Category: Grace Living (Christian Life)

The Thing Which is Good

Monday, September 2, 2013

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28 KJV).

On this Labor Day, we talk about work, “the thing which is good.”

In this day and age of increasing “government assistance,” people are becoming less and less aware of our hard work being the Lord Jesus’ preferred method of the source of our incomes. While the physically and mentally disabled are obvious exceptions, the God of the Bible expects all of us to contribute labor in order to provide for ourselves. For children and young adults, even being a student in school is work enough!

Observe the doctrine being communicated in today’s Scripture. The grace life does not merely teach us to quit doing bad things, but it also instructs us to start doing good things (Titus 2:11,12). Once a thief trusts the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished crosswork as sufficient payment for his sins, then God expects that thief to quit stealing and find a job so he can provide for his needs!

The God of creation calls work “the thing which is good” (today’s Scripture). Work is not something to be avoided; it is something to be embraced for the Lord’s glory!

When the Lord Jesus Christ put the first man, Adam, on earth, that man had a divine commission. Adam was not to simply loaf around and do nothing: “And the LORD God took the man, and put him in the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Adam was to protect that garden, to till its ground, to prepare it for Jesus Christ to come down and dwell in with he and Eve (because of sin, that earthly kingdom over which Jesus Christ will rule is still awaiting fulfillment!).

Saints, may we work to provide for our families (1 Timothy 5:8), and may we work to help those who truly are needy (today’s Scripture). In the words of God the Holy Spirit, that is “good!” 🙂

Who Is a Saint? #7

Sunday, September 1, 2013

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV).

Behold, the identity that we Christians have in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Father God has one overall plan for creation, and not even hell itself will prevent Jesus Christ from becoming the Head of all the governments of heaven and earth (Ephesians 1:9,10; cf. Colossians 1:16-20). “In the dispensation of the fulness of times,” Jesus Christ will be crowned the Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, and He will appoint rulers to fill those positions of government that are corrupted by Satan and sin today.

When we study and believe God’s Word rightly divided, we learn that Jesus Christ will one day rule this planet earth through redeemed Israel. These believing Jews—yea, “saints”—will be God’s channel of blessing and salvation to the Gentiles (Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:3-6; et al.). We also understand that Jesus Christ will one day rule the heavenly places through us, the agency called “the Church the Body of Christ” (Ephesians 1:20-23; Ephesians 2:6,7; et al.)—we are God’s other set of “saints.” We, believing Jews and Gentiles in this the Dispensation of Grace, will be God’s vessels that He will use in outer space for His glory!

The doctrine that the LORD taught Israel in the “Old Testament,” Four Gospels, early Acts, and Hebrews through Revelation will finally come to a head, as Israel’s believing remnant is led by Jesus Christ Himself into their Promised Land (earthly kingdom) to dwell safely in it forever. For us, the doctrine in Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, will be the life lived in and through us forever in the heavenly places… get a head-start learning and believing that doctrine now!

Dear saints, we cannot begin to fathom the joyous, busy schedule eternity future will be for us in the heavenly places. In Jesus Christ, we have wisdom, we have righteousness, we have sanctification, and we have redemption (today’s Scripture). May we never forget—that identity is not just to keep us out of hell, but to enable us to be used of God throughout all the endless ages to come! 🙂

Who Is a Saint? #6

Saturday, August 31, 2013

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV).

Behold, the identity that we Christians have in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Through faith in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork alone as sufficient payment for our sins, we are dead to our old Adamic nature (sin’s dominion): “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6). We have been raised again with Christ to “walk in newness of life” (verse 4). Just as our Adamic nature produces sins, that new nature/life we have in Christ generates good works (Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 4:20-32; Philippians 1:11; Colossians 3:1-17). God has made us “saints” for this purpose!

Paul explained practical sanctification in 2 Timothy 2:19-21: “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. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7). The Christian is to take God’s Word, study and believe it rightly divided, and will thus be “perfect [mature], throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

Remember, one is not a saint based on his or her performance, but because of his or her identity in Christ. Still, our positional sanctification (in Jesus Christ) should be reflected on a daily basis (practical sanctification by Jesus Christ). A sinner is a sinner not because he sins—he sins because he is a sinner in Adam (his very nature causes those sins). Likewise, a saint, although leading an imperfect life, is still a “saint” (“sanctified;” today’s Scripture) in God’s eyes because of that person’s identity in Jesus Christ.

This earthly Christian life is a preview of that which is to come….

Who Is a Saint? #5

Friday, August 30, 2013

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV).

Behold, the identity that we Christians have in the Lord Jesus Christ!

In religion, “saints” are nothing more than intercessors who influence God to grant us favors. In Scripture, they are something else entirely. God—yea, God alone—creates saints through Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork (today’s Scripture). Saints are not for our selfish desires: they are for God to use to glorify His Son Jesus Christ forever and ever and ever.

Among other things, Jesus Christ is our “sanctification” (today’s Scripture). The writer of the book of Hebrews, when describing Israel’s salvation, used the same terminology the Apostle Paul utilized to refer to us, the Church the Body of Christ. “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all…. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:10,14; cf. Hebrews 13:12; 1 Peter 1:2; Jude 1).

Just as God will separate (sanctify) these believing Jews from the unsaved descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (like He separated Aaron and his sons from the common Israeli bloodline for service in the Levitical priesthood), so He has separated us from the ordinary human race. Just as He will redeem Israel from her sins and Satanic bondage using Jesus Christ’s shed blood (via the New Covenant; Hebrews 8:8-13), so He has bought us out of that slave market of sin and death (redemption; today’s Scripture).

“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). In Christ, we have a new nature: we are a new type of mankind, the Church the Body of Christ, the “one new man” (Ephesians 2:15). All saints are equal in Jesus Christ—all Christians are in one body.

When God saved us, He not only delivered us from His wrath in everlasting hellfire, but He made us “saints” in Jesus Christ (today’s Scripture) to use us for His glory forever….

Who Is a Saint? #4

Thursday, August 29, 2013

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV).

Behold, the identity that we Christians have in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Usually, the Bible uses the word “saint” to describe Christians living on earth.

In Ephesians 3:8, the great Apostle Paul humbly declared that he was “the least of all saints”—Paul, a “saint,” was not in heaven here (he was in prison in Rome!). Again, while he was in prison, Paul penned in Philippians 4:21,22 that the Philippians were to “salute [greet] every saint in Christ Jesus” and that “the saints salute [them], chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.” Were they to greet the saints in heaven? Where is “Caesar’s household?” In heaven, or in the Roman emperor’s palace in Rome on planet earth?

Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 6:2,3: “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” Notice the synonyms—“saints,” “you,” and “we,” meaning the Corinthians living on earth are “saints!” Again, even Paul considered himself a “saint” (indicated by the pronoun “we”), and Paul certainly was not in heaven when he wrote that either.

The writer of the book of Hebrews praises his audience for “ministering to the saints” (6:10). Where are these “saints?” In heaven, or on earth? When he instructed, “Salute… all the saints” (13:24), did he mean believers in heaven, or believers on earth?

Whether physically dead or alive, all believers in the God of the Bible (Jesus Christ) are still redeemed from sin and everlasting hellfire. They are still “in the LORD.” Psalm 116:15: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Even after death, they are still called “saints” (Matthew 27:52,53; Revelation 16:6; Revelation 17:6; Revelation 18:24). But why has God made them “saints?”

Now, let us see the role of the saints in God’s plan for the ages….

Who Is a Saint? #3

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV).

Behold, the identity that we Christians have in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Observe how the Bible does not restrict the word “saint” to Christians who have died.

When the Apostle Paul gave his testimony to King Agrippa in Acts 26:10, notice his words: “Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.” Was Saul of Tarsus imprisoning deceased saints in heaven? No, these saints were still alive on earth—otherwise, they could not have been put to death!

In Romans 12:13, we read about practical Christian living in the Dispensation of Grace: “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” Where are these “saints?” Do those in heaven have needs that we can fulfill? Nay, but there are plenty of needy “saints” living on earth! Romans 15:25,26,31; 1 Corinthians 16:1; 2 Corinthians 8:3; and 2 Corinthians 9:1,12 are other examples of needy “saints” living on earth.

The following verses identify “saints” living on earth, not in heaven: 2 Corinthians 1:1 (Corinth), Ephesians 1:1 (Ephesus), Philippians 1:1 (Philippi), and Colossians 1:2 (Colosse). Romans 16:15 lists “saints” who are not in heaven, but alive on earth: “Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.”

Paul instructed the Roman believers in Romans 16:2 to behave like the “saints” they were, living right here on planet earth! In 1 Timothy 5:10, we read about Christian widows who “washed the saints’ feet.” Do people in heaven need their feet washed? Nay, so where are these “saints” whose feet these women are washing? Paul commended Philemon for refreshing the bowels of the “saints” (Philemon 7). Was Philemon serving Christians in heaven, or Christians on earth like himself?

The Bible does use the word “saint” for deceased believers, but as we can see, “saint” usually applies to Christians living on earth….

Who Is a Saint? #2

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV).

Behold, the identity that we Christians have in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Isaiah 43:7 is the Bible’s clearest definition of “saint,” “sanctify,” and “sanctification:” “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.”

When God makes one a “saint,” this individual is “called by [His] name” (sanctified), His creation, His “workmanship” (Ephesians 2:10), and no longer an ordinary human. The Creator of heaven and earth has redeemed him or her from the penalty of sin (hell and the lake of fire) and saved that person so He can use that person forever for His purposes. That “saint” should reflect God’s values and principles (as opposed to selfish, or sinful, living), thereby glorifying Him.

The Bible’s clearest illustrations of sanctification and sainthood are the Levitical (or Aaronic) priesthood and the vessels of the Tabernacle and Temple.

“For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:… and no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron” (Hebrews 5:1,4). Not just any Jewish man could serve in Israel’s priesthood—only a man “called of God,” a son of Moses’ brother Aaron, Israel’s first high priest (Exodus 28:41-43; Exodus 29:9,44; Exodus 40:12-15). Psalm 106:16 calls Aaron “the saint of the LORD.”

“…Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever” (1 Chronicles 23:13). Aaron was “separated,” or “sanctified,” to be a priest to perform God’s service. “The most holy things,” associated with Aaron’s ministry, were special vessels (cups, bowls, shovels, et cetera) used in the Tabernacle (later, the Temple). Ordinary Jews were not to use those vessels: they were to only be used in God’s Tabernacle and Temple to do His work.

This is sanctification….

One Heartbeat Away from Eternity

Saturday, August 24, 2013

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble” (Job 14:1 KJV).

How true, Job, how true!

Earlier this week, just hours after returning from my mom’s aunt’s out-of-state funeral, my family received news that my dad’s younger brother had had a “minor” heart attack but that CPR saved him. We were relieved. Minutes later, we received a second phone call: we learned it was a massive heart attack and his soul likely slipped away into eternity before help arrived.

I was the one who had to tell the news to his 86-year-old mother, my grandmother. There really was no easy way to tell her, and as I gently spoke those words that no mother ever wants to hear, the poor soul sat speechless. As she wept, she told me she never expected to bury a child. Actually, none of us expected that it would be my 61-year-old uncle to die next in the family, and that he would die without any warning—no one in the family was able to tell him goodbye. My poor dear grandmother never did receive her phone call from him that she had been awaiting.

At the funeral Thursday, the most heart-wrenching sight I had ever seen, I was reminded of today’s Scripture. Dear readers, we never do appreciate the frailty of our lives until death comes. Quite frankly, any one of us may literally be just a heartbeat from eternity. As Job stated, we have been given but “few days” on earth (today’s Scripture). We just do not know how “few” those days “full of trouble” really are. That is why the Bible says to be ready to leave today; death gives little to no warning!

We do not have to go to hell. May we not teeter on the edge of a lost eternity! Jesus Christ died for our sins, His perfect blood paid for those sins, His burial put away those sins, and His resurrection gives us new life and justification in Him (Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Trust alone in that Gospel of the Grace of God, and when that final heartbeat comes, you will be prepared!

The Sting of Death

Friday, August 23, 2013

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55 KJV).

In Jesus Christ, we endure “the sting of death” but for a moment….

Having attended the funerals of two family members—my maternal great-aunt and my paternal uncle—during the past four days, my family and I have certainly felt “the sting of death.” That second passing away was unexpected and extremely quick, making it very painful for the family.

To view the bodies of loved ones lying lifeless in their caskets, always pricks (“stings”) the inner man: like a knife, death slices through the souls of the bereaved. That feeling is greatly intensified in those who literally “have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13) because they are outside of Jesus Christ and lack assurance of seeing their loved ones in heaven.

The verse following today’s Scripture reads: “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law” (1 Corinthians 15:56). We all know that sin is a very painful reality, clearly and fully manifested by the Mosaic Law. The Law shows us that presence and particulars of sin while death is the penalty of sin: “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a).

Romans 6:23b provides the solution: “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” While we live in this sin-cursed world and are subject to its effects (including physical death), 1 Corinthians 15:57 offers us Christians consolation: “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As people who have trusted alone in the finished crosswork of Jesus Christ as sufficient payment for our sins, we have hope in Jesus Christ. One day, at the “rapture,” when Jesus Christ will return to gather us the Church that is His Body, He will bodily resurrect our deceased Christian brethren and we will be reunited forever (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). Today’s Scripture reminds us that not only will Jesus Christ rescue us from that “sting” of their loss, but He will give them—and us—“victory” over the power of death.

What a hope we have in Jesus Christ! 🙂

Peace of Mind in a World in Pieces

Thursday, August 15, 2013

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4 KJV).

Despite all of the weeping, sleepless nights, and despondency, there is hope in Jesus Christ!

With the recent passing of a Christian couple’s newborn baby, the sudden demise of a Christian brother and ministry fellow-laborer, and the death of my great aunt yesterday, I can assure you that the member of the Church the Body of Christ, although guaranteed a blissful eternity in the heavenly places, is not spared from pain and grief in this fallen creation. My, what horrific, constant suffering all around the world! In fact, this very reality is often used as an “argument” against God’s existence (but is likened unto the folly of, “I do not believe in the existence of law enforcement officers because of the widespread criminal behavior!”).

Dear saints, sin produces division, disruption, disease, despair, decay, and death. What we see today are merely the remnants of the original perfect creation, what is left of that paradise before God cursed it so Satan could not use it in all its glory for his own purposes (Genesis 3:14-19). As each day passes, this ruined creation comes closer and closer to the day when that “bondage of corruption” will be lifted, when paradise will be restored on earth and in heaven (Romans 8:18-25). Much needs to happen before that glorious day arrives, so we Christians must patiently remain here on earth until our program finishes.

As our Apostle Paul wrote in that awful Roman prison cell, “Rejoice in the Lord alway [in every instant]: and again I say, Rejoice” (today’s Scripture). We cannot rejoice because of our dire conditions, but we can rejoice in these difficulties. Right where we are, whether good or bad circumstances, we should rejoice in our identity in Jesus Christ, in who He is and who we are in Him, what He has done for us (saved us spiritually), and what He will do for us in the future (deliver us physically).

Remember, God’s grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9,10) and we “can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth [us]” (Philippians 4:13). 🙂