Phillipians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Is it true that saints are elected by a group of elites who determine whether they have done something worthy of being a saint? How ARROGANT can a group of snobs be?
The great part of about being a bible believing, born again, washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, is the true understanding of what being a saint is. Remember this is not the Gospel according to Bob Blair. This is based on the bible.
The Greek word used for the word saint (hagios) is the same rootword for sanctify (hagiazo). To understand the sainthood, one has to understand the idea of sanctification. Most think this a spooky word meaning some kind of hocus pocus to God is a manner that is not practical. This of course in not true. Sanctify simple means something that is set apart or designated for a specific task, duty or purpose. A hammer is sanctified because it's original purpose is to pound nails into place. It was not meant to be used as a weapon, childcare, or medicine.
The born again believer is a saint not due to anything more than because they have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior. The benefit of this in daily life is that God has set each believer apart for a particular mission. Sure we all are to witness for Christ, read our bible, pray, and attend and participate in a local church. But we are also to realize that God also has empowered us to do a mission that will lead us to hear "well done thou good and faithful servant".
Are you a saint? One who is set apart for God's Glory through the blood of Jesus Christ? It does not take a vote from a council of men or women with an inflated view of themselves.
Monday, July 04, 2005
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Nobody's Perfect, Right?
1Cor 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
If there is anything that a Christian knows it is the perfection is an unattainable goal. However, that does not mean improvement is worthless. Whether it is called growth, getting better, or sanctification, both God and the world expect it to be a part of our lives. The verse above gives encouragement and energy to the Christian endeavering to grow in Christ. The prerequests to successful growth are: 1)a deep desire to quality work, 2)the God given ability to ignor or deny any other desire that interferres with the main desire.
I guess the world would call the deep desire for quality work, having pride in what they do. At the risk of splitting hairs, the word pride is an inappropriate word to use. For the Bible has not one positive declaration for pride. Pride brings all attention to one's self and self-madeness. God certainly wants quality work done by his people but never at the expense of His Glory. "Whatsoever you hand findeth to do, do it with thy might," does not stop there. It also say elsewhere "do all to the glory of God"
Next God give us a wonderful ability to sacrifice. Not a popular decision in this day of self indulgence, but a well rewarded one for the child of God. The Apostle give encouragement as well as command to this for of lifestyle. Take Romans 12:1-2 for instance:
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.2 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.
Here Paul pleads for self sacrifice, and promises a reward for it. Yet the reward may not be this life it is for certain in etnerity for the Christian.
How about you why do you strive? For fame, fortune, self-esteem? Or for the Glory of God? The workplace, home, or even the neighborhood.
If there is anything that a Christian knows it is the perfection is an unattainable goal. However, that does not mean improvement is worthless. Whether it is called growth, getting better, or sanctification, both God and the world expect it to be a part of our lives. The verse above gives encouragement and energy to the Christian endeavering to grow in Christ. The prerequests to successful growth are: 1)a deep desire to quality work, 2)the God given ability to ignor or deny any other desire that interferres with the main desire.
I guess the world would call the deep desire for quality work, having pride in what they do. At the risk of splitting hairs, the word pride is an inappropriate word to use. For the Bible has not one positive declaration for pride. Pride brings all attention to one's self and self-madeness. God certainly wants quality work done by his people but never at the expense of His Glory. "Whatsoever you hand findeth to do, do it with thy might," does not stop there. It also say elsewhere "do all to the glory of God"
Next God give us a wonderful ability to sacrifice. Not a popular decision in this day of self indulgence, but a well rewarded one for the child of God. The Apostle give encouragement as well as command to this for of lifestyle. Take Romans 12:1-2 for instance:
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.2 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.
Here Paul pleads for self sacrifice, and promises a reward for it. Yet the reward may not be this life it is for certain in etnerity for the Christian.
How about you why do you strive? For fame, fortune, self-esteem? Or for the Glory of God? The workplace, home, or even the neighborhood.
Friday, January 14, 2005
How do you gain your wealth?
Act 19:24-25 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
I can image Demetrius getting up each morning to head to his silversmith shop day after day like any other hard working father, and husband. He probably had some of the same concerns for supplying for his family, and meeting the needs of his customers. He probably was not an "evil" man who wanted anybody hurt in normal situtations. It even is not unusual to see his response to the new threat of the Apostle Paul and this different belief could effect his business. To Demetrius this threat would make the need for his merchandise useless.
Progress has had and effect on the job market even in our day, but what we really need to notice about Demetrius and those in his profession was that their threat was not from industrial progress. No one was coming up with a new way of shaping metal. Their threat was from being on the wrong side of God for so long. Year after year they profitted from idolatry and making idols to meet that need. Then all the sudden Paul shows up and the need for idols drops like a stockmarket crash. Now instead of seeing the error of his ways he goes on the attack to defend his livelihood.
Today, we may not be involved in idol making, or gross sin, but what about the methods we use to meet make us effective on the job. Do we cut corners, manipulate, gossip, envy, or covet? The list could go on. The idea here is what is the manner or method that we use to gain our wealth. Wealth is no more wrong that having the ability to mold a statue. But how are we making and using that ability to prosper.
Bob Blair
I can image Demetrius getting up each morning to head to his silversmith shop day after day like any other hard working father, and husband. He probably had some of the same concerns for supplying for his family, and meeting the needs of his customers. He probably was not an "evil" man who wanted anybody hurt in normal situtations. It even is not unusual to see his response to the new threat of the Apostle Paul and this different belief could effect his business. To Demetrius this threat would make the need for his merchandise useless.
Progress has had and effect on the job market even in our day, but what we really need to notice about Demetrius and those in his profession was that their threat was not from industrial progress. No one was coming up with a new way of shaping metal. Their threat was from being on the wrong side of God for so long. Year after year they profitted from idolatry and making idols to meet that need. Then all the sudden Paul shows up and the need for idols drops like a stockmarket crash. Now instead of seeing the error of his ways he goes on the attack to defend his livelihood.
Today, we may not be involved in idol making, or gross sin, but what about the methods we use to meet make us effective on the job. Do we cut corners, manipulate, gossip, envy, or covet? The list could go on. The idea here is what is the manner or method that we use to gain our wealth. Wealth is no more wrong that having the ability to mold a statue. But how are we making and using that ability to prosper.
Bob Blair
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