Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Again we shall begin with this verse; which ends in ‘we should walk in them’. God gives each of us as believers one or more gifts to help us in the works he has prepared for us to do. We can see from the example verses below that walking or doing a good work is pleasing to the Lord.
Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
Colossians 1:10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
1 John 2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Every Christian is intended to represent the Lord Jesus here on this earth. One of God’s purposes for His people is to conform us to the image of His Son.
Rom. 12:1~2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
In the process of conforming us to Him, we are to become holy. We must not only submit to God's commands and principals, but seek to imitate his holiness. See verses related to this in left column.
Sanctification is another word for holiness. Both translated from same word in NT and have same meaning. To be holy or sanctified is to be set apart. Becoming holy should be the desire of every Christian; but how often this not appears to be true in the Church today.
The Bible describes in much detail what we are to do. There are verses such as these.
Rom. 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Ephesians 4: 22~24 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness……
Col. 3: 1~17 put off & put on Holiness is like putting off (away), putting on
Here are it tells us about all the things to put on to be set apart.
Gal 5: 22~26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Here it talks about the fruit of the Spirit that we should become like. Here are just a few verses of many that tell us of Christ-like behaviours and attitudes we should grow in.
Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Personal grace is something we have the responsibility to develop by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Grace works out like this. 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.
Romans 6:14, 15 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
Titus 2:11-14, ESV For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
The word “training” includes teaching, correcting and disciplining. It is a process that begins at salvation and continues until we go home to the Lord. But, note that grace does not mean, “live any way you like and God is ok with that”. Grace trains, disciplines, and instructs us in godly living. Paul mentions in these verses, three ways that grace trains us:
Secondly how to talk, act, show respect and reverence to God and is this easily seen by the world around us. Can they tell that we are different or set apart. The Church today for the large part, no longer has a fear of God. The fear of God is not only a motivation for holiness; is should be a powerful one. The expression ‘the fear of God’ has been so toned down that it means nothing more than respect or reverence.
Even when we come to Church to worship, how often we show up with attire that is immodest, tacky, and downright shameful. To the outsider coming in, they would view us as having no respect or reverence for God. We worship with our lips, but show a total lack of reverence. In some Churches the gospel is there but the teaching of daily living for Chist with practical examples is almost non existent. Do we feel motivated to good works; are we convicted by the messages to live Godly lives. Though God knows our heart and does not care about our outward appearance; we need to consider these things; to help the world know that we really are set apart.
Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
Colossians 1:10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
1 John 2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Every Christian is intended to represent the Lord Jesus here on this earth. One of God’s purposes for His people is to conform us to the image of His Son.
Rom. 12:1~2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
In the process of conforming us to Him, we are to become holy. We must not only submit to God's commands and principals, but seek to imitate his holiness. See verses related to this in left column.
Sanctification is another word for holiness. Both translated from same word in NT and have same meaning. To be holy or sanctified is to be set apart. Becoming holy should be the desire of every Christian; but how often this not appears to be true in the Church today.
The Bible describes in much detail what we are to do. There are verses such as these.
Rom. 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Ephesians 4: 22~24 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness……
Col. 3: 1~17 put off & put on Holiness is like putting off (away), putting on
Here are it tells us about all the things to put on to be set apart.
Gal 5: 22~26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Here it talks about the fruit of the Spirit that we should become like. Here are just a few verses of many that tell us of Christ-like behaviours and attitudes we should grow in.
Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Personal grace is something we have the responsibility to develop by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Grace works out like this. 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.
Romans 6:14, 15 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
Titus 2:11-14, ESV For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
The word “training” includes teaching, correcting and disciplining. It is a process that begins at salvation and continues until we go home to the Lord. But, note that grace does not mean, “live any way you like and God is ok with that”. Grace trains, disciplines, and instructs us in godly living. Paul mentions in these verses, three ways that grace trains us:
Secondly how to talk, act, show respect and reverence to God and is this easily seen by the world around us. Can they tell that we are different or set apart. The Church today for the large part, no longer has a fear of God. The fear of God is not only a motivation for holiness; is should be a powerful one. The expression ‘the fear of God’ has been so toned down that it means nothing more than respect or reverence.
Even when we come to Church to worship, how often we show up with attire that is immodest, tacky, and downright shameful. To the outsider coming in, they would view us as having no respect or reverence for God. We worship with our lips, but show a total lack of reverence. In some Churches the gospel is there but the teaching of daily living for Chist with practical examples is almost non existent. Do we feel motivated to good works; are we convicted by the messages to live Godly lives. Though God knows our heart and does not care about our outward appearance; we need to consider these things; to help the world know that we really are set apart.
Is the Church Set Apart (Part 3)
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2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Rom 14:11~12 For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
The next part continues with ** Is the Church Set Apart (Part 3) Putting it into Practice.
By godsmercyandgrace.com
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