Biddeford Church of Christ

So, of all the topics I have talked about this year pertaining to spiritual growth, I have yet to talk about one of great importance; that is, our attitude.  One person writes, “We cannot change our past.  We cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way.  We cannot change the inevitable.  The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.”  Like so many areas of our lives, attitudes are cultivated and nurtured through our thought life.  Our ability let alone willingness, to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2^nd Corinthians 10:5) is inextricably linked to the conditioning of the mind.

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless

and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and

perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…

                                                                                                                 Philippians 2:14-15

What is interesting to me about the verses above, is that they follow the exhortation given by Paul to the Philippian church to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).  Matthew Henry writes, “Those who complain most are most to be complained of.”  Ouch!  If there is a battlefield in my mind at times, it is this fight against complaining.  God wants me to “do all things without it”!  In the Greek Old Testament, this word is used to describe Israel’s attitude as they journeyed toward the promised land (Numbers 11:1).  Paul, using the events of Israel of old as “our examples” (1^st Corinthians 10:6), encourages the Corinthian church to avoid complaining because it doesn’t end well (1^st Corinthians 10:10).  Whether intentional or not, the word that follows seems only reasonable; that is, disputing.  People who are not content, who are caught in this vicious cycle called complaining, tend to be contentious.  I know this to be true personally.

…holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ

that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

                                                                  Philippians 2:16

Our attitude towards our daily walk as Christians is not always easy…right?  We live in a “crooked and perverse” world that is constantly knocking on the door of compromise.  But we choose to hold “fast the word of life,” enabling us to “shine as lights in the world,” all for the glory of Christ our Lord and Savior.  So today, maybe it’s time for an attitude check: I know it is for me.  As one person put it, “The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes.  That’s the day we truly grow up.”  I hate to admit it, but sometimes I simply need to grow up.

Dennis

If you are like me, it is difficult to know who needs to hear about Jesus, because so many around talk about him in some fashion or attend a “church” of some kind.  Others, who seem to be great people, linger in our minds as we ask the question, “Who needs to hear about Jesus and the salvation He offers?”  Well, that latter is for another lesson, my focus today in on those who are churched, you know, believers.  Did you know that people can believe (have faith in) Christ and who He is, and still not be right with God?  We know the “demons believed and trembled” (James 2:19).  But people are not demons.  We know that some, after hearing Jesus Himself, “believed in Him,” yet because of their concern for earthly things, “they did not confess Him” (John 12:42).  My point is simple, there is more to salvation then simply believing in who Jesus is.  A great story of this truth is found in Acts 18:24-28.

Now a certain Jew named Apollos,

born at Alexandria, an eloquent

man and mighty in the Scriptures,

came to Ephesus.

Acts 18:24

What an amazing description of this man of God, words I would like to have said about me.  It did not stop there, for he was “fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord” (Acts 18:25).  These words of acknowledgment caused me to think of Cornelius in Acts 10, who was described as “a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always” (Acts 10:2).  In each of these settings, the people being talked about love God.  So many around us, those in various religious groups, love God, something that should not be questioned.

When Aquila and Priscilla heard him,

they took him aside and explained to

him the way of God more accurately.

Acts 18:26

I believe one of the obstacles to sharing the accurate hope of Christ with others is to not get caught up in the passion that someone has in their lives.  Just the other day I passed a man at an intersection holding a bible in one hand and a sign in the other which said, “Repent and believe in Jesus.”  He was passionate about what he believed, like Cornelius and also Apollos.  In his passion for God, Apollos was lacking some truth…he was not as accurate as he convincingly spoke, for he knew only the “baptism of John” (Acts 18:25).  He, like those spoken of in the very next chapter of Acts, lacked the awareness that Christ had come and thus, was not “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” and thus, had not yet become a citizen in the Lord’s church, through the work of the Spirit (1^st Corinthians 12:13).

As the story of Apollos closes, we find that he “greatly helped those who had believed through grace” (Acts 18:27) and “vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 18:28).  Clearly, he acknowledged his lack of understanding, better learning the Word of the Lord, and obeyed that gospel, much like those in Acts 19:5.

So, who needs to hear it?  Everyone!  Even those passionate about what they already understand to be true, for some have a love for God, but what they believe is not quite accurate.  We, as members of the Lord’s church, have the task to try and reveal God’s plan to them more accurately.  Do you know someone who needs to hear it?

Dennis

A couple weeks ago, the focus of the lesson was rooted in Hebrews 12:28-29, with our attention being on the idea of “reverence and godly fear.”  The text read just before the lesson was Philippians 2:12-13 where Paul exhorts his readers, which includes us, to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”  So much emphasis has been given to our responsibility to grow in Christ, pursuing His likeness in all that we say and do.  Although I don’t want to detract from that reality in the Christian’s walk, I don’t want to make it seem that it is all about what I do, leaving God to ask the question, “What about Me?”  The fact of the matter is that God is hard at work in us as well.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

For those who are in Christ Jesus, we are there for a reason; that is, for good works.  Those “good works” don’t always come naturally; thus, we need to work out our salvation…but not alone!  Paul informs us in Philippians 2:13 that “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”  The word work means, to effect.  God is intimately involved in the Christian’s life to effect change.  This caused me to think about Paul’s initial words to the church in Philippi, where he says, “…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6).  God is on a mission, and if you are in Christ Jesus, you are part of His project.

For the church in Philippi, the “good works” was in part their effort in helping Paul spread the gospel, or as Paul writes, “your fellowship in the gospel.”  I mention this for a reason.  God’s efforts in our lives are simply for us to grow as individuals, although that is part of the process.  He is also actively involved in our efforts to further His kingdom and spread the hope of Christ.   This caused me to stop and think about my maturity or personal growth and ask myself a question, “Is my pursuit to grow simply about me?”  What about Him?

Dennis

The intimacy which God invites us to have with Him is so amazing!  Through the marvelous work of Christ, we have “received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Romans 8:15).  Paul expresses a similar thought in Galatians 4:6, and then says, “Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7).  How wonderful it is to be able to have confidence about our relationship with God, who through Christ has invited sinful man to sonship.  How we see God, I believe, is at the very center of our personal growth as Christians.  Seeing God as savior is only part of how we should look to God.

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.

                                                                                                                        Hebrews 12:28

This verse caught my attention in our mid-week study and has been running through my head ever since.  The Jewish Christians were being challenged in their walk with Christ, being tempted to go back to the ways of the old law.   Thus, the writer has spent much of the time comparing both the Old Covenant and New Covenant, revealing that although going back may be tempting, you are going…backward.  They would be leaving the “kingdom which cannot be shaken” and going back into a broken world.  Have you been tempted to do so?  You know…go back into the world?  How do we fight against such temptation?

Part of the answer is found in the exhortation given to these Jewish Christians.  By the immeasurable grace given them through Christ, they were (we are) called to serve (some translations use the word worship) God acceptably.  And I think that acceptably is linked to the next two words, which are reverence and fear.  What does reverence mean?  Some define it as modesty or awe towards something, in this case God.  This reverence, as one person put it, “would always restrain a good man from an unworthy act.”  Then, there is this word fear.  Not just any fear, but godly fear.  It carries the idea of veneration; that is, great respect toward God.  Why such fear?  Listen to Hebrews 12:29, “For our God is a consuming fire.”

An electrician (we do as well), works with electricity every day.  He knows its benefits and its capability.  It can help, and it can be devastating.  What keeps the latter from happening is a healthy fear (i.e., great respect) of its potential.  Could it be the same as we walk with Christ?  How we view God, plays a significant role in the choices we make and the road we travel towards Christ likeness.  Sometimes I need to be bold enough to ask myself this simple, yet profound question, “Am I serving God acceptably with reverence and godly fear?”  Thank you, Lord, for Your grace!

Dennis

We have all seen it, maybe have fallen prey to it.  That picture of a hopeless child or abused animal followed by a request for money that could make all the difference in the world.  Or maybe it is the tele- evangelist promising so much if you would only send in some money.  Today, the political arena is littered with pictures and captions meant to sway one’s thinking.  As much as times seem to change, things are not so different than they were at the start.  The father of lies began the whole process saying, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’” (Genesis 3:1).  A subtle twist of words and deception is introduced to mankind and it has been going on ever since.

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

                                                                                                             Ephesians 5:15-16

In a study this past week, this verse was brought up and it caught my attention once again.  It seems to capsulize the reason for our need to mature continuously in Christ.  The exhortation that was given to the church in Ephesus rings true today as well; that is, to walk in wisdom.  Someone once said, “An intelligent man believes only half of what he hears, a wise man knows which half.”  Paul told the church in Colossae to “walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.” (Colossians 4:5)  What is wisdom?  What does it mean to be wise?  The word wise, located in Ephesians 5:15, means one who in action is governed by piety and integrity.  For the Christian, our call is to “walk circumspectly” (i.e., aware of our surroundings) realizing that the world around us is watching and we want our steps to influence that world for the cause of Christ.  As one commentator writes, “Hence the need for care and wisdom, lest the Christian cause should be inadvertently jeopardized by thoughtless speech or action on the part of the Christian.”  In a world that has not really changed that much, God’s people need to “be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil” (Romans 16:19).  In order for this to happen, we must be people of the word!

Just how important is godly wisdom in God’s eyes?  Well, I encourage you to read all of Proverbs 4 to get a full sense of its importance.  For this article, v7 will suffice, “Get wisdom.  Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”  The days are evil, and Satan is hard at work seeking to lure people away from God.  May God help us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ our Savior so we can fight the good fight and influence the world for Him.

Dennis

I want to express my appreciation for those who commented on last week’s lesson entitled, Becoming Who We Are.  The simple fact that I am a work in progress, speaks to the need to have my hope someplace other than self; thus, I place my confidence in knowing that I am complete in Him (Colossians 2:10).  Although I did not use it last week, I find comfort in this verse found in 1^st Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…”  As the song we sing proclaims, my hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.  In the midst of this hope, I am called to change, grow, mature, be transformed.  A word that is seldom connected to the maturing process is repentance.

For godly sorrow produces repentances leading to salvation, not regret;

but the sorrow of the world produces death.

                                                          2^nd Corinthians 7:10

If you are familiar with this text, you know that the person being spoken of is most likely the sexually immoral son mentioned in 1^st Corinthians 5.  Such an egregious sin is something few of us might relate to; nonetheless, we do battle sin, which is simply a falling short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).  I believe this verse provides some insight into this idea of repentance that can help us grow in Christ.  For instance, repentance is stimulated by godly sorrow; that is, it is initiated by that sorrow.  I think of the number of times I told my children as they were growing up, “Go tell him you are sorry!”  Only to hear them say “I’m sorry” with arms crossed and a scowled face.  For repentance to be effectual, it must be generated by genuine sorrow.  Next, this sorrow “produces repentance leading to salvation.”  God’s desire, when it comes to repentance, is that it results in change.  As John the Baptist confronted the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 3:8, he says, “Therefore bear fruit worthy of repentance…”  Listen to how the ETRV translates this, “You must do things that show that you have really changed your hearts and lives.”  Although I acknowledge that repentance is often a process, not an event; nonetheless, the fact that one embraces the process is fruit which God yearns to see.

I ended last week’s article with the following: Instead of endeavoring to become something we are not (becoming righteous through works), we endeavor to become more like what Christ has made us to be in Him.  I seek to be more like Him because I am complete in Him.  To become more like Him, I need to embrace this idea of repentance; that is, asking God to cultivate within me a heart that is sensitive to His will.  So sensitive, that it moves me to act upon it, whatever that may be, that I might enable Him to change me.  I want to take steps in the right direction.

Dennis

This year, as you well know by now, my lessons have centered around the idea of growing in Christ.  In a world where complacency is so prevalent, where “just doing enough” is all too often the motto, we, as Christians, seek to fight against that tendency, as we walk with our Lord.  The battle against complacency is nothing new to God’s people.  Listen to these words found in Zephaniah 1:12, “And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men who are settled in complacency.”  It is in part, for this very reason, God echoes to His children, words like: “for this very reason, giving all diligence” (2^nd Peter 1:5), “pursue peace with all people, and holiness” (Hebrews 12:14), “be diligent” (2^nd Timothy 2:15), “grow in the grace and knowledge” (2^nd Peter 3:18), “be imitators” (Ephesians 5:1) and the list could go on.  Each of these speak loudly to the Christians walk, that it is one that is intentionally walked.  But, as we journey towards our heavenly home, we need to be reminded of something that is equally important.

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are

complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

                                                                                                                     Colossians 2:9-10

Did you hear the words?  YOU ARE COMPLETE IN HIM!  All those who are in Christ Jesus, from day one of that relationship, are completely saved!  No work from that day forward can change that reality.  No work from that day forward can improve our status.  I think of the apostle Paul, who under the old law, pursued righteousness with great fervor.  His credentials, found in Philippians 3:4-6, would proudly be displayed on any Jewish resume at the time.  But listen to what Paul came to understand, “I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:8-9).  Paul had come to realize something so very important; that is, what he so desperately sought after could only be found in Christ Jesus.  He became all he needed to be when he became one with Christ, and so it is with us as well.

Well, if that is the case, and we find ourselves in Christ through obedience to the gospel, placing our hope in Him who has thus made us complete, then all this endeavoring is for naught…right?  Actually, if you are in Christ and understand the righteousness that has been imputed upon you through Him, your mission has changed.  How so you ask?  Well, instead of endeavor to become something we are not (becoming righteous through works), we endeavor to become more like what Christ has made us to be in Him.  I seek to be more like Him because I am complete in Him.

Dennis