Bible Question:
Hello, Lion: As always, you offer a sound, biblical answer. But I still sense a gap between salvation and glorification (that is, when we finally enter "heaven"). I agree with your point regarding salvation, but I don't think I completely do with regard to sanctification. I agree that God alone is reponsible for anything of value that comes about through what we do, whether its giving a cup of water to a homeless person or presenting the Gospel to a stadium of God's children. But God is clear in His direction that obedience will result in those who love him. And obedience itself seems to be thing we grow into: Heb 5:7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Heb 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. Jesus gave us many examples of what it means to live according to His rule, which is what this thread is about. He summarizes the passage about anger, lust and conflict by saying "be perfect." Are these just pretty words, or does he mean "be perfect"? How does one get to be perfect? Should I chop off my hands and gouge out my eyes? (I am being slightly facetious here. You and I both know we could never have these wonderful exchanges if we had no fingers with which to type!) Nevertheless, Jesus taught and lived the kind of life he wishes for us, I believe, which was one of totally competent love and faith based on a dynamic and living relationship with His (and our) Father. Here is an aspect of our faith I'd like you to consider and let me know what you think. We often look at (and rightly so) what Jesus taught, but don't pay much attention to how Jesus lived. I think a careful examination of how Jesus lived as portratyed in the gospels gives us a picture of how we can best learn to be the citizens He calls us to be; ones who can love our enemies, extricate ourselves from dungeons of lust, and move toward the perfection exemplified by our Lord as well as commanded by Him. Now this is not to suggest that the deepening of our trust and dependence on Jesus that may result from our efforts is to our credit. On the contrary, praise God that He condescends to our base level to finish the work He began in us as we grow closer to Him through a life patterned after our Savior, example and forerunner. As we know from experience and His own Word, apart from Him there is no good thing. What do you think, Lion? |
Bible Answer: Should we live as Jesus lived? that is a question that has been asked man, many times in the last 2000 or so years. It is more often said as should't we live as Jesus lives. Usually as a challenge to our ability to obey the law of God. Jesus came as God in the flesh to demonstrate what God is like. He and He alone is able to fulfill that law. As men, we, through the children of Moses required of God, laws like those of the gentile people who lived around them. God wanted them to believe and trust in Him and He would lead them into righteousness, but they wanted laws so that they wouldn't have to trust God. They wanted to become rightous on there own. Reluctantly, God gave the Ten Commandents to Moses with instructions to teach the law to the Hebrews. The old testement is the record of how they failed to keep the commandants. No matter what, or how hard they tried, they couldn't keep the law. They became self righteous and added to the law, other requirements that distorted the law. Then, those who were righteous in their own eye became hippocrits. The word Hippocrit is derived from a root word that means an actor. That's what it means. To act like as if one is righteous in order to appear righteous to those around them. When Jesus was here on the earth He was gracious and forgiving to those who understood their own sin, and were honest enough to confess their condition before God. But those who were hiding behind the mask of self righteous piety, He scolded. He demonstrated the fact that it is impossible for any man to accomplish the righteousness required by a Holy God. Then He taught what God what God desired man to be, and when He gave his life for the sins of the world. In addition He began the great soul harvest where the children of God are separated from the children of the wicked one who is satan. He accomplished this through faith. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. To those who believe in Him He Gave gifts, many gifts. The two most important, I believe are these. Jesus, by the shedding of His blood on the cross, satisfied the judgement of God to all who believe. After He arose from the dead to demonstrate the power of God, the Holy Spirit was sent to and God was able to plant Himself as a seed into the hearts of them who believe in Jesus. It is this "seed" that does the work in our lives to transform us into the image of God as prophysied in the Genesis account of the creation of man who was and is being created in the image of God. In creation we see how God uses seed. There is plant seed, like corn for instance. If a seed of corn is planted, it is planted in dirt. If you have ever watched a time lapse movie of the growth process in plants you will notice that the seed begins to grow, slowly at first, pushing it's way up through the resisting soil, nurtured by minerals deposits till it bursts out of the ground. Then the sunlight shines down, and the rain beats down. Then the little kernel of corn begins to take off and grow! Eventually multiplying itself in the multiple ears of corn that grow on the stalk. Thats how sanctification works. When we acknowledge we are sinners and have fallen short of the Glory of God, we have demonstrated that we are indeed the children that God sowed in the world. We come to the light because God has given us special ears. These are called "ears to hear" by Jesus. The devils children do not have these "ears to hear". When they hear the gospel, they think it's nonsense. But to us who hear the voice of our heavenly Father, it is the sweetest sound we have ever heard. We have become born again! This seed is also called the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said that it is small, like a turnip seed. But when it matures it becomes large, like tree and the birds can build their nests in it. Obedience is one of the fruits of the spirit. Obedience is formed in us by the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not part of the natural man any more that a chicken wing is part of the eggshell. The church is like a nursery. This is where a newborn Christian gets his or her nourishment. The more mature Christian have become salt and light. Salt is a mineral. It can preserve or it can flavor or it can irritate depending upon how it is used. Light is absolutely necessary for growth. The light, which is the word of God or the Bible is the nutrient that is necessary for growth. The Holy Spirit is God Himself, living in us and motivating us to will and to do His good pleasure. We should, each of us, as we grow and become more like Jesus, give thanks that we have received such wonderful gift and encourage one another as we have been encouraged. A we grow we also bear fruit to God's glory. The greatest of that fruit is love. I love you all, thanks for letting me express myself here. Paul |