Are we guilty of vain worship (part 2)

Here are four areas to prove to ones’ self whether or not he/she is worshiping God in vain.

1.     Is there any biblical truth to support and validate the day and occasion we appear before God to worship?

Remember, those who worship God must worship Him in spirit and truth. For example: The Lord says; “When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts?

Bring no more futile [vain, worthless] sacrifices; incense [prayer] is an abomination to Me, the new moons, the Sabbaths and the calling of assemblies – I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your (not My) New Moons, and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them, when you spread out your hands, I will hide My face from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:12-15).

The Lord also says: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.” So why should we observe the seventh day of the week and not any other day?

“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11).

We have also been duly admonished saying: “Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Therefore, the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed" (Exodus 31:13-17).

Also, “I am the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God” (Ezekiel 20:19-20)

" For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, " So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD” (Isaiah 66:22-23)t

One should therefore take into consideration the fact that truth is the word of God as we have been duly admonished saying; “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” And,” Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (Psalms 110:160; John 17:17).

And since Jesus Christ who gave those instructions is the same yesterday, today and forever, if anyone is doing anything contrary to what is written is it not worshiping God in vain?

To be continued

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

ARE WE GUILTY OF VAIN WORSHIP?

I pose this question with no malice intent to cause offense or condemnation. I recently came to this realization and conviction through the study of the inspired word of God, and therefore my intent is to provoke the desire for a deeper study of the matter, peradventure the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we may know how to truly worship Him in spirit and truth.

Let me state from the outset that, the question of vain worship is by no means related to false worship, neither does it pertains to one’s free gift of eternal life and salvation. For as every believer should know, it is by grace we have been saved, through faith – and this not from ourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

However, we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. We need to stress on these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

One of the good works God prepared in advance for us to do is, to worship Him; that means, expressing our relationship to God in reverence, gratitude, awe and adoration.

For example, it is stated in the Psalms, “Oh come let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand."

“Ascribe to the Lord O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord Glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the Glory due to His name; bring an offering and come into His courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him all the earth” (Psalms” (Psalms 95:6-7; 96:7-9, Ps, 29:1-2).

It is imperative that the matter of vain worship be thoroughly examined by all true and sincere believers, because the worse indictment which is labeled on those who worship the One and only true God is that of worshiping the true God in vain.

Jesus, quoting from the prophet Isaiah said to the Pharisees, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written; ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men; for laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men.” And He said to them, “You have let go the commandments of God and are holding on to the traditions of men” (Mark.7: 6-9).

True worship in our new dispensation is defined as, “The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John. 4:23-24).

As believers we have been given the prerogative to judge ourselves; for if we judge ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

Let us therefore judge ourselves as to whether or not we are worshiping the true God in vain.

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To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

Man is the offspring of two Adams.

From the first Adam, man inherited a sinful corrupt nature, which according to scriptures, “Is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; It is hostile towards God, not subject to His laws, nor can it ever be: and, it is a temporary physical existence (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans.8:7 James 4:14; Hebrews 9:27).

On the other hand, man inherited from the last Adam, spiritual life which is eternal, with a holy righteous nature which is in harmony with God, and subject to His laws.

The nature of the new man which is one of true holiness and righteousness were imputed upon man at the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. At His death, He bore our sins and paid the price of sin in our stead. For, we judge thus: “That if one died for all, then all die. And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2Corinthians 5: 14-15).

At the resurrection of Jesus Christ, mankind became a new creation: he was created in righteousness and true holiness: For it is written: “Blessed be, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (2Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:24). 1Peter 1:3).

Mankind inherited righteousness and true holiness from Jesus Christ at His resurrection. For, “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.” We are the offspring of both the first and the last Adam. Jesus Christ is the vine and we are the branches (John15:5 Acts; 17: 28).

Because of God’s great love with which He loved us: Even when we (mankind) were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6).

Jesus Christ the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true—even in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1John 5:20).

The conflict of two desires:

The desires which reside in man’s flesh, and the desires which reside in man’s spirit are in conflict with each other as we have been duly instructed saying; “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5:16-17).

Those who live their lives according to the desires of the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh. They sow to the flesh, and will of the flesh reap corruption (Romana 8:5; Galatians 6:8).

On the other hand, those who live their lives according to the desires of the Spirit, set their minds on things above, the things of the Spirit, they sow to the Spirit and will of the Spirit reap everlasting life (Romans 8:5; Colossians 3:1-11; Galatians 6: 8).

Everlasting life is the immortality of the body, which is the reward for holy and righteous living. It is written; “Having been set free from sin and, having become slaves of God (practical righteousness), you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” The permanent dwelling place, our inheritance for the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:18, 22; 1Peter 1: 3-4).

It is imperative therefore that, we take the life in the spirit literally and practically and not metaphorically. Because the life in the spirit is as literal and practical as that of the flesh and we should learn how to exercise and nurture the life in the spirit as we do with the physical life : For God has overlooked these times of ignorance and has now commanded all men everywhere to repent.

Are we striving to be clothed with immortality?

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Love in Jesus’ name.

Lucius Joseph

 

How can one sustain his/her holiness?

Holiness is sustained if, “Indeed we continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which was preached to every creature under heaven” (Colossians 1:23).

The gospel which was preached to every creature under heaven is, “The hidden mystery of Jesus Christ, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ”. But now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith” For, “Had the rulers of this age (Satan and his demons) knew; they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory” (Ephesians 3:4, 9; Romans. 16:25-26; 1Corinthians 2:8).

Holiness is sustained by, “Having a walk worthy of the calling (be holy) with which we have been called,” and having daily confession and communion with God as we have been duly instructed saying; “as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (Ephesians 4:1; 1 Peter 1: 15-16; I John 1: 7-10; 2:1-2; Matthew 26: 27-28).

Holiness is a counterpart of righteousness. Like righteousness, it is, “He who practices holiness is holy, even as He (Christ) is holy” (1John 3: 7).

We have been admonished to; “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12”14).

But the crux of the matter is, how does a person attain holiness? Holiness is the fruit or the result of righteousness as we have been duly instructed saying; “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.’

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Romans 6:16-23).

So, the question is. What is this act of righteousness that when practice produces holiness and results in everlasting life which is immortality of the physical human body? This act of righteousness that produces holiness is not man’s own righteousness which according to the prophet Iasiah is as filthy rags. Nor is it the righteousness according to the law because it is said plainly that; “by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:20).

So then, what is this act of righteousness that when practice produces holiness and makes one righteous even as Christ Himself is righteous? The act of righteousness that produces holiness is exemplified in the Old Testament which is the copy and shadow of the reality and it is stated thus; “Then Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, by the door of the tabernacle of meeting. They shall eat those things with which the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them; but an outsider shall not eat them, because they are holy” (Exodus 29:32-33)

In like manner, in our New Testament dispensation it is by eating of the things by which the atonement was made which is the sacrificial body and blood of Jesus that one becomes holy and this state of holiness is a daily requirement for the new creation as prophesied beforehand saying; “that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life” (Luke 1:71-75).

Remember, we are to, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord,” “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Hebrews 12:14; Romans 6:18;22).

So as one can clearly see, it is by being a slave to the act or practice of righteousness that one becomes holy and results in everlasting life which is the immortality of the human body.

So, the question is. are we slaves of righteousness? And remember that, this act of righteousness is not our own righteousness which is as filthy rags before God, neither is it from doing the deeds of the law, for by the deeds of the law shall o flesh shall no flesh be justified in His sight, but by practicing the act of righteousness which makes one righteous even as Christ Himself is righteous.

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

So the question is, are we slaves of righteousness?

 

In Pursuit of Holiness

Holiness is defined as; “A unique quality of divinity; consecration to God; spiritual purity.” But the question is; Can mortal man whose heart is said to be sinful above all things, and desperately wicked, and whose mind is enmity or hostile towards God, not subject to His law, and can never be in subjection, be holy?

Despite how gloomy and rather impossible that transformation may seems to be, the irony of truth is, God has chosen man in His Son Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world in order that, “He should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1: 4).

How feasible it is for sinful mortal man to be holy and blameless before God?

One thing is certain, God would not require anything from us if He knows that it could not be fulfilled, neither would He require anything from us and not providing the provisions by which it could be attained.

We are admonished saying, “Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1Peter 1:13-16).

The feasibility of being holy and blameless before God is through God Himself who, has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the Ministry of reconciliation”: that is, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting men’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

God has now, “Reconciled us by Christ’s physical body through death to present us holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Colossians 1:21-22)

Holiness is an integral component of our new nature and so we have been duly instructed saying; “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (Hebrews 12:14 1 Peter1:15-16).

But how does one sustain his/her holiness? Is there a formula for holiness? According to the Old Testament rituals which were a copy and shadow of the reality there is definitely a formula for holiness which is stated as follows: “Then Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, by the door of the tabernacle of meeting. They shall eat those things with which the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them; but an outsider shall not eat them, because they are holy. And if any of the flesh of the consecration offerings, or of the bread, remains until the morning, then you shall burn the remainder with fire. It shall not be eaten, because it is holy” (Exodus 29; 32-34).

In like manner, in our New Testament dispensation it is by eating of the things by which the atonement was made which is the sacrificial body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ does one becomes holy which is also the new and living way by which we can draw near to God in a holy, blameless and irreproachable state. (Hebrews 10:19-20).

Hence the Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And such confidence he said, “Is ours through Christ before God– Not that we are competent or sufficient in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence or sufficiency comes from God” (Philippians 4:13; 2Corinthians 3:4-5).

The Apostle Peter assured us by saying, “God’s divine nature has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness (2Peter 1:3).

Unfortunately, not everyone has the knowledge of who we are as the new creation and according to the Prophet Hosea; “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6).

We should also take into consideration the fact that, as a chosen generation and a royal priesthood our main responsibility is to offer to the Lord the food for His offerings at the appointed time and so the admonition is;; “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Peter 2:4-5).

However, God has overlooked this time of ignorance and now commands all men everywhere to repent. The question is. Will you?

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

A living sacrifice (part 2)

It is very tragic that many people still view themselves as the old man before the redemption of Jesus Christ for it is written; “For if, by the trespass of the one man (first Adam), death reigned (heredity) through that one man how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life (heredity) through the One Man., Jesus Christ.

Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For as through the disobedience of the one man (first Adam) the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One Man (last Adam) the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5: 17-19).

Provisions have been made for us through God who, “Has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Timothy 1:9). 

We therefore have to: Have a walk worthy of the calling with which we were called (Ephesians 4:1).

That calling is a holy calling; as it is written; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:3-4).

•  We are to live before God our Father, “As obedient children, not conforming ourselves to the former lusts, as in our ignorance (not knowing our new status in life); but as He who called us is holy, we also be holy in all our conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1Peter 1:14-16).

Have our conscience purge from dead works to serve the living God Because light has no fellowship with darkness (Hebrews 9:14)

This act of service can only be performed by the High priest who is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins (Hebrews 5:1, 8:3).

Now, “Since we have a great High priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:14-15).

And since we have such a High Priest, who Himself is perfect, and has something acceptable to offer as a propitiation or on behalf of our sins— His body and blood in the form of the bread and  wine, we can daily approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. This act of worship is to be performed with boldness without fear in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives, in a worthy manner. For whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.” (Hebrews 4:15-16; 10:19-22; Luke.1:74-77; 1Corinthians 11:27-30).

God’s good, acceptable and perfect will is, “His eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:11).

When Christ came into the world He said, “Behold I have come to do your will, O God,” He takes away the first that He might establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” By this “One sacrifice He has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10: 9-10, 14).

God’s will is the sanctification (holiness), the immortality of our human body which is synonymous to everlasting life. It is written: “Now that we have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God (practical righteousness), the benefit we reap leads to holiness, and the result is everlasting life” (Romans 6:22; 1John 3:7).

For God’s will to be fulfilled, which is, “To be holy,” the following provisions were made:

The Father had Jesus Christ who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2Corinthians 5:21).

Christ instituted the ordinance of communion for the forgiveness of sin For, “Where there is remission of sins, there is no longer an offering for sins’ (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews10:18).

 Our bodies are presented a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God by living for God as Jesus Christ did. We are admonished saying; “Since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourself also with the same attitude: because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God” (1Peter 4:1-2).

Those who fulfill the will of the Father in heaven are those who have communion and fellowship with Jesus Christ (Matthew12:50).

Let us therefore, not allow ignorance and hardening of the heart to separate us from the life of God, nor having His will fulfilled in us (Ephesians 4:18).

May the eyes of our hearts be enlightened, that we may know what is the hope to which He has called us. “The Lord is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (Ephesians. 1:17-18; 2 Peter 3:9).

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

 

          A Living Sacrifice

We are admonished by the Apostle Paul saying, “I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12: 1-2).

This is a profound statement. How can man who is regarded as having a heart which is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” and with a mind that is enmity against God, and which is not subject to God’s law, and neither could it ever be” present his body a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 8:7)?

With regards to man’s status, the Apostle Paul said, “I know in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me” (Romans 7:18-20).

At one point in time in man’s history the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever,” the Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” He also saw that, “The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 6:3,5; 8:21).

So, the big question is, how can one present this body of sin to God in a holy, acceptable manner?

The good news is, “God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so, He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4).

At Christ’s death, He created in Himself a new man from both Jews and Gentiles so that, “He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. He made peace through the blood of His cross, and reconciled us in the body of His flesh through death, so as to present us holy, and blameless, and irreproachable in God’s sight” (Ephesians 2:15-16; Colossians. 1: 19-20).

We were begotten by Him at His resurrection as children of the last Adam, the spirit man from heaven in righteousness and true holiness, with a new heart and mind which is now subject to His law. Spiritual life begins at conception just like physical life. The spiritual conception took place at the resurrection of Jesus Christ, when He became the begotten Son of God (1Peter 1:3; 1Corinthians. 15: 45; Acts 17:28-29; Ephesians. 4:24; Ezekiel. 36:26-27).

We no longer need to be so hostile to God. “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).

To be continued

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph