Triplets of Spirit: Know, Seek, Find

 

Art by The Catholic Guy 2012

In God we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17: 28). We depend on Him completely for our very existence, whether we are unsaved (natural man), saved and yielded to the Holy Spirit (spiritual man), or saved but serving our own fleshly desires (carnal man; Romans 8:5-14; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 3:1).

These planes of being determine our eternal destiny: hell for the unsaved or natural man; Heaven with rewards for the spiritual man; and Heaven but with loss of rewards for the carnal man. But praise God, He does not want any to perish (2 Peter 3:9). He designed us in His image (Genesis 1:26) to want to know Him, to look for Him, and to find Him (Acts 17: 27).

That is why life before we were in Christ felt so empty, and why we continually looked for comfort in false religions (Jeremiah 7:9), humanistic philosophies (Colossians 2:8), and modern-day idols (Leviticus 26:1; 2 Kings 17:12; 1 Chronicles 16:26; etc.) such as money (1 Timothy 6:10), power, and substance abuse (Proverbs 20:1). But God made us, and we cannot ourselves make gods of gold, silver, or stone and expect them to have any power (Acts 17: 29; Habakkuk 2:19).

The day is coming when God will judge all those who misplaced their faith in false idols, rejecting His Son Whom God ordained and of Whom He gave proof to all men by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17: 31).

Before we were saved by placing our faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6), we were children of the devil. Our spirit reflected the nature of Satan, who then was our spiritual father (John 8:44). But once we were saved, we were born again (John 3:3-8) as children of God (1 John 3:1), our spirit progressively shaped into His image during our earthly journey (Romans 12:2).

While we were still lost, we were dead in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:22), but when we are born again, He “quickens” us, or makes us alive (John 5:21; 6:63; Romans 4:17; 8:11), to walk in the Spirit (Romans 8:1,4; Galatians 5:16,25), as a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15), in newness of life (Romans 6:4).

When we are born again, He elevates us to a new plane of being. We are then born not of blood (for it is a spiritual and not a physical rebirth), nor of the will of the flesh or of man (for we are no longer motivated solely by our own desires), but of God (John 1:13). He gave us physical life; He gave us Spirit-filled life as we were born again; and He will make us perfectly into His image in our glorified bodies that we receive at the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:38-54).

Jesus said that we are to live or abide in Him, like the branches live on the vine, so that we can bear fruit and receive His blessings through prayer. If we abide in His love, we will love one another, and our joy in Him will be full (John 15:5-17).

God created each of us as a unique life (1 Peter 4:19), which we should offer back to Him as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). He sustains us with what we need to survive, grow and thrive through our earthly life (Psalm 55:22; 3:5), and He redeemed us from our sins to reconcile us to His Holy Self (Job 19:25; Psalm 19:14; Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

We should now move for His glory, not our own, as we go, baptize, and teach all nations (Matthew 28:19). We should now use our mouths not for idle words (Matthew 12:36), but to praise (Psalm 150:6; etc.), thank (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:20), and pray to Him (1 Thessalonians 5:17). 

Our thoughts, words and deeds should encourage (Romans 12:15), exhort (Hebrews 3:13), and edify fellow believers (Romans 14:19; 15:2), for we have become His witnesses (Acts 1:8), colaborers (1 Corinthians 3:9), and ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20).

As we move in Him, He empowers us as soldiers (2 Timothy 2:3-4) to fight the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12); as athletes (1 Corinthians 9:24-25) to run with patience the race that He set before us (Hebrews 12:1); and as victors through Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57) to finish the course (2 Timothy 4:7). Whatever we do should be in the name of our Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him (Colossians 3:17).

When we have our being in Him, our personhood is in His image. Our identity is now as God’s child (1 John 3:1), friend to Jesus (John 15:14), and Christ’s bride as a member of His church (Ephesians 5:23-32). In this status we have forgiveness of sins (justification; Romans 5:18), abundant life (sanctification; John 10:10; 1 Corinthians 1:30), and eternal life (glorification; John 3:16; Romans 8:17, 30).

As joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), we share in His inheritance, we receive a new name (Revelation 2:17), and He is preparing a mansion (John 14:2) for each of us! We even have a new address: in heavenly places with Christ during this life (Ephesians 1:3), present with the Lord in Heaven after physical death (2 Corinthians 5:8), and in the New Jerusalem throughout eternity (Revelation 21:2).

Praise God that in Him we live, move, and have our being! May we embrace new life as we are born again, be Spirit-moved as He guides our actions, and rest in our new identity in Him!

© 2015 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives

What If?

 

This morning, as my husband and I were reading our daily devotionals, he posed the interesting question, “What if, once Adam and Eve had sinned, they confessed their sin to God and asked for His forgiveness? Would that have eliminated the curse of sin and death?

As we know from Scripture, Adam and Eve’s first reaction was not to repent, ask for forgiveness, and seek restoration of their fellowship with God, even though they had known the blissful existence of perfect peace and joy, intimate fellowship with God in the garden, and every blessing one could ever imagine, all lovingly provided by God’s grace (Genesis 1-2).

Quite the contrary. Once they had eaten the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6), lost their innocence, and realized they were naked, they tried to hide from God’s presence and to cover up their sin by sewing aprons of fig leaves (Genesis 3:7). (If you’ve ever seen a dry fig leaf, which crumbles if you even look at it askance, you’ll know how futile that was!)

Once God confronted them (Genesis 3:8-11), things went from bad to worse. Rather than admitting their disobedience and begging God for His forgiveness, they played the blame game. Adam, whom God had designated as the spiritual head of his household (Genesis 2:18-25), should have taken responsibility for his wife’s transgression, and certainly should not have followed her in her rebellion. Instead, Adam blamed Eve for tasting the forbidden fruit, and even worse, he indirectly blamed God, as the One Who had given Eve to him as his wife (Genesis 3:12).

Not to be outmaneuvered, Eve blamed the serpent for having deceived her (Genesis 3:13), rather than owning up to her weakness as she yielded to the temptation of lust of the eyes (the tree was pleasant to look at), lust of the flesh (the fruit would surely taste good), and pride of life (the devil’s lie that eating the fruit would make them wise so that they would become gods themselves; Genesis 3:6; 1 John 2:16).

As far as we know in Scripture, Adam and Eve did not repent of their sin before God pronounced judgment. Eve and her successors would now experience great pain in childbirth and submission to their husbands (Genesis 3:16), while Adam and his offspring would have to labor intensely to provide their food from the sin-cursed ground (Genesis 3:17-19).

And yet, we later see some evidence that the hearts of Adam and Eve turned back to God, for Eve believed in God’s promise that her seed would one day defeat the devil (Genesis 3:15; 4:1,25). Once God had expelled Adam and Eve from the garden (Genesis 3:22-24), they must have taught their children what God had told them about the need for animal sacrifice to please Him. Abel brought such an offering to God, even though his brother Cain rebelled and pridefully offered crops he had worked hard to grow (Genesis 4:2-16).

So what if Adam and Eve had immediately repented of their sin and begged God for mercy? Would that have reversed all the dire consequences: expulsion from the garden, physical death and sin nature as the new destiny for all mankind, pain in childbirth, and sorrow in eking out a living?

We know that God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse from unrighteousness, if we confess them (1 John 1:9). There is no sin so heinous that it cannot be forgiven, thanks to Jesus Christ paying our sin debt in full (Hebrews 10:10-14). Whosoever, whether Mother Theresa or Adolf Hitler, trusts in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6) will be saved to eternal life (John 3:16).

And yet we cannot escape the consequences of our sin. God gave us free will to choose to accept or reject His Son, and to obey or disobey His commandments. Either way, there are consequences – blessings or curses.

Imagine a saved man who flies into a jealous rage upon discovering his wife in another man’s bed. Without thinking, he picks up a heavy vase and bashes in her skull. Immediately he is filled with grief and genuine remorse, realizes how wrong his actions were, and pleads with God to forgive him and accept him back into fellowship with Him.

Surely God will forgive him. He will not lose his salvation, and God will restore their broken fellowship (John 10:29; Romans 8:35-39). Yet the consequences of his sin remain. His wife will not be resurrected from the dead, nor will he escape legal punishment for murder.

Sometimes the consequences of our sin are delayed, yet they relentlessly pursue us until they are fulfilled. Consider a long-time alcoholic who gets saved; realizes that he has been sinning by abusing his body, which is now God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17); and asks God to forgive him. From that day on he remains sober and glorifies God through his testimony and witness to others who struggle with addiction.

Yet one day, as he gazes into the mirror, he notices a sallow tint to his complexion. Tests and doctor’s visits soon reveal that he is dying from alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. Could he rightfully blame God for allowing this consequence of his former sin to finally catch up with him? I believe not, for God is holy and just, and there are inevitable consequences of breaking His laws.

Back to Adam and Eve. Had they asked God for forgiveness and sincerely repented, seeking His face instead of running away and blaming others, I believe He would have forgiven them and immediately restored their close relationship with Him and with one another. Yet He still would have had to address their disobedience by judging their sin. He had warned them not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for if they ate it, they would surely die (Genesis 2:17).

God cannot lie (Titus 1:2), and even if Adam and Eve had immediately confessed, the punishment of physical death could not be taken off the table. God in His infinite knowledge and wisdom (Psalm 139:1-6) knew from before the beginning of time that man would disobey Him, and He had the perfect plan to restore mankind by sending His Son to pay for our sins, so that all who trust Him would have eternal life (John 3:16).

Even if Adam and Eve repented, death still would have entered the garden and the world, starting with the animal God slew to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness (Genesis 3:21). Yet God showed the first instance of His repeated cycle of judgment and mercy. He softened the blow of physical death, pain and sorrow by expelling them from the garden before they could eat of the tree of life (Genesis 3:22-24). Had they done so, they would have been doomed to live forever in a sin-corrupted world in sin-corrupted bodies.

The second such recorded cycle was when Cain took out his anger at God not accepting his offering by killing Abel, his brother. God judged Cain for his sin of fratricide by removing his farming prowess and making him a fugitive and vagabond. Yet in His mercy, God marked Cain to warn others not to slay him (Genesis 4:2-16).

I believe Adam and Eve were saved despite their transgression, for they knew and trusted God before the fall, and their words and actions after the fall showed their faith in His plan. So, like the rest of us who are saved, they would have to cope with sin’s consequences, but once their earthly life ended, they enjoyed eternal life in Heaven.

Praise God that in His mercy, He not only forgives our sins and restores our fellowship with Him, but He gives eternal, abundant life to all who trust Him!

© 2023 Laurie Collett

Hope for Our Nation

Photo by Mike LoCascio 2011

As the United States celebrates Independence Day, we seem to be in an unprecedented time of turmoil, uncertainty, division, and civil unrest. Every issue and threat to our nation seems to be highly politicized, to the point that political ideology seems to overwhelm common sense. 

 

More than ever, our nation needs God's mercy, grace, love and protection.Only in Him, Who works all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28), can we have hope for our nation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord (Psalm 33:12).

 

It is fitting for Christians to consider what the Bible says about those in authority over us. No matter how our personal feelings or our political leanings affect our thoughts about those in office, Scripture tells us to pray for those who rule over us (1 Timothy 2:2). 

 

This is appropriate, for there is no power that be whom God has not appointed to accomplish His specific purposes (Romans 13:1). We may not understand His choices, for His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). Yet we are not to resist the powers over us, for they are of God, and rebellion would be against God Himself, leading to not only earthly consequences but to His judgment on us (Romans 13:2-7). 

 

When David fled for his life from King Saul, who in a jealous rage wanted him dead for being more popular with the people as a warrior leader than Saul was, David finally had the opportunity to take the life of Saul as he slept. But he could not even lay a hand on him, for he realized that Saul at that time was the Lord’s anointed, and that his own hour to rule awaited God’s perfect timing (1 Samuel 24:4-13). 

 

The apostle Paul established an authority structure revealed to him by Christ Himself. All of us, whether male or female, Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free men, are equal in God’s sight and one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). God extends to whosoever shall call upon the Name of Jesus Christ the freely given gift of salvation (Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13). Regardless of our past, social status, nationality, or family history, all can be saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6). 

 

Yet we are all subject to the curse of sin (Romans 3:23), so God has ordained a power structure on earth to prevent chaos in our society and relationships. If we are to love others as God loves us (John 13:34-35), we must put their needs above our own, even if we are in a position of relative authority (Mark 9:35). 

 

In marriage, wives are to submit to their husbands, and yet husbands are to love their wives self-sacrificingly, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it (Ephesians 5:21-33). Children are to submit to their parents, and yet parents should not provoke them to anger (Ephesians 6:1-4) and should give them good gifts (Matthew 7:11). 

 

Employees are to submit to their employers, working as if working for God directly and not for an imperfect human, who like all humans can make mistakes. Yet the employer is to consider the needs of those under his authority, for God has placed him in a position of responsibility to be a good steward (Ephesians 6:5-9). 

 

Even within the church there is an authority structure. Christ Himself is the Head of the church (Colossians 1:18), or the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1-4), and under Him is the pastor or bishop (Titus 1:7-9), who is the undershepherd. The elders or deacons report to the pastor, as do the teachers, worship and music directors, and other church leaders, and the congregation submits to all of their leadership. Yet the pastor, elders and leaders must also consider the needs of the flock over their own preferences (1 Timothy 3:1-13). 

 

To whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48), particularly in government where those elected or appointed to power should serve the good of their people ahead of their own ambition. The kings of Israel are an excellent example of how good rulers do this, whereas bad rulers fail to do so. The greatest rulers do not lord their power over their subjects, but serve and minister to them, following Christ’s example (Matthew 20:25-28). As He walked the earth, Jesus Himself submitted to the authority of God the Father (Matthew 21:23-27). 

 

Sometimes God may allow bad rulers into power as a form of judgment, allowing nations to get the tyrants they deserve. When the righteous rule, their subjects rejoice, but when the wicked rule, their subjects mourn (Proverbs 29:2). 

 

Yet regardless of the relative attributes or shortcomings of our earthly rulers, Christians should follow the law of the land, including paying taxes (Romans 13:7). Jesus Christ Himself instructed Peter to pay taxes on behalf of Himself and the apostles (Matthew 17:24-27; 22:17-22). He Himself said that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).

 

Thankfully, the laws of the United States, and those of many other nations, are based on Biblical law, or the Ten Commandments and other laws given by God to Moses to govern God’s people (Exodus 20:1-17). Christians should therefore submit to their earthly rulers and the laws they establish, while realizing that we ultimately serve the highest authority, and it is to Him that we pledge our highest allegiance (Matthew 6:33; Colossians 1:18). 

 

For the most part, if we do good as God defines it, we will be keeping the law of the land, which is established to prevent and punish evil (Romans 13:3-5).  If and when we cannot keep the laws of the land and of God at the same time, God’s law must be our guiding principle (Acts 5:29). 

 

To avoid this conflict, Christians should be diligent not only to pray for salvation, wisdom and guidance for those in authority, but also to humble ourselves and pray for our nation. If we who are God’s people humble ourselves and confess our sins, individually and as a nation, He will hear us and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). 

 

As we celebrate Independence Day, may we remember to pray for those in authority over us, for healing and forgiveness in our land, and for Holy Spirit guidance to first honor and obey our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! 

 

© 2018 Laurie Collett

Edited and reposted from the archives 

The Highest Authority

Photo by Scgibler 2017

As we celebrate President’s Day, it is fitting for Christians to consider what the Bible says about those in authority over us. No matter how our personal feelings or our political leanings affect our thoughts about those in office, Scripture tells us to pray for those who rule over us (1 Timothy 2:2).

This is appropriate, for there is no power that be whom God has not appointed to accomplish His specific purposes (Romans 13:1). We may not understand His choices, for His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). Yet we are not to resist the powers over us, for they are of God, and rebellion would be against God Himself, leading to not only earthly consequences but to His judgment on us (Romans 13:2).

When David fled for his life from King Saul, who in a jealous rage wanted him dead for being more popular with the people as a warrior leader than Saul was, David finally had the opportunity to take the life of Saul as he slept. But he could not even lay a hand on him, for he realized that Saul at that time was the Lord’s anointed, and that his own hour to rule awaited God’s perfect timing (1 Samuel 24:4-13).

The apostle Paul established an authority structure revealed to him by Christ Himself. All of us, whether male or female, Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free men, are equal in God’s sight and one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). God extends to whosoever shall call upon the Name of Jesus Christ the freely given gift of salvation (Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13).

Regardless of our past, social status, nationality, or family history, all can be saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6). Yet we are all subject to the curse of sin (Romans 3:23), so God has ordained a power structure on earth to prevent chaos in our society and relationships. If we are to love others as God loves us (John 13:34-35), we must put their needs above our own, even if we are in a position of relative authority (Mark 9:35).

In marriage, wives are to submit to their husbands, and yet husbands are to love their wives self-sacrificingly, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it (Ephesians 5:21-33). Children are to submit to their parents, and yet parents should not provoke them to anger (Ephesians 6:1-4) and should give them good gifts (Matthew 7:11).

Employees are to submit to their employers, working as if working for God directly and not for an imperfect human, who like all humans can make mistakes. Yet the employer is to consider the needs of those under his authority, for God has placed him in a position of responsibility to be a good steward (Ephesians 6:5-9).

Even within the church there is an authority structure. Christ Himself is the Head of the church (Colossians 1:18), or the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1-4), and under Him is the pastor or bishop (Titus 1:7-9), who is the undershepherd. The elders or deacons report to the pastor, as do the teachers, worship and music directors, and other church leaders, and the congregation submits to all of their leadership. Yet the pastor, elders and leaders must also consider the needs of the flock over their own preferences (1 Timothy 3:1-13).

To whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48), particularly in government where those elected or appointed to power should serve the good of their people ahead of their own ambition. The kings of Israel are an excellent example of how good rulers do this, whereas bad rulers fail to do so. The greatest rulers do not lord their power over their subjects, but serve and minister to them, following Christ’s example (Matthew 20:25-28). As He walked the earth, Jesus Himself submitted to the authority of God the Father (Matthew 21:23-27).

Sometimes God may allow bad rulers into power as a form of judgment, allowing nations to get the tyrants they deserve. When the righteous rule, their subjects rejoice, but when the wicked rule, their subjects mourn (Proverbs 29:2).

Yet regardless of the relative attributes or shortcomings of their earthly rulers, Christians should follow the law of the land, including paying taxes (Romans 13:7). Jesus Christ Himself instructed Peter to pay taxes on behalf of Himself and the apostles (Matthew 17:24-27; 22:17-22). He Himself said that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).

Thankfully, the laws of the United States, and those of many other nations, are based on Biblical law, or the Ten Commandments and other laws given by God to Moses to govern God’s people (Exodus 20:1-17). Christians should therefore submit to their earthly rulers and the laws they establish, while realizing that we ultimately serve the highest authority, and it is to Him that we pledge our highest allegiance (Matthew 6:33; Colossians 1:18).

For the most part, if we do good as God defines it, we will be keeping the law of the land, which is established to prevent and punish evil (Romans 13:3-5).  If and when we cannot keep the laws of the land and of God at the same time, God’s law must be our guiding principle (Acts 5:29).

To avoid this conflict, Christians should be diligent not only to pray for salvation, wisdom and guidance for those in authority, but also to humble ourselves and pray for our nation. If we who are God’s people humble ourselves and confess our sins, individually and as a nation, He will hear us and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

As we celebrate President’s Day, may we remember to pray for those in authority over us, for healing and forgiveness in our land, and for Holy Spirit guidance to first honor and obey our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! 

© 2018 Laurie Collett