Wednesday, November 6, 2013

God is calling you for a Living Sacrifice

My earlier post took a similar passage from Hebrews.  I wanted to outline Romans 12 and 13 for you.  I heard a lot of sermons about being a living sacrifice and Romans 12: 1-2 were quoted but not much attention to the remainder of the relevant passage was mentioned.  I find a calling to a living sacrifice elusive to understand without the supporting context.  What is a living sacrifice and what does God really expect from us.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

A living sacrifice,
        Holy and pleasing to God
        Proving what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

1. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but think with a sound judgement.

2. We each have gifts that differ from one another according to the grace given to us.  Each should exercise that gift accordingly:
        Prophecy-according to the proportion of your faith
        Service – by serving
        Teaching – by teaching
        Exhortation –exhorting
        Giving - Liberally
        Leadership - diligently
        Mercy – with cheerfulness

3. Love without hypocrisy

4. Abhor evil

5. Cling to that which is good

6. Devotion to your brothers in Christ and give preference and honor to one another.
7. Serve the Jesus Christ diligently and fervently in spirit.

8. Rejoice in your hope
        Persevering in tribulation
        Be devoted to prayer

9. Be hospitality and contribute to the needs of the saints.

10. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

11. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

12. Have the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly.  Do not be wise in your own estimation.

13. Respect what is right in the sight of God.  Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.  Do not take your own revenge but leave room for the wrath of God.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

14. Be in subjection to the governing authorities.

15. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another.

16. Love your neighbor as yourself.

17. Lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Let us behave properly as in the day, not carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.


I find the laundry list of supporting definitions of "living sacrifice" lays a neat foundation of what I have heard all my life in good preaching.  There is some not to do's and some to do's.  But this is a great summary of living well for Christ.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Serving God

In my daily reading, I ran across these verses in Hebrews 13 specifically Hebrews 12:28-13:19.
Verse 12:28 says that since we have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe:  for our God is a consuming fire.  But Hebrews 13 continues by describing what these acts of service are.  I want to list them for you:
Love
                Show hospitality to strangers
                Remember the prisoners

Hold marriage in honor
                Keep the marriage bed undefiled
                                No fornication
                                No adultery

Character
                Keep free from love of money
                Be content with what you have

Remember the godly leaders who led you and spoke the word of God to you
                Imitate their faith

Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings
                Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

The heart should be strengthened by grace and not by foods, though those who were so occupied were not benefited.

Offer up a continuous sacrifice
                Of Praise
                Of Thanksgiving
                Doing good
                Sharing

Obey your leaders and submit to them

Pray for the Apostles (or leaders)


These things do not call for you to go across a continental divide to preach the gospel but these are things to do at home, among your friends, coworkers and associates, in your church and at your school.  Do these things in your home in front of your spouse and children.  They are so straight forward they need little explanation.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Where are the miracles today?

Ephesians 3:20-21

New International Version (NIV)
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

We don't see miracles today because we have not allowed the power of God to work within us.  Ephesians 3:20 says that God is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine!  What can you imagine, can you believe!  I have asked the question: why did that dying child not get healed?  The local church prayed for him.  The whole community prayed for him.  Churches across the south east prayed for him.  Yet he died.  Others are sick among us.  I do not believe it is God's will that anyone be sick in body. Yet, we are.  Can God heal us?  Yes He can.  He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.  So settle it now.  God is able and willing to do great things in our lives.  Further, I want to say that I believe the Church prayed with all the faith they could muster.  I would not go to say that the Church does not believe God can heal our infirmaries.  But the Church may have a problem believing in a full expression of God's power presently in our midst.

So why, then, are the miracles missing in our Churches today?  The miracles occur according to His power that is at work within us.  The Church as toned down our expectation of God and the presentation of His power.  I know God wants them to happen.  Verse 21 says that He wants to be glorified in His Church and in Christ Jesus.  Let's read:

1 Corinthians 2:3-5

New International Version (NIV)
I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

Paul spoke to the Corinthians that he did not use wise and persuasive words but presented the gospel with demonstration of the Spirit's power so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power.  God wants to demonstrate His power.  God wants your faith on His Power and not on great arguments from the pulpit.  But we have only heard great arguments from the pulpit.  We have been exposed to great oratory skills and it touched our hearts. We have faith.  Yes, even a saving faith.  But where is the faith for miracles?  Miracles are few and far between in today's American Churches.  And this is not God's will!  We have convinced ourselves that God does not want to do miracles within the Church.  I have heard a quote just the other day:  "God will not do something for you that you can do for yourself."  I might go with: "God will not do something for you that you should be doing for yourself."  The overall suggestion is that we have to depend on ourselves.  But I declare that we should be depending on God.  And yes, do for yourselves, and trust God.  In somethings we have found an alternative to God but the response we get is not as good or as complete as God's response.  So we find us trusting in things other than God and not trusting or depending on God at all.     

Let us talk about how we have or have not allowed the power of God to exist in our lives. Do you believe God to help you live a sin free life?  God has given us the power not to sin. Are you allowing that power to work in your life?  Are you chasing a life of the foolishness of sin and still expecting the other aspects of the power of God to work in you life?  God cannot do much in a Church that is not striving to be holy!  God is holy. His Spirit is holy. God cannot do great miracles in an unbelieving Church.  If we believe in God's holiness, we will desire to be like Him and strive for holiness also.  You know it is God's will that you live a holy life.  Yet I have run into so many folks that have accepted the sinful nature as fact and have quit striving to live sin free at least in certain areas of their life. 

Are we living by faith or by sight?  In other words: are you trusting God?  If we believe God and yet do not live a life showing that we actually trust God then what proof is there in our lives that we trust in the power of God?  We are in yet another way denying the power of God to fully exist in our lives. If we trust God, our actions will be of those that trust God.  Else, we will be withdrawn and hold back our love, our joy, our peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  For instance, if you don't trust God then how can you be a cheerful giver?  How can you pray for good for your enemy if you can't trust God to protect you?  But that is God's command!  Are your business tactics of faith?  Do you present your products in an honest way?  Do you go the extra mile to provide a quality completed product?  Or do you skim on the quality to get done quickly so that you don't actually provide the product you promised?

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Living by faith is demonstrated by obedience to Gods principles including:
Tithing – Do you give the first fruits of your income for the purposes of God?
Offerings – Do you give charity to the needy and for special causes?
Prayer – Are you developing a relationship with God?
Bible Study – Are you studying God's Word?  This is where you learn who God is.
Witnessing – Are you excited about God? Let the River of Life flow through you with energetic emotion?
Other Services – Are you fitting into the Body of Christ by performing a useful function within the Church?

In some of these areas I'm preaching to myself.  I'm not perfect but I'm submitting myself to God for his refining fire.  You should too. 

Finally, be baptized in the Spirit (filled with the Holy Spirit) - Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?  God promised us a teacher, a comforter, one to give us insight, words to say when challenged.  In Acts chapter 2, God baptized all the disciples with the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is here for you.  Even Jesus declared that the miracles He performed were done through the Holy Spirit.  Give the Holy Spirit a place in your life.


If you find that you have allowed sin in your life you should repent and separate yourself from that lifestyle.  Second your life style should demonstrate your faith in the power of God. Become obedient to God in living a holy life.  Let God work in your life as you become obedient to his principles, commands and laws.  You know them, they are summarized in this:  Love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  And finally, the last but not least is to receive the Holy Spirit.  Miracles will come as we learn to allow God to express His power in our lives.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Living as a True Christian

I want to talk today about living as a true Christian.  Since it is my hope and expectation that many Christians from all denominations across the world get the opportunity to read this.  I want to let you know that not just any old way of living is acceptable to God.  Let's read what Paul said to the Corinthians:

 

2 Corinthians 12:20-21

New International Version (NIV)
20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

Why is Paul afraid of discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder?  Because it does not belong in the Church!  The Church is also called the Body of Christ and is supposed to be a smooth working body.  Each member working both in unity and in corporation and also functioning independently to complete the tasks given by God as assigned to the Church, united members and individual Christians.  The arm and the hand have to work together to reach and grab things.  But the left arm and the left hand have to work together and sometimes have to work independently from the right arm and the right hand.  But how can this be in the Church if there are all these disorders among the Christians in the Church.  If the body needs to swing the hammer to strike a nail and the hand won't grab the hammer, how will it be successful.  These sins of the church and the members of the church keep the church from functioning well.  Some projects are more visible that others and we get jealous of those who get the visible jobs.  Or we get envious of the arm whose strength is greater than the hand.

Then Paul is also afraid of unrepented sins of impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged (or continuing to indulge).  These are different than the first list.  They are less about the unity and working together and more about a church portraying itself in poor light among the world of unbelievers.  It is about people in the Church actually not living as a Christian.  They think Christ came only to forgive sins and to allow us to continue in those sinful ways.  This is not so.  It should never be that a Christian will continue in sin.  Sin is wrong. Christ gave us His grace not only to forgive us from sin but to give us power over sin.  He calls all men to no longer to walk in sin. Consider this next verse:

2 Corinthians 13:5

New International Version (NIV)
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

What test?  The test is do you believe in Christ, believe in His grace, and believe that Christ died for your sins and set you free from sin.  If Christ is in us and we have yielded our bodies too Him how then can we sin?  Is Christ trying to tear down His body with discord?  No! Is Christ trying to show a message of sin when we know Christ cannot sin?  Again, no! If we have totally yielded our bodies to Christ we cannot sin.  So if we sin, we have taken our bodies back from Christ.  If we get caught off guard and forget that we have dedicated our bodies to Christ, He understands and forgives us.  We should labor to no longer sin in this way.  But when we willfully choose to take our bodies back and no longer yield our bodies to Christ, we endeavor on a dangerous path.  I say, repeating Paul, test yourselves.  Are you yielding your body to Christ? Or, perhaps, you have taken your body back and are doing your own thing?

Let me end with Paul's verse from Romans:

Romans 12:1-2

New International Version (NIV)

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

If you have believed God's message and have received Christ as your savior, your body belongs to Christ. If you have tested yourself and have found that you have taken your body back and are living in willful sin.  Repent! Stop sinning! And ask Jesus to forgive you of those sins. Ask Jesus to help you overcome those areas in your life that have tempted you and caused you to go astray.


Thanks.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Why Christ for me?

When I was in eighth grade one of my school mates went to a church and she said I don't see any purpose in this. I don't think she went back to church for a long time.  Maybe you see how the world presents Christianity and are asking the same questions.  I have to admit, the Christian examples I see as a whole makes me wonder if this is what Christianity is supposed to be.  How are we going to let the world know how good we have it if we don't live like we got it?  First there is some confusion about what we have.  Christianity is not a guarantee of the easiest live ever imagined.  On the contrary, being a Christian will require tough decisions.  It will require great commitment. Your walk with Christ may lead you into persecution.  You may have to live less luxurious life than you are capable. But why would one give up luxury, riches, fame and so on to be a Christian.  I think the answer is best answered by the story of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.  You see, before the Israelites were even a people or a race their father Abraham went to Egypt during a great famine along with his whole clan that consisted of about 70 men.  They took up residence and grew into a large crowd.  Pharaoh decided that the Israelites were too big and put them into slavery to not only make money off them but to control them so they would never turn to benefit one of their enemies.  Egypt, once the land of survival, became their harsh and demanding slave master.  God had foretold this to Abraham that his people would be slaves in a foreign land but that God would bring them out.  In Exodus, below, God makes a promise to the leaders of Israel that I think you should read:

Exodus 6:6-8
New International Version (NIV)
“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’”

God makes promises I would like to repeat for you:

1.  I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

2.  I will free you from being slaves to them.

3. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

4.  I will take you as my own people and I will be your God.

You can read Exodus or watch the "Ten Commandments" movie to see how this unfolded.  But I want to draw a parallel with another bible story that begins with Adam and Eve.  You see, in Genesis, they were in the Garden of Eden and there was a tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  God specifically told Adam and Eve that you must not eat of this tree or you would die.  Now Adam and Eve were living spiritual beings. They were immortal, that they would live forever.   Adam had all authority under God over the earth to subdue it.  Now Satan came and deceived Eve and convinced her that the fruit of this tree would be good to make her and Adam as wise as God knowing good and evil.  So she sinned first and then gave the fruit to Adam and he also sinned.  They died a spiritual death.  They were no longer immortal beings.  They lost their God given authority over the earth and they came into bondage to the curses of their sins.  Their children including us were born to the same bondage of sin and eventual death.

Now God, His son, Jesus Christ, came.  Not under the inheritance of sin like you and I, but under freedom from sin.  He is not a literal son of Adam since He was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  But is God's literal Son and did not inherit Adam's sin.  Mankind was in a fix.  There was only one way to fix the problem.  Jesus had to purchase back the keys to death, Hell and the grave.  He had to conquer sin and death.  To do this, He had to pay the ultimate price for our sins.  He had to die on a cross.  If Jesus had sinned prior to the cross, the sacrifice would have been meaningless for He would have lost the battle.  But He did not lose the battle.  He lived a sinless life and became a sacrifice without blemish.

Now there are promises we have if we believe in Christ.  See what Jesus did parallels the promises God made to Egypt:

1.  He removed me from the burden of Sin.  I was captured in sin.  Sin mastered me.  If I wanted to do good I was fighting against my captivity.  Sin, as you know, drags you deeper and deeper into bondage.  It puts burdens on you that spiral down into hopelessness.  For example, drugs, take a little bit of a chemical to get high.  Maybe someone gives it too you.  It gives you a short thrill for a time and then it wears off.  You want more so it cost you and it will eventually take all you have; your dignity, your job, your resources and eventually your life.  Sin has become your slave master.  It has trapped you and you have no escape.

2.  He set me free from the slavery to Sin.  When God removed the Israelites from Egypt, they no longer had their daily burdens to perform, but they still had an attitude of slavery.  Even some Christians I know think that God forgave us of our sins but they still flounder in gross sin.  But I tell you that Jesus did more than forgive us of our sins.  He gave us the power to live without sin just as Jesus lived without sin. 

3.  He redeemed me with His very life.  As we have already discussed, Jesus died for my sins.  He redeemed me from my on curse.  He paid a price for me that I deserved to pay.  When Christ died on the Cross, He paid the penalty for my sins.  I am no longer slave to sin, but I have been set free.  I am no longer dead spiritually.  Christ said "If you believe in me, you will never die."  He did not die just for my sins but for yours also.

4.  He made me His son and gave me His name. I am now an heir to Christ.  Jesus said that He is going to prepare for me a building in His Kingdom.  You know, where He went, my body cannot go.  So Christ gave me a living spirit and there I will also get a new body to go with my living spirit.

5.  He has promised a place with Him eternally.  I want you to understand something.  Not only do I have a promise that my spirit will never die.  But when I received Christ as my Lord and Savior, God Himself, made me a dwelling for His Holy Spirit. Read the scripture below:

2 Corinthians 6:16-18

New International Version (NIV)
16  ...  For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people."
17 Therefore,
“Come out from them
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you."
 18 And, “I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”

2 Corinthians 7:1

New International Version (NIV)
Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

What a great thing Christ has done for us.  I have chosen Christ as my Lord, Savior and my God.  He promises you eternal life.  But just as important, freedom from sin and the burden of sin.  He paid for your sins.  You just have to receive Him as your Lord and Savior.  But know this; God will not dwell in a disrespectful temple.  You have to repent of your sins.  Repentance is not just an apology but an honest attempt to no longer sin or do those things you once did.  Look to His grace to help you.  You cannot do it on your own.  Paul said in the verses above to "come out from them and be separate".  He also said "let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."

Do you love your sin and your bondage just like the Egyptians did?  While they were in the desert, instead of moving forward with God, they desired the old life back in Egypt.  You have a decision to make.  Now is a good time for you may not have another.  Accept Christ as your Lord and Savior.  By God's grace you can walk away from the bondage and the burden's of sin and be truly free.  Receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior and receive His eternal life.

As you can see, when you believe in Christ, you know you are free.   The girl from 8th grade now has cancer and her only hope is in Christ.  Only God knows how her life would of been changed if she allowed Jesus to set her free from bondage years ago.  But many Christians fail to understand what freedom from sin really can mean because while they are free, they do not leave the bondage.  They voluntarily hang around and continued to serve sin.  This should not be so.  America is is dire straights because we have left the God that made this country great.  We have chosen an arrogant path of willful sin. While many claim to be Christians, only a few left the sin and the bondage behind and served Christ.  To repeat Paul's words again.  "Come out from them and be separate".  God did not just forgive us of our sins; He gave us POWER to not have to sin.  Are you a Christian still living in gross sin?  God calls you and empowers you to come out of sin for His names sake.  If you continue in willful sin, your salvation is in danger.

What I think is the most fascinating is that God chose to call us His people when we call on Him.  Do you comprehend what it means for the one and only God who created the universe to call you his own out of the whole world?  If God be for us, who can stand against us?  No one!

Finally, in the last days of this age, Christ will come back and with a mighty hand, with mighty works will save His people, those who have chosen Him as their God.  We call this Armageddon.  Here God and God alone will fight all those who have intentionally rejected Him. Multitudes upon multitudes of military might will come against God's people at Jerusalem and God will overwhelming destroy them.  Man will not participate in this great salvation.  It will be God's work alone.  This salvation is for those who have decided to live for God, those who decided that riches of this world are not ultimate goal but a relationship with God and having His Spirit dwelling inside.  You have to know, if you got the Holy Spirit dwelling inside, you will not want any part to sin because you feel the pain with Him in your spirit as you walk in failure.  When you strive for that very close relationship with Christ, the last thing you will want to do is to offend His Spirit with willful sin.


Thanks,

Friday, August 30, 2013

Addressing Sin in the Church:

Judging your brothers in Christ and Cleaning up the Church:

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 New International Version (NIV)

 

33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”  34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

I want to write about the ignorant in the Church today.  There are those who think certain activities are alright.  Now I know there are a lot of things that I think are OK but you know are wrong and yet there are things at I think are wrong and you know they are OK.  I have to admit, there is a gray zone.  But friends, there is a black zone in that we know or should know either by reading the Word of God or by the leading of His Spirit that some things are without question.  They are wrong.  Those who do and argue that these things are OK are ignorant. Can I start listing a few things:  idolatry, stealing, lying, cheating, fornication (sex outside of marriage), adultery, homosexual relations, incest, bestiality, beating on people, murdering, greedy, drunkenness, slanders, swindlers and the list goes on.  Many of these listed are sexual perversions or worshiping something other than God Himself.  But others are just not showing love to your fellow man.  How can you steal from someone you love?  Why would you hurt someone you love?  For those of us who claim to be called Christians, why would you commit sexual sins that offend God so much? 

Unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 New International Version (NIV)

 

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

I want to warn the ignorant first, later I want to talk to the Church.  If you're sinning, your eternal soul is in jeopardy.  Repent now, and stop sinning. No longer be ignorant, stop being so foolish with your salvation. God's grace covers an accidental slip up. But you have to know that God has provided a grace that not only forgives your sins but has given you the power to live right before Him.  However, if you choose to sin and to continue in sin, your salvation is on dangerous grounds.  Read this next verse:

2 Timothy 3:1-9, New International Version (NIV)

 

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

Did you catch verse 5? "Having the form of godliness but denying its power, Have nothing to do with such people. What does "having the form of godliness" mean.  Does it mean that they are calling their selves Christian and going to church every time the doors are open? Absolutely, but what else, they deny the power of God to live godly lives. So we see there are pastors who are practicing homosexuality, adultery, they steal and abuse the resources of the Church.  They teach that it is OK to live like they do.  If you are in a so called Church like this, ... GET OUT.  Don't attend another service with them. Do not think that they will lead you to heaven.  Find a true Christian Church one that correctly teaches how to serve Christ.

Now then, you are in a good Church, but you notice a man living a lifestyle of sin.  What do you do?  Read the next verse so we can set a foundation.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 New International Version (NIV)

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

Sin in the camp (in the Church) is serious business.  But we often neglect it.  Paul said to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.  A little sin will corrupt your whole Church.  It will keep the Spirit of God from moving within your Church.  You have probably asked, why do we not see healing(s) and miracles that we desperately need?  It is due to significant forms of disobedience existing within the people who make up the Church.  Verse 11 says "you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler.  Do not even eat with such people.  There are several good reasons to not associate with these folks:  They need to understand the seriousness of their activities.  They will corrupt you and finally, their actions will impede the Spirit of God from freely moving within your Church services.  OK you get it.  So when you realize a fellow believer has accepted a sinful lifestyle and says lets go out to eat, can you just excuse yourself and just don't go?  Absolutely Not!  What good will that do?  If the man does not understand that he is sinning are you going to leave him in his filthy ways?  It would be appropriate to offer him a bath if you could.  We must learn to confront sin in our Church.

James 5:19-20 New International Version (NIV)

 

19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

The best expression of love would be to approach your fellow Christian and show him his error. Give him a chance to acknowledge his sin and come clean.  You must do this in love. God has given us guidance on how to handle our brothers who we have an issue with.  Read the words of Jesus below:

Matthew 18:15-17 New International Version (NIV)

 

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

So we see how that if we can go quietly to our brother, he can explain himself if perchance we misunderstand his motives.  Maybe we perceived that he stole.  But it turns out he had been given permission or he purchased and item.  If he had sinned, you give him an opportunity to reflect on his ways and win your brother in Christ. 

But if he has sinned or cannot explain himself and is not repentant or you still have an issue with what has happened, bring one or two brothers in Christ with you and let them arbitrate between you and him.  Let them witness your accusation and judge if you rightly claim his sin or offense or maybe it is you that are wrong and they can correct you.  These men should be well founded in the word of God. Then if the issue has not been resolved, take the matter before the Church.  If the Church concludes that the man did indeed sinned and he will not comply or repent.  Then you should expel that wicked person from among you (1 Corinthians 5:13).  However, if he returns repentant, demonstrated by the action of corrected behavior, etc., you must accept him back into fellowship.  The point of this exercise is not to get rid of a brother but to bring him back into proper fellowship with Christ.  In that case, we would be victorious, for who among us is perfect and without sin?

In summary, we must clean out our Church of those who evidently have not accepted Christ and insist on living and teaching ungodliness in our midst.  If the seed of disobedience gets established in your Church, God will be limited in the works He can perform in your midst.  Your fellow members may fall to the lie and loose out on their salvation.  Let us be watching and praying so that gross sins and lifestyle sins will be discerned so that with the broom of God's Love, we can present the Church to Christ spotless and without blemishes.  Remember, Jesus said to first remove the beam from your own eye so you can see clearly to remove the speck from your bothers eye.  If you are going to help sweep the Church, you need to let the Holy Spirit sweep your heart and life first.

Monday, August 26, 2013

What WE Believe about Salvation

I want to talk about salvation for mankind.  First, why do I need it?  This is a great question. Also, once I've convinced you that you need it, they you will ask: How do I get it?  I hope to answer these questions.  First let me print the Fundamental Belief as follows:

Salvation:

Fall of Man: WE BELIEVE...though originally good, Man Willingly Fell to Sin–ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.

We believe we are justified when we repent of our sins, and believe in Jesus Christ. Mark 1:15; Acts 13:38-39; Romans 5:1.

WE BELIEVE...Every Person Can Have Restored Fellowship with God Through 'Salvation' (trusting Christ, through faith and repentance, to be our personal Savior).

In this post I want to discuss the predicament Adam and Eve got us into by their original actions in the Garden of Eden. Please read:

Genesis 1:26-27 New International Version (NIV)
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God created man in His image with a living soul.  In the Garden of Eden, God visited with Adam and Eve in the evenings, in the cool of the day and daily interacted with Adam and Eve.  God did not make many rules for Adam and Eve.  Adam was put in charge of the Garden of Eden and he had to name the animals and plants.  Adam had a pretty good life.  There was one prohibition that God gave Adam and is as follows: 

Genesis 2:17 New International Version (NIV)

17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

This does not seem too hard to follow, but with a little deception by Satan and being drawn away by our own lust first Eve and then Adam violated God's command.

Genesis 3:6 New International Version (NIV)

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Adam and Eve died a spiritual death that day.  They still had an eternal spirit being but it was dead to God.  No longer could Adam have that same relationship with God that he had before.  Now, that spiritual relationship was broken.  But wait, am I spiritually dead because Adam sinned?  Well, yes.  Through Adam sin entered this world.  But you have sinned on your own. 

Romans 3:23 New International Version (NIV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Whats more is that your failure is described in this next verse.  Your experience is technically similar to Adam and Eve's experience as James puts it.

James 1:14-15 King James Version (KJV)

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Read how Paul presented it to the Romans:

Romans 5:12-19 New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

In verse 16 it says "judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation".  In verse 18 it says "just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people".  So without Jesus, we are in condemnation and we therefore need salvation.  What can you do?  Adam lived right with God for a long time.  He did right daily until that one day.  Adam sinned and brought condemnation on all his heirs.  Adam failed to heed the word of God to not partake of the fruit of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

 

Let us move to a time when Jesus was tested. 

 

Matthew 4:1-11 New International Version (NIV)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

In Jesus' experience, Satan tempted Him these three times.  However, different from Adam, Jesus did not sin.  Why?  Because He has the Word of God within him.  Now before I became a Christian I had read portions of the bible several times.  But, this method of fighting sin would not work for me. I was tempted and still drawn away by my own lust and then failed to the temptation.  Why, what is the difference? Sometimes I survived for a while, but after a while I would fail.  I gave in to sin.  I was not able to conquer sin just by quoting the written word. But Jesus could and this is why. 

John 1:1-2, 14 New International Version (NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

You can see now that the Word was in Jesus.  For He is the Word.   While you and I might have been able to refuse temptation for a little while.  Jesus contained the Word (and the power) to fully resist.  Note what Jesus said later:

John 5:36-40 New International Version (NIV)

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Jesus points out the difference between knowing the scriptures and the "word" dwelling in you.  The scriptures testified of Jesus as the Christ, as the Savior, as our Redeemer.  If you want to stop sinning, you have to get God's word in you.  How do you get God's word in one's self?  By receiving His Son, Jesus is the Word.  Let's read my favorite scripture John 3:16 in context.

John 3:13-18 New International Version (NIV)

13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

John 3:15 says that everyone who believes may have eternal life.  Because he believes in Jesus; as God, as the Son of God, as the one who came from God and died for your sins, as the one who rose again on the third day and is alive with God the Father in heaven, and as the one who will eventually come back and rule and reign over this world.  The test of when you understand and believe is that you accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and ruler in your life as you join the Kingdom of God here now on earth.

Now where is sin in our lives?  Jesus died for our sins.  Is that so we can continue as sinners without any consequences?  Never!  The Word of God is now within you if you have received Christ.  You now have the power to speak to sin and rebuke it as Christ spoke to Satan in the wilderness. Because Christ lives in us we have the power to walk in freedom from sin because the Word is in us.

Oh how grieved God is when we take God's sacrifice so lightly that we willfully continue in sin.  He paid a great price to break the bondage of sin.  But like the Children of Israel when God brought them out of Egypt.  Though they were set free, they desired to go back.  Let's not live our Christian life desiring the sin in this world.  But let us move forward into the promised land of "freedom from sin" and freedom from sin's bondage.

Have you realized that you are a sinner and are in need of a Savior?  Pray this prayer of salvation below.  If you believe and mean it, you will be saved:

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, 
I realize that I am a sinner and my sins caused you to have to die on a cross.  
You expressed great love paying the penalty for my sins.
I am ashamed of my sins, forgive me of my sins and all my unrighteous ways.  
I accept you as my Savior, as my Lord and as my God.  
Come into my life and purify me and give me a clean heart.  
Revive my spirit to life, even to eternal life and give me the strength not to sin again and to live a life daily pleasing you.

If you prayed this prayer believing and meaning what you said. Jesus has come into you and has given you eternal life.

One more thing about sin, as a Christian, we are empowered by Christ and grace to live a sin free life.  But, we are still captured in a fleshly vessel.  This vessel is prone to failure.  So, if you do sin, don't take it as a total failure.  Yes God is not pleased with your sin.  However, Jesus understands.  What you need to do is to bring your sin to Jesus in prayer.  Repent and ask Jesus to forgive you.  When you repent, you are acknowledging you are sorry for sinning and that you are trying to not commit this sin anymore.  Jesus promises to forgive that sin and to continue to cleanse you.

Thanks you!