Our Inheritance

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:9-14

Many of our homes are filled with precious treasures that were passed down to us from previous generations. Because we have families, we share their legacy in the values and the wisdom they have tried to teach us and even in the material goods they have left behind. The same concept of a rich spiritual inheritance is repeated throughout Scripture. The singular, wonderful through expressed is this: All that belongs to Jesus Christ belongs to His saints.

As in most earthly inheritances, two stipulations apply: A death must take place, and we must be family members. Our spiritual inheritance was initiated and made possible by the sacrificial, substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. “...He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place...” that “...those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance”
(Heb. 9:15).
                           
That inheritance can be enjoyed only by God’s children who have placed their faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection and thereby have become saints. The believer’s inheritance includes the forgiveness of his sins, the presence of God in this world, and the riches of eternal life in the age to come. Can any earthly inheritance compare?   

“To obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away...” 1 Peter 1:4

The Word of Truth, Part 2

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4

Each age has no end of philosophies, reasonings, and belief systems that are presented as truth. For truth to be substantiated it must meet three unyielding criteria.

Truth must be universal in that it must apply to everyone: African, European, American, and Asian. There can be no cultural distinctions if it is unalterable truth.

It must be uniform in that it must apply to everyone in the same manner. The criteria for applying ultimate truth cannot be differentiated to any degree. It must work equally as well for children as with adults - for the well-educated and the unschooled.

Truth must be unending in that it must be eternally valid. What was true for the fifth-century man must also be truth for the twentieth-century man.

Using those guidelines, there is only one body of truth that can suffice - the Word of Truth, the Bible. It applies to everyone - in the same manner - for every age. Whether one is a conquistador or a computer operator, rich or poor, black or white - the Bible is the truth upon which everyone can build a lasting life. It is the wisdom for salvation, liberated living, and eternal security. Are you building your life on the unalterable, all-sufficient truth of the Bible - or are you following the vain reasonings of man?

“...God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 2:25

The Word of Truth

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” John 17:14-17

There are three questions that everyone must eventually answer:
1. Where did we come from?
2. Why are we here?
3. Where are we going?
                               
Philosophers, sages, and prophets have sought to provide solutions - all usually with unsatisfactory conclusions. The Bible, however, claims to have the only adequate response to each of these questions because it provides God’s omniscient perspective in contrast to the futile reasoning of man who is limited by time, education, observation, culture, and prejudice.

First, we come from God. He created us in His own image. We were placed on earth by God and for God. We are not the product of impersonal time or chance. Our origins are rooted in the eternal mind of God.

Second, we are here on earth to know and glorify God in our relationships and through our works.

Third, we shall return to God - for judgement if we have ignored or rejected His terms for knowing Him (reconciliation through the cross) or for everlasting joy if we have embraced His purposes and presence through the person of Jesus Christ.

All of these answers are revealed in the Word of Truth - the Bible - which alone can answer the perplexing problems than confront each generation.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life...” John 14:6

Where Your Security Lies

“The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
but the Lord weighs the motives.
Commit your works to the Lord
and your plans will be established.
The Lord has made everything for its own purpose,
even the wicked for the day of evil.” Proverbs 16:1-4

The older we grow, the more security-conscious we become. The prospects of putting kids through college and providing for retirement, savings, and investments take on disproportionate significance. In reality, however, our sense of well-bing is never assured. Economic collapse, sickness, political or environmental fluctuations, or any number of unknown factors could seriously jeopardize our best-laid plans. That is possible at any stage of life. That is the disquieting point of Proverbs 27:1: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

Our only genuine security lies in our relationship with Jesus Christ. That is universally applicable because God is sovereign which simple means that God is in control. He “guides and governs all events; circumstances, and free acts of angels and men and directs everything to its appointed goal for His own glory” (J.I. Packer, The New Bible Dictionary).
               
Your security lies in His power to work everything for your good and His glory. That is also eternally relevant because God is immutable. That means God is always the same and operates on unchanging principles.

“For I, the Lord, do not change...” Malachi 3:6

The New You, Part 3

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:12-17

How do we know what this new identity is? Paul gives a partial listing as he describes the qualitites of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, peace, and love. There are more characteristics, of course; but think of them this way. Each virtue is a part of our new wardrobe of righteousness.

Through the grace of God, each of these moral and spiritual garments has been hung in the innermost closet of our being. They are gifts from God - distributed equally to all men. However, like dressing for each day, it is our decision whether or not we will wear this heavenly attire. That is why Paul tells us to “... put on a heart of compassion...” (Col. 3:12). These spiritual garments are useless unless we wear them. How do we do that?

First, know they are already yours. You are “complete in Christ.” Everything you need as a person is yours to wear as a believer. You cannot purchase them with self-discipline or noble intent. You are “in Christ.” Therefore, they are yours.

Second, they become yours by simple faith. Just say, “God, I thank You today that You have given me the patience I need. I put on the patience of Christ.”

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

The New You, Part 2

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-22       

“So also it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living soul.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” 1 Corinthians 15:45

Trying to live a victorious Christian life while fighting ourselves is a losing proposition. But experiencing Christ’s triumph on a consistent basis against the power of sin makes the abundant life feasible.

The Bible speaks of it this way. Before we were saved, we were “in Adam.” That means we were totally apart from Christ, separated from His life, dead to His presence. We were enemies of the cross.

Once saved, by a supernatural act of God, we were placed “in Christ.” That means we are now entirely pleasing to the Heavenly Father. There is no part of our being that He does not lavish with His love. We are totally accepted in the Beloved because our old sin nature (what we were before Christ) has been crucified with Christ.

Even more the triumph of Christ over sin is now available to each of His children. Since we are in Him, all of His divine resources - His Word, His Spirit, His power - are ours to conquer the power of sin that indwells us but is no longer our master or our identity.

For the Christian, it is Christ and us against the power of sin, not Christ and me against me and sin. Our victory over dominating habits, treacherous passions, and emotional strongholds is entirely possible - for Christ is in us and for us.

“...Who will set me free...? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ...” Romans 7:24-25

The New You!

“But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.” Colossians 3:8-11

In the 1860s our nation was embroiled in a bitter civil war - one part of our country pitted against the other. In this century America also has fought in wars with and against other nations. As a believer, you participate in a spiritual battle with consequences that are just as deadly. Understanding the nature of the conflict, however, can greatly alter the outcome. Here’s why. When you received Christ as Savior, you not only received a new spirit, but you also became a distinctly new person. Your old identity apart from Christ has done away with.
                       
How does that affect your walk with Christ? Tremendously. As a new creature in Christ, you are no longer at war with yourself. It is not a civil war - the old John Doe versus the new John Doe. If that were the case, you would always be at odds with yourself, and that can be frustrating at best. Such tension often leads to a mediocre Christian experience - winning some and losing a lot.

The truth that sets you free is this: The battle you face is partisan - the new you against the principle and power of sin that still indwells you. This is a winnable war.

“So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.” Romans 7:17