Pauline Repentance

We must begin with the Biblical understanding of what does repentance mean.  Repentance is changing your mind.  Paul creates a pattern in the life of a believer to put away some things and to put on some things.  This is true replacement theology.  We must change our actions by changing our thinking.  Paul gives us a glimpse of this doctrine on Ephesians chapter four.

Ephesians 4:21-32  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.

 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

This is an easy topic to talk about, but how are supposed to do this?  Grace allows us the opportunity to change by understanding, not by doing.  Paul explains this in Romans chapter 12.

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

It is only through renewing our mind.  We hve to change what we think and how we think.  This can only be accomplished through the word of God.  We must allow the word of God to dwell in us and let it do its job of working in us.

1Thesslonians 2:9-13 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:  As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

The word of God will not return void.  The word will accomplish its goal by working effectively in the life of the believer.  Only then can we understand that just because we are grace and not law does not mean we may partake in anything we want.  We must think of other breatheren as well.  

1Corinthians 10:23-24  All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

The godly edification of fellow believers must be forefront in our thinking.  Are we saved by our actions? No!  Are we saved by our speech? No! Does God care about those things? Absolutely! Without question.  How we act and how we speak matters to weaker breatheren.  Lest we forget, we are ambassadors. Wouldn't you want the best show for American Ambassadors?  How much more, for the Creator of the universe.

So, follow after Pauline repentance. Change things that need changing. Remember t this time of year the sacrifice Christ made and 

Grace and Peace,

Greg Resor

Complete in Him

Minister Grace

There are many today who do understand how to rightly divide the word of truth, yet they find themselves not following their pattern in all ways.  Paul gives us a tremendous look at how we are to apply our understanding in Ephesians 4.  We put this together along with his own commentary to Ephesians in Colossians, where he says, as we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.  We have Paul as a pattern, so we should see how he suggests we live.

Ephesians  4:20-32

But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:  Neither give place to the devil.  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

There are many who treat folks outside of dispensationalism as though they are completely stupid, forgetting they used to be there themselves.  Sometimes they go so far as to call them stupid or idiots.  I find this sickening.  We are to edify; or build up, not tear down.  We should be the light for those in darkness.  We should be helpers of their joy. 

As we continue to preach God's word, rightly divided, we should remember our commission as ambassadors.  We are to be a living epistle written in the fleshy tables of our hearts to be read of all men. 

Something to consider.

Grace and peace,
Greg Resor
Complete in Him

Confess What Has Been Confessed

DO WE HAVE TO CONFESS CHRIST?

Matthew 10:32, 33
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Everyone knows this passage of scripture, but many misuse it and its content.  When Christ spoke these words, it was prior to His going to the cross.  He was speaking to the nation of Israel to prepare them for the upcoming tribulation period.  Since these words were spoken, many things have taken place and God interrupted His kingdom program to usher in the Dispensation of His Grace.  On this side of the cross we understand a hidden purpose behind the cross work of Christ. 

CHRIST DIED FOR US

Romans  5:6-10
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

CHRIST DID IT PUBLICLY

Colossians  2:10-15
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Jesus Christ, with His death, confessed you before God, Satan, the angels, and all of creation. Now, agree with Gods Word and what it says about you. You do not have to confess Christ for Him to confess you.

WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO CONFESS HIM

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Paul, begs us to show God's grace by storing up doctrine in our soul.  So much so, that our lives confess Christ living in us and through us as we walk day by day.

Grace and peace,

Greg Resor

Complete in Him