THE SALVATION AND EDIFICATION OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS
One of the most anxiety-relieving experiences that one can have here on Earth is to come to know (not just hope) that he/she is Heaven-bound when his/her appointed time of Earthly departure comes.
But as we will see, the same Gospel Message that assures BELIEVERS of a home in Heaven (John 3: 16), assures UNBELIEVERS of a place in the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20: 15). This raises serious concerns that born again believers will have for anyone who has not been born again.
Naturally, this concern is greatest when it involves the salvation and/or the spiritual edification of our family and friends.
The type of freedom and the resulting type of confidence spoken of in John 8: 32 comes from having understood the Romans 8: 1 eternal significance of having been being born again (John 3: 7).
Comprehending the John 8: 32 "truth" is what sets us free from the doubts that fear, human viewpoint, ignorance, and the otherwise perceived need to embrace Man-made traditions that religion creates and that the Ephesians 6: 12 forces of evil promote.
Q. Why, one might ask, would the devil and the Ephesians 6:12 forces of evil want to promote religion? Isn't that what God wants?
A. The devil promotes errant religious teachings and practices because they can leave its participants with the feeling that all is well, when in truth nothing of significance (John 15: 5) has taken place in the spiritual realm. While being promoted as necessities, the religious traditions of men can amount to meaningless worship (Matt. 15: 9). It was true of the very religious Pharisees in the ancient world, and it is true of many religious people of our day and age.
Well-intending, sincere, but spiritually blind teachers unwittingly promote religious beliefs as being what God desires, not realizing that such things actually amount to an attack (Eph. 6: 16) on the integrity of the finished (John 19: 30) Work, and spoken Word of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus' greatest adversaries (John 11: 53) here on Earth were not the overt sinners of the world, but the promoters of religion. Note that Eph. 6: 12 points out that our struggle is not with people, but with personalities and powers in the spiritual realm that have deceived them.
Such adversaries have unwittingly been deceived (Rev. 12: 9) and have been taken captive (2Tim. 2: 26) by enemy forces (Eph. 6:12). Some to the extent that they believe that by putting advancing disciples (or their testimony) to death, they are doing a service to God (John 16: 2)!
...
Becoming saved in the spiritual realm is like becoming pregnant in the natural realm. In the natural realm, either you are pregnant or you are not. In the spiritual realm, ether you have saved, or you have not. There is NO middle ground.
Before one is born again, the primary divine objective that God has in mind for you is that you be saved. Once saved, the primary objective that God has in mind for you is discipleship, leading to ambassadorship.
This is true no matter where you are and no matter what you may otherwise be doing. If YOU are a Christian, there ARE unbelievers around YOU that God wants to use YOU to evangelize, and there ARE fellow Christians around YOU that God wants to use YOU to edify.
Those who would rationalize that the salvation and/or edification of others is none of their business might want to read or re-read the marching orders (Matt. 28: 19, 20) that were given to the Church, and the primary purpose (1Cor. 12: 7) for the individual spiritual gift that EVERY born again believer receives. In more cases than not, the truth is that most "Christians" are not up for the Luke 14: 26 challenge. They value their relationship with people over their walk with God.
God made the spiritual well-being of OTHERS our business on the day we chose to deny ourselves and picked up the cross and chose to follow Him (Luke 9: 23). Cross bearing is neither easy nor comfortable.
This Luke 9: 23 cross is not symbolic of the difficulties of the human experience common to all. Atheists and non-Christians have much of the daily experiences and challenges within the human environment as do Christians. The cross of Luke 9: 23 refers to the persecution, adversity, and spiritual combat that advancing disciples of Christ WILL encounter as a result of taking part in the Great Commission.
Until one suffers the persecution, rejection, ridicule, and isolation that participating in the Great Commission WILL (2Tim. 3: 12) bring, he or she has not picked up the Luke 9: 23 cross, nor has he or she followed Him!
Matt. 10: 36 points out that the advancing disciple's spiritual enemies will be among the members of his/her own household.
"Go therefore and make DIS, CIPLES (students and appliers of the Word of God) of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (How? By...) TEACHING them (by word and example) to observe ALL (the Gospel Message/Bible Doctrine) that I commanded you...(Matt. 28: 19, 20 NASB parentheses mine).
When reading the marching orders of Matt. 28: 19, 20, most Christians think of missionaries who go to foreign countries throughout the world spreading the Gospel Message. They are correct in doing so. But in more cases than not, the mission field that God has in mind for most of His disciples is where they find ourselves each and every day in their private, public, work, social, and recreational activities. This is what gives spiritual significance to everything we do, 24 - 7.
After the advancing disciple has communicated the unadulterated Gospel Message to an unbeliever, and/or a principle of Bible Doctrine to fellow believer, the outcome (John 3: 16, 18/2Pet. 3: 18) is between them and the Lord. Taking it personally, when our attempts to evangelize and/or to edify others is rejected, accomplishes nothing.
In fact, any negative reaction(s) on our part to their rejection could close the door of opportunity for us to make future attempts. Such restraint on our part, especially when it's clear (to us) that our loved ones are on the wrong road (Matt. 7: 14 ), is extremely challenging.
The wrong road of disbelief in the Gospel Message leads to the lake of fire (Rev. 20: 15). The wrong road of an alternative post salvation spiritual life of a born again believer leads to a Heavenly experience void of reward (1Cor. 3: 15).
We are commanded to frequently examine ourselves (2Cor. 13: 5), and to make (James 1: 22) the necessary adjustments (1John 1: 9/John 8: 11). It is not for advancing disciples to judge others; only to set the godly example 24-7, and offer the Gospel Message to the spiritually dead and edifying Bible Doctrine to fellow believers when God gives us opportunity. For this God will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant (Matt. 25: 23 NASB)."
God, like us, wants everyone we love to be saved (1Tim. 2: 4), but will not violate the free will that He has given to the individual soul. To be saved, every one of us must choose to believe the Gospel Message when the opportunity is presented to us.
Q. How can God send the ones He loves into the lake of fire (Rev. 20: 15)?
A. Because they chose to disbelieve in the ONE and ONLY (John 14:6) means of salvation that He provided in HIS act of love (John 3: 16, 18). We can' t pick and chose which attributes of God we like (e.g. love, mercy), and then ignore the attributes (e.g. justice, purity) that we would like to circumvent. The God of love ,mercy, reward ,and forgiveness Is also the God of purity, justice, accountability, and judgement.
Advancing disciples TEACH by their words and by their example. What others chose to do with the words we (should) provide and the example we (should) set is THEIR choice to make. Know that the words and example we set will inspire some and agitate others. Either way, as a result of the responses THEY make, they WILL reap the accompanying benefits or consequences.
"Religious" persons, as well as promoters of human viewpoint, can unwittingly become useful tools in the devil's hands to lead people away from the unadulterated Gospel Message and the type of post salvation spiritual life outlined in Scripture.
Being deceived themselves, they become the blind leading the blind (Matt. 15: 14).
The fact that this has taken place, and will continue to take place, WITHIN the Christian Community at large is clearly documented (Gal. 3/1Tim. 4: 1). In all of these cases, the influence of demonic activity (See Gal. 3: 1Timothy 4: 1) WITHIN the Christian Community is cited!
Dismissing the thought that false teachings and practices has taken root WITHIN the houses of worship plays right into the hands of the devil. Frequent 2Cor. 13: 5 examinations based on an Acts 17: 11 comparison is necessary on both the organizational and the individual levels to identify such schemes of the devil.
No one with an ounce of common sense would take in contaminated food or drink into our bodies, even though (with the exception of the Rapture generation) our bodies are ALL headed for dust (Gen. 3: 19) at their appointed (Heb. 9: 27) time. As long as we in these natural bodies, we should attend to their needs. But shouldn't we be even more concerned about the quality of the food (doctrine) that we take into our souls (Matt. 7: 24 - 27)? Our bodies (in their present form) are not going to last forever. Our souls will!
In Matt. 7: 15, Jesus spoke of false teachers being wolves disguised in sheep's clothing WITHIN the Christian Community. 2Cor. 11: 13 -15 speaks of false apostles, deceitful workers WITHIN the Christian Community. 1Tim. 4:: 1 speaks of doctrines being taught by demons WITHIN the Christian Community.
What part of WITHIN is it that the Christian Community doesn't understand?
Q. Why is it that we can see the errors of others and not our own?
A. Arrogance.
Q. What does this have to do with the evangelization and edification of others?
A. Like a runner in a torch relay race, we cannot pass along to others what we have not first taken possession of for ourselves.
Once deceived, undisciplined, un-edified, members of the Christian Community can unwittingly become tools in the hands of the devil. Such person's not only become unproductive in their , own walk with the Lord, but by word and example lead others astray!
Q. How is one to identify the wolves in sheep's clothing and the well-meaning, but blind guides the devil has deceived functioning within the Christian Community?
A. Through discipleship (Acts 17:11), primarily under the teaching ministry of a Biblically-qualified pastor-teacher. To the extent that YOUR choice of local assembly or ministry is doing its job (making disciples - Matt. 28: 19, 20), you can do yours.
Would anyone with common sense eat a restaurant where bad food was served just to be with family and friends? Yet, how many attend local assemblies where we their souls are not being nourished just to be around family and friends?
Q. How is one to know if his soul or the souls of loved ones is being nourished?
A. By the increase in the knowledge of God over a period of time.
Q. How is one tomorrow if he or she is growing in God's grace towards a higher level of spiritual maturity?
A. By one's willingness to apply the increased knowledge he or she has received.
Keep in mind that the same God that commands His people not to do this, not to do that, is the same God that has commanded us to keep on growing in His knowledge and grace (2Pet.3:18).
No matter how religious a person may be, until he/she is born again, he/she is spiritually dead. If a born-again believer is not a student and applier of the Word of God, then he/she is not a disciple. Not being a disciple him/herself, one can not participate in the Great Commission, as one can not pass along to others what he/she does not first obtain for him/herself.
...
"But to each one (born again believer) is given the manifestation of the Spirit (a spiritual gift) for the (spiritual benefit of the) common good (everyone else)-(1Cor.12: 7 NASB)."
This gift is not a trophy to be show-cased to show others how religious we are. This gift is for us to develop so that God can use you to evangelize unbelievers and edify fellows believers in your personal, domestic, professional-labor, social, recreational, and ecclesiastical activities.
Regardless of what one's spiritual gift may be, every born again believer is a qualified evangelist in a one-on-one scenario.
How so?
To be a born again believer, he or she had to have understood and believed in a presentation of the unadulterated Gospel Message. This is the only qualification necessary. We talk to others about everything else every day. We can talk to them about Jesus IF we so desired.
To the extent that one has obediently (2Pet. 3: 18) grown in the knowledge of the Lord, and has obediently (1Pet. 3: 15) prepared himself or herself to give answer to those who ask questions, every born again believer who advances in discipleship can be used of God to edify fellow believers in the midst of any activity 24 - 7. At the very least, every born believer should have a source to refer inquirers seeking answers.
Our first testimony does not come from our lips, but from our daily lives. It is our family, friends, and those that are most familiar with the testimony of our daily lives. Unfortunately, our individual sin and weaknesses are among the main reasons that we are least effective when it comes to evangelizing and edifying the ones we would naturally want to see saved and edified the most. Being human, Christians talk the talk, but don't always walk the walk (1John 1: 10).
End of Part One
One of the most anxiety-relieving experiences that one can have here on Earth is to come to know (not just hope) that he/she is Heaven-bound when his/her appointed time of Earthly departure comes.
But as we will see, the same Gospel Message that assures BELIEVERS of a home in Heaven (John 3: 16), assures UNBELIEVERS of a place in the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20: 15). This raises serious concerns that born again believers will have for anyone who has not been born again.
Naturally, this concern is greatest when it involves the salvation and/or the spiritual edification of our family and friends.
The type of freedom and the resulting type of confidence spoken of in John 8: 32 comes from having understood the Romans 8: 1 eternal significance of having been being born again (John 3: 7).
Comprehending the John 8: 32 "truth" is what sets us free from the doubts that fear, human viewpoint, ignorance, and the otherwise perceived need to embrace Man-made traditions that religion creates and that the Ephesians 6: 12 forces of evil promote.
Q. Why, one might ask, would the devil and the Ephesians 6:12 forces of evil want to promote religion? Isn't that what God wants?
A. The devil promotes errant religious teachings and practices because they can leave its participants with the feeling that all is well, when in truth nothing of significance (John 15: 5) has taken place in the spiritual realm. While being promoted as necessities, the religious traditions of men can amount to meaningless worship (Matt. 15: 9). It was true of the very religious Pharisees in the ancient world, and it is true of many religious people of our day and age.
Well-intending, sincere, but spiritually blind teachers unwittingly promote religious beliefs as being what God desires, not realizing that such things actually amount to an attack (Eph. 6: 16) on the integrity of the finished (John 19: 30) Work, and spoken Word of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus' greatest adversaries (John 11: 53) here on Earth were not the overt sinners of the world, but the promoters of religion. Note that Eph. 6: 12 points out that our struggle is not with people, but with personalities and powers in the spiritual realm that have deceived them.
Such adversaries have unwittingly been deceived (Rev. 12: 9) and have been taken captive (2Tim. 2: 26) by enemy forces (Eph. 6:12). Some to the extent that they believe that by putting advancing disciples (or their testimony) to death, they are doing a service to God (John 16: 2)!
...
Becoming saved in the spiritual realm is like becoming pregnant in the natural realm. In the natural realm, either you are pregnant or you are not. In the spiritual realm, ether you have saved, or you have not. There is NO middle ground.
Before one is born again, the primary divine objective that God has in mind for you is that you be saved. Once saved, the primary objective that God has in mind for you is discipleship, leading to ambassadorship.
This is true no matter where you are and no matter what you may otherwise be doing. If YOU are a Christian, there ARE unbelievers around YOU that God wants to use YOU to evangelize, and there ARE fellow Christians around YOU that God wants to use YOU to edify.
Those who would rationalize that the salvation and/or edification of others is none of their business might want to read or re-read the marching orders (Matt. 28: 19, 20) that were given to the Church, and the primary purpose (1Cor. 12: 7) for the individual spiritual gift that EVERY born again believer receives. In more cases than not, the truth is that most "Christians" are not up for the Luke 14: 26 challenge. They value their relationship with people over their walk with God.
God made the spiritual well-being of OTHERS our business on the day we chose to deny ourselves and picked up the cross and chose to follow Him (Luke 9: 23). Cross bearing is neither easy nor comfortable.
This Luke 9: 23 cross is not symbolic of the difficulties of the human experience common to all. Atheists and non-Christians have much of the daily experiences and challenges within the human environment as do Christians. The cross of Luke 9: 23 refers to the persecution, adversity, and spiritual combat that advancing disciples of Christ WILL encounter as a result of taking part in the Great Commission.
Until one suffers the persecution, rejection, ridicule, and isolation that participating in the Great Commission WILL (2Tim. 3: 12) bring, he or she has not picked up the Luke 9: 23 cross, nor has he or she followed Him!
Matt. 10: 36 points out that the advancing disciple's spiritual enemies will be among the members of his/her own household.
"Go therefore and make DIS, CIPLES (students and appliers of the Word of God) of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (How? By...) TEACHING them (by word and example) to observe ALL (the Gospel Message/Bible Doctrine) that I commanded you...(Matt. 28: 19, 20 NASB parentheses mine).
When reading the marching orders of Matt. 28: 19, 20, most Christians think of missionaries who go to foreign countries throughout the world spreading the Gospel Message. They are correct in doing so. But in more cases than not, the mission field that God has in mind for most of His disciples is where they find ourselves each and every day in their private, public, work, social, and recreational activities. This is what gives spiritual significance to everything we do, 24 - 7.
After the advancing disciple has communicated the unadulterated Gospel Message to an unbeliever, and/or a principle of Bible Doctrine to fellow believer, the outcome (John 3: 16, 18/2Pet. 3: 18) is between them and the Lord. Taking it personally, when our attempts to evangelize and/or to edify others is rejected, accomplishes nothing.
In fact, any negative reaction(s) on our part to their rejection could close the door of opportunity for us to make future attempts. Such restraint on our part, especially when it's clear (to us) that our loved ones are on the wrong road (Matt. 7: 14 ), is extremely challenging.
The wrong road of disbelief in the Gospel Message leads to the lake of fire (Rev. 20: 15). The wrong road of an alternative post salvation spiritual life of a born again believer leads to a Heavenly experience void of reward (1Cor. 3: 15).
We are commanded to frequently examine ourselves (2Cor. 13: 5), and to make (James 1: 22) the necessary adjustments (1John 1: 9/John 8: 11). It is not for advancing disciples to judge others; only to set the godly example 24-7, and offer the Gospel Message to the spiritually dead and edifying Bible Doctrine to fellow believers when God gives us opportunity. For this God will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant (Matt. 25: 23 NASB)."
God, like us, wants everyone we love to be saved (1Tim. 2: 4), but will not violate the free will that He has given to the individual soul. To be saved, every one of us must choose to believe the Gospel Message when the opportunity is presented to us.
Q. How can God send the ones He loves into the lake of fire (Rev. 20: 15)?
A. Because they chose to disbelieve in the ONE and ONLY (John 14:6) means of salvation that He provided in HIS act of love (John 3: 16, 18). We can' t pick and chose which attributes of God we like (e.g. love, mercy), and then ignore the attributes (e.g. justice, purity) that we would like to circumvent. The God of love ,mercy, reward ,and forgiveness Is also the God of purity, justice, accountability, and judgement.
Advancing disciples TEACH by their words and by their example. What others chose to do with the words we (should) provide and the example we (should) set is THEIR choice to make. Know that the words and example we set will inspire some and agitate others. Either way, as a result of the responses THEY make, they WILL reap the accompanying benefits or consequences.
"Religious" persons, as well as promoters of human viewpoint, can unwittingly become useful tools in the devil's hands to lead people away from the unadulterated Gospel Message and the type of post salvation spiritual life outlined in Scripture.
Being deceived themselves, they become the blind leading the blind (Matt. 15: 14).
The fact that this has taken place, and will continue to take place, WITHIN the Christian Community at large is clearly documented (Gal. 3/1Tim. 4: 1). In all of these cases, the influence of demonic activity (See Gal. 3: 1Timothy 4: 1) WITHIN the Christian Community is cited!
Dismissing the thought that false teachings and practices has taken root WITHIN the houses of worship plays right into the hands of the devil. Frequent 2Cor. 13: 5 examinations based on an Acts 17: 11 comparison is necessary on both the organizational and the individual levels to identify such schemes of the devil.
No one with an ounce of common sense would take in contaminated food or drink into our bodies, even though (with the exception of the Rapture generation) our bodies are ALL headed for dust (Gen. 3: 19) at their appointed (Heb. 9: 27) time. As long as we in these natural bodies, we should attend to their needs. But shouldn't we be even more concerned about the quality of the food (doctrine) that we take into our souls (Matt. 7: 24 - 27)? Our bodies (in their present form) are not going to last forever. Our souls will!
In Matt. 7: 15, Jesus spoke of false teachers being wolves disguised in sheep's clothing WITHIN the Christian Community. 2Cor. 11: 13 -15 speaks of false apostles, deceitful workers WITHIN the Christian Community. 1Tim. 4:: 1 speaks of doctrines being taught by demons WITHIN the Christian Community.
What part of WITHIN is it that the Christian Community doesn't understand?
Q. Why is it that we can see the errors of others and not our own?
A. Arrogance.
Q. What does this have to do with the evangelization and edification of others?
A. Like a runner in a torch relay race, we cannot pass along to others what we have not first taken possession of for ourselves.
Once deceived, undisciplined, un-edified, members of the Christian Community can unwittingly become tools in the hands of the devil. Such person's not only become unproductive in their , own walk with the Lord, but by word and example lead others astray!
Q. How is one to identify the wolves in sheep's clothing and the well-meaning, but blind guides the devil has deceived functioning within the Christian Community?
A. Through discipleship (Acts 17:11), primarily under the teaching ministry of a Biblically-qualified pastor-teacher. To the extent that YOUR choice of local assembly or ministry is doing its job (making disciples - Matt. 28: 19, 20), you can do yours.
Would anyone with common sense eat a restaurant where bad food was served just to be with family and friends? Yet, how many attend local assemblies where we their souls are not being nourished just to be around family and friends?
Q. How is one to know if his soul or the souls of loved ones is being nourished?
A. By the increase in the knowledge of God over a period of time.
Q. How is one tomorrow if he or she is growing in God's grace towards a higher level of spiritual maturity?
A. By one's willingness to apply the increased knowledge he or she has received.
Keep in mind that the same God that commands His people not to do this, not to do that, is the same God that has commanded us to keep on growing in His knowledge and grace (2Pet.3:18).
No matter how religious a person may be, until he/she is born again, he/she is spiritually dead. If a born-again believer is not a student and applier of the Word of God, then he/she is not a disciple. Not being a disciple him/herself, one can not participate in the Great Commission, as one can not pass along to others what he/she does not first obtain for him/herself.
...
"But to each one (born again believer) is given the manifestation of the Spirit (a spiritual gift) for the (spiritual benefit of the) common good (everyone else)-(1Cor.12: 7 NASB)."
This gift is not a trophy to be show-cased to show others how religious we are. This gift is for us to develop so that God can use you to evangelize unbelievers and edify fellows believers in your personal, domestic, professional-labor, social, recreational, and ecclesiastical activities.
Regardless of what one's spiritual gift may be, every born again believer is a qualified evangelist in a one-on-one scenario.
How so?
To be a born again believer, he or she had to have understood and believed in a presentation of the unadulterated Gospel Message. This is the only qualification necessary. We talk to others about everything else every day. We can talk to them about Jesus IF we so desired.
To the extent that one has obediently (2Pet. 3: 18) grown in the knowledge of the Lord, and has obediently (1Pet. 3: 15) prepared himself or herself to give answer to those who ask questions, every born again believer who advances in discipleship can be used of God to edify fellow believers in the midst of any activity 24 - 7. At the very least, every born believer should have a source to refer inquirers seeking answers.
Our first testimony does not come from our lips, but from our daily lives. It is our family, friends, and those that are most familiar with the testimony of our daily lives. Unfortunately, our individual sin and weaknesses are among the main reasons that we are least effective when it comes to evangelizing and edifying the ones we would naturally want to see saved and edified the most. Being human, Christians talk the talk, but don't always walk the walk (1John 1: 10).
End of Part One