Philippians 3:17-21 “Join
together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you
have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For,
as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with
tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their
destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory
is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But
our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from
there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring
everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they
will be like his glorious body.”
I’ve really been enjoying this verse-by-verse preaching that
Pastor JJ has been presenting to us, bringing to light the holiness of God and
the deep spiritual meaning and application in our lives. The basic building
blocks of our faith’s foundation that we may make no mistake of what it means
to be a child of God. Who doesn’t want to go to heaven? Certainly, nobody, but
the sin nature of our flesh can take us down the wrong path if we do not know
the truth and make it known in this world. I mentioned the three stages of the
Christian life (Justification, Sanctification & Glorification), but the
enemies of the cross live by Justification and Glorification without
Sanctification, (the true transformation process of growing and maturing in
Christ) and missing what God has for them now and for eternity. This is not
unbalanced, but ungodly. This passage tells us that the natural man focuses on their stomach and glory, while their egocentric
mind set is on earthly things (the physical, the emotional, the material
and sensual), which is not a righteous pursuit of God, but actually natural
man’s futile attempt in His hatred of God to destroy His omnipotent deity. Who
is in control of our lives, and who sits on the throne of our hearts? That
which is terrifying for the unbeliever and false Believer, is that which is
pure for the true Believer. Only those who have experienced the sweetness of
true reconciling grace can look at the overwhelming power, sovereignty, and
immutability of a transcendent God and find there love, joy & peace. Our
race is His race for us, with His finish line and reward. The self-centered
world distracts us from God’s path, calling us to take another road to another
place called destruction. Citizen of heaven, we are under the King of kings,
our Lord, so stand firm in your sanctification and be holy. The eyes of grace (the
Vinedresser) penetrate to the soul and to truth, ever hopeful of who a
character may become and what he or she may finally do as a child of God. Grace
sees redemption and fruit.
Proverbs
7:2 “Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as
the apple of your eye.”
In Christ, Brian
4 comments:
Thank you for sharing this word. We're not HOME yet!
Thanks Karen. Sharing my notes on my pastor's sermon series messages through Philippians certainly brings to light that we are not HOME yet. The citizens of the kingdom of heaven live differently than the citizens of this fallen world, and do so in the power of the Holy Spirit. By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Glory be to God alone.
The Family of "Our Father and GOD" -OR- a system of religion?
Choose you this day!
And what of the numerous and varied systems of religion?
History has proven, and yet proves, that multiplied millions have been killed and enslaved in the name of the god[s] of this, or that, religion!
So it is that the fruit of death is bore of religion's way )-;
For life is but a pawn in the wicked game they play!
And that is but one of a multitude of reasons why "The Way of Truth is evil spoken of", and especially so because of those systems of religion that declare that they are biblically based!
Pagan catholicism, her multitude of harlot christian('jesus') daughters, all muslim sects, and the many judaic systems of this day, all propagate lies, delusion, deception, confusion and every evil work!
Was not biblical religion established and needful for a "disobedient and gainsaying(greedy, covetous) people" who were "stiff-necked and uncircumcised of heart and ears"? Those who would rather "a man speak to them than YHVH", and who would rather "a man rule over them than YHVH" )-;
i believe the first step in realizing what 'religion' is, comes when one truly understands the testimony in James 1:27: "Pure religion and undefiled before GOD and Our Father is this, to visit the fatherless(having no relationship with Our Father) and widows(their bridegroom has not risen from among the dead) in their affliction, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world."
For understanding reveals that all other 'religion' is IMPURE AND DEFILED!
Yet, "Our Father and GOD", thankfully HE is Merciful!
So repentance and regeneration can be experienced by those who receive "a love of The Truth" for they will desire naught but to hear HIS Voice and liken unto The Messiah will seek and desire above all else, "Father, not my will, But THY Will Be Done"!
And they realize evermore that "Our Father", HE knows what is best for HIS children!
Father Help! and HE does.......
Continued @ http://asimpleandspirituallife.blogspot.com/2011/07/family-of-faith-or-system-of-religion.html
Elder Child, I had to go to your Blog to read the whole message that you wrote and see that your main point is that we need to make a choice between relationship with God (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) or religion (which is defined as "man's attempt to reach God). I agree, in that Christianity is about relationship and not religion. All other religions of the world say "do" (meaning "works" to earn your way to heaven), while only Christianity says "done" (meaning that God Messiah Jesus Christ died on that cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins as a free gift of God's mercy and grace) per the Word of God. Isn't that what you are saying? Sin broke our relationship with God, but those who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ and accept redemption by His blood have a restored relationship with God. Those who do not accept God offer of salvation then pay for their sins against their just & Holy Creator and bear His wrath in Hell. That is what the bible says, not man. We need to check what men say against God's Holy Word always. James 1:1 says: "James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ."
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