Throughout church history there has been many changes to the perception of what a Christian should look like and should act like.
Well meaning people, myself included, have taken the word of God and tried to give a relevant interpretation to Scripture.
For those whose eyes are not open and those whose spiritual senses have not been activated. They rely upon another person’s vision. Who in turn do the very best they can to in detail describe what a Christian looks like what a Christian acts like and what are the expectations of one who bears the name of Christ Jesus.
Man is the judge of the outward appearance but God is the judge of the heart.
Much of the present church has been divided into two camps. These two camps have their headquarters in extremes.
Camp 1:
You have the very liberal – Rejection of rules, unrestrained and free living. It’s my own journey, it’s my own faith, it’s my own life. Don’t judge me.
Camp motto: God is love full of mercy and grace.
All things are viewed through the lens…we are all Gods people, he loves us, no worries.
Camp 2.
You have the ultra conservative- legalistic rule writing measuring stick watching pharisee.
Camp motto: God is Holy full of righteous Judgement
All things are viewed through this lens… cross the T. Dot the I. Make sure you don’t miss a beat God is always watching.
The motto is true in both camps. They stand firmly upon truth. They are often unmovable because they so strongly believe in their motto. They have both feet upon 1/2 of the revelation.
We see in part and understand in part.
Camp 3- God wants us to be somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. These truths are not opposed to one another. God wants both of these rocks these pillars of truth to be the foundation of every believer. Place a foot firmly upon each motto.
Love-A compelling driving desire for relationship (closeness, fellowship, intimacy- and are culture everything is presumed sexual, this is not in a sexual way but rather affection confidence and strong and strengthening attachment)
1 John 4:7-11
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Mercy-suspended or stayed and or delayed judgment. You don’t get what you do deserve.
Titus 3:3-5
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Grace-transforming power. You get what you don’t deserve.
Grace – unmerited favor
Grace- enabling power
Grace gives the power to be accepted by God even with your past record.
In other words it doesn’t matter who you used to be what you used to do what you used to think about God yourself others or the world around you.
It doesn’t matter because Grace is not only here to justify you. Grace is here to transform you into another image.
So what you look like before the transformation doesn’t matter. His grace is sufficient for you.
I have confidence in his grace
HIs Grace has the power to transform me
It is all sufficient.
Grace gospel that is not transforming is a perverted Gospel.
Grace is our teacher and transforming power
Titus 2:11-15
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
When you recognize you have missed the mark cry out for Gods grace that you may be transformed into his image.
I do not have confidence in my own will, my own abilities, my own flesh, but I do have confidence in your grace and your all sufficient power to make me into the image of yourself.
Some may trust in horses some may trust in chariots but we will trust in the name of our Lord
Holiness-separated and set apart from the world and from the crowd for a special purpose.
Those that reject holiness have consented to a life of average living. They reject the ability to do things the average person cannot do.
1 Peter 1:13-19
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Righteousness-right action from one in a righteous state. None righteous no not one. Our righteousness is but filthy rags
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 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.
Righteousness is not so much about what you have done, but more about what he has done in you.
We work the works of righteousness only when it is Christ’s work working through us.
Judgement- condemnation and justification.
The applying and the removal of penalty
Temporary judgement and eternal judgement.
Matthew 25:14-30
Matthew 25:23
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Matthew 25:28-30
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
We are not free from effort
Our job is
0. To have confidence or faith in Christ Jesus his sacrifice and his grace
0. To have a Clear conscience before God
Perfect before God perfect in conscience sprinkled and removed the evil conscience and replaced with a clear conscience before God
0. Receive sonship and the restoration of sonship by understanding your identity of what Jesus has done and accomplished for you on the cross This brings the best out of you.
0. Deny ourselves and worldly and fleshly lust
0. Be salt and light ambassadors for Christ
Are there areas in your life yet to be yielded.
