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It is an awful thing to willfully be ignorant of the truth! Some of us gathered this morning to worship and hear the last message of 2023. There were many points made that were very timely, but one sobering point gripped my attention. Not only has Satan been the "accuser" of those who placed their faith in the Lord Jesus, but he has been the deceiver who convinced mankind of his lies about God from the beginning.
This deception has blinded the eyes of many who believe they are very "religious" but ignore and refuse to receive the truth. This is Paul's warning; “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10). I can't think of a more sobering warning. Jesus confronted the same religious obstacle with the Sadducees who rejected the truth of the resurrection. “Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). I am very concerned about those in the Church who pride themselves with 'church success' and even claiming to 'be filled with the Holy Spirit' but reject the authority of Scripture. Let us realize that God is not only holy and righteous, but He is jealous of His truth (James 4:5).
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Let's go back to those verses in Romans 5 where Paul is explaining how "we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (5:10). He does not leave this statement like an island without a context. The truth of reconciliation by itself is beyond our ability to grasp, but if he left it as an objective truth, it would not touch us by way of application and impact the way we live out our relationship with God.
Therefore, Paul continues with a marvelous application. “More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:11). There must be a response from the heart of those who have received this reconciliation. The strength of this rejoicing is made possible by realizing from verse 6 that we received this undeserved blessing "while we were still weak...and ungodly." There was no righteousness in us to give God a basis to accept us back into a relationship with Him. "But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (8). The more these truths penetrate our hearts, the greater will be our " rejoicing in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, One of the first impressions I had when asked to join this team was that our ultimate goal was reaching the lost so they would be reconciled to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. That gave inspiration to our first name, Go and Reconcile Ministries. The name is not as important as the principle behind what we do.
Paul says. “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life” (Romans 5:10). This is an amazing statement. Enemies have not the slightest desire for reconciliation with the other party. Man considered God an enemy because He called man's insistence on doing his own will "sin." For God to prepare the means of our reconciliation before we had the slightest desire for it is unspeakable grace? Another amazing part of Paul's statement in Roman's 5:10 is that God's design in bringing us back into a relationship with Him is that HE sustains us in that relationship for all eternity through the life of His Son. Nothing can interrupt, cancel, or diminish it. This reflective principle is seen in Jesus' words. “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on Me, he also will live because of Me” (John 6:57). What a glory to rest in and find our security far from Satan's lies! “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows” (2 Corinthians 12:2).
It is very interesting to me that this term "in Christ" is rarely used in the Church, or is a subject of preaching, or common place in our conversations. Yet, it is used and referred to in the New Testament (NT) at least 200 times. Why is this? Many in the Church and even those who profess to a faith refer to themselves as "Christians" which appears only three times in the NT. Twice it is used by persons in the world (Acts 11:26; 26:28) and once by Peter (1 Peter 4:16). On the other hand, Paul refers to believers as "saints" or those "in Christ" all through his letters. I do not criticize believers for doing this because I think there has been a serious lack of teaching on the subject. if we were honest and used the Scriptures properly, we would agree that what has happened through salvation is that God has given us a new identity in Jesus. Galatians 2:20 is one example; “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." I will have more to say on this later, but for now, let these words stay with you and ask the Holy Spirit to give them spiritual application to your life. Almost daily I receive news from several sources around the world that persecution is on the rise. The fact is that the Church has always faced persecution in one form or another. We shouldn't be surprised at this increase. Jesus warned His disciples of the hatred of the world against Him and those who follow him (John 15:18-22).
As Paul was closing out his life and ministry, he makes several statements that we need to keep in mind as we face trials that result from opposition to God's truth and those who stand for its moral demands. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:18). My desire is that you and I pursue God's work and will with this confidence. His glory is all that matters! Do not be concerned about how we are "rescued". Just know that He will bring us safely home! As the aroma of Christmas remains on our spirits, I want to renew our thinking of our goal to reach the lost with the message of Jesus and His power to save (see Acts 1:8). This caused me to pick up a book on missions that I had not finished reading. I sat in our car waiting for my wife to complete her shopping and turned to where I left off reading.
I was very disappointed to read these words in the first paragraph that referred to current missionaries whose work was "based on research and missiological thought" (I respect the author but will protect their identity). While I am certain their desires are well intended, this 'method' of advancing the gospel to the lost and unengaged people groups misses the most powerful method in missions. Why has the Church lost its passion to be led and empowered by Christ its Head and the indwelling Holy Spirit. In Acts 8:26, "an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."" The directions were clear and specific. Acts 16:6-10 demonstrates the same specific type of instruction and detail. Neither of these movements came from human planning! These are just two examples among many I could recount. My question for us today is, why is the same biblical method and passion not used today? Is our problem because of habits or is there a deeper issue of trust and depending on divine direction? It is both. How do we correct this? First, repent. Second, wait in prayer for divine direction. Third, obey “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness” (John 12:46).
The working of this Scripture is not only personal in my own salvation, but in the life of one of our grandchildren. Knowing the darkness of their condition, we had prayed for this person for many years. It was not the persuasion of any one person that spoke into her life of darkness, but the Holy Spirit revealed how dark her life was. In that moment, she cried out for the Lord to save her from a life of sin and running from truth. Her cry was heard. We have watched with wonder at her deliverance! Jesus' words in John 12 are so true! Once she put her faith in the Lord Jesus, the darkness she was living in could not remain. Her taste for the things of darkness is gone and is replaced with a hunger and thirst for the light that Jesus has brought. She cannot remain where darkness once filled her life. Perhaps you or someone you know has not known the immediate transformation that occurs when genuine faith in Jesus causes new birth and a new life (3:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:17). If you do not know this new life, Jesus has come that you might be delivered from darkness. If Jesus has come into your life and changed darkness to light, then pray for a regenerating work of the Spirit to open the hearts that are still in darkness. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
God was not satisfied with just telling mankind His truth, He knew it was necessary to send it to us in what He called the "WORD" the person of Jesus. He could have sent Jesus as a full grown man, but that would not have shown us all His glory as it did in the person of Jesus from coming first as a babe. This was the complete identification with fallen humanity. Jesus took "the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:7). This helps us understand " the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." God's glory radiated through Jesus as fully man, yet fully God. What amazing grace. Our desire is that every believer will grow in their appreciation of this infinite grace. It will add character and effectiveness to our witness and joy to our worship. Why were so few ready? Around 730 years before the incarnation of Jesus, Isaiah wrote these stirring words, “A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain” (Isaiah 40:3–4).
This meant that the Lord was coming and there was work to be done in preparation for this appearing. Some of God's people were not being treated as God had taught Israel (valleys) and some were filled with pride and arrogance (mountains and hills). These must be straightened by God's discipline so the Lord would be received as He should when he comes. While there should have been many who took heed to these words, John the Baptist was among the few who felt obligated to call Israel to repentance so they would be ready. The Lord has come, and a few received Him. We are very thankful for the gospel going out to the four corners of the earth. Multitudes has heard and receive the message and been saved. But there is another coming of Jesus to receive the Church, His Bride for Himself. ““Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done” (Revelation 22:12). Are you ready and are you helping others to be ready? When we study the Old Testament and the first covenant which had amazing details about serving God, we are looking at a shadow of the new covenant that “Christ has obtained, a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant He mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6).
The first covenant spoke of a relationship with God, but only through following a "Law" that no one could keep perfectly. There had to be someone who would keep the Law perfectly for us, or in our place. Then Jesus came and said to God His Father, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God" (10:7). That is why Jesus could say, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do” (John 17:4). This was the whole life of Jesus. He did the will of God perfectly and provided a way for us to have a relationship with God based on that perfection, not on our works or deeds. THIS IS WHAT JESUS CAME TO DO |
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