Tuesday, June 12, 2018

“The Risen Christ… Resting Christians” Part 2

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…


"The Risen Christ… Resting Christians"

Part 2


    
  When considering the matter of resting in Christ, the concern may arise that some will see in the emphasis an excuse for passivity and failure to walk in proactive devotion to to will of God as revealed in Scripture.  This is a valid concern.  Some will in fact misinterpret the truth in this manner, but we do well to remember that no less than the Apostle Paul faced such a challenge in his day.

   "Some affirm that we say, Let us do evil that good may come" (Romans 3:8).

    Paul communicated a message of grace and truth in the Lord Jesus.  He unequivocally affirmed the gift of salvation and its effects as freely given, freely maintained, and freely accessed through faith in the Person and work of Christ on our behalf.  "We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (I Corinthians 2:12).  Legalizers and those ignorant of the true ramifications of the Gospel pounced on the Apostle, accusing Paul of promoting licentiousness regarding the quality of life lived by believers.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Grace leads to liberty, the freedom to trust and obey God by the indwelling presence of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).  No one communicated this message better or as well as did Paul.  Our brother of old nevertheless faced accusations that confront all who bear witness of a Gift - the freest gift ever given - that saves, sanctifies, and ultimately glorifies all who trust the Lord Jesus.  "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).

    The fact that some will misunderstand the message of God's grace and truth in the Lord Jesus must not lead us to back down or away from bold proclamation of salvation, sanctification, and glorification as the work of a gracious God in the spirits of trusting humanity.  "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (Ephesians 2:10).  We play a role, of course, by receiving and accessing our Lord's work on our behalf, and then by applying such provision as steward sons and daughters.  Paul plainly stated the truth: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).  Obviously, we work out that which God works in.  Or, we rest in the reality of our Lord's promised provision and power, and then set forth in confident expectation that through Christ we can live in a manner that honors Him.  Some will misunderstand.  This is the case regarding every aspect of God's Biblical revelation.  In such cases, we do well to clarify and help those deluded to rightly receive the Truth.  But we do not alter the Bible's declaration of grace and truth of the Lord Jesus, or the proclamation of the freest gift ever given, made possible by the highest cost ever remitted…

"Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
(I Peter 1:18-19)
"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."
(Romans 5:18)

Weekly Memory Verse
    The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.
(Psalm 126:3)
    





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