You Are A Chosen Race

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2: 9-10)

Two verses so full of awesome information that many blog posts could be written about any one of them! If we are not careful we will think we are reading the Old Testament and the nation of Israel will come to mind... and I think that is God's intention. He knows that we have knowledge of His selection of the Abraham's descendants as His chosen people to tell the world about Him and so he uses our understanding of that to communicate His relationship with us. 

The Christian "race" is different than the world view. The world view is about the color of the skin and the nation of one's origin. God's view is about the nation that we belong to after we make Jesus our king. Is the Christian race black? Sure! Is it white? Absolutely! Yellow? You bet! Red? No doubt! Now you are thinking back to VBS and the songs you sang as a child. Amazing isn't it? Truth was being poured out into your life and you didn't even know it. Red and yellow, black and white... they are precious in His sight! (right here is a great time to read 2 Cor 5: 11-21)

When we come to Him, we renounce our former citizenship and we are granted membership in a new nation, a holy nation, a nation set apart for His possession. That sounds pretty special! (great place to read Col 1:13) The Christian is no longer an American or a Canadian... now they are part of the Kingdom of His dear Son. That's what I want on my passport!

Citizenship brings responsibility. If you are a citizen of the United States, you are expected to obey the laws of the land and pay your taxes. (at a minimum) As citizens of God's kingdom, you have responsibilities as well. Peter tells us that we are to be busy proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. We are to tell others about this wonderful new place we live and about our amazing King. Why? Because once we were not a people. Once we had not received mercy. But now in His kingdom, we are a people and we have received mercy. He made us His nation, His people and He has granted us forgiveness.

That is something to talk about! Americans spend a lot of time telling the rest of the world about what a great nation we live in. What if Christians started doing the same? What if we told everyone about Him? What if we told everyone that we are part of a nation that belongs to Him? What if we told everyone that our citizenship last forever, that our nation will never fall? That's worth telling!

...that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light...

The second chapter of 1 Peter is filled with great news for the Christian. Try to find a few minutes to read and meditate on the truths that the apostle Peter, through the Holy Spirit has given to us. I spent  a few minutes reading and thinking on these things before I went to sleep last night and woke us refreshed and ready to work in His kingdom. That is what His word will do for you. (great place to read Hebrews 4:12) Have a blessed day and remember your "re-birth" certificate has His nation as your place of citizenship.

Hebrews 13 - Final Thougths

The writer of Hebrews closes his thoughts in chapter 13 with lots of encouragement for the disciple. God knows we need it! Life has a way of beating us down, even when we are in the body of Christ. Christians are not immune to the pitfalls of this life. We will be rude. We will mistreat our neighbors. We will not treat our mates as we ought. We will get enamored with the things of this world. We will malign those that lead us. And... we will forget that Jesus made everything we have possible. We will do that and much more.

So God sends us this message of encouragement to help us stay on the right path. I need it. Boy, do I need it! In our current Sunday morning Bible study, we have been discussing sanctification. Certainly we all know that God's work in us is an ongoing process. Yes, when we come out of the waters of baptism, we have been sanctified, that is "set apart". God views us differently. Our position has changed, but our nature is still the same. Our thoughts and actions don't suddenly change... miraculously. Thankfully, He sends His Spirit to dwell in us to help us change as we mature as His children. Through His word, His family and His work... we change.

Let brotherly love continue... There will be times when you don't love your brothers and sisters in Christ. They say things that hurt your feelings. They do things that get on your nerves... but, we are to keep on loving them. That love drives us to be people of hospitality. Our homes and our hearts are open. We will hurt with those that hurt. We feel the pain when our family is mistreated. No matter what is said or done... let love continue!

Let marriage be held in honor among all... Our personal conduct in relationships is to be honorable. We are to be faithful to our spouse. The things that pull us away, the stuff that others have that we want are to be seen as what they are... temporary and unimportant. Instead we are to live lives of contentment... in all areas! The reason we can do that... His promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you". He is faithful to us. He will meet our needs. (see Matthew 6:33)

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God... God calls on us to look to our church leaders, to examine their lives and to imitate their faith. That is a huge responsibility for the leader and a challenge for the follower. We are rebellious by nature. If left to our own desires, we will turn on those that lead us. They will make a decision that we don't like; they will say something that steps a little too hard on our toes. Whatever the reason, leaders are easy targets. God calls on us to be different. We are to give honor and respect to those that lead us in our churches. Are they perfect, not hardly. But they take on this role as servants to the church and we are called on to respect them and follow their examples.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.  Leaders need followers. Shepherds need sheep. Sounds simple doesn't it, but I have found this to be challenging at times, both as a leader and a follower. God understands us and so He sends us this message to help us deal with our independent nature. Obey, submit... not words that we particularly like to hear, but this is what we are called on to do. Whether we like it or not, our church leaders have authority over the church and God calls on His people to submit to that authority.

Being an elder has been a joy for me. The support that I have received has been wonderful. I can't imagine leading a congregation that is rebellious. I am thankful for every kind word and the ready positive response that exists in the members of the body in Wilkesboro. This December marks my eighth year as a shepherd to the Wilkesboro church of Christ. I have failed in many ways to be the leader that you have needed. (you know that, I just wanted to be sure you knew that I know it as well) Just as I did after the first four years, I will ask that you reaffirm that you desire for me to have this authority over you. William and I will do this during the month of December as we did four years ago. Further details will follow.

Regardless of the outcome of this time of reexamination, I am thankful for the time you have allowed me to serve. Please know that I have been blessed by being your shepherd. May God bless us as we serve and follow Him... together.

Read the entire chapter... it is filled with great words that will lift your spirits and put you back on the path following Him all the closer.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,  equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (13: 20-21)

Living and Active! (Hebrews 4)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

The first eleven verses continue the thought of chapter 3... the need for us to remain faithful, continue to trust in Him in order to enter the Heavenly rest. Read yesterday's blog for more thoughts on this... http://www.dalesdailybible.blogspot.com/2013/11/can-christian-fall-away-hebrew-3.html. The Hebrew writer concludes his thoughts on the matter by giving us insight into God's word and how it works in our lives.

First, we are told that His word is "living and active". Our Bibles are not filled with useless words written thousands of years ago that only applied to "then". His word is alive. It is current and transcends the generations. It is active. The words we read have the ability to change us! Romans 12 tells us that our minds are "transformed" by his word. Who we are, what we think, how we act, what we do... all changes when we allow His word to be active in our lives. It changes us!

Sharper than any two-edged sword... I imagine this description was more meaningful to those that lived in a time when swords were the weapons that soldiers carried. But you and I can understand that a sword that cut in both directions was a deadly instrument. It cut coming and going. His word is like that! Pull it out of it's sheath, apply it to your life and see where the cuts are made. It is able to deal with all areas of our lives and expose what our true intentions are. This is painful stuff. Being exposed is not for the faint at heart. Many will run and hide, putting the Word away. Others will stand and allow Him to change the areas of their lives that need work.

He concludes the thought by telling us that regardless of whether we run and hide or allow the cuts, He sees us. We cannot hide from His sight. We are exposed! He sees everything. And... we will give an account. This is not optional. We will answer for what we think and what we do. Everything. All of us. But here is thing that matters... the Christian's account is settled! Jesus paid the penalty for our sins and our account is marked... Paid In Full! That changes everything. For the non-Christian, payment must be obtained... either through coming to Christ and accepting His free gift (read Romans 6) or by paying the price themselves. But the account must be settled.

I like the picture conveyed in Colossians 2:11-12... In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

You see for the Christian, the surgery has been performed. Christ did it. In baptism, He does the operating. This is His work, not ours! He cuts out the cancer of sin and sends us on our way. (read Acts 2:37ff) Our faith in the working of God is what makes that happen. Our old self dies and is buried and we experience resurrection. We are raised to live a new life, one shaped by Him, by His Words... the words that are living and active.

Can A Christian Fall Away? (Hebrew 3)

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. (Hebrews 3: 12-14)

Be careful! The Hebrew writer sees danger for the Christian and so he gives him (and us) a clear warning. The alarm has been sounded and the dreadful words that many people deny even exists are used... fall away. Books have been written. Sermons have been preached. And arguments have been had. Many will say, "no, it is impossible for Christians to fall away!" But there it is, "leading you to fall away from the living God".

So, what will we do with this? We could deny it all together! We could explain it away. We could use other verses that seem to teach something else to argue against it. Or... we could accept that the Hebrew writer understood something that we need to understand... maybe. Three verses stating the exact same message just might be evidence of a truth that we need to grasp.

Verse 12....Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. Take care "brothers". The people being addressed are Christians. The warning is directed to those that have placed their faith in Him. The problem is unbelief. Christians never struggle with that! Do they? I have. Some days God seems farther away. Some days I doubt. The warning is that if that continues and grows, the risk is that the Christian will "fall away from the living God." Some of you are shaking your heads right now, "that can't happen!". Ok, let's move on.

Verse 13...But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. The solution to the problem that is detailed in verse 12 is given in verse 13. We need each other! I have a responsibility to my brothers and sisters. I "must" give them encouragement. I must see their needs and meet them. Without that continual exhortation, the danger is that the heart will be hardened. I have seen this and I am sure you have also. Concrete is hauled in trucks that continually mix it... why? If it sits, it hardens. If the Christian is left alone to his / her own devices, their hearts will harden. Life will happen and they will begin to lose faith. Sin will deceive us and we will turn away from Him. We need each other!

Verse 14...For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. This is an if/ then statement given in reverse order. Let's turn it around... if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end, then we have come to share in Christ. The sharing in Christ is conditioned on our remaining faithful to the end. (check out Revelation 2:10) This is not an abstract thought, it is the thought that is consistent throughout the Bible! What do we think Jesus is teaching in the parable of the soils in Matthew 13? Why did Paul write so many letters of encouragement that warn of the dangers of losing faith? If none of this is possible, why all the warnings?

Hebrews 3 establishes Jesus as the one who is worthy of our faith. He is greater than Moses. Moses was a servant, Jesus is the Son! It begins by addressing the readers as "holy brothers, those that share in the heavenly calling" and proceeds to warn them of the dangers they would face and the outcome of their faith. What about you? Are you struggling with belief? Do you see another Christian struggling? Get busy being encouraged or encouraging. Once the concrete has hardened, it is too late.

Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.
(Revelation 2:10-11)

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. (Galatians 5:4)

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. (Hebrews 6:4-6)

Pay Much Closer Attention!!

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard. (Hebrews 2:1-3)

I am afraid that many will drift or have drifted away. He is talking to the saved here... those that have heard the words of salvation and have believed and obeyed! Yet, he says that if we forget what we heard, what we believed, if we drift away, we will not escape retribution. Sounds pretty ominous, doesn't it! The Hebrew writer gives us lots to chew on in these three short verses. Let's break it down into bites we can chew on...

Chapter 2 begins with a "therefore", so we have to look back to see what the writer is referencing. In Chapter 1, we are told of Jesus' supremacy and that God has now spoken to us by His Son. Prior to this, He sent prophets to speak for Him, but now... we hear directly from God in the form of the Son. So, Chapter 2 begins with the idea that the message from the Son needs our close attention. Makes sense to me. If people listened to the prophets of old, certainly the Son of God demands even more of our attention. He warns that inattention leads to drifting away.

I picture a boat tied to a dock. As long as the boat is securely tied by strong ropes... safety. But the minute the knots come loose or the rope breaks... danger. We have all seen the results of storms along the coast to boats that loose their anchor. They are piled on the shore, ruined by the waves. We are just like that! Without being securely tied to the message, we will drift away and find ourselves shipwrecked.

We are told that the message is reliable. The ropes are strong! The dock is secure! We can rely on what the Son has taught us. Jesus (God in the flesh) brought us this message of salvation and it was confirmed by signs and wonders and miracles. (verse 4) The Hebrews writer wants us to know (for sure) that the words are true and that we need to "pay much closer attention" to what we have heard from the Master.

The two Greek word that are translated "pay much closer attention"  are redundantly overly emphasized (if that makes sense). My point is that when we read that expression, there should be no question about the intent. The writer is telling us that this message of salvation demands our total and complete focus. Proper translation would go something like this... more superabundantly pay attention to. You got that? It is as if our neglect of such an important message is illogical and that such neglect deserves severe punishment. This is serious business!!

May we give this message the attention that it demands. May we understand that if we walk away from the truth, we are like a boat without an anchor and that the only outcome will be shipwreck. The message is true. The message is confirmed. The ropes are strong and the dock is secure. Stay in the harbor!