Monday, August 18, 2014

Triplets of Salvation: Renew



Periodically all of us have to renew legal documents, whether for employment contracts, passports, or even a driver’s license. In each case, the privilege of working, traveling, or driving has to be re-evaluated and updated to reflect life changes since the previous document. 

These may include new responsibilities, training, or benefits related to the job; aging necessitating a new photo on the passport for accurate identification; or the need for corrective lenses, use of a specially equipped vehicle, or the wish to be an organ donor annotated on the license.

But my favorite sense of “renew” is that offered by MerriamWebster: “to make (something) new, fresh, or strong again; to make (a promise, vow, etc.) again; to begin (something) again especially with more force or enthusiasm.”

That is the spirit in which couples renew their wedding vows, promising once more to spend the remainder of their lives with one another. They vow again to be faithful to one another, loving and supporting one another in sickness, health, and all life circumstances, until death parts them (Matthew 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12), if only temporarily in the case of couples who are born-again Christians (John 3:16; 11:25-26). The renewal is not only a repetition of the original vow, but a desire to recapture the joy, vigor, and excitement of newlyweds, yet tempered by the maturity, wisdom and strength of two lives shared together as one (Ephesians 5:22-31).

The church, or body of believers in Jesus Christ, is His bride (Revelation 21:2; Matthew 9:15; 21:1-10), so why should we not periodically renew our vow to love, follow, and obey Him? Sometimes those who feel they have drifted away from God’s will “rededicate their lives to the Lord” at the altar. But even for those who try to “die daily” to our sin nature (1 Corinthians 15:31) so that we can yield to His Spirit, what better way to start each day than by renewing our commitment to Him?

As we have seen, triplets of salvation in Scripture can be described with the terms redeem, restore, and renew, with the terms used literally as well as symbolically. In the literal sense, “renew” in the Bible means to take something up again, such as the kingdom renewed by Samuel at Gilgal (1 Samuel 11:14), or Asa renewing the Lord’s altar in a land polluted by idols (2 Chronicles 15:8).

In his tirade questioning God, Job says that witnesses are renewed against him, or accusing him again (Job 10:17), but then he remembers his glory days when his bow was renewed in his hand (Job 29:20).

Physical renewal in the sense of regaining the strength of youth (Isaiah 41:1; Lamentations 5:21) can be likened to the lofty flight of an eagle, soaring not in our own power but on the powerful wind of the Holy Spirit. If we wait upon the Lord to renew our strength, we shall mount up with wings as eagles; we shall run and not be weary; and we shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

The Psalmist speaks not only of physical renewal but also of spiritual renewal when he writes (Psalm 103: 2-5) that if we bless God, He will renew our youth like the eagle's, heal all our diseases, and satisfy our mouth with good things. Spiritually, He forgives all our sins; redeems our life from destruction; and crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies.

Paul speaks of spiritual renewal of our inward man, yielded to the Holy Spirit and thus being renewed every day, despite the inevitable effects of aging, disease, and injury to our physical body (2 Corinthians 4:16). We believe, or have faith, because we have read and heard God’s Word and testimonies of believers (v. 13) that God raised Jesus from the dead, that He shall raise believers from the dead, and that He shall present all believers to Himself  (v. 14).

We thank God for His abundant grace, to His glory (v. 15). If we focus on eternal things, our temporary physical suffering will bring forth eternal glory (v. 17-18). By keeping our eyes fixed on those things of eternal significance, we can renew our mind in the spiritual sense, which will transform us, so that we are not conformed to the world (Romans 12:2). In so doing, we can present our bodies to God as a living, holy, and acceptable sacrifice (Romans 12:1).

Being renewed in the spirit of our mind (Psalm 51:10) means putting on the new man, which the Holy Spirit creates within us, resembling Him in righteousness and true holiness. To do this, we must take off or lay aside the old man, which is corrupt because of deceitful lusts (Ephesians 4:21-24; Colossians 3: 9-10).

The new man has his identity in Christ, free of national labels, religious customs, or servitude because he is God’s chosen, holy and beloved (v. 11-12). In this state we should renew ourselves and one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, doing all to the glory of the Lord Jesus, God (Spirit) and the Father (v. 16-17).

Not only does God renew His children who are new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) with new compassions every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), but He will also renew, restore and regenerate the heavens, the earth, and His Kingdom (Matthew 17:11; 19:28; Mark 9:12; Acts 1:6; 3:21; Ephesians 1:10; Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-5).

Praise God that He renews us as we are born again, that He renews His children physically and spiritually, and that we can eagerly await His renewal of the heavens, earth and His kingdom!

Revelation 21:5 …Behold, I make all things new.


© 2014 Laurie Collett
children's ministry blogs

Bible
Top 1000
Womanhood With Purpose
Adorned From Above
No Ordinary Blog Hop
 




10 comments:

Donald Fishgrab said...

Letting God have his way in our lives to renew us is such an important aspect of being a Christian, In many ways it is like allowing a doctor to do needed surgery. Unless we give him permission, he will not do it, leaving us to suffer the consequences of our decision.

Laurie Collett said...

So true, Donald -- He gave us free will, so we must voluntarily surrender to His perfect will before He can accomplish healing or other needed change. God bless,
Laurie

Frank E. Blasi said...

Dear Laurie,
An excellent post on Sanctification, a process in which the believer allows God to work in his life to bring him not only closer to Jesus, but to also adapt to his character.
It is a shame, however, that there are many who thinks that sanctification is the same as probational salvation, as I call it, a means to prove worthy to be saved (which in truth, none of us are worthy).
God bless.

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Frank,
Thanks for the encouraging comment! At the very moment of salvation, we are instantly justified by Christ's righteousness, our sins are forgiven, we become children of God and inherit eternal life. As you say, the rest of our earthly journey is a process of sanctification, during which God allows trials and other interventions to strengthen our faith and to mold us more into His image, Finally, at the Rapture we will be glorified in body, soul and spirit, and be like He is. We are saved once and for all, by grace through faith, not by works. The sanctification process is not to save us or to "complete" our salvation, for Christ did all that is needed. No one deserves salvation, sanctification, or glorification, but praise God for His love, mercy and grace that gives all three to whosoever will come!
God bless,
Laurie

a joyful noise said...

I love your take on "Renew." Thank you for sharing your lovely exciting post with us here at “Tell Me a Story.” At: http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/

elizabeth said...

I love your thorough scripture teachings with lots of Bible references! This is a great post. I'm next to you at Scripture and a Snapshot today.

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Hazel, for your lovely comment & for hosting!

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks so much, Elizabeth, for your encouraging comment! Many blessings to you,
Laurie

Nina said...

Thank you for this through Bible-Study, Laurie! As we Grow in Him, we need to keep on staying close and keeping near to Jesus ... Not letting the daily chores, work or anything else to take us off-focus ... To hear from The Lord and just be in His presence ~ And I'm so grateful that Jesus calls with his gentle voice to come near!
Blessings to your week, Laurie!

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, Nina! May we keep our eyes fixed on Him and listen for His still, small voice! Thank you so much for your kind comment and visit.
May you have a blessed week in Him,
Laurie