A PURIFIED PEOPLE

 

Sin separates us from God. This is a problem that we cannot solve. The distance between a Holy God and a sinful humanity is a chasm so vast we cannot cross. Since we are all sinners, we are all condemned. It is impossible to purify myself. That would be like trying to wash my hands in muddy water. Yet, God does not lower His standard. His demand is, “Be holy, for I am holy,” (1 Peter 1:16). 

God did what we could never do, for God can do the impossible. There was REDEMPTION.  Enslaved by sin, God came in human flesh—Jesus Christ the Son—to free us, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot,” (1 Peter 1:18). By His blood, payment was made to purchase us. “What can wash away my sins?” That is the question, the hymn writer posed, and went on to answer, “Nothing, but the blood of Jesus!”  This was God’s one and only predetermined plan—that in the crucifixion of Christ, the penalty for sin has been paid, and in His resurrection, the confirmation of His work has been sealed. “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God,” (1 Peter 1:19-21). 

A miracle takes place—REGENERATION.  We are no longer, slaves, but sons—no more sinners, but saints, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:23-25). The seed of the Gospel is sown into the soil of the soul, and those who receive it are regenerated—born again of the Spirit working through the Scripture He has inspired. 

The evidence of being redeemed and regenerated is in RIGHTEOUSNESS. Having positional righteousness through redemption and potential righteousness through regeneration, there will be progressive righteousness in sanctification. This is not the root of salvation, but the fruit of salvation. 

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear…

 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,”  (1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭17, 22). 

As God’s children, we bear His image, and this should be an increasing reality more and more. We must choose to think properly, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind,” take this seriously, “be sober,” and trust fully, “and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  From start to finish, salvation is all of grace. Yet, He does not do the work apart from us, but in us as we rely on God and apply His grace by a will surrendered to Him.  The Holy God is marked by truth and love, so that as His children we will exhibit obedience to the truth and pure and passionate love for the family of God.

The people of God are a purified people—not perfect yet, but progressing toward it. John stated it, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬-‭3‬‬)

THE WAR WITHIN

Paul spoke in Romans 7 of the battlefield inside the believer—wanting to do right and doing wrong.  There is no text more illustrative than in the confession and condemnation of Peter in Matthew 16. Within a few verses, Peter goes from speaking on behalf of heaven to speaking on behalf of hell. He went rapidly from hero to zero—from the pinnacle of commendation to the pit of condemnation.  In the former case, Simon was Spirit inspired and in the latter, satanically inspired. He went from being a solid stone to a stumbling block. 

It does not take long. Each day and then throughout the day, we have to humbly cry out for grace. With deep contrition, we must confess that we are capable in our worst moments of descending into depths that are a bottomless abyss. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jer.17:9). Even at our best moments, we ought acknowledge what Jesus taught, “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ” (Lk.17:10). 

The best of men are capable of doing the worst of things. We find Noah in the ark, securing deliverance for the world’s inhabitants and then in his tent, drunk and naked to his shame. There is Moses through his faith leading Israel out of Egypt, but then due to his failure incapable of leading them into Canaan. David can bring down a giant with a slingshot, but is brought down by his lust for a woman.

Need I go on?  In desperation, we must cry out with the Apostle, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom.7:24). But, then he looks up and says,  “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom.7:25). The desperation of Romans 7 is followed by the deliverance of Romans 8. That chapter begins with no condemnation and ends with no separation. In between there is much about the groans we experience here, but the glory that awaits hereafter. In the meantime, God is shaping us as human clay through the pressure of problems and firing us in the kiln of adversity in His pottery shop.  There is this:

 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (Rom.8:28-30).

I love the lyrics of this song, written by Ada R. Habershon and performed by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Selah, entitled, “He Will Hold Me Fast.”

When I fear my faith will fail

Christ will hold me fast

When the tempter would prevail

He will hold me fast

I could never keep my hold

Through life's fearful path

For my love is often cold

He must hold me fast

He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast

For my Saviour loves me so

He will hold me fast

Those He saves are His delight

Christ will hold me fast

Precious in His holy sight

He will hold me fast

He'll not let my soul be lost

His promises shall last

Bought by Him at such a cost

He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast

For my Saviour loves me so

He will hold me fast

For my life He bled and died

Christ will hold me fast

Justice has been satisfied

He will hold me fast

Raised with Him to endless life

He will hold me fast

'Til our faith is turned to sight

When He comes at last!

He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast

For my Saviour loves me so

He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast

For my Saviour loves me so

He will hold me fast

https://youtu.be/3OOphIgGkjM

READY TO GIVE A REASON

 

As a follower of Christ, I should know what I believe and why I believe it. Consequently, it is to produce a living hope in me.  The Christian faith is such, that it changes us in tangible ways and we must long to share that reality so it can impact others, as well.

Peter speaks to OUR DEVOTION, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts…”. The sharing of our faith with others is foremost a matter of obedience. We have been commanded to witness to Christ by the Lord God Himself.  We are set apart to shine as lights in the darkness of this world.  Our love for God is the foundation of our love for others.

The Apostle then points to OUR DECLARATION, “and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.”  There should be something so different about us—a hope so profound—that others recognize it and ask about it. Sharing Jesus does not require beating someone’s door down to do so, but they may beat a path to our door to discover why we can face the challenges of life with a radiant peace and joy.  Those in the world should see that we have something they don’t have and something they need. This is being the salt of the earth; salt makes you thirsty.  It creates a thirst for God in others.

Then, Peter indicates OUR DISPOSITION, “with meekness and fear.”  Meekness is not weakness. It is a disposition of humility. We do not talk down to sinners, for we recognize apart from the grace of God we would still be in the same state.  An attitude of smug sanctimony is not attractive, but repulsive. Someone has defined witnessing as one beggar tell another beggar where to find bread.  The fear of which Peter speaks is not the fear of man—that is what often paralyzes our vocal cords. Rather, it is the fear of God—our reverence for His authority and purity—knowing we will give account to Him concerning whether we seize opportunity or shirk responsibility. Hell is real—and family and friends are going there without Christ. That should move us to speak to them about the only source of salvation.

Having a visible devotion and proper disposition makes our witness credible. Giving a ready declaration makes our faith comprehensible. All these elements are essential for sharing the hope of Christ to a hopeless world.

YAHWEH OUR SANCTIFIER

“Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the LORD who sanctifies you.” (Leviticus‬ ‭20:7-8‬)

God is holy and we are commanded to be holy.  Yet, an outward standard alone is insufficient to accomplish this.  Paul acknowledged that frustration in Romans 7.

“For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. ... For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. ... But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans‬ ‭7:14-15, 18, 23-24‬)

How many of us can testify to this wretched state—having a desire to keep God’s demand, and yet losing battle after battle to temptation.  It makes you want to give up.

Which is exactly where God wants us—as Luther sang,

Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.

You have to give up to go up!  God never demands something from us without equipping us to do it.  He is our Sanctifier, Yahweh M’Kaddesh. The answer to Paul’s, “Who will deliver me?” is given in the next verse, “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom.7:25) and the Apostle will go on to explain this spiritual power in chapter eight.

We have no excuse “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter‬ ‭1:3-4‬)

HOLY FIRE

“For our God is a consuming fire.” (‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:29‬‬)

Seven simple words—and yet they have such profound implications.  Fire is to be respected. It is a powerful force that can create comfort or cause catastrophe.  Thus, it serves as a graphic image of the holiness of God.

Several years ago we had devastating fires in several areas of these western North Carolina mountains I live in. Yet, the amazing thing is that when the fire passes, it leads to the regenerating of the forest.  New green shoots push up through the gray ash and past the blackened embers. God will do that someday as He brings the final judgment on this old world order, and from that establish the eternal one.  Peter speaks of it:

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter‬ ‭3:10-13‬)

The holy fire of God should have a refining effect on us—consuming the dross from our life, so that only the purest gold of faith remains. It ought to compel us with urgency to seek to reach those threatened by the flames of wrath to come.

God appeared in the fire of burning bush, a pillar of fire in the wilderness, in the fire that glowed between the cherubim in the ark of the covenant, and in the fire that fell at Pentecost. In each case that fire conveyed the holy comfort of God’s presence among His people. As fire warms the home in winter, so the heart-warming presence of God abides with us.

But, there is also the fire that fell on Sodom, destroying that wicked city and its perverse populace. Consider, also, the holy fire that consumed Nadab and Abihu.  They put an unholy fire in the censers as they ministered as priests—rebelling against God’s clear direction and profaning His worship.  You can read of it in Leviticus 10. Most horrible of all is the Lake of Fire—the final state of the wicked.

Have you repented of your sins and received Christ by faith?  If you have not, there is no more urgent matter.  If you have, then you know others who have not—reach out to them in love!

THE TRANSFORMATIONAL ASPECT OF GOD’S HOLINESS

“as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”  (1 Pet.1:14-16)

Believers are already holy positionally—that’s who we are in Christ.  Peter spoke of that previously. “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (v.2-3).
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We will be holy perfectly—that’s what we become when we see Jesus.  Again, not the Apostle’s words, “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”(1:4-5).

What Peter is calling us to in v.14-16 is to be holy progressively—that’s our response to the grace that saves us and the glory that secures us—the godliness that sanctifies us.  We are not to live as we once did, for we are not what we once were!  The Holy Spirit indwells us to purify us.  Peter speaks of “obedient children” who take on the Father’s likeness.  We are not to be conformed—our conduct shaped from the pressure of our peers, but be transformed—by a renewed mind (see Rom.12:2, as contrasted to “your ignorance.”)

We have discovered the liberating power of truth!  The Psalmist said, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. ” (Ps.119:11). The more we get the Word into us, the more it will get the world out of us.

THE RESULTS OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS, Part 2

God’s faithfulness is for His glory, but also for our good. Yesterday, we learned that His faithfulness results in God saving and sanctifying us (1 Cor.1:9; 10:13; 1 Thess.5:23-24)

Today, we will note three additional results.  Because He is faithful:

• GOD SHAPES US.

“I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.” (Ps.119:75)

The troubles that come our way are not meant to harm us, but to help us. These problems are the pressures of life that the Potter uses to shape our human clay into the image of Christ.

• GOD SECURES US.

“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lam.3:22-23)

We can be secure in knowing that God is faithful to extend to us mercies every morning. We are not consumed with the condemnation we deserve, because God is consumed with the compassion He desires. We may fail, but He will be faithful.

• GOD STABILIZES US.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Heb.10:23). This does not mean that our faithfulness is insignificant, but that it grows out of God’s faithfulness to us. We can hold fast to our confession because God holds fast to His children. We may be unwavering in our stand for God is unmoving in His stability—and our feet rest on that Rock!  God’s faithfulness is the root of which our faithfulness is the fruit.

How wonderful is our Mighty God!  Great is His faithfulness. Again this morning I find mercies for the multitude of my sins. Compassions are abundant for my need is great. As the sun rises, God’s faithfulness dawns anew for me!

THE RESULTS OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS, Part 1

What a precious truth this is—a source of joy and peace.  The results of the faithfulness of God means:

• GOD SAVES US. “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor.1:9). If we are saved it is because God is faithful to call us by the Gospel, convict us by the Spirit, and convert us through faith in Christ—nothing we have done, but because of what He has done.

• GOD SANCTIFIES US. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor.10:13). God is faithful to provide us the way to escape sin’s appeals and the will to endure Satan’s attacks. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” (1 Thess.5:23-24). God not only sets us apart from sin, He separates us for Himself.

Here are two results of the faithfulness of God. Tomorrow, God willing,  we will explore three more. Let us praise our faithful God today and give thanks that He saves and sanctifies us!

THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD: THE TRUST WE CAN HAVE

“For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37)

When God gives a promise, He delivers!

TRUST HIM TO SAVE YOU.  “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb.7:25). He lifts us from the “gutter-most” and saves us to the uttermost!  You are never so bad, He cannot cleanse you; never so far gone, He cannot reach you. Call on the Savior!

TRUST HIM TO SANCTIFY YOU. “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”  (Heb.2:18). The old boy said, “I can overcome anything except temptation!”  You may not, but God can. He will come  to your aid and fend away the foe, if you will cry to Him.
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TRUST HIM TO SECURE YOU. “concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.” (Heb.11:19).  Death is our gravest fear, and yet death is not match for the Lord of Life!

What do we have to worry about?

Our faith is too feeble because we do not meditate on the magnitude of His might.  Our prayers are too puny because our faith is too feeble to dare ask big things.  Our work is too weak because our prayers are too puny.  Consequently, the church today whines instead of wins, and has a siege mentality instead of a storm the gates of hell spirit.  Remember and rest in the assurance that nothing is impossible with our omnipotent God!

DEDICATED TO GOD

Read Romans 12.

Paul has presented the glory of God’s Gospel in the first eleven chapters of Romans.  Now, he turns to the practical implications of that truth, as we see belief is to impact behavior.  His call is to complete dedication to God.

The basis of this dedication is in grace—what God has done for us, “I beseech [beg, implore] you therefore [because of what God has done for you], brethren, by the mercies of God [that has spared us from hell and opened up heaven], that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”  (v.1, comments added). That is, it is a perfectly reasonable thing for you to dedicate your all to the Savior who gave His all for you.

The means for this dedication has both a negative and positive dimension.  In verse two, the negative to avoid is “do not be conformed to this world,” and the positive to apply is “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” with the result, “that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  You will either be conformed to the world or transformed by the Word.  It’s your choice.  You can’t do both, for they are mutually exclusive. You cannot walk in opposite directions at the same time!

For the rest of the chapter, Paul makes practical application of what it means to be dedicated to God.  There will be the deploying of spiritual gifts in humble service (v.3-8). There will also be the demonstration of sanctifying grace in personal action (v.9-21). We are in the world to make a difference, but not of the world in being different. Our dedication to God is seen in our devotion to our fellowman.

THE WAR YOU WILL NOT WIN

Read Romans 7. 

Despite the sin in us, God loved us and Jesus died for us.  The great exchange took place as our sins were laid on Him and Christ’s righteousness was imputed (credited) to us. That is what we have noted in the first five chapters.  Reaching chapter six, we discover that Jesus not only died for our sins, but we died in Him—the old sin factory that produced sin was dealt with, even as the sins which it made were blotted out. It is at this point in our Christian experience that we often falter, by rightfully engaging in a war but wrongfully using weapons of the flesh.  It is a war you will not win. 

Christians have been brought into the glorious liberty of being children of God (Rom.6:7, 14, 18, 22). Having been saved by faith, and now empowered to live in grace—the life of Christ in me—we often fall back into the bondage of rules and religiosity, trying to be holy through relying on fleshly effort and determination instead of on Christ’s work and the Spirit’s direction. Having been saved by faith, can we now be sanctified by works?  That is a war we cannot win.

Even so great a champion as Paul expressed his frustration. The very things he didn’t want to do, he did, and that which he should do, he failed to do. Can you identify?  He calls himself a wretched man—and it is a miserable place to be—to come to the end of yourself.

Yet, that is where God wants us!  For instead of trying to win the war, we surrender—not to sin, but to Christ.  Why would you try to beat the devil when you cannot win, and not rely on Jesus to do so, when He cannot lose?

Paul speaks of a law—the law of sin—at work in his flesh.  It is like the law of gravity, that continually pulls us down.  Try jumping up and see how long you overcome that law!  Yet, you can board a plane that weighs tons, and it will fly!  How?  There is a higher law—the law of thrust—that brings to bear the principle of aerodynamics, as the power of jet engines pushes wind over wings, and up you go.

Thus, Paul moves from cursing his impotence to celebrating Christ’s omnipotence. “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” (7:25). Fighting a war against the flesh by the efforts of the flesh is a war we cannot win.  Relying on the power of Christ is a war He always wins, as we shall see in the next chapter, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (8:37)

DYING TO LIVE

Read Romans 6.

As you read the title, you may have thought this would be a meditation on heaven.  Although that is our ultimate experience of eternal life, it is but the pinnacle of what we can already experience—abundant life now, rooted in our union with Christ!

This experience is anchored in a truth we must COMPREHEND, “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” (v.6‬). The reality is that our union with Christ is such that all He is and has done has come to be our experience.  When Jesus died on the cross, we died with Him!  When He rose again, we rose with Him!  Eternal life is simply the life of the Eternal God in us—all Jesus is for all I need.

Based on what we comprehend concerning our union with Christ, we must CALCULATE as true, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (v.11‬). Paul uses an accounting term here.  Let me explain this way—you have a dollar amount in the bank. You know this, not because you physically can see and hold cash in your hand, but you calculate by faith what the bank tells you and act on it as being true by using your debit card or writing a check. So, if you can trust a bank, can’t you trust God?  He says you are dead to sin and alive in Christ!

From comprehending this truth and calculating it as a promise from God, you then CHOOSE to live accordingly,  “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” (v.13‬). A dead slave would be free from his master’s control. Since we are crucified with Christ, the old master—sin—has no claim on us.  Yet, being raised from the dead in Christ, we have a new master—Jesus.  In the same way we once yielded our body for sin’s passions, we now surrender it for the Savior’s purposes.

In Christ you are free;
Free to be all He wants you to be;
Free, for we died with Him on that tree;
Free, for my life is the Risen Christ in me!

CAN I TRUST THE BIBLE? The Experiential Testimony: THE MYSTERIOUS POWER OF SCRIPTURE EXPERIENCED, Part 4

In this series, we have entered the courtroom of truth and have presented witness after witness of the trustworthiness of the Bible.  We have listened to the logical rationale for why God must speak and that Scripture is the way He would have chosen.  We have examined evidence that is found internally in the text and externally in archaeology, history, prophecy, and science that verifies the Bible’s veracity.  Then we have considered this week the experiential testimony of what the Word of God has done in its God-given power.  At last, I add my own witness.  This Book has been life-changing for me.  I have read it through repeatedly, studied it intensely, and have taught it extensively for over forty years—and I am more certain of its authority and accuracy today than ever.

Paul wrote:  “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’ ” (I Corinthians‬ ‭1:18-19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)‬‬

This is the message which the world says is foolishness, but which God in His grace has infused with saving power to those who will believe it.  There is something of mystery how God can take such a message and employ it to transform a life.  I cannot fully explain how, but I have experienced it, and seen that life-change in many people.  I cannot fully explain electricity, but I am not going to sit in the dark until I do!

We see the power of the Word IN CREATING FAITH.   “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom.10:17) This is a matter of salvation.  The Spirit of God used the Word of God to produce saving faith in God.  The seeds of truth were sown in the soil of my soul by my parents and preachers and teachers for eighteen years until faith was produced—and the more I hear it, the more I believe it.

There is a mysterious power in the Word IN CULTIVATING GROWTH.   Believers are to be, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” (1 Peter 2:2).  This is a matter of nutrition.  Being born of the Word, we are then nourished by it.  I will tell you that whatever growth I have experienced in my Christian life has been from feeding on the Word.  Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, appealing to the authority of the Word to overcome the devil, when He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matt.4:4)

That leads to the next dimension of the Bible’s power IN CONQUERING SIN.   “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”  (Ps.119:11) This is a matter of sanctification. This is the Sword of the Spirit to beat the Devil.  It’s how Jesus did it. There is no other way.  When I have looked to the power of truth to resist temptation, I have known victory.

Then, there is the power of the Word I have witnessed IN COMMUNICATING TRUTH. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  (2 Tim.3:6-17) This is a matter of mission.  I believe in the sufficiency of Scripture to change lives, build the church, and impact the world.  As a man of God, I have stood equipped with the Word of God to lead the people of God in the mission of God, week after week, month after month, year after year, for more than four decades.  I have never wondered about what to say—trying to figure out some novel message.  I just open the Book, dive in, and then stand with a Bible in my hand, and see its wonderworking power!  Last Sunday, almost 400 souls sat in an auditorium to surrender thirty minutes of their life to hear what I had to say—really what God had to say through me.  That is a mystery and a marvel—a miracle of God’s Word!

Has the Word transformed you?  Have you received with meekness the implanted Word which is able to save your soul?  Are you feeding on it?  If you have read this far, then I assume you have some appetite for truth.  O, taste and see the Lord is good!  Have you hidden that Word in your heart through memorization and meditation so you might live a holy life?  Will you be equipped by the Word to be useful for God in this world, so that one day you may hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. …Enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matt.25:21)

I cannot persuade you against your will to believe the Bible.  There are people today that refuse to believe the earth is a globe.  They think it is flat!  One of my dear grandmothers died convinced that men never walked on the moon—it was all staged in Hollywood.  What I have done is given you met the burden of truth—that if you weigh all the evidence, it gives you the ground for this verdict: the Bible is the Word of God, beyond REASONABLE doubt.

HERE'S HOPE!

looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ….  (Titus 2:13)

Your world can be turned upside down in a heartbeat.   Just a few weeks ago, our little six-year old granddaughter, Mya, seemed a picture of health and bundle of energy.  Then she was diagnosed with cancer.  As I write these words, she is in the hospital fighting a deadly enemy.  What we desperately sought was hope—and the doctors told us this could be successfully treated—but, ultimately our hope rests in the Great Physician, Jesus Christ.  While she seems to be responding well to the treatments, we know the immediate future still contains uncertainties, yet Mya’s future—and ours—is in a hope that does not depend on earth’s circumstances, but God’s eternal assurances.  Do you have such a hope?  You can.  Titus 2:11-14 tells us how.  We see salvation is in three tenses—all bringing hope.

The first tense deals with our past: WE HAVE BEEN PURCHASED (v.11, 14a).  I have been saved from the penalty of sin.  That's justification.  It is the work whereby we are placed in right standing with God by faith in Christ.  There are three great Gospel words featured here: "grace" and "salvation" in verse eleven and "redeem" in verse fourteen.  The word redemption means to be set free by payment of a price.  When Paul wrote these words, men and women were sold in the marketplace like commodities.  Spiritually, we were in the slave market, held fast in the shackles of sin.  Christ paid the price to free us—and the price He paid was His own blood!  He "gave Himself for us" and the great exchange took place—Christ took my sins and gave me His righteousness.  

The second tense deals with our present: WE ARE BEING PURIFIED (v.12, 14).  I am being saved from the power of sin.  That’s sanctification.  It is an on-going process.  "Ungodliness" is all that is contrary to the nature of God. "Worldly lusts" are the perverse passions of our nature that are informed by the putrid philosophies of our culture.  These must be denied.  But the Christian life isn't just about what we avoid, but what we apply: "We should live soberly" in our inward disposition; "righteously" in our outward demonstration; "godly" in our upward devotion. We must be different to make a difference "in the present age" as we are in the world but not of it. A boat is of no use unless it's in the water, but get water in the boat and you're sunk!  Paul says that Christ has purified us "for Himself."  We belong to Him—“His own special people," who are to be "zealous for good works."

The third tense deals with our prospects: WE WILL BE PREPARED (v.13).  I will be saved from the presence of sin.  That’s glorification.  I’m "looking for the blessed hope...."  Some golden daybreak Jesus will come!  The Savior whom we have heard of, we will we see with our eyes!  John wrote, "everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:3).  The hope is verse thirteen connects with holiness in verses twelve and fourteen.  The most important aspect of prophecy is not to give us information about the future, but bring transformation anticipating it.  It is a call to readiness (see 2 Peter 3:10-14).

Is your hope secure?  Does it rest upon Jesus Christ?   Remember,  

Only one life;

‘Twill soon be past;

Only what’s done for Christ, will last.

A PURE WALK IN A PORNOGRAPHIC WORLD

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality....  (I Thessalonians 4:3)

Playboy magazine has decided to stop publishing nude pictures.  The pioneers of porn can no longer profitably produce that which is available for free in the most graphic form to anyone on the internet.  We live in a pornographic world.  Yet, the Bible calls us to a pure walk in this evil environment.  One must stay very close to God not to go astray—but you can.  That is the thrust of 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8.

God is not against sex.  He invented it.  Sex within marriage is wonderful.  God's design is not just for the procreation of the species, but the pleasure of the spouse.  Genesis 2 portrays the beauty of husband and wife, naked and unashamed.  Fire within a stove will keep your house warm, but if it gets out it will burn it down.  The fire of sex can keep a marriage hot, but outside those bounds becomes destructive.  God doesn't want to keep us from pleasure, but from pain.  He does not mean to deny sex, but to delay it until their is a covenant relationship.  

Yet, premarital sex seems the accepted thing.  It is the thought of "test driving a car"--but, people are not vehicles.  It's not just the vice of teens and young adults--senior adults are increasingly shacking up for financial considerations.  

Not only is premarital sex a sin, but so is extramarital sex.  That is adultery.  It is a betrayal of trust.  

We further are forbidden to yield to “passion of lust” (v.5).  Other translations render this “passionate desire”; “concupiscence”; “lustful desire”  The Greek word is epithymia and it means surrender to sensuality and sexual obsession. That fuels the billion dollar porn industry—no longer just for lecherous old men, but epidemic even among women.  The rise of child pornography, sexual violence, homosexuality, and all kinds of perversion is due to this surrender to sensuality (see Rom.1:24-32).  Lust has an insatiable appetite—never appeased.

Another evil is expressed as to “take advantage of and defraud” (v.6).  Other translations render it: “overstepping the rights of and wronging” ; “transgress and wrong” ; “take advantage of and exploit.”   It is a composite of two Greek terms meaning to raise desires that cannot be legitimately fulfilled and taking that which is not yours.  Those desires are raised by provocative dress, sexual innuendo, and physical contact that may stop short of intercourse, but nevertheless is immoral.  You don’t have to go all the way to go too far!  We show portions of our anatomy that should only be seen by our spouse and touch portions of the body meant only for our mate.  

The positive dimension of this is a call to sanctification and holiness.  This means to be set apart for God.  It calls for consecration (v.1-3a).  We are to present our body to God.  We belong to Him.  He created us and redeemed us, so that we are doubly His.  This consecration should lead to control (v.4).   It is possible or God wouldn’t command it.  We may argue, “I’m only human.” Not if you’re a child of God!  You are a partaker of the Divine nature now!  An additional help is to meditate on the consequences of sexual sin (v.6-8),  This is not something to take lightly.  God does not.  Forgiveness is possible, but let us not use grace as an excuse for disobedience!

HOW TO EXPERIENCE INTIMACY WITH GOD

LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?  Who may dwell in Your holy hill?  (Psalm 15:1)

God designed us with the capacity for intimacy with Him.  We find Adam and Eve walking in the garden with the Creator, but then sin disrupted that fellowship.  It still does.  The good news is that God sought out those first humans and He seeks after us today.  David shows us how to have intimacy with God in Psalm 15.

The question is whether we will respond to this Holy God—will I deal with the sin barriers in my life?  The implication in David’s question (v.1) suggests that we dare not rush rudely into God’s presence, but must pause and approach Him reverently.  Does He love us and desire our company?  Of course!  Yet, He is God so holy—above and beyond us.

Our walk must be upright (v.2a).  We do not slink around as a serpent, but stand upright with a spine stiffened by conviction.  Our feet move in lockstep with God’s commandments.

Our work must be righteous (v.2b).  Our hands are not used to serve ourselves, but to serve God by serving others.  It isn’t just that we refrain from doing the wrong thing, but that we actively pursue doing the right thing.

Our words must be sincere (v.2c-3).  Notice that what is on our lips is connected with what is in our heart.  There is to be no hypocrisy or inconsistency between what we think and how we talk.  Integrity demands that we mean what we say and say what we mean.  Our words are spoken to build up not to break down.  Backbiting is banished from our mouth.  Such a person does not take advantage of his neighbor or use his friends.  He or she has the best interest of others at heart.

Our associations must be godly (v.4a).  You cannot run with the wrong crowd and walk with God.  They are going the opposite direction.  We will be influenced by our associations.  If we are enamored with today’s celebrities who have the morals of alley cats then we will find ourselves thinking, talking, and acting like them.  If we honor holy men and women by meditating upon and modeling after them, then their influence will inspire us.  When I study the lives of men and women who were intimate with God, they create a hunger in my heart for the same experience.

Our possessions must not possess us (v.4b-5a).  The person who walks with God is a giver and not a taker because that is the nature of God.  He or she will keep their commitments, no matter what it costs them financially, because they know if they fail to do so it will cost them much more spiritually.  Such a one resists the corrupting influence of the love of money.  Their character is not for sale.

We will not always do everything perfectly, but we can do it better progressively (v.5b).  These traits will be the hallmark of our life.  When people think of us, these characteristics will come to mind.  Best of all, God knows the inclination of our hearts and the God-directed life will bring us into His fellowship.  Our feet will be firmly planted on God’s path, with no backsliding.  We will not find ourselves taking the Devil’s detours.

It is our privilege to have fellowship with God.  Through Christ our salvation makes us righteous before God, and by His Spirit our sanctification enables us to live righteously as we draw near to Him.

STOOPING TO SERVE

After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.  (John 13:5)

We expect people to bow at the feet of a king.  It is shocking that a King would bow at the feet of His subjects—and even more remarkable would wash their dirty feet.  Yet, that is exactly what Jesus did in the thirteenth chapter of John’s Gospel.  When Mary bows at the feet of Jesus and anoints those feet with oil in the previous chapter, we are stirred by her love for her Lord, but when Jesus bows at the feet of His disciples in this chapter, we are shocked by His love for His own.  Will we be the Body of Christ showing His love to our world?  That is His example and exhortation.  Jesus stooped to serve and He calls on us to do the same. 

Consider that stooping to serve ELEVATES HUMILITY (v.1-5).  With God, the way up is down.  The humble are exalted.  The example of Jesus here elevates the virtue of humility as a character quality all of us are to aspire to possess.  Ours is a world that prizes power, position, a name in lights, and fame in headlines.  Sadly, this spirit has infiltrated the church.  It is nothing new.  The disciples regularly debated as to which of them would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven—and they were even bickering about it in the upper room, as Jesus silences them with this act of humility.  Imagine, the King of Glory stooping to wash dirty feet!  Why?  His love motivated Him (v.1).  It is why thirty three years before this He rose from His throne in heaven, laid aside his royal robe, took the towel of our humanity and came to lowly earth to wash away our sins with His blood. 

Furthermore, stooping to serve EFFECTS HOLINESS (v.6-10).  To be holy means to be set apart for God.  There are two dimensions of this:  we are holy through our position in Christ.  Then we are to become holy through our progression in faith.  A dramatic illustration of these twin truths is presented in these verses.  Peter didn’t need a bath.  That happens at salvation—we are washed from our sins.  Still, we walk every day in a dirty world, and even the holy people of God can become defiled.  We need the cleansing of confession. 

Note that stooping to serve EXPOSES HYPOCRISY (v.10-11).  Judas had never had a bath!  He was not saved and that night’s events would expose his hypocrisy.  He wasn’t a believer, but a make-believer.  If you stop and compare the actions of Peter and Judas that night, were they so different?  Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, and Peter denied Jesus to save his own skin.  Both men wept bitterly because of what they did.  Yet, one is in heaven and one is in hell.  That’s because one was washed in salvation and the other was still dirty.  Peter was a backslider, but Judas was an apostate.

Stooping to serve EXPRESSES HAPPINESS (v.12-17).  The old KJV says, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”  Have you washed anyone’s feet lately?  What ministry are you serving in?  We go through life trying to find something or someone to make us happy and we search in vain.  Instead we ought to seek to make others happy—and an amazing thing happens—we discover joy!  Stoop to serve someone today!