We've all heard this phrase thrown around, "well, God loves me just the way I am." This claim is an interesting one and, although this cliched idiom has been asserted by more than a few harlots, under the current climate of diminishing love to a near-emotional reaction from its loftier senses and purposes, it warrants a critical consideration.
At the onset, it must be ascertained as to what sense this statement is being made. If in saying "God loves me just the way I am" we are meaning God has bestowed His great loving grace upon me whilst I was still mired in my slough of sin and transgression, then by all means, this statement is not only true it is profound and powerful.
On the other hand, however, if in professing "God loves me just the way that I am" I mean to say that God accepts and is content with my current wretched state, than by no means can this be acceptable for this would be to disregard the holy and righteous character of God Himself. He is loving. But this comes out of the reality that we are so horribly miserable in our sin. After all, if we were already acceptable and pleasing to Him, He would not have had to die on a cross!
The truth is that God loves us so much that He desires something more for us, He demands that we be discontent with who we are currently with the understanding that our pilgrimage presses us on to perfection. We should not think that God would tolerate anything less for us–now that would be un-loving!
Think of the man who loves His car. Although he loves his car no less when it is full of dirt and grime, it is that same measure of love that compels him to repair it when it is broken, scrub it when it is dirty, and to keep it properly maintained. To say that he 'loves his car just the way it is' would be to betray the intensity of his affections for his car.
In a similar though far-greater sense, God loves us just the way we are but He is not content to leave us in our sorry states. He purchased us at a great price–the blood of His Son–that comes with the expectation of reparation. He does love us the way we are but, thankfully, He is not content to leave us this way!
Showing posts with label sanctification. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sanctification. Show all posts
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Jesus Has Cleansed Creation Fully!
Our world is inundated with solvents, cleansers, and detergents. Shampoos that wash, conditioners that cleanse, soaps that sterilize, and fresheners that, well, freshen. But with all this attention and resource focused on cleansing and purification, I wonder if we've forgotten what needs to be cleansed, what is the real source of the disorder and chaos that ails the world, namely, sin.
Sin is that pervasive repugnancy, the ominous pall, and the supreme disease of creation. It is repulsive, corrosive, and altogether disgusting. The vicious malignancy of sin, however, is that until we are made alive through Jesus we do not see sin as it is, we will always think of it as something other than the utter refuse and rubbish that it is, and we will be blind to the detritus it deposits in our lives.
Only Christ Jesus, by virtue of His sacrificially atoning death, redeems creation from sin. Only by His grace applied to our lives through faith will our hearts and our minds be enlightened to allow for us to see unveiled the utter disgust that is sin and its effects in our lives. This is why Jesus came, this is why He came, why He died, and why He rose again! Amen that Christ Jesus has provided the ultimate solvent for the dirt and grime of our lives and for all creation!
Sin is that pervasive repugnancy, the ominous pall, and the supreme disease of creation. It is repulsive, corrosive, and altogether disgusting. The vicious malignancy of sin, however, is that until we are made alive through Jesus we do not see sin as it is, we will always think of it as something other than the utter refuse and rubbish that it is, and we will be blind to the detritus it deposits in our lives.
Only Christ Jesus, by virtue of His sacrificially atoning death, redeems creation from sin. Only by His grace applied to our lives through faith will our hearts and our minds be enlightened to allow for us to see unveiled the utter disgust that is sin and its effects in our lives. This is why Jesus came, this is why He came, why He died, and why He rose again! Amen that Christ Jesus has provided the ultimate solvent for the dirt and grime of our lives and for all creation!
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Living by Faith in terms of Sweat Pants
Notwithstanding the fear of exposing my vanity I must confess that I have far-too many clothes. It is more than a single dresser may hold and it bloats my closet, ties and slacks bursting through the doors. Yet with all the variety that such a wardrobe affords, I still find myself wearing a relatively small rotation of garb.
Actually, I were to be completely honest, apart from socks and underwear, I could probably get by with little more than a couple of outfits. To my discredit, there is one pair of pajamas, the grey ones, that I could wear nearly everyday. Their comfort seems to call to me from the pile as soon as I walk through the door. I find that I nearly always heed to its wooing and by the end of the night I am invariably wearing my grubby grey sweat pants.
But isn't life so like this, more specifically, isn't Christian virtue so like this. We have all sorts of options to choose from: vanity, pride, humility, and charity, et al. But we, more often than not, put on the same-old habits, those tired character traits and personality flaws that we've lived with for however long. We hear the voices of vice court us and we fall prey to our own inhibitions and habitual deficiencies.
But there is another way. Christ has made another way. He has told us to shed ourselves of such rubbish as vice and to live new, reborn lives in Him, in His name, and by His strength. It would seem not enough to say that we are called to live a 'life lived by faith.' But this is just it. It is as if every time I hear the voice of my sweat pants I wear to listen to the other voice reminding me that they were dirty and that there were another pair of sweat pants, clean and new, untarnished or soiled from my previous misadventures and escapades.
This is what being a fully-devoted follower of Christ is all about. It is not merely theological affirmations or ascending to rites and rituals; no. It is a full-on identity change. Let us then choose to claim that identity change so that when the dirty laundry of our past days tries to infiltrate our sanctification we would be able bodied to choose the better way in Christ.
Actually, I were to be completely honest, apart from socks and underwear, I could probably get by with little more than a couple of outfits. To my discredit, there is one pair of pajamas, the grey ones, that I could wear nearly everyday. Their comfort seems to call to me from the pile as soon as I walk through the door. I find that I nearly always heed to its wooing and by the end of the night I am invariably wearing my grubby grey sweat pants.
But isn't life so like this, more specifically, isn't Christian virtue so like this. We have all sorts of options to choose from: vanity, pride, humility, and charity, et al. But we, more often than not, put on the same-old habits, those tired character traits and personality flaws that we've lived with for however long. We hear the voices of vice court us and we fall prey to our own inhibitions and habitual deficiencies.
But there is another way. Christ has made another way. He has told us to shed ourselves of such rubbish as vice and to live new, reborn lives in Him, in His name, and by His strength. It would seem not enough to say that we are called to live a 'life lived by faith.' But this is just it. It is as if every time I hear the voice of my sweat pants I wear to listen to the other voice reminding me that they were dirty and that there were another pair of sweat pants, clean and new, untarnished or soiled from my previous misadventures and escapades.
This is what being a fully-devoted follower of Christ is all about. It is not merely theological affirmations or ascending to rites and rituals; no. It is a full-on identity change. Let us then choose to claim that identity change so that when the dirty laundry of our past days tries to infiltrate our sanctification we would be able bodied to choose the better way in Christ.
Monday, August 13, 2012
God Knows What We're Worth
A certain motivational speaker was wanted to make a point. He pulled a crisp $20 bill out of his wallet and held it up. The speaker asked, "Raise your hand if you would like this $20 bill." Hands quickly went up across the auditorium. The speaker then crumpled the bill into a little ball and asked again, "would anyone still like this bill." And again, nearly every hand went up.
"Okay," the speaker said. He spit on the bill, threw it on the ground, and squished it into the podium. He then picked the soiled and disheveled bill up and asked the crowd again, "does everybody still want this?" The crowd was not detoured from their previous exuberance for the bill. The speaker then explained that his damage to the $20 bill did nothing to change the value of the bill, and did nothing to subtract form its desirability.
Humanity's relationship with God is kind of like that. We are the crumpled and soiled $20 bills. Yet no matter how damaged we may be, our value to God never diminishes. God loves us despite our dings and dents. He loves us for our true worth, no matter our tattered state.
As Paul writes in Romans, "but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8)." Unfortunately, many people believe that God won't accept them until they are undefiled. The reality is that God accepts us when we are defiled so that He can clean us with the washing of His Word and His Spirit. This should be comforting. For no matter the circumstances that have beaten and damaged us, God is there to dust us off. It all comes down to faith. God knows our worth and loves us for it. All He asks from us is devotion and love.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
A Story of Hidden Agendas that Aren't so Hidden
Daniel Pink tells a story in his book What Color is Your Parachute of his wife, Carol, a career counselor. Carol had a client named George. George had worked in the rubber industry for years and came to Carol for some help. George explained on the first session that he wanted to get out of the rubber business. In response, Carol gave George some homework and sent him on his way till their next session.
At the next session, George showed up with not one lick of his homework completed. Carol looked at George, and point-blank asked him, "George, noticing that you haven't done this work, I have to ask: what will happen if you don't get out of the rubber industry?" George answered back, "My wife will divorce me." Carol, not missing a beat, asked, "George, do you want your wife to divorce you?"
George just smirked. He then shared with Carol that what he really wanted was a divorce, and that he would never change his job until he got that done first. George's real agenda had nothing to do with a job, but everything to do with a divorce. Because of that, he would never change.
People won't change unless they want to. No amount of external prompting or orthodox teaching can affect someone to change if they do not desire to change. For instance, there is a young man I know who swears till he's blue in the face that he would give anything to quit smoking. But every time someone else lights a cigarette around him, he lights one up too. He still buys pack of cigarettes, but always tells people that he's quitting; like this is his "last" pack, or that he only smokes when he drinks. He claims to want to change, but his actual agenda is to feed his addiction.
There are many verses that speak to the need to put God first in our lives. In fact, it could be said that the whole of Scripture is focused on this very thing. Our sanctification is at stake. We will never be able to transform by the renewal of our minds and the regeneration of our hearts if we do not want to. Because of this, we should check ourselves for any underlying sinful agendas that would distract us or inhibit our growth. Let us then strip ourselves of agendas that hinder so as to come closer to God by His will!
At the next session, George showed up with not one lick of his homework completed. Carol looked at George, and point-blank asked him, "George, noticing that you haven't done this work, I have to ask: what will happen if you don't get out of the rubber industry?" George answered back, "My wife will divorce me." Carol, not missing a beat, asked, "George, do you want your wife to divorce you?"
George just smirked. He then shared with Carol that what he really wanted was a divorce, and that he would never change his job until he got that done first. George's real agenda had nothing to do with a job, but everything to do with a divorce. Because of that, he would never change.
People won't change unless they want to. No amount of external prompting or orthodox teaching can affect someone to change if they do not desire to change. For instance, there is a young man I know who swears till he's blue in the face that he would give anything to quit smoking. But every time someone else lights a cigarette around him, he lights one up too. He still buys pack of cigarettes, but always tells people that he's quitting; like this is his "last" pack, or that he only smokes when he drinks. He claims to want to change, but his actual agenda is to feed his addiction.
There are many verses that speak to the need to put God first in our lives. In fact, it could be said that the whole of Scripture is focused on this very thing. Our sanctification is at stake. We will never be able to transform by the renewal of our minds and the regeneration of our hearts if we do not want to. Because of this, we should check ourselves for any underlying sinful agendas that would distract us or inhibit our growth. Let us then strip ourselves of agendas that hinder so as to come closer to God by His will!
Friday, July 13, 2012
The Salt & Light Snowblower
Several years ago, Ned bought a new snow blower, which is a necessity for the snowy winters of Minnesota. Previously he had always shoveled his driveway and it took over an hour. But now, with that beautiful machine, he could get it done in less than five minutes. The ease of snow-blowing took away the all-too familiar dread of having to shovel. He even enjoyed doing the drive.
The second winter he had the blower, two elderly neighbors from California moved in across the street. The couple both had heart problems and Ned noticed them struggling to shovel the drive after the first snow fall. When he saw them wrestling with the snow, he simply started his blower, pushed it across the street, and did their's too. It just became a part of the routine; twelve minutes for both drives. Ned then also remembered that his other neighbor, Mike, left for work at 4:30 in the morning, so he bagan doing his too. Another four minutes.
A few years later, his next door neighbor, Larry, passed away. Because his widowed wife, Pearl, was also elderly, Ned just started doing hers too. Another five minutes. Later that same year, the neighbors down the block had a baby, so Ned added their's to his routine too. By the end of that year, Ned was snow blowing about a half hour and doing five driveways.
Ned was happy to be the neighborhood plowman, relishing in the joy of caring for and serving his community. One night, though, he fell deathly ill and had to be taken to the hospital. Over the course of a two day bed-ridden, hospital stay he recovered and was eventually released. As his wife was driving him home, he felt so bad because there had been a huge snowfall the night before.
However, as they arrived back in the neighborhood, he was astonished to see that all of the driveways were done. To his amazement, Ned's wife told him that in the morning she looked out the front window to see one of their other neighbors, whom they had never even met, doing the driveways. Ned nearly broke into tears. He never realized the affect that he had made over the past few years.
The point is example. If we are to be the salt and light of the world, the very hands and feet of Christ, then we need to look at the needs around us and step in to fill them. Jesus calls us to love as He loves us. Think of that: He gave His very life, dying upon the cross to serve and to love all humankind. Laying down our preference and our comfort in order to care for others is what being a Christian is all about. Therefore, let us seek out opportunities to serve and then seize them for Him!
Ned was happy to be the neighborhood plowman, relishing in the joy of caring for and serving his community. One night, though, he fell deathly ill and had to be taken to the hospital. Over the course of a two day bed-ridden, hospital stay he recovered and was eventually released. As his wife was driving him home, he felt so bad because there had been a huge snowfall the night before.
However, as they arrived back in the neighborhood, he was astonished to see that all of the driveways were done. To his amazement, Ned's wife told him that in the morning she looked out the front window to see one of their other neighbors, whom they had never even met, doing the driveways. Ned nearly broke into tears. He never realized the affect that he had made over the past few years.
The point is example. If we are to be the salt and light of the world, the very hands and feet of Christ, then we need to look at the needs around us and step in to fill them. Jesus calls us to love as He loves us. Think of that: He gave His very life, dying upon the cross to serve and to love all humankind. Laying down our preference and our comfort in order to care for others is what being a Christian is all about. Therefore, let us seek out opportunities to serve and then seize them for Him!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Flying on the Holy Wind
Birds are the perfect aerodynamic beings. Their hollow bones and lean muscle structures make them the organic pilots of the sky, biological fliers that sail upon the thrusts of the wind. The best and fastest birds use their bodies as an effective sail to fly with the wind, using it as the driving force that propels them. However, occasionally a bird can be seen struggling against the wind, so intent on the direction they have chosen that, despite the unfavorable winds, they trudge against the opposing gales. Eventually, the bird must concede to the current, either to turn around or simply wait until the wind changes course.
The Greek word for wind is pneuma, which, strangely enough, is actually the word for Spirit. In a real sense, the language of the New Testament speaks of believers as empowered by indwelling of the Holy Wind. Humanity is like a flock of birds either choosing to be empowered to fly by the power of the Holy Wind or struggling against it in unrepentant pride.
Truly, we should strive to ride the wind of the Holy Spirit, letting Him direct our flight paths and allowing His force to guide our lives. Therefore, when we take a sincere and humble look into our lives, the directions that we are traveling, we should spend time thinking through whether we are flying by the power of the Holy Spirit or we are fighting His guidance and trying with all are might to fly against His perfect gale force current.
If we, after honest assessment, agree that we are fighting the Holy Spirit's thrust, the proper response for realigning with His perfect breeze is repentance and devotion in faith to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Only when we draw to Him in faith can we turn in repentance with the wind and fly to the heights of blessing that God has intended for us. Let us then be empowered to soar by ridding ourselves of pridefulness and turning in faith towards God!
The Greek word for wind is pneuma, which, strangely enough, is actually the word for Spirit. In a real sense, the language of the New Testament speaks of believers as empowered by indwelling of the Holy Wind. Humanity is like a flock of birds either choosing to be empowered to fly by the power of the Holy Wind or struggling against it in unrepentant pride.
Truly, we should strive to ride the wind of the Holy Spirit, letting Him direct our flight paths and allowing His force to guide our lives. Therefore, when we take a sincere and humble look into our lives, the directions that we are traveling, we should spend time thinking through whether we are flying by the power of the Holy Spirit or we are fighting His guidance and trying with all are might to fly against His perfect gale force current.
If we, after honest assessment, agree that we are fighting the Holy Spirit's thrust, the proper response for realigning with His perfect breeze is repentance and devotion in faith to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Only when we draw to Him in faith can we turn in repentance with the wind and fly to the heights of blessing that God has intended for us. Let us then be empowered to soar by ridding ourselves of pridefulness and turning in faith towards God!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Spirit Tenderizes Hearts
When preparing a nice steak sometimes the meat needs to be tenderized. Because the best pieces of meat are filets of muscle fiber, those internal fibers can become bunch and taunt, making the steak tough. In order to compensate for this, the piece of meat is beaten, smashed, or cut so as to loosen up the bunched muscular fibers and make the steak more tender to eat.
A hardened heart is much like un-tenderized steak. It is tough and taunt, unfit for use and in need of tenderization. Moreover, a hard heart affects every aspect of a person, body, mind, soul. This is particularly true in regards to the intellect that is directly affected by a hardened heart. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, speaks directly to this.
Paul indicates that a hardened and calloused heart breeds futility in the mind (Eph. 4:17-18). Logically, this makes sense. If God is who He is (merciful, eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, faithful, transcendent, supernatural, true, and gracious, et al), then a heart that is hardened to God would be hard to His traits, meaning that life would seem utterly futile, vain, and barren.
Luckily, God, through His Son and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit, has made a way to tenderize hearts that are tight and hard. Additionally, when our hearts become tenderized through the process of sanctification it similarly affects are whole person: we will think differently, behave differently, and relate differently.
As Paul says, believers should put off our old self, in its futility of thinking, and put on the new self that is being renewed in its mind so as to think the thought of God (Rom 12:2; Eph. 4:20-24). This is a beautiful proposition, that God would tenderize our hearts so that we be transferred from futility to eternity and to transform our minds. Let us then press on in humility and repentance to let the tenderizing of the Spirit breakdown the callouses of our hearts so as to sanctify us in God!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Strengthen our Tensile Strength for God
In any load-bearing apparatus, there is a tensile limit, a maximum amount that can be supported before the compression goes beyond the allowance and it breaks. For instance, an elevator's tensile limit is the maximum amount of weight that the advanced system of pulleys and counterweights can handle before the elevator is overloaded, the cables break, and the car crashes down to the bottom of the shaft.
Similarly, humans have a tensile limit for God. We have a maximum amount of God's glory that we can possess within our person. Think of it in logical terms: man, an in-eternal, material-based, finite, fallible being does not have the capacity to comprehend, let alone hold within himself an eternal, omnipotent, infinite, holy, and transcendent Being. This task requires a powerful, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, indicates that believers must pray so that the Holy Spirit will strengthen with power our inner beings so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith more fully (Eph. 3:14-21). Paul, quite directly, is saying that it is through the strengthening of our inner beings by the Holy Spirit that our inner tensile strength is increased so as to allow more and more of Christ Jesus, in all His glory, to fill the depths of our beings.
The reality is that, because of sin, we have hard hearts unable to receive God into our inner most beings (Isa. 6:9-10; Matt. 13:15). Only through a change of a supernatural kind are we able to receive God's grace. It is through God's Holy Spirit working in us to transform our hearts from stone to flesh, and to increase our tensile strength to allow the necessary room and strength for Christ Jesus to takeover our very lives. This is a beautiful thing: that God would, by His grace, strengthen our cores so that we could hold Him within it! Sanctification, in the truest sense. Praise God!
Similarly, humans have a tensile limit for God. We have a maximum amount of God's glory that we can possess within our person. Think of it in logical terms: man, an in-eternal, material-based, finite, fallible being does not have the capacity to comprehend, let alone hold within himself an eternal, omnipotent, infinite, holy, and transcendent Being. This task requires a powerful, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, indicates that believers must pray so that the Holy Spirit will strengthen with power our inner beings so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith more fully (Eph. 3:14-21). Paul, quite directly, is saying that it is through the strengthening of our inner beings by the Holy Spirit that our inner tensile strength is increased so as to allow more and more of Christ Jesus, in all His glory, to fill the depths of our beings.
The reality is that, because of sin, we have hard hearts unable to receive God into our inner most beings (Isa. 6:9-10; Matt. 13:15). Only through a change of a supernatural kind are we able to receive God's grace. It is through God's Holy Spirit working in us to transform our hearts from stone to flesh, and to increase our tensile strength to allow the necessary room and strength for Christ Jesus to takeover our very lives. This is a beautiful thing: that God would, by His grace, strengthen our cores so that we could hold Him within it! Sanctification, in the truest sense. Praise God!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Sanctification: Salvation Realized
Salvation begins with the repentance of self and turning to God in faith, believing in the work of Christ, who died on the cross to make the propitiation for our sins but rose again conquering the power of sin. Now, through faith, believers are reborn to an inheritance into the family of God. Unfortunately, many people's understanding of salvation ends there with conversion, which is a travesty because salvation is so much more.
Not only is salvation about God applying the propitiation of Christ's atoning sacrifice to the debts of our sin by faith, called justification, but God also imputes His righteousness into our beings. In truth, we are saved at the point of conversion, but we are continually being saved as we grow in the denial of self and God pours His Holy Spirit into our lives.
This is what sanctification is all about. It is the continual process of salvation by which we, our very nature, is changed from our previously flesh self to our new Spirit self, and we are transferred, adopted into the heavenly family of God from the orphanage of this world. To be sanctified, what was once unholy is made holy and what was once defiled is made clean for sacred use.
The essence of sanctification is renewal, taking something diseased and broken and renewing it to something holy and useful. God, His Holy Spirit, is the motivator, the mover, and the facilitator of this change. In its essence, it is a matter of worship. As we are renewed, we grow in the likeness of Christ and we also grow in our ability to reflect God's glory (2 Cor. 3:18).
Sanctification, the process and pursuit of ever-growing holiness, is a major theme of the New Testament. Paul in particular is consistent and focused in his exhortations to put off the old self, to pursue the new self, and to chase after righteousness with perseverance (Rom. 8:1-12; Phil. 3:12-16; Col. 3:1-17). This should be enough to compel us to seek after God and to pursue Him in order to be sanctified.
We need only to remember the immense value of knowing God and growing in relationship to Him. If we do this, if we truly recognize who God is and what He is worth, it should only prompt us to desire Him more. Additionally we should take comfort in that we are not alone in this process but we can and need to rely on God alone for our sanctification. Let us then pursue Him so to become more like Him!
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Sanctification Described
God loves. More directly, God loves us. He loves us so much that He condescended to the form of a man who lived a perfect, sinless life and took on the sin of mankind by dying a horrific, sacrificial atoning death upon a cross to be raised again on the third day. Now, by confession and belief in the work of Christ Jesus, we may enter into relationship with the Holy Lord Almighty through faith, known simply as conversion. While this is the entrance into the Christian life, there is much more.
While there are many post-conversion components to the Christian life, the most important is continual sanctification. Sanctification refers to the lifelong process of growth and repentance by which believers grow to be more in the image of Christ. At the onset, it must be asserted that sanctification is an endeavor that requires both the prompting of God and the intentionality worship of the believer.
As for the God part in sanctification, He provides believers with every good and necessary thing for us to grow in maturity to all godliness and faith (2 Pet. 1:3-4). This is called equipping. God equips us with every item needed to grow in righteousness. This means that believers have, already in their possession, all of the necessary elements required for sanctification. The challenge is that many believers either do not accept what they have or they simply do not know how to wield the tools of sanctification.
In the first sense, believers not accepting or believing that they already possess the tools for sanctification is a matter of faith. When we have faith that God has truly saved us and we have faith that He provides with everything needed to grow in maturity, we will overcome our doubt and grow in sanctification beyond our plateaued stagnation.
The second sense, not knowing how to wield the tools of sanctification, is a different deal altogether and is what sanctification is all about. The tools of sanctification can be summarized into four basic components: prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and service. Each of these things need to be done with intentionality by the Spirit in truth, love, and faith but they are all necessary for true and continued growth in sanctification. Many people become very good at doing one or two of these things and, because of that, they reach plateaus in growth. Therefore, in order for us to continue growing, once we become adept at wielding one element of sanctification we should strive in pursuit of the others.
To be sure, sanctification is process that is both difficult and lifelong. It is not without joy, the joy of growing in and to the Holy Lord is a beautiful proposition and a worthy pursuit. Therefore, we should all seek Him first and pursue, in faith, to become more like Him in Him. Luckily, God has already provided us with everything we need to pursue Him. Let us then run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us!
While there are many post-conversion components to the Christian life, the most important is continual sanctification. Sanctification refers to the lifelong process of growth and repentance by which believers grow to be more in the image of Christ. At the onset, it must be asserted that sanctification is an endeavor that requires both the prompting of God and the intentionality worship of the believer.
As for the God part in sanctification, He provides believers with every good and necessary thing for us to grow in maturity to all godliness and faith (2 Pet. 1:3-4). This is called equipping. God equips us with every item needed to grow in righteousness. This means that believers have, already in their possession, all of the necessary elements required for sanctification. The challenge is that many believers either do not accept what they have or they simply do not know how to wield the tools of sanctification.
In the first sense, believers not accepting or believing that they already possess the tools for sanctification is a matter of faith. When we have faith that God has truly saved us and we have faith that He provides with everything needed to grow in maturity, we will overcome our doubt and grow in sanctification beyond our plateaued stagnation.
The second sense, not knowing how to wield the tools of sanctification, is a different deal altogether and is what sanctification is all about. The tools of sanctification can be summarized into four basic components: prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and service. Each of these things need to be done with intentionality by the Spirit in truth, love, and faith but they are all necessary for true and continued growth in sanctification. Many people become very good at doing one or two of these things and, because of that, they reach plateaus in growth. Therefore, in order for us to continue growing, once we become adept at wielding one element of sanctification we should strive in pursuit of the others.
To be sure, sanctification is process that is both difficult and lifelong. It is not without joy, the joy of growing in and to the Holy Lord is a beautiful proposition and a worthy pursuit. Therefore, we should all seek Him first and pursue, in faith, to become more like Him in Him. Luckily, God has already provided us with everything we need to pursue Him. Let us then run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us!
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Sanctification through Suffering
We live in a world that spends exorbitant amounts of money pursuing ease and pleasure with the intention of making life seem better. As if somehow the elusive search for happiness is reached by avoiding stress and the "right" life is defined as one in which suffering is so minimized that it can be considered to no longer exist. A surface study into the viral growth in anti-depressant usage in America reveals a culture that is obsessed with "feeling" better. Unfortunately, this runs in opposition to how Scripture speaks about this immensely important issue.
At the onset of this discussion, consider Jesus, who requires His followers to pick up their crosses (Matt. 16:24). We are also called as Christians to emulate Jesus, suffering in this life with the grace and humility that He did (1 Cor. 11:1; Eph. 5:1-2). These are not simply pithy sayings to encourage us to wear rosaries or get crosses tattoos. Rather, this exhortation is to remind us that a Christian's lot in this life is one of joyous perseverance amidst suffering.
Consider two passages of Scripture, Romans 5:1-5 and James 1:2-4. Both of these passages exhort believers to rejoice at the gift of trials and sufferings for it is in these times that we are being grown more like Christ Jesus. Essentially, suffering is the breeding ground for character. It is through perseverance that we cultivate patience, kindness, and enduring strength. In a very real sense, Paul and James and all of the New Testament authors are quite clear in this regard, not that we should seek suffering but that we should rejoice in its usefulness for sanctification.
Nothing grows without soil, seed, tilling, nourishment, and time. We, our very hearts, are the soil. The Gospel, the Word of God, is the seed. The tilling is suffering and trial. The nourishment is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Another metaphor may illuminate this more. Think of anaerobic exercise: muscular tissues and fibers are broken down as a result of continued resistance and the breaking down of muscular tissue allows for more blood to flow through the muscle thus spurring growth. Suffering breaks us down but it is the breaking down itself that allows for more of Christ to flow into us.
In this regard, Peter speaks of suffering and trial as the refining of precious metals (1 Pet. 1:6-7). Only under intense and destructive heat may the dross be separated from the gold. Similarly, only under the fires of suffering and persecution may we be refined to be more like Christ. Therefore, we should take joy in our sufferings not because God will use them to make us more in His image. Again, this in no way means that we should not grieve or that we should not hurt or that suffering is less painful. Instead, we can see suffering as it is meant to be seen, namely as the soil for cultivating character. Essential to this is the continual praise of God amidst the toil and strain. But praise be to God that He would use suffering to grow us!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
The Judgement of Christ
Nobody ever wants to talk about judgement. The whole concept makes people uncomfortable and fearful, rightly so. But it cannot be simply ignored because of our fraught for judgement, to come at the end of the age, is a real future that will come for all of creation. Judgement, plainly, is that moment at the end of history when God will finally and conclusively mete out His divine justice, holding every person accountable for choices made.
The common evangelical misconception is that believers will not face judgement. To be frank, this is dangerous thinking and blatantly un-Scriptural (Matt. 13:39, 49, 25:32; Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10). The harsh truth is that in the end at Jesus' second coming, the Parousia, everyone will be held accountable for his/her deeds. This holds true for Christians as much as it does for non-Christians. There are two points to be made in this regard:
First off, Christians need not fear judgement for we have an advocate who is seated at the right hand of the throne of God and intercedes on our behalf (Rom. 8:27; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1). This is a comforting reality. It is true that Christ Jesus, because of His propitiative work on the cross, has become our true intercessor, having taken in His flesh the judgement due all mankind because of sin.
Thus the judgement every sinner deserves has been paid in full, that at the end of the age when the Father looks upon us in His holiness, Christ will He see standing in our place. In this sense, judgement for Christians depend on Christ's salvific work and we will be judged righteous not because of any righteousness we have within ourselves, but because of Christ's imputed righteousness by faith.
The secondary sense of judgement is solely a Christian ordeal, and will not befall non-Christians. Christians will be held accountable for how we live, for whether we persevere in faithfulness and to the measure with which we remain steadfast and secure in our faith through suffering and trial will we be judged (2 Cor. 5:10). This should not be overlooked: we will be judged for how well and how thoroughly we've received and transferred the gift(s) that God has given us through His Son.
We should take this charge with the sobriety and seriousness that it deserves, acknowledging that how we live our post-conversion lives matter and will be weighed for its worth. In this sense of judgement, Christians depend on Christ's sanctifying work to compel us to remain steadfast to will and to do for His glory. Ultimately, God is good and worthy to be praised. This holds true especially in His final and conclusive hour, when all creation will be brought to their knees before His glory. Therefore, let us praise Him for His awesome and perfect judgement, and that we will be judged perfectly. Let us also take heart that we will either be judged as ourselves or as Christ living within us. Let us pursue the latter!
The common evangelical misconception is that believers will not face judgement. To be frank, this is dangerous thinking and blatantly un-Scriptural (Matt. 13:39, 49, 25:32; Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10). The harsh truth is that in the end at Jesus' second coming, the Parousia, everyone will be held accountable for his/her deeds. This holds true for Christians as much as it does for non-Christians. There are two points to be made in this regard:
First off, Christians need not fear judgement for we have an advocate who is seated at the right hand of the throne of God and intercedes on our behalf (Rom. 8:27; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1). This is a comforting reality. It is true that Christ Jesus, because of His propitiative work on the cross, has become our true intercessor, having taken in His flesh the judgement due all mankind because of sin.
Thus the judgement every sinner deserves has been paid in full, that at the end of the age when the Father looks upon us in His holiness, Christ will He see standing in our place. In this sense, judgement for Christians depend on Christ's salvific work and we will be judged righteous not because of any righteousness we have within ourselves, but because of Christ's imputed righteousness by faith.
The secondary sense of judgement is solely a Christian ordeal, and will not befall non-Christians. Christians will be held accountable for how we live, for whether we persevere in faithfulness and to the measure with which we remain steadfast and secure in our faith through suffering and trial will we be judged (2 Cor. 5:10). This should not be overlooked: we will be judged for how well and how thoroughly we've received and transferred the gift(s) that God has given us through His Son.
We should take this charge with the sobriety and seriousness that it deserves, acknowledging that how we live our post-conversion lives matter and will be weighed for its worth. In this sense of judgement, Christians depend on Christ's sanctifying work to compel us to remain steadfast to will and to do for His glory. Ultimately, God is good and worthy to be praised. This holds true especially in His final and conclusive hour, when all creation will be brought to their knees before His glory. Therefore, let us praise Him for His awesome and perfect judgement, and that we will be judged perfectly. Let us also take heart that we will either be judged as ourselves or as Christ living within us. Let us pursue the latter!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Plea for the Young
Because the word for overseer, "elder," serves as a term for the aged in our society, there is a natural compulsion to feel that those who are older are to be the examples worth following. Although this may be true, being of youth or youthful is no excuse for not pursuing righteousness and living as salt and light in the world. Simply put, this means that those who are young need to live as examples with just as much fervor and intent as those who are older.
Strangely enough, Scripture offers multiple examples pointing to young people being used for great things. The first example is David, a teenage shepherd boy who was used by God to defeat the mightiest Philistine champion to the envy of Saul, the king who should have done the job. Merely a young boy, David, was chosen by God to be the greatest king in Israel's history.
Or consider Jeremiah, a young boy when he was called to by the Lord to prophecy judgement over Jerusalem and all of Israel. Although he was but a boy, he was called to be the voice of God for all of Israel, one of the greatest prophets in Israelite history. Clearly, youth is not a hindrance to doing the will of God.
Or consider Timothy, Paul's son in Christ (1 Tim. 1:2). Although Scripture does not clearly specify the age of Timothy but it is certain that he is Paul's junior and that Timothy was considered a youth at whatever ministry setting he was in. However, Paul was clear that Timothy should not be hindered by his youth but should strive to be an example for the older generation, devoting himself to public reading of Scripture, and to teaching (1 Tim. 4:12-14).
The point is that youth, though often neglected by the older folk, is not any reason to not live the life God requires of us. The truth is, although youth and youthfulness can be an excuse to delay growing in devotion, we should not let ourselves off the hook so easily. Instead, we should be just as fervent in our pursuit of growth as older people.
In truth, if we who are younger desire to become leaders who are wise and faithful, we should take the quest after Christ seriously throughout our youth as to grow like plants into flowering fruition in His due time, not hindered by our own flesh-seeking procrastination. Let us then press into Him as to be the people, young and old, that God wants us to be!
Strangely enough, Scripture offers multiple examples pointing to young people being used for great things. The first example is David, a teenage shepherd boy who was used by God to defeat the mightiest Philistine champion to the envy of Saul, the king who should have done the job. Merely a young boy, David, was chosen by God to be the greatest king in Israel's history.
Or consider Jeremiah, a young boy when he was called to by the Lord to prophecy judgement over Jerusalem and all of Israel. Although he was but a boy, he was called to be the voice of God for all of Israel, one of the greatest prophets in Israelite history. Clearly, youth is not a hindrance to doing the will of God.
Or consider Timothy, Paul's son in Christ (1 Tim. 1:2). Although Scripture does not clearly specify the age of Timothy but it is certain that he is Paul's junior and that Timothy was considered a youth at whatever ministry setting he was in. However, Paul was clear that Timothy should not be hindered by his youth but should strive to be an example for the older generation, devoting himself to public reading of Scripture, and to teaching (1 Tim. 4:12-14).
The point is that youth, though often neglected by the older folk, is not any reason to not live the life God requires of us. The truth is, although youth and youthfulness can be an excuse to delay growing in devotion, we should not let ourselves off the hook so easily. Instead, we should be just as fervent in our pursuit of growth as older people.
In truth, if we who are younger desire to become leaders who are wise and faithful, we should take the quest after Christ seriously throughout our youth as to grow like plants into flowering fruition in His due time, not hindered by our own flesh-seeking procrastination. Let us then press into Him as to be the people, young and old, that God wants us to be!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Setting the Morning Right
Every day that has ever been and that will ever be has begun and will begin with dawn, the morning. It is true that morning may coincide with the dawning of the Sun, however, for the purposes of this dialogue, morning is the preparatory part of the day. Morning sets the tone and color of the day. If morning is rushed, all day will be spent catching up to it; if it is lethargic, all day will be slowed to a snail's pace; and if it is filled with strife or unease, the only hope for relief may be in fact tomorrow. The point is that how we handle and use our mornings can have dramatic and significant effects on the whole of our day.
Morning marks a new day. This straightforward assertion, though obvious, can be neglected for the simplicity of its truth. Many people treat morning either as a time for preparing the flesh (shower, clothes, breakfast, makeup, etc.), and others as a transitionary period (a time of transitioning from sleep to responsibility like the time between getting out of bed and going to the office). The truth is, because of the significance that morning can have over the whole of the day, a more intentional attitude towards morning begs development.
A simple question might be in order: what constitutes the ideal day? Not simply arbitrary, the perfect day is dominated with an outpouring of love for God, meaning that the perfect day has us fulfilling the two greatest commandments with fervor, loving God and loving others (Matt. 22:37-39). In essence this is the life manner of Christians, to live by the Spirit and thus fulfill His commandments (Rom. 8:4; Gal. 5:17, 24). Therefore, because walking in the Spirit is to love God and loving others selflessly should be the posture and tone of our very beings, it makes great sense to consider imprinting these traits into our mornings.
As the scenarios of morning can be the dominating pall or overwhelming joy over a day, integrating these key components of Christian life into our mornings is thus essential to ensure our morning does not set the course of our day for mourning but for love. There needs to be an intentionality to the morning, just as there is to be an intentionality to our lives. For this, a brief discourse on method is in order, focused on the routine of morning.
Because worship and love is to be the trait that characterizes all of Christian life, we need to make our mornings times of worship and love, preparing us for days of praise. Although not exhaustive, there are basically three elements needed to take this attitude among us: (1) prayer, (2) praise, and (3) preparation.
The necessity of prayer is clear, we need to pray for God's provision and for His care to keep us throughout our day. Praise, a part of prayer, is a practice of worship. In the context of the morning routine, praise means acknowledging who God is and what He has done with thankfulness, an obvious necessity to the Christian life. Preparation is a two-part endeavor.
The first part is in study, we should make a habit and practice of Bibly study in the mornings as it will set our minds to meditate on the Word for the day. The second step of preparation is the focus on loving others, meaning that we will consider potential opportunities to love others as well as setting an attitude to love others.
Developing a sound morning routine that is focused on worshiping throughout the day is one of the most important ways to grow as a believer. Setting our days off right with prayer, praise, and preparation is a simple but necessary way to love the Lord with the intensity and seriousness that He desires of us. Let us then practice good morning habits as to press into Him!
Morning marks a new day. This straightforward assertion, though obvious, can be neglected for the simplicity of its truth. Many people treat morning either as a time for preparing the flesh (shower, clothes, breakfast, makeup, etc.), and others as a transitionary period (a time of transitioning from sleep to responsibility like the time between getting out of bed and going to the office). The truth is, because of the significance that morning can have over the whole of the day, a more intentional attitude towards morning begs development.
A simple question might be in order: what constitutes the ideal day? Not simply arbitrary, the perfect day is dominated with an outpouring of love for God, meaning that the perfect day has us fulfilling the two greatest commandments with fervor, loving God and loving others (Matt. 22:37-39). In essence this is the life manner of Christians, to live by the Spirit and thus fulfill His commandments (Rom. 8:4; Gal. 5:17, 24). Therefore, because walking in the Spirit is to love God and loving others selflessly should be the posture and tone of our very beings, it makes great sense to consider imprinting these traits into our mornings.
As the scenarios of morning can be the dominating pall or overwhelming joy over a day, integrating these key components of Christian life into our mornings is thus essential to ensure our morning does not set the course of our day for mourning but for love. There needs to be an intentionality to the morning, just as there is to be an intentionality to our lives. For this, a brief discourse on method is in order, focused on the routine of morning.
Because worship and love is to be the trait that characterizes all of Christian life, we need to make our mornings times of worship and love, preparing us for days of praise. Although not exhaustive, there are basically three elements needed to take this attitude among us: (1) prayer, (2) praise, and (3) preparation.
The necessity of prayer is clear, we need to pray for God's provision and for His care to keep us throughout our day. Praise, a part of prayer, is a practice of worship. In the context of the morning routine, praise means acknowledging who God is and what He has done with thankfulness, an obvious necessity to the Christian life. Preparation is a two-part endeavor.
The first part is in study, we should make a habit and practice of Bibly study in the mornings as it will set our minds to meditate on the Word for the day. The second step of preparation is the focus on loving others, meaning that we will consider potential opportunities to love others as well as setting an attitude to love others.
Developing a sound morning routine that is focused on worshiping throughout the day is one of the most important ways to grow as a believer. Setting our days off right with prayer, praise, and preparation is a simple but necessary way to love the Lord with the intensity and seriousness that He desires of us. Let us then practice good morning habits as to press into Him!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Put Your Self to Death
Putting your self to death is a significant and challenging doctrine of Christianity. Paul speaks of it most directly, particularly in his epistles to the Romans, Galatians, and Colossians (Rom. 8:13; Gal. 2:19-20; Col. 3). The difficulty with this concept is due to the intensely metaphoric language as well as the personal accountability the doctrine places on believers.
At the onset, parameters of dying to self should be laid out to guide this discourse. The death of self can be reduced to the intentional separation from our fleshly self, in which we previously lived, for the expressed purpose of drawing closer to our renewed and reconciled spiritual self in Christ. This should be the framework that guides our understanding of dying to self.
There are two basic parts of ourselves that we are putting to death. The first part of self to be put to death is our previous self. When we become Christians, through confession and belief in Jesus, we put to death our previous self in repentance and faith in order to turn to God. This is so fundamental to the Christian life that if we have not taken this first step of putting our selves to death we should seriously examine the state of our salvation. This part of the self that we put to death includes every previous bit and iota that had previously filled and dominated our life.
The second part of our self that needs to be put to death is our future self. When we give ourselves to Christ, we are to place our plans, our dreams, and our desires into His hands. This can be a very challenging proposition, particularly in a society that so values goal orientation but it is so utterly necessary for us to grow to be the people that God desires us to be. We need to place everything in His sovereign, loving, and omnipotent hands, knowing that He is the God of all creation and the Lord of our lives.
Once we have accepted the reality and necessity of putting our old self to death, then we will be prepared to take the next steps of growth: putting on our new self. Paul speaks of this concept very directly in Colossians 3, indicating that we are taking off our old, fleshly self and putting it to death and putting on the new self. The new self is found and defined only in Christ. It is in Christ, by Christ, through Christ, and for Christ that the new self is all about. A correct term for the new self is "God-obsessed." After we die to self and are risen anew to the Spirit, we should strive to live God-obsessed in every manner, word, and deed. Let us then press forward to put our selves to death to be made new in Him!
At the onset, parameters of dying to self should be laid out to guide this discourse. The death of self can be reduced to the intentional separation from our fleshly self, in which we previously lived, for the expressed purpose of drawing closer to our renewed and reconciled spiritual self in Christ. This should be the framework that guides our understanding of dying to self.
There are two basic parts of ourselves that we are putting to death. The first part of self to be put to death is our previous self. When we become Christians, through confession and belief in Jesus, we put to death our previous self in repentance and faith in order to turn to God. This is so fundamental to the Christian life that if we have not taken this first step of putting our selves to death we should seriously examine the state of our salvation. This part of the self that we put to death includes every previous bit and iota that had previously filled and dominated our life.
The second part of our self that needs to be put to death is our future self. When we give ourselves to Christ, we are to place our plans, our dreams, and our desires into His hands. This can be a very challenging proposition, particularly in a society that so values goal orientation but it is so utterly necessary for us to grow to be the people that God desires us to be. We need to place everything in His sovereign, loving, and omnipotent hands, knowing that He is the God of all creation and the Lord of our lives.
Once we have accepted the reality and necessity of putting our old self to death, then we will be prepared to take the next steps of growth: putting on our new self. Paul speaks of this concept very directly in Colossians 3, indicating that we are taking off our old, fleshly self and putting it to death and putting on the new self. The new self is found and defined only in Christ. It is in Christ, by Christ, through Christ, and for Christ that the new self is all about. A correct term for the new self is "God-obsessed." After we die to self and are risen anew to the Spirit, we should strive to live God-obsessed in every manner, word, and deed. Let us then press forward to put our selves to death to be made new in Him!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
The Art of Practice
Practice is intensely practical and purposeful. Every professional athlete or musician recognizes the distinct value of excellent practice. Luckily, the principles of practice can be aptly applied to the whole of life. If we consider Christian life, then, in terms of practice, a number of revealing images about the nature of life begin to rise to the surface.
A definition of practice serves as a necessary starting point for this dialogue. Practice can be reduced to a method of repetition purposed for improvement. When musicians practice, they may play the same song or scale innumerable times but all with the intent of progress. Unfortunately, if the second part of the practice process, the focus on growth, is neglected, then it is not beneficial practice but more akin to repeatedly beating one's head against a brick wall: not going to make much headway beyond an achy head.
Instead, practice needs a dedicated focus on growth. Like watering a garden, practice serves to feed growth. In the case of practicing for life, we are tending to the growth of spiritual traits, holiness, and righteousness. Quickly, the valuable necessity for developing a theology of practice begins to comes into view.
Scripture actually has much to say about practice, particularly in reference to those who practice unrighteousness and ungodliness (for a passing study see Gen. 44:5, 15; Deut. 18:9-10; 1 Kgs. 11:11; 2 Kgs. 21:2; Isa. 32:6; John 8:34; et al). A general point should be made here. If we are not practicing righteousness, we are unwittingly practicing unrighteousness. Our natural, fleshly inclination is towards sin. Therefore, it takes a focused effort for us to repent from our natural practice of unrighteousness to a Spirit-led practice of faith and holiness.
Methodology is not without its usefulness in this regard. A good methodology can keep our aim sure in our quest for godliness. There are two basic parameters to adhere to in the pedagogy of righteousness. The first is the Word. If we are to grow in the image of Jesus, we have to become intimately acquainted with His Word. This requires not only becoming familiar with the content of Scripture but also growing in applying the content to our own lives.
The second part of pedagogy is teaching. Just like musicians have instructors and athletes have coaches, we need teachers who can guide our growth by exposing our blind spots and offering new material in accesible ways. In the case of faith, this is referred to as mentoring. Effective mentoring requires that not only that we are mentored but also that we mentor as well. Thus we will be able to practice both learning the content of the Word and the application of the Word. If we neglect either of these facets in the practice of righteousness, we will not see the growth God desires of us.
Paul, Peter, John, and the writer of Hebrews are unified in referring to the pursuit of righteousness in terms of practice (Phil. 4:9; 1 Tim. 4:15; Heb. 5:14; 2 Pet. 1:10; 1 John 3:7). John escalates the necessity of practice by stating clearly, "By this it is evident who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his neighbor (1 John 3:10)."
This should compel us to take a more serious assessment of what we might be practicing in our own lives in order that we may be sanctified to practice righteousness with earnest rigor and Spirit-filled fervor. Let us then eschew our fleshly practices of unrighteousness and to adopt a pedagogy of spiritual practice to become more like Christ!
A definition of practice serves as a necessary starting point for this dialogue. Practice can be reduced to a method of repetition purposed for improvement. When musicians practice, they may play the same song or scale innumerable times but all with the intent of progress. Unfortunately, if the second part of the practice process, the focus on growth, is neglected, then it is not beneficial practice but more akin to repeatedly beating one's head against a brick wall: not going to make much headway beyond an achy head.
Instead, practice needs a dedicated focus on growth. Like watering a garden, practice serves to feed growth. In the case of practicing for life, we are tending to the growth of spiritual traits, holiness, and righteousness. Quickly, the valuable necessity for developing a theology of practice begins to comes into view.
Scripture actually has much to say about practice, particularly in reference to those who practice unrighteousness and ungodliness (for a passing study see Gen. 44:5, 15; Deut. 18:9-10; 1 Kgs. 11:11; 2 Kgs. 21:2; Isa. 32:6; John 8:34; et al). A general point should be made here. If we are not practicing righteousness, we are unwittingly practicing unrighteousness. Our natural, fleshly inclination is towards sin. Therefore, it takes a focused effort for us to repent from our natural practice of unrighteousness to a Spirit-led practice of faith and holiness.
Methodology is not without its usefulness in this regard. A good methodology can keep our aim sure in our quest for godliness. There are two basic parameters to adhere to in the pedagogy of righteousness. The first is the Word. If we are to grow in the image of Jesus, we have to become intimately acquainted with His Word. This requires not only becoming familiar with the content of Scripture but also growing in applying the content to our own lives.
The second part of pedagogy is teaching. Just like musicians have instructors and athletes have coaches, we need teachers who can guide our growth by exposing our blind spots and offering new material in accesible ways. In the case of faith, this is referred to as mentoring. Effective mentoring requires that not only that we are mentored but also that we mentor as well. Thus we will be able to practice both learning the content of the Word and the application of the Word. If we neglect either of these facets in the practice of righteousness, we will not see the growth God desires of us.
Paul, Peter, John, and the writer of Hebrews are unified in referring to the pursuit of righteousness in terms of practice (Phil. 4:9; 1 Tim. 4:15; Heb. 5:14; 2 Pet. 1:10; 1 John 3:7). John escalates the necessity of practice by stating clearly, "By this it is evident who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his neighbor (1 John 3:10)."
This should compel us to take a more serious assessment of what we might be practicing in our own lives in order that we may be sanctified to practice righteousness with earnest rigor and Spirit-filled fervor. Let us then eschew our fleshly practices of unrighteousness and to adopt a pedagogy of spiritual practice to become more like Christ!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Perfect Purity
We live in a world in which purity is overlooked by the vast majority of the culture in favor of pleasure seeking and relativism. God asks for more. He asks us to be holy as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:16). Obviously, for us to overcome the gap of holiness set before us, two things are in order: (1) we must understand what holiness is, and (2) we have to come up with a game-plan for holiness.
For starters, holiness has two basic definitions, to be pure and to be set apart. Although God asks for us to take on holiness in both measures, the former of the two is to be the focus of this discourse. Purity, to be pure, requires acknowledging what purity is as well as understanding that which taints purity, making it impure.
God is pure. Scripture speaks most aptly about the purity of His Word (Psa. 12:6; 119:140; Pro. 30:5). Purity thus is a direct reflection of His Word in us. When we are in His Word, His Word acts to purify us. Additionally, purity speaks to perfection. For something to be pure it has no extraneous or unnecessary pieces; it is perfect, complete. This should convict us to assess: are there parts of us that we could deem extra?
Furthermore, purity is unsoiled, undefiled, and ultimately clean. To be pure then necessitates a state of perfect cleanliness of soul. When we speak of holiness, this is what we are discussing: the state of a person's soul. Purity is to be, then, utterly pure and without sin. To be sure, that's no small order.
Think of a glass of water with sediment floating inside. This is akin to the state of a unrepentant soul. We are so full of the depravation of sin that we, our very beings, have become tainted and defiled. Only when we are poured out and sieved to remove the unclean sediment of sin can we become "holy as He is holy." Confession and belief in Jesus by way of repentance and humility accomplishes this purging.
Peter, John, and Peter all speak about the necessity for humans to pursue holiness (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Thess. 4:7; 1 Pet. 2:11; 1 John 3:3). For fear of getting too theologically dense, it is sufficient to say that striving for holiness is a big deal for believers. It can be summed up in a single term: sanctification.
It is true that God guides and administers the sancitification process; however, this does not negate the man's responsibility. To be holy is not a passive ordeal but an intensely active endeavor. In order for us to be holy, we need to pursue holiness. The writer of Hebrews also speaks to this effect, that we have responsibility to put forth effort in holiness (Heb. 12:14).
Because of the vast and singular requirements of holiness, we, believers, should heed the call to holiness and "take every thought captive to Christ (2 Cor. 10:4-5)." To be made new and pure in holiness is what repentance and sanctification is all about. Let us then press forward to live more like Christ, perfect and blameless, undefiled by the world and pure in His Word by the power of the Holy Spirit urging us to greater holiness in Him!
For starters, holiness has two basic definitions, to be pure and to be set apart. Although God asks for us to take on holiness in both measures, the former of the two is to be the focus of this discourse. Purity, to be pure, requires acknowledging what purity is as well as understanding that which taints purity, making it impure.
God is pure. Scripture speaks most aptly about the purity of His Word (Psa. 12:6; 119:140; Pro. 30:5). Purity thus is a direct reflection of His Word in us. When we are in His Word, His Word acts to purify us. Additionally, purity speaks to perfection. For something to be pure it has no extraneous or unnecessary pieces; it is perfect, complete. This should convict us to assess: are there parts of us that we could deem extra?
Furthermore, purity is unsoiled, undefiled, and ultimately clean. To be pure then necessitates a state of perfect cleanliness of soul. When we speak of holiness, this is what we are discussing: the state of a person's soul. Purity is to be, then, utterly pure and without sin. To be sure, that's no small order.
Think of a glass of water with sediment floating inside. This is akin to the state of a unrepentant soul. We are so full of the depravation of sin that we, our very beings, have become tainted and defiled. Only when we are poured out and sieved to remove the unclean sediment of sin can we become "holy as He is holy." Confession and belief in Jesus by way of repentance and humility accomplishes this purging.
Peter, John, and Peter all speak about the necessity for humans to pursue holiness (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Thess. 4:7; 1 Pet. 2:11; 1 John 3:3). For fear of getting too theologically dense, it is sufficient to say that striving for holiness is a big deal for believers. It can be summed up in a single term: sanctification.
It is true that God guides and administers the sancitification process; however, this does not negate the man's responsibility. To be holy is not a passive ordeal but an intensely active endeavor. In order for us to be holy, we need to pursue holiness. The writer of Hebrews also speaks to this effect, that we have responsibility to put forth effort in holiness (Heb. 12:14).
Because of the vast and singular requirements of holiness, we, believers, should heed the call to holiness and "take every thought captive to Christ (2 Cor. 10:4-5)." To be made new and pure in holiness is what repentance and sanctification is all about. Let us then press forward to live more like Christ, perfect and blameless, undefiled by the world and pure in His Word by the power of the Holy Spirit urging us to greater holiness in Him!
Monday, March 12, 2012
Divine Discipline
Discipline, in the sense of submission to an authority, is often neglected or totally abandoned in the politically-correct world today. We live in a society that is more concerned with satisfaction and comfort than with truth actualized in life. Because of this, many people believe that discipline is no longer necessary or that it is an appalling relic from bygone days. In contrast, the Bible has much to say in regards to God's disciplinary intentions, disciplining those whom He loves for the purpose of pruning them for growth.
Scripture, particularly Proverbs, presents the discipline of the Lord in a unified and direct manner. For one, the Lord disciplines the ones that He loves (Psa. 94:12; Pro. 3:11-12). Pruning is necessary in order to guarantee and maintain fruit-bearing potential. If we are to become the people that God intends us to be, we must be willing to submit to His discipline like clay bends to the will of the potter's hands.
Therefore, discipline is to be loved and desired for its effects (Pro. 10:17; 12:1), because we understand that discipline means that God loves us. Moreover, we may also take hope and comfort in discipline, understanding that God has plans to build and prune us by His will and for His purposes (Jer. 29:11-13). We should not dislike discipline but we should take joy in that God is pruning us.
Additionally, we should recognize that neglecting discipline has consequences (Pro. 5:23; 13:18; 15:5; 15:32). If we do not heed to discipline's compulsions, we walk in danger of future, if not eternal, repercussions. Because of this, we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's disciplinary promptings for if we ignore them, there will be consequences for our negligence.
Furthermore, parents need understand the necessity for proper discipline, not harsh but consistent and not wrathful but purposefully loving. If we are to raise a generation of people bound by truth and accountable to God, then we need to employ the pruning tools of discipline, with Spirit-led and wise discretion, of course. Scripture, again, speaks directly in this regard that a parent is obligated to discipline their child for the benefit of the child (Pro. 19:18; 23:13).
Scripture is not divided on this issue, nor is Proverbs the only place that speaks of our obligation to heed to discipline, not out of obligation but out of joy and love for the Lord (see Heb. 3-7). When the Lord disciplines us, or when our spiritual leaders discipline us according to the Word, we should take it humbly as well as with joy, acknowledging that it is out of love and for pruning that we are being disciplined. Praise be to God that He would love us so much as to discipline us by His will, for His purposes, and for our good!
Scripture, particularly Proverbs, presents the discipline of the Lord in a unified and direct manner. For one, the Lord disciplines the ones that He loves (Psa. 94:12; Pro. 3:11-12). Pruning is necessary in order to guarantee and maintain fruit-bearing potential. If we are to become the people that God intends us to be, we must be willing to submit to His discipline like clay bends to the will of the potter's hands.
Therefore, discipline is to be loved and desired for its effects (Pro. 10:17; 12:1), because we understand that discipline means that God loves us. Moreover, we may also take hope and comfort in discipline, understanding that God has plans to build and prune us by His will and for His purposes (Jer. 29:11-13). We should not dislike discipline but we should take joy in that God is pruning us.
Additionally, we should recognize that neglecting discipline has consequences (Pro. 5:23; 13:18; 15:5; 15:32). If we do not heed to discipline's compulsions, we walk in danger of future, if not eternal, repercussions. Because of this, we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's disciplinary promptings for if we ignore them, there will be consequences for our negligence.
Furthermore, parents need understand the necessity for proper discipline, not harsh but consistent and not wrathful but purposefully loving. If we are to raise a generation of people bound by truth and accountable to God, then we need to employ the pruning tools of discipline, with Spirit-led and wise discretion, of course. Scripture, again, speaks directly in this regard that a parent is obligated to discipline their child for the benefit of the child (Pro. 19:18; 23:13).
Scripture is not divided on this issue, nor is Proverbs the only place that speaks of our obligation to heed to discipline, not out of obligation but out of joy and love for the Lord (see Heb. 3-7). When the Lord disciplines us, or when our spiritual leaders discipline us according to the Word, we should take it humbly as well as with joy, acknowledging that it is out of love and for pruning that we are being disciplined. Praise be to God that He would love us so much as to discipline us by His will, for His purposes, and for our good!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Christian Contentment
One of the fundamental quests of life is the search for contentment. Entire lives could be expended in the longing for contentment. Plainly speaking, contentment is a state of being, particularly, the state of being content. The fundamental definition of contentment is dense because it encompasses a litany of simultaneous states: peace, joy, and hope. All of these states fall under one large umbrella, namely the knowledge of the Lord.
Because of the depth of content in true contentment, the source of contentment must be the Lord. Any sense of contentment that is not derived from the Lord, is thus but an echo of true contentment. Instead, to be content requires, above all else, an intimate dependence on the Lord based on trust in who He is. When we are content, we are fully satisfied and thankful at who God is and what He has done for us.
There are a number of relevant Scripture verses, however, a few warrant particular insight into the nature of contentment. The first is Philippians 4:11-13, in which Paul describes that he has learned that the source of contentment has nothing to do with the circumstances and happenings of life but has everything to do with the Lord and who He is. This is the very essence of contentment.
Understanding that the Lord is the provider and securer, the sustainer for all of life is the essential starting point for any discussion of contentment. Contentment is reliant on the Lord. To be content is to recognize that the Lord has everything under His control and that all is made secure in Him. Thus, let us look to the Lord to be our contentment!
Because of the depth of content in true contentment, the source of contentment must be the Lord. Any sense of contentment that is not derived from the Lord, is thus but an echo of true contentment. Instead, to be content requires, above all else, an intimate dependence on the Lord based on trust in who He is. When we are content, we are fully satisfied and thankful at who God is and what He has done for us.
There are a number of relevant Scripture verses, however, a few warrant particular insight into the nature of contentment. The first is Philippians 4:11-13, in which Paul describes that he has learned that the source of contentment has nothing to do with the circumstances and happenings of life but has everything to do with the Lord and who He is. This is the very essence of contentment.
Understanding that the Lord is the provider and securer, the sustainer for all of life is the essential starting point for any discussion of contentment. Contentment is reliant on the Lord. To be content is to recognize that the Lord has everything under His control and that all is made secure in Him. Thus, let us look to the Lord to be our contentment!
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