Forgiving is Liberating

An unforgiving spirit is an issue that nearly all of us grapple with at some point in life. An unforgiving attitude that remains unchallenged can only have a detrimental impact on our lives. If it is permitted to remain in our spirits, it will increase its thorny irritations. Its influence will eventually multiply our pain and wreak spiritual and relational destruction (Stanley, 1996). Some consider it to be the major source of many physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual problems we see today.

Two thousand years ago the apostle Paul wrote this Spirit-filled prescription to the Ephesian Church to help them prevent these vary same consequences:

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: [32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you (Eph. 4:31–32).

Paul was describing the manifestations of an “unforgiving spirit” when he spoke of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking. An unforgiving spirit goes beyond a temporary unforgiving attitude, which is the period in the life of a Christian between the time a person is hurt and the time he forgives the one who has hurt him (Stanley, 1996). An unforgiving spirit develops when we choose to remain in an unforgiving state toward a person who has wronged us.

An unforgiving spirit is summed up in this remark: “I don't think I could ever forgive that.” Such a person may feel justified in making this statement because forgiveness seems unreasonable for some offenses. We may feel we have been dealt with in such an unjust, unfair, unwarranted, and harmful way that we cannot let go of the pain (Stanley, 1996). Clearly, we need to face the fact that we all will be hurt. We have been hurt, are hurting now, or are going to be hurt by somebody in some area. The only way we can insulate ourselves against being hurt is removing ourselves completely from the possibility of love. To risk love is to risk hurt. Hurt is unavoidable, but we can deal with pain. No pain is too deep or too widespread to be beyond the power of God’s forgiveness working in and through us. Being unforgiving is a choice we make with the will, and it’s a bad choice (Stanley, 1996). Be warned, old hurts cannot be ignored; they do not simply evaporate. We must forgive those who have hurt us to obey the Lord, and to prevent personal destruction and shipwreck.

Thus we need to consider five areas related to Forgiveness in a two part series:

·                    What is Forgiveness? (Luke 7:39-43)

·                    What is an Unforgiving Spirit? (Luke 6:27-31, 35-37)

·                    Why Can’t I Forgive? (Mark 7:20-23)

·                    Why Should I Become Forgiving? (Heb. 12:14-17)

·                    Where Do I Begin? (Mark 11:25-26)

What is Forgiveness?

The answer to our first question can be found in Luke 7:39-43. Basically, to forgive is to set someone free or release them from an obligation. The best place to begin is to consider the meaning of forgiveness. What does forgiveness mean? In Luke 7:40-43, the Lord Jesus unveils the key concepts of forgiveness:

And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. [41] There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence [500 days wages for a Laborer], and the other fifty [50 days wages for a Laborer]. [42] And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? [43] Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

It is from this vital passage we learn that forgiveness is an act of liberating, or releasing (Luke 7:41-42). Forgiveness is “the act of setting someone free from an obligation to you that is a result of a wrong done against you” (Stanley, 1996). Furthermore,

Forgiveness is an act of the will. Forgiveness involves both attitudes and actions. If you find it difficult to feel forgiving of those who have hurt you, try responding with kind actions. If appropriate, tell such people that you would like to heal your relationships. Give them a helping hand. Send them a gift. Smile at them. Many times you will discover that right actions lead to right feelings (The Handbook of Bible Application).

It is also important to see that forgiveness involves three elements. In begins with an injury or offense, “they had nothing to pay.” A wrong is committed. As a result an injury, pain, hurt, suffering, or guilt is experienced (consciously or subconsciously). Then a debt resulting from the injury follows, “a certain creditor which had two debtors.” There is a consequence that is always detrimental and puts someone into a deficit state of some kind. They are obligated because of their failures, offensive activities, or actions against another. Finally, there is a cancellation of the debt, “he frankly forgave them both.” (See also Luke 7:47-48)

All three elements are involved in forgiveness of all types—forgiveness by God, and forgiveness of others. When Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary He paid for all of our sins. He did not and does not require us to pay for any of our sins. When He paid the entire debt for sin the matter was settled forever. When we realize that we have nothing for which to pay for our sins, then He will forgive us sinners and cancel our obligations to a Holy God with regard to sins and our offenses against Him. 

We as Believer should be forgiving much like our Savior has forgiven us. He has completely released us from any obligations to Him concerning our offensive sins against Him. Likewise we should release others from any obligations to ourselves when they have hurt us. We are to forgive, release them, and literally set them free. We should no longer require anything of them! Not even an apology from them, and certainly not demanding begging and pleading of them to return to our good graces! We don’t hold the violation over their heads and we certainly don’t try to increase their pain or cause them to suffer in anyway because they have hurt us. This kind of commitment will greatly help any of our relationships.

Secondly, consider the magnitude of forgiveness. Luke 7:42, says “And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.” Forgiveness is important because it sets them and us free, yet the world is filled with unforgiving people. Perhaps thoughtful consideration of the magnitude and benefits of a forgiving spirit will be helpful and persuasive. A resolve to be forgiving is quite favorable and far reaching.

A grand benefit is the realization that forgiveness frees us from suffering. People who do not forgive are suffering greatly. There is a festering wound in the soul. There is a wall in the spirit that keeps them imprisoned. They may not recognize that they are in an unforgiving state. But in many cases, people who feel frustrated, upset, burdened, impatient, out of control, angry, jealous, bitter, agitated, uptight, in turmoil, are suffering from an unforgiving spirit.

Another wonderful blessing is the fact that forgiveness brings freedom to walk in the Spirit. The apostle Paul’s counsel to the Ephesian Church was,

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. [31] Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: [32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Eph. 4:30-32).

You see it brings with it the manifestation of “the fruit of the Spirit:” love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Gal. 5:22–23). You see an unforgiving spirit stifles a person’s ability to love and to receive love. It stunts the growth of a marriage or a friendship. An unforgiving attitude keeps a person from experiencing all that the Lord might have for him in the way of ministry or outreach. It keeps a person from enjoying the full abundant life that Christ promised. God’s desire is for you to experience complete forgiveness, which is forgiveness of your sins and a full restoration in your relationship to the Lord God, and forgiveness of others who have wronged you. Knowing the Lord Jesus is experiencing real freedom. Jesus himself is the truth that sets us free. John 8:36, states, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Knowing Jesus is freedom from the power of sin. Sin has a way of enslaving us, controlling us, dominating us, and dictating our actions. Jesus can free you from this slavery that keeps you from becoming the person God created you to be. If sin is restraining, mastering, or enslaving you, Jesus can break its power over your life.

Also forgiveness brings us freedom to serve our Lord. Notice again the words of the wise apostle, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1). Also in Galatians 5:13, he said “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Freedom in Christ is the freedom to serve. Christ died to set us free from sin including an unforgiving attitude. Thanks to Christ, we are now free and able to do what was impossible before–to live unselfishly—this includes giving the gift of forgiveness to others. We must stand against the temptation of justifying our unforgiving attitudes and thereby stunting our service to Christ. Serving and loving others has to do with valuing them, respecting them, being merciful toward them, wanting good things for them, being concerned for their welfare, and caring about them. Naturally this will involve many occasions to forgive them also. It is imperative that we seek God’s help to change and to make amends with the people who have hurt us.

What is an Unforgiving Spirit?

God gives us an answer to this important question in Luke 6:27-31, 35-37. The short answer is an unforgiving spirit is a form of hatred. That may sound a bit odd, but the Lord Jesus clarifies the issue for us.

Notice that an unforgiving spirit is actually a manifestation of hatred in a heart. We can see this in our Lord’s words when He describes love in various benevolent actions. Among those He mentions forgiveness. In Luke 6:27-31, the Lord Jesus advised,

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, [28] Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. [29] And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. [30] Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. [31] And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Again these are agape-love responses to unfairness, various abuses, mistreatment and gross inconveniences. This is how our Lord expects us to respond when experiencing these flagrant inequities. Then in Luke 6:35-37, He does not soften His language nor reduce His expectations for His genuine disciples. He further counsels,

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. [36] Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. [37] Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 

While our natural minds are repulsed viewing these lofty requirements as too demanding, our Lord prescribes them with complete authority. Make no mistake about it, these commands can only be obeyed in the energy of the Spirit and He produces godly love in the Believer’s experience (Gal. 5:22). Therefore, according to this passage to love our enemies is to help meet their needs, show them kindnesses, and mercies, remain nonjudgmental toward them, and forgive their offenses. The opposite of loving our enemies is to refuse to assist them with their legitimate needs, withhold kindnesses, hold on tightly to old grudges, condemn them out rightly while questioning their motives, and withhold forgiveness from them. Beloved, this is pure hatred in action! An unforgiving spirit is one manifestation of a hate-filled heart.

If these forms of hatred describe you, then you have an unforgiving spirit. I know that may have felt a bit harsh and confrontational, but facing this reality is the first step to victory over a hardened heart of disobedience and unbelief. “Oh, I don't hate anybody” you may say. By such a statement, you probably mean that you would not murder anybody or do anything intentionally to harm another person (Stanley, 1996). But ask yourself these questions, do I avoid encountering a certain person? Do I find it difficult to speak well of a certain person? Does the very thought of a particular person make me cringe or clench my fist? If your answer is yes, you are harboring hatred in the form of an unforgiving attitude.

Unmistakably, hatred does exist in degrees. Not all forms of hatred are of identical strength or potency. Certainly all are sinful and displeasing to the Lord Jesus who commanded us to respond in love instead of reacting in hatred. An unforgiving spirit is marked by hatred, and we know we have such a spirit if:

·                    We cannot shake the painful memory of a hurt done to us.

·                    We cannot honestly wish the offending person well.

·                    We want the other person to feel pain, suffering, and hurt to the degree we believe we have felt it.

If this describes you, face up to the facts! You have a degree of hatred in your heart for that person, and you are possessed of an unforgiving spirit. There is no point or benefit in denying what the Spirit of the Living God is saying to you. You have an unforgiving spirit—a tendency to withhold pardon and a propensity to hang on to grudges and grievances. If we take the Lord Jesus’ counsel seriously, then there is no other possible conclusion we can come to.

In addition, an unforgiving spirit spawns negative consequences. You see an unforgiving spirit will take one of two forms in our lives. Either we will stuff our pain deep inside our hearts and keep it bottled up, where it will turn to bitterness and resentment, or we will actively seek to retaliate against the person, taking vengeance in our own hands to repay the wrong done to us. Either way, we will be the prisoner of our unforgiving attitude; we will suffer far more than the person who has wronged us. The damage to our fellowship with God, relationships with others, and within our own souls will be exponential.

But, praise the Lord there is a way out of this condition!  You can follow our Lord’s wise advice and choose to forgive the person. Nobody can make you have an unforgiving heart. Again, it is an act of your will, a choice that you make. You can choose by your will to forgive.

Finally, an unforgiving spirit ignores Christ’s clear commands to forgive. Not only should you choose this route for your health and well-being, but you are commanded by the Lord to make this choice (Eph. 4:31–32). We must take this seriously in order to be right with our Lord. Understand that God’s commandments are always for our good, and this one is no exception. Jesus plainly taught, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:14–15). Our fellowship with God is jeopardized when we harbor sin in our hearts. Nothing is more important than walking with and pleasing our Lord. The fact remains, if you want to experience God’s forgiveness, you must forgive others. Again Mark echoes same thought in 11:25-26 saying,

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. [26] But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. 

The Lord would have us traverse this life without the weight and consequences of bitter grudges (See Matt. 18:21, 22, 35). In obedience to Christ Jesus, lay this burden down. Choose to forgive. Free your offender that you also may be liberated as well. 

I Want To Be A Winner

Like any honest Believer, we readily confess that we are far from perfect. Regrettably, we still sin against God, disappoint our love ones, and ourselves. Acknowledging that we are SAVED sinners and not perfect saints is helpful, but not enough. Deep inside we truly yearn for the day when sin will be something we use to do before we were glorified in Christ. For now, we fight the good fight of faith against indwelling sin. Sometimes we win these battles with our old nature while other times we are too painfully aware of our repeat failures. Our situation could deteriorate to the point where it gets harder and harder to face family, friends, and our pastor; they all desire the very best in Christ for us. We are afraid of disappointing them...again.... If we are not careful to confess and repent of sin, feelings of shame will begin to dominate our choices and lifestyle. As a result, temptations to pretend everything is alright, cover up the truth, just put on the mask, and hope no one discovers the truth will developed into a habit. Eventually, we will feel trapped in hypocrisy and afraid to trust anyone with our...real situation.... Who can you turn to? What can a Believer do to win more of these battles? Must we struggle in defeat until the Rapture? God must have designed something to help us win these battles with the flesh more consistently…right?

Actually, our wonderful all-wise Lord has made provisions for consistent spiritual victory for every Believer. The key is our identification with Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection. Christ is victorious over sin and we share in His victory by faith in Him. The procedure for translating Christ’s triumph into our personal experience is the vital objective. Converting our identification with our mighty Lord Jesus into our daily experience for continuous victory and progressive sanctification is our focus. It is one thing to know intellectually the Spirit seeks to sanctify Christians; it is quite another matter to experience God’s life-giving power transforming us from within. Such changes may be small at first, but as we depend more on the Spirit for specific spiritual needs more significant changes will occur. As we continue in this manner, our motives, ambitions, and behaviors will become more like those of Christ than those of our “old man.”

These positive developments do not unfold automatically; each believer must make the right choices, walk in the Spirit, believe God for changes, and discipline ourselves with great diligence (1 Cor. 9:24-27; Gal. 5:13-26; 2 Pet. 1:3-21). Then progressively, we will begin to realize more victories over the old lifestyle and sinful responses. Eventually our life will be more characterized by winning over indwelling sin than being defeated repeatedly and frustrated continually. It is not that we as Believers will become sinless, but we do sin less and less under the Spirit’s life-altering influence. It is as the Spirit of grace empowers us that we win these internal battles; as Christians we become winners in Christ! This is God's design and provision for you and me.

But how can we translate the life and power of the risen Christ into our personal experiences on a daily basis? Four vital attitudes of mind and action on a believer’s part should be recognized in order to experience victory continually. These Paul discussed in Romans 6:5-23 and the key actions are (a) Know (Rom. 6:3-6), (b) Reckon (Rom. 6:5-11), (c) Yield (Rom. 6:12-14), and (d) Serve (Rom. 6:15-23). It is the Spirit who does the work of sanctification, but each believer must choose, trust, cooperate, and participate in their spiritual transformation. Yes, there is a mysterious blending of the divine and human efforts to experience genuine change that will glorify God and prove good for the child of God (Phil. 2:12, 13). Consider then these four actions each Believer must learn and master.

KNOW

First we must “know” (Rom. 6:3, 6, 9, 16) the truth of victory through Christ. Yes, we presently have victory through Jesus Christ; every Believer needs to realize this truth. It has been well said, that we are not fighting for victory but from victory. Consider Wiersbe’s (1997) observation in Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament regarding what the believer needs to “know.”

This is the wonderful truth of our identification with Christ. Not only did Christ die for us, but we died with Him. When the Spirit baptized us into the body of Christ, then we were buried with Him and raised to newness of life.¹

While we still grapple with indwelling sin, we also have freedom from sin’s domination because Christ broke the power of sin through His death. We need to 'know' these facts and their significance to our daily experience in Christ. Again Dr. Wiersbe (1997) said,

Read 6:1–10 again and see for yourself that the believer is dead to sin (v. 2); the old nature has been crucified (v. 6); the believer is freed from sin (v. 7). The old nature can no longer reign as king over the Christian who knows the truth, reckons on it, and yields to the Lord.²   

Paul describes the struggle that goes on in a Believer who does not “know” the truth of his identification with Christ in death and resurrection (Rom. 7:15). It is the conflict between the two natures in the person who attempts to keep the Law in the energy of the flesh in search of holiness. Harry Foster in an article entitled Toward the Mark explains:

Here was a man trying to achieve holiness by personal effort, struggling with all his might to fulfill God’s “holy and righteous and good” commandments (v.12), only to discover that the more he struggled, the worse his condition became. It was a losing battle, and no wonder, for it is not in the power of fallen human nature to conquer sin and live in holiness (MacDonald & Farstad 1995, p. 1707).³

Notice how often the first-person pronouns—I, me, my, myself appear in this passage; they occur over forty times in Romans 7:9–25! Believers grappling with the Romans Chapter Seven experiences have “taken an overdose of “Vitamin I”⁴ observed MacDonald and Farstad (1995, p. 1707) in the Believer’s Bible Commentary.  They are introspective to the core, searching for victory in self, where it cannot be found. The Believer’s Bible Commentary (MacDonald & Farstad 1995, p. 1707) also affirmed,

Sadly, most modern Christian psychological counseling focuses the counselee’s attention on himself and thus adds to the problem instead of relieving it. People need to know that they have died with Christ and have risen with Him to walk in newness of life. Then, instead of trying to improve the flesh, they will relegate it to the grave of Jesus.⁵

In describing the struggle between the two natures, Paul relates feelings of perplexity and uncertainty about what to do (Rom. 7:15). People would lightly describe him today as having a split personality, a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He was repulsed by the fact that he commonly finds himself indulging in things that he did not want to do, and practicing things that he hates.  This is the battle each believer struggles with as we attempt to clean up our act before the Lord. Again the Christian must “know” the fact of his vital union with Christ in death and resurrection!

But, what is the elemental principle of the Believer’s union with Christ?  The fundamental rule of the Believer’s union with Christ demonstrates how salvation in Christ is not partial; it is an entire and complete salvation.  Paul proves this in the key verse Romans 6:14, which says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Thus sin shall not dominate the life of Believers, it must not be allowed.  This is because Believers are no longer under law, but now under grace.  Our union with Christ makes all the difference. As we were in Adam, so now we are in Christ.  Believers have reaped all the consequences of what Adam did; we also have reaped all the consequences of what Christ has done.  That is the parallel. Christians are joined to Christ in every respect. We are not only joined in some respects, we are united to Christ entirely; one cannot divide Christ.  That is, we have been crucified, died, buried, and raised with Christ.  Currently we are considered seated with Him in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6; 1Cor. 1:30; Col. 3:1). Through union with Christ, every believer is a winner in our spiritual position. As struggling Christians we need to 'know' this truth!

In addition, as Believers we are not under Law, but we are under grace. Under the Law, Old Testament Believers could only struggle in their own strength to live up to God’s requirements. They had not the new nature, nor the Spirit’s power. Failure is the characteristic and ultimate outcome.  But under grace the child of God can live in the energy of the Spirit enabling us to satisfy all that God requires. Under grace we are endowed with the divine nature to enable spiritual living. As Christians, we must “know” we have the position, potential, and power to live out God’s will in the Lord Jesus Christ.

RECKON

Then secondly, the believer has the responsibility to “reckon” (Rom. 6:11). This is somewhat related to the concept of accounting. While it is good to 'know' we have a new position in Christ; we must, by faith, reckon it to be true in our own individual lives. We must count this reality as true of us personally. It is much like having money directly deposited into our bank account and concluding that it is actually there on a certain date of the month. We don’t have to verify the money has been deposited, we know that it has been and simply begin to use it to conduct our business. Dr. Wiersbe (1997) noted that “reckoning is simply that step of faith that says, “What God says about me in the Bible is now true in my life. I am crucified with Christ.””⁶ Reckoning is believing God’s Word and living accordingly; it is acting on what God said by faith (Heb. 11:13-16). It is the all-important appropriation step! Remembering and reflecting on this fact about oneself. Since Christians have identified with Christ (we enjoy a complete spiritual union with Him), what is true for Him can also be true for us as well. Again “knowing” relates to our position in Christ, but “reckoning” refers to appropriating Christ into our experience. This association takes root in our minds by an act of mental accounting. We can consider ourselves dead to sin just as Christ is, and alive to God like Him also. We are to reflect on the actual fact that Christ’s death and resurrection stand between whom we were and who we are presently in Christ. The old life has ended and the new one has begun.  We have absolutely no obligations to that old life before Christ. All obligations are now toward the God we love because of His mercy and grace. On this non-pretentious basis the new life and lifestyle takes shape and issues into righteous expressions that glorify God.

Please bear in mind this is not straining oneself to obey human rules or even commandments from the Bible in human energy. This is counting on our union and identification with Christ in crucifixion and resurrection to supply the desire and the dynamic where-with-all to live obediently to God in the power of the Spirit. That is, we count on the truth and the power of the Spirit to work through our commitments and decisions. The Spirit’s power, not human power is in view.  As such, we can refuse the domination of any sinful practice while living in triumph in Christ (Rom. 6:11, 12). Therefore, account Christ's death and resurrection as realities in your experience. 

YIELD

 The next action identified by Paul is “yield” (Rom. 6:13, 16). Yielding involves handing over control to another or giving them the final say about what should happen. It is the surrender of self and all at our disposal to God. Since Believers have been given new life by God, our bodies are to be given to Him to use for promoting righteousness. Instead of giving in to sin, we are to refuse sin’s tyrannical rule. Instead we are to wholly surrender our entire being in commitment to living for God’s glory. This in practical terms is a moment by moment presentation of ourselves to His service and will.   

It has been recognized (Wiersbe, 1997) that by yielding, believers can have victory over our fallen nature. This yielding is an act of the will, a step of conscious obedience to Christ. We must take this… step of yielding the members of our bodies to the Lord.⁷ It is submitting our will to God’s will while embracing the Spirit’s power and leadership. This is the power to dethrone sin in our lives. Yielding is releasing ourselves to explore all aspects of God’s plans. Resultantly, God literally runs—directs—our lives and decisions through His Spirit.  He is in charge in an experiential manner of our personal life, relationships, finances, priorities, problems, complications, the future, and the unknown. As Christians, you and I must yield; that is, hand over control to Him. Have enough confidence in the love, wisdom, grace, and power of God to give over control to Him. This is the only reasonable response to The God who sacrificed Himself for our eternal welfare and redemption.

SERVE

The last step to victory over indwelling sin through the believer’s union with Christ is “serve.” Clearly Paul acknowledged how all believers once served ‘Master Sin’ before conversion, but upon trusting Christ and being united to Him, we can now serve righteousness. The apostle Paul said, in Romans 6:16-19,

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? ¹⁷ But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. ¹⁸ Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. ¹⁹ I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

The words “serve” and “servant” occurs repeatedly in this brief paragraph to signify this emphasis on service. The reason we Believers yield (8:13-16) the members of our bodies to God is that we may serve the Lord. Again Wierbe’s (1997) comments in Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament are very helpful to understanding this important concept.

Before we were saved, we yielded ourselves to sin, and were the servants of sin. Consequently we received the “wages” of sin—death (v. 23). But now that we have received Christ as Savior, we have been made free from sin; that is, our new position in Christ gives us a new Master as well as a new nature. We are now the servants of righteousness instead of the servants of sin! As we yield the members of the body to Christ as his “tools” or “weapons” (“instruments,” v. 13), then He comes to control our lives, and we bear fruit unto holiness (v. 22).⁸

The answer to the problem of sin is not simply determination, discipline, reformation, legislation, or any other human endeavor. Victory comes through crucifixion and resurrection.⁹

Even though every believer is dead to sin and alive to God, and even though the life of Christ is in every believer, it does not mean that we are completely sinless and perfect. While these things are true of our redeemed spirit, which is entirely delivered from sin, it is not true of our bodies.  As spiritual beings, we are dead to sin because Christ has redeemed our spirits perfectly. Until the Rapture, our bodies remain in the struggle with indwelling sin (Rom. 6:6-18). Therefore, we must choose to live for God and yield our bodies to righteous service.  Though we are redeemed by God’s grace, our bodies still struggle with indwelling sin, which persistently attempts to drag us down.  Praise the Lord for Jesus Christ who delivers us from “the body of this death”! So, all believers can be winners instead of frustrated losers. God’s design is that we recognize our complete union/identification with Jesus Christ who died, was buried, and rose again to live in the power of resurrection life forever. Because of Jesus Christ, we should not only desire to be winners, but literally become winners continually!

The Value of Bible Study

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:17, 18).

Ever wondered why we should read and study the Bible? Have you adopted the myth that closeness to God and Biblical depth are mutually exclusive? Do we unintentionally (subconsciously) believe that God places a premium on spiritual ignorance? Think about this carefully before answering. You see, all of these questions draw serious attention to the great importance of knowing God and His Word. The value of God’s Word to the entire Christian experience can never be overstated or stressed too much. In an age in which more people are rejecting the Bible, let every Believer embrace it with greater passion to know God intimately and deeply.  I firmly believe the Lord Jesus Christ would be pleased with that.

A Noteworthy Observation

It was Robertson McQuilkin who said, “God desires the response of faith and obedience to both the direct teachings and the principles of Scripture.” I was reminded of this crucial function of the Word of God while reading and studying Dr. McQuilkin’s book, Understanding and Applying the Bible as part of an undergrad Bible class several years ago. Yes, God calls His people to certain responses, values, beliefs, and practices through His Word. Ultimately, we are invited to Him for worship, fellowship, submission, and service through His love letter—The Scriptures. For me McQuilkin's statement reinforced something God had taught me years before. Primarily, that there is tremendous value in Bible study and every Christian should develop strong Bible exploration skills. 

Good Bible study habits and methods are crucial to viable Christian development, growth, and service to our Lord Jesus. While it is true anyone can pick up a Bible, share a truth, explain its application to modern life, and urge others to adhere to it, not anyone can do this regularly with accuracy or effectiveness. Sharing biblical truth with others is our Christian responsibility (Matt. 28:18-20) and a God-given privilege, but we should cherish a palpable measure of competence as we do so (2 Tim. 2:15). Certainly, we all make mistakes when handling Scripture, and we all will again, but still we must strive to represent our Lord well. A desirable aim is to express His Word as accurately and lovingly as we can to benefit the listeners on any given occasion (Eph. 4:11-16). As with any worthwhile skill, Bible study strategies must be learned, cultivated, and explored with diligence. In fact my own story regarding studying and sharing the Bible was fraught with many failures. God, in His infinite grace, eventually developed in me the necessary skills enabling me to research, study, and share His Word with a greater measure of accuracy. He desires to do the same for every Believer without a single exception. My own journey is a testimony to this reality.

Personal Testimony

As a new Christian, I recall a cavernous hunger for the grand teachings of the Bible. Being fascinated with biblical messages and thrilled with certain topics, I dreamed of handling Scripture competently also. However, desiring to study Scripture and possessing the ability to do so effectively, are as different as our solar system from a model of it. I was 23 years of age, four years into an Air Force career, and stationed at Plattsburgh, AFB, NY. It was there the Lord Jesus rescued me from my sin and unto Himself. God had saved and forgiven me of a life of sin, and now it was time to grow in this new relationship He had brought me into. Though I had read portions of the Bible for many years as a young person, I still did not possess any significant Bible study skills. I was starving for biblical insight and roundly inept at feeding my famishing soul.

Another distinct memory of my first Christian year was a bona fide passion to communicate the Word to both Christians and non-Christians. However, I was plagued with a few crippling problems. The most obstructive dilemma was my grossly inadequate biblical and theological understanding. For instance, I could tell someone they needed to be saved, but I could not show them adequately from the Bible. So, I witnessed to others from gospel tracks. Additionally, I knew that foul language was wrong, but I was unable to identify even one verse to support my opinion. It did not take long for me to figure out that my mere assertions do not make my statements true. Convinced that church attendance, prayer, and Bible reading were important, I commended them hardily to others; yet, I had little or no clue where God or the Bible required this. I even declared arrogantly, that "I believe the entire Bible from cover to cover!" The problem was I had only read about three-quarters of it at the time! In addition, I misquoted verses, misstated the Lord’s expectations, endorsed tradition over truth, disagreed with more mature Christians, misapplied Scripture repeatedly, and scandalously confused the topic of service with salvation. Frankly speaking, I even taught things that not even God knew. I even thought it was possible to be unsaved again. If you had known me, you would have described me as the poster child for ‘zeal without knowledge.’ God in His grace has forgiven me for these awful blunders; I had good intentions, but was severely wrong in many instances.

As previously mentioned, I was ill equipped in Scripture study methods. Thus, I had next to zero ability to acquire the knowledge I desperately needed for life and service. My study approach was entirely without rhyme or reason and generously peppered with unfounded theological biases. As a study method, I ransacked my Bible to justify my misguided ‘insights’ and ‘conclusions.’ Like a hunting dog with no sense of smell, I was ever searching for that illusive ‘proof text’ while ignoring the biblical context. Needless to say I made more than a few embarrassing mistakes along the way. Yes, I experienced some agonizing frustrations in my pathetic attempts to ‘serve the Lord’ and be a ‘blessing’ to others. However, through the gracious leadership of our patient Lord, personal growth became my first priority. That decision also directly impacted my ability to minister far more effectively to others in a manner pleasing to the Lord.

God's Providential Guidance

Nevertheless, there was one thing I did right in those early years. Realizing my severe ineptitude, I purchased a King James Study Bible to assist my personal growth endeavors. This proved to be a truly helpful move. The introductory book summaries, responsible Bible insights, outlines, and notes helped me to develop a fundamental doctrinal orientation. Praise the Lord, the Bible was making more sense to me! Not only did I read the Scriptures and the study notes, but I began following some of its guidelines regarding Bible study strategies. You see, that study Bible provided several different ways to explore the Scriptures in its introduction section. Taking these useful instructions seriously, I began using some of those study methods with notable benefit.

God in His infinite grace also prompted me to develop a simple worksheet to record what I was learning. By this strategy, I could preserve the insights He was teaching me and revisit them as I needed them or to share them with others. This proved to be especially supportive of my goal of growth in grace and knowledge (2 Pet. 3:18). These early and humble worksheets spurred me to think far more concretely about Scripture and its place in my own experience. Though my path to using sound Bible study methods was filled with blunders, my ever wise Lord Jesus gradually achieved His purpose in me.

Now there were three major positive developments that came out of those early struggles. The first was my experience of some modest spiritual formation as I applied myself to these study techniques. Secondly, a more effective ministry to believers and non-believers eventually emerged as I used what God was teaching me. People were actually coming to Christ as Savior! Younger believers were receiving some of the basic spiritual guidance they needed. Through my conversations, God was actually ministering to others through what He had taught me. I was delighted beyond my ability to express!

The third advancement was significant improvements of Bible study tools for my personal use. Because I had profoundly profited from these methods, I developed different study worksheets to target other areas in the Christian sphere. Some of these focused on acquiring biblical knowledge, while others zeroed in on application and sanctification. I even designed one for identifying Bible principles and applying them to my professional life. Borrowing ideas and concepts from many different sources, I constructed a number of tailor-made study tools for personal use. After refining these tools, I could confidently introduce them to others as Bible study training aids. In fact, this post is an additional expression of my desire to serve others through personal Bible study training.

Inductive Bible Study

Typical of Inductive Bible Study, my plan enables me to observe, interpret, and apply the Scriptures to daily life. As we interact directly with the Word of God, we are afforded additional opportunities to permit the Holy Spirit to teach us His Word. While this plan can be somewhat demanding, I believe it is equally rewarding to those who are serious about knowing God and making Him known to others. God desires for each of us to know Him through the revelation of the Scriptures; historically my plan has served as a catalyst in this regard. The intent is to grow in Christ as we use inductive study strategies, and certainly God will use us to influence many lives for Christ.

Finally, there are several fundamental guidelines that should influence and help us personally discover God’s eternal truth. My goal is to not only encourage you to study God’s Word habitually, but to also adopt Bible study helps and tools  that expedite Christlike formation and transformed living through Bible study. These guidelines for selecting a study strategy are:

1. The motivations for personal Bible study are obedience to God’s commands, spiritual strength for personal transformation, and preparation for Christian service (2 Tim. 2:15; Jn. 5:39; 1 Jn. 2:14). The goal is not to merely become smarter, to argue with others, to become a ‘know it all,’ or to become a prideful Pharisee.

2. The Inductive Bible Study Method uses the Word of God (Old and New Testaments) as the primary source of insight about God and Christian living (Jn. 14:26; 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:10, 13). Choose a study plan that concentrates attention on the Bible and makes proper use of observation, interpretation, and application techniques. Avoid, so called study methods that rely more on modern experiences, contemporary testimonies, and the ‘talking points’ from fringe movements. These tend to ignore major portions and teachings of the Bible while opting for trendy ideas and popular philosophies (Col. 2:4-12).

3. The study plan you choose should enable you to annotate your observations, interpretations, applications, and translate the message of the text into obedient living (Acts 8:26-39; Neh. 8:1-12; 1 Tim. 4:16). This is necessary to aid the adoption, application, and appropriation of Scripture truth.  A simple notebook will suffice; a Bible study worksheet is even better. The point here is to be sure to write it down. Capture on paper or in a computer document what God is saying to your heart from the Word. This is extremely important and must not be divorced from the Bible study exercise.

4. The obligation of personal growth recognizes that Bible study is not an intellectual or academic exercise, but part of a life-changing process. Once we know what the passage says and mean, we are responsible to live it (2 Pet. 3:18; James 1:22). God calls us to obedience and responsiveness to His Voice. The Gospel is to be preached, precious souls are to be won to Christ, Christians are to be feed with the Word, and ministry is to be executed to meet the existing needs.

Beloved, this is important because good study methods must be translated into obedience to Christ. Observation, interpretation, and application are the three vital facets of inductive Bible study. Choose a plan that provides a means of documenting, annotating, and capturing the valuable biblical information discovered as you explore the rich veins of the Word. Such a plan will enable us to effectively use Bible study as a catalyst for life transformation—genuine Christian formation and experience. 

A Process of Transformation

Yes, Bible study is far more than a scholastic work out for our brains! Possessing insight deeply rooted in eternal Truth is a wonderful achievement, but it is not the target at which we as disciples are to take aim. In fact the danger of more knowledge is more arrogance and impatience with those who are not as astute (1 Cor. 8:1)! No, the Word of God can save, sanctify, satisfy, strengthen, sturdy, stabilize, and stir us repeatedly in a continuing process of transformation. Since it is a supernatural Book, we require supernatural assistance from its Author, the Spirit of Truth, to help us grasp its message 1 Cor. 2). Since it is written in human language, ordinary reading and study skills can also be applied as we study it. According to Paul, the Scriptures were given to transform our lives and fit us for service to Christ (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Beloved, this is the value of Bible study!  

Paul, the apostle, said, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:17, 18).Yes, the Scriptures stimulate and advance a life changing process that results in greater Christ-likeness (2 Cor. 3:17-18). We must depend on the Spirit of Christ to exercise ourselves in the truths we have learned (Rom. 12:1-2). The wonderful result is a life enriched and changed for the glory of God and the service of our fellow man.

Books you may find helpful if you want to make the commitment to study the Bible regularly on your own are listed below in general order of difficulty, and they represent several strategies. Your best choice would be to look at all of them in a Christian bookstore and try to get a feel for one of them before you try it.

•           How to Study the Bible for Yourself, revised edition, Tim LaHaye

•           Bible Explorer’s Guide, John Phillips

•           Living by the Book, Howard Hendricks

•           How to Study Your Bible, Kay Arthur

•           Understanding and Applying the Bible, Robertson McQuilkin

Run the Race with Patience

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

One way to guard against quitting a race is to familiarize ourselves with the race course. By doing so, we can prevent the kind of shock that leads to discouragement while simultaneously stimulating adequate preparation and determination to complete it. Such knowledge also helps us as runners to pace ourselves along the course to ensure we endure and finish well. This article is a continuation of a previous post entitled, “My Soul, It is Another Exodus!” In that article we explored the astounding tendency of youths and young adults to leave churches and the practice of Christianity in general. Among several solutions, we mentioned the need to familiarize our young people with the real nature of Christian living. This article seeks to disclose some of the challenging realities of Christianity in the Twenty-first Century while prescribing just one biblical answer. In order to continue and not quit our faith, we must understand the nature of our Christian race. This should motivate us to adequately prepare and determine to reach the finish line.   

Demanding Discipleship 

Before I explore our race course with you, I believe it would be helpful to remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ to potential disciples. Three times in Luke 14:25-35, the Lord Jesus stipulates that discipleship is predicated upon complete and entire devotion to Him. He literally stated that without such commitment, a person could not be His disciple. No matter how enthusiastic, talented, well-trained, broadly experienced, or highly accredited they may be; without whole-life commitment to Jesus Christ, one “cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26, 27, 33). The truth is it costs greatly to be an authentic disciple of Jesus Christ. It may cost us family, friends, employment opportunities, a certain standard of living, and the respect of our peers. At times and through the course of life, we all will have opportunities to examine and reexamine our loyalty to Christ and resolve to finish the course He has set before us as His followers. I can personally testify to this unavoidable reality along with thousands of other runners (2 Tim. 3:12). While this article heavily emphasizes Believers' obligations and responsibilities, it in no way disregards the grace and power of God at work deep within each believer (Phil. 2:12, 13). Attempting to live up to God's high expectations in the wisdom and energy of our carnal and fallen nature is utter futility (Rom.7:14-25). Therefore, with the demands of discipleship in mind, “let us run with patience the race that is set before us…” (Heb. 12:1).

Discarding Impediments 

As we run our specific Christian race, we must remove everything that would impede our progress. God specified that we “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Heb. 12:1). Among these impediments are gross misconceptions about practicing our Christian faith and life as a member of a church. While we are quick to identify what offends us about church and Christianity, it would prove more prudent to recognize what is required of each Christian runner. Newell (1995, p. 400) in Hebrews: Verse by Verse said, “runners strip themselves of every weight possible, wearing the lightest clothing, the lightest shoes! Many a weight carrier who eventually get to Heaven, will be passed on the way by those who have laid weights aside.” “Weights” may be harmless in themselves and yet hinder spiritual progress says MacDonald and Farstad (1995, p. 2202). Accordingly, they further observed, a Christian’s weights could include a yearning for even more material belongings, unreasonable loyalty to family, an apparently unquenchable thirst for luxurious living, an unequivocal deference to conveniences, and a defiant unwillingness to listen to God’s call to a more transient or itinerant lifestyle for the sake of advancing the cause of Christ. Unfortunately, our society elevates materialistic values for all Americans, and not for humanitarian reasons, but for business and sales—the bottom line. There are even elements in our national government who view gross materialism as “rights;” therefore, they demand them for everyone at the expense of the tax payer. Our young people are hearing these messages through every media form known to humanity in this technologically driven age. As a result, some of the things they should “lay aside” because they hinder their spiritual progress, they are clinging to reasoning that “God does not care about this.” They capitulate to immediate gratification, most convenient methods, whatever affords any emotion exhilaration, and they prefer quick fixes without even thinking through their options. Few possess the discipline of a competitive runner anticipating a day in the winners’ circle. God cannot advance such runners in the Christian race; if it hinders our spiritual progress, then it is a weight to us. Evaluate yourself in the light of Bible-truth, be honest about your experience, ask the Spirit of grace for the courage to lay some things aside, and follow through on that decision with accountability.  

Furthermore, in the Olympics, triathlons, Ironman competitions, and Pan American races, there are no rules against wearing over coats, packing extra changes of clothing, snow boots, several pieces of luggage, and a backpack with a variety of energy bars and drinks, but such runners can never traverse these challenging race courses to the finish in this manner. As Hebrews 12:1 prescribes, we must “lay aside every weight.” Start by evaluating and off-loading those endeavors, activities, plans, aspirations, associations, and dreams that interfere with the completion of the course Christ has set before us. Again it is not whether these considerations are bad, wrong, or sinful in themselves; they are however, hindrances to completing the course. Take courage and make the tough decisions; be decisive in this all important matter. Christians desiring to continue with the greatest loyalty to Christ must run their race light with the fewest distractions or impediments. We need all of our faculties and energies concentrated on the race that is set before us in order to endure to the finish line.

Dealing with Doubts

Christians must also take off and cast away sin (Heb. 12:1) because it readily ensnares and trips us in our faith marathon. Certainly this could refer to any form of sin, but the emphasis in this context is faith; therefore, this sin must specifically be a form of unbelief. Our sinful nature works in us through “unbelief.” Unbelief, doubts, and skepticism aggravate and obstruct our race of faith (Heb. 11) resulting in our failure to persevere. It is near impossible to persist in an arduous enduring task with zero confidence our efforts are of any value. In contrast, we can succeed in the most difficult tasks if we believe it is worthwhile in the end. At times we all are sorely tempted to forsake the Living God in some degree or particular (Heb. 3:12). As the hymnist Robert Robinson transparently quipped, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love” expresses well what we all sense deep within the precincts of our own souls on occasions. But like him we too must present our heart of hearts to God, “Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.” 
Beloved, we continue because we trust God’s wise prescriptions for life and eternity even when they contradict every other source of information available to us. It does not matter if the tempting lie that engenders Bible doubts is highly attested by the most distinguished scholars in that field; it remains unacceptable if it diminish God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ. While scholars can be helpful, they tend to exalt their intellectual prowess above inspired truth from God. This is the nature of the Christian race of faith! Christians are called upon to believe God regardless; to follow Christ no longer toying around with the ideas of compromise, doubting His Word, quitting, or walking away from Christianity in frustration. We must have unwavering belief in the promises of God, total confidence that the race of faith is worth running, and certainty that living by faith (Heb. 11:6) is the way to please God (MacDonald & Farstad, 1995, p. 2202). This is an absolute imperative.

Discarding Misconceptions

Along with weights, and sins, we must lay aside misconceptions about Christianity. Believers must strenuously resist the misconception that the Christian marathon race-obstacle course is easily navigated. It is helpful to have a working grasp of the nature of the race Christ has set before us. Our race is not a quick sprint to the finish line. The idea that enduring to the finish line will be easy, nice, always cordial, uncomplicated, and free of failures, hurt, or opposition must evaporate in the sunlight of this often painful reality. Genuine Christian living is no plush experience—such notions are akin to fairy tales. This is the nature of the faith race; it is a marathon with multiple obstacle courses along the way! It demands faith-toughness and perseverance! Christ would have genuine believers make necessary adjustments, and prepare well to press on with resolute and unwavering commitment through whatever challenges we must face. If living the Christian life was easy, everyone would presume to do so. 

Yes, there are difficult elements in churches, and Christian people do let you down. There is no excuse for this, but God does prescribe what course of action should be taken to correct this. Yes, one may be hurt badly in a Christian context—in relationships among the brethren. God answers this situation repeatedly throughout the Bible. Yes, there are problems of shallowness, pettiness, hypocrisy, and gross failures among Christian leaders. Genuine Spirit-filled discipleship ministry is a desperate need on most levels of the average ministry. In addition, discipleship should be focused more on developing Christian skills like Bible study, walking in the Spirit's power, obedience, grace living, prayer, witnessing, 360 degree stewardship, and service. Unfortunately many churches focus on information, lessons, and creeds; some do not even have a viable character shaping and spiritual skills developing ministry at all. Yes, the entire emphasis is corrupted in some movements. While all this may be true and inexcusable, God never prescribed in the Bible quitting on Christ, Christianity, or a relatively good church. Not one Bible passage even slightly or remotely endorses such a notion. Certainly, the answer for some Believers may be transferring to a solid church home. If this is the course of action one must take, then look for a church that exalts Jesus Christ as Savior, proclaims the Bible as the final authority, nurtures authentic spiritual discipleship for the glory of God, and sends out missionaries to reach the entire human race with the Gospel of Christ. Spiritual revival and refocusing are viable options for Christian individuals and institution while quitting is not. Also keep this uppermost in mind, no church is even slightly perfect and no Christian has arrived. This statement is not intended as an excuse for lazy Christianity; however, it is incumbent upon each of us not to expect either!

Though sinful problems among churches and Christian leaders have exacerbated the frustrations of young people, the New Testament documents and address these evils among First Century churches (1 Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians). God sternly warns, admonishes, challenges, and counsels churches to make the necessary corrections throughout the New Testament epistles. These ugly challenges can be corrected and worked through; they are not legitimate reasons for abandoning Christianity. Just as believers were historically exhorted to continue in Christian fellowship in spite of difficulties, we must be faithful today (Rev. 2 & 3). Christians in the Western world seem to give up far too easily and for the pettiest reasons imaginable. Beloved, God cannot possibly be pleased with this trend. Walking away from commitment to Christ and the Christian Faith entirely is a thorny path of terrible consequences. It is far better to search out a better church home; one that is alive with the truth and Spirit of grace. Quitting is not a legitimate option. Additionally, let us not fool ourselves. Those who quit good churches anticipating continuing for the Lord Jesus on their own will likely become great spiritual tragedies in the end. Christ gave Christians the institution of the New Testament Church for crucial reasons and not as a bonus.

Defying the Odds

 Finally, about 30% of the youth in American Protestant churches defy the trend and continue to attend church (Grossman, 2007). Grossman (2007) also reported that sixty-five percent of these young folks view church attendance as “vital” to their “relationship with God” and fifty-eight percent felt their church helps them with daily decisions. Fifty percent believes involvement with church helps them, “become a better person” (Grossman, 2007). It is important to also recognize this trend among youths and young adults in America. If these young people are continuing to be true to Christ and the Christian Faith in some measure, then others can do so as well. They are solid evidence that young people can be deeply committed to Jesus Christ today! With good churches and solid Christian leaders running the Christian race, more young people can be retained instead of lost. This is especially my desire for Independent Baptist Churches. Since we all are running a strenuous race while hurdling violent obstacles, we will need fresh energy, power, and strength to continue for a lifetime. Revival is the greatest need among Christians today. We desperately need a Heaven-sent, white-hot Spirit-filled, Christ-exalting, Bible-based, soul-cleansing, and cross-saturated revival in the United States of America. This is the hope of our youths and the future of Christianity in our country. Trust God to do a cleansing, renewing, and reviving work beginning with me and you.

Once again the developments surrounding young people and youths forsaking churches, Christ, and Christianity can be impeded, stopped, and even reversed. Nothing at all is too hard for God! We must trust Him with the smallest and greatest issues for His glory and our national welfare. I hope for a day when the trend is reversed and our churches are filling up with young people. I long for the day when our youth will be more like Daniel and Samuel, the both of which served God their entire lives and glorified Him in all their ways. American youths and young adults must come to grips with the reality that the Christian race is a marathon riddled with multi-layered complex obstacle courses along the way! There will be many opportunities to stubble, fall, and even refuse to get back up to continue the race. I say unto you in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of the Most High God: Do not give up! Get back up and continue your race! Rise above the mediocrity of others, the apathy of some leaders, the distractions of too many, and the liturgy of the rest. Reach for higher plains in the Lord God Almighty and go beyond what anyone every anticipated for you in Christ. Break the cycle of quitters in your generation and determine to be a finisher! You can do this in Christ Jesus your Lord. You can indeed do anything He calls upon you to do if you trust Him for power and do it for His glory (Phil. 4:13).

What is needful in America may be needful in other places on the planet as well. The answer in all instances is Jesus Christ and revival by The Spirit of Grace. Churches can avoid these same developments if they communicate the challenging nature of the life of faith (Heb. 11), and help young people remain focused on Christ, the Author and Finisher (Heb. 12:2). By running our race, we help our youth remain focused on Him and in the race until they complete theirs to the glory of God.

Experiencing and Responding to Christ

The wonderful news is that every Believer can experience the ministry of Christ our High Priest. Comprehending this truth, like so many others, is extremely compelling though. We must now respond to Him accordingly, faithfully, and deeply. When we do so by faith, peace, help, grace, and mercy are communicated into our spiritual experiences. With Christ we can venture on to explore all His designs for us to the glory of God. Are you ready?

Experiencing Christ’s Priestly Ministry

Now that the spiritual needs of Believers have been explored, and the greatness of our High Priest is better understood, our ability to access Christ’s aid must now be considered. First there is the realization and secondly, the appropriation of the realities of Christ’s Priesthood. Just as we can know intellectually that drinking water is refreshing and quenches our thirst, we can only experience that refreshment by actually drinking the water. Understanding this truth regarding Christ’s priesthood is good, but living in the sunlight of this reality is far better! The longing, anxious, peace-deprived, and besieged soul needs “rest” (Heb. 4:8-16). This “rest” is internal tranquility and calm repose based on Christ’s finished work at Calvary and His fully effective work as High Priest. By faith (Heb. 4:3) believers experience the inner peace that comes with a conscious trust in Christ as our fully capable high priest. Regardless of our inadequacies, the magnitude of our challenges, or the lure of temptations, He is able to help and aid as the needs arise. Faith in Him is essential; when we trust our Priest for aid, He in return floods the soul with a calm repose deep within freeing us from anxiety and cutting the sharpness of our stress significantly. While God exercises sovereignty regarding the alteration of our outward circumstances, the trusting soul is certain to realize this inner peace and assurance.

It is a fact that we are scarcely aware of the magnitude of our spiritual need even as Christians. In addition, we are somewhat ignorant of the satisfaction our Priest Jesus can provide. As a result, we take Him for granted and leave His priesthood virtually unexplored. Furthermore Christ is robbed of the honor, adoration, praise, love and appreciation from His people because of His direct contributions to our spiritual welfare.

As previously mentioned, Jesus’ priesthood is scarcely understood by many of us. We seem predisposed to adopt other things to help us cope with sinful failures, deficiencies, inadequacies, fears, and doubts related to life. We do not doubt Christ’s ability to meet our spiritual needs outright…we subconsciously compartmentalize our interests and categorically rule Christ out. We simply supplement our faith with ‘Christian add-ons’ thereby categorically ignoring Him by default. We prop ourselves up with sensationalism, rituals, political causes, formalism, strict adherence to lists, philosophy, creeds, psychology and the list seems endless. The truth is we have been doing this for so long that the supplements are a normal part of the ‘Christian culture.’ Meanwhile the realities and provisions of Christ remain unknown, unexplored, and tragically most are unproven. Only with an intellectual accent do we approve these truths about Christ’s priesthood as fundamental and orthodox theology, but we have little or zero experience of their significance to daily Christian living. The result is a faithless, anxious, anemic, impoverished, particularly ignorant, unfaithful, self-centered, insecure, and weakened brand of Christianity that only remotely resembles the real thing in only a few particulars. I know this sounds harsh, but it is an honest analysis. Praise the Lord there are wonderful exceptions, but far too precious few. My interest here is to be accurate and not sensational or polemic. This does painfully and accurately describe our modern brand of Christianity in some measure.

Because of this weakened state, Christian worship has been reduced to “programs,” “special meetings,” “fellowships,” “a song service,” “sound doctrine,” “a lesson,” “a sermon,” and a few “decisions.” All of these are good, but God intended far more! Christianity has been stripped down to a list of dos and don’ts limping along quite devoid of it essence and potency. Having strong morality is good, but it is not full robust spirituality! The Gospel is still powerful and life changing. Precious few actually expect anything from God and even fewer witness the Presence and power of God in any of their church meetings. Dead (formal, orthodox, or sophisticated) describes far too many ‘worship services.’ The idea of actually entering into the very Presence of God to worship in “spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) has almost been lost. The thought of genuine passionate intimacy with God has become rather foreign and even regarded as a relic of revival meetings. Even then this privilege is supposedly reserved for certain ‘ultra-spiritual’ (actually soulish or sensational) persons who are afforded unique audience with God. Therefore, these are regarded as being ‘on fire for God.’ But, emotional heat is not synonymous with white-hot Spirit filled-passion for the Most High God!

The truth is God invites every believer to worship ‘within the veil’ in the holy of holies—at the throne of His Majesty in Heaven. Christ affords us access to God! Allow yourself to think about the magnitude of such gracious privilege granted to every child of God. You and I can be with God at any time! We are also encouraged to come into the very Presence of God to secure the help and assistance we need as we need it. Access is by faith, enjoyment is through faith, and spiritual peace is perceived and obtained through faith. There remains a rest for God’s people! It is amazing that believers can go through an entire “worship service” and never worship God at all! There is little or no endeavor to approach God in an unrestrained manner because of soaring confidence in our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. There are precious few that draw near to God with full assurance of hope. Not enough of us experience God’s grace (unmerited favor, strength, help, blessing, and wherewithal) as it is needed and as God promised. How impoverished we are when we live in general ignorance of our Great High Priest Jesus. Again my aim is not to infuriate, but to encourage you to live in the light of Christ’s priesthood. I want the very best God offers for you, not some humanly engineered facsimile.

Responding to Christ as High Priest

With regards to experiencing Christ’s priesthood, we must act on what we believe about Christ as High Priest. Since He is superior to any other priests, two important responsibilities compel believers to act upon them.

The first directive involves holding firmly to our profession of faith in Christ (Heb. 4:14). The word “profession” basically means “confession.” Dr. Wiersbe observed that these Hebrew Christians were tempted to give up their confession of faith in Christ and their confidence in Him (see Heb. 3:6, 14). It was not a matter of giving up their salvation, since salvation through Christ is eternal (Heb. 5:9). It was a matter of their public confession of faith. If Christ is the superior priest, and He abides in the presence of God poised to aid His people, then it makes no sense at all to give up and quit. He can afford every spiritual enablement available to fit us for our challenges and to live in genuine Christian realities. Press on. Do not quit. Do not give up! You can live higher, holier, and more Spirit-filled because of Christ! Hold on to Him because he is holding on to you. Certainly the testing and trials are vicious at times, but our high priest is more than able to provide help. The Lord Jesus can work in your life—no matter how useless it may seem to you—it is not too late for Him. Look to Christ Jesus; place your confidence in Him. The Old Testament system had nothing so comprehensive to offer them, but Christ is offering everything necessary to us under the New Testament. Go on and believe God with every fiber of your being. Difficulties are not ‘good excuses’ to quit on Christ, but opportunities to demonstrate and define the strength of our faith and confidence in Him as the “true and living way.” Do not be ashamed of Christ; confess Him to family, friends, co-workers, constituents, and church family.

The second obligation is to tirelessly come boldly to the “throne of grace” for the help we need. We do not have to quit because we can come confidently into the Presence of God for the required assistance (Heb. 4:16).  We are impressed to come directly into the throne room of God, the real holy of holies, freely and unreservedly expressing ourselves to Him like someone who belongs in His Presence. This is because we actually do belong there! Not because we feels we deserves an audience with God based on personal merit or performance, but because we believe the greatness of our High Priest secures this privilege to us. Even when we have failed miserably, and our hearts condemn us thoroughly, God still insists that we “come.” When our soul is aggravated and flooded with piercing shame because of multiple failures to behave in a godly manner, still the invitation stands. God in affect is saying, “Come on in, you are welcome here in my Presence, because of your High Priest Jesus Christ!” It is always about the credentials of our High Priest, not our performance or failures.

Finally, each of us Believers must decidedly regard the Lord Jesus as our Great High Priest and rely on Him to provide grace, understanding, empathy, and assistance as needed. We must turn to Christ when failing, sinning, and straying. Go to the throne of grace for mercy when we feel guilty and ashamed because of failures. Though He has been gravely disrespected and offended, our holy God still restores believers who have wandered away from Him. Yes, the promise is still true that when we confess our sins, our rottenness and omissions, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and He will even cleanse us from all manner of unrighteousness (see 1 John 1:9). When we feel inadequate for the challenges before us, know that it is time to approach the “throne for grace” to secure the help we all need. Remember, it is the greatness of our Great High Priest that makes all this possible! Therefore, love Christ, cherish Him as our Great High Priest, and trust Him to minister to you at every point of spiritual need.