Are Christians Still ‘sinners'?

Over the years I have heard well-meaning Christians describe their battle with temptation  with, “after all I’m still a  sinner, or I still have the ‘Old Man’  living inside of me” I’ve even heard a  pastor say the greatest battle we face as Christians is within us, that sin nature that fights within us to express itself again….

BUT what does the Bible say about ‘the sin nature’?

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” 

Gal. 2:20  -KJV

“Therefore, if any man be in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”  2 Cor. 5:17  -NKJV

What has passed away? Not our physical appearance or personality… BUT the inclination toward sin, the bent toward selfishness and rebellion toward God. Those things have passed away; they have been paid for FULLY with the blood of Jesus Christ.

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  2 Cor. 5:21

We are ‘fully saved’; our entire nature has been changed from sinful to righteous.

But often their reply is; “I’m still a sinner: you mean you have never sinned?” Of course, we all have on occasion ‘sinned’ or violated God’s standards. BUT; have you ever as a Christian told a lie? (you probably have) but do you describe yourself as a liar? Or taken something that doesn’t belong to you?  Do you consider yourself a thief?  Probably not, on occasion you might say something that is not true or take something that is not yours, but your ‘nature’ does not change. You repent and get it right before the Lord. A liar lies by nature and a thief steals by nature- each on a regular basis whenever they think they can get away with it.

A SINNER SINS BY NATURE, A CHRSITIAN SINS BY CHOICE.

The ‘Antidote ‘

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.”

When the Holy Spirit convicts us of a sin, we respond with sorrow and repentance, and He forgives us of that sin and cleanses (removes the guilt, shame and embarrassment of that sin) He cleanses our conscience of that unrighteous act. We are forgiven! Cleansed!

God is calling us to live as cleansed, free, victorious children of God! He has paid in His blood for our ‘sin’ and His blood continues to bring cleansing and full forgiveness as we confess any occasional sin.

Remember, we are all tempted.   1 Jn. 2:16

  BUT there is always a way of escape… if we turn to Jesus

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  1 Cor. 10:13

live victoriously,

Gary

 

 

CHURCH FOUNDATIONS: CRITICAL!

In building any new building, the most critical first step is to secure a firm foundation. Some houses are built on a slab, while many others are built with a basement foundation. With skyscrapers, the taller the structure, the deeper the foundation needs to be. Because of the height of many modern skyscrapers, the foundation needs to go as deep as they can- often having to reach down and anchor into bedrock.

The Church also needs to have a firm foundation. I’ve seen churches that were built on sand (human ingenuity and expediency) and those on the Rock of Jesus Christ.

Matt. 7:24-27 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Fortunately, when Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, He gave the ‘tools’ (people) with which He choose to build His church. These individuals have anointings or ‘Ministry Offices’ commissioned and empowered by our Lord. The Five-Fold Ministry consists of:

Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers.

“When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”  Notice that it says, “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.  Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.  Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.  This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”    

 -NLT   Ephesians 4:8-13

 

At a future post, I’ll describe in detail the functions of these Five-Fold Ministers; but for today, these are men or women called from the throne of Jesus to build His disciples.  Often, they are fully employed in ministry activity and usually are recognized as “ordained’ ministers of the gospel.

THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY ARE CALLED TO STEDWARD THE VISION OF THE CHURCH.

 

Note: In a future post I’ll explain how the Five- Fold Ministry are to work as a Team- in mutual respect and submission to each other and their giftings.  

 

One last thought for today; The Lord Jesus also reveals an order of Ministry gifts in the building of His church.

Note: order does not mean order of importance or greater gifting…. but those whose gifting is needed foundationally or first for others to build upon.

Illustration: in building a house, many contractors are involved- but the mason needs to first lay the foundation, then the carpenters, electricians, plumbers etc. add their skill.

 I Corinthians 12 talks about diversity of gifts in the body and also the importance of all gifts working together (like in a human body) to fully express the life and ministry of Jesus.

 BUT THERE IS AN ORDER OF FUNCTION LISTED IN 1st Corinthians 12:28

 

“And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”

 

Foundations are important; I’m so glad Jesus gave us a blueprint!

Gary

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF A LOCAL CHURCH? 

The Local Church has been identified as having many functions or responsibilities: such as acting as army, or hospital, or teaching center etc. 

My feeling is that the local church first and foremost should be a FAMILY, and then AN EQUIPING CENTER and lastly, A RELEASING/SENDING AGENCY (releasing believers ministry in the community or to other fields of outreach and ministry) 

Of course there are many other functions of a local church, but since our relationship with the Father through Jesus is relational, and the strength of any church is the love and relational bonds formed in mutual love and respect; the FAMILY paradigm I think is the best illustration. 

Ephesians 4:11 instructs the Ministers in the church ( apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) to " equip the saints  (Christians) for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." 

So, here are some of my thoughts of what the local church should teach/equip people in: 

1. How to give a three-minute testimony

2. How to share a gospel salvation message

3. Conflict resolution

4. Scriptures of Biblical (divine) Healing

5. Christ centered family life

6. Teach/Role model community life (doing life together) 

7. Church statement of faith understood (and could explain) 

8. Stewardship of resources

9. Types of Prayer

10. Missions (local and foreign) 

I'm sure you can think of many more areas of instruction, but the local church should not be just a teaching center (Sunday am and Midweek) with a pastor expecting teaching and preaching alone would mature Christians, but we also need personal interactions, shared memories, corporate projects and outreaches to build strong bonds of unity, love and shared vision. 

REVIVAL IS COMING! Let's get equipped and ready for the 'Third great awakening"

serving, 

Gary

 Kingdom Foundations: UNITY

When Jesus' disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray; He gave a template, or model prayer that is found in Matt. 6:9-13. 

"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed by Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen" 

This prayer model petitions heaven for the wisdom of; and the grace to; know the will of God for our lives and appropriate the spiritual will power- and supernatural assistance for us to follow through in bringing it to pass. [and by doing so, bringing much glory to God]

Note: the prayer of unity of Jesus is found in John 17:21 " That they all may be one, as You Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." 

Jesus is still praying that prayer....

When Jesus started His teaching ministry, He went to his hometown of Nazareth and in the synagogue opened up to Issiah 61:1-2.  " The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." 

Unity comes from hearing the Word of God- the truth of God- the Spirit of God- and corporately responding... 

Notice the initial response of those who heard Jesus that day; " so all bore witness to Him and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth." 

BUT THEN    somebody- (maybe in the back of the crowd) shouted, " Is this not Joseph's son?"  [Lu.4:22b) and that word of doubt, caused 'reason' and familiarity to rob them of embracing this great spiritual teaching/anointing from the Lord. Nazareth could have been the base of Jesus ministry, but instead, words of doubt and unbelief caused Jessu to find another town as His base of operations. 

UNITY: Hearing, responding & embracing the spoken or written word of God; without doubt or fear.

" Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" Hebrews 4:7

Let's stand together as the united body of Christ to push back the darkness and see the fullness of the Kingdom of God, now ... in this our generation. 

P:S.  Living the Christian life is living an 'impossible life' (in our own wisdom and strength), but Jesus assures us He will be with us when He gives us an 'impossible assignment' 

P.S.S.   Do you currently have an 'assignment'?

victorious blessing,

Gary

          Manifesting the life of Christ  through us: 

1 John 4:9 " In this was manifest the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him." 

Note: It's not the painters brush that receives applause for a beautiful painting.... but  is thankful for the opportunity to serve in the painters hand....

Galatians 2:20 " I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live n the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." KJV

Note: many translations use the term, "I live by faith in the Son of God..." Although  a truth  is there,  it does not  accurately express God's full intent.

ILLUSTRATION:  Because I have confidence in my doctor, I have faith in his medical judgement. My lawyer has handled my legal affairs well for many years so I have faith in his legal advice for me. I have been a Christian for many years, so and I have faith in God's leading and direction for me.[ true but partial] 

To have faith in is different that to have the faith of. Jesus desire is to live His life through us... not just for us to have faith  (or confidence) in Him.  The goal of our Lord is that we would think, speak and act just as He would...

Note: A glove may be very attractive as it sits on a shelf, but the glove was created to have a hand inserted in it to give it motion and 'life'  You and I are the gloves that the hand of Jesus longs to bring fully to 'life'. 

Have a blessed day! 

Gary

Jesus starts His ministry with Kingdom focus: to establish a subculture of Kingdom minded people;' a culture of faith for miracles.

 After 400 'silent years' between the Old Testament and the New, Jesus one day visits a synagogue and opens Isaiah to chapter 61. The gospel of Luke records," The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind. to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." 

Jesus then closed the book, and astonished everyone- by saying, (v.31) " Today this Scripture is fulfilled in you hearing." 

Jesus received HIs commissioning, anointing and release to start His ministry after being water baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan river. H was driven into the wilderness by the Spirit and exited, after extreme testing, full of the Spirit of God. His first message/declaration as He started His ministry is recorded in Luke 4:17 " From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 

" For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."   Rom. 14:17

By the grace of God, my goal in this blog is to inspire, impart and equip Christians for works of service and ministry. 

Gary