eternal salvation

09
Jul
2012

How the Blood of Jesus Saves

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, …

“…having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb 10:19-22)

Journal,

Science has long since discovered that a person’s lineage can be researched by what is called DNA testing. [DNA: DeoxyriboNucleic Acid] DNA testing is a pretty exact science. It is well accepted in courts.

DNA can be used to prove paternity. It is also used with a high degree of accuracy to decide if an individual was involved in certain crimes. The degree of accuracy is in the millions to one.

[Note: DNA is a nucleic acid that carries the genetic information in the cell and is capable of self-replication and synthesis of RNA. DNA consists of two long chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix and joined by hydrogen bonds between the complementary bases adenine and thiamine or cytosine and guanine. The sequence of nucleotides determines individual hereditary characteristics.]

I realize all of this seems technical and calls for questions, but for the sake of the study lets keep things very basic. Included in DNA foundational studies are chromosomes. Women have xx chromosomes. Men have xy chromosomes. Only the male has the y chromosome. The male passes this chromosome to his male children. It never passes to the daughters. The y chromosome in the male descendents remains unchanged through the generations.

This is not to be confused with genes. A gene is a part of a DNA molecule. Every child receives 23 genes from each parent. Each child is equally of the father and of the mother, and receives equal attributes, etc., from both parents.

Saved by God’s Blood

With this basic information at hand we can now look at how the blood of Jesus can be called God’s blood. It will help us greatly to appreciate in a deeper way God’s work of salvation through Jesus Christ. Listen carefully to two seemingly disparate Scriptures:

“For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:27,28)

“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:13,14)

Note: Keep in mind the ‘weaving’ language. DNA is made up of two strands woven together.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

First let’s look at Paul’s statement. The apostle plainly tells the elders of Ephesus that the blood of the cross was God’s own blood. But where do we go from here? It is here that we must take a journey.

The blood shed at the cross was precious blood. It was both human blood and God’s blood. This is why the apostle said,

“You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold … but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” (1Pet1:18,19)

How then did the blood of Christ redeem us?

The apostolic writer said that Christ entered into the heavenly tabernacle with His own blood. Out of this came eternal redemption. But we have to keep in mind that Jesus is the incarnate Son of God. As hard as this may be to grasp, it is yet the truth. And so it can be said that God Himself took our place on the cross.

The work of the cross was for the sins of all humanity, from Adam’s sin, to our own sins, whether they be past, present or future. In His suffering, Jesus took the place of man. The judgment of all sin was upon Him.

The cross was a judgment. Out of His resurrection came justification of life to the whole of humanity. John said,

“He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; but not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1Jn2:2)

Because Jesus was both God and man, it was through His cross that heaven is opened for the repentant sinner, that is, the one who will confess Jesus Christ as his own Lord and Savior. Which, in turn, brings us back to the blood.

When the Blood is Sprinkled

Since the blood of Jesus was and is God’s blood, and since the blood of Jesus also represents the human family, a wonderful thing happens to the repentant person. Peter said that the Holy Spirit takes of the blood of Jesus, which, again, is God’s blood, and sprinkles it upon the believing one’s heart.

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: may grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.” (1Pe 1:1-2)

To obey Jesus Christ is to come into a relationship with Him as your Lord and Savior.

What is in the sprinkled blood? The very life of God. And this is what being born from above entails. Every person born of God has had his or her heart sprinkled clean by the very blood-life of God Himself. This is why we can be called ‘children of God.’ And this is also why the apostle said that we now share in the divine nature.

Yes, we still have our humanity. But on this planet there are two distinct people. You have the Adam race, which includes all people, whether Jew or Gentile. And you also have the race of Christians, who take their name from the Christ of God.

The race of Christians carry in them the DNA code of heaven, that is, the very life of their Father God. It is in this sense that Christians can be called a divine race. (We have to be careful not to go beyond the Scriptures with this idea.)

Born of God

And now we come to David’s statement, where he said,

“You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.”

Here is gets even more awesome. It is here that David defines DNA weaving, thousands of years before it was discovered as a chain of life.

Isn’t the Bible amazing?

But there is more. David was a prophet. This means that Christ often spoke directly through David. So in this wonderful Psalm we have a corporate picture of Christ, along with what we are to receive to ourselves as sons and daughters of heaven.

I would encourage my readers to take time to meditate on Psalm 139. You will be able to see both Christ and yourself in this Psalm.

For the sake of Christ, it can be easily said the He was woven in the womb of Mary, that He was fearfully and wonderfully made, and that His soul knows it very well. This is important to understand.

There is a termed used in the New Testament exclusively for Jesus. The term ‘monogenes’ means, uniquely one of a kind, or, one and only. This expression is used seven times with regard to Jesus. The message never varies. Jesus was uniquely the only one of His kind.

This is because in Him was the very life of God. He was fearfully and wonderfully made.

How then does Psalm 139 apply to the person born from above? It applies in a very unique sense, in that each of us is born after the order of Christ.

We are each fearfully and wonderfully made. And though Jesus is the monogenes, we are His brothers and sisters by virtue of God’s blood.

One final thought — The reason our salvation is called eternal is because of the eternal sacrifice made by God Himself. The blood is eternal. Our forgiveness is eternal. We now have eternal life. Eternal life speaks of “without cessation.” It also speaks of the very life of God.

Paul pretty much nailed it down when he said,

“If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us, how will he not also with Him freely give us all things. … For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Cf.Rom8:31-39)

Well that pretty much says it.

Now the question – How can I know that the blood has been sprinkled on my heart? 

Jesus took all our sins and failures to the cross. God saves us with an eternal salvation.

Good question and quite easy to answer. If you are right now trusting in Jesus Christ as your own personal Lord and Savior, that is proof positive that the blood has been sprinkled. The apostle said that the Holy Spirit testifies through the blood to our spirit that we are a child of God. And so, faith in Jesus alone is all the proof that is required.

How powerful is the blood? It is God’s keeping power. For God to lose one of those who have been saved by the blood, He would have to cut off His own life. The Bible says that we are saved by His life.

Every child of God should take divine assurance to heart. When Jesus saves, He saved eternally and He loses none. Listen to this mission that the Father gave to His Son –

“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (Joh 6:39-40)

We are in the nail prints of the cross. All I can say is, “Thank God for the blood.”

This is a good place to end this part of the study. Feel free to make a contribution, or ask questions.

Here is a song for your meditation – Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.

Yours in Christ,

Buddy

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27
Apr
2012

Fixed Points in Time

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Php 1:6)

 

Journal,

If you could write a story of your life, chances are each chapter would begin with an important event that was taking place in your life. I like to call these events as ‘fixed points.‘ We all have these fixed points that we can draw on.

Here is one of my fixed points –

He Who Began the Good Work

It was 1964 and I had just resigned from a religious association that had been an anchor in my walk with the Lord. But I knew that the time had come up pull up anchor and set sail. The witness of the Lord was without question. 

The next morning a dark gloom settled over my mind. ‘What will I do now? Where will I find fellowship.’ 

I fell to my knees and reached for my Bible. As the Bible fell open, this Scripture just leaped out –  

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Php 1:6)

God had spoken. The gloom instantly lifted. And that moment in time became a fixed point in my walk with the Lord. I knew deep in my heart that my journey of life was well in the hands of the Lord. 

 

God has fixed points, too.

Jesus told the disciples about redemption’s fixed points, and that these points were not for them to know. The disciples asked the Lord when the kingdom would be restored to Israel. He said,

 “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Act 1:7-8)

The Greek word for ‘epochs’ (kairos, pronounced, kahee-ros’) refers to an occasion, a set time. It carries the idea of a new opportunity.

 

Even Our Days Are Ordained

That being said, the Lord also has fixed points in our personal walk. David alluded to this:

“I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. … Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” (Psa 139:14-16)

Did you catch it? David said that our days were ordained of the Lord. The Hebrew for ‘ordained’ [yasar] means to fashion, to shape, or to devise, as with work of creation. This word includes the idea of election and predestination.

The Apostle Paul speaks to this:

“ … also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” (Eph 1:11)

And again,

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Eph 2:8-10)

The Greek term for ‘workmanship’ (poiema) has to do with a finished product. In this case, believers are the finished work of the cross.

But this needs to be understood in the sense of the believer’s redemption in Christ.

Let’s take this a step further, into …

 

What is Finished – What is Ongoing

It is important to understand the finished work of the cross in its Biblical sense. Where ‘poiema’ denotes the finished work, it also relates to the word, ‘poiesis’, which speaks of an ongoing work, and to the word, ‘poietes’, which addresses the one who is doing or has done the work.

All three of these words include the thought of a poet. While the poet is working on his project, he always has the finished work firmly fixed in his mind. This sense carries over into the finished work of the cross.

The finished work is already complete in the chronicles of God, but we as believers are experiencing our shaping throughout our life time. Thus we have the paradox of ‘fixed points.’

The paradox involves two issues, the positional truth, and the experiential truth.

The positional truth is that God’s work in the believer is finished. The experiential truth is that the believer is a work in progress, where his life is being shaped for the eternity to come.

Back to ordained events. Now we need to look at…

 

The Message Behind the Message

The message behind the cross is that Jesus is the author & finisher of our faith; that we are God’s ‘finished’ workmanship; that we are destined for glory.

It is the message is that nothing in all of creation will ever be able to separate the believer from the love of God that is found in Jesus Christ.

Out of the cross comes the Shepherd’s promise that, “I will never leave you and I will never desert you.”

Then we have this on the experiential side of the cross. Listen carefully:

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

“[with the knowledge that] it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Php 2:12-13)

Once again, did you catch it. It is God who is working out our salvation. The ‘fear and trembling’ comes from realizing this awesome revelation that God is fully at work in my life.

Actually Job describes this very aspect of fear and trembling. Listen to Job:

“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. “Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!” (Job 19:25-27)

Do you see any doubt in Job, about his eternal salvation? Not one bit. When Job ends of saying, ‘My heart faints within me’, he is speaking of the awesomeness of His Redeemer God.

Now with regard to the Lord working out our salvation, let’s hear it again:

“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will,

 “… working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Heb 13:20-21)

These Scriptures allow us to realize that it is God who is at work in our lives, and that He is working in us that which is pleasing in His sight. It also helps to define what I mean by ‘fixed points’ in our lives. These fixed points accord with a Scripture that most believers can quote from memory –

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28)

These ‘all things” include ordained moments in our lives where a change is in the works. These fixed moments can be seen as transitional moments.

Now let’s talk about…

 

What is it That is Pleasing to God

What is pleasing to God is the revealing of ‘likeness’ and ‘image’ of Christ in all His children. We call this, ‘Christlikeness.’

The apostle John said that one day we are going to be just like Jesus. Our future glory and likeness to Jesus Christ is what the finished work of the cross is all about.

However, this exact likeness fulfills itself in our final stay in heaven. In the meantime we need lots of help in processing life. We don’t lose our human nature just because we’ve been born again. There will be trails, setbacks, failures, and victories without measure.

This is all part of our experiencing Jesus in this life.

Listen carefully:

“For it was fitting for Him [Jesus], for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

“For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” (Heb 2:10-11)

We are in the process of being brought to glory. The full glory takes place in our life to come.

And so, in Christ the work is finished. In our experience it is ongoing. We are being conformed to His image & likeness.

Now back to…

 

The Lord’s “I Am with You” Moments

There will be many defining moments in every believer’s life. Some will seem painful at the time, but all of them have to do with shaping the believer for eternity.  The issue is that every trial has a purpose and every revelation has something to say to us.

This is also why it is important to take to heart what the apostle said:

“He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Php 1:6)

This is also why we must be able to say with Jesus, “Father, not my will, but yours be done.”

There is so much more to be said about ‘fixed points in time’, that I will leave off for now.

Now to hear from my readers – I would love to hear about one of your fixed points in time where a major change was in the works, and where the Lord gave you the assurance that He was with you.

Take time to respond to this journal entry.

In the meantime, here is a song for your meditation … ‘I Stand Amazed’

In Christ always,

Buddy

 

 

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02
Apr
2012

The Christian’s Life is a Story to be Told

“… having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. … they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.” (Heb 11:13-16 NASB)

 

 

Journal,

In writing to Timothy, Paul instructed him to flee from worldly attractions, especially that of a love for money. He must always pursue those things that have to do with our heavenly life. He then said to Timothy,

“Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (Cf, 1Tim6:11,12)

Two things stand out. First ‘the’ confession.

Did you know that the early Christians were called, ‘the people of the great confession.’ This is because new covenant salvation is based on the Lordship of Jesus Christ. And a confession made from the heart about Jesus as Lord is what introduces us to the kingdom of God’s beloved son. Listen to the background:

“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.” (Mat10:2)

“And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God.” (Luke 12:8)

“For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God … for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (Cf. Rom10:1-11)

The second thing that stands out in what Paul said to Timothy, has to do with the fight of faith.

There are things we must always remember. First of all we are not of this world. We are pilgrims on a journey. But we must also learn to fix our eyes on Jesus. He is the author and the finisher of our faith.

So, let’s talk about ‘a story to be told.’

The best place to begin is with…

 

The struggle of temptation

Satan’s primary battle plan against believers is to disquiet their walk with the Lord. He does this by searching for something in our life that he can give a temptation against.

Satan knows well how to stir our earthly passions with worldly allurements. His attacks are generally towards the mind, but he also uses our senses. (This is why we have to train our own senses to discern good and evil. Cf. Heb5:14)

For a temptation to work it has to be something that is quite alluring to our senses and to our thought life. Otherwise it would not be a temptation.

James says it this way:

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone [with evil.]. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed [baited] by his own lusts [desires].” (James 1:13,14)

— The Bible language for temptation carries two thoughts, either a solicitation to evil, or a testing from the Lord with a purpose of strengthened the believer’s faith and trust in the Lord. This was the case of Abraham;

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his own begotten son.” (Heb 11:17. Relates to Gen22)

 

The Solicitation to Evil

A temptation from the enemy is quite real and can be overpowering, especially when the temptation is towards something that we want. The point is that Satan is using something of our own want to bait us. This is why Jesus said to the disciples,

“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; for the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mat26:41)

And here you have the key. The flesh is weak. This means that most temptations will center on our own human nature and as an attraction to our fleshly life. The issue is that we do not lose our humanity when we become true believers. It means that a new source of strength and power is now invested in our inner man.

Is this what Biblical prosperity is about?

Keep in mind that a temptation from the enemy is very subtle. This is the reason God’s people need to be cautious when it comes to many earth-centered teachings that abound today. A great many prosperity teachings are earthly focused, worldly-minded, and yet are well wrapped in Bible language.

Does this mean that God is against prosperity? Quite the contrary. David had this to say:

“Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; and let them say continually, ‘The Lord be magnified, who delights in the prosperity of His servant.’” (Ps35:27)

The word David uses for prosperity is the Hebrew term ‘shalom.’  Shalom speaks of peace and well-being. Whereas Satan’s prosperity message will always have a worldly attachment to it, Biblical prosperity is the outflow heart in a covenant relationship with the Lord.

Listen to these promises:

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Ps37:3,4)

— I would encourage every believer to meditate on all of Psalm 37. It explains God’s philosophy of life.  Philosophy means a love of wisdom.

Thus we have this from the Lord:

 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt6:33)

Seeking God’s kingdom was a Hebrew way of saying, ‘Seek the direct rule of God in your life.’ Seeking His righteousness speaks of seeking His way of doing things.

 

God’s Provision for the Believer

A temptation by its very nature should alert a believer that he is under attack. The enemy is checking to see how far he can get with attracting the believer into an area of failure.

Wow, this sounds like we have a great need of defense. We do and God has provided all that we need for our defense against the enemy. Here is one in particular:

“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide a way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1Co10:13)

Paul’s point is that the Lord will never stop providing means and ways for you to overcome Satan’s attempts to draw you away from the Lord Himself. The Lord never stops overseeing our life in this world.

Now let’s talk about…

 

The Realness of Life

Christians who struggle the most are those who live compromised lives; sort of one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom. (As if such a thing were possible.)

Jesus came to give us life! To enjoy true life we have to become single-focused. Double-mindedness is the number one cause of spiritual instability in a believer’s life. No more double-mindedness.

James said,

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (Jas 1:5-8 NASB)

Jesus adds to this in saying,

“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Mat 6:22-24 NASB)

Where Jesus said the ‘eye is bad,’ this was a Hebraisms for ‘an evil eye,’ that is, an eye fixed on greed. You cannot be worldly and spiritual at the same time. When our eyes become fixed on worldly pursuits, the result will always a dark spot in our lives. We are called to live as children of the light.

Jesus said,

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)

The point is that all true blessings come from our walk with Jesus. These are directed blessings. And this is why David said,

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake … Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Cf. Psalm 23)

— Lovingkindness is a covenant expression that speaks of God’s very character, that is, His faithfulness to those in covenant relationship with Him. It speaks a reality that God’s love and kindness are eternal. Paul drew on this word when he said, Nothing would ever be able to separate is from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus. —

Now for a closer look at…

 

The Path of Separation

We are instructed by the apostles to see our life in this present world as a pilgrimage. Where the world lives in a cycle of birth to death, believers are to live as a people of destiny. We must never lose this focus.

This means in part that every trial allowed by God that we face will always have one goal in mind. The purpose of the God-allowed or directed trial is to keep us moving on the highway of sanctification (separation to God) and in the keeping power of God’s love.

We need to understand that we have been forever sanctified to Jesus through the blood of the eternal covenant. (This is a once-for-all eternal sanctification. To sanctify means to make holy. It speaks of anything that solely belongs to God.)

The path of sanctification has to do with learning to live in our separation to the Lord.

The path of our separation to God is going to have its struggles and temptations. But its greater spiritual feeling of the heart will be found in the joy of learning to live a separated life. Why is this? It is because someone greater is walking with us every step of the way. His presence in our lives is a constant reminder that we belong to Him.

Jesus adds to this:

“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy have be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” (John 15:11)

 “Until now you have asked for  nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.” (John 16:24)

The joyful heart is a hallmark of our walk with the Lord. We know Him. We love Him. He is our joy of life.

There is one more thing we need to understand about ‘The Christian’s Life is a Story to be Told.’ It has to do with what Jesus meant on the cross, when He said…

 

It Is Finished!

When Jesus said, ‘it is finished’, this was the cry of victory! Everything else about God’s great salvation plan would be played out fully in the death, the burial, the resurrection, and the ascension of Jesus Christ.

The work was over. From that moment on, every person who calls upon and confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, is given eternal salvation. Eternal salvation means that you are eternally saved.

This is why the apostle stated two absolute truth with regards to the finished work of the cross. First was the truth that no power in heaven or on earth would ever be able to separate the believer from God’s love.

Paul explains this absolute truth in Romans 8. Listen carefully:

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Rom 8:1-2) — In the Greek this is an emphatic statement. It is saying that there is not now, nor can there ever be a damnatory sentence against anyone who is in Christ Jesus, regardless of our personal failures. The reason for this is that Jesus took the total of our life with Him to the cross. In turn He gave us His life and His standing with heaven. 

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39)

The second absolute truth of the finished work of the cross ties in with the first truth and relates to our heavenly placement in Christ. Our salvation was so completed at the cross, that when Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, He took us with Him.

Listen very carefully to how the apostle explains our being raised up with Christ.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

“… and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Eph 2:4-10)

Every believer has been made an heir of the finished work of the cross.

And so, the Christian has a story to be told.

While you think about these things, let this song minister to your heart: “Open Our Eyes, Lord.”

In Christ always,

Buddy

 

 

 

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04
Jul
2010

Remember friend as you pass by…

“Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.” (Psa 145:2-4 NASB)

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Journal,

Nathan began his July 4th sermon with reflections on the American Revolution. As I listened to an awe-inspiring sermon by my son, my mind traveled back to our family archives. Later at lunch I reminded Nathan of his direct connection with the War of Independence. The first Martin of our line to come to Louisiana was a Revolutionary soldier. He came with his Indian wife. That was 1803 thereabouts.

Billy Martin and his Indian wife, Elizabeth, are buried at Mitchell Cemetery in Anacoco, Louisiana. There is a large double stone with genealogical information on the reverse side. It reads:

Martin, Elizabeth – ca 1790/ca 1849

Martin, William (Billy) – 1766/ca 1840, American Revolutionary Soldier

Came to LA in 1803 from VA-KY area, [married] 1805 – Their children

1. John (Jack) [married] 1831 Rachel Miers;

2. Thomas [married] 1833 Elizabeth;

3. David [married] 1833 Catherine;

4. Wm. (Billy) Jr. [married] 1834 Mary Ann Miers;

5. Charles [married] 1842 Sarah Ann Miers;

6. Isaac [married] 1854 Mary Bass;

7. Benjamin [married] 1845 Evelina Miers

8. Elizabeth

9. Levi (1830) [married] 1850 Jane Wingate

It is interesting how I descend from two of Billy Martin’s sons; William (Billy) Jr., and Charles Seth. My grandfather and grandmother were from the two lines and were cousins. In those days it wasn’t altogether uncommon for cousins to marry.

To take it a step further I have to bring you to our community/family cemetery. Buried at Campbell Creek Cemetery in Sharp, Louisiana are my forebearers all the way back to Charles Seth Martin. Laid out in a line are the graves of our son, David Lynn, my father, Lawrence Bert, my grandparents, John Allen and Frances Ella, my great grand-parents, James Erwin and Mary, and my great, great grandfather, Charles Seth Martin, the son of the revolutionary soldier.

Of course I realize that all of this has little interest for most readers. So let me get to my point. When my great grandfather, James Erwin Martin, died in 1905, my grandfather prepared a homemade headstone for him. On the front of the head stone he encased behind glass a paper which read,

“Remember friend, as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, you soon shall be.
Prepare my friend to follow me.”

Due to a broken edge of the glass and the weathering over the years, the paper is now barely readable. I’m one of the few people to know what it says. Very often when I do a funeral, I’ll call attention to those words. And more often than not, someone will want me to show them my great grandfather’s grave. Of course I’m always happy to do that. It gives me a chance to share the gospel from his headstone.

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Did you get the message?

The message is that one generation replaces another.

So it might be said of my great grandfather, ‘Though he is dead, he still speaks.’ And if nothing else he is still speaking through his great grandson, yours truly, and his great-great grandson, Nathan Eric Martin.

But it wasn’t simply my great grandfather who speaks to future generations. His father, and his father’s father were believers. According to family sources, Billy Martin was a Methodist.

Their faith in God’s Christ was passed on to their children. And I have passed their faith in Jesus Christ on to my children and they to their children. That’s how it is to the be with God’s people.

In the Bible record of the righteous, we often simply read, “And he died.”

“So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.”

“So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years, and he died.”

“So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years, and he died.”

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But they died in faith.

The Bible says elsewhere,

“All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” (Heb11:13)

God’s people have always known that greater things await them in the future. It is this hope that undergirds our faith walk.

The apostolic writer went on to include this statement;

“Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” (Vs16)

One of the promises God gave the righteous in ages gone by, was the promise of a heavenly and holy city. Part of Abraham’s travels included looking for that city.

What had God promised the righteous in generations gone by? He promised them a Redeemer. He promised them that one day the righteous would inherit a transformed earth. He promised them a holy and heavenly city.

It is these promises and many more that have rested in the hearts of God’s holy people from ancient time. We as new covenant believers have the same promises resting in us. We anxiously await the wonders that are reserved in heaven for us.

And this is why God’s people look at death through a different set of glasses. When the Spirit of Jesus enters the heart of a believing one, the atmosphere of heaven makes its home in the deepest part of our spiritual make-up. Jesus said that was how it would be. He said,

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word [instructions]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:23)

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The Spirit of Jesus

What does the Spirit of Jesus do in a believer? The Spirit goes to work casting out fear. Not just some fear, but all fear. Once God’s perfect love has completed its work, the only fear that remains is that wondrous fear called ‘the fear of the Lord.’ This fear is holy. It connects is to a holy God. The fear of the Lord becomes our treasure. It is filled with love, respect, and reverence for our heavenly Father.

Probably the greatest fear that the Holy Spirit dispels is the fear of death. I’ve known people who are so afraid of death that they will not attend a funeral, including the funeral of a loved one. Perhaps it is because looking at the body of the deceased leaves them with too many questions. They are bewildered. To them it represents the end. It may also remind them of a judgment to come. And for those who do attend a funeral, the wailing is heart rending. This is why at every funeral I try to minister the gospel with the love of God.

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Death has lost its power

You see, the fear of death actually loses its power over a child of God. In fact in the heart of every believer is an upward longing for those things that lie ahead. Paul said it best,

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil3:13,14)

For many years I’ve had a habit of visiting cemeteries, especially those where some of my forebearers have been laid to rest. Don’t think it strange. When you do as many funerals as I do, cemeteries have much to say. Sometimes I get my children to accompany me. When I talk with them about their ancestors, I try to point out something of their Christian nature. I’ve done this since my now grown children were quite small.

It has been my deepest desire to instill in my children eternal values. Some of my sweetest memories have been those of talking with my children about Jesus, the heavenly Father, and all that belong to him.

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Tell your children and your children’s children

“You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” (Deu 6:7 NASB)

Some year ago when my daughter was very young, I was in my study and heard a small knock on my door. There she was. Shana looked at me, and said,

“Daddy, I don’t have anybody to hold me.”

Quickly I scooped her up, sat her in my lap, and the two of us looked out my French doors. Then I began talking with her about God’s birds, and His creation, and of His love for us.

But I did the same with my sons. We would be out raking the yard, when I’d have all three of my children sit down with me under a tree. Usually the boys would get quiet. There we would let the heavenly Father love us in His quietness. Once again I’d hear my youngest say,

“Daddy, everybody needs a hug, huh? Even God.” “Yes, baby, everybody needs a hug, even God.“

Isn’t it amazing how a child can speak such wonderful things.

Does God need a hug? I think so. Does God love to hold us? I believe He does. How much does God love us? We are unable to measure of even fathom such a love. But He loved us enough to give His own Son as a sacrifice for our sins. As the writer said,

“One sacrifice for all sins for all time.” (Heb10:12)

God doesn’t want his children to be afraid. I think this is what my grandfather wanted to say when he wrote the inscription for my great grandfather’s head stone. It wasn’t written to cause fear, but to cause those who walked by to think a bit on the eternal.

I don’t remember that much about my grandfather Martin. I do remember him playing his guitar and singing in the old country church that we attended. Wish I had more memories of him but I’ll just have to cherish the very few.

And so the apostolic writer said,

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to died once and after this comes judgment….”

But isn’t it interesting when folk quote that verse, they forget to look at the rest of the sentence. The rest of the sentence says,

“…so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” (Heb9:27,28)

Notice it says “without reference to sin.” The sin problem has been settled for eternity for all who receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. These are the believers who eagerly await Him. Only those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will appear for judgment.

In the meantime we walk in our testimony to the Lord. We are His living proof (witnesses) of the reality of Jesus Christ.

And thank you granddaddy for writing those words. They sure have done well for my preaching.

Please take time to listen to this song. The Lord may have something to speak in your heart.

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Think about it,

Much love in Jesus,

Buddy


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