Stay Focused On The Lord

In our modern “Christian” society, people look up to various megachurches and their pastors as the examples Christians should be following.  Churches and pastors who do not follow those examples are viewed as not being really sincere about serving God or building the church.  As Solomon tells us, there is nothing new under the sun.  The church at Sardis was much like those mega churches to day.  Notis what the Lord told them in Revelation 3:1-5.  “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” 

The church at Sardis was growing in numbers, and active in many areas, so that other people were impressed and trying to follow their example, the Lord said that in reality, they were dead.  The things they were doing were not what God wanted.  If they were going to please God, they needed to go back to the beliefs and practices that the church had started with.  Failure to go back and focus on those old principles and beliefs would result in God’s judgment.  Fortunately, there were still a few in the church who were following the Lord, and those who listened to them could receive the same blessings. 

The problem is that we begin to compare our accomplishment to those of other people.  In II Corinthians 10:12, Paul wrote, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”  As he explains in I Corinthians 4:3-4, it is not wise to use each other as a standard because we don’t really understand what God wants and thus cannot even judge our own effort properly.    “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.   For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.”   II Corinthians 10:18 warns, “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” 

Out of the seven churches listed in Revelation, only two were really pleasing to God.  The church at Philadelphia was growing a little despite opposition from false teachers.  The church at Smyrna wasn’t even growing, but was just holding on to what they knew to be true.  All of the others had serious problems that God was prepared to judge if they did not correct them, even though they appeared to be doing more than either Smyrna or Philadelphia.  Our ideas of what matters are not the same as God’s.  It is with this in mind that Romans 14:4 asks, “Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”

Instead of judging how others are serving God, we need to make sure we are not doing anything to interfere with their service, according to Romans 14:10-13.  “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.” 

Instead of telling others how they ought to copy us or some well-known church or pastor, we need to make sure we are not encouraging them to do things that contradict scripture or place the emphasis on human effort and techniques rather than God’s power.  As Jesus told peter, when he asked what John would do, in John 21:22, “… If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”  It doesn’t matter what others are doing, our job is to follow Christ. 

Why Change is Necessary

Paul explained that Christians would be miraculously changed when at the resurrection as we saw in the previous post.   This is critical because in I Corinthians 15:50 he tells us, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”    If a piece of fruit is rotten, you throw it away.  You don’t put it in the refrigerator in hopes it will get fresh again unless you can eliminate the rotten part.  Similarly, the natural body is contaminated with sin and that part must be eliminated before it is placed into heaven. 

God will take care of eliminating the parts that are not fit, a Paul explains in I Corinthians 15:51-54.  “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Some Christians will be alive when Christ returns to earth.  The bodies of those who have died have rotted, so when the trumpet sounds, they will get a new body to replace the old one.  And those who have not died will have their bodies changed at the same time.  The new body will not be contaminated with sin and will never die.  Death will no longer be a threat, as I Corinthians 15:55 points out.  “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

Sin inevitably results in death, like the bite of a poisonous snake if left untreated.  The law is like warning signs warning about danger ahead.  Unfortunately, some people view the signs as an effort to control them and deliberately disobey to show no one can tell them what to do.  For such people, the warning becomes an incentive to take chances.  This is the attitude I Corinthians 15:56 refers to.  “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.”

Fortunately, we don’t have to violate the law and face the consequences for disobedience, as I Corinthians 15:57-58 tells us.   “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”  Thanks to Christ’s sacrifice we no longer are subject to the penalty for past sins. and can choose not to incur additional penalties.  Paul encourages us not to go back and repeat past mistakes but to consistently be obedient to God.  While we will not be perfect, we can live show our appreciation of his sacrifice by being obedient. 

Resurrection Changes

When Adam sinned, he opened Pandora’s box, unleashing a great many problems on humanity, including a myriad of physical and mental health problems, a rebellious attitude, and a propensity for evil.  Every human being struggles with those things, from the most devoted Christian to the most rabid atheist, and years of study of medicine, psychology, economics or politics have done little to alleviate the problems.  People still die of even the oldest diseases, they still end up starving or homeless, have mental breakdowns, commit murders and other crimes, and fight wars just as they always have.  The study of history shows repeated efforts by every culture in the world to resolve these problems, all of which ultimately failed as people became complacent, thinking they had eliminated the problems. 

The wonderful promise of Christianity is that we are not doomed to live in this state forever.  Philippians 3:20-21 tells us, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”  This life is kind of like the time a baby spends in the mother’s womb, growing and developing so as to be prepared to live in the outside world.  While he was alive in the womb. The baby’s life really begins at birth.  In the same way, While a Christian lives here on earth, his real life is the life in eternity with God.    In receiving that new life, our present body will be changed, eliminating the problems and struggles we have faced here on earth, just as birth frees the baby from many of the constraints he had in the womb. 

Just as the unborn baby has no real understanding of what life is like after birth, we have no real understanding of what our life will be like after we are changed.  Paul addresses this point in I Corinthians 15:35-49.  “But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?  Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.  There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.  There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

In the womb, the baby is dependent on its mother to eat and breathe for it and to get rid of waste.  When he is born, he has to begin to breathe for himself and eat for himself.  His life becomes dependent on his own actions and he becomes an independent person, able to make decisions for himself instead of being limited to what his mother does.  He begins to copy and act like those around him rather than the infant in the womb.  While the changes began in the womb, birth causes an immediate change, just as the resurrection will cause immediate changes in us.        

Why Do Godly Christians Suffer?

Many Christians today believe that Christ has done everything to save them but are still working desperately to be good witnesses of Christ.  Several years ago, a speaker talked about how much better it is to burn out for Christ than to rust out.  In reality there is no difference between the two. They produce the same amount of heat, the same amount of light, and the same amount of oxides.   Rusting out just takes longer.  As Christians, we are not to be the fuel, but just the reservoir that holds the fuel and enables it to burn, just as a lamp holds the lamp oil and wick so light is produced. 

We need to understand that like our salvation, our witnessing is based on what Christ does in us, rather than our efforts to witness.  II Corinthians 4:6 reminds us, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”   When they see Christ instead of us, they will be drawn to him.   In John 12:32 Jesus declared, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” 

We are not perfect, and are incapable of portraying Christ adequately in our own power.  II Corinthians 4:7-12 tells us, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.  So then death worketh in us, but life in you.”

We continue to struggle with the things of the world so that the emphasis may be on Christ rather than on our own goodness.  While it seems counterintuitive, It is through our struggles that people see God’s power in our lives, whether the struggle is with some temptation, financial difficulties, health problems, or religious persecution.  When we give the impression of living a near perfect life, some people are discouraged, knowing they are not perfect, while others focus on us and try to obtain a similar lifestyle without understanding their need for Christ.  Seeing us struggle may be the very thing that convinces them there is hope in Christ.

Many times those who follow Christ most closely have the most problems in this life, as Paul mentions in I Corinthians 4:9.  “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.”  Their experience of God’s power is what gives them the assurance of God’s faithfulness and enables them to speak with confidence that God will honor faith, knowing their own weakness, as II Corinthians 4:13 tells us.  “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”

It is the awareness that God is not punishing them but is using their suffering to reach others that enables them to go on, even risking their own lives, according to II Corinthians 4:16-18.  “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  The suffering here is just a temporary inconvenience that will lead to eternal blessings. 

Modern Day Sadducees

In Jesus’ day there were two main factions in the Jewish religion.   Acts 23:8 describes the basic differences between them.  “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.”  The Pharisees accepted the scriptures at face value, believing they were a factual account of how the nation came to exist, and were to be followed implicitly.  The Sadducees viewed the scriptures as a mythological tradition that defined their culture.   For them, following the law was just about keeping their traditions alive. 

In II Timothy 3, Paul warned that in the last days, mankind would become increasingly ungodly, with little or no moral standards.  II Timothy 3:5 says many would be like the Sadducees, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof…”  While they maintain their religious traditions, that is all it is to them.  They don’t believe in a resurrection or eternal judgement, or that God’s commands are set in stone.  Public opinion and convenience are considered more important than God’s laws. 

II Timothy 3:5b-7 warns. “… from such turn away.  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  Because they don’t believe in an absolute standard, they are in a constant state of flux, never able to make a firm commitment despite the academic degrees they obtain.  Unfortunately, foolish and ignorant people are often deceived by their degrees and claims of superior knowledge, and many have become famous theologians.    

As Paul points out in I Corinthians 15:12-19, to claim to be a Christian teacher when one doesn’t believe the scriptures are true is deliberate fraud.  “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”  Christianity is based on the truth of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  If those are not true, Christianity is just one big fraud.   An honest man would not claim to be a Christian if he did not believe those things were true.  Only a con artist would deliberately involve himself he doesn’t believe is true. 

Fortunately, as I Corinthians 15:1-8 points out there is plenty of proof of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, giving a solid basis for believing what Christianity teaches, as I Corinthians 15:20-26 describes.  “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.  

And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.  Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?  And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.”

If Christianity is just a myth, then it makes no sense for anyone to claim to be a Christian or to risk their life for taking such a stand.  If Christ was not resurrected, he is just another dead man, like millions of others, and being baptized in his name means no more than being baptized an anybody else’s name.  The various martyrs wasted their time, and Paul wasted his time standing for the Gospel and being forced to fight for his life at Ephesus.  He would have been better off just to enjoy his life as much as he could knowing that as the saying goes, “we only go around once.” 

Fortunately, as Paul says, he knew the death, burial and resurrection were true, and so he was not afraid to stand for the gospel, but as he warns, associating with those who reject the truth may cause us to turn away.  I Corinthians 15:33-34 warns, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”  It is a shame when those who claim to be Christians don’t even know what it means to be a Christian. 

Don’t let Pride Destroy Your Relationship With God

Many of the Jews did not accept Christ as savior because of their pride, As Romans 10:1-4 explains.  “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”    Many people today do not get saved because they are too proud to admit they are sinners.

Unfortunately, even many who get saved still have large amounts of pride and are unwilling to recognize they are just as sinful as any criminal.  The wages of sin is death, whether one is a murderer or just told “a little white lie.”   Jesus had to give his life on the cross to pay for either sin.  While we can never repay him, we can at least show our appreciation for his sacrifice, as Paul describes in Romans 12:1-2.  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” 

By submitting ourselves completely to Christ and allowing him to change our attitudes and ways of thinking, we demonstrate what is acceptable and pleasing to God.  When we think we can serve him with our own abilities, we ignore our own sinful nature and begin to think we are better than others and that they need to be like us.  Romans 12:3 warns, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”  We need to get over our pride and realize that as Jesus said in John 15:5, “…for without me ye can do nothing.”  As Isaiah 64:6 tells us, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;”  Even the things we are proudest of are worthless to God. 

The Apostle Paul started a great many churches, and opened a number of countries to the gospel.  He also wrote most of the New Testament, had also experienced extreme persecution, as described in I Corinthians 11.   In spite of all he had been through, In Philippians 3:12-14, He said, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul had no sense that he was greater than others because of his attainments, or that he could serve God in his own power.  Instead, he focused on following Christ day by day in the belief that by sticking to the basics he would accomplish what God intended.  It doesn’t matter how many special strategies and plays a basketball team knows, if they can’t dribble, pass and shoot the ball, they will not win, and it doesn’t matter how many games they have won in the past.    In the same way if we do not practice the basics, we cannot accomplish God’s purpose, regardless of past successes or failures. 

Because he understood this, in Phillippians 3:15-16, Paul said, “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.”   We need to forget about how good we are or what we have done in the past and focus on doing those basic things we learned from Christ today. 

Just as basketball player who thinks he knows how to win without listening to the coach can cause the team to lose, a Christian who thinks he knows how to accomplish God’s work can interfere with God’s plan.  Philippians 3:17-19 warns, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”  Their focus on earthly things makes them literally God’s enemies, regardless how much they may be held up as Christian leaders.  James 4:4 warns, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”  If people put man’s ideas ahead of God’s word they are helping Satan’s team, even when they purport to be Christians.

Abiding In Christ

Romans 8:1-2 states, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”   Every Christian has received the Spirit of life and forgiveness of sin.  If we learn to walk, to live our daily lives according to that Spirit, we will not be living in sin as Galatians 5:16 tells us.  “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”  The result will be, “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” according to Romans 8:4. 

Unfortunately, today, there are some who believe that as Christians, we no longer have to worry about the consequences of sin in our lives.  They have forgotten what Hebrews 12:6-8 says.  “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”  If we are truly God’s children, we will be corrected and punished as needed when we do wrong.  If a person can sin with impunity, it indicates he is not truly God’s child.  It is important to understand that God’s chastening is intended to keep us from facing the same eternal judgment as the unsaved, according to I Corinthians 11:32.  “But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”  Hebrews 12:11 warns, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

If we wish to avoid that chastening, Galatians 5:25 advises, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit,” so that we are not controlled by our fleshly lusts.  But how can we walk in the Spirit?  In John 15:4-8, Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

A branch on a fruit tree or vine is incapable of producing fruit unless it remains connected to the main tree or branch, and Christians are incapable of walking in the Spirit or producing spiritual fruit unless they remain firmly connected to Christ.   When they wholly submit to him, trusting him to support them and supply every need, then they will be living and walking in the Spirit, and producing as much spiritual fruit s they are capable of doing. 

Insects or parasitic plants may divert or prevent the flow of sap, leaving the branch unhealthy and unable to produce fruit.  It is critical the branch maintains the proper connection and not allow outside influences to interfere.  The same is true for the Christian if he is to fulfil his purpose before God.   

not getting distracted by different kinds of sin or trying to do things in their own power.  When completely dependent on the tree for sustenance, the branch brings forth as much fruit as it is capable of bearing, but when insects or restrictions divert the sap and nutrients the tree supplies, it stops producing fruit, and may die.