December 15th 2019
Are You Standing On The Promises Of God?
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (NIV)
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Adam the first man sinned by disobeying a command given by God! At the time of that sin, we are told the earth was perfect, and Adam and Eve were perfect, which to God means they were holy! Up until they sinned the whole world was perfect and sinless. Because sin came into this perfect world, it was no longer perfect, it was now cursed. There was no death and suffering in the world until sin entered it! To fix this flaw God required a Savior to come into this world, not to condemn it but to offer salvation for the part of mankind that was created immortal. This is the only way that mankind could be offered salvation for their immortal souls, which were now trapped in a body, which had acquired a sinful nature, inherited from Adam and his sin! Of course, we who call ourselves Christians are now looking forward to celebrating that coming of this Savior into this world, who was to be named Jesus, who is the only Savior for this sin cursed world!
In the selected verses we read an important message, “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” If we reject this salvation plan then we are told, “he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God.” When Jesus left this world to return to heaven He left behind the Holy Spirit, so that mankind could be assisted with trying to lead a sinless life, even in this sin cursed world! This Holy Spirit is the unifying energy mankind needs to be able to resist the temptations this evil world offers. Paul wrote about this unifying opportunity for all of mankind. In this we are all to be called the sons of God. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29.). Unity in Christ transcends ethnic, social and gender distinctions. Yes, ladies you are also called sons of God, because you are heirs of God’s grace through Jesus Christ, and thus, you are considered by God as equal to any man in that salvation is available to all who profess Jesus to be their Lord and Savior!
This inheritance by all was not excepted as the norm during Jesus time on this earth as the God/man. In many worldly religions, this is still not true, as they do not accept Jesus as being the Son of God, and therefore, the only means of salvation, and a guarantee of eternal life with God at the end of this mortal lifetime! Paul wrote about this equal treatment by Jesus for everyone who accepts Him as their Lord and Savior. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:12-13). What a wonderful message for us, please believe it! "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." You cannot do anything in this mortal body to gain a trip to heaven when you die, and that is the best part of the message, because Jesus already paid your way into heaven when you die to this mortal lifetime. During this mortal lifetime Jesus wants you to be a peace maker. Jesus left us with this message. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9). Again, we hear that message from Jesus about accepting His sacrifice makes us become “sons of God.”
Jesus established a commonality within mankind by His coming into this cursed world. Jesus wants His church(s) to reflect this perfect unity He professed when He walked this earth and lived in this sin cursed world. Paul wrote about this desired unity. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). All Christ honoring churches are to form one body (the body of Christ), and this is not yet true today. This is because our churches are being organized and run by mankind with their influence on structure, not what Jesus came to deliver. Martin Luther tried to get the church to drop the ideas of mankind and only running the church by only using God’s Word, and not depend on tradition and mankind’s rules. At least, that is what I believe he tried. Instead Satan used it to put in wedges between mankind, and resulted in many demonization’s to spring up, based on some member of mankind’s ideas! Great leaders sprang up with different ideas about what Jesus planed for His church, and we are now split and cannot be recognized as the body of Christ, but instead many bodies are strewn about all over this cursed world, which identify as being Christ’s church!
Even when men lived on this earth when Jesus was still alive and saw the miracles, He performed they did not recognize Jesus to be their Savior. A high-ranking church official once ask Jesus to verify if He was the long-awaited Savior. For no-one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him. In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:2b-3). Jesus told this man that in order to go to heaven when you die, “no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." It seems the Jews were not looking for a Savior who would offer salvation of their immortal souls, as they believed just being a Jew insured that. They wanted a leader to free them from earthly foes who were limiting their earthly freedoms. Today, many who profess to be Christians believe they are good enough to go to heaven! So, just like the Jews, they do not really see the need to be born again! What do you really believe, about this Christmas time of the year, are you looking for Santa Claus to deliver gifts of earthly value, or are you seeking salvation of your immortal soul?
Jesus taught about not relying on earthly wealth but to first seek to obtain heavenly security by accepting Jesus offer of grace to save your immortal soul! Are you first seeking the “things” of this world at the expense of possibly losing you immortal soul? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:32-34). Today is the first day of the rest of your life, but have you committed today to the Lord or are you too busy with just living now? Paul wrote about his quest for building his faith, so he would be looking beyond just this mortal life. Paul was looking forward to the hereafter because he believed in promises of God. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8). I’ll end this commentary with the some words from a hymn I like. Are you standing on the promises of God?
Standing on the promises of Christ my King
Through eternal ages let his praises ring
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing
Standing on the promises of God
Standing, standing
Standing on the promises of God my Savior
Standing, standing
I'm standing on the promises of God
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (NIV)
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Adam the first man sinned by disobeying a command given by God! At the time of that sin, we are told the earth was perfect, and Adam and Eve were perfect, which to God means they were holy! Up until they sinned the whole world was perfect and sinless. Because sin came into this perfect world, it was no longer perfect, it was now cursed. There was no death and suffering in the world until sin entered it! To fix this flaw God required a Savior to come into this world, not to condemn it but to offer salvation for the part of mankind that was created immortal. This is the only way that mankind could be offered salvation for their immortal souls, which were now trapped in a body, which had acquired a sinful nature, inherited from Adam and his sin! Of course, we who call ourselves Christians are now looking forward to celebrating that coming of this Savior into this world, who was to be named Jesus, who is the only Savior for this sin cursed world!
In the selected verses we read an important message, “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” If we reject this salvation plan then we are told, “he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God.” When Jesus left this world to return to heaven He left behind the Holy Spirit, so that mankind could be assisted with trying to lead a sinless life, even in this sin cursed world! This Holy Spirit is the unifying energy mankind needs to be able to resist the temptations this evil world offers. Paul wrote about this unifying opportunity for all of mankind. In this we are all to be called the sons of God. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29.). Unity in Christ transcends ethnic, social and gender distinctions. Yes, ladies you are also called sons of God, because you are heirs of God’s grace through Jesus Christ, and thus, you are considered by God as equal to any man in that salvation is available to all who profess Jesus to be their Lord and Savior!
This inheritance by all was not excepted as the norm during Jesus time on this earth as the God/man. In many worldly religions, this is still not true, as they do not accept Jesus as being the Son of God, and therefore, the only means of salvation, and a guarantee of eternal life with God at the end of this mortal lifetime! Paul wrote about this equal treatment by Jesus for everyone who accepts Him as their Lord and Savior. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:12-13). What a wonderful message for us, please believe it! "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." You cannot do anything in this mortal body to gain a trip to heaven when you die, and that is the best part of the message, because Jesus already paid your way into heaven when you die to this mortal lifetime. During this mortal lifetime Jesus wants you to be a peace maker. Jesus left us with this message. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9). Again, we hear that message from Jesus about accepting His sacrifice makes us become “sons of God.”
Jesus established a commonality within mankind by His coming into this cursed world. Jesus wants His church(s) to reflect this perfect unity He professed when He walked this earth and lived in this sin cursed world. Paul wrote about this desired unity. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). All Christ honoring churches are to form one body (the body of Christ), and this is not yet true today. This is because our churches are being organized and run by mankind with their influence on structure, not what Jesus came to deliver. Martin Luther tried to get the church to drop the ideas of mankind and only running the church by only using God’s Word, and not depend on tradition and mankind’s rules. At least, that is what I believe he tried. Instead Satan used it to put in wedges between mankind, and resulted in many demonization’s to spring up, based on some member of mankind’s ideas! Great leaders sprang up with different ideas about what Jesus planed for His church, and we are now split and cannot be recognized as the body of Christ, but instead many bodies are strewn about all over this cursed world, which identify as being Christ’s church!
Even when men lived on this earth when Jesus was still alive and saw the miracles, He performed they did not recognize Jesus to be their Savior. A high-ranking church official once ask Jesus to verify if He was the long-awaited Savior. For no-one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him. In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:2b-3). Jesus told this man that in order to go to heaven when you die, “no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." It seems the Jews were not looking for a Savior who would offer salvation of their immortal souls, as they believed just being a Jew insured that. They wanted a leader to free them from earthly foes who were limiting their earthly freedoms. Today, many who profess to be Christians believe they are good enough to go to heaven! So, just like the Jews, they do not really see the need to be born again! What do you really believe, about this Christmas time of the year, are you looking for Santa Claus to deliver gifts of earthly value, or are you seeking salvation of your immortal soul?
Jesus taught about not relying on earthly wealth but to first seek to obtain heavenly security by accepting Jesus offer of grace to save your immortal soul! Are you first seeking the “things” of this world at the expense of possibly losing you immortal soul? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:32-34). Today is the first day of the rest of your life, but have you committed today to the Lord or are you too busy with just living now? Paul wrote about his quest for building his faith, so he would be looking beyond just this mortal life. Paul was looking forward to the hereafter because he believed in promises of God. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8). I’ll end this commentary with the some words from a hymn I like. Are you standing on the promises of God?
Standing on the promises of Christ my King
Through eternal ages let his praises ring
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing
Standing on the promises of God
Standing, standing
Standing on the promises of God my Savior
Standing, standing
I'm standing on the promises of God
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak