Category Archives: Confidence

Less IS More??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #386

18 Friday Aug 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Less IS More?, Let You Light So Shine, Salvation, SIN, The Word, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs  #386 Less IS More???

 

“Now then we are ambassadors

for Christ,

as though God did beseech you

by us:

we pray you

in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him

to be sin

for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be

made the righteousness

of God

in him.”    2 Corinthians 5:20-21

God grants salvation to those who come to Jesus in repentance and faith, and He does that on the basis of the substitutionary (in my place), atoning (paying a debt due) sacrifice (The offering made to satisfy the payment due.) of Jesus. His blood not only cleanses us from ‘sin’, but also gives us new life in HIM! The sinLESS Son of God paid the price for my sinFULLness!

“Therefore if any man be

in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.”    2 Corinthians 5:17

Jesus can make us new because He came, God in flesh, to deliver us from the penalty for SIN, through His sacrifice, making us a “new creature” with abundant life IN HIM!

“I am the door:

by me

if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd

giveth his life

for the sheep.” John 10:10-11

Jesus came that you and I might have abundant life—more—in HIM!!! He paid the price for me and for you; for in His sinLESS deity, He sacrificed His life for mine!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”   Hebrews 4:14-16

He came as the sinLESS Son of God, and paid for our sinFULness with His own body on the cross, giving more than HE owed (which was nothing) that we would owe, not only “less”, but nothing; all because He loves us and wants us to know Him and real, abundant life—MORE than we could ever comprehend!

“For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself to him

that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self

bare our sins

in his own body on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes ye were healed.”    1 Peter 2:21-24

This sinLESS Son of God came and paid the price for me—for you. The choice is mine/yours—will we receive HIM and have ‘more’ through His blood, or will we settle for ‘less’ by refusing the only payment for our sin debt; for sin has a price—you can pay it yourself or open the door to the Son of God and receive His grace gift of salvation!

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;”   Romans 3:23

“But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”    Romans 6:22-23

Will you choose more in the sinLESS Son of God? The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test at the end! And if we are following Jesus, then we ought to reflect HIS life “more abundantly” and:

“Let your light so shine

before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father

which is in heaven.”     Matthew 5:16

And we can only do this by HIS power and His Spirit’s presence and work within our hearts, as we die to ‘self’ and “live by the faith of the Son of God”! Less or More?

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself

for me.”   Galatians 2:20

 

Erasing The Lines??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #385

16 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by in Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Erasing The Lines?, Every Knee Shall Bow, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Lust, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Today and Forever, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs  #385 Erasing The Lines???

 

As I’ve watched the ‘news’ lately (which I don’t do often, because it’s so ‘not’ new), I was taken with a thought that I’d like to share with you today. It seems that all of the ‘old’ ideas, principles, morals and standards are being erased little by little, and much like the frog in the pot of water that is turned up gradually, we have been lulled into ignoring the danger about us. We are about to find ourselves in a lot of hot water! The lines are being erased, and those of us that still believe that there ought to be ‘lines’ may find that we are in that proverbial pot of hot water when it’s too late to jump out of the pot. It seems that many around us are truly jumping ‘out of the frying pan, and into the fire’!

Those of us who have committed our lives to Jesus Christ The Lord, must reassess where we are—are we focusing on Jesus or have we allowed ourselves to become so wrapped up in the events going on about us that we have forgotten the call of Jesus to be salt and light in a world of darkness? Are we, like an old McKamey’s gospel song, “Getting Used To The Dark”? May God help us to see that He has never lost control and we don’t need to panic, or join forces with evil, or compromise our Biblical faith and standards—but we must recognize the enemy and be willing to “withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand”! But to stand, we must know what we ‘stand’ for.

“In the beginning

God

           created the heaven and the earth.”     Genesis 1:1

It all began with God, and He hasn’t lost control yet! Our God still reigns and He is working in this world, and He will accomplish His purposes in His own time, but to be found faithful we must know truth and stand fast in it, by the power of His Spirit (who dwells within every true believer)!

“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia:

for the Lord God

omnipotent

reigneth.” Revelation 19:6

Amen and Amen! This should be our battle cry, and yes friends we are in a spiritual battle, but so many who are claiming the name of Jesus are trying to fight the battle with worldly weapons and that is not what we are called to do. We have a higher calling, with a higher purpose—we are called to obey Jesus, even when it may cost us everything. And in this day we may be called to join those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for following the commands of our Lord Jesus. Are we willing to be like Jim Elliott and Nate Saint and their friends, and go where God sends us, armed with HIS weapons? We must be willing and able, and to do that we must know what our weapons are, and what they are not!

“For though we walk in the flesh,

we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,

but mighty through God

to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations,

and every high thing

that exalteth itself

against the knowledge

of God,

and bringing into captivity

every thought

to the obedience of Christ;”     2 Corinthians 10:3-5

And believe me friends, when I say, Jesus has never called HIS people to walk in the flesh, to sin, to erase the lines! It’s not ok to sin! It’s not ok to hate! It’s not ok to be mean, to speak ungodly things, to run rampant with riot and mindless vengeance! God calls us to bring every thought—every thought—captive “to the obedience of Christ”! And we can walk in obedience to Jesus, because it is Jesus that is holding it all together, but we must depend on HIS faithfulness and sovereign power. He IS still on the throne with His Father!!

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days

spoken unto us

by his Son,

whom he hath appointed heir

of all things,

by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory,

and the express image of his person, and upholding all things

by the word of his power,

when he had by himself

purged our sins,

sat down

on the right hand

of the Majesty on high;”     Hebrews 1:1-3

We who serve the living God and His Son, Jesus, are to walk in His Spirit that and “not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Yet what is going on all around us? Full-blown “lust of the flesh”! In most of our world people have forsaken the truth of God and chosen to believe the lies—from the ‘father of lies’, Satan. But God has made it clear that the lines haven’t been erased. Sin is still sin and God will judge every person according to HIS Word and His standard, not the world’s! Will you stand in “the power of HIS might”, or fall to the “wiles of the devil”? The lines haven’t been erased, and God’s standard will be the judge. Where do you stand?

“For the word of God

is quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul           and spirit,

and of the joints          and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest

in his sight:

but all things are naked

and opened

unto the eyes

of him

with whom

we have to do.”   Hebrews 4:12-13

What/who are you choosing to follow? Will you believe and follow God’s Word or the ‘eraser’ of the world? Will you choose the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ or the ‘works of the flesh’? It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test at the end, and Jesus IS “the same yesterday, and today and forever”—no erasers allowed:

“And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”   John 3:19

Be Fruitful And Multiply??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 6

13 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by in Be Fruitful And Multiply!, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Salvation, Sharing Our Faith!, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.6 Be Fruitful And Multiply???

 

I’m sure the title turned a few heads, and yes we will be looking at what God says about ‘fruitfulness’, but not just in the way you may be thinking about. I find it interesting that our world is facing a great conflict of hatred and division. And while division is a statistical fact—it shouldn’t be the driving force of a nation, or of a “United” people. But what are we united in? There is only one place where we are truly united, and that is in Jesus and in our single-minded devotion to Him, to God’s Word, and to His ways. But we have allowed the world to separate us from God—the world and its sin! And sin will always separate us from God and also from one another. And we can’t multiply effectively, if we are divided, and separated.

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened,

that it cannot save;

neither his ear heavy,

that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities have separated

between you

and your God,

and your sins have hid

his face

from you,

that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood,

and your fingers with iniquity;

your lips have spoken lies,

your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

4 None calleth for justice,

nor any pleadeth for truth:

they trust in vanity,

and speak lies;

they conceive mischief,

and bring forth iniquity.” Isaiah 59:1-4

Isaiah assessed the problem of his people, and their problem was SIN, just as it is ours today! Their choice to sin instead of repent and turn to God had separated them from their God—and we see these same things abounding around us today. I hope that you will rehearse the list that Isaiah gave us—they were violent (taking innocent blood), they dabbled in sin, they abounded in lies, and things that are willfully contrary to truth and goodness, while justice was ignored. No one wanted to seek God, or desired to hear truth, much less take a stand for it; instead they trusted in vanity, lies and deception; they multiplied mischief and sin in all their ways. When we continually commit sin, and live in it, we are being fruitful in the wrong things! James paints an amazing picture of the ‘fruit’ that sin brings forth.

“From whence come wars and fightings

among you?

come they not hence,

even of your lusts

that war in your members?

2 Ye lust,

and have not:

ye kill,

and desire to have,

and cannot obtain:

ye fight and war,

yet ye have not,

because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask,

and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it

upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship

of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend

of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore

to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted,

and mourn,

and weep:

let your laughter

be turned to mourning,

and your joy

to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.” James 4:1-10

James calls us to examine our lives and to be sure that we are living a life that seeks God and His ways, not the world and the lusts that drive people to do and say things that cause harm and shame God! What does this mean to us? I think it means we must not exalt ourselves, but instead we must simply “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up”! To multiply we must have life—the life of Jesus within us; we must be ‘born again’! Just as God gave life to Adam and Eve, He gives life to the lost sinner who comes to Him in repentance and faith in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus—the One who paid for our sin! Our only hope for ‘abundant life’!

What does all this have to do with the beginning? Let’s check it out to see.

“So God created man

in his own image,

in the image of God

created he him;

male and female

created he them.

28 And God blessed them,

and God said unto them,

Be fruitful,

and multiply,

and replenish the earth,

and subdue it:

and have dominion over

the fish of the sea,

and over the fowl of the air,

and over every living thing

that moveth upon the earth.”    Genesis 1:27-28

God created man and commissioned him to “Be fruitful, and multiply,” Man was created by God for communion with Himself, and to be the compliment and crowning glory of His wonderful creation. He gave us a command to “Be fruitful, and multiply,” that there would be abundant life on His new earth. But was God only referring to reproduction in the physical realm? Or can we glean more from this instruction than just physical reproduction? God spoke a great word of encouragement about Abraham, and his relation to his offspring that gives us some insight into this area.

“And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

18 Seeing that Abraham

shall surely become a great

and mighty nation,

and all the nations of the earth

shall be blessed in him?

19 For I know him,

that he will command his children

and his household after him,

and they shall keep the way

of the LORD,

to do justice

and judgment;

that the LORD may bring upon Abraham

that which he hath spoken of him.”    Genesis 18:17-19

God knew that Abraham would not only multiply physically, but that he would multiply the spiritual direction of his family by commanding them in the way of the Lord. Moses also spoke to this same idea of what I call “spiritual fruitfulness”! We ought to multiply spiritually by spreading the gospel beginning in our families, and going out into the world as we have opportunity. The need is great and we are the only plan of God to spread the “Good News”. Moses gave clear instructions to this end!

“Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:

2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes

and his commandments,

which I command thee,

thou,

and thy son,

and thy son’s son,

all the days of thy life;

and that thy days

may be prolonged.

3 Hear therefore, O Israel,

and observe to do it;

that it may be well with thee,

and that ye may increase mightily,

as the LORD God

of thy fathers

hath promised thee,

in the land that floweth

with milk and honey.

4 Hear, O Israel:

The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God

with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy might.

6 And these words, which I command thee

this day,

shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently

unto thy children,

and shalt talk of them

when thou sittest in thine house,

and when thou walkest by the way,

and when thou liest down,

and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them

for a sign upon thine hand,

and they shall be as frontlets

between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them

upon the posts of thy house,

and on thy gates……

20 And when thy son asketh thee

in time to come, saying,

What mean the testimonies,

and the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD our God

hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son,

We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt;

and the LORD brought us out

of Egypt

with a mighty hand:”    Deuteronomy 6:1-9 & 20-21

God wants us to clearly understand that our first responsibility is to have a relationship with Him, to “love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” And in order to truly love God we must know Jesus (In the Old Testament, to believe that HE was coming, now to know that He has accomplished the promised salvation at Calvary and His resurrection!). We must understand that God’s love is imparted to those who receive The Son.  And when we know and love Him, we have the opportunity to share with our loved ones and live out our faith.

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love

toward us,

in that,

while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:1-8

God multiplied His love, in Jesus, at the cross and by putting His love into those who come to Jesus! Not that we deserved it, or earned it, but because God chose to love us first, and we cant’ help but to share the love and grace He gives to us with all He places in our path.

“But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them

that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.” John 1:12-13

And John expands this teaching again in 1 John.

“Whosoever shall confess

that Jesus is the Son of God,

God dwelleth in him,

and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed

the love that God hath to us.

God is love;

and he that dwelleth in love

dwelleth in God,

and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect,

that we may have boldness

in the day of judgment:

because as he is,

so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love;

but perfect love casteth out fear:

because fear hath torment.

He that feareth

is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him,

because he first loved us.

20 If a man say,

I love God,

and hateth his brother,

he is a liar:

for he that loveth not his brother

whom he hath seen,

how can he love God

whom he hath not seen?

21 And this commandment have we from him,

That he who loveth God

love his brother also.”   1 John 4:15-21

Once again, we have a picture of the love of God that is given to us to be shared with others. God’s love will reflect itself in our responses and our actions toward others.

But there is even more in scripture that helps us understand the import of ‘fruitfulness’ in our lives—both physical and spiritual. We are to love God, life, and children—all which originate with God and His grace!

“Lo, children

are an heritage of the LORD:

and the fruit of the womb

is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;

so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver

full of them:

             they shall not be ashamed,

but they shall speak

with the enemies in the gate.”    Psalm 127:3-5

It saddens my heart that our culture claims to ‘love’ children, yet we kill the unborn, we choose self over parenthood, and we weigh parenthood by its convenience and cost, not by The Word of God! God says that children are His blessing—but are we choosing to pursue God’s blessings or the so-called blessings of the world—self, material gain and avoidance of parentage. It seems that we want to be ‘happy’ in our own ways—not God’s ways. But even more importantly we are also avoiding spiritual parentage. When we do help someone come to Jesus, we often abandon them to the world, rather than nourishing them and bringing them to spiritual maturity, a principle that is true in both the physical realm and the spiritual.

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4

Did you get that, “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”? We are to be fruitful and multiply on all fronts, and as Paul so aptly put it—the fruit is the evidence—both physical fruitfulness and spiritual fruitfulness!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust

of the flesh………

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,
drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit

the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections

and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”     Portions of Galatians 5:17-25

Our actions are our fruit; both physical and spiritual. And notice, it’s the “fruit” of the Spirit, not the ‘fruits’! God’s Spirit and His work within the redeemed is the evidence of His love within us that manifests itself in multiplied ways!!! So my question for today is, “Are we being fruitful, and multiplying in this world?” Do we truly have God’s vision toward physical life? Do we truly have God’s vision toward spiritual multiplication in this world? Am I doing my part? I pray that God will open our eyes to see as He sees. May we truly believe and sing together:

“Be Thou My Vision”!!! (By Dallon Forgaill)

May we see with God’s eyes in the physical and the spiritual!!  Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

The Faithful Promisor!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #384

11 Friday Aug 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Knowing God's Word, Salvation, Showers Of Blessing, The Word, Trials, Troubles, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs  #384 The Faithful Promisor!!!

 

As I sit here praising God for the wonderful ‘August’ rain here in Oklahoma, my mind goes to the scripture that God has given to us as a shower of His love, His Spirit and His truth into our lives, if we will but avail ourselves of it. The Word reminds us endlessly that God is our anchor in the storms. And God’s Spirit will open our hearts to receive and understand the truths of The Word. So let’s spend a few minutes together this morning rehearsing God’s goodness as He reveals truth in The Word, and He keeps every promise! (Always practice integrity toward The Word and don’t take specific promises out of their normal, natural context!! There are general promises for all, specific promises for particular individuals/groups, and specific promises for particular times or events. Remember—Context Is King!)

“All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

28 Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest

unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”    Matthew 11:27-30

Jesus calls us to come to Him for every need, and our greatest need is His saving grace! And He has promised to give us rest, in fact total release, from the burden of sin that weighs us down. And He keeps His promises, and we can rest assured of His faithful provision as HE brings us to maturity, to be all that HE has created and gifted us to be.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

And we can take that confidence with us through every day and every difficulty or trail that we may encounter, and not only for ourselves, but also to share our confidence, hope and encouragement with one another as we go!!!

“Let us draw near

with a true heart

in full assurance of faith,

having our hearts sprinkled

from an evil conscience,

and our bodies washed

with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;

(for he is faithful that promised😉

24 And let us consider one another

to provoke unto love

and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling

of ourselves together,

as the manner of some is;

but exhorting one another:

and so much the more,

as ye see the day approaching.”    Hebrews 10:22-25

So, take heart today, for faithful is HE that has “promised”!

“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Titus 1:2

Sanitized Or Sanctified??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 5

06 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by in Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Salvation, Sanctified, Sanitized, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.5 Sanitized Or Sanctified???

 

Today I’d like us to consider the doctrine of ‘sanctification’ particularly in light of a culture that seems to be much more interested in ‘sanitizing’ men instead of calling them to sanctification that only comes through the cleansing, life-transforming transaction of salvation—being born again of the Spirit of God! Only God can change the heart of a lost man, woman, boy or girl into the heart of a ‘child of God’!

“But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.” John 1:12-13

When someone comes to Jesus through repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for their own ‘individual, personal’ sin, they are transformed by the blood of Jesus into a child of God. They aren’t cleaned up (sanitized) by doing ‘good’ works, but sanctified by the sacrifice that Jesus made for ‘sin’! Paul describes this transaction in his letter to the Colossians, as deliverance and translation—being changed from a worldly, sinful creature to a new birth (See John 3:1-19) child of God.

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins…..

20 And, having made peace

through the blood of his cross,

by him to reconcile all things

unto himself;

by him, I say,

whether they be things in earth,

or things in heaven.

21 And you,

that were sometime alienated

and enemies in your mind

by wicked works,

yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh

through death,

to present you holy

and unblameable

and unreproveable

in his sight:”    Colossians 1:12-14 & 20-22

Do you understand that—

we were in darkness without Jesus–

but we can receive deliverance

from darkness into HIS light?

We were in sin without Jesus—

 but HE translates/changes us into HIS kingdom

 by redemption

 through HIS blood

 even the forgiving our sin/sins?

We were alienated from God—

 but Jesus reconciles us to God,

 and gives us peace with God?

All of this offered to those who will come to Jesus in repentance and faith in His death for ‘my’ sin! But it doesn’t stop there; He doesn’t ask us to ‘sanitize’ our lives but HE does a transforming work of redemption which makes us fit to receive the “inheritance of the saints in light”, and then He is works within our hearts and lives to “present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight”. God clearly says that we can do nothing to save ourselves, but He will save from Hell, and sanctify us!!!

“And you, being dead in your sins

and the uncircumcision of your flesh,

hath he quickened together with him,

having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances

that was against us,

which was contrary to us,

and took it out of the way,

nailing it to his cross;”    Colossians 2:13-14

Jesus paid it all—all for you—and all for me!

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past

ye walked according to the course

of this world,

according to the prince

of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all

had our conversation in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature the children

of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy,

for his great love

wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:”   Ephesians 2:1-6

All of these passages remind us that Jesus saves and gives ‘new’ life to those who will receive Him—a life that is lived by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, imparted to us because of the completed work of salvation that Jesus accomplished at Calvary!! As the old song says, “The Old Rugged Cross Made The Difference”. Yet we live amongst those who are purporting a Gospel that promises to punch your ticket for heaven, but makes no change, and certainly no demands for any evidence of a ‘transformed’ life.

Jesus saves us to be His hands and feet to the world, but even more so, to be a demonstration of His saving power which manifests itself in the transformed life of those truly redeemed, children of God. And regardless of what men may say, God knows those who are really His own. And my friends, saying so, doesn’t’ make it so.

“Nevertheless the foundation of God

standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them

that are his.

And, Let every one that nameth

the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19

As my mother used to say, “You can fool all of the people, some of the time, and you can fool some of the people all of the time. But you can’t ever fool God!” Yet we have a whole lot of people who are promoting a ‘gospel’ that doesn’t line up with scripture. When we come to Jesus—He makes a change! What Jesus imparts isn’t cheap grace; it is the ‘blood bought’ transforming power of the blood of Jesus that “cleanses us from all sin”.

“Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who hath blessed us

with all spiritual blessings

in heavenly places

in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him

before the foundation of the world,

that we should be holy

and without blame

before him

in love:

5 Having predestinated us

unto the adoption of children

by Jesus Christ

to himself,

according to the good pleasure

of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace,

wherein he hath made us accepted

in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches of his grace...”    Ephesians 1:2-7

We’re adopted into the family of God, and that new birth transaction will always leave a ‘family resemblance’. No, we aren’t made instantly perfect, but we are ‘being sanctified’ (made holy and set apart) unto God, learning to be a help and encouragement to all those who call upon HIS name.

“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth,

to them that are sanctified

in Christ Jesus,

called to be saints,

with all that in every place

call upon the name of Jesus Christ

our Lord,

both theirs

and ours:

3 Grace be unto you,

and peace,

from God our Father,

and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”     1 Corinthians 1:2-3

So our questions for today are, ‘Are you trying to live a ‘sanitized’ life by your own power?’ Or, ‘Are you born again, yielding to the work of God in your life and reflecting the sanctifying power of God before a lost and dying world; sanctified by the substitutionary, sacrificial atoning death of Jesus Christ?’ Jesus brought in the ‘New Covenant’ by His sacrifice, the indwelling Holy Spirit to “guide you into all truth”! (See John 16:13)

“Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.

He taketh away the first,

that he may establish the second.

10 By the which will we are sanctified

through the offering of the body

of Jesus Christ

once for all.….

14 For by one offering

he hath perfected

for ever

them that are sanctified.

15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

16 This is the covenant that I will make

with them

after those days,

saith the Lord,

I will put my laws into their hearts,

and in their minds will I write them;

17 And their sins

and iniquities

will I remember no more.……

22 Let us draw near with a true heart

in full assurance of faith,

having our hearts sprinkled

from an evil conscience,

and our bodies washed

with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith

without wavering;

( for he is faithful that promised; )

24 And let us consider one another

to provoke unto love

and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling

of ourselves

together,

as the manner of some is;

but exhorting one another:

and so much the more,

as ye see the day approaching.”   Hebrews 10:9-25

May we ever provoke one another “unto love and to good works”, especially “them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus”!  Amen and Amen!!!