Theology teaches us about God. Who He is, His attributes, His values, and His nature. However, it is through personal interaction with God, primarily through His Word combined with prayer, that we get to know God. That is to say, knowing about God is not the same as knowing God.
Granted, the Bible does speak of a “saving knowledge” (see Hebrews 10:26), however, it’s not the knowledge that saves rather it is hearing the message of available forgiveness. A. W. Tozer addressed this very thought when he wrote:
The uncomprehending mind is unaffected by truth. The intellect of the hearer may grasp saving knowledge while yet the heart makes no moral response to it. (Born after Midnight, p.62)The modern church, for the past 100 years, has communicated that the goal of the church is to convert unbelievers to believers. Our efforts should not terminate with another’s salvation, instead we are to guide the unbeliever through salvation to holiness! Don’t get me wrong, salvation is important. But it’s the first step. I am convinced that it’s our sanctification, that is to say, our holiness that is God’s goal for us.
We are indeed saved by grace and not by our intellect (or sight). It is not how much we know, but rather it is who we know that counts. However, our salvation is the beginning of our relationship with God. We need to “mature in Christ” and that requires Bible study.
God provided the Scriptures as a way of displaying His nature and character to us. He interacts with us through the Bible to guide us to understand Him (to some degree) and know how to please Him.
We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Colossians 1:28 (HCSB)Peter writes, “Be Holy . . .” (1 Pe. 1:16) and in doing so quotes from three different texts in Leviticus (Lev. 11:44; Lev 19:2; Lev 20:7) all of which command us to do that very thing. So holiness should be our goal and that will not be achieved without the work of the Holy Spirit accomplished through Bible study.
Holiness is often confused with perfection or sinlessness. To be holy is to be “set apart for God.” To be sanctified. Our path to holiness involves developing an intimate relationship with God. Growing in our understanding of His nature and character. The primary way of doing this is through Bible study.
There is among church attendees an epidemic of biblical illiteracy. The results of this biblical illiteracy is a shallow relationship with God. This shallowness is displayed through apathy, marginal participation, diminished giving among believers.
Dr. Albert Mohler, Jr., the President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, wrote:
Christians who lack biblical knowledge are the products of churches that marginalize biblical knowledge. Bible teaching now often accounts for only a diminishing fraction of the local congregation's time and attention. (“The Scandal of Biblical Illiteracy: It's Our Problem” www.christianity.com/print/1270946)If we, as obedient followers of Christ, are to fulfill “The Great Commission” (Mt. 28:19-20), if we are to “make disciples”, then we have to know God’s Word. More importantly, we need to know God! Knowing about God isn't enough, we need to know Him like a child knows it’s father, like a loving wife knows her loving husband. That is the only way we can function as obedient children of a loving Father.
AND the only way we can do that is by reading, studying, meditating on The Bible.
After all it’s not rocket science.
Therefore, get your minds ready for action, being self-disciplined, and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance but, as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, "Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:13-16 (HCSB)
Dr. Timothy H. • Great message Allen! In agreement with your points might I add a couple of thoughts? Not at all trying to "re-preach" your message but to use it as a platform for more thoughts along the same line ...
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, Jesus did not tell us to make converts but to make disciples. Discipleship begins with salvation (conversion to faith in Christ), but discipleship is to develop one who is now born again to learn to live according to the standards and principles of our new God, for prior to salvation we lived according to the flesh under the authority of the god of this world.
Second, as to holiness, I have found that this helps folks to understand it in a life changing way, for as you said, holiness is not to achieve perfection or sinlessness - - but holiness in this life is to be set apart for God (as you said) which results in "sin shall not have dominion over you" - - so holiness is to live free from the domination of sin and following after the Spirit not the flesh.
Finally, to repeat what you said, we must know God, His heart, His mind, His thoughts and His will/desires which only comes from reading and studying God's Word - - not to know what the Bible says but to know what God says!
Awesome article brother!
CALLED AND CHOSEN
ReplyDeleteMatthew 22:14 For many are called , but few are chosen."
Definition of called: Invited or summoned.
Definition of chosen: Those who are eligible or suited for election. Elected and chosen are synonymous.
WHO ARE THE CALLED?
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Every person who has heard the gospel has been called. The call is not limited to a select few who have been predestined for salvation.
WHO ARE THE CHOSEN (THE ELECTED)?
The chosen are the ones who are obedient to the call of the gospel.
The chosen are those who have 1. Faith: John 3:16
The chosen are those who 2. Repent: Acts 3:19 (Repent means to make the commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God).
The chosen are those who 3. Confess: Roman 10:9-10
The chosen are those who are 4. Baptized in water: Acts 2:38
The chosen are not those who were supposedly, unconditionally selected, for salvation. The chosen have to be suited for election.
THE CALLED WHO ARE NOT CHOSEN.
Matthew 22:2-3 "the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. 3 And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come.
Many have had the gospel preached to them, but of their own free-will have rejected the call. If men reject the gift of eternal life by rejecting Jesus as Lord and Savior; then they have been called, but not chosen.
Matthew 22:11-14 "But when the king came to look over the dinner quests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, 12 and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?" 13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called but few are chosen."
This wedding quest was disinvited. He was called but not chosen ; because he was not suitable to be chosen. Improper clothing was a big deal.
Galatalians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
DO YOU HAVE THE PROPER WEDDING CLOTHES TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
When you stand before the KING OF KINGS are you going to be speechless when He asks; where are your wedding clothes? WHAT WILL YOU SAY WHEN HE ASKS YOU WHY YOU REJECTED IMMERSION IN WATER FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS. WHAT WILL YOU ANSWER BE, WHEN JESUS ASKS YOU WHY YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITH BEING CLOTHED IN CHRIST?
MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN!
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