Life #30 - Three Life Choices...and Counting



016/2011-07-30

Enoch pleased God by faith (Hebrews 11:5). But what faith did Enoch have that separated his faith—and gained him translation—from the faith of his generation, who did not please God?

More than Enoch, Christians are placed in a better position to please God. Our advantage is Jesus, of whom God said, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). Since the Spirit is changing us into the Lord’s image, at some point we too will participate in Jesus’ blessing—in the same way we are jointly-formed with Christ in his death and resurrection (2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 6:3-5; Ephesians 2:6). But to be thus changed, we must give up the works of the flesh and become spiritual because those who walk to please God are spiritual (Romans 8:5-9; Galatians 5:16-25).

So, why aren’t more Christians spiritual? Why aren’t more of us translated today? Why do we insist on ignoring faith that pleases God before death comes?

So far, we’ve discovered that God has displayed three life-choices—which he never reneged on—and they require differing levels of faith on our part before we see divine movement on his. We only need to choose to:

1)      please God in Christ Jesus and individually get translated like Enoch; or,

2)      maintain zōē-life and aphtharsia-incorruption in Christ Jesus so together we remain alive until the Lord returns for us; or,

3)      live a good life, die in Christ Jesus, and be collectively raised at the resurrection.

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year. 

Life # 29 - The Ministry of the Spirit of Life



013/2011-07-30

’Ĕlôhîym made a people in their image (Genesis 1:26). After ’âdâm marred the image, God’s intention did not change. Thus, the Son became the plan of redemption and the Holy Spirit its guaranty (2 Corinthians 5:5). The glory that mĕtamŏrphŏō, transformed Jesus (2 Peter 1:17), is the same glory that mĕtamŏrphŏō believers today:

“…we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The ministry of the Spirit mĕtamŏrphŏō us into an incorruptible image, thereby surpassing the ministry of death (2 Corinthians 3:7). Although Christians often quote Hebrews 9:27—we are all "appointed" once to die—the psalmist prophesied that for “a people yet to be created” the Lord would “release those appointed to death” (Psalm 102:18, 19). Christians are new creations in Christ Jesus. And he kept our appointment with death.

The result is “what remains is much more glorious” than what is passing away (2 Corinthians 3: 6-11). We, who “are alive and remain” (1 Thessalonians 4:17), have participated with the glory by works of faith. Otherwise, our faith is dead (James 2:17, 20-22, 24) and the present ministry of the Spirit profits us nothing.

Jesus said, “…He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25, 26 NIV).

Where are his believers now?

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; see Blog 17- (2 Corinthians 3: 6-11); excerpts from our book to be released next year. 

Life #28 - Toward Life and Incorruption: Levels of Faith (3 of 3)

007 Lemon tree

We progress in our salvation from faith to faith: from “born again”, “born of God”, to “born of the Spirit”—free as wind to come and go as we wish (John 3:8).

Christians display two levels of faith:

• One faith believes we have sin; but if we confess our sin, Jesus forgives us and cleanses us of it (1 John l: 8); another faith believes we are born of God and therefore cannot go on sinning because it is Christ in us who no longer sins (1 John 3:5, 6, 9 NIV).

• One faith confesses if we believe in him we will live, even though we die (John 11:25 NIV); another faith confesses if we live and believe in him, we will never die (John 11:26 NIV).

• One faith walks on the broad way that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13); another faith walks on the difficult way which leads to life (Matt. 7:14).

• One faith follows Jesus (Matt. 8:22); the other faith denies their soul-life, takes up their cross, and follows Jesus (Matt. 16:24-26).

The two and a half tribes of Israel took faith for their inheritance this side of the Jordan, but helped their brothers, who took faith for the inheritance that lay beyond it (Joshua 1:12-16).

At this point why not give esteem and honor to all God’s people, who display operative faith at both levels? After all, operative faith pleases God (Heb. 11:6 NKJV) while faith without works is just dead (James 2:26).

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.