Knowing, then, that true believers of God and Christ and the Bible are Christians, what are we to do with this new-found faith that we have, knowing that Christ died for our sins?
Are we to sit on our hands, writing nothing, or close our mouths, saying nothing, or keep our eyes and ears shut, seeing nothing and hearing nothing---as if we are guarding the world's best-kept secret?
Are we to do no more than walk on carpeted floors, sit on padded pews, gaze at our dangling chandeliers, while being kept cool and comfortable with air-conditioning, and also adorned in our tailored suits and designer shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops and sandals, yet undecided if we are there to see, or to be seen? Do we worship our buildings more than we worship God? That's what pagans do! And are we not better than pagans, who do no more than gather in temples and shrines to worship idols made by human hands?
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6: 3-4)
Even our Lord said,
"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you...." (John 15: 15-16)
As believers, do we realize just how special we are to Christ the Lord? Do we realize the position we have in Him because of Him? That Christ refers to us as friends---and not servants or slaves?
In a manner of speaking, we can therefore believe that Christ looks at us from Heaven each day and wants to know: how are My friends doing today? or what can I do for My friends today? Does it help us to know that we have a friend in Heaven? Someone who actually cares for us and actually likes us? In this world, we are surrounded by people who do not like us. Yet, in our hearts, we can laugh because we know that Christ in Heaven likes us and loves us, which the world does not know: for they do not know the oneness we have with the Creator of the universe! To the world, Christ is a stranger; but to us, He is our Savior and our friend!
Since Christ has chosen us, just how special are we in the mind and heart of Christ?
The Apostle Peter wrote something that is very exciting to hear:
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims...." (1st Peter 2: 9-10)
Flavius Josephus, a first century historian, referred to believers of Christ as "The Tribe of Christians", which is perhaps a fitting title: for in Christ we are a new nation of people because we have been chosen by Christ, and a nation without a country. As such, we are pilgrims: for we are now just passing through this world, and, like Abraham, "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Hebrews 11: 10)
Knowing, then, that these things are true, we can believe that we are ROYALTY! That we are chosen of Christ, and that we, just as Peter said, "should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light".
Hallelujah!
Therefore let us give our praises to the Lamb of God for choosing us to be part of this Royal Priesthood.
Are we to sit on our hands, writing nothing, or close our mouths, saying nothing, or keep our eyes and ears shut, seeing nothing and hearing nothing---as if we are guarding the world's best-kept secret?
Are we to do no more than walk on carpeted floors, sit on padded pews, gaze at our dangling chandeliers, while being kept cool and comfortable with air-conditioning, and also adorned in our tailored suits and designer shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops and sandals, yet undecided if we are there to see, or to be seen? Do we worship our buildings more than we worship God? That's what pagans do! And are we not better than pagans, who do no more than gather in temples and shrines to worship idols made by human hands?
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6: 3-4)
Even our Lord said,
"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you...." (John 15: 15-16)
As believers, do we realize just how special we are to Christ the Lord? Do we realize the position we have in Him because of Him? That Christ refers to us as friends---and not servants or slaves?
In a manner of speaking, we can therefore believe that Christ looks at us from Heaven each day and wants to know: how are My friends doing today? or what can I do for My friends today? Does it help us to know that we have a friend in Heaven? Someone who actually cares for us and actually likes us? In this world, we are surrounded by people who do not like us. Yet, in our hearts, we can laugh because we know that Christ in Heaven likes us and loves us, which the world does not know: for they do not know the oneness we have with the Creator of the universe! To the world, Christ is a stranger; but to us, He is our Savior and our friend!
Since Christ has chosen us, just how special are we in the mind and heart of Christ?
The Apostle Peter wrote something that is very exciting to hear:
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims...." (1st Peter 2: 9-10)
Flavius Josephus, a first century historian, referred to believers of Christ as "The Tribe of Christians", which is perhaps a fitting title: for in Christ we are a new nation of people because we have been chosen by Christ, and a nation without a country. As such, we are pilgrims: for we are now just passing through this world, and, like Abraham, "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Hebrews 11: 10)
Knowing, then, that these things are true, we can believe that we are ROYALTY! That we are chosen of Christ, and that we, just as Peter said, "should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light".
Hallelujah!
Therefore let us give our praises to the Lamb of God for choosing us to be part of this Royal Priesthood.
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