God's Heart
I am learning a lot about christian organizations and churchs. These things will be very important as I feel called to be in ministry vocationally. (I write "vocationally" because every believers life is to be ministry.)
Something I have recently learned from the Lord is that His 1st priority is that we would know and believe Him. This comes from time in His word and continual surrendering of our pasts, pain, pride, etc. From this belief and knowledge comes the energy, the ability to serve. From my own expereince, I know we sometimes switch that around. I am just now beginning to truly know and stand on God's word above ALL else.
I am also discovering that God's Truth does not condemn, but as Beth Moore says, it does CONFRONT. It confronts my sin, my pride, my idol's, my priorities, my behavior and my attitude. It confronts the lies i've believed from the enemy as well as those from other people and past experiences. If I let it, God's confrontation can change and renew me in His likeness. It can bring freedom, peace, satisfaction in Him, and knowledge of His word that I can live by.
Moore writes:
You may never feel like giving your circumstance, hurt or loss to Him; but you can choose to submit to His authority out of belief and obedience rather than emotion. Obedience is the mark of authentic surrender to God's authority in any matter."
Essentially, authority UNDER Christ is the key to peace IN Christ~
also, I am learning to thank Him for this suffering and the trials He has given me. For when I am weak, His power is made perfect.
For the glory of His name, Kate
Something I have recently learned from the Lord is that His 1st priority is that we would know and believe Him. This comes from time in His word and continual surrendering of our pasts, pain, pride, etc. From this belief and knowledge comes the energy, the ability to serve. From my own expereince, I know we sometimes switch that around. I am just now beginning to truly know and stand on God's word above ALL else.
I am also discovering that God's Truth does not condemn, but as Beth Moore says, it does CONFRONT. It confronts my sin, my pride, my idol's, my priorities, my behavior and my attitude. It confronts the lies i've believed from the enemy as well as those from other people and past experiences. If I let it, God's confrontation can change and renew me in His likeness. It can bring freedom, peace, satisfaction in Him, and knowledge of His word that I can live by.
Moore writes:
You may never feel like giving your circumstance, hurt or loss to Him; but you can choose to submit to His authority out of belief and obedience rather than emotion. Obedience is the mark of authentic surrender to God's authority in any matter."
Essentially, authority UNDER Christ is the key to peace IN Christ~
also, I am learning to thank Him for this suffering and the trials He has given me. For when I am weak, His power is made perfect.
For the glory of His name, Kate
posted by Kate at 6:53 PM
14 Comments:
I agree with what you have to say about God confronting us with our sins. God definitely cares about our actions. Scripture makes that painfully obvious. God will condemn people someday, but if we are his, we are his to stay. We come to Him as we are, but if we actually come to Him, we will NOT stay as we are. If someone does, they never actually came to Jesus. Keep learning and seeking after Him. He will be glorified!!!
Soli Deo Gloria
I like what you put about being rooted in the knowledge and belief of God and everything else will come, obedience, loving, serving... I need to work on that.
I thank the Lord for confrontation. It is all a choice. We have to choose and be willing to be confronted by the Lord and be willing for him to change us. That really excites me that he does that.
I like the line by Beth Moore "Obedience is the mark of authentic surrender to God's authority in any matter" I like it because when we choose to be obedient to Christ we are denying ourselves and everything and everybody. When we do this, we are truly living for the Lord no matter the cost.
I suppose I am just a little curious as to what this statement means: "If I let it, God's confrontation can change and renew me in His likeness." To what extent does righteousness fall upon the shoulders of man, to what extent does the conviction of the Spirit rest upon man? Just wondering if you could expound on that maybe...
Simul Iustus et Peccator
I would say to a larger extent than most of us would like to believe. If we want to talk about His love so much, I think we should take the time to realize just how loving He is. He is SO loving that if you do not desire to change and be lead by Him then He shall allow you to do so. He will allow you to choose your own way over His because He is THAT loving. Of course, He does all this in hope us turning into another returning prodigal (Nehemiah 9:26-28 ; Psalm 81:11-12 ; Romans 1:28) . I think that says something about the necessity of us questioning ourselves and analyzing our doctrines so that we continually keep ourselves in check with His will. 1 Thess 5:21 speaks of the testing of the things spoken in the name of the Lord.
Furthermore, to illustrate the point of us being onces with a choice, let us once again visit Philippians 2:12. I know that this one is used all the time for this, but lets be honest, it just works. Plainly it states that we must work out our own salvation as we draw from the strength God has apportioned to us. It shows us the part we play but it also makes sure we know Who is behind the scenes at all times.
Basically we need to get away from this idea that we need to "wait for God to change my heart before I stop my sinful struggles". This to me is just simply bein lazy. If we are conscious of sin in our lives it already shows that God has moved us to change. Do you relally think we would see our sin without the Spirit? For any of us to wait to change when we have awareness of it is simply not acceptable. It sounds harsh, but its the truth. Now let us remember to give grace as well as we will not always follow this way of truth to a tee. Certainly let us make every effort.
There is in the Church of America (and I refrain from saying the Church of God) a popular trend brought about by the likes of Pelagius, Jacobus Arminius, Charles Finney, and even the more contemporary Billy Graham that man has it in him to chose God or to reject Him. Ultimately, the salvation of man is dependant upon man’s will and if man will only pray a prayer and give a few intellectual assents then he is patted on the back and told “Congratulations you’re a Christian.” God takes the first 99 steps towards man, and asks only that man come off the island of sin and into His open arms. I say beloved, this is not Christian! Remember the words of the Great Apostle, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ,” (Colossians 2:8). To this “empty deceit” I now respond for as was cited previously we are to test those things and spirits which claim to come from the Lord (1 Thess 5:21).
We must remember that grace is a gift (Ephesians 2:8) not to be earned by anything, for if our good works could save us then grace ceases to be a gift and rather becomes a wage. Now many will say that when I get a Christmas present I must receive it, the only thing I have to say is that the grace of God is not a Christmas present, it’s a gift of Life to a dead man! We also know that Christ gives grace to whom he chooses (Ephesians 4:7). Yet even more Paul told the church in Rome that it does not depend upon the will of man nor man’s exertion but only on God’s mercy, for surely he creates some to be objects of wrath and others to be objects of mercy (Romans 9). And so our righteousness is not dependant upon us, we in our own power cannot choose God. And so it stands that if we “chose” God’s grace over damnation, then it is not a gift but rather a wage and we deny the sovereignty of God even in the salvation of mankind.
Now I will not say that I do not believe in freewill, for I do, but many a man’s freewill has landed him a spot in the Lake of Burning Fire, but never once has man’s freewill placed him before the Throne of the Almighty. For we are only able to chose when Christ breaks into our depraved lives with amazing grace (and amazing it truly is!) and he grabs a hold of the sinners heart and cries, “You are mine you can be no other, I have saved you, and from my hand you shall not depart!” As Christ did with Lazarus he cries to us in our death and says, “Live!” and we come out of death and into life. Christ reaches past the grave, past the dirt, through the coffin, and he breathes the breath of life into our nostrils and claims us as his own, for we are DEAD in our transgressions (Ephesians 2:1). All of scripture screams the sovereignty of God in our salvation, all of scripture in unison cries that we are not saved according to works, but we are saved by the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, the righteousness he earned on Calvary, the righteousness he gives to him he will. To believe differently would be to deny the Holy Writ and it places the crown of righteousness on your own head instead of casting it the feet of Christ and saying, “Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive all glory, honor and praise.”
Oh no beloved, we by ourselves, apart from the true grace of God cannot choose Him. St. Augustine once "The nature of the Divine goodness is not only to open to those who knock, but also to cause them to knock and ask." Let’s put credit where credit is due, salvation comes not from man but Solus Christu.
If there are any who disagree with what I have written let me say that I will not argue this point here any further for this is a personal testament of the work of God in one woman’s life and would hardly be the place to carry on such discourses, rather I ask that you appeal to scripture especially that of Romans 9 (but all of it will suffice also).
Worthy is the Lamb to receive the reward of His suffering, worthy is the Lamb to receive those for whom He died! ~Reformed Tulip
Thank you all for your comments, thoughts and challenges.
I will say that I am a Calvinist. I may not be able to fully understand the God who directs things, but I know scripture points to His Children being "chosen" and "predestined."
I know it is by grace alone that I first recognized my need for Christ, and that I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. However, I do not pretend to know precisely where my obedience comes into play. Scripture is inundated with exhortations to obey the Lord, to seek Him, to allow His spirit to change us...but He also was the one who hardened pharoh's heart.
No, I will not pretend to know. But I know either way, I will profess the importance of following the narrow and abiding in Him. There is no doubt a large part of my ability to do so is based of the grace of our Lord, just how much, i do not know.
I do know, that i will continue to seek after the One who has all knowledge about this unending debate.
For His sovereignty, Kate
ps: continue to enlighten me please, if God so leads you to.
Well said. I was going to write a long post but now i don't have to. The previous anonymous post has said it all. God is sovereign, without His GRACE i am unable to even cry out to Him for help. Just as the dead Lazarus did not get to say "no thanks, Jesus, i'm going to stay right where i am," neither did the dead to sin Andy Lickel or Kate Munson or anyone gets a choice in the matter. My own tesstimony displays this. I loved my life and did not want God in it when He told me that i was His. I could do nothing but follow, and i was brought to Life that night by the only one who could give it. God never asked if it was ok if He brought me to life, He never begged with me, He just did it because He's God and He will do whatever He wants to.
Now to be annoying. If you like what i've said and what the anonymous post before me said, stop reading.
It is only recently that some churches have accepted this view called synergism, which says salvation comes from a combined effort between man and God. Ever since Jesus' resurrection up until recently, that kind of doctrine was considered heresy because it took away from God's sovereignty. I say it again, there is no room in the scriptures for synergism, only God's sovereignty in salvation. There is no free will in salvation. If you need Bible verses check the former anonymous post. Now you may be tripped up by this free will thing. We do have free will, right? If you want a real Calvinist point of view (i say real as in not hyper-Calvinist and not wishy-washy Calvinism), this is it: Free Will means we have the freedom to act on our will. Like the post said before me, no man's free will has ever brought them before the throne of God. When we are dead in our sin, our will will always be contrary to God's will. No matter what we do, it is detestable to God (Isa. 64:6). Our free gets us nowhere but further from the one true God. Once God chooses us, He conforms our will to Jesus' (God's) (Rom. 8:29). Now we have the freedom to act on our will, but our true will is to do the will of God. If we do not do this the Holy Spirit convicts us. There it is. I now this isn't perfect and i'm sure there is way more to God's work in our lives than we know, but we can rest in peace knowing we are loved by a God much bigger than we can comprehend.
Sola Gratia
Well said Lickel, except I would be careful to say that the synergist movement is a new one, Paul fought the Jews and their idea of the covenant of works, Augustine fought Pelgius on these grounds, Luther fought the Papal authorities and their belief of the syntersis (spark of the divine), early Calvinists fought Arminius, and George Whitefield fought John Wesley, it's been an ill plaguing the Church since it's formation, but we hold most assuredley and confidently to the monergistic standpoint, all praise and glory be to Christ. Oh the depth and grace of Christ unknown, how amazing his grace truly is.
Striving to boast in Christ with you all~Reformed Tulip
EDIT:
In case I was confusing in conveying my understanding of things, I believe salvation is wholly based on the Lord's choice and sovreignty. The part, however, that I am unclear about is what way our free will and choices play in doing good works in our daily walk with the Lord. Then again, the man is inherently sinful. But do we change in Christ that our will becomes His too, then how do you distinguish the two? I hope to be "hidden in Christ"(Col 3).
Kate
Justification is articulus stands aut cadentis ecclesiae-the article by which the church stands or falls, and the question you raised Kate, is a directly linked to the idea of justification. How is it possible that a man who is inherently sinful still be able to do some good work, for aren’t Christians encouraged by our Lord to let the Gentiles see our good deeds (Matthew 5:14-16), the rock on which the Church was built also exhorted us to live such good lives among the pagans that they may not accuse us of anything (1 Peter 2:11-12), and what shall I say concerning James who said that works are evident in faith (James 2:18). This then is our answer; that the price was paid for on Calvary, Christ became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Our sin, the sin of Christ’s elect is no longer ours it is Christ’s and Christ’s righteousness, that is no longer his for it is ours (Isaiah 53:4-6; 8;11, Matthew 11:28-30, Galatians 3:13). Just as our sin was imputed (not only infused) unto Christ so his righteousness became our righteousness, he threw it from himself that he might clothe us in it, but not only his righteousness but his good deeds, his holiness, Himself. And so even the “good works” we do, come not from us nor from our own freewill but rather they come from Christ who gives us all things in rich abundance, so when God looks upon his children he does not see us, but he sees the blanket of righteousness that is Christ’s righteousness which was imputed to us through Christ’s substitutionary death.
I would like to hear what anyone thinks.
In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti
~Reformed Tulip
These are some amazing comments. I learned a lot from them, but I have a question because I am confused. (?) So if our "good works" come only from God and not from us choosing by freewill to follow the Lord and be obedient, then can we blame people for sinning and not turning away if they are inherently sinful and don't have that desire to walk continuely with God because that desire and willingness only comes from God. If our righteousness is from God, which I know it is, then why do some people turn away from their sin and others don't. Based on what you are saying, then why is "good works" even important if we can only do good if God allows us to do good because it isn't from us. If our works are going to be judged someday and put through a fire (1 Corth. 3) and the "good works" are only from God then how can we help what we do, if God is the only one who is able to make us do good. I don't know if this makes any sense.
Jodi, it makes perfect sense and is something that certainly we must wrestle with. The church in Rome had a hard time understanding this also when Paul said to them that God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy and he will harden the hearts of those whom he will harden. Paul goes on to say, "You will say to me then, 'Whey then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, "Why have you made me like this?" Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use?" (Romans 9:19-21). It is a philosophical presupposition to believe that in order to be held accountable for something, to be responsible one must have the freewill to chose to do that. However, verses like the one you pointed out and many, many others point vividly to the fact that though God makes some to be objects of wrath and others to be objects of mercy (Romans 9:22-23)that we are still held accountable for those actions. Some say it is a false dichotomy to believe such a thing, rather I contend to say that it is the sovereign will of God, for surely who are we to speak back to our maker? Where were we when he placed the stars in the heavens and the planets in their rotation? Where were we when he said to the sea, 'This far and no further!' I cannot begin to understand or fathom the mind of God, for our thoughts are not his thoughts, nor our ways his ways. But scripture clearly lays out that God raises some to be destined for wrath and others for mercy. So let's not always put our focus on how this can be, but rather allow it to drive us to our knees and cry to the one who saved us saying, "Worthy are you!" Oh the grace of God unknown!~Reformed Tulip
Amen and Amen! God is sovereign, holy, perfect, almighty, and constant...He never controdicts Himself... the entire purpose of all this questioning, the end result is to have us fall upon our knees and exalt our King of kings, Lord of lords!
For His glory Alone, Kate
ps: Reformed Tulip: I would be interested in talking to you more via e-mail. Would you consider e-mailing me? You can find that on my profile.
Hello,
When ever I surf on web I never forget to visit this website[url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/lose-10-pounds-in-2-weeks-quick-weight-loss-tips].[/url]Lots of good information here katewenzel.blogspot.com. Let me tell you one thing guys, some time we really forget to pay attention towards our health. Here is a fact for you. Recent Research points that almost 60% of all U.S. adults are either fat or weighty[url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/lose-10-pounds-in-2-weeks-quick-weight-loss-tips].[/url] Therefore if you're one of these citizens, you're not alone. Its true that we all can't be like Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox, and have sexy and perfect six pack abs. Now next question is how you can achive quick weight loss? Quick weight loss can be achived with little effort. Some improvement in of daily activity can help us in losing weight quickly.
About me: I am webmaster of [url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/lose-10-pounds-in-2-weeks-quick-weight-loss-tips]Quick weight loss tips[/url]. I am also health trainer who can help you lose weight quickly. If you do not want to go under painful training program than you may also try [url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/acai-berry-for-quick-weight-loss]Acai Berry[/url] or [url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/colon-cleanse-for-weight-loss]Colon Cleansing[/url] for quick weight loss.
Post a Comment
<< Home