A Christian response to Trials, Troubles, Sickness & Sorrows in the World. Pt. 5
Good morning...
We are battling the flu in hour home. I have stayed relatively healthy but my wife and Mother in law have been hit hard. Please pray for Deb & Barb's recovery with me. It is sobering to think about the flu since we are all in the "senior" age group where flu can cause severe health issues. Thank you all for praying.
Our Father holds us accountable for how we choose to live.
1 Peter 4:17-19 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
I want to turn to Peter again for some more thoughts about suffering. In this text Peter reminds us that judgment will begin at the house of God. The born again Christian has obeyed the call of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Why did the Spirit of God cause Peter to remind us that the household of God will be judged? Persecution, suffering, trials and troubles are always used by God to purify His children. The New Testament church represents the household of God and all those who are born again in His family.
The church is the house of God!
1 Timothy 3:14-16 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Paul wrote to young Pastor Timothy about how to behave in God's church. He used the phrase "church of the living God" which has a powerful image and reminder about Who the Lord of the church really is! The Lord of the church is Jesus Christ who is "God manifest in the flesh."
Christ suffered and died to purchase His church and He has total sovereign authority over it. Jesus bought each believer with His precious blood and He has every right to govern all Christians in the body of Christ, His church.
Think of it in terms of being born again into the family of God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Our Father in heaven is committed to loving His children and helping each of us grow up into mature Christians.
Like an earthly father must sometimes do with disobedient children so our heavenly Father must sometimes correct us or chasten us when we step out of line or disobey. Our Father chastens us in love with the purpose of helping us spiritually grow.
Each Christian is a building block in the house of God!
1 Peter 2:2-5 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
The apostle Peter write to tell us that we need to take in the word of God so that we can grow. We take it in by hearing it, reading it, studying it and thinking about it.
Peter is telling us that if we suffer according to the will of the Father we commit our souls to Him in well doing. Our Father always will do what is best for each one of us. And, He will not let us slide by living in sin because this dishonors the Son of God, Jesus Christ who suffered mightily, shed His blood and died in our place for our sins.
What I call your attention to is how Peter describes each individual Christian. He calls us lively stones who come to the living stone. God is that living stone and is connected to the many places where the Bible says "God is our Rock." (1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 22:32; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4).
Psalm 18:31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
Jehovah is our living Rock who provides both shelter and protection. He lovingly sustains all the sheep of His pasture. We are living stones who receive life from the Rock, Jesus Christ. This compares well with Paul's analogy of the believer being grafted into the body of Christ by the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 12)
We are part of the house of God and His Spirit dwells in us.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians because they had a lot of sin issues to deal with. Fornication, vicious schisms, abuse of spiritual gifts, and rampant carnality characterized this church. The text above is a strong rebuke from the apostle Paul because they were living as if their bodies were not the temple of the Spirit of God.
Notice what the text says. If a Christian willfully defiles the temple of God which is the believer's body, God will destroy that person. Holiness is the singular defining character of the Godhead. Our Father gave us His word so that we could read it, understand it and live by it. He wants us to live a holy life because He is holy. (Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
Christ is the Cornerstone and we follow Him.
Ephesians 2:18-22 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Paul explains the great blessings of being born again by resurrection power. First, we have a relationship with the Father granted by the indwelling Spirit of God. Second, we are no more cut off from God like strangers or foreigners. Rather, we are now citizens of heaven and members of His heavenly household.
Paul uses construction terms to explain this. We are built on the truth communicated through the ages by the prophets and apostles of the living God. He tells us that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of this Divine building that we are a part of.
If you are building a home and the foundation is 1 degree off level at one foot from the corner of the home then the foundation will be off by .2 of an inch. However, this means that the foundation would be off by almost 10 inches at 50 feet away from the beginning spot!
The house would not be square or plumb and the home would never pass an inspection. Doors and windows would not function properly and all the walls would be off. In short, such a home would be a disaster and not suitable for habitation.
The cornerstone was the most important part of the structure because it would be laid exactly square and plumb and perfectly true. The rest of the building would be aligned to the cornerstone and also be level and plumb.
Thus, we are living stones put into our respective places by the Spirit of God. We are living stones that are lined up with our perfect cornerstone, Jesus Christ. We are fitly or properly framed together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. This is why we must live differently than the world. We follow Christ not the world's sinful trends.
Points to Ponder...
We are battling the flu in hour home. I have stayed relatively healthy but my wife and Mother in law have been hit hard. Please pray for Deb & Barb's recovery with me. It is sobering to think about the flu since we are all in the "senior" age group where flu can cause severe health issues. Thank you all for praying.
Our Father holds us accountable for how we choose to live.
1 Peter 4:17-19 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
I want to turn to Peter again for some more thoughts about suffering. In this text Peter reminds us that judgment will begin at the house of God. The born again Christian has obeyed the call of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Why did the Spirit of God cause Peter to remind us that the household of God will be judged? Persecution, suffering, trials and troubles are always used by God to purify His children. The New Testament church represents the household of God and all those who are born again in His family.
The church is the house of God!
1 Timothy 3:14-16 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Paul wrote to young Pastor Timothy about how to behave in God's church. He used the phrase "church of the living God" which has a powerful image and reminder about Who the Lord of the church really is! The Lord of the church is Jesus Christ who is "God manifest in the flesh."
Christ suffered and died to purchase His church and He has total sovereign authority over it. Jesus bought each believer with His precious blood and He has every right to govern all Christians in the body of Christ, His church.
Think of it in terms of being born again into the family of God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Our Father in heaven is committed to loving His children and helping each of us grow up into mature Christians.
Like an earthly father must sometimes do with disobedient children so our heavenly Father must sometimes correct us or chasten us when we step out of line or disobey. Our Father chastens us in love with the purpose of helping us spiritually grow.
Each Christian is a building block in the house of God!
1 Peter 2:2-5 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
The apostle Peter write to tell us that we need to take in the word of God so that we can grow. We take it in by hearing it, reading it, studying it and thinking about it.
Peter is telling us that if we suffer according to the will of the Father we commit our souls to Him in well doing. Our Father always will do what is best for each one of us. And, He will not let us slide by living in sin because this dishonors the Son of God, Jesus Christ who suffered mightily, shed His blood and died in our place for our sins.
What I call your attention to is how Peter describes each individual Christian. He calls us lively stones who come to the living stone. God is that living stone and is connected to the many places where the Bible says "God is our Rock." (1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 22:32; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4).
Psalm 18:31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
Jehovah is our living Rock who provides both shelter and protection. He lovingly sustains all the sheep of His pasture. We are living stones who receive life from the Rock, Jesus Christ. This compares well with Paul's analogy of the believer being grafted into the body of Christ by the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 12)
We are part of the house of God and His Spirit dwells in us.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians because they had a lot of sin issues to deal with. Fornication, vicious schisms, abuse of spiritual gifts, and rampant carnality characterized this church. The text above is a strong rebuke from the apostle Paul because they were living as if their bodies were not the temple of the Spirit of God.
Notice what the text says. If a Christian willfully defiles the temple of God which is the believer's body, God will destroy that person. Holiness is the singular defining character of the Godhead. Our Father gave us His word so that we could read it, understand it and live by it. He wants us to live a holy life because He is holy. (Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
Christ is the Cornerstone and we follow Him.
Ephesians 2:18-22 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Paul explains the great blessings of being born again by resurrection power. First, we have a relationship with the Father granted by the indwelling Spirit of God. Second, we are no more cut off from God like strangers or foreigners. Rather, we are now citizens of heaven and members of His heavenly household.
Paul uses construction terms to explain this. We are built on the truth communicated through the ages by the prophets and apostles of the living God. He tells us that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of this Divine building that we are a part of.
If you are building a home and the foundation is 1 degree off level at one foot from the corner of the home then the foundation will be off by .2 of an inch. However, this means that the foundation would be off by almost 10 inches at 50 feet away from the beginning spot!
The house would not be square or plumb and the home would never pass an inspection. Doors and windows would not function properly and all the walls would be off. In short, such a home would be a disaster and not suitable for habitation.
The cornerstone was the most important part of the structure because it would be laid exactly square and plumb and perfectly true. The rest of the building would be aligned to the cornerstone and also be level and plumb.
Thus, we are living stones put into our respective places by the Spirit of God. We are living stones that are lined up with our perfect cornerstone, Jesus Christ. We are fitly or properly framed together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. This is why we must live differently than the world. We follow Christ not the world's sinful trends.
Points to Ponder...
- God holds us accountable for how we live as Christians.
- God always uses suffering or trouble to lovingly correct us and to help us mature in our faith.
- The Church is the household of God and we are living stones in that heavenly building.
- Christ is the chief cornerstone and God's truth is the foundation for the entire building.
- We please God when we are in perfect alignment with His Son, Jesus Christ.
- The Spirit of God dwells in us and our body is now part of the glorious body of Christ, the temple of God.
The truths in today's blog must impact how we choose to live. If I begin to fully understand that I am part of the body of Christ, part of the household of God and part of His glorious Temple, then why would I even embrace my own will over His perfect will? Why would I be tempted by the allure of the world over the splendor of Jesus Christ the chief cornerstone?
This is part of walking worthy before the Lord as long as He grants us life and breath. May Christ show us where we need to change. May He grant us strength to follow Him. May our walk, witness and worship be dramatically impacted by learning more about these things.
Bob
Comments
Post a Comment