April 8th 2018
Mankind Standing For God And Fulfilling Their Role! Part 1 of 3
A VOW reader once asked a question and this commentary is a first installment trying to answer what I think was being asked! The question, “Have you written anything that concentrates on men standing for God and fulfilling their role?”
Part 1 is a study of mankind’s acceptance of the promises of God and acceptance of salvation which frees us from our sinful nature, which enables us to be able to evangelize
Romans 6:2b-8 (NIV)
We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Have you died with Christ, that is to say, has your sinful nature died with Christ, and been buried never to be brought back to life, “because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” Is this really possible that you could have been freed from your sinful nature? If this were true, then you would have no excuse for continuing to seek relief for feelings of inadequacies in your life! No one would need to take some kind of stimulants just to get by. There would be no good reason to get frustrated by inabilities to cope in this life. Would this cause you to feel powerful or would it cause to feel thankful?
If your sinful nature were in check, so to speak, then sin would not look so inviting. It would allow you to avoid sin, and not think this is happening because you are so strong, but because you are now depending on God for your strength. However, here is the problem! It must be true! Do you feel such power, and have such a strong faith that you could do things you never thought possible? Jesus made some statements that continue to be confusing, and have caused me to wonder, if in fact my sinful nature has been defeated by being buried with Jesus. Jesus said, I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. (Mark 11:24, NLT)
As you read this commentary, do you think that there is evidence in your life, which would indicate that you have died with Christ? Do you have faith enough to believe what Jesus said? Has being a follower of Jesus caused you to grow in your faith, or are you still struggling with some kind of bad habit(s) that is really adding to your feeling of dependence, NOT TO JESUS, but to the habit? Are you spending more time thinking about how to improve your life by being addicted to “things” and thus really do not have time for Jesus?
Right from the beginning when God created mankind, He held us in high esteem. He did this because there is a part of us that was created in His image. Therefore, we do have a power within us that is godlike. It will never evolve into a god, but it does impart a creativity and power that no animal was endowed with! Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27). That image of God within all of us is our immortal part, and thus, will never die. The sinful nature is the mortal part of us and must die sometime. Is your mortal sinful nature still alive? If you have Jesus as your Savior, then it is possible that your sinful nature has already died! So to not panic everyone reading this, it must be said here that I do not believe that many of us will completely conquer their sinful nature in this life, BUT I do believe it is possible to do it!
The main reason we continue to work on becoming more Christ-like is that there is still some life remaining in our sinful nature, and when we die to this life it will finally die a sudden death. The writer of Ecclesiastes tries to define as he puts it, “the whole duty of man.” The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:11-13). Again it seems there is a need to restate the possibility exists for us to have our sinful nature die, thus allowing us to be able to be set us apart from sinning. To do this we must commit our whole being to follow Jesus Christ!
Jesus promised to give us help in making such a commitment, when He left the Holy Spirit behind to guide us toward Him. Jesus also promised a reward for allowing this Spirit to guide us. Let the Holy Spirit lead you and guide you, so one day you will hear, “well done my good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21). Paul wrote to the church in Philippi about this subject, as Paul wrote, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13)
I’m sure all those reading this do not believe there is any works we can perform that will count toward our salvation, and certainly Paul did not mean this either. Paul is talking about this continual march toward making a total commitment of our lives to Christ. Jesus perfect sacrifice bought our salvation, and there is no other way to obtain it. However, please do believe it is possible to overcome the sinful nature we have inherited through Adam’s sin, because of the covering of Jesus’ blood of crucifixion, and then his resurrection from the dead.
Jesus has gone ahead to heaven to prepare a place for you, if you have chosen to follow Him. Never be concerned or ashamed of telling someone about the joy you feel as a follower of Jesus, and how you look forward to being with Him someday, as your final award. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:26). It is true we all have a friend in Jesus!
Next week will pick-up here at Part 2 of 3. So stay tuned!
Part 2 of 3 is a study of mankind’s Integrity, our Purpose, and our Goal
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
A VOW reader once asked a question and this commentary is a first installment trying to answer what I think was being asked! The question, “Have you written anything that concentrates on men standing for God and fulfilling their role?”
Part 1 is a study of mankind’s acceptance of the promises of God and acceptance of salvation which frees us from our sinful nature, which enables us to be able to evangelize
Romans 6:2b-8 (NIV)
We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Have you died with Christ, that is to say, has your sinful nature died with Christ, and been buried never to be brought back to life, “because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” Is this really possible that you could have been freed from your sinful nature? If this were true, then you would have no excuse for continuing to seek relief for feelings of inadequacies in your life! No one would need to take some kind of stimulants just to get by. There would be no good reason to get frustrated by inabilities to cope in this life. Would this cause you to feel powerful or would it cause to feel thankful?
If your sinful nature were in check, so to speak, then sin would not look so inviting. It would allow you to avoid sin, and not think this is happening because you are so strong, but because you are now depending on God for your strength. However, here is the problem! It must be true! Do you feel such power, and have such a strong faith that you could do things you never thought possible? Jesus made some statements that continue to be confusing, and have caused me to wonder, if in fact my sinful nature has been defeated by being buried with Jesus. Jesus said, I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. (Mark 11:24, NLT)
As you read this commentary, do you think that there is evidence in your life, which would indicate that you have died with Christ? Do you have faith enough to believe what Jesus said? Has being a follower of Jesus caused you to grow in your faith, or are you still struggling with some kind of bad habit(s) that is really adding to your feeling of dependence, NOT TO JESUS, but to the habit? Are you spending more time thinking about how to improve your life by being addicted to “things” and thus really do not have time for Jesus?
Right from the beginning when God created mankind, He held us in high esteem. He did this because there is a part of us that was created in His image. Therefore, we do have a power within us that is godlike. It will never evolve into a god, but it does impart a creativity and power that no animal was endowed with! Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27). That image of God within all of us is our immortal part, and thus, will never die. The sinful nature is the mortal part of us and must die sometime. Is your mortal sinful nature still alive? If you have Jesus as your Savior, then it is possible that your sinful nature has already died! So to not panic everyone reading this, it must be said here that I do not believe that many of us will completely conquer their sinful nature in this life, BUT I do believe it is possible to do it!
The main reason we continue to work on becoming more Christ-like is that there is still some life remaining in our sinful nature, and when we die to this life it will finally die a sudden death. The writer of Ecclesiastes tries to define as he puts it, “the whole duty of man.” The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:11-13). Again it seems there is a need to restate the possibility exists for us to have our sinful nature die, thus allowing us to be able to be set us apart from sinning. To do this we must commit our whole being to follow Jesus Christ!
Jesus promised to give us help in making such a commitment, when He left the Holy Spirit behind to guide us toward Him. Jesus also promised a reward for allowing this Spirit to guide us. Let the Holy Spirit lead you and guide you, so one day you will hear, “well done my good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21). Paul wrote to the church in Philippi about this subject, as Paul wrote, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13)
I’m sure all those reading this do not believe there is any works we can perform that will count toward our salvation, and certainly Paul did not mean this either. Paul is talking about this continual march toward making a total commitment of our lives to Christ. Jesus perfect sacrifice bought our salvation, and there is no other way to obtain it. However, please do believe it is possible to overcome the sinful nature we have inherited through Adam’s sin, because of the covering of Jesus’ blood of crucifixion, and then his resurrection from the dead.
Jesus has gone ahead to heaven to prepare a place for you, if you have chosen to follow Him. Never be concerned or ashamed of telling someone about the joy you feel as a follower of Jesus, and how you look forward to being with Him someday, as your final award. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:26). It is true we all have a friend in Jesus!
Next week will pick-up here at Part 2 of 3. So stay tuned!
Part 2 of 3 is a study of mankind’s Integrity, our Purpose, and our Goal
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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