This morning I began to study Holiness. First, searching the scripture, here is what I found.1. Holiness and godly sincerity is a good example of pure Christian conduct. 2 Cor 1:12
2. Holiness is perfected (ongoing) in the fear of God. 2 Cor 7:1
3. Holiness plus righteousness = the new self. Eph 4:24
4. Holiness of heart is how we are to be presented before God at His second coming. 1 Thes 3:13
5. Holiness, derived from discipline, is shared with God. (we share in God's holiness) Heb 12:10
I pray the Lord enables us to live a life of Holiness through pure Christian conduct, in the fear of God, putting on the new self, from a holy heart and thereby sharing in God's holiness through godly discipline.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
You can have all this world, Give me Jesus
A beautiful song by Fernando Ortega. Well composed. Listen to it today. "Give me Jesus". Here are the lyrics.
May God be praised!
May we seek the Lord while He may be found.
If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
May God be praised!
Monday, November 1, 2010
God must draw people to Christ
Do you know and understand the drawing of God? To whom are those who are saved? The elect. This is not disputed. That God only draws some, creating a desire in them to respond in faith to Jesus is clear, yet many do not believe this.
Consider John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day."
In context, Jesus had just finished doing a miracle and feeding thousands from only a few fish and pieces of bread. He then tells the crowd in v26, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled." They missed focusing on the Savior because of their temporal desire for food. Jesus then goes on to tell them that this food they desire perishes, but they should work for the food which brings eternal life. How? By believing in Jesus. "Working" shows it is not merely a faith which produces nothing, but a life which is working towards Christ.
He then goes on to say in v37 that all the Father gives to Him, will come to Him. What is the context? Eternal life! Here we learn very plainly that those who are called of God, or elect, WILL come to Christ and will be saved, that is "raised up on the last day" as the end of v37 says.
The problem for many, is that they say, 'wait a minute, I thought a person must believe and that God's will is for all to be saved'? Yes, that too is true, but God doesn't effectually call all men in the same manner, else all men would be saved. We must let the tention of scripture remain, while not rejecting that which we do not yet understand. For our lack of understanding does not make something untrue. If a two year old does not understand how it is possible that a cold oven could all of a sudden burn him with fire, it does not mean that oven's no longer get hot!
The people then understand this problem, and upon hearing that Jesus has said He has come down from Heaven, start to grumble. Jesus then gives us v44 (which I started this post with) and tells them "Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me". Now ask any preacher, does everyone they teach about the things of God become saved? No. So what does Jesus mean. In context, this again is referring to those who have believed. Who are those who believe? The elect. Why? Because "of all that the Father has given me [Jesus] I lose nothing." v37.
Still not understanding? v64 "But there are some of you who do not believe". Judas was in the crowd, as were many other people who just wanted a miracle and did not want to taste the bread of heaven and receive eternal life. Jesus was trying to tell them, you can't take salvation, you must receive it. For something to be received it must be given. v65 "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." This is the dicotomy of election and it is clear as day.
Do you believe the Bible? All of it? Then you must believe, and TEACH others ALL of it. Not just the parts you like. The passage then goes on to say in vv66-67, "As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Peter then says, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life." The Bible only presents two options here. Believe and live according to the teaching of the Bible, or turn away and follow Christ no more.
Consider John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day."
In context, Jesus had just finished doing a miracle and feeding thousands from only a few fish and pieces of bread. He then tells the crowd in v26, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled." They missed focusing on the Savior because of their temporal desire for food. Jesus then goes on to tell them that this food they desire perishes, but they should work for the food which brings eternal life. How? By believing in Jesus. "Working" shows it is not merely a faith which produces nothing, but a life which is working towards Christ.
He then goes on to say in v37 that all the Father gives to Him, will come to Him. What is the context? Eternal life! Here we learn very plainly that those who are called of God, or elect, WILL come to Christ and will be saved, that is "raised up on the last day" as the end of v37 says.
The problem for many, is that they say, 'wait a minute, I thought a person must believe and that God's will is for all to be saved'? Yes, that too is true, but God doesn't effectually call all men in the same manner, else all men would be saved. We must let the tention of scripture remain, while not rejecting that which we do not yet understand. For our lack of understanding does not make something untrue. If a two year old does not understand how it is possible that a cold oven could all of a sudden burn him with fire, it does not mean that oven's no longer get hot!
The people then understand this problem, and upon hearing that Jesus has said He has come down from Heaven, start to grumble. Jesus then gives us v44 (which I started this post with) and tells them "Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me". Now ask any preacher, does everyone they teach about the things of God become saved? No. So what does Jesus mean. In context, this again is referring to those who have believed. Who are those who believe? The elect. Why? Because "of all that the Father has given me [Jesus] I lose nothing." v37.
Still not understanding? v64 "But there are some of you who do not believe". Judas was in the crowd, as were many other people who just wanted a miracle and did not want to taste the bread of heaven and receive eternal life. Jesus was trying to tell them, you can't take salvation, you must receive it. For something to be received it must be given. v65 "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." This is the dicotomy of election and it is clear as day.
Do you believe the Bible? All of it? Then you must believe, and TEACH others ALL of it. Not just the parts you like. The passage then goes on to say in vv66-67, "As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Peter then says, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life." The Bible only presents two options here. Believe and live according to the teaching of the Bible, or turn away and follow Christ no more.
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