THE EIGHT LIVES OF EFFECTIVE CHRISTIANS

Transcription

1 FreeChristianWritings.com TOPIC A21 THE EIGHT LIVES OF EFFECTIVE CHRISTIANS BY RON FOSTER Lay Member RIVERSIDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH UPPER ARLINGTON, OHIO

2 THE EIGHT LIVES OF EFFECTIVE CHRISTIANS Scripture quotations from three sources. One is The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Two is The Holy Bible, Today s New International Version, Copyright 2005 by Biblica. Three is the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. This TOPIC was written in MAKE COPIES IF YOU WANT FOR YOURSELF OR OTHERS. Copies can be made and distributed at a price no more than your combined cost of paper and printing. If this effort is of value, you may choose to make a small donation to the church of your choice. 2

3 INTRODUCTION A Christian is defined in this TOPIC as a person who believes in Jesus Christ. For purposes here Christians are thought of as being effective or inert. An effective Christian does things well that he or she should be doing in his or her role as a disciple, an apostle, and as an ally. An inert Christian is passive in each of these roles. As a disciple, an effective Christian is a serious and dedicated student of the Bible. He or she does whatever it takes to know the meaning and intent of God s Word. In the role of apostle, an effective Christian takes actions to present God s Word to others in a manner that is understandable, and meaningful to all kinds of people. As an ally, an effective Christian seeks direction from the Holy Spirit, submits to Him to do whatever is necessary to become more and more like Jesus Christ, and effectively helps Him with His purpose. An inert Christian is passive in each of these roles. 3

4 CONTENTS Section Subject Page 1. Structural Framework of this TOPIC Physical Life--First Life of All People Spiritual Death of All People Redeemed Life--Second Life of All People Regenerated Life--Third Life of a Christian Eternal Life--Fourth Life of a Christian Inert Life of Some Christians Spirit-Led Life--Fifth Life of an Effective Christian Sanctified Life--Sixth Life of an Effective Christian Body Death of All People Soul Life--Seventh Life of an Effective Christian Glorified Life--Eighth Life of an Effective Christian.42 4

5 SECTION 1 STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK OF THIS TOPIC An individual becomes a believer in Jesus Christ not by following a rigid set of rules or performing certain tasks. I cannot speak for other believers, but for me to become a believer in Jesus Christ meant that I believed that Jesus: (1) was resurrected from the dead by God never to experience death again; and (2) was the Redeemer who freed all people from slavery to sin by His death on the Cross; and (3) is the Savior who saves all believers in Jesus Christ from the punishment of eternal death in Hell; and (4) is the Son of God; and (5) is one person of a Trinity consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and (6) has absolute authority as Lord in Heaven and on earth. Scripture speaks of life and death of believers in Jesus Christ in several ways. At the risk of being too subjective, I have added a few concepts to help me and, perhaps, other believers to better understand the content of many passages within the context of the entire Bible. Hopefully, I have interpreted the Bible correctly and the discussion of the structural framework set forth in EXHIBIT 1A will be of value to you. 5

6 EXHIBIT 1A LIVES OF BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST PHYSICAL LIFE SPIRITUAL DEATH IMPUTED SIN INHERITED SIN PERSONAL SIN REDEEMED LIFE REGENERATED LIFE ETERNAL LIFE INERT LIFE SPIRIT-LED LIFE SANCTIFIED LIFE BODY DEATH SOUL LIFE GLORIFIED LIFE 6

7 SECTION 2 PHYSICAL LIFE--FIRST LIFE OF ALL PEOPLE The physical life of a human is the time between biological birth--of both body and soul--and his or her body death. As written in the Old Testament and shown below, physical life if a gift from God the Holy Spirit, who gives every person their every breath--from the first to the last. 1. Job 33:4 (ESV) 4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. 2. Psalm 104:29-30 (ESV) 29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground. Many people on earth do not even acknowledge God the Holy Spirit. Regardless, every human on this planet is dependent upon God the Holy Spirit for his or her physical life. 7

8 SECTION 3 SPIRITUAL DEATH OF ALL PEOPLE All people come into the world physically alive but spiritually dead--missing out on the quality of life that God had intended for all humans. As the apostle Paul told us, All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Ro 3:23 ESV). No one is born without sin and with righteousness (Ro 3:10 ESV) and the payment for sin is death (Ro 6:23 ESV). Spiritual death can, therefore, be defined as the state of humans who commit sin and are separated from God. To understand the meaning of spiritual death, it helps if one knows (1) how sin is defined, (2) God s ordained plan for sin, (3) origin of sin, (4) the effect of sin on Adam and Eve, and (5) the types of sin. What Is Sin? Sin is the failure of a person to conform to the laws, commands, or moral nature of any one of the persons of the Trinity. Sin includes sinful actions (Hos 4:1-3 ESV), sinful attitudes (Gal 5:19-21 ESV), and a sinful nature (Eph 2:3 ESV). The apostle John tells us straightforwardly that sin is lawlessness (1 Jn 3:4 ESV). Scripture also tells us that sin is evil in the sight of the Lord (Dt 9:18 ESV). Father God s Ordained Plan for Sin Although sin is evil and it angers God the Father, He ordained sin with the purpose of bringing glory to Himself and good to all of His people. Indeed, the 8

9 most evil deed in all history was the definite plan and foreknowledge of God that Jesus would be crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men (Ac 2:23 ESV). Scripture tells us the Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble (Pr 16:4 ESV). He brought about His plan into the human world through the voluntary choices of Adam and Eve. Origin of Sin on Earth Sin was present in the angelic world, but God cast angels into hell when they sinned (2Pe 2:4 ESV). In the earthly world, the first sin was committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Ge 3: 1-19 ESV). God had given them the command that they were not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or they would die (Ge 2:16-17 ESV). But the serpent encouraged Eve to eat, and she gave some apple to Adam, which he ate (Ge 3:4-6 ESV). Rather than allow God s words to define right and wrong, the first sin, a violation of God s command, entered the world through Adam and Eve, the first man and woman on earth. Effect of Sin on Adam and Eve Before the sin of Adam and Eve, God the Father had said that man would live forever (Ge 3:22 ESV). The implication of this promise is that physical life would not end and that spiritual life, in terms of a relationship with Father God would go on forever. 9

10 The punishment of body death began to be carried out on the day that Adam and Eve sinned. It was performed slowly over time as Adam grew older and eventually died at 930 years (Ge 5:4-6 ESV). The warning of spiritual death was put into effect immediately. Adam and Eve were separated instantly from any fellowship with God. Types of Sin Understanding the meaning of the three different types of sins is essential to a believer. First, as a result of Adam s original sin, all human beings became sinners. They inherited sin--or the tendencies, desires, and attitudes that caused them to make sinful choices and think sinful thoughts. It is inherent in all of us. As David tells us, we all inherit sin from our parents. (Ps 51:5 ESV). Synonyms for the word inherit include: (1) become heir to, (2) to be passed to, (3) to be turned over to, (4) to succeed to, and (5) to be bequeathed. In summary, all future members of the human race were represented by Adam and Eve. When they sinned, God considered their guilt as being passed to all humans to be born in the future. Since God is the supreme judge, the guilt of Adam and Eve is inherited sin by us (Eph 2:3 ESV). A second type of sin committed by humans is personal sin. It is the result of individual choices made by every human being every single day. Even under holy 10

11 influences, children are selfish and often tell lies. These individual sins--or personal sins--include everything from murder to superficially innocent untruths. The third type of sin is imputed sin, which is similar, but not identical to inherited sin. The word imputed means to take something that belongs to someone and credit it to belonging to another. Synonyms for the adjective imputed include: (1) counted, (2) blamed, (3) charged, (4) credited, (5) assigned, (6) accused (7) judged, (8) attributed, and (9) reckoned. The passage in Scripture which most clearly tells us the meaning of imputed sin is Romans 5:12-21 (NASB), shown in entirety in EXHIBIT 3A. Examination of this entire passage in context reveals that the apostle Paul is not talking about inherited sin, but about imputed sins. The expression that death spread to all men because all sinned means that Father God thought of all humans as having sinned when Adam disobeyed. In other words, He counted Adam s guilt as belonging to us. 11

12 EXHIBIT 3A SCRIPTURE OF APOSTLE PAUL IN ROMANS 5:12-21 (NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE) 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- 13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grade and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. 18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. 20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12

13 Imputed sin is further suggested by Paul when he tells us that it was not imposed on man until after the law of Moses (Ro 5:13 NASB) The fact that people died during this time is first-rate proof that God the Father imputed that people were guilty on the basis of Adam s sin. These remarks, when read and understood in context, clearly show that Paul is not telling us about personal sins or inherited sins, but rather to Adam s first sin. The idea that all men sinned means that Father God thought that Adam s sin spread to all people when Adam disobeyed. This is clear upon careful examination of Romans 5:13-14 above. The summation to be brought out in Romans 5:12-21 is that, from the time of Moses, until the death of Jesus on the Cross, the human race was represented by Adam. When he sinned, Father God counted Adam s guilt as belonging to all humans. Since Father God is the ultimate judge, He imputed the sin of Adam to us. The apostle Paul s statements clearly show that Adam s sin was imputed to man s account just as one act of Jesus Christ was imputed to all men. 13

14 SECTION 4 REDEEMED LIFE--SECOND LIFE OF ALL PEOPLE When the time had come, God the Father sent the Word of God into the world to become the human, Jesus (Jn 1:14 ESV). Jesus then dwelt among humans but He gave up His human life so that Father God would free all people of the whole world from the penalty of all sins--inherited sin, imputed sin, and personal sin, as presented in EXHIBIT 4A, which follows on page 16. Scripture makes it very clear that a person does not have to come to belief in Jesus Christ before his or her sins are forgiven (Ro 6:6-7; 6:14; 1Co 15:22 NASB). Rather he or she is justified by common grace of God the Father. In other words, it is Father God who gave the entire human race redeemed life through the redemption paid by Jesus Christ (Ro 3:22-25 NASB). It does, however, seem reasonable that until a person accepts Jesus Christ as Redeemer, he or she may not fully comprehend that Jesus Christ saved him or her from spiritual death and for redeemed life. Indeed, the decision to believe in Jesus Christ is based to some degree on whether or not you believe Christ is your Redeemer. Several cautions! Freedom from sin s power does not mean that sin is extinct, or that sin was terminated, or that it is ever eradicated in a human s life. Rather, being set free from sin indicates the controlling power of sin was broken. It is 14

15 powerless and ineffective. It should not, however, encourage people to go on sinning which creates separation from God. Then too, Father God s forgiveness of sin does not make today s sins trivial. Indeed, Christ s death for sin clearly shows Father God s offensive seriousness toward sin. As suggested by the following verse, grace and mercy must not become an excuse for sinful living: Romans 6:1-2 (ESV) 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 15

16 EXHIBIT 4A HUMANS FOR WHOM JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS ALL BIBLE VERSES FROM TODAY S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION 1. Romans 3: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all* are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 2. John 1:29 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 3. Romans 5:18 18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all. 4. Romans 6:10 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God Corinthians 15:22 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive Timothy 2:5-6 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, Christ Jesus, himself human, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. 7. Hebrews 7:27 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 8. Hebrews 9:12 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtained eternal redemption. *Underlining is added to Scripture for emphasis. 16

17 SECTION 5 REGENERATED LIFE--THIRD LIFE OF CHRISTIANS Regeneration is the work of God the Holy Spirit in which He imparts new birth to people. Jesus referred to this process as being born again and born of the Spirit (Jn 3:3-8 ESV). Giving people regenerated life is not the same as giving them redeemed life. The latter was given to all people as an act of Grace from Father God after Jesus died on the Cross for our redemption. Regeneration is an act of God the Holy Spirit in which He awakens the inactive life within individuals by giving them rebirth. In his or her regenerated life, a person can respond to Jesus Christ in faith and repentance. Being born again comes before belief in Jesus Christ. But they usually come so close together that it seems they are happening at the very same time. In some of the elements of the structure shown in EXHIBIT 1A, people play an active part. In their regenerated life, humans play no active role whatsoever. People are entirely passive in their rebirth ; they have no power to enhance the work of God the Holy Spirit (Ro 8:16 ESV). Regenerated life is a gift entirely from Him. Exactly how it takes place in our lives is a mystery. Just as we cannot 17

18 control how or when we were given biological birth, we cannot control how or when we were reborn (Jn 3:8 ESV). When we have been given regenerated life by God the Holy Spirit, we are, however, aware that our lives have been changed. At that instant, we begin to: 1. Have the ability to believe that Jesus is the Christ (1 Jn 5:1 ESV). 2. Realize that we have received a heavenly gift and that gift is God the Holy Spirit Himself (Heb 6:4 ESV). 3. Refrain from continued indulgences in sinning (1Jn 3:9 ESV). 4. Change our attitude about how to pray as well as the things for which we pray (1Pe 4:7 ESV). 5. Show agape love or genuine concern for God and all people (1Jn 4:9 ESV). 6. Practice righteousness (1Jn 2:29 ESV). 7. Know that we will be protected from harm by the evil one (1Jn 5:18 ESV). Many people think that a person first has to believe in Jesus Christ before he or she can have regenerated life--or be born again. Jesus emphatically told us otherwise. In His conversation with Nicodemus, He said, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (Jn 3:3 ESV). Unless regeneration takes place 18

19 first, there is no possibility that a human could have faith in Jesus Christ. To emphasize this viewpoint, the sequence is like this: REGENERATION P R E C E D E S BELIEF IN CHRIST 19

20 SECTION 6 ETERNAL LIFE--FOURTH LIFE OF CHRISTIANS Eternal life is the everlasting fellowship that all believers in Jesus Christ have (not will have) with Christ (Jn 3:36 ESV). This relationship takes place in their earthly lives, in their soul lives in Paradise, and in their glorified lives in Heaven. Eternal death or second death is everlasting separation from God. Being born again does not mean that a person has eternal life. Rather regeneration by God the Holy Spirit enables or capacitates us to believe in Jesus Christ. As apostle John tells us, it is this belief which gives eternal life: John 3:16 (TNIV) 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. * John 5:24 (TNIV) 24 Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. John 6:40 (TNIV) 40 For my Father s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life and I will raise them up at the last day. John 6:47 (TNIV) 47 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. John 11:25-26 (TNIV) 25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this? *Boldness added to Scripture for emphasis. 20

21 A person becomes a believer in Jesus Christ not by following a rigid set of rules, or rituals, nor performing certain tasks. One becomes a believer in Jesus Christ based upon what he or she believes about Jesus Christ. I cannot speak for anyone else, but as summarized in SECTION 1, this meant that I believe: 1. That Jesus was resurrected from the dead and He never experienced death again (Ro 10:9; 8:11; 6:9; 1Co 6:14; Ac 2:24 ESV), and 2. That Jesus is my Redeemer who enabled me and all other people to be free from slavery to sin by His death on the Cross (1Pe 1:18-19; Ro 3:24-25; Eph 1:7 ESV), and 3. That Jesus is my Savior who saves me and all other believers from the punishment of eternal death in Hell (1Ti 4:10; Jn 4:42; 1Jn 4:14 ESV), and 4. That Jesus is the Son of Father God (1Jn 4:14-15; 5:5, 10-12; Mt 14:33 ESV), and 5. That Jesus is one person of a Triune Godhead, or Trinity, consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Mt 28:19; Mk 1:10-11 ESV), and 6. That Jesus Christ has absolute authority as Lord in Heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18; Ro 10:9 ESV). 21

22 I should like my beliefs in Jesus Christ to be perfectly clear. I believe that all of the above statements 1, and 2, and 3, and 4, and 5, and 6--were declarations of my convictions when I chose to believe in Jesus Christ and they continue to be my affirmations. After being regenerated by God the Holy Spirit and believing in Jesus Christ, people have eternal life. This means that living regenerates who have faith in Jesus Christ have: a a a PHYSICAL n REDEEMED n REGENERATED n ETERNAL LIFE d LIFE d LIFE d LIFE 22

23 SECTION 7 INERT LIFE OF SOME CHRISTIANS At the moment a person becomes a believer in Jesus Christ, Father God puts His seal of ownership on him or her to show that he or she belongs to Him, and puts God the Holy Spirit into their hearts as a deposit (2Co 1:22; Eph 1:13-14 ESV). This deposit guarantees that salvation is theirs now and that they will receive much more when Christ returns. The presence of God the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers endows them with great power to put in use in service to God (Ac 1:8 ESV). Many believers, however, are not effective users of this power. Some Believers Become Inert No believer would question that he or she wants to be saved for eternal life. But many believers appear--or at least give the appearance--not to be interested in being of service to God. It may be entirely inaccurate, but I sometimes think of these folks as living an inert life. To me, these believers are inactive, slow, sluggish, lethargic, and passive in display of their faith. They have been saved for eternal life, but don t seem to exhibit the joy one would expect from all believers. And it is not obvious that they feel any accountability to help create Christian values for the well-being of society. On the whole, it seems to me that too many believers are living an inert life. Their faith in Jesus is largely a lifeless private matter, not to be shared with others. 23

24 Inert Believers Are Not Alone Inert believers, no doubt, pray to God in times of suffering or weakness. Many of them probably do not know what to pray for and how to voice their requests. None of these inert believers, however, are left on their own. As Scripture tells us, no creature is hidden from the sight of Father God (Heb 4:13 ESV). The other two persons of the Trinity also continually intercede -- which means to approach or appeal to Father God--on their behalf. Lord Jesus intercedes for all believers in Father God s presence (Heb 7:25; Ro 8:34 ESV). God the Holy Spirit comes to the rescue and intercedes for all saints even though some of them may be in the state of inert life (Ro 8:26-27 ESV). 24

25 SECTION 8 SPIRIT-LED LIFE FIFTH LIFE OF AN EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN Your belief in Jesus Christ enables you to have eternal life--a treasured status for now and forever. It does not, however, mean that you have to end your active life in Jesus Christ. As noted above, at the moment we become believers in Jesus Christ, God the Father places God the Holy Spirit in our hearts (2 Cor 5:5 ESV). This shows us that Father God is our Master and guarantees us that salvation is ours. With God the Holy Spirit in his or her heart, a believer can choose to have a spirit-led life. Nature of Spirit-led Life God the Holy Spirit is, of course, the power behind a believer s spirit-led life. Many passages in Scripture enlighten us about the character of this life. While my list may not be exhaustive, these characteristics are presented in EXHIBITS 8A and 8B, which follow on pages 26 and 27. Perhaps, the best overall indication that you have spirit-led life is that you have made Jesus great commandments an essential part of your physical life. As He revealed, we should: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a (continued on page 28) 25

26 EXHIBIT 8A CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPIRIT-LED LIFE 1. You will be filled with intelligence, understanding, knowledge, wisdom, and all kinds of skills (Ex 31:3; 35:30-31 ESV). 2. You will be taught the will of Father God (Ps 143:10 ESV). 3. You will have God s Word made known to you (Pr 1:23 ESV). 4. You will be careful to follow God s statutes and obey His decrees (Eze 36:27 ESV). 5. You will be led away from the temptation of the devil (Mt 4:1-3; Lk 4:1-3 ESV). 6. You will trust God the Holy Spirit to help you with your choice of words when you speak for God (Lk 12:11-12 ESV). 7. You will be reminded of Jesus teachings and His actions (Jn 14:26 ESV). 8. You will be guided into all the truth about Jesus Christ (Jn 16:13-15 ESV). 9. You will have the power to be Jesus witness to the end of the earth (Ac1:8 ESV). 10. You will speak God s Word with boldness (Ac 4:31 ESV). 11. You will have Father God s love poured into your heart (Ro 5:5 ESV). 12. You will conduct your life as God the Holy Spirit directs you (Ro 8:5-6 ESV). 13. You will regard the power of sin to be dead in your body so that you can ignore temptation when it comes (Ro 8:13 ESV). 14. You have a new intimate relationship with Father God as you are now His son or daughter (Ro 8:14-16 ESV). 15. You will not be left on your own to cope with daily problems (Ro 8:26 ESV). 26

27 EXHIBIT 8B CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPIRIT-LED LIFE (Continued) 16. You will be praying according to the will of Father God. (Ro 8:27 ESV). 17. You will overflow with hope in your belief in Jesus Christ (Ro 15:13 ESV). 18. You will have extra power in your words that bring glory to Jesus Christ (1Co 2:3-4 ESV). 19. You are competent to be a minister of the new covenant (2Co 3:6 ESV). 20. You will continue the process of being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (2Co 3:17-18 ESV). 21. You will have the desire to hear and the readiness to obey the promptings of God the Holy Spirit rather than rely on your own feelings (Gal 5:16ESV). 22. The desires of the sinful nature are obvious to you, and God the Holy Spirit will keep you from doing these things (Gal 5:17-19 ESV). 23. You will display and harvest the fruit of God the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22-23 ESV). 24. You will look to God the Holy Spirit for approval rather than win popularity with other people (Gal 5: ESV). 25. You have access to Father God through Jesus Christ and you are brought near to Jesus Christ by God the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:13, ESV). 26. You will be empowered to exercise the gifts from God the Holy Spirit to strengthen the unity of the church (Eph 4:3-5 ESV). 27. You will begin to understand what God s will is (Eph 5:17-18 ESV). 28. You have the power to do good rather than evil (2Ti 1:14 ESV). 27

28 second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. (Mt 22: See also Mk 12:28-34 and Lk 10:25-28 ESV). Meaning of the Word Love As you know, the New Testament was first written in Greek. To understand the meaning of the term love, as used by Jesus Christ in the first and second commandments, it is essential that a spirit-led believer have a thorough grasp of the Greek words for love, as used in the Bible. In the Greek language, the term love can be divided into four basic classes. These categories and the approximate substance in contemporary English are presented below: GREEK WORDS FOR LOVE ESSENCE IN ENGLISH Storge...Natural Affection Eros..Romantic Love Philia Friendship Agape...Concern Storge is the Greek term for natural affection. It is fondness through familiarity, particularly between family members--such as the love of a parent toward a child. It is natural in that it is present without arm-twisting. Storge is emotional love because it is the outcome of tenderness due to familiarity. 28

29 Eros is love in the sense of being in love. It is romantic or emotional love with sensual desire and longing but does not have to be sexual in nature. It can be interpreted as a love for someone whom you love more than philia or love of friendship. The term erotic, or seductive love, is derived from eros. As used in Greek, the word philia is usually translated as friendship. It usually exists because of a common bond or activity such as, for example, membership in a church, or in a university fraternity or sorority. Philia involves getting on well with other persons. Agape is the type of love that is given away without any expectation of having it returned. It is a love of the will --the will to accept, support, care for, forgive, give, serve, and nurture the growth of others for their well-being. Agape is not dependent on any lovable qualities that the object of this love possesses. To me, concern is the English word that best translates from the Greek terms agape (noun) and agapao (verb). God s love for people is best labeled as agape. The perfect example of Father God s agape is seen in His gift of His Son (Jn 3:16; 1 Jn 4:9-10 ESV). This obviously was not a love of affection or emotion. It was His deliberate choice. It was exercise of His will in a way that expresses His love toward all humans. Agape is not like philia or storge--which are loves of emotion. It is God s 29

30 nature to love, but with His will. His love--agape--is doing what is best for man although this may not be what man desires. Acquiring a Spirit-led Life As may be seen by examination of the top left of EXHIBIT 8C, in Romans 8:5, the apostle Paul divides people into two groups--those who let their minds be controlled by their sinful nature and those who set their minds on what God the Holy Spirit desires. To have a spirit-led life, you must give up the right to yourself. You must yield to the will of God the Holy Spirit to allow your spirit-led life to emerge and to grow. Of course, this means you have to learn what and how God the Holy Spirit communicates with you. Pay attention. Keep your ear sensitive so that you can hear His softest whisper and respond to what He tells you. Know that he may communicate to you in many different ways. Be prepared to embrace His message. Jesus assured us that if you need more help from God the Holy Spirit--ask in prayer and that help will be given to you (Lk 11:9-13 ESV). As a child of God, you will be given what is good for you in your spirit-led life--not what will harm you. Trust in Him to fill you with joy and peace, as shown in Romans 15:13 in EXHIBIT 8C, and you will have a mind that discerns the will of God. 30

31 EXHIBIT 8C ACQUIRING A SPIRIT-LED LIFE FROM GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT SET YOUR MIND ON HIM Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (Ro 8:5 TNIV) ASK HIM FOR MORE HELP IF NEEDED How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. (Lk 11:13 TNIV) TRUST HIM May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ro 15:13 TNIV) 31

32 SECTION 9 SANCTIFIED LIFE--SIXTH LIFE OF AN EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN The term sanctification as used in Scripture and in this TOPIC refers to the process by which a believer in Jesus is separated from the power of sin and becomes more and more like Jesus Christ (Ro 6: 16, 22; 2Th 2:13; 1Pe 1:2 ESV). Acquiring a sanctified life is a cooperative process of God the Holy Spirit and a believer. Believer s Role in Sanctification Before a believer can begin to have a sanctified life, he or she must deliberately submit to the control of God the Holy Spirit that resides in his or her heart (Jas 4:7-8 ESV). Then, that submitted believer must focus on the wishes of God the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16-26 ESV), confess to sinful acts (1Jn 1:8-10 ESV), repent for sins committed (Ac 17:30 ESV), and strive to discontinue sins to which he or she has become indifferent or has chosen to commit (Tit 1:8 ESV). God the Holy Spirit s Role in Sanctification A believer s sanctification is primarily the work of God the Holy Spirit (2Th 2:13 ESV). He helps believers, who have surrendered to Him, put to death the deeds of the body and live according to what He desires (Ro 8:12-13 ESV). God 32

33 the Holy Spirit transforms these believers to become more and more like Jesus Christ. While not based on statistical data, it is my opinion that too many believers in Jesus Christ have simply not submitted to God the Holy Spirit for sanctification. As a result, they have not obtained a very special relationship with the three persons of the Trinity. Then too, it is my view that a believer who does not submit to God the Holy Spirit for sanctification can never be an effective or highly productive servant for Lord Jesus. Being effective is doing things that one should be doing. High productivity means doing things with the least time and resources. Nature of Sanctified Life The sanctified life of a believer who has submitted to God the Holy Spirit is a progressive and continuous transformation--one never completed until that believer is glorified. Scripture informs us of many characteristics of believers in sanctified life. Many of these are presented in EXHIBITS 9A and 9B, which follow. 33

34 EXHIBIT 9A CHARACTERISTICS OF BELIEVERS IN SANCTIFIED LIFE (All verses from the English Standard Version) 1. Love the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength (Mk 12:30). 2. Love our neighbors as ourselves (Mk 12:31). 3. Trust God the Holy Spirit to work in us to yield positive results (Php 2:13). 4. Play an active role in our own sanctification (Ro 8:13; Col 3:8). 5. Accept our purpose is to conform to the image of Jesus Christ (Ro 8:29; 1Co 15:49). 6. Knowing God the Holy Spirit is guiding us (Jn 16:13). 7. Constantly building power to distinguish good from evil (Heb 5:14; Isa 7:15). 8. Making moral choices that are opposed and hostile to world standards (2Co 10: 3-4). 9. Cleanse ourselves of every defilement of body and soul/spirit* (2Co 7:1). 10. Thinking how to be holy in all of our conduct (1Pe 1: 14-16). 11. Realizing that God the Holy Spirit has changed the things that really matter to you. (2Co 5:17). 12. Deliberately committing ourselves to God and being willing to pay whatever it may cost (Mt. 16:24; Ro 12:1). 13. Being filled with the security of life given by God the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:27). 14. Looking more to interests of others (Php 2:4). 15. Having absolute, unrestrained faith in Jesus Christ (1Co 1:30). 16. Delight in doing God s will (Php 2:13). 17. Strive for holiness and peace with everyone (Heb 12:14). 34

35 EXHIBIT 9B CHARACTERISTICS OF BELIEVERS IN SANCTIFIED LIFE (Continued) 18. Make every effort to supplement our faith in God and our knowledge of Him (2 Pe 1:5; Col 1:10). 19. Becoming strongly focused on Jesus Christ s interests (1Co1:10). 20. Set an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity (Ti 4:12; Tit 2:7). 21. Take pains to have a clear conscience toward God and man (Ac 24:16). 22. Spend more time in: a. Bible reading (Mt 4:4; Jn 17:17) b. Christian fellowship (Heb 10: 24-25) c. Meditating (Php 4:8; Col 3:2) d. Prayer (Eph 6:18; Php 4:6; Col 4:2) e. Self-control (Gal 5:23; 2Ti 1:7) f. Witnessing (Mt 28:19-20) g. Worship (Eph 5:18-20; 1Th 1:2) 23. Filled with the desire to: a. Help unbelievers come to belief in Christ (1Pe 3:15) b. Avoid God s displeasure (Pr 1:7; 9:10) c. Seek greater heavenly reward (2Co 5: 9-10) d. Desire to please God and follow His commandments (1Jn 3:22) e. Have a deeper walk with God (1Jn 1:6) f. Have joy in their lives (Ro 15:13) g. Do what is right (Php 4:8) 24. Allow God the Holy Spirit to be involved in every aspect of our lives (1Th 5:23-24). 25. Learn who Jesus Christ really is and how we can be effective in serving Him (Php 1:6; 1Pe 1:2; 2Ti 3:17). 26. Be intensely focused on God s purpose for us (Ro 8:27-28). 27. Begin to know what it means to truly follow Jesus (Ro 14:17-19). 28. The experience of being separated from sin and made more and more like Jesus Christ begins to show in our everyday lives (1Co 6:17). 35

36 SECTION 10 BODY DEATH OF ALL PEOPLE The body is the material or physical part of a person. A believer in Jesus Christ should not consider his or her own body death as (1) punishment for sins, (2) separation from God, or (3) the end of existence. First, the apostle Paul tells us there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Ro 8:1-3 ESV). To condemn a person is to declare him or her guilty and worthy of punishment. While the penalty for sin is death (Ro 6:23 ESV), punishment does not apply to believers in Christ because the sin that belonged to them was that borne by Jesus on the Cross (Jn 3:17-18 ESV). Second, body death is not separation from God but only part of God s plan to sanctify those who are called according to His purpose. That purpose is to make us more and more like Jesus Christ (Ro 8: ESV). Third, body death is not the end of existence for believers. More accurately stated, it is the transition to another dimension of life in which our conscious existence continues. Even though God the Father brings good to believers through the process of body death, it is not natural. It was not created by Father God. It comes to us as a result of living in a fallen world where evil exists. God chose not to remove all evil from the world with the redemptive work of Jesus Christ but wait until final judgment. Until Jesus returns and destroys the devil--the one who has the power of death--all believers and non-believers will grow old and die (Heb 2:14 ESV). 36

37 Body death is considered to be the last evil or last enemy to be destroyed (1Co 15:25 ESV). Believers should not view their own body death with fear but with joy at the thought of their souls being in the presence of Christ (2Co 5:8 ESV). Unambiguously, Scripture reassures believers that body death will not be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ro 8:35-39 ESV). Believers should also experience great comfort in knowing that the souls of other believers, who have died, have immediately gone to be with the Lord, as will be discussed in SECTION 11 below. Scripture also informs us that at the time that unbelievers die, it is with sorrow and heartfelt anguish that they will be cut off from Christ (Ro 9:1-3 ESV). Of course, we will not know with absolute certainty whether or not a person has persisted in their unbelief in Jesus Christ all the way to the point of body death. Only God knows. 37

38 SECTION 11 SOUL LIFE--SEVENTH LIFE OF AN EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN To begin to feel comfortable in what takes place after a believer s body death, one should have an understanding of the word soul. This term soul has been used to have many different meanings in Scripture. One, it is that which makes the human body alive. This treatment of the expression soul refers to life in the physical body (Ge 35:18 ESV). The word soul is also used to refer to the inner life of a person, the seat of emotions and desires, and the focus of human personality (Mt 26:38; 3Jn 1:2-3 ESV). Another view of the word soul, held by many trichotomists, is that a human is made up of three parts-- body, soul, and spirit. Based on my own layman s examination of Scripture, I agree with the doctrine called dichotomy. This belief concludes that the human spirit is not a separate part of a person, but simply another term for soul. To be clear, it is my opinion that humans are made up of two parts-- body and soul/spirit. Both terms are used synonymously in the Bible to talk about the immaterial part of humans, as shown here: Mark 14:33-34 (ESV) 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch. Psalm 116:8-9 (ESV) 8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, 38

39 my feet from stumbling; 9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. Revelation 6:9 (ESV) 9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. Luke 23:46 (ESV) 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, Father, into your hand I commit my spirit! And having said this he breathed his last. Psalm 31:5 (ESV) 5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. Acts 7:59 (ESV) 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Essence of Soul Life For believers, soul life begins at the very instant that God the Holy Spirit takes their breath away (Job 34:14-15 ESV). At that moment of body death, there is a nonpermanent separation of the body from the soul and the soul goes immediately into the presence of Jesus Christ in Paradise. The physical bodies of believers remain on earth to be buried or cremated. Many scriptural texts proclaim that our souls (or spirits) live on after our bodies die, as presented here: 39

40 Luke 23:42-43 (ESV) 42 And he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 43 And he said to him, Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise. 2 Corinthians 5:8 (ESV) 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. Matthew 10:28 (ESV) 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Philippians 1:23-24 (ESV) 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Soul Life Not to Be Confused With Soul Sleep Soul life should not be mistaken for soul sleep. The latter is an inaccurate doctrine advanced by some people to be a state of unconscious existence that believers go into when they die. When Scripture refers to death as sleep or falling asleep, it is an expression used to indicate that death is only temporary for believers in Jesus Christ. What Happens in Soul Life? In your soul life, your soul will relate to God in many ways. You will continue to: love God with all your soul (Mk 12:30 ESV), praise the Lord (Ps 40

41 146:1 ESV), bless the Lord (Ps 103:1 ESV), and know the love of Christ (Ro 8:38-39 ESV). There seems to be no area of soul life in which the Bible says that our souls are inactive in our relationship with God. There is no doubt that (1) you will be with Lord Jesus (2Co 5:6-8; Php 1:23-24 ESV), (2) you will continue to be separated from sin and (3) you will continue to be transformed to be more and more like Christ (2Co 3:18 ESV). Scripture offers little detail on whether or not believers are given temporary physical bodies in soul life or exist in a non-corporeal form (2Co 12:2-3 ESV). The only Scripture that indirectly addresses this issue is made by the apostle John who described believers in this state as souls (Rev 6:9 ESV). But as Jesus told the one sentenced to die with Him, you will be with me in Paradise (Lk 23:43 ESV), a place of exceptional bliss, happiness, and delight. What an incredible thought it is for our souls to be walking with Christ in a place much like the Garden of Eden before the Fall. 41

42 SECTION 12 GLORIFIED LIFE--EIGHTH LIFE OF AN EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN Simply defined, glorification is the return of believers in Jesus Christ to the way they were intended when created--in the image of Lord Jesus (2Co 3:18; 1Co 15:49; Ro 8:29 ESV). There are two events that occur during this process. The first is the resurrection of believers and the second is the perfection of the resurrected bodies of these believers before they enter the new heaven and new earth. The most crystal-clear explanation in Scripture on glorification is in the entire fifteenth chapter of fifty-eight verses in the apostle Paul s first letter to the Corinthians (1Co 15:1-58 ESV). Resurrection of Believers When Christ returns, the bodies of two classes of believers will be resurrected. One group consists of those who have died previously and are in soul life. Their bodies or ashes will rise first. After that, the second group, which is composed of those who are still alive on judgment day, will first die and then rise into the clouds to meet the Lord and the first group in the air (see also 1Th 4:16-17). Perfection of Resurrected Bodies Each believer will receive his or her own body and not some creation that did not exist before. St. Paul tells us, however, that these bodies will be changed--they 42

43 will be perfected to be like that of Jesus. This means that each believer s body in his or her glorified life (1Co 15:35-58 ESV): 1. Will be of the size which it attained or should have attained in youth and it will have symmetry and proportion. 2. Will be immortal or imperishable, not destroyed by death (see also Rev 2:4 ESV). 3. Will no longer grow old, or be subject to pain, injury, sickness, or disease. 4. Will shine like the sun but will differ in splendor (see also Mt 13:43 ESV). 5. Will be free from weakness that hinders movement. 6. Will be sinless and completely incorruptible. 7. Will be perfect for the needs of glorified life. Nature of Glorified Life We do not know the exact details of glorified life. The Bible does, however, give us many truths which disclose the general character of this life, including the characteristics in EXHIBITS 12A through 12F, which follow. 43

44 EXHIBIT 12A SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF GLORIFIED LIFE CHARACTERISTIC SCRIPTURE 1. You will be in a new heaven and a new earth as the first heaven and earth have passed away. Rev 21:1; 2Pe 3:13 2. The presence and glory of God His beauty, power, and greatness will be seen everywhere. Rev 21: You will be in a place that can be compared to a place where a king gave a wedding feast for his son. Mt 22:2 4. You will not be able to look at seas as they will no longer exist. Rev 21:1 5. There will be no night in this place. Rev 21:25 6. You will be in a place of righteousness prepared by God for your joy forever. Mt 25:34; Isa 65:18 7. You will be in a place free from corruption. Rev 21:27; Ro 8:21 8. There will be no more death, as death is the last enemy that God destroyed. 1Co 15: 26, 54; 2 Ti 1:10 44

45 EXHIBIT 12B SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF GLORIFIED LIFE (Continued) CHARACTERISTIC SCRIPTURE 9. There will be no more mourning, nor crying, nor pain--as all have passed away. Rev 21:4 10. Each person must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive what is due for things done in earthly life, whether good or bad. 2Co 5: You will retain your memory when you stand before the judgment of Christ, otherwise you could not be held to be accountable for your actions. 2Co 5: You will be rewarded based on what you have done, not on ability or position. Rev 22: Some will be assigned greater authority and responsibility than others. Lk 19:

46 EXHIBIT 12C SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF GLORIFIED LIFE (Continued) CHARACTERISTIC SCRIPTURE 14. Heavenly rewards to be given by Lord Jesus include: a. The crown of life to those who have remained steadfast in their love for Him. b. The crown of glory and honor to those who have been examples for others. c. The crown of righteousness to those who longed for His return. Jas 1:12; Rev 2:10 Heb 2:7; 1Pe 5:3-4 2Ti 4:8 15. You will see, know, and understand the perfect love that God has for you. 1Jn 4: You will know and be in agreement with the will of God. Ro 12:2; Eph 5: You will be at home with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all of whom you will see together. Rev 4:1-6; 5: You will be known by God and you will receive praise from Him. 1Co 8:3; 2Ti 2:19 46

47 EXHIBIT 12D SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF GLORIFIED LIFE (Continued) CHARACTERISTIC SCRIPTURE 19. God the Holy Spirit will continue to give you counsel, understanding, wisdom, and joy in glorified life. Ps 139:7-8; Jn 14: You will worship your God forever. 21. Scripture speaks of months and years in heaven, which suggest those in glorified life will be subject to time Mt 4:10; Lk 4:8 Rev 20:4; 22:2 22. You will enjoy people from all ages, nations, and cultures. Rev 7:9 23. You will meet your loved ones and you will know perfect love in your relationships. 1Jn 4: You will know others in heaven as well as be known by others. 1Co 13: You will be able to recognize other people from your experience on earth. Mt 17:3-4; Lk 16:

48 EXHIBIT 12E SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF GLORIFIED LIFE (Continued) CHARACTERISTIC SCRIPTURE 26. You will see that many well-known people on earth are not in heaven. 2Co 11: You will speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, be gentle, and show perfect courtesy toward all others. Tit 3:2 28. Many passages in Scripture refer to animals in heaven but: (1) do not specify whether they are new creations or reborn earthly creatures; (2) do not refer to their eternity or immortality; and (3) do not tell us that animals--including the pets you have loved--have an afterlife in heaven. Ecc 3: If you are currently married in your earthly life, you will not continue to remain married in heaven to your current spouse since the marriage bond is broken when one spouse dies. 30. In glorified life, no one will marry. Ro 7:2; 1Co 7:39 Mk 12:25; Lk 20:35 48

49 EXHIBIT 12F SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF GLORIFIED LIFE (Continued) CHARACTERISTIC SCRIPTURE 31. There will be no sexual relationships for creating families or for enjoyment since there will be no marriages in heaven. Mt 22: Based on the meeting of the resurrected Jesus with His disciples, you will be able to eat food. Lk 24: Don t be anxious about what you will eat, or drink, or wear--god knows what you need and will take care of you. Mt 6:31-32; Lk 12: You will continue to grow in the kingdom of God. Mk 4: You will be with Lord Jesus forever--he will never leave you. 1Th 4:17; Heb 13:4-5 49