem, dear friends. Not many Christians realize this fact of spiritual life. It is common in the churches to exhort folks to come to the front of the church and “receive Jesus”. When they do so they are patted on the back, given a certificate which declares they are now born again, and sent to the pews to live as good old boys in the church.
Once or twice a year they are subjected to a “revival” service, where they are excoriated for sitting on the pews! They weren’t saved to sit on a pew, you know. They need to get up and get busy! What are they to get busy doing? Your guess is as good as mine. Just stop sitting in a pew and start serving Jesus, y’all hear?
Yep, that is known as revival in the churches. Poor Jesus had to suffer horrifically to get us into heaven. Will we dare repay Him by sitting on a pew like a bump on a log? The shame of it all. Repent, you scalawags! Show Jesus you really love Him. Get busy.
Seems like any ol’ good work is appropriate, so long as we get busy. Trouble is, that is not in the b-i-b-l-e, BIBLE! As Rule #2 for Bible study teaches, “The Bible is our sole and final authority in all matters of faith and practice.”
Hmm. I have a novel idea. Maybe we should find out what the Bible wants from newly born again folks, rather than bury them alive under a pile of guilt feelings and send them off half-cocked to “serve Jesus”, whatever that means.
Perhaps church leaders—that would be us, my fellow preachers and teachers—perhaps we might want to read Ephesians 4:11-16 to see how the Bible instructs us to rear the spiritual young’uns under our care. The Holy Spirit gifts each Christian with at least one spiritual gift. This gift defines what ministry the Lord assigns the Christian.
It is the job of church leaders to teach this novel concept to the young’uns, not intimidate them into getting busy for Jesus. We need to be familiar with spiritual gifts, so we can help Christians to discover theirs and know how to direct them in putting them into use in the church. Think that might work? Hmm…
This would be a fine time to reflect on the subject at hand. Let’s call it a day and meet with Jesus for a spell. See you back here tomorrow.
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...
In our last study we were discussing being born again and then growing up spiritually. Let’s continue with this discussion now.
The born again part is known as justification. The growing up part is called sanctification. The born again part occurs as a one time act, just as being born is a one time act. The spiritual growing up part is a continuous process for the rest of our lives, just as is the case of growing up in the natural realm.
And therein lies the problem, dear friends. Not many Christians realize this fact of spiritual life. It is common in the churches to exhort folks to come to the front of the church and “receive Jesus”. When they do so they are patted on the back, given a certificate which declares they are now born again, and sent to the pews to live as good old boys in the church.
Once or twice a year they are subjected to a “revival” service, where they are excoriated for sitting on the pews! They weren’t saved to sit on a pew, you know. They need to get up and get busy! What are they to get busy doing? Your guess is as good as mine. Just stop sitting in a pew and start serving Jesus, y’all hear?
Yep, that is known as revival in the churches. Poor Jesus had to suffer horrifically to get us into heaven. Will we dare repay Him by sitting on a pew like a bump on a log? The shame of it all. Repent, you scalawags! Show Jesus you really love Him. Get busy.
Seems like any ol’ good work is appropriate, so long as we get busy. Trouble is, that is not in the b-i-b-l-e, BIBLE! As Rule #2 for Bible study teaches, “The Bible is our sole and final authority in all matters of faith and practice.”
Hmm. I have a novel idea. Maybe we should find out what the Bible wants from newly born again folks, rather than bury them alive under a pile of guilt feelings and send them off half-cocked to “serve Jesus”, whatever that means.
Perhaps church leaders—that would be us, my fellow preachers and teachers—perhaps we might want to read Ephesians 4:11-16 to see how the Bible instructs us to rear the spiritual young’uns under our care. The Holy Spirit gifts each Christian with at least one spiritual gift. This gift defines what ministry the Lord assigns the Christian.
It is the job of church leaders to teach this novel concept to the young’uns, not intimidate them into getting busy for Jesus. We need to be familiar with spiritual gifts, so we can help Christians to discover theirs and know how to direct them in putting them into use in the church. Think that might work? Hmm…
This would be a fine time to reflect on the subject at hand. Let’s call it a day and meet with Jesus for a spell. See you back here tomorrow.
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...
Spiritual Amnesiacs – Part 3
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God…For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory [Colossians 3:1, 3-4].
Rather than push immature Christians into active duty, it might serve the Lord’s purpose better to put them through boot camp first. Let’s continue discussing our topic now.
In the text quoted at the start of this study, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in the city of Colosse. As he did in all his epistles, so too did Paul in his letter to the Colossians. He began with doctrinal teaching, with theological instruction about what it means to become a Christian and be a part of the Body of Christ, His Church.
After submitting his teaching portion of his letters to the churches, Paul finished them with practical instruction for living as a Christian. First we need to know who we are, you see, and then we need to realize what this means for us in day-to-day living. This bears a strong resemblance to Paul’s directions to church leaders in Ephesians 4, to which we made reference already.
Paul didn’t pounce on the young Christians like a ravenous lion, threatening to make them his lunch if they didn’t get busy serving Jesus! He instructed them as to what it means to be a Christian. Then he directed them as to how they were to conduct themselves in their daily living.
It will never suffice for actual Christian living, to install programs and activities in the church in order to draw in new pew-sitters. This contemporary approach to “church growth” is about as intelligent as attempting to have a family by purchasing a half-dozen mannequins, and then lecturing them to get busy and help out with the family responsibilities. Yea, that’ll work.
Indeed! It might be easier than getting along with a spouse, while suffering through the teenage years with real kids. But I bet you a barn full of cows the kids will never amount to much! Rearing kids and having a family is hard work. So too is rearing a congregation from birth through spiritual maturity.
When the emphasis is on first being born again and then getting busy for Jesus, spiritual amnesia follows almost automatically. It is like a baby in the crib. The little thing cries. So its diaper is changed and a nipple is stuffed in its mouth. The dear soul sucks himself full, gurgles and burps, then falls asleep. When nappy time is over, he repeats his routine: cry, diaper, nipple, gurgle, burp, sleep.
Can you imagine mom and dad rudely awakening the little tot from his sleep, then growl at him to stop lying in the crib. After all, he should get up and get busy helping out with the house cleaning and cutting the grass. He might only be 4 months old, but that’s no excuse!
Pardon my fun, but I can’t help myself. Sometimes we Christians are so outrageous in our thinking, it’s inexplicable! Especially when we have Bibles we can read in a cudzillion different translations. I hear a voice from heaven thundering, “Pick one up and read.” Novel thought anyway.
Let’s pause on that note and sleep on it. Oh, we might want to talk with Jesus about it before sleeping on it. Catch you again tomorrow.
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...
Rather than push immature Christians into active duty, it might serve the Lord’s purpose better to put them through boot camp first. Let’s continue discussing our topic now.
In the text quoted at the start of this study, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in the city of Colosse. As he did in all his epistles, so too did Paul in his letter to the Colossians. He began with doctrinal teaching, with theological instruction about what it means to become a Christian and be a part of the Body of Christ, His Church.
After submitting his teaching portion of his letters to the churches, Paul finished them with practical instruction for living as a Christian. First we need to know who we are, you see, and then we need to realize what this means for us in day-to-day living. This bears a strong resemblance to Paul’s directions to church leaders in Ephesians 4, to which we made reference already.
Paul didn’t pounce on the young Christians like a ravenous lion, threatening to make them his lunch if they didn’t get busy serving Jesus! He instructed them as to what it means to be a Christian. Then he directed them as to how they were to conduct themselves in their daily living.
It will never suffice for actual Christian living, to install programs and activities in the church in order to draw in new pew-sitters. This contemporary approach to “church growth” is about as intelligent as attempting to have a family by purchasing a half-dozen mannequins, and then lecturing them to get busy and help out with the family responsibilities. Yea, that’ll work.
Indeed! It might be easier than getting along with a spouse, while suffering through the teenage years with real kids. But I bet you a barn full of cows the kids will never amount to much! Rearing kids and having a family is hard work. So too is rearing a congregation from birth through spiritual maturity.
When the emphasis is on first being born again and then getting busy for Jesus, spiritual amnesia follows almost automatically. It is like a baby in the crib. The little thing cries. So its diaper is changed and a nipple is stuffed in its mouth. The dear soul sucks himself full, gurgles and burps, then falls asleep. When nappy time is over, he repeats his routine: cry, diaper, nipple, gurgle, burp, sleep.
Can you imagine mom and dad rudely awakening the little tot from his sleep, then growl at him to stop lying in the crib. After all, he should get up and get busy helping out with the house cleaning and cutting the grass. He might only be 4 months old, but that’s no excuse!
Pardon my fun, but I can’t help myself. Sometimes we Christians are so outrageous in our thinking, it’s inexplicable! Especially when we have Bibles we can read in a cudzillion different translations. I hear a voice from heaven thundering, “Pick one up and read.” Novel thought anyway.
Let’s pause on that note and sleep on it. Oh, we might want to talk with Jesus about it before sleeping on it. Catch you again tomorrow.
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...
Spiritual Amnesiacs – Part 4
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God…For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory [Colossians 3:1, 3-4].
The Church grows in numbers when people are born again. Yet that only begins the story. Each Christian must spiritually mature, just as in the natural realm a baby is born and then must physically mature. The Lord gave parents to teach the babies how to mature. He gives church leaders to rear newly born again Christians into spiritual maturity.
If we don’t want our folks to develop spiritual amnesia, dear pastors and teachers and other church leaders, then we must spiritually rear them into mature men and women of God. This cannot be done apart from the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible.
Man’s words about the Bible will do no better than fill their brains with sawdust and ashes. The living Word of God alone can reach their hearts and transform them into the image of Jesus. Without daily quiet time alone with Jesus in prayer and Bible, no personal relationship with the Lord can be cultivated. There is no substitute for this.
Countless church functions and activities only make for a busy beaver congregation. Such a church appears super duper, but they are really only “getting busy serving Jesus”…before they even know Jesus! They are kindergartners who have been sent to establish a new nation in the Promised Land. Such an approach only leads to forty years of wilderness wanderings in the School of Hard Knocks.
To prevent spiritual amnesia was Paul’s goal in his letter to the Colossians. Paul’s cure is best served as preventative medicine. Stop the disease before it even gets started. If it ever does take root, the only deliverance is to give the cure after the fact and hope it succeeds.
Alas, but too often spiritual amnesia keeps the poor afflicted souls from recognizing they have a problem. Hence they aren’t much amenable to the suggestion they take the cure. They’ve become imbued with the practice of “getting busy serving Jesus”. Now that they do so to one extent or another, they are convinced all is right with God. So why fix something when it ain’t broke? (Pardon my French.)
Okay, so what is Paul’s preventative medicine to ward off spiritual amnesia? Listen:
• you have been raised up with Christ
• keep seeking the things above
• you have died
• your life is hidden with Christ in God
• Christ…is our life
• when Christ…is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory
Heady stuff, that. Yet it is so very practical. If I don’t want to lust after every skirt which passes by, then I need to turn my eyes in a direction away from the passing skirts. If I don’t want to feel cheated because I don’t have as many toys as my neighbor, then I need to turn my eyes in a direction away from my neighbor’s toys. If I don’t…well, enough of that. We all get the point.
Stop looking at the world and the things of the world and longing for them. Stop spending day-after-day dwelling on the things we want to buy, the places we want to go, the movies we want to see, the restaurants where we want to eat. Stop focusing on the earth and start fixing our gaze on Jesus.
We will finish this topic in our next study. Jesus is Lord! Let’s bow to Him now and enjoy His presence a while.
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...
The Church grows in numbers when people are born again. Yet that only begins the story. Each Christian must spiritually mature, just as in the natural realm a baby is born and then must physically mature. The Lord gave parents to teach the babies how to mature. He gives church leaders to rear newly born again Christians into spiritual maturity.
If we don’t want our folks to develop spiritual amnesia, dear pastors and teachers and other church leaders, then we must spiritually rear them into mature men and women of God. This cannot be done apart from the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible.
Man’s words about the Bible will do no better than fill their brains with sawdust and ashes. The living Word of God alone can reach their hearts and transform them into the image of Jesus. Without daily quiet time alone with Jesus in prayer and Bible, no personal relationship with the Lord can be cultivated. There is no substitute for this.
Countless church functions and activities only make for a busy beaver congregation. Such a church appears super duper, but they are really only “getting busy serving Jesus”…before they even know Jesus! They are kindergartners who have been sent to establish a new nation in the Promised Land. Such an approach only leads to forty years of wilderness wanderings in the School of Hard Knocks.
To prevent spiritual amnesia was Paul’s goal in his letter to the Colossians. Paul’s cure is best served as preventative medicine. Stop the disease before it even gets started. If it ever does take root, the only deliverance is to give the cure after the fact and hope it succeeds.
Alas, but too often spiritual amnesia keeps the poor afflicted souls from recognizing they have a problem. Hence they aren’t much amenable to the suggestion they take the cure. They’ve become imbued with the practice of “getting busy serving Jesus”. Now that they do so to one extent or another, they are convinced all is right with God. So why fix something when it ain’t broke? (Pardon my French.)
Okay, so what is Paul’s preventative medicine to ward off spiritual amnesia? Listen:
• you have been raised up with Christ
• keep seeking the things above
• you have died
• your life is hidden with Christ in God
• Christ…is our life
• when Christ…is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory
Heady stuff, that. Yet it is so very practical. If I don’t want to lust after every skirt which passes by, then I need to turn my eyes in a direction away from the passing skirts. If I don’t want to feel cheated because I don’t have as many toys as my neighbor, then I need to turn my eyes in a direction away from my neighbor’s toys. If I don’t…well, enough of that. We all get the point.
Stop looking at the world and the things of the world and longing for them. Stop spending day-after-day dwelling on the things we want to buy, the places we want to go, the movies we want to see, the restaurants where we want to eat. Stop focusing on the earth and start fixing our gaze on Jesus.
We will finish this topic in our next study. Jesus is Lord! Let’s bow to Him now and enjoy His presence a while.
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...
