Blog Archives - Created through Him

Created Through Him

God's opinion

6/20/2013

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified (1 Peter 4:14).

It is God’s opinion concerning us that really matters. It doesn’t matter one iota what others say or think about us. In fact, we are actually blessed when we are criticized due to our faith in Christ. And so we cannot lose, providing we are true to God. While it is counter-intuitive that there is victory in persecution, it is true none-the-less.

Ready to give an answer

6/19/2013

5 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:5).

We are to always be prepared to explain our faith to others. This means giving a rational and coherent response to their questions. This requires us to understand our faith and also to be able to give a description of essential beliefs. These beliefs are not traditions but rather are the core orthodox tenets of faith. They include the belief in one God, eternally existent as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Additionally core tents include that Christ is both God and Man, that His suffering, death and resurrection both atoned for our sin and defeated the sting of death, and that salvation is through Christ and Christ alone. The ancient creeds of the Church such as the Nicene and Apostles creeds also include the core orthodox beliefs of the Church. When we explain and defend our faith however we are to do so in love and with a sense of humility. This is so because our faith is a gracious gift from a loving God.

Patience

6/18/2013

19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God (1 Peter 2:19-20).

Being obedient toward God may bring about suffering and persecution. This calls for perseverance on the part of believers and should be expected when Christ is consistently followed. While suffering and persecution should be expected, it should not be sought. The truth is that suffering and persecution will find us regardless of our expectations and our command here is to simply be patient.

Foreknowledge of God

6/17/2013

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:2-5).

There is a lot of information in these verses concerning God’s providence and sovereign choices as they relate to salvation. God according to His sovereign mercy is the author of salvation and as such He determines the conditions while simultaneously ordaining the outcome. There is clear mystery inherent in these verses in that we are told that God sovereignly chooses with foreknowledge those saved through Christ without explaining the in-between details. And so while it is true God saves those He chooses, it remains equally true, without contradiction, that all that call upon the Name of the Lord in faith shall be saved.

The return of the Lord

6/16/2013

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh (James 5:7-8).

The delay in the Lord’s second coming is an act of supreme mercy and grace. The Lord is waiting until the full number of His children comes ‘home’. James is calling believers to live their faith as a testimony to those that do not believe in the earnest hope that hearts and actions will turn towards the God that created them. James tells us that the time is near for Christ’s return, and so we should respond to the Gospel call with patience to those that do not believe, but also with a sense of urgency as the stakes are high.

Humility

6/15/2013

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up (James 4:10).

Humility can be a significant challenge for us. The reason God desires a humble heart is that only in our humility can we possibly eliminate our own pride. It is pride ultimately that causes our separation from God since pride is root of sin. We sin when we do it our way instead of God’s. God wants to be the center of our lives and this can only occur when we humble ourselves before Him.

Consistency

6/14/2013

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? (James 3:10-11)

James is drawing attention to the necessity for consistency in our lives. Inconsistency is simply not acceptable. The reason James is concerned is that our faith must permeate all aspects of our living. Often our biggest impact on others is the level of continuity between what we do and what we say.

Faith and actions

6/13/2013

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:15-20)

James makes it clear that true faith requires actions. Faith without actions, in fact, is equivalent to unbelief. The reason that this is so is that our faith is not described as mere intellectual assent but rather is described as a complete change and transformation. So faith that is not supported by actions is faith in another gospel; a gospel not taught in scripture and without the ability to save.

Doers of the word

6/12/2013

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was (James 1:22-24).

James, the Lord’s brother, does not mince words. He clearly is stating that faith in Christ ought to result in a change in actions. That is, our faith must be visible. It is visible by what we do. A faith that does not change or effect what we do is not a faith with any impact. Additionally if faith doesn’t change anything it is neither useful nor powerful. Therefore the a faith that is observed is a faith that saves.

The provisions of God

6/11/2013

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me (Hebrews 13:5-6).

True reliance is reliance upon God. Inherent in the idea of reliance on God is the total sufficiency of God. God provides what is needed exactly when it is needed. Ultimately when we rely on God’s provisions we are relying on the unlimited strength of God and therefore all fear should be quenched and eliminated. The ability to be without fear allows us then to be bold in our actions. This boldness is a result of the power of God to change us and save us.

Created Through Him