In The Heavenly Places
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ . . . and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:4-6).
This is our rightful place, to be "seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus," and to "sit still" there. But how few there are who make it their actual experience! How few, indeed think even that it is possible for them to "sit still" in these "heavenly places" in the everyday life of a world so full of turmoil as this.
We may believe perhaps that to pay a little visit to these heavenly places on Sundays, or now and then in times of spiritual exaltation, may be within the range of possibility; but to be actually "seated" there every day and all day long is altogether another matter; and yet it is very plain that it is for Sundays and week-days as well.
A quiet spirit is of inestimable value in carrying on outward activities; and nothing so hinders the working of the hidden spiritual forces, upon which, after all, our success in everything really depends, as a spirit of unrest and anxiety.
There is immense power in stillness. A great saint once said, "All things come to him who knows how to trust and be silent." The words are pregnant with meaning. A knowledge of this fact would immensely change our ways of working. Instead of restless struggles, we would "sit down" inwardly before the Lord, and would let the Divine forces of His Spirit work out in silence the ends to which we aspire. You may not see or feel the operations of this silent force, but be assured it is always working mightily, and will work for you, if you only get your spirit still enough to be carried along by the currents of its power.
--Hannah Whitall Smith
***
"There is a point of rest
At the great center of the cyclone's force,
A silence at its secret source;
A little child might slumber undisturbed,
Without the ruffle of one fair curl,
In that strange, central calm, amid the mighty whirl."
***
It is your business to learn to be peaceful and safe in God in every situation.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Grace
Saved by Grace
Study By: Charles T. Buntin
1. Salvation is 100 percent a work of God--we are unable, because of our bondage to sin and rebellion, to do anything meriting God’s favor.
2. God reaches down to save people--He conceived the plan, He sent His Son to accomplish the plan--He does 100% of the work.
3. When we experience what the Bible calls the New Birth (John 3:3-8), we are then SAVED, we pass from death to life (Eph 2:1-6; John 5:24; 6:40; 6:47).
4. As a part of the gift of Salvation, we become adopted children of God (Gal 3:26-4:7).
5. When we sin, God deals with us as a Father to a child (Heb 12:4-8).
6. God’s Grace and actions are the determining factors in our salvation, even to include His working in our lives to develop a lifestyle consistent with salvation. (Eph 2:8-10; Phil. 2:12-13)
The Grace of God is so simple, yet so profound that it is beyond the greatest minds to fully understand. It stands in opposition to the ideas that most of us have about earning our way in the world, about people getting what they deserve, about “fairness,” and about the independence of human beings. The best simple definition this writer has ever heard for Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
The meaning of Grace behind that simple explanation is one of the most hated teachings in the world because it so totally undermines and removes all traces of human pride. The Doctrine of Grace teaches that we are totally unable to save ourselves, to help in our salvation, to do anything to merit all or any part of our salvation, or to keep our salvation. We are saved totally as an act of God’s will, and we do not deserve it in any way. Indeed, those that are saved are equally (if not more) deserving of Hell as those who actually go there! This is the most important first principle in understanding Grace--no one in the entire human race deserves any consideration from God, we are all rebels and sinners, and we all deserve Hell. Except for His own redemption plan, God could rightfully have sent the entire human race to eternal punishment long ago! The description Paul gives of believers before salvation fits the entire human race if they are without Christ:
Ephesians 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. (NIV)
In spite of our fitness for wrath, however, God has exercised His Grace toward us in Christ.
Ephesians 2:4-10 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)
What is the meaning of Grace? We were dead spiritually; we were fit for nothing but wrath; we were rebels and in bondage to sin and Satan. In the midst of that condition, God saved us. We exercised faith, which is itself a gift of God (John 6:44-47), and God blessed us with the greatest possible gift--eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord! (John 5:24; 6:37-40). What is more, we can add nothing to Grace. Before we were saved, we had nothing to contribute to the process ( Rom 3:10-11; 1 Cor 2:14; Job 14:4; Jer. 13:23), and During the New Birth experience, we add nothing to it. The Bible makes plain that the mysterious supernatural experience called the New Birth is an act of God.
John 3:3-8 “In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (NIV)
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (NIV)
You might ask, “If this is all a work of God, where do I fit in the process?” The answer is you must believe, you must exercise faith in Christ for salvation. (Rom 10:9-13; Acts 16:30-31). This exercise is not a work, however, because is involves no ability on our part and no effort on our part. That is the hard thing to understand about faith--it is not an action, it is a surrender, a throwing up of the hands and saying, “I can do nothing in myself.”
Justification by Faith
What does the term “Justified” mean? The Bible meaning of the word is to be totally blameless and totally guiltless--to be able to stand before God clean and pure in every way. A play on the word helps us to understand its meaning. If I am Justified, it is Just-as-if-I’d never sinned, and Just-as-if-I’d always been holy and done the right things. Remember our helpless position before God--as “children of Wrath,” we are unable to satisfy God--all His lovely and perfect Law can do is condemn us:
Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (NIV)
Our Father, however, has devised a plan and made a way for us to stand righteous before Him. He has sent His own Son as a Sacrifice on our behalf, (Chapter 5) and those who believe in Him shall have everlasting life, and shall be seen as righteous in God’s sight.
Romans 3:21-24 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. (NIV)
This righteousness we receive is imputed righteousness--that is a theological term which means it is put to our account, just like a deposit put in our bank account by someone else. God legally declares us to be righteous, and puts that on our record in Heaven.
Romans 4:1-5 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about-- but not before God. What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” (NIV)
The illustration below shows a ledger, an account book. In order for you to understand the principle, do the following things:
1. Write your name by the words “Account Holder.”
2. Using a black or blue pen, under the column labeled “Sins on Account,” write some of your known sins--don’t be bashful, put several in. Then imagine how many pages the real account is!
3. You can’t put anything in the column that says “Good Works Done,” because you have none (Isa. 64:6).
4. Now take a different pen--a bright RED one, and across the “Sins on Account” column, write in large letters, “Paid for by Christ’s Blood!”
5. Under the “Good Works Done” column, write again in RED, “Supplied by the Righteousness of Christ.”
ETERNAL ACCOUNT
Account Holder:
This is Justification, to stand before God with all accounts paid, and clothed in the righteousness of His only Son, Jesus Christ. To be able know that you have “peace with God”--there is no more war between you and the Almighty. (Rom 5:1). Taken together, the concepts of Grace and Justification by Faith show the uniqueness of the Christian doctrine of Salvation. It is like the exclamation of Jonah--”Salvation is of the LORD!” (Jonah 2:9, KJV). The message of Grace is God Saves Sinners. It is His Plan, it was His Son who died and rose again, it is His Spirit who enlivens the preaching and witness of believers to awaken sinners to their need of salvation and lead them to faith in Christ.
Three of the watchwords of the revival of Biblical preaching known as the Reformation were: Sola Fide (Faith alone), Sola Gratia (Grace alone), and Sola Christi (Christ alone). These Latin terms describe God’s salvation plan in a nutshell--He has done it all, and we can claim no credit for ourselves. The result of this wonderful outpouring of His love is our salvation, and that results further in the fourth watchword: Soli Deo Gloria (The Glory to God alone).
Study By: Charles T. Buntin
1. Salvation is 100 percent a work of God--we are unable, because of our bondage to sin and rebellion, to do anything meriting God’s favor.
2. God reaches down to save people--He conceived the plan, He sent His Son to accomplish the plan--He does 100% of the work.
3. When we experience what the Bible calls the New Birth (John 3:3-8), we are then SAVED, we pass from death to life (Eph 2:1-6; John 5:24; 6:40; 6:47).
4. As a part of the gift of Salvation, we become adopted children of God (Gal 3:26-4:7).
5. When we sin, God deals with us as a Father to a child (Heb 12:4-8).
6. God’s Grace and actions are the determining factors in our salvation, even to include His working in our lives to develop a lifestyle consistent with salvation. (Eph 2:8-10; Phil. 2:12-13)
The Grace of God is so simple, yet so profound that it is beyond the greatest minds to fully understand. It stands in opposition to the ideas that most of us have about earning our way in the world, about people getting what they deserve, about “fairness,” and about the independence of human beings. The best simple definition this writer has ever heard for Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
The meaning of Grace behind that simple explanation is one of the most hated teachings in the world because it so totally undermines and removes all traces of human pride. The Doctrine of Grace teaches that we are totally unable to save ourselves, to help in our salvation, to do anything to merit all or any part of our salvation, or to keep our salvation. We are saved totally as an act of God’s will, and we do not deserve it in any way. Indeed, those that are saved are equally (if not more) deserving of Hell as those who actually go there! This is the most important first principle in understanding Grace--no one in the entire human race deserves any consideration from God, we are all rebels and sinners, and we all deserve Hell. Except for His own redemption plan, God could rightfully have sent the entire human race to eternal punishment long ago! The description Paul gives of believers before salvation fits the entire human race if they are without Christ:
Ephesians 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. (NIV)
In spite of our fitness for wrath, however, God has exercised His Grace toward us in Christ.
Ephesians 2:4-10 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)
What is the meaning of Grace? We were dead spiritually; we were fit for nothing but wrath; we were rebels and in bondage to sin and Satan. In the midst of that condition, God saved us. We exercised faith, which is itself a gift of God (John 6:44-47), and God blessed us with the greatest possible gift--eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord! (John 5:24; 6:37-40). What is more, we can add nothing to Grace. Before we were saved, we had nothing to contribute to the process ( Rom 3:10-11; 1 Cor 2:14; Job 14:4; Jer. 13:23), and During the New Birth experience, we add nothing to it. The Bible makes plain that the mysterious supernatural experience called the New Birth is an act of God.
John 3:3-8 “In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (NIV)
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (NIV)
You might ask, “If this is all a work of God, where do I fit in the process?” The answer is you must believe, you must exercise faith in Christ for salvation. (Rom 10:9-13; Acts 16:30-31). This exercise is not a work, however, because is involves no ability on our part and no effort on our part. That is the hard thing to understand about faith--it is not an action, it is a surrender, a throwing up of the hands and saying, “I can do nothing in myself.”
Justification by Faith
What does the term “Justified” mean? The Bible meaning of the word is to be totally blameless and totally guiltless--to be able to stand before God clean and pure in every way. A play on the word helps us to understand its meaning. If I am Justified, it is Just-as-if-I’d never sinned, and Just-as-if-I’d always been holy and done the right things. Remember our helpless position before God--as “children of Wrath,” we are unable to satisfy God--all His lovely and perfect Law can do is condemn us:
Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (NIV)
Our Father, however, has devised a plan and made a way for us to stand righteous before Him. He has sent His own Son as a Sacrifice on our behalf, (Chapter 5) and those who believe in Him shall have everlasting life, and shall be seen as righteous in God’s sight.
Romans 3:21-24 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. (NIV)
This righteousness we receive is imputed righteousness--that is a theological term which means it is put to our account, just like a deposit put in our bank account by someone else. God legally declares us to be righteous, and puts that on our record in Heaven.
Romans 4:1-5 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about-- but not before God. What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” (NIV)
The illustration below shows a ledger, an account book. In order for you to understand the principle, do the following things:
1. Write your name by the words “Account Holder.”
2. Using a black or blue pen, under the column labeled “Sins on Account,” write some of your known sins--don’t be bashful, put several in. Then imagine how many pages the real account is!
3. You can’t put anything in the column that says “Good Works Done,” because you have none (Isa. 64:6).
4. Now take a different pen--a bright RED one, and across the “Sins on Account” column, write in large letters, “Paid for by Christ’s Blood!”
5. Under the “Good Works Done” column, write again in RED, “Supplied by the Righteousness of Christ.”
ETERNAL ACCOUNT
Account Holder:
This is Justification, to stand before God with all accounts paid, and clothed in the righteousness of His only Son, Jesus Christ. To be able know that you have “peace with God”--there is no more war between you and the Almighty. (Rom 5:1). Taken together, the concepts of Grace and Justification by Faith show the uniqueness of the Christian doctrine of Salvation. It is like the exclamation of Jonah--”Salvation is of the LORD!” (Jonah 2:9, KJV). The message of Grace is God Saves Sinners. It is His Plan, it was His Son who died and rose again, it is His Spirit who enlivens the preaching and witness of believers to awaken sinners to their need of salvation and lead them to faith in Christ.
Three of the watchwords of the revival of Biblical preaching known as the Reformation were: Sola Fide (Faith alone), Sola Gratia (Grace alone), and Sola Christi (Christ alone). These Latin terms describe God’s salvation plan in a nutshell--He has done it all, and we can claim no credit for ourselves. The result of this wonderful outpouring of His love is our salvation, and that results further in the fourth watchword: Soli Deo Gloria (The Glory to God alone).
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Bouncing Between Light and Darkness
Do Christians really have two natures and bounce back and forth between light and darkness, goodness and evil? I have been on many Christian discussion forums and this error consistently seems to surface. It is like we have two different forces dwelling within us which are battling for control and what we do or do not do is what will decide which one wins in the long run. It seems there is a misconception on how the outcome is determined. If we do nothing the evil, dark side wins. In order to counteract the evil, dark side we strive to work to make ourselves good. As Christians we set ourselves to study the Bible more, pray more, go to church more, be more charitable, confess our sins more and all this is done with a zeal which makes us think the good side is winning over the evil side. For some Christians their whole life is consumed with their misconceived method with which they try to guarantee the good side wins. This mindset puts one under a performance and works centered religion rather than center on Christ and what He has done for us for if righteousness comes by the law or our performance of doing good then Christ is dead in vain – Gal. 3:21
I’ve heard this illustration of the black dog and the white dog fighting to win a battle. The black dog is the nature we have received from the first Adam. We are born dead in sin because we have the nature of Adam passed down to us. That is our old nature. The new nature we have been given by Christ’s finished work on the cross is the white dog which is all good. These two dogs are bitter enemies and are constantly fighting each other. When we are involved in what we consider sin or worldly things we are feeding the black dog. When we are involved in spiritual things we are feeding the white dog and whichever one we feed the most will win out in the long run. When this mindset of having two natures gets a foothold in our lives its end result is always focused inward. If we let the evil, dark side take control we end up condemning ourselves and if the good, light side takes control through our efforts to be good then self-righteousness and pride sets in.
Another illustration, which I’m sure you have all heard, is the devil is sitting on one shoulder and God on the other with both whispering in our ears and whichever one we listed to will win us.
But is this what scripture teaches? Is this actually the truth that we have two natures in us and we bounce back and forth between the two, back and forth between darkness and light, evil and good?
Consider the following verses:
(2 Cor 5:17 KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Through belief in Christ we have;
spiritual death removed - Rom. 5:12; 6:23; Jn. 5:24
wrath removed - Jn. 3:36; Rom. 5:9-10; Eph. 2:3; 5:6
spiritual blindness removed - 2 Cor. 4:3-4
spiritual alienation removed - Eph. 2:12-15, 19; Rom. 5:6
enmity removed - Rom. 5:10; Col. 1:21; Eph. 2:15-16
condemnation removed - Rom. 8:1-3; 5:16-18
unrighteousness removed - Rom. 3:10, 22-24; 10:10
We are, at the moment of salvation;
transferred from spiritual darkness - Col. 1:13-14; Eph. 5:8; Acts 26:18
freed from the curse of the law - Gal. 3:10-13; Rom. 10:4
freed from the slave market of sin - Gal. 4:7; 5:1, 13; Rom. 6:6-9, 17-20; Jn. 8:34-36
have natural man status changed - 1 Cor. 2:12-14; 15:45-46; Jude 19
perishing status changed - Jn. 3:16; 10:28; 1 Cor. 1:18; 15:17-18; 2 Cor. 2:15; 4:3-4
sinner status changed - Rom. 5:8, 12, 19; 1 Tim. 1:15
I believe these scripture, and many more, show that we are not dwelling with two natures battling for victory in us. You are either in the darkness, lost in the old Adam, or in the light, saved by Christ and given His nature, but you can’t be both at the same time.
(Col 1:12-13 KJV) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: {13} Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
You can’t be in two different kingdoms at the same time. You are in either one or the other. If you believe you have two natures, one evil and one good, then you are living in unbelief of the truth of Christ and His written word.
I’ve heard this illustration of the black dog and the white dog fighting to win a battle. The black dog is the nature we have received from the first Adam. We are born dead in sin because we have the nature of Adam passed down to us. That is our old nature. The new nature we have been given by Christ’s finished work on the cross is the white dog which is all good. These two dogs are bitter enemies and are constantly fighting each other. When we are involved in what we consider sin or worldly things we are feeding the black dog. When we are involved in spiritual things we are feeding the white dog and whichever one we feed the most will win out in the long run. When this mindset of having two natures gets a foothold in our lives its end result is always focused inward. If we let the evil, dark side take control we end up condemning ourselves and if the good, light side takes control through our efforts to be good then self-righteousness and pride sets in.
Another illustration, which I’m sure you have all heard, is the devil is sitting on one shoulder and God on the other with both whispering in our ears and whichever one we listed to will win us.
But is this what scripture teaches? Is this actually the truth that we have two natures in us and we bounce back and forth between the two, back and forth between darkness and light, evil and good?
Consider the following verses:
(2 Cor 5:17 KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Through belief in Christ we have;
spiritual death removed - Rom. 5:12; 6:23; Jn. 5:24
wrath removed - Jn. 3:36; Rom. 5:9-10; Eph. 2:3; 5:6
spiritual blindness removed - 2 Cor. 4:3-4
spiritual alienation removed - Eph. 2:12-15, 19; Rom. 5:6
enmity removed - Rom. 5:10; Col. 1:21; Eph. 2:15-16
condemnation removed - Rom. 8:1-3; 5:16-18
unrighteousness removed - Rom. 3:10, 22-24; 10:10
We are, at the moment of salvation;
transferred from spiritual darkness - Col. 1:13-14; Eph. 5:8; Acts 26:18
freed from the curse of the law - Gal. 3:10-13; Rom. 10:4
freed from the slave market of sin - Gal. 4:7; 5:1, 13; Rom. 6:6-9, 17-20; Jn. 8:34-36
have natural man status changed - 1 Cor. 2:12-14; 15:45-46; Jude 19
perishing status changed - Jn. 3:16; 10:28; 1 Cor. 1:18; 15:17-18; 2 Cor. 2:15; 4:3-4
sinner status changed - Rom. 5:8, 12, 19; 1 Tim. 1:15
I believe these scripture, and many more, show that we are not dwelling with two natures battling for victory in us. You are either in the darkness, lost in the old Adam, or in the light, saved by Christ and given His nature, but you can’t be both at the same time.
(Col 1:12-13 KJV) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: {13} Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
You can’t be in two different kingdoms at the same time. You are in either one or the other. If you believe you have two natures, one evil and one good, then you are living in unbelief of the truth of Christ and His written word.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JOB
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
He was perfect, upright, and turned away from evil in every situation as far as it was humanly possible to do. But was he doing it because He feared the judgment of God upon him if he wasn’t all this? Was it because since he was doing everything right thought that God would be pleased with him? The whole message of the Book of Job is showing us that even though we do everything right and nothing wrong we still fall horribly short of God’s image and righteousness.
The adversary (Satan) appeared before God with the angels and God said to him, “Have you considered my servant Job?” Satan didn’t bring up Job’s name to God, God suggested Job to Satan because He had a purpose for the suffering which Satan would bring to Job.
Satan then asked God a question. “Does Job fear you for nothing?” In other words, Satan was asking if Job was doing all these righteous things in order to gain something from God, in order to become blessed by God, in order to escape punishment from God. This is a good question for us all to ask ourselves.
Satan was given instruction from God on what he could do and could not do to Job. To make the long story short, Satan took everything Job had including his sons and daughters. Also, Job suffered terribly with illnesses, yet, Job remained firm through this as is shown in the following verses.
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
During this time of suffering, he had friends (one was his real friend) that came and stayed with him for an extended period of time. They came with the intention of comforting him during his sufferings but they could not comfort Job.
The first friends came with the idea which many in Christianity have today. The idea that if one is suffering or has bad things happen to them they must be doing something wrong and God is punishing them for it. They self-righteously think there must be sin in the life of the sufferer somewhere or they do not have enough faith and that is the reason they are suffering. And, at times, this is true and evidenced in their grumblings and complainings in their sufferings.
During this whole time of his friends counsel, Job defends himself and his righteousness. We have 35 chapters in the book where this conversation goes on between Job and his friends. Elihu, the last friend and only true friend, actually gives several speeches which contain truths about God in which wisdom is found. However, Elihu is impotent to reveal God to Job for only God can give eyes to see.
Then God finally speaks and puts Job in his place.
( KJV) Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, {2} Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? {3} Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. {4} Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. {5} Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? {6} Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; {7} When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? {8} Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? {9} When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, {10} And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, {11} And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? {12} Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; {13} That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? {14} It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
God’s message to Job about how insignificant he and his own righteousness continues from chapter 38 through chapter 41.
In chapter 40, God says to Job, “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it” (v. 2). Now, Job’s response is not one of defiant demand for answers to his misery. Rather he says, “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further” (vv. 4–5). And again God picks up the interrogation and goes even more deeply into Job’s soul that shows the overwhelming contrast between the power and righteousness of God and the contrasting impotence of the righteousness of Job. This is the beginning of humility in Job.
In Chapter 42 Job finally sees God in all His glory, grace, and mercy. Finally, Job confesses the impotence of his own righteousness compared to Gods. He says, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (42:5–6).
The Book of Job is not about suffering, it is about our righteousnesses falling short of God’s Holiness. God doesn’t answer the question of suffering but instead reveals His Holiness and Greatness. He reveals Himself to Job which brings true humility and the completion of wisdom.
All of Job’s righteousness was based upon only what he had heard of God’s Law and demands. He lived his life in obedience to those demands but now he sees with his eyes that no matter how righteous he is that righteousness falls short.
This message of God is for all of us who think that because we are believers that we somehow become righteous (which includes ALL of us). It is for us who think God uses us because we are somehow transformed into His likeness and become Godly. It is for us who think we are such great disciples and pat ourselves on the back when engaging in discipleship for the cause of Christ. It is for us who are arrogant enough to think we can become like God and somehow become good. For those of us who think this way have only heard of God and are attempting to fill the shoes of God by our own impotent power. May we contemplate the message of the Book of Job and God’s holiness and repent of our righteousness lest God also suggest our names to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. May the book of Job accomplish in our lives the fullness of wisdom and humility.
Somehow we have bought into the lie that all we have to repent of is our sins and depravity where the truth lies in repenting mainly of our own righteousness. We have bought into the lie that we have the power within ourselves to be transformed into the image of God (Christ) by what we do or don’t do. Being transformed into the image of Christ is centered on His cross where we die to ourselves and our own power to do anything to forgive our sins or become righteous and instead live through dying with Him on the cross and living in the faith of Christ.
( KJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
( KJV) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! {34} For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? {35} Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? {36} For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
( KJV) For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. {18} For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. {19} For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. {20} Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? {21} For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
( KJV) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
( KJV) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
He was perfect, upright, and turned away from evil in every situation as far as it was humanly possible to do. But was he doing it because He feared the judgment of God upon him if he wasn’t all this? Was it because since he was doing everything right thought that God would be pleased with him? The whole message of the Book of Job is showing us that even though we do everything right and nothing wrong we still fall horribly short of God’s image and righteousness.
The adversary (Satan) appeared before God with the angels and God said to him, “Have you considered my servant Job?” Satan didn’t bring up Job’s name to God, God suggested Job to Satan because He had a purpose for the suffering which Satan would bring to Job.
Satan then asked God a question. “Does Job fear you for nothing?” In other words, Satan was asking if Job was doing all these righteous things in order to gain something from God, in order to become blessed by God, in order to escape punishment from God. This is a good question for us all to ask ourselves.
Satan was given instruction from God on what he could do and could not do to Job. To make the long story short, Satan took everything Job had including his sons and daughters. Also, Job suffered terribly with illnesses, yet, Job remained firm through this as is shown in the following verses.
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
During this time of suffering, he had friends (one was his real friend) that came and stayed with him for an extended period of time. They came with the intention of comforting him during his sufferings but they could not comfort Job.
The first friends came with the idea which many in Christianity have today. The idea that if one is suffering or has bad things happen to them they must be doing something wrong and God is punishing them for it. They self-righteously think there must be sin in the life of the sufferer somewhere or they do not have enough faith and that is the reason they are suffering. And, at times, this is true and evidenced in their grumblings and complainings in their sufferings.
During this whole time of his friends counsel, Job defends himself and his righteousness. We have 35 chapters in the book where this conversation goes on between Job and his friends. Elihu, the last friend and only true friend, actually gives several speeches which contain truths about God in which wisdom is found. However, Elihu is impotent to reveal God to Job for only God can give eyes to see.
Then God finally speaks and puts Job in his place.
( KJV) Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, {2} Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? {3} Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. {4} Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. {5} Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? {6} Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; {7} When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? {8} Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? {9} When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, {10} And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, {11} And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? {12} Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; {13} That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? {14} It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
God’s message to Job about how insignificant he and his own righteousness continues from chapter 38 through chapter 41.
In chapter 40, God says to Job, “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it” (v. 2). Now, Job’s response is not one of defiant demand for answers to his misery. Rather he says, “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further” (vv. 4–5). And again God picks up the interrogation and goes even more deeply into Job’s soul that shows the overwhelming contrast between the power and righteousness of God and the contrasting impotence of the righteousness of Job. This is the beginning of humility in Job.
In Chapter 42 Job finally sees God in all His glory, grace, and mercy. Finally, Job confesses the impotence of his own righteousness compared to Gods. He says, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (42:5–6).
The Book of Job is not about suffering, it is about our righteousnesses falling short of God’s Holiness. God doesn’t answer the question of suffering but instead reveals His Holiness and Greatness. He reveals Himself to Job which brings true humility and the completion of wisdom.
All of Job’s righteousness was based upon only what he had heard of God’s Law and demands. He lived his life in obedience to those demands but now he sees with his eyes that no matter how righteous he is that righteousness falls short.
This message of God is for all of us who think that because we are believers that we somehow become righteous (which includes ALL of us). It is for us who think God uses us because we are somehow transformed into His likeness and become Godly. It is for us who think we are such great disciples and pat ourselves on the back when engaging in discipleship for the cause of Christ. It is for us who are arrogant enough to think we can become like God and somehow become good. For those of us who think this way have only heard of God and are attempting to fill the shoes of God by our own impotent power. May we contemplate the message of the Book of Job and God’s holiness and repent of our righteousness lest God also suggest our names to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. May the book of Job accomplish in our lives the fullness of wisdom and humility.
Somehow we have bought into the lie that all we have to repent of is our sins and depravity where the truth lies in repenting mainly of our own righteousness. We have bought into the lie that we have the power within ourselves to be transformed into the image of God (Christ) by what we do or don’t do. Being transformed into the image of Christ is centered on His cross where we die to ourselves and our own power to do anything to forgive our sins or become righteous and instead live through dying with Him on the cross and living in the faith of Christ.
( KJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
( KJV) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! {34} For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? {35} Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? {36} For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
( KJV) For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. {18} For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. {19} For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. {20} Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? {21} For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
( KJV) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
( KJV) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
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