(Tear sheet has no date)
My brother the skeptic says scandal in the American White House is not a new thing. He named incidents in the past and asserts, correctly or not, that the current president will never reform or change. He implies a bad apple is always a bad apple.
In a different context, a church is looking for a suitable pastor. Someone cautioned them that “Past actions determine future behavior.” In other words, watch out for the flaws in the previous ministry of any potential candidate. They will continue the same pattern in your church.
Howard Hendricks, a well-known Christian speaker, writer and professor at a large seminary says, “Change is the one thing people resist the most, yet for Christians, change is our destiny.” He firmly believes there is hope, both for fallen presidents and others who seem to be stuck in a rut.
The Bible is filled with stories of change. David was a shepherd who became king of Israel. He had his faults. When he was a teenager, his brothers thought he was impertinent and self-seeking. As king, he fell into sin because he could not resist beautiful Bathsheba. Yet God changed him and eventually called him “a man after My own heart.”
Saul, in the New Testament, also changed. His story starts with him on a vendetta to kill all the Christians he could find. In hateful rage, he was on his way to Damascus when the Lord stopped him. Within moments, Saul was on his knees in submission. God changed his motives, his character, and even his name. He became Paul, a great man of God who loved God’s people with all his heart and spent his life serving them.
What accounts for the transformation of a person’s life. Is it turning over a new leaf? Certainly the Bible tells us to change, to think differently, to behave in a manner that pleases God and does good toward others.
However, there is a part of us that we are unable to change. It is that deep-rooted resistance, not only to change, but also to God and to the things of God. Romans 3 says God looks at us and declares, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
Because this is true, God offers to change us. He does it by giving us new life. Jesus called it a new birth. Paul described it this way: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
The Bible clearly teaches that we are saved from our sinful rebellion and the judgment that is on sin by God’s grace, not by anything we do: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Paul said, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” He added that nothing he could do “means anything; what counts is a new creation.”
For some, abandoning the “fun” of sin sounds impossible but it can be done. The Bible says Moses “chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.” For him, short-term sensual pleasures were no match against freedom from sin’s bondage or against the hope of eternal life.
Change does mean doing things a different way, abandoning old habits and getting in step with the plan of God but whatever else change brings, we do not have to try and do it ourselves. Our most earnest efforts cannot be compared with the transforming power of God’s grace.
Showing posts with label transformed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transformed. Show all posts
Friday, May 5, 2017
Friday, March 24, 2017
Defining Christians ................ Parables 566
August 19, 1997
A leader of a major evangelical Christian denomination says one of the biggest problems facing Christianity today is that many members of Christian churches claim to be Christians but in fact are not Christians at all. How does he know that?
There are several ways to defining a Christian. The Bible does it this way: “To all who received him (Jesus Christ), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
Scripture goes on to explain that this spiritual birth happens when the Holy Spirit gives His life to a person. Another passage explains that “anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ dwelling within them does not belong to Christ.” Our question is this: how do we know if someone has actually received Christ, really believes, and has God’s Spirit living in them?
One way to know is by looking for evidence of God in their life. Since the Holy Spirit brings new life, there ought to be changes. To start with, genuine Christians will begin thinking God’s thoughts about many things, including sin, other Christians and Christ.
Thinking God’s thoughts doesn’t happen in a vacuum though. We must first KNOW His thoughts and ideas. Since the Bible is a record of His revelation to the prophets and apostles, it is our guide to the thoughts of God. When Christians read, study, and believe the Bible, their lives begin to change. They begin to think the way God thinks. The Spirit of God and the Word of God work together to produce evidence that a person really is a Christian.
If someone claims to be a Christian but does not live according to what the Bible says, then they are either deceived, imposters, or ignorant of God’s Word. Perhaps this ignorance is at the root of some of the problems in Christianity. For instance, 87% of “Christians” in a recent survey say that their religious beliefs are very important in their life; however, that same survey shows there is much confusion or ignorance about what the Bible says.
For instance, 8 out of 10 surveyed feel that “God helps those who help themselves” yet this notion is a contradiction to clear biblical teaching. The Bible is filled with commands to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
Trusting God for all we need is a command, not an option or a suggestion. Ignoring this command is disobedience. How can anyone claim to follow Christ but say “No” to this most basic biblical truth?
However, Scripture also teaches that trusting ourselves is unreasonable. Compared to God, our wisdom and resources are puny at best. Instead, God helps the helpless. The sooner we realize our need of His help, the quicker we will see Him at work in our lives. . . and the more obvious it will be to others that we are indeed Christians.
Another key component of being a Christian is belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, only 70% of those surveyed said they believe it. Remember, these are people who claim to be Christians.
In contrast, the Apostle Paul said, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ (died believing in Him) are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.”
Christians must refocus on Scripture. Even at that, if what we read, study and believe about God and ourselves does not affect how we live, then we must seriously question whether or not we really have read, studied or believed it.
A leader of a major evangelical Christian denomination says one of the biggest problems facing Christianity today is that many members of Christian churches claim to be Christians but in fact are not Christians at all. How does he know that?
There are several ways to defining a Christian. The Bible does it this way: “To all who received him (Jesus Christ), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
Scripture goes on to explain that this spiritual birth happens when the Holy Spirit gives His life to a person. Another passage explains that “anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ dwelling within them does not belong to Christ.” Our question is this: how do we know if someone has actually received Christ, really believes, and has God’s Spirit living in them?
One way to know is by looking for evidence of God in their life. Since the Holy Spirit brings new life, there ought to be changes. To start with, genuine Christians will begin thinking God’s thoughts about many things, including sin, other Christians and Christ.
Thinking God’s thoughts doesn’t happen in a vacuum though. We must first KNOW His thoughts and ideas. Since the Bible is a record of His revelation to the prophets and apostles, it is our guide to the thoughts of God. When Christians read, study, and believe the Bible, their lives begin to change. They begin to think the way God thinks. The Spirit of God and the Word of God work together to produce evidence that a person really is a Christian.
If someone claims to be a Christian but does not live according to what the Bible says, then they are either deceived, imposters, or ignorant of God’s Word. Perhaps this ignorance is at the root of some of the problems in Christianity. For instance, 87% of “Christians” in a recent survey say that their religious beliefs are very important in their life; however, that same survey shows there is much confusion or ignorance about what the Bible says.
For instance, 8 out of 10 surveyed feel that “God helps those who help themselves” yet this notion is a contradiction to clear biblical teaching. The Bible is filled with commands to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
Trusting God for all we need is a command, not an option or a suggestion. Ignoring this command is disobedience. How can anyone claim to follow Christ but say “No” to this most basic biblical truth?
However, Scripture also teaches that trusting ourselves is unreasonable. Compared to God, our wisdom and resources are puny at best. Instead, God helps the helpless. The sooner we realize our need of His help, the quicker we will see Him at work in our lives. . . and the more obvious it will be to others that we are indeed Christians.
Another key component of being a Christian is belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, only 70% of those surveyed said they believe it. Remember, these are people who claim to be Christians.
In contrast, the Apostle Paul said, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ (died believing in Him) are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.”
Christians must refocus on Scripture. Even at that, if what we read, study and believe about God and ourselves does not affect how we live, then we must seriously question whether or not we really have read, studied or believed it.
Monday, March 31, 2014
My plan or God's? .................... Parables 099
“This week is going to be different. I am going to set some goals and get something done...”
And from that point on, the whole world seems to go haywire: interruptions, unexpected circumstances, pressures, choices; together they carve out a big chunk from well-laid plans and nothing happens according to what was hoped. What was your week like. Plodding along or never a dull moment? If it was like mine, you might wonder if planning has any value at all!
But the unexpected is not unusual -- it is part of life. We try to get a handle on management of it and sometimes do, but most of the time the unexpected is to be expected. Some thrive on it but many people do not like changes because, unless we can comfortably keep our heads stuck in the sand, change forces us to change.
One favorite verse concerning circumstances is Romans 8:28: “God works all things together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose...”
Those who know this promise cling to it when life turns upside-down yet the thoughtful reader should go on to the next verse which states just exactly what God has in mind when He says that He “works all things for good” in a Christian’s life. Verse 29 says “... for those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son...”
“All things” are purposed by God for change... change from what we are like to what He is like -- and that is very good! That makes change not merely vital to our Christian experience but it is our destiny. (See I John 3:1-3).
Once a great sculptor began work on a huge piece of marble, intending to carve a magnificent horse. When asked how he knew what to carve from the piece and what to leave, he said, “That’s easy. I just take off everything that doesn’t look like a horse.”
And that is just what God is doing in the lives of those who love Him -- carving away everything that is not like Jesus Christ... using, along with His Word, all events of life like a chisel to carve and conform us. he intends to remove chucks of selfishness, pride, and rebellion, breaking them away and leaving the pure beauty of the living Christ for all to see.
Why does it work? Simply because each trial, each pressure-situation, calls from us a response. Will it be the typical human one of resistance to change, resentment and bitterness? Or will it be in obedience to the One who lives within us and desires to make Himself visible in all we say and do? When I make plans and they are changed by circumstances outside of my control, it is not always easy to remember the purposes God has in “all things.” But when I think about this promise and cooperate with the Master sculptor, the pain of change changes to the excitement of a transformed life. His promise concerning what He will do if I yield to His sculpting tool becomes a far better plan than those of my own making.
It is not that prayerful planning and time-management are a waste; neither is taking time to attend to interruptions. What is wasteful is failing to yield to the hand of God, the Sovereign Sculptor of my destiny.
And from that point on, the whole world seems to go haywire: interruptions, unexpected circumstances, pressures, choices; together they carve out a big chunk from well-laid plans and nothing happens according to what was hoped. What was your week like. Plodding along or never a dull moment? If it was like mine, you might wonder if planning has any value at all!
But the unexpected is not unusual -- it is part of life. We try to get a handle on management of it and sometimes do, but most of the time the unexpected is to be expected. Some thrive on it but many people do not like changes because, unless we can comfortably keep our heads stuck in the sand, change forces us to change.
One favorite verse concerning circumstances is Romans 8:28: “God works all things together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose...”
Those who know this promise cling to it when life turns upside-down yet the thoughtful reader should go on to the next verse which states just exactly what God has in mind when He says that He “works all things for good” in a Christian’s life. Verse 29 says “... for those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son...”
“All things” are purposed by God for change... change from what we are like to what He is like -- and that is very good! That makes change not merely vital to our Christian experience but it is our destiny. (See I John 3:1-3).
Once a great sculptor began work on a huge piece of marble, intending to carve a magnificent horse. When asked how he knew what to carve from the piece and what to leave, he said, “That’s easy. I just take off everything that doesn’t look like a horse.”
And that is just what God is doing in the lives of those who love Him -- carving away everything that is not like Jesus Christ... using, along with His Word, all events of life like a chisel to carve and conform us. he intends to remove chucks of selfishness, pride, and rebellion, breaking them away and leaving the pure beauty of the living Christ for all to see.
Why does it work? Simply because each trial, each pressure-situation, calls from us a response. Will it be the typical human one of resistance to change, resentment and bitterness? Or will it be in obedience to the One who lives within us and desires to make Himself visible in all we say and do? When I make plans and they are changed by circumstances outside of my control, it is not always easy to remember the purposes God has in “all things.” But when I think about this promise and cooperate with the Master sculptor, the pain of change changes to the excitement of a transformed life. His promise concerning what He will do if I yield to His sculpting tool becomes a far better plan than those of my own making.
It is not that prayerful planning and time-management are a waste; neither is taking time to attend to interruptions. What is wasteful is failing to yield to the hand of God, the Sovereign Sculptor of my destiny.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)