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'Christ in You...'
by Dale Krebbs
With the conclusion of this series from 2 Peter 1, we have seen in capsule form the whole purpose of God for our existence. Even with the pause in His plan beginning with the fall, He did not say in vain "let us make man in our image, after Our likeness..". His plan is steadily and intricately being built into a family of immortals. He expects His children to bare fruit unto perfection in Him (2 Peter 1:8), and if we do not we are shortsighted indeed (v. 9)! From these inspired writings of the Apostle Peter we can see that these things are required to make God's purpose become a reality (v. 10-11). Peter was addressing an attempted subversion of the church by false teachers. It is no different today. There has always been false teachers of every shade of motivation. There always will be until the day of Jesus Christ. By following the admonition of the Apostle Peter, we are assured we will not be deceived - for "if you do these things, you will never stumble..." He makes it clear that if we fail to grow in the character of Jesus Christ, we are open to falling in the faith. We are very vulnerable to being deceived.
The writer of the book of Hebrews warns of the same danger from not growing in the faith. Writing to both Jewish and Gentile converts, he states:
"Therefore let us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God, With teachings about purifying, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment and punishment. [These are all matters of which you should have been fully aware long, long ago.] If indeed God permits, we will [now] proceed [to advanced teaching]. For it is impossible [to restore and bring again to repentance] those who have been once for all enlightened, who have consciously tasted the heavenly gift and have become sharers of the Holy Spirit, and have felt how good the Word of God is and the mighty powers of the age and world to come, If they then deviate from the faith and turn away from their allegiance--[it is impossible] to bring them back to repentance, for (because, while, as long as) they nail upon the cross the Son of God afresh [as far as they are concerned] and are holding [Him] up to contempt and shame and public disgrace. For the soil which has drunk the rain that repeatedly falls upon it and produces vegetation useful to those for whose benefit it is cultivated partakes of a blessing from God. But if [that same soil] persistently bears thorns and thistles, it is considered worthless and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned." - Hebrews 6:1-8 (AmpBible)
"THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us" - Hebrews 12:1 (AmpBible)
The Apostle Peter summerizes God's purpose for building the edifice of Godly character. I pray that this will be the banner of all God's children in the days to come until Christ is formed in all (Galatians 4:19):
"Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord, come to Him [then, to that] Living Stone which men tried and threw away, but which is chosen [and] precious in God's sight. [Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (]honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be disappointed or put to shame." - 1 Peter 2:3-6 (AmpBible)
"But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)" - 2 Peter 3:18 (AmpBible)
AMEN!
(NOTICE: This column "Christ In You..." will discontinue running beginning August 17th, 2008. God willing, it will begin again in the Fall of 2008)
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