For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
1 Thessalonians 4:7,8 NASB
"Therefore,come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1 NASB
These two passages of scripture expand upon the first two aspects of God's call to us.
1. We are called to be holy.
2. We are called to adoption as children of God.
The first passage makes it clear that holiness is not an option. God has not called us to remain in sin.
He has called us to be separate from sin, and to serve Him with all that we are. This passage contains a warning to those who think that holiness is not required by God. To reject holiness is to reject God.
The verses in 2 Corinthians link holiness (separation) to adoption. The context of these verses deal with the Corinthian believers who were dabbling with immorality, selfishness, and idolatry. Paul tells them that there has to be a separation. Light and darkness do not mix. Righteousness and lawlessness do not mix. there is no harmony between Christ and the devil. Since Christians are the temple of the Living God, it stands to reason that they must come out of all unholy alliances, they must turn their backs on sin, and be separated unto God.
This passage contains a promise. If they would come out of the sinful life they were dabbling in, if they would avoid immorality, God would be a father to them, and they would be sons and daughters to Him.
God will not have His children unequally yoked. He will not have His children playing with sin. God calls each one of us to live lives that are dedicated to Him. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
To earnestly contend for the faith, that was once for all entrusted to the saints, to promote the full gospel of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to deliver us from this wicked generation.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
The call of God part 2.
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.
Ephesians 1:5 NASB
We were once children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3), but God in His mercy has chosen us to be adopted sons, through the offering of Jesus Christ. We were once sons of disobedience (2:1), children of the devil (John 8:48), but now we have received the spirit of adoption testifying that we are children of God (Romans 8:15,16).
Most children when asked what they want to be when they grow up, will desire to be like their parents. A little boy will say "I want to be just like my dad". A little girl will desire to grow up to be like her mother.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children (Ephesians 5:1). It is the same for the child of God. They desire to be like God. To have the same attitudes, desires, and actions. The child of God does not want to do anything that would bring sorrow or reproach to the name of his heavenly Father.
We are told in Romans 8:14, that it is those who are led by the Spirit of God, who are the sons of God. It is also those who walk in the Spirit (order their lives by) that do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
Can you say that you are a true son? Does your life imitate your heavenly Father? Does the Spirit bear witness with your Spirit that you are indeed a child of God?
Ephesians 1:5 NASB
We were once children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3), but God in His mercy has chosen us to be adopted sons, through the offering of Jesus Christ. We were once sons of disobedience (2:1), children of the devil (John 8:48), but now we have received the spirit of adoption testifying that we are children of God (Romans 8:15,16).
Most children when asked what they want to be when they grow up, will desire to be like their parents. A little boy will say "I want to be just like my dad". A little girl will desire to grow up to be like her mother.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children (Ephesians 5:1). It is the same for the child of God. They desire to be like God. To have the same attitudes, desires, and actions. The child of God does not want to do anything that would bring sorrow or reproach to the name of his heavenly Father.
We are told in Romans 8:14, that it is those who are led by the Spirit of God, who are the sons of God. It is also those who walk in the Spirit (order their lives by) that do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
Can you say that you are a true son? Does your life imitate your heavenly Father? Does the Spirit bear witness with your Spirit that you are indeed a child of God?
The call of God part 1.
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.
Ephesians 4:1 NASB
We have been called by God with a holy calling (1Timothy 1:9). This calling is a vocation, a way of life. This calling requires us to walk in a manner worthy of it. This is no different than an employer hiring a qualified individual for a job. He would have every right to expect this individual to do the job to the very best of his ability. A doctor is required to be thorough in examining his patient. He must then prescribe the proper treatment. A doctor who is careless, neglecting important tests, or treatment, would soon loose his job, license, and face malpractice suits. Likewise we are under obligation to walk in the call of God upon our lives in a manner that is worthy of Him (1 Thessalonians 2:12).
Just what is this call of God upon our lives? What does it consist of?
1. It is a call to be holy (Ephesians 1:4). To be holy is to be set apart for the service of God. It is to be separated from ordinary use, and devoted to God. We are called to separate ourselves from sin and self, and to give ourselves to the service of God. Even our everyday ordinary tasks are to be done in the name of Christ, and for His glory. This is not dealing with a positional standing before God, but with how we live out our lives on a daily basis. We are to be holy because He is holy, holy in all of our conduct (1 Peter 1:14-16). We are called to live a holy, blameless life, to be above reproach.
I will expand upon this idea of the call of God, and what it means to us, in the next several posts. I hope that it will challenge each one of us to pursue God in a deeper way, to become more intimately aquainted with Him, growing in His grace.
Ephesians 4:1 NASB
We have been called by God with a holy calling (1Timothy 1:9). This calling is a vocation, a way of life. This calling requires us to walk in a manner worthy of it. This is no different than an employer hiring a qualified individual for a job. He would have every right to expect this individual to do the job to the very best of his ability. A doctor is required to be thorough in examining his patient. He must then prescribe the proper treatment. A doctor who is careless, neglecting important tests, or treatment, would soon loose his job, license, and face malpractice suits. Likewise we are under obligation to walk in the call of God upon our lives in a manner that is worthy of Him (1 Thessalonians 2:12).
Just what is this call of God upon our lives? What does it consist of?
1. It is a call to be holy (Ephesians 1:4). To be holy is to be set apart for the service of God. It is to be separated from ordinary use, and devoted to God. We are called to separate ourselves from sin and self, and to give ourselves to the service of God. Even our everyday ordinary tasks are to be done in the name of Christ, and for His glory. This is not dealing with a positional standing before God, but with how we live out our lives on a daily basis. We are to be holy because He is holy, holy in all of our conduct (1 Peter 1:14-16). We are called to live a holy, blameless life, to be above reproach.
I will expand upon this idea of the call of God, and what it means to us, in the next several posts. I hope that it will challenge each one of us to pursue God in a deeper way, to become more intimately aquainted with Him, growing in His grace.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)