The church is called "the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27)" in the Bible with Christ being the head. The implication is that we as individuals, united with Christ and controlled and empowered by the "head," have different gifts and functions all connected to each other and ultimately to Jesus. So the finger has a different gifting and function than the eye for example. The best function of the finger is dependent not only on the power given by the "head" but also by the adjacent hand, skin, blood vessels etc. The point I am making is that we, as the body of Christ, need others for fellowship, communion, accountability and encouragement in our lives in order to function as we should in God's eyes. Cut the finger off from the head and it will blacken and harden in death. Remove the skin and nail from the finger and it will remain alive but be less than it was meant to be. Our culture glorifies the independent self reliant man or woman. So, many in the church are going it alone and suffering for it. Christian men and women need other men and women in their lives in order to live the fullest in Jesus Christ. Scriptures that support this are:
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24,25 ESV
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 ESV
If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.....Bear one another's burdens.... Galatians 6:1 ESV
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom...Colossians 3:16 ESVBut exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Heb 3:13 ESV
And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ec 4:12 ESV
Applications/Observations:
1) We should be, as Christians, in regular fellowship with other Christians especially in close relationships with those of the same sex.
2) The function of this fellowship is for exhortation, encouragement, admonishment, teaching, restoration, comfort and strength.
3) This fellowship should be sought out by the individual.
4) The ultimate purpose of this fellowship is for God's glory.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Decisions
The fundamental guidance which God gives to shape our lives—the instilling, that is, of the basic convictions, attitudes, ideals and value judgments, in terms of which we are to live—is not a matter of inward promptings apart from the Word but of the pressure on our consciences of the portrayal of God’s character and will in the Word, which the Spirit enlightens us to understand and apply to ourselves. J.I. Packer, Knowing God.
This then makes the reading of the Word necessary for true divine guidance in the usual sense. Reading and studying the Word then is mandatory for the believer in Jesus Christ. To do less, affects are lives by influencing our decisions in a negative way, leading to sin and mistakes that otherwise would be avoided.
This then makes the reading of the Word necessary for true divine guidance in the usual sense. Reading and studying the Word then is mandatory for the believer in Jesus Christ. To do less, affects are lives by influencing our decisions in a negative way, leading to sin and mistakes that otherwise would be avoided.
Sin
"Sin, is first and foremost, resistance to finding joy in God. " John Piper
....Because we find joy in a big screen t.v. or success in our jobs or exercise or our children or food or our relationships or money or ministry or alcohol or sex or anything else. Our hearts are given over to these things. But we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our might (Deut 6:5). All of our heart. To what have I given my heart? To what have you given your heart?
....Because we find joy in a big screen t.v. or success in our jobs or exercise or our children or food or our relationships or money or ministry or alcohol or sex or anything else. Our hearts are given over to these things. But we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our might (Deut 6:5). All of our heart. To what have I given my heart? To what have you given your heart?
Monday, February 23, 2009
Perseverence of the Saints
It is impossible for a person who believes to lose their faith. No one can take us out of God's hands (John 10:28,29). He has sealed us with his Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13, 4:30). A guarantee of future inheritance ( Rom 4:16; 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5; Eph 1:14). He has united us with Christ (Rom 6:5; 1Cor 6:17; Phil 2:1). Therefore, we cannot be separated permanently from him by weak faith (2 Tim 2:13, Luke 17:6), a specific sin or the actions of another person be they human or spiritual (Rom 8:35-39). We are adopted sons and daughters (Rom 8:23, Eph 1:5) of God protected by God's love (Rom 1:7; 5:8; Eph 2:4,5, 3:18,19) and power (1 Peter 1:5). A mighty fortress is our God. Who shall condemn the elect (Rom 8:33)? Can a person purposely reject God after he has believed? I believe in theory this is possible (Heb 6:4-6). The only situation that seems bibically rational is for a person to know the truth about God and reject him in purposeful rebellion realizing his end and accepting it in outright enmity with God. Does this happen? I do not know. From God's perspective a person cannot lose his salvation as God sees a person's life in it's totality. Thus he foreknows whether a person will believe and whether a person may choose to become apostate. The justification of a believer thus occurs as God sees the believer's faith and his/her persistence in faith to the end. The main point to remember is that we cannot for any reason outside of our own purposeful choice and determination lose our salvation.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Questions About Christianity
“If the Gospel of God is true, it can stand any quantity of questioning. I am more afraid of the deadness and lethargy of the public mind about religion than any sort of enquiry or controversy about it. As silver tried in the furnace is purified seven times, so is the Word of God—and the
more it is put into the furnace, the more it will be purified—and the more beauteously the pure ore of Revelation will glitter in the sight of the faithful.”— Charles Spurgeon
more it is put into the furnace, the more it will be purified—and the more beauteously the pure ore of Revelation will glitter in the sight of the faithful.”— Charles Spurgeon
God's Glory, Man's Glory
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. 2 Co 3:18 ESV
I have been repeatedly drawn to verses this week speaking of the believer's glory in Christ and in the future. This has been a little uncomfortable in that my life is so flawed that I can hardly imagine being glorious in any way particularly in some relation to God who is unimaginable in his infinite glory. The verses in question are here:
Romans 2:7
We are to seek glory.
Romans 8:18
Glory will be revealed in us in the future.
Romans 8:29-30
Believers are glorified by God.
1 Cor 2:7
God desteind for our glory in through the gospel before time began.
1 Cor 15:40
Created things have variable kinds of glory.
2 Cor 3:18
Beholding the Lord's glory transforms us from one degree of glory to another.
2 Cor 4:17-18
Our suffering achieves for us an eternal glory.
2 Thes 2:14
We are called to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In prayer and in driving to work today it occurred to me that the creator receives glory from that which he has created. So, an artist paints a beautiful painting, and those who look upon it honor the artist for his creation. The more beautiful the painting, the more honor and glory given to the artist. In the same way, the Grand Canyon and the stars in the sky glorify God their creator (Ps 19:1, 1 Cor 15:40). So, to one degree or another, God is glorified by all of creation. The more glorious the creation, the more glory to God. Sin, however, detracts from the glory God receives for his creation. It is not that God is less glorious. It is that creation is subject to futility, and we are influenced by our sin nature and thus do not maintain the "beauty" in which we were originally intended. Sin causes the fading of the beauty of God's creation and thus detracts from the creations' effectiveness in glorifying the Almighty. God hates sin because he is Holy, but also because, I believe, it detracts from his justifiable glorification. Therefore, the more Christlike a believer is the more he becomes as God intended him to be. And the more one becomes as God intended him to be, the more God is glorified. We as we become like Christ receive glory because of Him in that our beauty, bestowed by God, is seen. We reflect the glory of God as we display his image in the transformation that he causes (2 Cro 3:18). We receive glory from God in his love for us, in our belonging to him and obeying him and in manifesting his original creative plan. Any glory we receive now or in the future is from God, by God and to God. It is not based on ourselves or what we do but what God does in and for us. God is glorified by us being glorified by God. It is incomprehensible to consider. Lord, what is man that you are mindful of him? Why do you love us so?
I have been repeatedly drawn to verses this week speaking of the believer's glory in Christ and in the future. This has been a little uncomfortable in that my life is so flawed that I can hardly imagine being glorious in any way particularly in some relation to God who is unimaginable in his infinite glory. The verses in question are here:
Romans 2:7
We are to seek glory.
Romans 8:18
Glory will be revealed in us in the future.
Romans 8:29-30
Believers are glorified by God.
1 Cor 2:7
God desteind for our glory in through the gospel before time began.
1 Cor 15:40
Created things have variable kinds of glory.
2 Cor 3:18
Beholding the Lord's glory transforms us from one degree of glory to another.
2 Cor 4:17-18
Our suffering achieves for us an eternal glory.
2 Thes 2:14
We are called to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In prayer and in driving to work today it occurred to me that the creator receives glory from that which he has created. So, an artist paints a beautiful painting, and those who look upon it honor the artist for his creation. The more beautiful the painting, the more honor and glory given to the artist. In the same way, the Grand Canyon and the stars in the sky glorify God their creator (Ps 19:1, 1 Cor 15:40). So, to one degree or another, God is glorified by all of creation. The more glorious the creation, the more glory to God. Sin, however, detracts from the glory God receives for his creation. It is not that God is less glorious. It is that creation is subject to futility, and we are influenced by our sin nature and thus do not maintain the "beauty" in which we were originally intended. Sin causes the fading of the beauty of God's creation and thus detracts from the creations' effectiveness in glorifying the Almighty. God hates sin because he is Holy, but also because, I believe, it detracts from his justifiable glorification. Therefore, the more Christlike a believer is the more he becomes as God intended him to be. And the more one becomes as God intended him to be, the more God is glorified. We as we become like Christ receive glory because of Him in that our beauty, bestowed by God, is seen. We reflect the glory of God as we display his image in the transformation that he causes (2 Cro 3:18). We receive glory from God in his love for us, in our belonging to him and obeying him and in manifesting his original creative plan. Any glory we receive now or in the future is from God, by God and to God. It is not based on ourselves or what we do but what God does in and for us. God is glorified by us being glorified by God. It is incomprehensible to consider. Lord, what is man that you are mindful of him? Why do you love us so?
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