Jesus and Assurance

This morning I was impressed by Paul's praying for the Thessalonian believer who had been born again through faith in Jesus Christ.  Their response to the Gospel was not an emotive response but reflected marked personal transformation as real as Jesus rising from the dead.  Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5:  "We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, ³ remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, ⁴ knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. ⁵ For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake."

Paul addressed followers of Jesus he called brethren because their changed conduct provided evidence they were indeed elect of God.  This assurance came not through willpower or because of good works but because of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who came upon them in power.  The preaching of the Gospel moved these Gentiles from the worship of idols to serve the Living God and to look expectantly to Jesus Christ (verses 9-10).  Their manner of life was described as a work of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope in the LORD Jesus.  The condition of their hearts was not like the soil in the Parable of the Sower that the seed sprang up quickly and withered under the blazing rays of the sun, nor was it choked by the cares of the world and rendered unfruitful.  The good Word heard by their ears and received into their hearts by faith in Christ was bearing fruit all could witness.

The testimony of a transformed life reveals the power of the Gospel no amount of church attendance, seminars, conferences, books, or checklists can produce.  We can make the mistake of justifying ourselves as acceptable before God because our efforts and what we have done rather than simply trusting in Christ and His promises in the scripture.  Genuine faith will be expressed in living according to God's will, but the works we do are never the basis of our acceptance before God nor proof we are saved:  the proof is in our risen Saviour Jesus Christ!  As a Lamb of God without blemish His life was laid down as a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world, and all who have been called can now come to Him for forgiveness and eternal life.  Knowing we are loved, knowing we are undeserving yet chosen by God spurns us on to desire to humbly please Him.  The praise for a transformed life goes all to Jesus, for by His grace our life is now hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

Freedom and Security

"As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ⁷ rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."

Colossians 2:6-7

Christians have received Jesus Christ by grace through faith, and thus it is by faith we walk in Him.  Freely have we received, so freely we give and live.  No longer are we governed by the Law of Moses written on tablets of stone but by the righteousness of Christ in faith, love, and obedience to God.  Forgiveness and salvation is a free gift we receive through the Gospel, and having been established in the faith by God we are to abide in Christ.  Paul went on to explain the impact of receiving Christ by faith in verse 10:  "...you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."  The Law is the shadow and the Light of the World Jesus Christ has made it obsolete.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:17, "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."  The liberty believers have through Jesus Christ does not foster lawlessness because the Holy Spirit always leads us to do righteously.  Jesus has freed us from the power and penalty of sin.  He has freed us from the bondage to our flesh, the fear of man, and eternal damnation.  Jesus has also freed us for His good purposes:  to make us fit for the kingdom of God as forgiven, righteous children of God by faith, to serve and praise Him, to boldly enter His throne room of grace to find help in time of need.  For people brought up in religion where their standing with God and the church is based upon their good works or personal sacrifice, the idea of freedom can be disconcerting. It reminded me of the following Garfield comic by Jim Davis:

Our perception of God and how we relate to Him can be a cage which confines us like the animals in the pet shop.  Jesus has come and set us free from bondage to rules and regulations of Law, and we shrink back from the freedom He offers because it is without the structure and security we are accustomed to.  Similar to how the animals preferred security over freedom, we can prefer the security of tradition or even ignorance--feeling like a fish out of water.  Now where the analogy falls woefully short is Garfield is a cat and not able to adequately provide for the needs of animals conditioned to be kept indoors.  Jesus sets us free from the bondage of sin and works-based relationship with God to a life of freedom in His grace and says, "I will never leave or forsake you."  The Law resembled a list a homeowner gives a house-sitter to know what his or her responsibilities are when they are away, but when they return the list is overruled by their guidance in person.

It is true in the excuse of "freedom" people have been given over to excess and even used their freedom to justify what God deems sin.  God's grace is not a cloak for our sin but true freedom is possible because God has made us new creations, born again by grace through faith.  The security in this freedom comes from the presence and promises of Jesus Christ Himself who loves us, gave His life for us, and lives!  We are called to serve one another and for all our actions to be governed by love, for love is the fulfillment of the Law.  Love goes beyond the letter of the Law and sacrifices self for the good of others and the glory of God.  Through Christ we are kept secure in His love, free from sin and free to serve.  Jesus said in John 8:36 that if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.  Galatians 3, Colossians 2, and many other places affirm how Jesus has set us free from the ordinances of Law He nailed to the cross and the establishment of the new Way and covenant by which we relate to God.  It is not a list of rules but a real relationship where God transforms us into who He created us to be.

Cleaning Up

Every few months I receive a letter or email that announces an upcoming inspection from the real estate company which manages the property we are renting.  Because of the current quarantine restrictions in NSW they will be conducting them remotely and requested pictures of the exterior and each room.  Usually we have weeks to prepare for an inspection and finish tidying up on the day, but the photos were requested as soon as possible.  We have always found the silver lining in these regular inspections which aid our family to take regular stock in the cleanliness of the place, promotes being tidy and organised, and encourages effort in upkeep of the yard.

Today I learned the difference between tidying up for a physical walkthrough or with photos.  As real estate agents and photographers know, pictures are able to capture and present the most flattering views.  A stack of papers, various dishes or containers, and loose clothing can be moved out of sight rather than being put away.  As I walked through each room and took a picture two things struck me:  I was pleased with the overall appearance and condition of our home, and how different the preparation was for pictures rather than a walkthrough.  During a walkthrough I had no idea where the associate would go or focus on so all needed to be cleaned well.  For pictures, however, I was at the controls and present each room from the best angle.

My mother taught me at a young age the appearance of clean does not mean something has actually been cleaned.  Picking up clothes off the floor and stuffing them into a chest of drawers did not constitute "cleaning" up the room to her satisfaction.  Clothes were to be folded, surfaces wiped, windows cleaned, and dishes washed, dried, and put away.  We naturally put a great deal of emphasis on appearances because that is what we and others can see.  Some people put effort into their physical appearance, and others spend time immaculately landscaping their yards or waxing their cars.  Even the prophet Samuel was impressed by the kingly bearing of men who God refused because He does not see as man sees, for God looks upon the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

How important is it to address what God sees--the issues of our hearts--rather than working to present ourselves as faultless.  Tidying up our appearance by shuffling selfishness into a drawer or hiding our bitterness or lusts from sight of others behind a closet door does nothing to purify our hearts before God.  The light of God's Word and the piercing sharpness of it goes straight to the source of the problem within us.  The Holy Spirit is able to reveal what our flesh hopes to conceal, and God does so because He loves us and can change us.  It is not at a set time but in real time the Spirit of God knows what lies hidden from others in our hearts and minds.  His intent is not for us to try in the flesh to "clean up our act" but to stop acting altogether and begin to live as new creations according to His grace, walking by faith, repenting of sin, holy and governed by His love.

A Father--not Formulas

Human beings are incorrigibly preoccupied with self:  selfish, self-confident, self-conscious, self-righteous, and the list goes on.  The reason why self-help books continue to be perpetually popular is because we recognise we are the weak link, we are not completely content, and if there are benefits or life-hacks out there to improve our lives sign us up!  We are naturally bent to seek out formulas which promise to guarantee beneficial results in things like weight loss, how increase our net worth, superior cleaning products, and also in spiritual matters.  Passages from the Bible can be used like a maths equation, imagining if we plug the right good works or words into a formula God will bow to our will and provide the end result we desire.

Consider this passage in 2 Chronicles 1:7-12:  "On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask! What shall I give you?" ⁸ And Solomon said to God: "You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. ⁹ Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. ¹⁰ Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?" ¹¹ And God said to Solomon: "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honour or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life--but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king--¹² wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honour, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."

God appeared to King Solomon and bid him ask for anything.  By the way, if God offered you anything what would you ask for?  Solomon wisely framed his response in light of who God was, God's promises, and in acknowledgement of his inability to rise to the great task God had called him to as king.  Solomon's request for wisdom was not so much for himself but for God and the good of His people Israel.  God was pleased by Solomon's unselfish request and graciously chose to bestow all the things upon him people naturally desire:  riches, wealth, honour, victory over his foes, and long life.  I remember at one point of my life reading this passage and foolishly making a formula out of it, imagining wisdom was the thing to ask for as the means to receive all those other things I valued more than wisdom to walk in God's ways.  There is nothing wrong with asking for wealth or for a long life in themselves, but if these are our primary desire this can be an indication we do not value the true riches God has already provided by the Gospel.

When it comes to gifts our tendency is to desire and ask for things we can use.  Since we are the LORD's, having been purchased with the blood of Jesus, it is wise for us to follow Solomon's lead to ask for what God's will is for us.  Without wisdom Solomon would never do what was right in God's sight, and therefore Solomon's request was in submission to God.  See, verse 11 shows God knew the motives of Solomon's heart:  he was not asking for His own personal benefit but for God's sake.  Having been loved and chosen by God as His anointed, King Solomon sought to be made divinely fit for the task and God graciously rewarded this humble posture with much Solomon did not ask for.  I am reminded of what Jesus said in Mark 10:29-30:  "So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, ³⁰ who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life."  To call God Father like Jesus and be loved by Him!  To have the presence of God now and the promise of eternal life with Him puts the greatest comforts the world can offer in proper perspective.