Who Is Faithful? March 8, 2009

"Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?" (Proverbs 20:6)

Faithfulness is like a rare and precious gem. It is difficult to find a real such gem, though there are many who will offer their virtues as a substitute.

Moses, however, was one such man. "And Moses verily was faithful in all his house" (Hebrews 3:5). So was Abraham. "So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham" (Galatians 3:9). Moses and Abraham were full of faith in Gods Word; therefore they were faithful to Gods Word. The very word "faithful" means "full of faith."

God is not impressed with those who boast of themselves and their qualifications or who belittle others. "It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory" (Proverbs 25:27). Actions speak louder than words, and it is better to let ones works speak for themselves. "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works" (James 2:18). The rare quality of faithfulness--firm and reliable commitmentto ones convictions and responsibilities, in accordance with Gods Word and Gods leading--is proved in practice rather than proclamation. May God help us to be faithful servants, for "it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2). It is quality, not quantity, of service that God measures. Faithfulness--not fruitfulness--is required.

There is one glorious promise regarding faithfulness--not our faithfulness, but the faithfulness of our Savior. "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). "For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith |literally, 'faithfulness| of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be |found| true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:3-4). HMM

Garments of Salvation March 7, 2009

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10)

One of the beautiful biblical metaphors of salvation is that of clothing appropriate for coming into God's presence. Such clothing is not something we ourselves can make or purchase: it must be prepared and provided by God.

Adam and Eve tried to dress themselves in fig leaves, but that could not avail. Their Creator God first had to slay two innocent animals, and then He made "coats of skins and clothed them" (see Genesis 3:7, 21).

So it is today. If we try to come to God dressed in our works of righteousness, we can never make it, for "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" in the presence of a holy God (Isaiah 64:6). He must provide the clothing. As our text says, "He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness."

In Jesus' parable of the wedding feast for the king's son, there was one man who wanted to participate in the feast, but who tried to come in his own attire, disdaining the wedding garment provided by the king for his guests. When the king asked, "How camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?" he was speechless (Matthew 22:12), and then was bound hand and foot and thrown "into outer darkness" (v. 13).

One day, when "the marriage of the Lamb is come," His bride must be "arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: . . . the righteousness of saints" (Revelation 19:7-8). But this righteousness will be His, "for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (Ephesians 2:10). Therefore, we are exhorted to "put on thy beautiful garments" (Isaiah 52:1), and be prepared to meet our King. HMM

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Kingdom of Priests March 6, 2009

"And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." (Exodus 19:6)

These were the words of God to Israel, even before they received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. As a priest serves as an intermediary between God and men, so this "kingdom of priests" had been called by God to bring God’s Word to man. As a holy nation with such a high calling, its people also should have been holy (that is, consecrated to God) in life and witness. But instead, after almost 2,000 years, God had to lament: "All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people" (Romans 10:21).

A day will come when "all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26), but God has, in the meantime, chosen a new people, in whom "there is neither Jew nor Greek . . . for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). We are now "one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Romans 12:5).

We now have been given the same high privileges long ago given to Israel. We who belong to Christ have been "born again" into the "kingdom of God" (John 3:3), and this is nothing less than a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. The apostle Peter said: "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5).

Not only are we a holy priesthood, we are a royal priesthood, a kingdom of priest-kings. "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (v. 9). We, indeed, have a high calling, and should devote our lives to showing forth His praises, for He "hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; unto him be glory and dominion for ever and ever" (Revelation 1:6). HMM

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The Nature of Our Calling March 5, 2009

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." (2 Timothy 1:9)

Our "calling" (Greek klesis) to follow Christ was not a matter of human decision, and certainly not one based on human works, for it was issued in Christ before He had even created us. In some inscrutable way, we were a part of His eternal purpose, and it was altogether by His grace. We were "chosen . . . before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love" (Ephesians 1:4).

Our calling is therefore a most "holy calling," that is, a sacred calling to be consecrated and separated unto God.

It is, moreover, a "heavenly calling," one originated in heaven, by our heavenly Father, centered in His divine will and purpose. In the Father’s sight, in Christ Jesus, we are nothing less than "holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling" (Hebrews 3:1).

We should therefore be able to say with Paul: "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). The high calling is not quite the same as the holy calling or the heavenly calling, though all are components of one great whole.

The word translated "high" is only so translated this one time. It is the usual word for "up" or "above." Thus the prize toward which we press is the "up calling." It is the same word as in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, where we are promised that one day all who are in Christ Jesus, dead or living, will be "caught up together," thereafter to "ever be with the Lord."

He has called us before the world began, He is calling us daily to a heavenly walk with the Lord, and He will call us up to His eternal presence some day soon. HMM

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Why should we pray?

These last two weeks of August we will look at Why we should pray and how we should pray.

See you Sunday!!!