Pass It On - Part 1

 

1 Corinthians 1:20-31 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message  preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews astumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

This week Michael writes that the Apostle Paul, who wrote the passage above, was ordained of God with the ministry to the Gentiles. As he approached the end of his life, Paul said to his “son in the faith” Timothy, “be strong in the Lord and the power of his might – Ephesians 6:10. Also, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). When we divert our eyes from following Jesus Christ, we will be caught up in the affairs of this world.

 

Paul continued in 2 Timothy 1:8-10, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” Then in Romans 1:16-17 Paul states, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Continuing in 2 Timothy 1:13-14, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” Paul knew that he was approaching the end of his earthly life and ministry. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul passed “the light of truth” to his protege and son in the faith. As Timothy’s mentor and coach, Paul trained him up in God’s truth, to grow up into the man of God for the purpose God intended. Holding fast to the sound word that we have heard and witnessed in others, is secured in believing faith, activated by the love of Christ in us. Likewise, we need to pass it on.

Let's continue Michael's message on passing the Gospel on to others in the next post. In Christ, Brian

God’s Purpose for Your Life

 

Psalm 20:4-5 “May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose. We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners!”

My Bible Study group has learned that life is a journey designed by the Supreme Being of the Universe, our almighty Creator God and journeys always move forward towards the Believer’s ultimate eternal home in heaven with Jesus. That is the prime purpose and end goal for the Follower of Christ, Yet, there are secondary purposes in the Gospel work of advancing the kingdom of Jesus Christ, the love, care and nurture of the nuclear family, extended family, Christ’s church family and their fellow human beings, and maturing, continual growth and improvement as a child of God. Romans 8:28-29 says, “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.” God’s purposes for us are our purposes. 

 

In God’s plan of Salvation, Justification (the remission of sin and absolution from guilt and punishment; or an act of free grace by which God pardons the sinner and accepts him as righteous, on account of the atonement of Christ), Sanctification (the act of consecrating, of making holy and of setting apart for a sacred purpose forward. In an evangelical sense, the act of God's grace by which the affections of men are purified or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love to God in a process of becoming more and more like his Son, Jesus), and Glorification (the exaltation to honor and dignity; elevation to glory as the true Christian pass from their temporal earthly existence and begins their glorious eternal existence, home in the perfect kingdom of God as a citizen in Heaven forever. All three Divine processes are purposes of God and, therefore, ultimate purpose (that which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure or exertion. We believe the Supreme Being created intelligent beings for some benevolent and glorious purpose, and if so, how glorious and benevolent must be his purpose in the plan of redemption!) and essential goal (the end or final purpose; the end to which a design tends, or which a person aims to reach or accomplish) for the born-again Believer/disciple of Christ/child of God. 

 

It is all in the plans and purposes of God, who knows the end from the beginning and predestines history because it is truly His Story; a past, present and future based on God’s perfect love, mercy and grace. In Jeremiah 29:11-13 the Lord says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” You and I have a Divine purpose, which is your true purpose and destiny, so pursue them and walk in the Spirit to fulfill it daily. Stop chasing things that will never satisfy the hunger for meaning inside of you. Instead, find the joy of pursuing the next righteous steps that God has for you.

 

In Christ, Brian

God's Amazing Grace

 

Ephesians 2:4-8 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For bygrace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

 

One of our church’s small groups from our church that I attend weekly is using the study series from the video series “The Chosen” - Season Four on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. This week session is on the topic of “Grace”. The word “grace” is defined in the 1828 Webster’s dictionary as: (1) Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him. (2) Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin. (3) The application of Christ's righteousness to the sinner. (4) A state of reconciliation to God. I’ve heard it said that “Justice” is getting what you deserve. “Mercy is not getting what you deserve. But, “Grace” is getting what you do not deserve. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23. 

 

The lesson from our “Chosen” series session is that we are part of a bigger thing that God is doing in His over-arching plan of Salvation. And just like the Believers who came before us, we can resolve to remain steadfast in faith. We can fix our eyes on God’s character and His promises. We can choose to praise Him through the struggles and storms of life based upon who He is instead of how we feel. And our neediness forces us to look to the One who can meet needs. Acts 20:24 says, “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

 

Romans 3:20-26 “By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” God is gracious and full of grace. It is a fundamental attribute of God that flows out of His nature of love and mercy. 

 

John 1:12-14, 16-17 “But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Whether through Christ’s death, resurrection and the resulting free gift of salvation, or through the conviction of sin that leads to true repentance, or through the ongoing empowering of the saints (those who have been sanctified, made holy; consecrated and set apart for sacred services for the Kingdom of God) to live and act according to their calling. God is always and forever extending His extraordinary grace. In setting your hope on God’s amazing grace, you allow God to work in and through you to change your thoughts and behaviors, making you ready to be utilized by the One who is working to advance His heavenly kingdom until Christ’s returns. 

 

Grace in Christ, Brian