This Morning the exhortation may be a little different in that we are going to review our position in the truth from an entirely positive viewpoint. So often we are reminded of our past failures and are given insight into how far we have missed the mark by failing to live up to our high calling in Christ. While it is important to recognize our failures and take inventory of our motives in order to grow and improve, there is the danger that we can become discouraged and depressed. We are constantly bombarded with negativism in our environment. The news media provides an ongoing stream of bad and evil reports, accidents, crimes and people’s personal problems. Continuous exposure to this way of thinking can lead to the chronic habit of negativism and affect the way we react to others. Subconsciously we will look for their flaws! It can make us judgmental of brethren and sisters, and be the cause of ascribing wrong motives to their actions. Brotherly love and kindness cannot thrive under such conditions. So let us build up a positive attitude by drawing from scripture and allowing it to exhort us.
Washed and sanctified
We begin by considering an adapted version of Paul’s message to the Corinthians: “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to you who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints. Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 1:2-3). The Greek for the words “sanctified” and “saints” are, hagaizo, meaning made holy, and hagios, morally blameless, holy, special. How often do we think of ourselves as sanctified saints? We are more inclined to think of ourselves as sinners and undeserving of God’s love. While this may be true, there is another perspective in Christ we have been changed.
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (I Cor. 6:9-11).
The emphasis is on “were;” those who prior to conversion could have been described as wickedness personified were now justified and regarded as righteous through the cleansing blood of Christ. Although few, if any of us, have backgrounds to equal the degradation of Corinthian society, there is not one who has an impeccable history and does not have regrets for past behavior. God’s dealings with sinners being consistent, it should be a source of great encouragement to us to remember that previous transgressions were wiped out at baptism and that ongoing forgiveness is ours upon repentance.
Blessings in Christ
This is a wonderful blessing along side many others. Paul communicated many to his Ephesian brethren:
Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Eph. I :2-7).
What was written to the Ephesian brethren is also applicable to us. Redeemed by the blood of Jesus the Christ, we have been blessed above measure and exalted to a place of honor in that we have been chosen by the foreknowledge of the great Creator of the universe who has accepted us as adopted children.
As shown by Peter, our Heavenly Father selected us for a specific purpose: “But 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 marvelous light” (I Pet. 2:9). Today, the word peculiar has the connotation of weird or odd, but the Hebrew word, segullah means a special treasure. The same word is found in the Malachi: “And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels (segullah) and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him” (Mal. 3:17). It is an amazing concept to think that we can be considered as a special treasure to the Creator of the universe. What better placement could be found than in God’s jewelry box when He comes to claim His treasure? In the past, we were crude unpolished stones, but God is working to transform us into precious gems fit for the kingdom. He can do great things with us as long as we commit ourselves to Him and His purpose.
At times the way is hard and we despair at our backsliding. Comfort can be found in remembering that the Lord really desires that we achieve the kingdom: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
The wonder of sin forgiven
Consider Israel’s waywardness:
Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward… the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putribiing sores…” (Isa. 1:4-6).
Amazingly, in spite of all this wickedness God was willing to forgive them: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:18).
After his heinous sins, David discovered the wonder of sin forgiven: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile” ( Psa. 32:1-2). The realization of just how much the Father forgives us intensifies our love for Him. Remember the woman who came to Jesus in Simon’s house. She washed his feet with her tears and dried them with the hairs of her head. To the judgmental host the Lord replied: “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little” (Luke 7:47).
Transformed through problems
Acknowledging the indisputable blessing of God’s loving forgiveness and concern impacts the way we live. It will make us kinder, more understanding and patient, less harsh and judgmental in our interactions with others. When difficulties come we will face them in the knowledge that God is in charge; they may have come from Him as experiences to help us grow.
We will view problems philosophically and receive them in the manner described in James: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:2-3). Jesus said that we are blessed in difficulties:
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets (Luke 6:22-23).
Understanding God’s plan and purpose, interposed with His workings with us on a personal basis, renders us better able to cope with irritations and problems. It may help if we see them as blessings because they are preparing us for something better.
It is true that we are sinners but:
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust (Psa. 103:10-14).
All of our hopes rest in the Lord’s mercy and love as evidenced by the provision of our Savior, Jesus Christ, whom we have come to remember:” But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
These uplifting concepts must surely serve to banish negativism and fear. We are about to partake of the bread and wine, emblematic not only of a death, but of the most positive event in history, the resurrection of the Son of God.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One