Hi all,
Last
week I shared how a category of sin at its core has to do with the
purposeful and withfull knowledge, rejection of God and all that is His
natural order. The
US Constitution states rights are given by our Creator and government's
job is to defend and define those rights. But some reject
that, believing government gives rights and can define them. Therein
lies the spiritual battle.
On a practical level
The rejection of God produces anger. Revelation 12:12 says Satan, the ultimate rejecter of God, has 'great wrath' he is spreading to the nations, and we are subsequently told in 11:18 'the nations are angry', so from here on out we will see anger being a part of society as we've never seen before.
As
we now see auditorium churches being forced to decide where they fit
socially, disciples will begin more and more gathering among themselves
in homes - the Father had told me earlier in June "The world is about to
change again" but I think we've only seen the tip of the iceberg.
Christians, sin, righteousness
As
we saw last week, there is a class of sin that at its root rejects God
even at the most basic level, His creation, with the result of God
turning a person over to experience the opposite of nature because
that's what they insist on. But
then there are Christians, people who say they are born again and love
God, yet embrace sin and a lifestyle included in this class of sin.
Where do they stand spiritually?
There
are 2 principles; First that we are to judge the fruit of a person's
life, not their heart. And the second is the concept it is possible to
be righteous in most areas of your life and unrighteous in another area.
First
To
the church at Ephesus as seen in Revelation 2:1-4, the Lord commends
them in verses 2-3 and then says in v4: "But I have this one charge to
make against you..." He
says similar things to the other churches, following the pattern of
commending them and then bringing up 1 or 2 things they are lacking.
Many
people think a person is 100% righteous or 100% unrighteous, but
clearly that is not the case as seen above, and there would be no
mention of having our wedding garments without spot or wrinkle on them*.
The wedding garment is clean, but there may be a spot on it. *Ephesians 5:27
In
I Corinthians 3:1-15 Paul says some believers had envy, strife, and
divisions among them, revealing they were acting like mere (un-born
again) people. He said that was wood, hay, and stubble that would be
burned away, yet the rest would remain and they would be saved, just as
having passed through fire. The gold, silver, and precious stones of
spiritual reward would remain untouched by the fire of judgement.
And
if anyone reading this has been a child or knows a child, you know the
'perfect child' still has flaws - yet you don't kick them out of the
family. And if you work or have worked for a living you know there are
employees great in some areas and lacking in others, yet they aren't
fired. And remember the works of the flesh and fruit of the spirit
(fruit of the born again human spirit) of Galatians 5:19-25 is written
to Christians with the exhortation that if we walk in the Spirit we
won't fulfill those lusts of the flesh.
And
we've all been in a place where we love God and are walking with Him as
best we know, yet He is dealing with us about a certain thing in our
heart or life - we are righteous except in this area He is shining His
searchlight on that He wants us to deal with. So
settle it no person enters heaven 100% having arrived - we will stand
before Christ and some things will be burned away, and some will stand -
meaning we live life that way too, ever growing towards Him but not
perfected.
Second
We
are to judge the fruit of a person's life, not their heart. In Jesus'
famous exhortation on false believers in Matthew 7:1-23 He starts in v1
saying we aren't to judge lest we be judged. That is talking about a
person's heart, for in verses 15-20 He talks about judging false
believers by the fruit of their lives. He said grapes aren't gathered
from thorn bushes, so know that false believers will say one thing but
live another way.
He
continues saying to a group of people who called Him 'Lord, Lord', who
claimed to have prophesied and cast out demons in His name, "I never
knew you: Depart from me you who practice lawlessness."
This
isn't about believers when He said "Not all who come to me saying,
'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven" - as He said, 'I never
knew you'. Never means never - these people were never born again, and
in fact He is providing a glimpse at their judgement as He sums up His
teaching on false believers.
What is the solution?
IF
a person is truly a believer, I John 3:2-3 says "Beloved, NOW are we
the sons of God, but it doesn't yet appear what we will be, for when He
appears we know we will be like Him for we will see Him as He is.
Everyone who has this hope in themselves purifies themselves..."
Notice
- he is talking about believers who hold close and dear the fact (#1)
they are a child of God, and they are eagerly looking forward to seeing
Jesus (#2) - so the result is (#3) their life is one of constant
purification.
If
you see believers whose lives are not constant growth while holding the
hope of seeing Him in glory, then you look at the fruit of their lives -
aware it isn't up to us to judge their heart - but judge the lifestyle.
What if....?
What if you hear of a Christian who says they just want to be accepted for who they are and love God with the rest of us?
The
kingdom works by revelation, starting with the foundation of seeing
nature and knowing there is a Creator, and going from there, the highest
revelation is Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, as
revealed to Peter in Matthew 16:16-18. Jesus called Peter a petros, a
small throwable stone, but said upon the rock, the mountain, of
revelation that He is the Christ, He would build His church.
Paul's
prayers of Ephesians 1:17-23, 3:14-19, and Colossians 1:9-12 were all
asking the Father to give them 'the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in
the knowledge of Him, that the eyes of your understanding would be
enlightened...', 'spiritual wisdom', and to be 'strengthened in your
inner man by His Spirit' so they could know the love that is beyond
knowing in the natural - it is all about receiving personal revelation.
The
whole kingdom works by revelation, so for those in sin we ask the
Father give them revelation and that He would draw them close.
Gather with those
who hold the truths of I John 1:1-3 close to their hearts, as they are
also purifying themselves as they look for His glorious appearance.
Separate from those who love the world and don't hold these things close
to their hearts - even if you have to meet at home, with family, or
with just 1 other person on this same spiritual page. Start a family
based, home based church in your home...consider it.
Somewhere
I have a quote from a Roman official from around the 2nd century
writing to another official about the new wave of persecution against
Christians. He said something to the effect of, "It's good to see the
temples full again now that we've started this new effort against
Christians." Are you ready to go underground?
Next week my spiritual dream. Until then, blessings,
John Fenn
www.cwowi.org and email me at cwowi@aol.com
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