The Curse of the Standard Bearers Part 4, 5, 6, and 7

More great insights from the article by Norm Wakefield:

     (God's Guidance) will be through the inerrant Word of God, but He must also guide us in the interpretation and application of it. (How true! So often we think that when we search the Scriptures we can find the answers we need on the different issues. Little realizing that if God isn't the one guiding the interpretation and application we can really err. Think of the Scribes and Pharisees!)

     When the Apostle Paul wrote, "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) he was saying that God has taken not only our worst deeds, but also our best and most righteous deeds out of consideration. The new birth is 100% God's mercy!

     You belong to Jesus because God gave you to Him, not because of a decision you made or standards you keeps. (John 17:6) These gifts of forgiveness through His blood and righteousness through His perfect living are all that sets you apart from the most wicked sinner on the face of the planet and saves you from His wrath.

     Whenever the church worships anything other than the living Christ, it declines ~Pastor Robert Welch

Seeing Christ Saves and Sanctifies

"When we see Jesus for who he really is, we savor him. That is, we delight in him as true and beautiful and satisfying. That is my goal, because two things flow from such an experience of Jesus Christ: He is honored, and we are freed by joy to walk the narrow way of love. Christ is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. And when we are satisfied in him, we are crucified to the world. In this way, seeing and savoring Jesus will multiply the mirrors of his presence in the world. As the apostle Paul said, "We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18 RSV) Beholding is becoming. Seeing Christ saves and sanctifies."

~From Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ By John Piper

Beholding is becoming. Seeing Christ saves and sanctifies. Something I wish I had known a long time ago. "Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Galatians 3:3 For so long I knew Salvation was through Christ alone yet I didn't fully comprehend sanctification was too. I was always trying to live the "christian life" to please God not realizing that I am acceptable to Him right now as I am through Christ. (Eph. 1:6) and that the by looking to Jesus and Him alone will I "become a better christian" because he is the finisher of my faith. (Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith...Heb. 12:2)
May you find rest today in the acceptance God gives through Christ and Christ alone!
~Grace