Binary, 5

 ~ Binary Foundations, 2: Permanent or Temporary ~

 

Series Comment  ~  When it comes to spiritual paths it is strictly a binary choice. 

(1)   It is a choice between the True or False.  “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).  [See Post #1 in this series.]

(2)   It is a choice between Do or Done.  Jesus said, “It [the work of salvation] is finished!” (John 19:30).  Your Doing can add nothing to what Christ has Done for you.  [See Post #2 in this series.]

(3)   It is your choice between Religion or Relationship.  Religions are geared toward self-effort whereas Christianity is an intimacy with the only One who can save.  Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).  [See Post #3 in this series.}

 

Scripture  ~  “For we [believers] are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.  According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it.  But let each one take heed how he builds on it.  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.  If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:9-15). 

 

Comment  ~  This passage is directed at believers and is about their works for God AFTER they are in the family of God.  This is not about eternal salvation.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW  

 

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Sabbath, 9of9

 ~ The Lord’s Day – Sunday – Was Observed By John ~

 

Introduction  ~  In the Old Testament the Sabbath was established as part of The Law.  The Sabbath is observed from sundown Friday evening through sundown Saturday evening.  In the New Testament the law of God is written on believers’ hearts (Romans 2:12-16) rather than on tablets of stone.  It is the heart’s attitude which now supersedes outward obedience (Romans 10:10).  Following Christ’s resurrection, which occurred on the first day of the week, the Disciples and later the Church have observed their day of rest on Sunday in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection (Acts 20:7). 

 

Passage  ~  “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea’” (Revelation 1:9-11).  

 

Comment  ~  From the time of Christ’s resurrection the majority of Christians have chosen to set apart the first day of the week in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The entire Christian faith rises or falls on the reality of the resurrection.  Many have tried to prove that the resurrection never happened.  None have succeeded and many in their attempts found the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Have you?  

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Spiritual Gifts, 43

 ~ Spiritual Gifts – Key Principles~

 

Opening Comment  ~  “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:16-18). 

 

Key Principles  ~  Here are some of the primary principles regarding Grace Gifts that should always be kept in mind:

 

1.      Spiritual gifts relate to what a believer does in the way of ministry.  Natural abilities and skills are for both inside and outside of direct ministry.

 

2.      Every believer has gifts.  “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it” (Ephesians 4:7).  “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).  Also see, 1 Corinthians 12:11 and 1 Peter 4:10.  

 

3.      All believers have multiple gifts (1 Corinthians 1:7; 2 Corinthians 9:8).  

 

4.      No one believer has all the gifts.  There is no need for self-sufficient “super-saints” (1 Corinthians 12:29-30, 8-10). 

 

5.      There is no one gift which all believers excel in (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).  But all are to strive to improve source gifts such as love, compassion, mercy, etc. 

 

6.      Each member has a separate combination of gifts.

 

7.      Each member must function in his own way.  God does not want all believers to have the same ministry or exact methodology.

 

8.      All members are to function in harmony together for the good of the overall God focused effort.

 

9.      Specific spiritual gifts and spirituality are NOT directly related.  For example, a person can be ministering from a dry well.  This is why some prominent spiritual leaders sometimes succumb to temptation. 

 

10.  Spirituality has to do with Godly character and being conformed to the image of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1-3, 13:1-3) as opposed to the grace gifts they have been given by their Creator.  This has frightening implications!  (And explains many events - such as Jonestown.)

 

Closing Comments  ~  “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.  Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.  Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.  Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:12-16).

 

“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).

 

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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