God Approved Christian 1
It is possible for men to approve you as a "strong Christian". They see you carry your Bible, preach, pray or even work miracles. But, as God's ways are not our ways, heaven may not approve you a child of God.
Our approval as Christians is not in the hands of men, thankfully, but in the hand of God. Since the Church never originated from man, God alone Who own the Church and gave so much to ransom and redeem her, knows the worth of the Church to Him, and He alone has His expectation for her. He is the Supreme Judge; He knows those that are on track and those that are not. The bible says He knows those that are His.
Only the final consumer of a product can set his standard or approval. For example when you go shopping you know what you want. No form of advertising or marketing would make you buy something lesser in standard or quality; either as a substitute or alternative, especially when the product is available and you have the money, the purchasing power to demand or buy it. You alone know the worth of the product to you. In the case of a scarcity, you may be willing to pay double the price, just to have the product. You know your expectation and what you derive from the product, which to another person, may not be worth the value you placed on it.
Another example. Only the owner of a building can truly confirm the quality of the builder and recommend him to another. He alone can tell if he made good use of the resource provided. He alone can say “well done" to the builder. Much the same way, only Christ, the owner of His Church can say "well done, good and faithful servant."
“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” - Matt 25:23 (KJV)
God is the only approver of His children "knowing those that are His". We are His house, and He alone can approve or disapprove our standard.
Every approval meets a certain standard. He has His standard.
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” - John 4:23-24 (KJV)
God's standard is spirit-life. Anything done as a Christian outside spirit-life is not approved of God. He opened up the new way; the way of the spirit for man to follow. All through the prophets, God spoke about the "new thing", which sprang out with the coming of Jesus. With that, the "Old Way", the Covenant of works, was shut. The New Way is the Way of the spirit; and that is God's standard of approval.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” - Romans 8:1 (KJV)
The one who walks by the flesh; natural tendencies of what we can see, feel, touch, taste, smell, is condemned because he does not meet the standard of God. The one who by the spirit, having not seen, felt, touched, tasted, smelled, yet continues in faith with the Lord, meets His approval and therefore not condemned but justified. Jesus said to Thomas that those who believe even when their natural senses do not understand or comprehend, are blessed.
“Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” - John 20:27-29 (KJV)
Before this time Thomas operated in the flesh.
“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Your Sermons.
No content on preachology.com may be printed or
copied to any other site without permission.
The Preaching Ezine Subscribe to my free newsletter for monthly sermons and get a free book right now. Just follow the link above and get the details! |
Ministry Leads Anybody else want more leads and prospects for your Church, Ministry, or School, as well as, a means to follow up and communicate automatically? |
YOUR PAGES: by sharing YOUR great sermons! by sharing YOUR great poems! |