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Tag: victory (Page 1 of 4)
In this writing I am hoping to share a fresh perspective on the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has been truly life-changing for me. However, it is only fresh for me as an attempt to look at the whole bible as one sweeping epic story about God and His Creation. The New Testament, beginning with the 4 accounts of the life and message of Jesus are in fact a continuation of that story. The more we understand what went before Jesus came in the First Century, the more we can appreciate the depth, the breath, the length and height of God’s wonderful plan for us! There is of course a basic simplicity in Christ. We can easily overcomplicate things, and we certainly have in the past. The simple truth is that God is love. The purpose for each of us is to love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
It only became complicated when disobedience and sin entered into the picture. No matter how hard we try to ignore the problem, it refuses to go away. We may not understand how and why we all follow the sad example given by Adam and Eve, but the overwhelming evidence is that we have. That is what makes the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Good News that the Kingdom of God has come through Him to be not only Good but GREAT News! When we understand God’s plan from the beginning, and that the process of restoration has already begun, we can find great hope and strength from this understanding.
God wants to open our eyes to see beyond present world circumstances. That is not always easy for us to do, just as loving is not always as easy as it sounds. We need to have our minds renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit and the engrafted Word of God. Peter, a leading apostle of Christ, wrote that the prophecies given beforehand in our Old Testament did not come by human desires or impulses, but special holy men were empowered to speak as the Holy Spirit moved upon them. (2 Peter 1:21.) Referring also to the Old Testament, the apostle Paul stated that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV) Do you believe that the very same Holy Spirit is active in believers today to open our eyes and minds to the scriptures concerning God’s great plan for all?
It is in these ancient scriptures where we learn that God intended to have a family on this earth to reflect His image and to rule the earth in His stead. It is also where we learn of His plan to restore us after the fall to that original purpose. In Genesis 12 He promised Abram that his descendants would become as many as the sands of the seashore or the stars in the heavens, and that through them, all the families of the earth would be blessed. Finally, through many of the prophets, the promise of the the Messiah was revealed. He would atone for our sins, give us new hearts and minds, and bring peace to the whole world. Then the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea!
Previously we looked at times and places where God would meet with His people in special way, in a special place and time. The Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the Temple at Jerusalem were very important in the life of Israel for hundreds of years. Finally God Himself appeared in human flesh. (John 1:1, 14, 2 Corinthians 5:19, 1 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 1:1-3). Jesus even claimed that He was the true Temple of God, and that no longer would Jerusalem represent the primary place of worship. (John 2:18-21, 4:24). This of course offended many. But others rejoiced to learn of this freedom that was now available to them.
There is a saying that “in the Old Testament, the New Testament is concealed, but in the New Testament, the Old is revealed.” Also: “In the Old Testament, Christ is concealed, in the New Testament He is revealed.”
The further we go into the New Testament, the entire picture from the Old Testament moves from black and white, to full living color! Jesus did not intend to be the only one to be “born of God!” (John 1:10-13). In one instant He made this very clear. When some Greeks were looking for Him, His response was this: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.” (John 12:24-26 NASB)
It was of primary importance that Jesus would become “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). The Cross actually removed the barrier that kept us from becoming who God had all along intended us to be!
Hebrews 2:5-12:
“It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:
‘What is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the angels;
you crowned him with glory and honor
and put everything under his feet.’
In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.”
(NIV)
So Jesus has made the way for us to join Him in Sonship. We too can become “born of God!” He was the “firstborn of many brothers (and sisters).” (Romans 8:29) Paul, expanding on the Temple metaphor declares to believers in Corinth: “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NASB). He also refers to the collective body of believers — NOT the church building — as the Holy Temple of God!
Ephesians 2:18-22:
“for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”
(NASB)
How can people so casually read these words and not want to jump up and shout for joy? Two thousand years ago Jesus proclaimed that the time had come for the Kingdom of God. He called people from all walks of life and later through His apostles from all nations to join Him in His Kingdom, to be delivered from their sins and to enter into a new life of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit! Even now we can cast off the old life and become new in Christ! He is sharing His very nature with us! Maybe it is time for God’s children to abandon the old excuse, “I’m only human.” If Christ is in you, you are human, but much more than that!
Grace is not given to us to excuse us of our failures, but to empower us in Christ! We can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us. His Kingdom begins in you and me. Today, on this very planet, God wants to meet with humanity. He already has a place set aside for that. Not a building made of bricks, concrete or wood. This temple is composed of redeemed people who are not yet perfect, but on their way to perfection — perfection as God sees it. If you are His, you are the light of the world! A city set on a hill that cannot be hid!
There is so much more to come, but only as we follow on the path.
Proverbs 4:17-18:
“For they eat the bread of wickedness
And drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”
(NASB)
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Today’s Bible readers have many advantages that were not available to previous generations. Dictionaries, concordances, encyclopedias of Biblical information abound, not to mention the many modern translations which we have available to us.
For this reason many of you are already familiar with the definition of the word we will be discussing in this article. It is the New Testament word for “sin,” a Greek word that literally means “to miss the mark.” Often when considering the context in which this word is normally used, we tend to think of “the mark” in this instance as moral and spiritual perfection.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul seems to affirm this thought in the statement: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23).
The issue of sin continues to plague many today. We might either live under the fear that we will sin, the guilt that we have, or in denial that we even partake of it at all. But today I hope we can deal with this subject in a very positive light, which is of course, the Light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ!
The mark of which we speak, the moral and spiritual perfection which we desire, is actually Jesus Christ Himself! In other words, to sin is mainly to “miss Christ.”
Listen to the hearts cry of the great apostle, Paul:
Philippians 3:7-8:
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”
Paul speaks here of winning Christ, as though He was some sort of prize! But how could this be? Let us continue reading:
Philippians 3:9-11:
“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”
Taking this a bit further, he now deals with knowing Christ. His desire is to experientially know every aspect of Him, His righteousness, His faithfulness, His power in resurrection and even His suffering in death! He also very candidly reveals his own condition, and the process which he was then going through:
Philippians 3:12-14:
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The question that we need to ask ourselves today is: “Are we working very hard at not sinning, or at winning Christ?” And even if we are not seen by many to commit obvious sins, could we still on a regular basis be actually missing Christ?
Paul believed that the possibility existed for born-again believers to fully experience the resurrected Christ while still in these bodies! He saw how every day is filled with opportunities to share in both Christ’s sufferings and triumphs, and to know His righteousness, His peace, His joy and love!
He confidently proclaimed that there is no law against the following: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith and self-control! Why? Because these are all attributes of His nature and character! When we “win Christ” we win all of these! Or shall we say, as we walk in the Spirit, producing the fruit of the Spirit, we are truly “winning Christ!”
Are you pressing towards the mark? Are you pursuing Christ in your daily life? You may say, “I have too few opportunities. You don’t realize how many responsibilities I am laden with. I am not able to devote the time to prayer and Bible reading that others are.”
But wait. I submit that your responsibilities themselves afford opportunities to win Christ! They also present the possibility of missing Him as well! If as unto the Lord, you work hard for your employer, producing the highest quality work of which you are capable, you are actually winning Christ!
But on the other hand, if you slow down when no one is looking, or allow substandard results, you could very well be missing Christ, who is the personification of moral excellence!
Should you feel guilty or shamed by these words? I would rather you feel as though you have cheated yourself and the Lord. The nature, power, glory and presence of Christ is your reward, your prize. But you yourself must pursue Him!
As long as we are pursuing Christ, our attention will not be on ourselves, our weakness or our strengths. We now understand how even in our trials and sufferings we can experience Him!
When we are lied to, misused, misunderstood, or rejected, we have a choice. We can react to these injustices, or we can pursue Christ. When we give the normal human response, we usually miss the mark of expressing His life at this time. But by repentance, committing ourselves unto Him, trusting in His power and love, we can obtain the confidence that the next time will be different! We are in practice! We are not practicing to miss the mark but to reach it!
Our relentless pursuit is for Him! In this race we may trip, stumble and fall, but with our eyes upon Him we will get back up! If we have to even crawl for a season our advancement will continue. We are all pressing towards the mark! That mark is Him, His light, His grace, His power, His righteousness, His love!
The next time will be different! We will begin to feel as He feels, think as He thinks, act as He acts. We have received great and precious promises by which we are made partakers of the divine nature! It is becoming natural for you to express the nature of the Son of God to this world!
You have been begotten of that incorruptible seed, the Word of God which lives and abides forever! That Seed remains in you and you cannot practice sinning any longer! Your heart, your hunger is for more of Christ. You live by every Word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God!
Heavenly Father,
You have set the goal before us — the very life of Jesus your son. Help us to fix our gaze upon Him. Cause us to continue to behold His glory, His grace, His kindness, His holiness and perfection, and so become transformed.
Continue to save us from our sin, our missing the mark of His excellence until that Day when we are found in Him, not possessing any good thing that is our own. For He alone can satisfy our hearts desire! In Him alone we are fulfilled and able to give You true pleasure.
May we follow our front runner with patience, seeing that same joy which was set before Him. And in the end may all the glory and honor and praises go unto Your wonderful Name.
For Jesus sake,
Amen
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