BORN OF THE SPIRIT – LEADS TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT
In the sharings on the meaning of Christmas, we noted that the Father, together with the Son and Spirit, before the creation of the world, decided to implement the plan of salvation to redeem mankind from spiritual death and condemnation – that led to the Father sending the Son to implement this plan of salvation, and that explains why Jesus came into the history of the world to bring fallen creatures back to the ‘fold’ of the Triune God. The Holy Spirit was sent by the Father and the Son to effect regeneration, to indwell in the believers to transform them and sanctify them progressively, to prepare them for the new heaven and new earth.
We need to note that those born of the Spirit (John 3) must go on to live by the Spirit (keeping step with the Spirit) in order to be holy and ready for their citizenship in heaven.
In Galatians 5 and Romans 8, Paul wrote of the conflict which Christians experience between the ‘flesh’ and the ‘Spirit’, the indwelling Holy Spirit Himself. The secret of holiness, Paul tells us, lies in adopting right attitudes to both. Our negative attitude to the ‘flesh’ is properly called ‘mortification’, the process of putting it to death; not pampering our selfish nature, but instead executing it, killing it (which includes ‘denying ourselves’, taking up the cross, and following Jesus, i.e. discipleship Luke 9:23).
Paul’s clearest and most outspoken statement of the alternative before us follows:
“For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (Rom. 8:13).
There is a kind of life which issues in death, and a kind of life which issues in life. Christians are not perfect; they are still sinful, although declared righteous by God – hence the reality of still living according to the sinful nature (which is indulgence).
If we indulge ourselves, and are not willing to mortify the misdeeds of the body, we will die, but if we mortify ourselves, we will live.
But we cannot mortify ourselves by ourselves; it is only through the Spirit we mortify ourselves. In other words, God calls Christians to a radical uncompromising rejection of everything we know to be evil in God’s sight – it is our responsibility – we are to do it (do not excuse ourselves in saying that God will do all that is necessary in this stance and process). But because we cannot do it ourselves, we can only do it through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
But how does this work practically? In our daily walk and experience, the Holy Spirit operates in our mind, enabling us to discern the will of God; secondly in our conscience, enabling us to distinguish between right and wrong; thirdly, in our heart, enabling us to desire God’s way ardently; and fourthly in our will, enabling us to determine resolutely to follow God’s will. The fifth – DO and obey God can then only follow and take place.
When we look at the fruit of the Spirit, the nine facets which together constitute ‘Christ-likeness” of character and conduct, we note that ‘holiness’ is in fact the fruit of the Spirit. With the Holy Spirit holiness is essential; without the Holy Spirit holiness is impossible. It is the Spirit who effects real change, giving us new ambitions, new standards, new ideals and new values.
As fruit, the nine facets of the fruit ripen naturally, under the indwelling influence of the Spirit. Christian holiness is not a Christmas tree phenomenon, whose decorations are tied on artificially: it is fruit-tree holiness, that is, natural development, provided that we ‘walk in the Spirit’ (Gal. 5:16), responding to His promptings and living under His control.
When we complain that in our experience, it seems that God is not helping us to be holy and victorious spiritually,, let it be clear that God has provided everything that is needful for a godly life (2 Peter 1:3) – what is truly the case is that we have not availed ourselves to what God has provided because we are not willing to pay the price of not indulging ourselves, and we are not obedient to what God has revealed for our lives.
THE CHALLENGE TO OUR FAITH IN THESE TROUBLED TIMES
As we observe Christmas, and also observe the unfolding of unrest and chaos affecting various nations, as well as climate calamities occurring in increasing frequency, we should realise anew the challenge facing Christians and the church to remain true to our faith and calling.
Our faith reaches beyond belief to behaviour; and more than ever, we need to be reminded of who we are before we can behave as what we are. Apostle Paul outlined the multi-faceted challenge we believers need to face here on earth:
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved – and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, “since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. (Phi. 1:27-30)
LIVING A LIFE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL
As Christians, we are in fact the citizens of two kingdoms.
An anonymous defence of the faith in the second century, known as The Letter to Diognetus, expressed this paradox well:
“Christians are not distinguished from the rest of humanity by country, language or custom……while they live in various cities…and follow the local customs to dress and food and other aspects of life, at the same time they demonstrate the remarkable and admittedly unusual character of their own citizenship. They live in their own countries, but only as aliens; they participate in everything as citizens, and endure everything as foreigneers.They live on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven…in a word, what the soul is to the body, Christians are to the world.”
True, our conduct is to be in keeping with our calling, with our repentance, with our Lord, and with the God who calls us into His kingdom and glory. There is to be no dichotomy between what we profess and what we practise, between what we say and what we are.
Unfortunately, more than ever, Christians are not keeping this calling consistently. With the increasing pressure we will face in these troubled times, we would expect more of this failure.
Inconsistent Christian conduct gives people cause to ‘malign the word of God’ and so hinders evangelism. On the other hand, consistent Christian conduct will make our teaching about God and our Saviour attractive and so promote evangelism. The early Christians took the command, “Be holy, because I am holy” very seriously; today, however, many believers have such low moral standards which are no different from the people of the world. Others have instead replaced the quest for holiness with the search for social justice or for religious experience; these things are not unimportant, but surely not at the expense of the hunger and thirst for righteousness.
STANDING FIRM AND STABLE IN THE GOSPEL
Stability is important in every sphere; and the apostles were fully aware of this. They knew the strength of satanic opposition – intellectual (false and distorted teaching), moral (temptation) and physical (persecution) – and they took pains to strengthen and establish the converts in every city (Acts18:23).
However, stability in both doctrine and ethics is in short supply today. It is much easier to drift with the tide than to swim against it; it takes less effort to bend, and to be shaken by the winds of public opinion than to stand firm and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our work in God is not in vain. The chief foundation for stability is the rock of Holy Scripture, that is, of divine truth.
CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH OF THE GOSPEL
We are not only to stand firm in the gospel ourselves, but to contend for it in the public arena as well – i.e. a combination of evangelism and apologetics. It is not enough to proclaim the good news; we have also to defend and confirm it. The apostles did not separate these tasks; nor must we. Luke, in the book of Acts, records Paul arguing the gospel, reasoning with people out of the Scriptures, and convincing them of the truth.
We should never set arguments (apologetics) and the Holy Spirit over against each other, declaring that if we trust the Holy Spirit, we will not need arguments, whereas if we do develop arguments, our trust is plainly in them, not in Him.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, who cares about the truth, teaches the truth and bears witness to the truth. Truth and the Holy Spirit are entirely compatible and it is perfectly possible to truth both simultaneously. The Spirit brings people to faith in Jesus Christ through our words and arguments, when He enlightens their minds to perceive the truth and feel the force of our own message. We evangelise by our words and our lives, in dependence on the Spirit.
STANDING UNITED, WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE GOSPEL
Paul exhorts his readers to ‘stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel (vs 27 of Phil. 3). He goes on to urge us, “make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one spirit and purpose’ (2:2).
Paul is commending unity, not at any price, even compromising fundamental truths in order to attain it, nor unity in every particular; but rather unity in the gospel in biblical essentials, ‘standing…side by side in the struggle to advance the gospel faith (vs 27).
Today, Christians do believe in the invisible unity of the church, but act as if the visible manifestations of this unity do not matter.
As stated, biblical and evangelical essentials cannot be compromised, but with reference to matters of secondary importance, it is not necessary for us to insist, thus causing unnecessary friction and disunity.
Primary Christian truths and essentials which concern the person and work of Christ, as defined by the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed, together with the great Reformation emphases on the supreme authority of Scripture, the atoning death of Christ, the justification of sinners by grace alone through faith alone, and the indispensable ministry of the Holy Spirit cannot, and should not be compromised.
The combination of unity in the primary and essential truths, coupled with freedom in the secondary matters, while preserving love in all situations, is often summarised in proverbial form: for instance, ‘In truth unity, in doubtful matters liberty, in all things charity (love).’
The question posed by the famous Puritan, Richard Baxter, in the book ‘The Reformed Pastor’, is worth pondering:
“Can we give up our personality cults, petty rivalries, historical feuds, and personal agenda for the greater good of the Christian movement?”
ENDURING SUFFERING FOR THE GOSPEL
Paul’s call to contend for the faith implies the presence of opposition and adversaries. Paul tells the believers to battle for the truth, and not to be frightened by the opponents. Persecution and our refusal to be intimidated would convey a double message – it would be a clear sign from God to the opponents ‘that they will be destroyed’, but to believers that they ‘will be saved’ (verse 28).
We Christians are given two privileges: ‘not only to believe in Christ’ but ‘also to suffer for Him’ (vs 29). Paul is not referring to pain and suffering in general, but in particular to suffering for the gospel. It is remarkable and amazing that faith in Christ and suffering for Christ should be bracketed in this way as two gifts of God’s grace. Can suffering be regarded as much a gift or privilege as is faith? Yes, indeed, this is the consistent teaching of the New Testament!
If we complain as we suffer for Christ and the gospel, and if we crumble in the face of such suffering, it means we have not honoured this privilege and gift in our lives; it also means we are not living faithful to our high calling in Christ.
But how true it is that many believers today regard suffering for Christ and the gospel as a burden and something to be shielded from? This shows that something is drastically wrong with the conviction and commitment of those who claim to be Christians and members of the church! This manifestation would be more rife in these troubled times when it is easier to compromise and be ‘spineless’ believers than to suffer, and even die for the faith. But realise that these troubled times are not just the beginning of suffering for believers; they are also sovereignly used by God to separate the wheat from the tares, the sheep from the goats. Ponder over this soberly.
JESUS AT THE CENTRE OF OUR GAZE AND FOCUS
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” Philippians 2:10.
It is often said that God’s goal in the plan of salvation is to exalt Himself by exalting us whom He saves, and that is true. But the Father’s main and prime purpose is to exalt the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Notice that in the verse above, God the Father has highly exalted Jesus and bestowed on him the name that is above every name (note the extent and inclusiveness – every knee in heaven and on earth (including those who are enemies of Christ) and under the earth should bow and would bow before him!
Why so, some may ask? The Son of God was and is the main agent of the Father’s works in creation, providence, and grace. He is the mediator of all the goodness and mercy that has ever flowed from God to men and women. His life, death, resurrection, and enthronement is at the centre, and is the hinge of world history,
As the Father loves the Son and expresses that love by honouring him in the eternal fellowship of the Trinity, so He intends that through the outworking of the plan of salvation, in which Jesus is the focal figure, “all may honour the Son, just as they honour the Father *John 5:23).
To this end, and in recognition of the perfection of the Son’s costly obedience in making atonement for human sin, ‘God has bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (Philip, 2:9).
WHEN TRIALS OF LIFE WILL OVERCOME
When preparing to sing in the choir for Christmas, the song chosen that is meaningful, is entitled “Our hope is in Christ”, and a certain portion of the lyrics
‘strike me’ very deeply – it reads “Trust in God, the great provider, when trials of life will overcome; there’s a victory for His children……”
In my own life, and in the lives of many dear brethren, it is indeed very difficult to trust in God when trials of life can be so overwhelming that we feel like giving up and throwing in the towel. It is indeed realistic to note that ‘trials of life will overcome’; not just ‘may overcome’. And the declaration that ‘there’s a victory for His children’ – can it be said that we have been victorious in Him in the many trials which came our way?
These thoughts bring to mind a passage in Hebrews chapter 12:
“For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” (Heb. 12:6)
During trials of life and setbacks, we may say to ourselves and perhaps to others too, “God has turned against me; He has broken His word; He has let me down; He has forgotten me; there is no hope for me now.”
These negative, devastating, and despairing thoughts, accompanied by self-pity, slander God as well as crush us, and when we find them going through our minds, we shall need someone with spiritual depth and clear-headedness to put us straight.
For our God remains a God of surprises, and though in the short term some of His surprises hurt us and take our breath away, the final surprise to which all the rest are leading is the happy surprise of more good for ourselves and others, more joy, more wisdom, more contentment, and more exultation in God, resulting from the times of trauma, that ever we thought possible.
The full fruitage of coping through Christ with experiential earthquakes and thunderbolts will be realised only in the life to come, but already those with eyes to see begin to discern it both in themselves and in others. God “disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:10-11).
And so the Christmas song “Our hope is in Jesus” from John 16:33 by Mary McDonald, continues in the lyrics, “Be strong, hold on to the living hope in Jesus Christ our Lord”.
Yes, we need to hold on; we need to continue to trust in God, for whatever God does or allows in our lives is because He loves us – “His love will never cease”.
FOLLOWING THE GOD-MAN JESUS
Today, many ‘celebrate Christmas’ – this takes different ‘forms’ and observances.There are those who dine and dance; they are those who think of the ‘baby Jesus’ in a sentimental way; some dwell on the ‘spirit of the season, of goodwill towards one another and so on.
For Christians, Christmas is ‘observed’ as God’s Good News to mankind, God’s plan of redemption and salvation through the coming of Jesus Christ into human history as God incarnate to fulfil and effect this salvation for those who would repent and receive Him, His mission, and His sacrifice, on their behalf.
But as we remember Christmas, what really is the meaning and impact for those who claim to be Christians and believers today? We may believe in the deity and salvation of Christ, and acknowledge ourselves to be sinners in need of His salvation; but this does not make us Christians. We have to make a personal response to Jesus Christ, committing ourselves unreservedly to Him as our Saviour and Lord.
Jesus never concealed the fact that His call to follow Him includes a demand as well as an offer; indeed, the demand is as total as the offer is free. If He offered men His salvation, He also demanded their submission. There is a cost to be paid!
Consider what He said, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (Luke 14: 25-30)
Thousands of people still ignore Christ’s warning and undertake to follow Him without first pausing to reflect on the cost of doing so. The result is the great scandal of Christendom today – so called ‘nominal Christianity’. Large numbers of people (including those who observe Christmas) have covered themselves with a decent, but thin veneer of Christianity. They have allowed themselves to become somewhat involved; enough to be respectable but not enough to be uncomfortable. Their Christianity is a great,soft cushion; it protects them from the hard unpleasantness of life, while changing its place and shape to suit their convenience. No wonder the cynics speak of hypocrites in the church and dismiss Christianity as escapism.
The baby born in a manger grew up, lived a perfect life, and fulfilled the mission entrusted to Him by His heavenly Father. His message to us was, and is, never lowering His standards – He never modified His conditions to make HIs call to salvation more readily acceptable. He asked His first disciples, and He has asked every disciple since, to give Him their thoughtful and total commitment. Nothing less than this will do.
Jesus’ call was, and is, to “Follow me”. He asked men and women for their personal loyalty. He invited them to learn from Him, to obey HIs words and to identify themselves with His cause.
There can be no following without a previous forsaking. To follow Christ is to renounce all lesser loyalties. He said, “whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Mark 8: 34-38). In practice, this does not mean for the majority of Christians a physical departure from their home or their joy. It implies rather an inner surrender of both, and a refusal to allow either family or ambition to occupy the first place in our lives!
What are to forsake?
First, there must be a renunciation of sin, in a word, repentance. It is the first part of Chrisian conversion. It can in no circumstances be bypassed. Repentance and faith belong together. We cannot follow Christ without forsaking sin. Repentance is a definite turn from every thought, word, deed and habit which is known to be wrong. It is not sufficient to feel pangs of remorse or to make some kind of apology to God. Repentance is neither a matter of emotion nor of speech. It is an inward change of mind and attitude towards sin which leads to a change of behaviour; there can be no compromise here. There may be sins in our lives which we do not think we ever could renounce; but we must be willing to let them go as we cry to God for deliverance from them.
Second, there must be a renunciation of self. In order to follow Christ we must not only forsake isolated sins, but renounce the very principle of self-will which lies at the root of every act of sin. To follow Christ is to surrender to Him the rights over our own lives. It is to abdicate the throne of our heart and do homage to Him as our King. Jesus described this renunciation of self in three phases:
It is (a) to deny ourselves. Self -denial is not just giving up sweets and cigarettes, either for good or for a period of voluntary abstinence. It is not to deny things to myself, but to deny myself to myself. It is to say no to self, and yes to Christ; to repudiate self and acknowledge Christ.
The next phrase (b) – take up the cross. The attitude to self which we are to adopt is that of crucifixion. Paul used the same metaphor when he declares that ‘those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh (i.e. their fallen nature) with its passions and desires.” We are to do this daily, taking up the cross.
The third phrase: lose our life. Here the word ‘life’ refers to our self (the psyche, the ego, the human personality which thinks, feels, plans and chooses). The man who commits himself to Christ, therefore, loses himself. This does not mean he loses his individuality, however. His will is indeed submitted to Christ’s will (Christ is Lord), but his personality is not absorbed into Christ’s personality. On the contrary, when the Christian loses himself, he finds himself, he discovers his true identity. To make Christ Lord is to bring every department of our public and private lives under His control. The ‘department’ includes our career, our marriage, our family, our home. Christ certainly means us to put Him above material wealth, family ties, our time, our talents and all that hinders us from truly following Him.
The demands are heavy; but the reasons given by Christ are compelling. One such reason is “for our own sakes”. If we follow Christ, we will not be the losers; Jesus came into the world that we might have ‘life, and have it abundantly.” His purpose is to enrich, not to impoverish, and to give us perfect freedom. If we lose ourselves in following Christ, we actually find ourselves. True self-denial is true self-discovery, We do not begin to find ourselves until we have become willing to lose ourselves in the service of Christ and of our fellow human beings.
A second reason:”for the sake of others”. We should not submit to Christ only for what we can get, but for what we can give. Christians are described as ‘the salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world’. As salt, Christians should stop society from deteriorating, by helping to preserve moral standards, influence public opinion for good. As light, they are to let their light shine. As they have found in Jesus Christ the secret of peace and love, of personal relationships, of changing people; they must share their secret with others. The best contribution anyone can make to the supply of the world’s need is to live a Christian life, build a Christian home, and radiate the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Finally, the greatest incentive and reason: “for Christ’s sake”.
Jesus asks no more that He gave. He asks a cross for a cross. We should follow Him neither just for what we can get nor for what we can give, but supremely because of what He gave. He gave Himself. Will it cost us much? It cost Him more. He left the Father’s glory, the immunities of heaven and the worship of countless angels when He came. He humbled Himself to assume man’s nature, to be born in a stable and laid in a manger, to work at a carpenter’s bench, to make friends with rustic fisherfolk, to die on a common cross, and to bear the sins of the world.
Only a sight of the cross will make us willing to deny ourselves and follow Christ. Our little crosses are eclipsed by His. If we once catch a glimpse of the greatness of His love to suffer such shame and pain for us who deserved nothing but judgment, only one course of action will seem to be left. How can we deny or reject such a lover?
If we observe Christmas today, let us ponder soberly on what the meaning and impact of Christ’s coming into the world have for us unbelievers, and as Chrisians. Do not lose the real meaning Christ’s coming has for us; He is coming again and will we be ready to receive Him as genuine and true disciples of His?
CAN THERE BE PEACE IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE?
As 2024 ends and 2025 beckons, can we look to the coming year with optimism? This is especially a far-cry if we survey what has been happening in 2024 – wars, political upheavals, climate-change catastrophes, and even at the end of 2024, we confront the sad news of aircraft crashes with so many injured and dead in an instant.
Contrast this with the following statements of the Lord Jesus:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you might have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Jesus is not saying to His disciples that there will be no trouble – He spoke these words to His disciples with the full realisation of trouble in this world; and He also knew of His coming ordeal at the cross and that His disciples would be scattered with fear. And despite this, the Lord Jesus told them that He specifically told them that He revealed this reality of trouble so that they might have peace – the disciples might be wondering how it is possible to have peace in the face of these problems and trouble.
But the Lord also said that the peace they can experience is His peace, not the peace offered by the world. And the peace He offers is one that comes about in union with Him – those who are united with Him and in union with Him also have His peace that surpasses all understanding such that they need not be troubled or afraid. Moreover, this peace can be received and experienced with joy because the Lord Jesus has overcome the world (with reference to His victory over evil, sin and death, and His resurrection and ascension that would follow).
As the song sung by the choir “Our hope is in Jesus” has the following lyrics:
First the reality: “In this world there will be trials, there will be sorrows, times of grief….though the darkness seems unending and the pain more than we can bear… but hold on, there is hope in Jesus….His love will never cease…and He is with us everywhere…”
Next: “There is hope for our ‘tomorrows’..for in Jesus we find relief”.
Surely this speaks of the peace of God in the midst of pain and trouble, a peace with God in reconciliation with Him; a peace with ourselves as we receive the assurance of forgiveness from God because of Jesus; a peace with our circumstances (no matter how difficult they may be – see this in the life of Apostle Paul as he declared {‘Do be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God , which transcends all understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in CDhrist Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)} and finally the peace with our fellow humans and neighbours. We can relate positively and purposefully to the world and other people for God the Creator’s sake, as the inward journey in our hearts takes the form of gaining and deepening our acquaintance with God the Father and with Jesus the Son, through the mighty agency of the Holy Spirit.
Yes indeed, there can be peace in the midst of trouble, pain and sorrow – but only in Jesus! It is not a peace apart from Him but one that is in Him and a peace that can only be experienced by those in union with Him.