Sunday, November 14, 2010

Good to go...

Dusty idea is we have to keep gaining knowledge, seek to save that which is lost  and become more spiritual.

There is a thought process that says just as soon as we have repented, confessed Him before men and contacted the blood of Christ through baptism, we're "good to go". At that exact moment we may be, but being spiritual isn't something we can gain from a static position.

1 Corinthians 3:1 - Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.(ESV)

You mean when you become a Christian you're still worldly, carnal? According to the apostle Paul we've just started the spiritual learning experience. We have the rest of our lives, however short or long that is, to strive to become Christ-like. Since we can't ever be perfect then the striving is the key it seems. If you were baptized and the blood of  Jesus cleansed you and you fell into the "satisfied" category since that point in time, is that striving? If you haven't advanced in working for the Lord since that time, it's time to start to becoming a more mature Christian.

Back to our verse, Paul is addressing people that should have already been on the meat of the word instead of the milk. They were still mere infants and had probably been in the Lord's church for years. Does that describe you?

Ecclesiastes 12:13 - The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (ESV)

Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.(ESV)


If we're to obey God and emulate Christ, we're gonna have to seek to save the lost. About to make my politically minded friends and brethren upset probably. Seeking to save the lost governor's seat in your state doesn't come under this heading. Politics generally causes strife even among brothers and sisters in Christ. Less time on the political trail and more time finding people lost without hope in a dying world, that will accept the word. You know God didn't ask us to be soil analysts, just sow the seed. In the parable of the sower, he sowed everywhere. The sower didn't check the ground first. He just sowed the seed, it was up to the ground to allow the seed to grow. Threw that in for free. 

Monday, November 8, 2010

The Real Peace

Dusty Idea is the real peace that can be obtained in this world is not about this world. It's not a peace of wars and things. It's the peace that Jesus brought and is available to every man now.

Matthew 10:34 - Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. (ESV)

Christ continues on in chapter 10 of Matthew, following Christ isn't about having peace in this world. He says if we follow him, like he requires to be followed, we'll have enemies in our own households. Side note here, if you're loved by "everyone" including children of the devil(Acts 13:10), you're probably not doing something right. Christ says you will be hated for his names sake(John 15:19). If you're not being hated on by someone, you better check yourself out. You've probably compromised with the devil on something, and possibly only you know what it is.


John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (ESV)


The peace that Christ brought isn't a peace like between governments. Christ brought the ability for us to have peace with God. To have our sins forgiven so we can be reconciled back to God. The peace that Christ left us with is peace with God almighty.

John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (ESV)


Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (ESV)

Ephesians 2:13-17 -13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. (ESV)

We see in verse 14 above he is our peace, he is the Prince of Peace. He took the old law out of the way so Jew and Gentile could become one people in Christ and could be reconciled with God. Why did he take the old law out of the way? Simple, because it was in the way of everyone having salvation. 

What was the price of peace? It took the pure lamb of God to be sacrificed on the cross. Hebrews 9:22 says without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. No one can be reconciled or get into a friendly relationship with God without the blood of Jesus. Some people say that the Church isn't important. When you say that you're saying that the blood of Jesus isn't important, because that's what it took to purchase the Church.

Then we have the people of peace, Matthew 5:9, Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. All the children of God are peacemakers. If you are a member of Christ's church and are actively seeking to save that which is lost, you are a peacemaker when you strive to help other people have peace with God.