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Friday, June 26,
2009
Need Not Be Ashamed
1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Every man's work
shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be
revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it
is. (14) If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall
receive a reward. (15) If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer
loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (KJV)
1 Corinthians 3:15
[But
he himself shall be saved] The apostle all along has supposed that the true
foundation was laid <1 Cor. 3:11>, and if that is laid, and the
edifice is reared upon that, the person who does it shall be safe. There
may be much error, and many false views of religion, and much imperfection,
still the man that is building on the true foundation shall be safe. His
errors and imperfections shall be removed, and he may occupy a lower place
in heaven, but he shall be safe. (from Barnes' Notes)
Remember the Bible says that they who
endure to the end shall be saved. So what it comes down to is the fact that
having begun in the Spirit, knowing the foundation of God because there is
no other foundation than Jesus Christ, we shall all suffer loss because the
Bible is quite specific in the fact that all those in Christ shall suffer
persecution.
Philippians 3:5-7 Circumcised the eighth
day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the
Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; (6) Concerning zeal, persecuting
the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (7) But
what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (KJV)
Paul discovered that the plan of
salvation was not based on his works or what he thought would work, but
rather the plan worked much better with the Lord than without Him. Despite
a zeal for God, which by the way many have, it was not according to the
working of the Lord but rather he was in reality working against Him.
Philippians 3:8-11 Yea doubtless, and I
count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ
Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do
count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (9) And be found in him, not
having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is
through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (10)
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship
of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (11) If by any
means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (KJV)
How many things did Paul count as in the
loss column? Well according to verse 8, all things. Paul decided that
nothing was going to separate or keep Him from the love of God which is in
Christ Jesus; and in verse 11 he said that he was willing to do whatever it
takes to achieve this resurrection of life. Can you make the same
statement, faithfully?
Luke 9:23-26 And he said to them all, If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
daily, and follow me. (24) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:
but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. (25) For
what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or
be cast away? (26) For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of
him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory,
and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. (KJV)
Ever hear the term “get a life”? Well, in
order to get this new life in Christ we will have to let go of our old
life. In order to not be ashamed when our Lord comes in His glory we will
need to be living a life that is led by His Spirit and by His desire for
us, and not our own.
Mark 9:43-45 And if thy hand offend thee,
cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having
two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (44)
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (45) And if thy
foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life,
than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall
be quenched: (KJV)
If there is a cancer or gangrene in the
physical temple the doctor will have it removed so that it won’t spread and
lead to death. If there is something or someone that you are attached to
and have been used to having in your life becomes a hindrance, something
that could lead to death, the Lord will ask you to cut it off as well, thus
suffering loss. Are you willing to suffer the loss of something or someone
carnal so that you can inherit something eternal?
Romans 8:16-18 The Spirit itself beareth
witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (17) And if
children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be
that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (18) For I
reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (KJV)
The truth is that we can’t have one
without the other. While many people enjoy the blessings that God has for
His people it’s the suffering part that throws them off, and where many
draw the line. For those that are willing to endure to the end, they know
that there is nothing in this fallen realm that can compare to what awaits
them in the eternal one.
1 Peter 4:12-16 Beloved, think it not
strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some
strange thing happened unto you: (13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are
partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed,
ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (14) If ye be reproached for the
name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth
upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is
glorified. (15) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or
as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. (16) Yet if any
man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God
on this behalf. (KJV)
You need not be ashamed Church but rather
rejoice, because even though you suffer for His sake it is certainly not
something that should be considered strange or out of place with one of His
people. God bless and hold fast to the profession of faith without any
wavering.
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