Showing posts with label command of Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label command of Christ. Show all posts

Thursday 23 July 2009

A Living Faith #12 The Love for Jesus

My love for the Lord Jesus

“And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. Likewise, He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:19-20

& What does this mean in practical terms?

Ø  I must love Jesus more than everything else, even my family or my own life. Luke 14:26-27; Matt 10:37-38; Col 3:1-4
Ø  I must keep the commandments of Christ and by so doing remain in his love. John 15:10
Ø  My one goal is to show my love for the Lord Jesus Christ and that he might dwell in my heart through faith. Eph 3:17-19
Ø  Jesus must be my example in everything and I will try to be like him. 1Peter 2:21-23; John 13:15-16
Ø  Only through Jesus can my sin be covered, therefore I must remain in him.  John 15:5-7; Heb 2:1-3
Ø  I will remember Jesus each week by breaking bread and drinking wine in the way he has commanded. Matt 26:26-27; 1Cor 11:24-26; Acts 2:42; 20:7
Ø  I was bought at a great price by God who provided salvation through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, therefore my life is not my own to live as I please, but must be lived to the glory of God. 1Cor 6:19-20
Ø  Jesus is the most important person in my life; therefore, I must acknowledge him before others. Luke 12:8-9; Mark 8:38
Ø  My aim must be to prepare diligently for when Jesus Christ returns. Because of this, I will not get too engrossed with the work and interests of this life. Matt 24:44; Luke 12:35-38, 40; 2Peter 3:10-14
Ø  The need for endurance to face hardships and difficulties is essential; I must remain confident and persevere until the end. Matt 24:11-13; 2Tim 2:3; Heb 3:13-14; Rev 2:10&25
Ø  In times of weakness I will remember that Jesus was tempted in all the ways that I am, yet without sin and is now able to mediate for his people before God and seek forgiveness through him. Heb 4:15-16; 1Tim 2:5; Heb 8;6, 9:15
Ø  I will always offer prayer to God through the dear name of Jesus. John 16:26-27
Ø  I will not accept any man ‘Rabbi’ (teacher) or Master because only Jesus is my High Priest, Teacher and Master. Matt 23:7-10
  - Andy Peel

Tuesday 28 April 2009

A Living Faith #4 Effort

A LIVING FAITH IN ACTION

Effort
Faith and works are inseparable; salvation requires both elements to be present and neither of these elements will be achieved without making an effort to overcome the natural tendencies of human nature. It takes an effort to learn and put into practice the Commandments of Christ.

However, although effort is required on our part, non-the-less faith and its works will not be achieved by personal strength. Trust and faith in the Lord Jesus comes first. It is only by remaining firmly rooted and grounded in him that faith will grow and produce works. Paul writes:

“For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:5-8

Firstly Paul speaks of remaining steadfast in faith. Life will throw many temptations, trials and difficulties in the path of all who truly seek to follow the Lord Jesus.  There will be times when these temptations and trials may feel overwhelming and maybe even insurmountable. Possibly there will be even times when the thought comes, ‘why me’? Nobody is unique in having this experience, for it will be something that all who diligently seek the Lord Jesus and strive to follow him will maybe feel. What really counts is how we respond to these trials and moments of weakness.

Now one option is to think that the path and effort needed is too much. Faith wavers, trust decreases which then leads to an attitude of ‘live for today, for tomorrow we die’.  Another option is giving way to despair; a longing for salvation may remain, but a deep abiding feeling of personal sin and unworthiness, hangs like a black cloud overhead. This may lead to an attitude of ‘I have done so much wrong, sin feels overwhelming, and therefore I must have failed’.  However, there is a third option, the one that fights despondency and puts faith into action. 

So, how can we put faith into action? Well in the quote from Colossians Ch.2 Paul continues by exhorting believers to walk in Christ, being rooted in him and established in faith. If we ‘walk in Christ’ then in effect we will obey and follow His Commandments. Faith does not give up, rather faith acknowledges personal failure and inabilities, it perseveres and remains in Christ.  Faith does not surrender to despair, but continues to be active:

Ø  A living faith trusts and has hope.
Ø  A living faith confesses sin, repents and endures.
Ø  A living faith realises that Yahweh has in Jesus provided the means of reconciliation and paved the way for mercy and forgiveness.

Apart from Christ we are and can do nothing. But through him all things are possible for as Jesus said “all things are possible to him who believes." Remember the allegory that Jesus used when he described himself in these words:  ‘I am the true vine’. Jesus is the root stock that nourishes the whole vine, thus he continued:

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

Without Christ we are powerless and without hope. However, if we remain in him then despite our weaknesses, despite our failures and despite our personal sense of sin, we will ultimately bear fruit. We will produce the works of faith.

Therefore with this in mind, we must take to heart the third point from the quote in Colossians Ch. 2 where Paul warns against being led astray by what he terms ‘empty deceit’ and the ‘traditions of men’. There is only one Truth, only one path, only one Lord. Did not Jesus say: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to the one true Gospel message. Paul warned the early disciples saying “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another” Gal 1:6. The same message applies equally as much in this age:

F There is no other gospel, no other path to salvation than that clearly shown in scripture.
F We know, believe and obey the one gospel message or we do not. There is no middle ground, no alternative way.
F Only if we walk according to the Word can we have fellowship
F We must avoid those things and people that could lead us astray

Thus again Paul writes:

“I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you” 1Cor 15:1-2

Only if we receive the Word of Truth and stand firm by making the effort to “hold fast the pattern of sound words … in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (2Tim1:13) will faith be something living and active in our lives.

Without daily exercise and the correct diet the body soon becomes flabby and out of condition.  Likewise without exercising faith and having a well balanced scriptural diet, we become spiritually flabby and spiritually out of condition. In its extreme lack of physical exercise and poor diet leads to obesity and premature death.  In a similar way, unless we make the effort to feed on the Word and grow spiritually, faith will die! Now Paul exhorts:

“…exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” 1 Tim 4:7-8

So once again we see that it is a matter of character development and having the right attitude of mind. Effort and exercise in spiritual matters is the beginning of exhibiting the works of a living faith.  Paul sums up some of these works saying:

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;  not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;  rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.” Romans 12:10-12

Note those active words, denoting effort and describing some attributes of a living faith:

Ø  Diligence
Ø  Fervent
Ø  Patient
Ø  Steadfast
Ø  and the implied humility and selflessness.

If the effort is made to acquire these attributes then we will indeed rejoice in hope, for our eyes will be focussed upon the Lord Jesus Christ. The wisdom of Solomon gives the final word:

“diligence is man’s precious possession”… ..“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction” Proverbs 12:27; 13:1

Are you wise? Are you heeding Yahweh and obeying His instruction?  Are you making the effort to develop a living faith?

To be continued …….A Living Faith #5 Perseverance

Andy Peel

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In this series:
A Living Faith #1 Substance of things hoped for
A living faith #2 State of your faith
A Living Faith #3 Faith put into action
A Living Faith #4 Effort
A Living Faith #5 Perseverance
A Living Faith #6 Sacrifice
A Living faith #7 Prayer
A Living Faith #8 Change
A Living Faith #9 Our Manner of Life
A Living Faith #10: Our manner of Life #2
A Living Faith #11 My place in the body of Christ and my ecclesia
A Living Faith #12 The Love for Jesus


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2016 January update

Monday 30 March 2009

Let not sin reign in your mortal body

SOMETHING TO CHEW ON

Many sincere Christians express dissatisfaction over the fact that they continually fall short of perfection. Many admit continual failure in the spiritual life, repeating sins again and again, giving way to habit patterns contrary to the life of Christ. When they read the command of Christ, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48), they feel both condemned and discouraged.

  In almost all great revivals believers have sought in one way or another to attain to perfection of living. They have longed for it, prayed for it, and worked for it. But the testimony of all great Christians is that they have never attained to it; that  the more they strove and the closer they came to Christ, the deeper was their sense of inadequacy and inherent sinfulness. While their lives bore testimony to victory over sin, at the same time they felt a deeper sense of their own need and unworthiness. Ask Peter, James, and John. Ask the noblest souls that the Christian church has ever seen, the most zealous men that mankind has ever produced. With one accord they exclaim with the Apostle Paul: “I have not yet reached perfection, but I press on, hoping to take hold of that for which Christ once took hold of me. My friends, I do not reckon myself to have grasped hold of it yet. All I can say is this: forgetting what is behind me, and reaching out for that which lies ahead, I press towards the goal to win the prize which is God’s call to the life above, in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:12:14.

  All the true believers who have come to know the saving power of God testify that the only perfection, the only sinlessness, they have ever seen or known has been that of Jesus Christ, the only perfect and sinless man: and that Jesus is the whole of their salvation, the whole of their righteousness and perfection. To be a genuine Christian means faith in Christ, fellowship with Christ, faithfulness to Christ, and fruitfulness for Christ. Man has no perfection and no righteousness of and in himself; he must trust wholly and solely in Christ.

  One of the hindrances to living the Christian life successfully is failure to understand what the Bible teaches about the nature of sin and perfection. A grave misapprehension lies at the root of much of the false teaching on this subject. In applying the term “perfect” to believers, the Bible never means “sinless.” There are at least nine different Hebrew words and six Greek words translated “perfect.” Noah is said to have been perfect in his generations.” Gen. 6:9. Of Asa, the king of Judah, we read: “But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the Lord all his days.” 1 Kng. 15:14. “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” Jam. 3:2. “We speak wisdom among them that are perfect.” 1 Cor. 2:6.

  The Bible writers do not say that these men were sinless. The meaning of “perfect” in these instances is that of spiritual maturity, ripeness in spiritual understanding, completeness in response to God. A “perfect” Christian is one whose heart and mind are permanently committed to Christ. Noah, Abraham, and Job were all declared to be “perfect” men. Yet the history of their lives shows that they were far from being sinless.

  If one’s view of sin is shallow enough, sinless perfection would not be an impossible achievement. It is a defective view of sin that leads to a wrong understanding of perfection. If sin simply means a deliberate, wilful doing of what is known to be wrong, then no Christian should commit this kind of sin. But if sin includes also a man’s state of mind and heart, man’s bias toward sin, (as an indwelling tendency), then perfection presents a totally different picture.

  Some Christians believe that it is possible in this life to reach a point in spiritual development where the sinful nature is completely eradicated and, therefore, no longer operative. The Bible does teach that the genuine Christian life is one of uniform and sustained victory over all known sin. The normal Christian experience should be one of victory and not constant defeat. Paul says: “Likewise reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, ... and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid” Rom. 6:11-15.

  There is one truth that every believer needs to learn who would fully enjoy complete salvation in Christ. It is the need to abide in Christ, to look continually to Christ, to depend wholly on Christ and his righteousness. God’s method of salvation is not eradication of a sinful nature, but the counteraction of it by Divine power through the Holy Spirit. Only by the continual counteracting presence of the Holy Spirit is it possible to be victorious over sin and the sinful nature within us.

  It is fatal to believe that if only we could become totally surrendered to Christ, the sinful nature would be eradicated. The law of sin and death continues to operate within us. It is something that remains in us as long as we live. Victory over all known sin does not mean sinlessness. It does mean the glorious opportunity in Christ to strive successfully against all sin and overcome it. But this is an experience that must be maintained day by day through fellowship with and surrender to Christ. The Christian life is a lifelong battle. So long as the believer abides in Christ, real holiness and victory are possible. What we have in the everyday life is the counteracting power of God against our sinful tendencies and our sinful natures.
  
 In this earthly life there is always a conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. Paul again says, “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would. But if you are led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Gal. 5:16-18.
  The greatest men in the Bible never claimed sinless perfection. They were all painfully aware of the fact that they were sinners throughout their lives. So long as a man is in a state of sin with a sinful nature still present in him, he will confess himself to be a sinner. The Christian always recognizes himself to be a sinner in need of Divine grace. The Apostle John says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” 1 John 1:8-10.

  We find here the most solemn warning against the doctrine of sinless perfection in this life. The indisputable meaning of this passage is that the man is a self-deceiver who claims for himself what the Apostle John dared not claim. The truth is not in him. The doctrine of sinless perfection leads to the conclusion that both Christ and the Holy Spirit are unnecessary once this state of eradication of the sinful nature is reached. Wherever the professed Christian claims to have the sinful nature eradicated in his life, there is a corresponding loss of true dependence upon Christ. There is a break in the only saving relationship that man needs for victory. This allows people to sin and call evil good. It discourages those who strive to be like Christ, but fall short of this false idea of perfection.

  Christ is our sole perfection, our sole righteousness. In ourselves we are never sinless. But so long as we look to Christ, sin and self cannot prevail.

  The pretension to sinless perfection at any time in this earthly life is the root of spiritual pride and self-righteousness. The Christian does not deny that the new life in Christ is capable of a new righteousness, of victory over sin. But he insists that it is not his righteousness, not his victory, but Christ’s.

  There will be no point in spiritual achievement in this life where one may rest with the certainty that he will sin no more, or that he does not stand before God as a sinner in need of Divine grace and power. The Christian knows that there still remains in him a fountain of evil, a depraved nature.

 Salvation by grace alone means that absolute perfection and sinlessness cannot be realized here and now. Righteousness by faith means that we look continually and exclusively to Christ, that we look away from ourselves and any hope in ourselves altogether in order to live by him alone. Genuine salvation directs us at once to Christ, to the only perfect life lived here on earth, and to his redemption through the Cross. Jesus Christ is absolutely central. Man’s victory over sin is exclusively the work of God in Christ, the continual control of the life by the Holy Spirit, that through daily union with Christ we participate in his holy life. The righteousness of Christ that saves us is not the beginning of a new self-righteousness but the end of it.

 John Aldersley

Saturday 14 February 2009

Discipleship way of life on the narrow way to everlasting life

"The disciple has entered the narrow way to everlasting life, and he must journey in faith until death closes his eyes in sleep in his Lord, or, should it be so, the Lord himself comes back in the midst of his travelling. The narrow way is well marked with good signposts. The path itself is imprinted with the footsteps of those who also have walked the pilgrim way, including the Lord Jesus Christ, who commanded us to follow him.

The Bible is full of guidance. It tells us about the path, about the snares and pitfalls, about the places of refreshment and about the true companions on the way:

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path ..." (Psalm 119:105)

"The commandment is a lamp; and the law is a light." (Proverbs 6:23)

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

"Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet." (Proverbs 3:23 - 24)

"For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken." (Proverbs 3:26)

"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and walk not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass on." (Proverbs 4:14, R.V.)

"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 16:25)

"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter fill the full light of day." (Proverbs 4:18, N.I.V.)

Such counsel is practical and sound. There are things which have be done, and those which must be altogether avoided. Discipleship is a way of life. We must follow the footsteps of the men of Scripture, particularly those of the Lord himself. The Bible is the inspired handbook, the traveller's compass and road map; it provides unfailing, positive and clear advice for everyday living. No man can keep a true course without using the Bible. It is to be read every day."

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Brother Harry Tennant
Discipleship
The Christadelphians - What they Believe and Preach