Salvation or regeneration is predicated on one thing and one thing alone—that is, believe in Jesus Christ. This means a person in an aircraft that is about to crash can repent or turn the heart to believe in Jesus for his or her soul to be saved and God will hear their heart’s prayer and save the soul from eternal condemnation and punishment in hell, though they may die in the crash.
The fact the person is not baptized in water will not nullify the person’s regeneration (baptism into Christ Gal 3:27, Eph 4:5, 1 Pet 3:18-22). However, it does not cancel the truth that baptism in water is a commandment from God. The truth that this command is not a prerequisite for salvation does not diminish its importance. Jesus obeyed it Matt 3:13-16 and so must every believer whom God gives the opportunity (to remain on the earth after being regenerated).
The thought here is this, baptism in water is an important outward symbolism of the unseen death and resurrection (regeneration) of a believer. What it symbolizes or represents detail how it should be done (by immersion). Given it is a command from God and its importance, refusing to obey it will pass as lawlessness (or sheer disobedience). Being adamant to obey this God’s command could possibly be pointing to an absence of regeneration (the replacing of the heart of stone with the heart of flesh) and a conscience sprinkled by the Blood of redemption (Christ).
One of the responsibilities given to the body of Christ by Christ is, “baptizing them (those that come to believe the gospel) in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” (signifying the three that wroth the work of salvation in the person) Matt 28:19. However, because salvation is given in the name of Jesus Christ alone Acts 4:12, if baptism is done in His name alone is done in the stead of the trinity. So, there is no difference Acts 2:38. The Father is perfectly pleased in the Son and the Holy Spirit perfectly works in accord with the Son even resurrecting Him to be the author and finisher of salvation.
The only basis for baptizing a believer is upon their own confession or profession of faith. Subtle or overt investigation is not required. In Acts 10:24 and 44, Cornelius gathered his kinsmen and friends who were not necessarily believers but when they believed, they were immediately baptized in the Holy Spirit in one stretch. Then, Peter, knowing that some of the brothers who came with him where yet to grow up and out from institutional mentality said this, “Can anyone object to their being baptized now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” Acts 10:45 and 47.
Religious institutions have long been a stumbling block to the simple but profound ways of God. Unfortunately, the same problem is still with us today. Based on human experience of people who pretend to believe while they don’t, investigation (queries of a proof of salvation have) long been instituted in church organizations. Well, given that organizational ethos or dogmas maintain human pride, help push our objective to make Christianity attractive and bring in people into our enclaves; repentance “to God’s ancient ways” may come hard. God help us!
The all wise, loving and faithful Creator of the world and mankind has predicated salvation on what is at the reach of all—which is, faith and the grace of the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. Faith, which all mankind have enables us to believe though many pitiably put theirs elsewhere.
In Romans 10:10KJV, we are told, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 4:3KJV makes the same announcement, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Then, Mark 16:16KJV says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
We note that believing is done not with the mouth but the heart and it gives righteousness or imputed righteousness (Christ’s life- salvation) and the mouth is used to declare it. Also, in verse 16 of Mark 16, “but” is introduced to indicate that baptism is consequential rather than a basis for salvation.
Therefore, believing in Christ Jesus is entirely sufficient for the saving of the soul to the utmost. The scriptures repeatedly and vehemently warn believers to continueto believe or abide in Christ. All good deeds must proceed from the imputed deed of Christ within the believer else, it’s a filthy rag. So then, baptism in water must be an act of faith based on the circumcision of the heart Rom 2:29KJV. Hebrews 11:6 says “And it is impossible to please God without faith”… Romans 14:23NLT affirms it by saying, “…For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin”.
In conclusion, looking at James 2: 14-19, we know that faith here speaks of having Christ—our imputed righteous. Who Himself, authenticates His presence both to God and man with evidence of His fruit. In other words, He continues to do with any temple (body) He lives in, the same things He did while He was physically on the earth. He is the gift or the fleshy heart which believing has given His people.
Those with fleshy heart (believers) possess the most expensive gift on earth and in the heavens apportioned to humans. Therefore, they love to submit to God. It is their default spiritual disposition though they may occasionally stumble Rev 2:5. But, because it is not their new heart’s nature to rebel against God; they fall back quickly to His propitiation as the Spirit corrects, disciplines, revives and restores graciously 1 John 2:1, 1:9, Heb 12:7-8.
We gladly proclaim as in Rom 6:4, and Col 2:12, “we’re dead, buried and risen with Him” praise God. Let us also gladly show it in joyful obedience through being baptized in water to the praise and glory of His Holy Name! Amen.
The fact that Adam used his God given ability of choice to choose the way of self and the devil as opposed to choosing the way of the spirit authenticates the truth that the flesh (self) profits nothing John 6:63. Had he chosen the law of the spirit of life (faith in God) the law of sin and death could have had no chance! But God, Who is omniscient, had made a provision for man (all humans) through the obedience and sacrifice of The Lamb.
Jesus had the ability and the chance the first Adam had to choose self, the way of the devil or the way of the Spirit and He proved to both principalities and man that God can be chosen over self and the devil. Praise God! Therefore, he opened the door by which man’s original destiny should be actualized.
So whoever chooses or eats and drinks Christ (the Bread and drink from heaven), is automatically exercising that glorious privilege the first Adam had but failed to use. The first tree in the midst of the garden was not to be eaten but the Lamb of God hung on the cross (Christ), must be eaten for anyone to have His Spirit and enter into a life of communion with God.
God, being the Alpha and Omega KNOWS AND SEES all who will choose Christ (the way of the Spirit) over the devil and self even before they are born. Since the way of the devil and clay (self) is destined to destruction, all who choose it gain destruction and hell. But, all who choose the way of the Spirit are destined to victory and eternal living with the Almighty God. Man is now able to choose Christ because of the grace of His sacrifice—which, the bible tells us is made available for all men but only those who accept or choose to believe it enjoy its core purpose Titus 2:11, 1 John 2:2, John 10:10
Predestination therefore, is on the basis of God’s foreknowledge, which is based on the slain Lamb and the free gift of choice God blessed man with. Man’s use of his God given will to choose Christ glorifies God more as opposed to the idea that He is scared that man will reject Him forever and as such, He made some to be robots as to get them to compulsorily love and serve Him. If this assertion is right, He would have created man as a robot from the beginning and, man wouldn’t have got the chance to choose to disobey Him. Jesus proved this interpretation is wrong! The glorious song will be sung one day by multitudes that chose God over the devil and self. Indeed, Jesus is the first-born among many brethren not conscriptsRom 8:29.
It is true we’re forcefully rescued from the kingdom of darkness but, that is not without our using our gift of choice from God to believe (that is accept) His gift of salvation John 1:16, Rom 10:13. This is the reason no human is born again from their mother’s womb though God can decide to reveal His plan for an unborn soul ahead of time. While Jeremiah’s destiny was revealed before he was born, that of Saul (Paul) was only revealed after he was born Jer 1:5, Gal 1:15. God has a destiny for everyone!
Someone may ask if Saul asked or exercised his free will before Christ saved him in a dramatic incident. My answer is yes. Saul responded to the voice and grace of God (Christ) that appeared to him though he had the choice to be stiff necked like Caiaphas the High Priest Matt 26:64, Heb 4:7. Salvation is not initiated by man but man needs to respond when God draws John 6:44. Christ visits the world today even in more dramatic ways yet some people don’t respond to Him—they choose not to. How many people has God saved in plane and car crashes and yet they pretend they don’t understand that God is inviting them to accept Christ. How many people have arranged to meet up with a friend only to hear the person has passed away prior to their meeting. Yet, they refuse to be alerted that they need Christ the Saviour since, they too will pass on someday.
If you’re reading this post and you’ve not responded to Jesus Christ, think of how many times you have heard the gospel in many different ways in your heart with or without a physical person speaking to you—that is the voice of the Holy Spirit, please respond and believe in Christ, as it is not too late.
No one needs to get frigid when we talk about exercising the will as if to say it negates Eph 2:8-9 because it doesn’t in any way! No one can boast of using his or her will to achieve salvation because if God did not create man with the ability or nature of will and if Christ did not die and resurrect, the case of using it wouldn’t arise 1 Cor 4:7, Philippians 2:12-13. Even believers are called upon to use the gifts of the spirit and not to leave it dormant as some people do 2 Tim 1:6. It’s in the same way; those without Christ are persuaded by the gospel to use their God-given faith and will to believe in Christ Jesus. Heb 11:6 says, without faith we can’t believe or come to God and see Him for who He is—the One Who rewards those who worship Him! Even those who come to Him can’t function in His gift(s) in their lives without keeping faith in Him.
So, no Israelite will be saved because they are Israelites according to the flesh—no gentile will be saved by keeping ordinances but all, whether Jew or Gentile, who hear the gospel and believe in Jesus Christ will be saved. Every human has faith and the ability to exercise it. It’s a gift of God to man. It distinguishes man from the beast of the field. The inability of man to have faith towards God caused by Adam’s fall has been restored to man through Christ’s sacrifice made before man fell. This is the reason some people in the Old Testament were able to serve God by faith. His atonement is not limited. In other words, it’s for the benefit of the whole world but only those who choose it enjoy its full benefits.
For clarity, I am saying that one benefit of CHRIST’S ATONEMENT is the restoration of the ability for man to choose God and the other is salvation that results from actually making the choice. No one who has faith toward God will be damned. Faith toward God translates man into His spiritual house and opens up the privilege of joining His great house on the earth where, through teaching, reproofing, correcting and training in righteousness, the Treasure in the jar of clay is let out by the breaking of the jar and the treasure of Gold and Silver (redemption) begins to overlay the wood (soul) Rom 12:1-2. This principle and privilege will be open till God chooses to bring it to a close at such a time He has set.
God intervenes to harden men’s heart ONLY after He has sent warnings upon warnings. We can see this principle running through the whole scriptures Prov 29:1.
So Rom 9:29, is not telling us that God has made some people to be dishonorable and some honorable but according to His sovereignty and will, He has destined clay for dishonourable use while His Spirit in man is destined for a glorious end.
The story of Esau and Jacob like other biblical stories depicts for us spiritual things with physical realities which, eventually, manifested as was seen with Esau’s choice. Also, Jacob amplifies Eph 2:8-9 and Rom 12:2, which tell us that those who choose God receive His life in them and gradually shed the fleshly nature and increasingly put on gold (Christ) the silver of redemption Gal 3:27, Lev 5:15-16. The power to persevere through to maturity is a blessing from God as we submit (yield our will) to abide in Him James 4:7. It’s the attraction of love relationship John 14:15, 2 Cor 8:24.
Interpreting predestination as God creating some people to be destroyed and some for salvation is absolutely defective irrespective of theological camp. Every soul that comes into this world is from the first Adam who was ab initio predestined for salvation. God has never created new people except those who make a choice to believe in Christ Jesus the Lord of all salvation and are learning obedience from Him Acts 4:12, 2 Cor 5:17, Gal 6:15, Eph 2:10.
The first man God created had faith because he had the image of God. Because of his sin, the image was distorted. Nevertheless, he was still a creature of God who needed regeneration. All humans descended from Adam. To this end, Acts 2:21 states, “But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” 1 Tim 4:10.
For clarity and by way of definition, everywhere I have mentioned humans in this article, I mean beings that descended from Adam and Eve and as such, have mortal bodies; flesh, blood and bone Rom 9:11.
Finally, to treat predestination from the point of the fall of man rather than before man’s creation is misleading. Forgetting that God created only one man whom He destined for salvation has lead to a great misunderstanding of this doctrine; a doctrine that should cause all souls to rejoice in God’s love for them.
God’s principles have been in motion before man was created. God has already shown mercy and poured out His blessing(Christ) Proverbs 10:22 and blessings1 Tim 6:17 to mankind.
The Holy Spirit is within the bride of Christ saying, “come” and the bride is hearing it and echoing it—Whoever is thirsty, “come!” and drink of the water of life freely Rev 22:17. This is the gospel message the body of Christ is preaching to the world. Hopefully that is your message.
All humans are destined for salvation. I plead with you to receive Christ Jesus if you’ve not done so and you’ll receive the free gift of regeneration (salvation) John 3:16.
God does not just do loving things, He is Love. Out of His love, He freely and willingly created man in His own image and likeness though being fully aware that man will fall. Because He is love, the alpha and omniscient, He does not offer mankind a gift He knows they can’t receive. This is why from the foundation of the earth, He prepared the Lamb and sacrificed Himself so that in His appointed time, He’ll make public spectacle of His enemy at the cross on behalf of man. So, God’s nature in man is a gift.
Man through lack of faith in God fell. But God had a first-hand plan to restore man by offering him His sacrificial gift.
One of the strongest characteristics of a gift is that it can be rejected. Every gift that cannot be rejected is anything but a gift. In which case, we must find another name for it.
Salvation is an eternal gift from God to man. It’s a gift that has an eternal value which must be received by man to enjoy eternity. It’s not an afterthought gift—it was prepared by God from the foundation of the world, sealed and presented to mankind at His appointed time in Christ.
God is not just the source of faith, He is the Faith
God being the faith, exhibited faith in man irrespective of knowing that man will abuse the gift of free will He gave to him to use the way he chooses. He was teaching man by example what it means to have faith in Him.
The Foundation
God’s original intention is for man to fellowship with Him by faith as exhibited by His relationship in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. And, that His intention has not changed. After man fell, because of His love for man, He gave him a school master (the law) to constantly remind man of Him and consistently show them that they will never enjoy Him again except they return to Him by faith.
Rom 7:14 tells us that the law is spiritual while man had become carnal (faithless) as a result of the fall. So, the law always shows man that he is weak and needs a savior. God created man as a being of faith and will, but also gave man the law knowing that its burden will eventually drive man to exercise that faith to seek for a saviour. It remains the truth that man fell because he used his will to place his faith in the devil (self-gratification). This is actually the crime man committed against God. To have used the blessed privilege God gave him of free will to reject and hurt God—an eternal crime that needed eternal remedy.
Manifestation of the Remedy
It is God’s character to always give a foretaste. So right from Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel and the prophets, He started indicating to the devil that he is in big mess because man will once again, in a scale that beats the devil’s imagination, would freely, willingly and joyfully choose Him (God) their creator over him (Satan). Therefore, Heb 11:26 associated those people of faith in the Old Testament with Christ even before He was manifested.
His appointed Time
God’s grace that rested on the men of faith in the Old Testament exploded on the earth as a result of the death and resurrection of Christ (the physical manifestation of what took place from the foundation of the earth 1 Pet 1:20, 1 Cor 2:7, 2 Tim 1:9, Titus 1:2), which was what the people of faith in the dispensation of the law tapped into but has now appeared to all mankind—born and unborn. It’s made available even for the unborn because Adam’s fall made man’s DNA totally depraved. Nevertheless, we must remember that God did not create man originally depraved. Man’s salvation is not found within man but within the sacrifice God had already prepared outside of man. This sacrifice is however only accessed by faith. How wise God is!
God who created man knew that man will remain a being of faith as He created him in spite of falling. Man can only lose this privilege after death. This is why we’re to accept Christ’s sacrifice while we’re still living. So, without Christ’s sacrifice no one could have been saved not even those who kept a great deal of the laws of God in the Old Testament. It’s on this platform I will discuss the topic of predestination below.
My greatest intention here is to inspire believers to pray, study and converse with the Holy Spirit on this topic and arrive at least on a conviction rather than just swallow what is popular or convenient. I will borrow from those who are wiser than me to say, understanding this doctrine is not a prerequisite for salvation nevertheless; I believe it does affect our walk and service to the Lord Rev 3:8. Everyone who is in Christ must recognize that the devil cannot force them against their will to deny Christ.
There are very few Christian doctrines in which, even renowned teachers of the scripture quote more names of saints who are not mentioned in the bible in order to authenticate it as much as in the teaching of foreknowledge, Predestination, election and calling.
At this point, let me mention that every calling of God is based on election and election is based on predestination which is based on His foreknowledge 2 Tim 2:19, “The Lord knows those who are his,”. God calls every human being!
What is His foreknowledge based on?
Difficult questions like this makes predestination one of those tough Christian doctrines many believers fear to study closely. So, it’s been left to theologians and even many theologians have not painstakingly and prayerfully sought God’s answer but have taken the position of being content to accept what past reputable servants of God laid down. While, we’re encouraged to behave like the Bereans regarding most teachings, this one seems to be an exception, but such position in my opinion is resorting to tradition which does not encourage conviction Rom 14:23, 5.
The difficulty of the doctrine is made even more difficult because it is usually expounded in such an academic fashion. I believe it’s done so as to conceal what is actually being said which is, in its finality, that some people are destined for salvation and consequently others are not. Its ripple effect means some people are for honourable use and others for dishonourable and as such, they can be dispensed of by God to hell and eventually to the lake of fire. Any attempt to hold a different view to this not too correct perspective is usually met with vehement resistance and viewed as disrespect to faithful servants of God whose works have been a huge blessing to the body of Christ. Such view gives credence to a laisser-faire attitude to spiritual discipline.
The silent punch in the doctrine that God elected only some for salvation and not others, in the main, paints God as originator of evil though it’s quickly cushion with Rom 9:10-29, who are you to question the maker—He is entitled to do whatever He likes. They call it sovereignty but, that is misinterpreting the beautiful sovereignty of God which, protect and favours man whom He has made for His own good not bad pleasure.
While Romans 9:10-29 portrays the unprofitable state of all mankind and God’s vehemence against evil and His determination to rescue man, Rom 9:30-33, points man to God’s solution. The answer to man’s predicament is faith in the prepared sacrifice of His Lamb. Jew or gentile, whoever humbles him or herself to acknowledge their filthiness in spite of their pretentious law keeping and look to the Stone in Zion will be saved Luke 18:1-14, John 4:7-25, Matt 15:21-28, John 6:37.
Scripture meditation and Conviction
I believe foreknowledge is on the basis of the sacrifice of the Lamb which avails for all who He brings into the world. No human comes into existence without God’s permission Gen 30:2, Deut 28:11, Ps 127:3. No human is destined to hell by God 2 Pet 3:9. All humans without exception are destined to salvation. The basis of my believe is this, God created only one human—the man Adam and everyone else came from him. The original plan for man who Adam represented is for salvation. This is God’s sovereign will for man—though, He willingly placed in man to choose Him or Satan. However, as a loving Father, He did not fail to instruct man on the right path Gen 2:15-17.
Examining predestination from the time of man’s fall rather than before the fall, leads to error in its interpretation. The fact that the bible tells us that God’s Lamb was sacrificed from the foundation of the world, gives us a clear picture that God knew that man was going to fall. Nevertheless, He chose to create man not as a robot but a living soul with the ability to make free choice. It is important to note that man’s free will is a gift resulting from God’s nature of faith embedded in man. Man’s fall did not make him the creation of the devil. Devil created nobody. The nature of the devil got infused into man. Man becametotally depraved but that didn’t change God.
Because God is omniscient, Alpha and Love, His plan for man did not change. And His sacrifice stirred by His love for man opened a window of escape for man. That window made it possible for man to once again put their faith in God their creator. And men through all ages have being taking advantage of faith’s open door to return to God.
It’s not forced because God knows better that forced love is no love Mark 8:34, Rev22:17. We as humans know that when we’re loved without coercion is better than when we’re loved because we have forced it even if it is done subtly. When people love us for what they can gain for themselves rather than loving for the sake of love it repulses us. Loving for the sake of love is what creates true relationship and intimacy. God knows this truth far better than we humans! And, this is the truth of intimacy He seeks with man.
God in creating man put this His nature in man (Adam) and Eve. They kept using His nature in them to love and fellowship with Him until the devil came and contested their loyalty to God just as he does today with everyone who is in Christ. At this point, God could have turned them to robots so that they’ll not exercise the gift of free choice He gave them but He did not because He had made a provision for man’s escape. It is extremely crucial that we note that He made a way of escape without changing His original intent to see man love Him as a loving father by the use of the gift of choice He gave man in Christ. How are you using yours?! John 14:15.
On the earth, man is the only thing that has life and the Spirit of God in itself. Other things have life—for existence e.g., the plants and animals. God did not breathe into them to give them life like He did with man whom He created in His own image. So, Oxygen in man is not the Spirit of God in man.
All the time they were in the garden and kept their eyes and expectation on God’s usual evening visit, obeyed and served Him, His Gold and Silver overlaid or clothed their souls so they were not naked. And their clay or body remained an agent or a vehicle to express the Gold and as a result enjoyed health.
Unfortunately, after man had lived for a while in the garden of Eden loving God by not eating from the tree as commanded by God, the first opportunity they had to show that they indeed prefer Him to self and Satan, they failed by obeying the enemy, consequently showing contempt toward God their creator. Without reference to God, man got into communion with the devil and learnt how to please self and obey Satan. Their choice instilled a fallen nature to all mankind.
However, man was still destined to salvation because of God’s love for man. Man made of clay served as a jar containing the Spirit of God which is the Gold buried in the earth. The result is that man lost the Gold in him, the Gold that is honourable, eternal and the hope for eternal bliss with God. Man became, so to speak, a beast living for itself and for the one who ruined his destiny (Satan).
We will continue our meditation on “Predestination” in the next post
It’s over 2,000 years since God came to the earth bodily to make His important purchase of the “souls” of men. The soul of man is the most important thing in the earth though it is darken, wrinkled and totally depraved —its preciousness cannot be valued by mortals. But, the fact that God was willing to pay the price with His own blood should speak volumes to all of mankind.
Since the time the blood of Christ dropped on the earth at the cross of Calvary, every soul coming into this evil world has been paid for. So, why are the souls of men still in the market place for purchase? Is your soul still in the market for sale? How much are you willing to sell it for? Who will you sell it to? The soul can be lost, it can be stolen—every soul that comes into this world can accept the price already paid for it or chose to illegally sell it for a lesser price. The reason any one will sell their soul for a lesser price is the blindfold of the devil which he achieves by appealing to the selfishness in the soul. The soul love to abuse the beautiful gift and privilege of choice from God. It will rather satisfy itself than submit to its maker but any soul that reject the price of Christ blood and illegally sell God’s rightful property will face the penalty of being put away in the prison of hell and eventually to the lake of fire for all eternity Ps 24:1, Titus 2:11, Luke 9:25.
Once Jesus had paid the price for the foundation of the church by spilling His blood, He went down to hell to preach and save all who entered this world before He came—to those who would believe in His atonement because, no soul had been saved before His sacrifice not even those who kept a great deal of God’s law Eph 4:9, 1 Pet 3:19, 4:6.
This mission of preaching the gospel to the souls who are still in the market place will remain the most important assignment God has for those who receive Christ Jesus as their Savior and Lord. This commission produces the greatest miracle of regeneration ever known to man. It’s far superior to the miracle of the Sun standing still, the red sea parting, the poor becoming rich and the dead coming back to life.
The wise counsel I was given many years back is this, “Don’t plan to execute the commission, just know His presence daily and follow His word as it resonates in your heart and do as His voice says. You don’t need a table and a secretary–just use you together with others who have His commission at the place you find yourself”. If you do this, you’re fulfilling destiny not that you’ll fulfill destiny because, to fulfill destiny, is to know Christ and walk with Him”.
“To fulfill destiny is to know Christ and walk with Him” Selah.
There is a clarion call from God’s word; calling out to the – lively stones (Christ’s brothers), saying, “Worship in spirit and truth” John 4:23. Kiss the Son but not like Judas the betrayer! Luke 22:48.
Awake to the first love you had for Him if indeed you’ve ever loved Him— for, many know nothing about loving Jesus or having faith toward God (Daniel 3:16-18, Habakkuk 3:17-19) because we’re bombarded today with only the exercising of faith to possess our possessions (earthly needs) which the earthly people get without exercising our so called “faith”.
It’s imperative we know that verses 17-19 of Hab 3 did not happen as a result of lack of exercise of faith. Rather, such things happen for our own good as supervised by the Alpha and Omega. Well, I guess this will sound stupid and pass as escapist theory for the materialist minded (visualize and claim it folks). But, Romans 8:5-8, 28 should help us, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose“.
Amplification of this truth shows that good is light Eph 5:8-9. Light (good), is what God intends to work out in the life of THOSE WHO LOVE HIM through All things He permits to happen to them John 14:15. This is actually His purpose!
Therefore, every situation that confronts us should lead us to the light of God e.g Stephen’s stoning and “early” death worked out light for him—He didn’t go cursing, hating and denying Jesus for not coming to his rescue despite his mountain moving faith. The phrase “work together for good” doesn’t mean, ‘Don’t worry it will all eventually turn out as you wish, just exercise faith’. If we walk in darkness because we’re confronted with evil circumstance, we’re missing the essence of us being lively stones (light) in the Lord Rom 12:21.
So, don’t give room to the magicians, sorcerers, and merchandisers with bibles, blind and reprobate religious gurus of this age wanting to deceive you. Don’t let the temporal successes or failures of this life drain God’s rich life in you Prov 27:24. Remember that Satan is still looking for those he will deceive with his voice and use them as sons of perdition to shame Christ Heb 6:6 (KJV).
Therefore, discerning voices is vital for the end times we live in as it was with the early church.Voice carries unbelievable power— it’s so important that God takes His time to train each lively stone to learn His voice.
Every part of His spiritual house must learn His voice John 10:4-5. We notice in verse 4, all the sheep know His voice. Many sheep echo His voice as He chooses to speak from anyone of them. Also, we’re made to be aware in verse 5, that while the voice of the stranger (Satan) speaks directly to deceive, he uses his messengers (strangers–wolfs in sheep clothing) to trumpet his voice to accomplish his purposes.
The phrase, “they do not know the voice of strangers” is well explained to us in the beginning of verse 5, “A stranger they will not follow”— not only that they do not follow or obey, “they will flee from him” because the scripture does not encourage anyone to enter into conversation or fencing with the devil and his cohorts. These seemingly simple words of Jesus is safety device for us!
But, because we ignore His wise counsel BY NOT SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES OR SEARCHING BUT FORGETTING THAT THE SCRIPTURES TESTIFY OF HIM (John 5:39, Acts 17:11), the voice of the smooth talker is making many build fantastic and admirable edifices (fake kingdoms with fake following) wrapped up with humanistic intentions which is another gospel.
We need to know that wood not overlaid with gold and silver, clay not broken, straw and hay can’t stand His fire Malachi 3:1-18. Wood overlaid and jars of clay broken will enjoy the resurrection now and attend to the future resurrection unto immortality with God.
Worship at the end, will be in God Himself the very temple Rev 21:22-27. It’s vital to mention that the kings in verse 24 of Rev 21 are now being prepared to learn to bring glory to the Lamb Who is the light of the temple or city. So, it’s not referring to men’s kings—who’re rulers of mankind!
His Royal Priesthood in our Generation
The church (His city) is far from dying as many suppose! By institutional measurement, the gates of hell have already prevailed longer than we can imagine. But for the spiritual house God Himself is building, there has never been any time a great number of the priesthood have been obedient to Christ like in our generation.
Myopic opinion will hinder many from seeing that His royal priesthood today is taking conscious decisions and steps that are far reaching in order to glorify Christ in different parts of the world (China, Japan, India etc). Meanwhile, MANY of us are totally engrossed with possessing earthly possessions! It boils down to the issue of balance which, watchfulness and prayer will help calibrate! As Christ is speaking to the church loud and clear, His word is awakening slumberers.
Listen with your ears if indeed you are part of His lively stones (kings-yes! kings are His servants) and act on His command to fit your place in the construction of His temple that has been going-on for over 2,000 years. The time to use the temple for the marriage feast is nearer now than ever before. Midnight is coming upon us fast that the bride may enter the dawn of His glorious morning!
How long more before the time is due? Only the arrogant knows! But, the humble takes the posture of obeying His instruction, “watch and pray” Mark 14:38. We must not run away from God because He sells His gold and silver to us by reprove and discipline.
It’s a show of His love for us! Rev 3:18-20. We need to continually examine our soil (old fashion talk but it remains valid 1 Tim 4:16, Acts 24:16). “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience”(Luke 8:15), Heb 6:7, Rev 3:10.
It is time for every lively stone as part of Christ’s body to abandon consumer mentality and timidity!
BE A BLESSING IN THE GATHERING OF THE SAINTS TO WHICH GOD HAS SET YOU BY EXERCISING YOUR GIFT NOT SKILL (Rom 12:5-8 NLT). Exercising skill doesn’t take devotion to God but for His gift in our lives, it does! We’re called to His devotion and then, to play our part according to the measure of faith and grace He is pouring into us daily as members of the present royal priesthood! Refuse to operate as a Levitical priest and have no high priest over you under any heading except Christ!
Take a look again at the picture above (which is a representation of the body)—notice the unique shape and colour of each small and big stone. Each stone is shaped and sized by God. The least of them is greater than John the Baptist! Imagine the big stones trying to brag to the small ones about their bigness when they cannot fit in the place the small ones fit and vice versa. See the beauty the blend of their colours gives; it’s because of their positioning! He that set each stones position achieved that beauty– God is indeed a designer!
While He has admitted us into His Life freely, we’re encouraged as individual lively stones to go further and accept His design for our lives and thereby enter into His abundant life (the fullest measure of God’s life mortals can enjoy while in the earth) not posh life (though nothing is wrong with that privilege). But, this richness of the soul the Holy Spirit is speaking to the great house about waits for every lively stone for the taking. Whoever is willing, CAN take it by force John 10:10, 1 Tim 6:12, Matt 11:12.
Always remember! You’re not a cement mixture which, you or other people pour into their molding machine to produce the shape of stone or block they need to accomplish their ambitions. You’re a stone hewn out from Christ to bear His image, praise and glorify the Father now and for all eternity. Our big caution! We don’t just relish in this knowledge—we accept it and it works in us and conform us actively, daily to His pattern and purposes. Amen.
Paul the Apostle in Ephesians 1:5 established beyond any reasonable doubt that God planned our salvation on His own and finished His work of making us His own or workmanship without our works Eph 2:8-9. The reason behind it is this; He uses only lively stones for building and entrenching of His spiritual house or kingdom Col 1:13. Lively stones are hewed out by God Himself for His own use.
In Eph 2:10 and 1 Pet 2:5, Paul and Peter the Apostles calls our attention to God’s love and His respect towards us by showing that His plan is to work in us and through us as we keep in step with the Holy Spirit Gal 5:25. We’re lively stones not dead stones or robots! Praise God.
We as lively stones continue to keep alive by remaining in Christ Jesus (The Rock) as we consistently study the scripture, meditating on it and labouring with it. These are the most profitable ventures any soul could possibly engage in— in this life time Isaiah 51:1. The flashes of light and life that enters our being as our souls engage with God in His great house is priceless! Psalm 119:130, 36:9, John 1:4. It causes the soul to desire to go and be with God quickly and perpetually!
But, the sight of the dying world and the knowledge that God can and is willing to impact the lives of others through us as we continue our pilgrim journey through this evil world serves as an encouragement to remain and endure sufferings and temptations Phil 1:21-26.
Seeing lives saved (brought into the spiritual house), brought into the assemblies of saints (great house) in this present world and transforming them from one degree of glory to another in Christ becomes the main reason to live beyond other reasons 2 Cor 3:18.
We desire the fullest expression of the resurrection life of the Rock from which we were hewn to envelope us as we gather together regularly unto Him in fellowship.
Though it has not yet manifested, our longing is not abated Eph 4:13. This creates a further longing to be caught up by some means to mature manhood which is an inheritance of each lively stone as the spiritual house is growing to the stature of the fullness of Christ. This surging of eternal life in us will be fully enjoyed eventually when we’re finally clothed with our immortal bodies. But, for the mean time, we keep coveting for more grace to enable us give room for His life within us and amongst us to flow out to accomplish His purpose to finish the building of the spiritual house.
The Gospel
God’s love towards us has been and is displayed to us in Christ through His physical manifestation or incarnation, suffering, obedience to death and His resurrection. This same process is ordained for us as we’re manifested to be seen by principalities and our fellow men when we are born again (regenerated in Christ). This ushers us into suffering, obedience even to death and as a result, His resurrection power is continually leading us to the resurrection awaiting us. Amen
God has made us His workmanship—causing the gospel to erupt inside our being to conform our lifestyles to His image Rom 8:29. As the early church’ lifestyle yielded to God’s image, we notice that those who believed in the Lord Jesus was added to the church (assembling of God’s people) Acts 2:41, Acts 5:14.
Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10, lays out the plan of God for His workmanship (many membered body) 1 Cor 12:14, Rom 12:5. Now, God has fitted each lively stone with a nature or gift (not skill) which makes it uniquely relevant in the temple being built. Any stone that becomes lukewarm is selfish Rev 3:15-17.
Lukewarmness is making partnership with the devil and it eventually leads to wickedness, blindness, laziness and shame etc. Therefore, this is the Lord’s admonition and advice, “Would that you were either cold or hot!” Rev 3:18-20.
Failing to heed God’s counsel is met with severe consequence Rev 3:16 but by His grace, we’ll yield to Him in this present season and hour that He is speaking to you and I as part of His temple and the gates of hell will not prevail. And our reward is unfathomable! Rev 3:21. Awake Zion and trim your lamp!
Avoiding Shame
To walk with God and work for God described by Paul as “building on the foundation”, we’re to follow His instruction in order to work or build according to His pattern and purpose. Why? There are many patterns and purposes that are not God’s but come from self not even the devil. It’s the mentality of, “I can do it skillfully to the best of my ability—so long as I do it with good intentions” but, self, skill and good intentions are sacrifices He is not asking from the lively stones. He desires obedience to His well tested pattern (instruction) which is uncomplicated as laid out in the bible.
We are aware that self will be defeated by God and put to shame eventually. To avoid shame Paul admonishes us not to be presumptuous but to rightly handle (living and building according to) the word of God 2 Tim 2:15, 1 Tim 4:16. This type of obedience to God’s word makes us as individual parts and many congregations unique in our own way yet united by His word of truth in doctrine and practice 1 Cor 7:17,11:16, Eph 4:13.
Since we are the workmanship of God, we need to be aware that self (clay) has no future with God. As we attend to public reading of the scripture as the church gathers regularly, through the process of teaching; reproofing, correcting and training in righteousness (practice our gifts) the clay is debased. Through constant practice of each lively stone’s gift, competence is gained and each stone is strengthened DAILY 2 Tim3:16-17.
Paul seems to be telling us that the only way to avoid shame before God’s presence is to “rightly handle the word of truth”. This is far beyond “doing as the leaders have said”. Actually, it is doing as you’ve learnt from Christ in the scriptures by the help of the Holy Spirit within you (Acts 17:11NLT). Failure to practice this is lukewarmness.
The church is described as a great house with the treasures of gold, silver, wood and clay 2 Tim2:20. It’s important to note that the church is not the treasure. While gold and silver tell us about God’s nature in man, wood and clay depicts the earthiness of our being. Clarifying Rom9:21, the aspect of man referenced as clay and wood by God’s foreknowledge is predestined for destruction because it is earthy, dishonorable and cannot conform to His image! Nevertheless, they are found in the holy house because they were admitted by grace not by merit. However, the clay as a jar for temporal use must be broken and wood, must be overlaid inside and outside with gold and silver according to God’s instruction for the building of His temple Exodus 25:11, 13.
Every jar broken and wood overlaid with gold will be ready for every good work that is honorable to God 2 Tim 2:21. God demanded from the beginning that His gold and silver override the wood and clay— meaning that man is to obey His Spirit within him and His voice of instruction as opposed to self or external forces. For this reason, we’re referred to as lively stones (precious metal) which is destined for honourable use and not clay.
Abiding as a lively stone for the on-going construction of the spiritual house, each stone flees youthful passion— meaning everyone breaks their jar of clay so that the light which is the treasure of gold and silver or fruit of the Spirit (righteousness, faith, joy, love, and peace) may envelop the soul and flow out to confound the enemy, blessing the one through whom it is flowing and others within the great house (assembly of saints) and beyond Judges 7:15-21, 2 Cor 4:7, Gal 6:10. In the end, God is glorified.
We see Gideon typifying the Holy Spirit Who has prior knowledge of the plans of the enemies of Israel and sees their weakness and foolishness in thinking to destroy the army of God. For us (Christ’ bride), the Holy Spirit exposes the wicked plans of the enemy to us from the pages of the scriptures and gives us instruction to take the double edged sword and break our jar Rom 12:1 for light to flow out because we can’t go into darkness to fight without goodness or light Rom 12:21, Eph 6:10-18, Zech 4:6.
The brightness of His light and energy coming out against the enemy from the many membered great house, will expose the cowardice of the strong man (Satan) who is a created being made subject to the creator— even our Christ and brother Eph 3:10.
Gideon’s 300, served as a shadow of the reality of Christ’ lively stones. Like Gideon’s 300, we are being instructed on how to break our jar of clay by the process of renewing of our minds. They did not regard the clay for anything and so must we 2 Cor 5:16. We like them, are called to be single minded as pilgrims on the earth to give glory to God’s purposes at all costs 2 Tim 2:4, James 1:8KJV. Double mindedness is a deadly evil nature as opposed to doubting God in a particular situation which is common to all of God’s servants.
We, as “lively stones” must understand that the reason for being priests and kings to God and not to men Rev 5:10, is to “proclaim His excellencies” by word, walk and work 1 Pet 2:9.
We’ll finish this meditation in the second part of “Lively stones for the Spiritual House”.
The Lord keep you and may His light shine from you, giving you victory and blessing all peoples coming in contact with you. Amen
Salvation or regeneration is predicated on one thing and one thing alone—that is, believe in Jesus Christ. This means a person in an aircraft that is about to crash can repent or turn the heart to believe in Jesus for his or her soul to be saved and God will hear their heart’s prayer and save the soul from eternal condemnation and punishment in hell, though they may die in the crash.
bodily to make His important purchase of the “souls” of men. The soul of man is the most important thing in the earth though it is darken, wrinkled and totally depraved —its preciousness cannot be valued by mortals. But, the fact that God was willing to pay the price with His own blood should speak volumes to all of mankind.
of preaching the gospel to the souls who are still in the market place will remain the most important assignment God has for those who receive Christ Jesus as their Savior and Lord. This commission produces the greatest miracle of regeneration ever known to man. It’s far superior to the miracle of the Sun standing still, the red sea parting, the poor becoming rich and the dead coming back to life.
