June 29th 2014
Are You Still Able To Bow Down To A Living God?
Romans 8:30-32 (NIV)
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
If God is for us, who can be against us? Is God for you? Are you special to God? Last week in the commentary I stated that many people I know who claim to be Christians, do not like the connotation of being called. As I understand they do not like it because they then feel required to do certain things in their lives. If they are called by Jesus then they must live their lives in a prescribed way, and they prefer more freedom than that would seem to offer. A subscriber to the VOW questioned this from last week’s edition, and wondered why someone would not want to feel called. What do you think about being “called” by Jesus?
Some of the concern people have about being called might stem from reading about the Apostles, and how their lives changed when Jesus called them. It makes me wonder about a person’s commitment to Jesus when they do not want to change their lives for the better, because they have been called by Him! It also makes me wonder why they may feel as though they are losing freedom, because of the call! It has been my belief that no true freedom can be gained in your life aside from the freedom afforded by being a follower of Jesus Christ. Without Jesus serving as Savior and guide for your life, there can be no true freedom! Is that what you believe too?
Jesus did not leave any gray areas about what He believed about becoming one of His followers, when He stated, and Luke recorded for us, we are either with Him or we are against Him. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters. (Luke 11:23) If you are trying to lead a nominal Christian life, then you are acting against Jesus Christ? What is this gathering and scattering terminology about? Maybe Jesus was telling His disciples (us today) that you either work with Him to spread the accounts of His ministry, and thus fulfill the Great Commission, or we cause the unbelievers to be scattered. So the fear comes in with the pressure through the fear of witnessing to unbelievers about how having Jesus in your life has freed you from the fear of death! Do you still fear death?
Please remember there is no fear of death, since Jesus died for your sins, thus freeing you to live your life in the knowledge that your immortal soul has been guaranteed to go to heaven, when you leave this lifetime! No other religion offers this guarantee, as they are based on you doing something for your immortal soul to be saved, and thus, you can never know your soul has been saved. Now we are getting to true freedom! Then the question becomes, what are you doing with this great freedom? Does it free you to sin, without a need to be remorseful? Does offending Jesus actually cause you to not want to sin?
The writer of Hebrews has some interesting things to say about what our regular attendance at the church of our choice should mean to you, and how as a member of a church should allow us some freedom of expression. Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:22-25)
We can be sure of this freedom to not worry about our salvation, because “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Using this freedom we can help those among us who may be struggling with their faith by “let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.” Of course, this spurring on works both ways, and may help you too. Encouraging each other to attend regularly also is helpful to let people know they are needed, and they should be happy to participate. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another. Do you encourage other people to come to their church?
In a country where we are free to worship without any fear of repercussion it would seem that many people would choose to attend a worship service at a church of their choice, but actually we see a constant decline in attendance at most churches. Historically, Christian churches have grown when there is persecution not when there is freedom to attend. In an affluent society it is difficult for people to see any reason to worship the Lord! What are you willing to do to show a worshipful attitude? In the selected verses, Paul wrote about what God had been willing to offer those who would choose to follow His Son. Paul also wrote about what God did to confirm His desire for people to follow His Son, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” The promise here is based on us following Jesus, and the rewards we would receive, and it says, that God would “graciously give us all things.”
Someone may be reading this and wishing they could attend a church of their choice, but are no longer able to go to a church. If this may describe you, please pray for some church to come to you, and it might be so! There are still wonderful churches that do offer such help!
The writer of Hebrews wrote something just after the verses used in this commentary above, which makes me wonder about what responsibility we may have acquired by having been told the truth through the Word of God? If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. (Hebrews 10:26-27) In this writing we see the warning from God about not truly following His Son and the consequences is that such people will go to hell. Some reading this may not believe there is such a place as hell, but it is obvious that the writer of Hebrews did!
The freedom to worship should not be ignored. Are you still able to bow down to a living God? You have been called to do so!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Romans 8:30-32 (NIV)
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
If God is for us, who can be against us? Is God for you? Are you special to God? Last week in the commentary I stated that many people I know who claim to be Christians, do not like the connotation of being called. As I understand they do not like it because they then feel required to do certain things in their lives. If they are called by Jesus then they must live their lives in a prescribed way, and they prefer more freedom than that would seem to offer. A subscriber to the VOW questioned this from last week’s edition, and wondered why someone would not want to feel called. What do you think about being “called” by Jesus?
Some of the concern people have about being called might stem from reading about the Apostles, and how their lives changed when Jesus called them. It makes me wonder about a person’s commitment to Jesus when they do not want to change their lives for the better, because they have been called by Him! It also makes me wonder why they may feel as though they are losing freedom, because of the call! It has been my belief that no true freedom can be gained in your life aside from the freedom afforded by being a follower of Jesus Christ. Without Jesus serving as Savior and guide for your life, there can be no true freedom! Is that what you believe too?
Jesus did not leave any gray areas about what He believed about becoming one of His followers, when He stated, and Luke recorded for us, we are either with Him or we are against Him. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters. (Luke 11:23) If you are trying to lead a nominal Christian life, then you are acting against Jesus Christ? What is this gathering and scattering terminology about? Maybe Jesus was telling His disciples (us today) that you either work with Him to spread the accounts of His ministry, and thus fulfill the Great Commission, or we cause the unbelievers to be scattered. So the fear comes in with the pressure through the fear of witnessing to unbelievers about how having Jesus in your life has freed you from the fear of death! Do you still fear death?
Please remember there is no fear of death, since Jesus died for your sins, thus freeing you to live your life in the knowledge that your immortal soul has been guaranteed to go to heaven, when you leave this lifetime! No other religion offers this guarantee, as they are based on you doing something for your immortal soul to be saved, and thus, you can never know your soul has been saved. Now we are getting to true freedom! Then the question becomes, what are you doing with this great freedom? Does it free you to sin, without a need to be remorseful? Does offending Jesus actually cause you to not want to sin?
The writer of Hebrews has some interesting things to say about what our regular attendance at the church of our choice should mean to you, and how as a member of a church should allow us some freedom of expression. Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:22-25)
We can be sure of this freedom to not worry about our salvation, because “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Using this freedom we can help those among us who may be struggling with their faith by “let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.” Of course, this spurring on works both ways, and may help you too. Encouraging each other to attend regularly also is helpful to let people know they are needed, and they should be happy to participate. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another. Do you encourage other people to come to their church?
In a country where we are free to worship without any fear of repercussion it would seem that many people would choose to attend a worship service at a church of their choice, but actually we see a constant decline in attendance at most churches. Historically, Christian churches have grown when there is persecution not when there is freedom to attend. In an affluent society it is difficult for people to see any reason to worship the Lord! What are you willing to do to show a worshipful attitude? In the selected verses, Paul wrote about what God had been willing to offer those who would choose to follow His Son. Paul also wrote about what God did to confirm His desire for people to follow His Son, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” The promise here is based on us following Jesus, and the rewards we would receive, and it says, that God would “graciously give us all things.”
Someone may be reading this and wishing they could attend a church of their choice, but are no longer able to go to a church. If this may describe you, please pray for some church to come to you, and it might be so! There are still wonderful churches that do offer such help!
The writer of Hebrews wrote something just after the verses used in this commentary above, which makes me wonder about what responsibility we may have acquired by having been told the truth through the Word of God? If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. (Hebrews 10:26-27) In this writing we see the warning from God about not truly following His Son and the consequences is that such people will go to hell. Some reading this may not believe there is such a place as hell, but it is obvious that the writer of Hebrews did!
The freedom to worship should not be ignored. Are you still able to bow down to a living God? You have been called to do so!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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