Rev. Patrick Vincent
“And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor. 6:11
A lovely, humbling reminder of the sin from which believers have been saved.
BUT YOU WERE WASHED, SANCTIFIED, and JUSTIFIED.
We didn’t wash ourselves, or sanctify ourselves, or justify ourselves. It’s all a work of God.
As we evangelize, let us not forget from where we came.
“When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt” – Matt. 2:14
At this time every year, the claim that Jesus was a refugee makes its rounds.
The claim is not historically accurate.
Jesus was not a refugee.
The reference is to Joseph and Mary’s flight into Egypt (Matt. 2:13–23). The idea is implied that they were seeking political sanctuary/asylum.
However, Egypt was part of the Roman Empire.
Like traveling from Texas to California, both are under the jurisdiction of the United States. They were not entering or leaving illegally in any shape or form.
This claim is used to equate the birth of Jesus with the current illegal immigration debate. It’s also used to guilt and shame Christians by using the Bible against a Christian.
Mary and Joseph were fleeing a Godless unbeliever who was slaughtering innocent babies. That sounds more familiar to today.
Image ref: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt_(Roman_province)
“Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.” – 1 Cor. 10:24
In all we do, we aim at the glory of God, at pleasing and honoring Him. One way is by seeking the moral, physical, and spiritual well-being of others above our own.
Imagine if everyone took this principle literally.
“Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” – 1 Cor. 1:20
Paul knew something about the egotism of Man. He was born and groomed among the wisdom of this world.
Then God knocked him off his high horse.
He was on his way to kill some Christians and instead, became one.
“The sower sows the word.” – Mark 4:14
Read Mark 4:1-20.
WHAT IS THE SEED?
There can be no question about what the “seed” is. Jesus spells it out in verse 14: the seed is the WORD of God.
It is not money.
A teacher who tells you to “sow a seed of money” is a FALSE teacher.
Teaching that encourages you to bribe God is a FALSE teaching (Deut. 10:17).
God is not a wishing well. He doesn’t sell indulgences. You can’t force God’s hand, scratch His back, offer quid pro quo, exchange with Him, or swap with the Living God. He will not be prostituted. God is not for sale.
The result of sowing the seed of God’s word is not material things. The fruit is regeneration. The harvest is thanksgiving to God who created the growth in the first place (2 Cor. 9:10-12 and 1 Cor. 3:7).
It’s about saving souls, not getting shiny new stuff or promotions.
What kind of god would God be if He operated like this? If the price is right, I’ll grant your request. What? God is not a banker, He is the Father.
How different is this than the teachings of Jesus! Couldn’t get more different! Check out Matt. 6:25-34.
Who was the only disciple concerned with wealth?
Seed faith teaching is a scourge on the body of Christ. It is a plague. It is a cancer.
Yes, absolutely sow a seed. Not a man-centered seed, but a biblical one; the word of God.
“And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.‘” – Luke 10:37
This is Jesus’s reply to the lawyers’ question of who’s my neighbor (Good Samaritan, Luke 10:29-37).
This principle is to be our response as well.
If we know anything about the wondrous grace shown to us, it will be a natural outflow of our heart to all.
How do we make Christ known to the lost? By meeting material and spiritual needs.
“Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” 1 Peter 2:17
That about covers all the bases.
Don’t forget the source: this is coming from the impetuous Peter! What a change my Savior came make in one’s life.
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” 1 Peter 1:13
We can put ALL our hope upon the grace brought to us by Jesus Christ.
This is not a hope that fails; it’s victorious.
This is not a hope that waivers; it’s stable.
This is not a hope that vanishes; it’s eternal.
Our hope is completely sure because of the object of our faith; Jesus, who is trustworthy and faithful to do exactly what He said He would do.
His grace is sufficient for you.
“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” – Titus 3:5
It’s nothing that we have done. It’s all a work of God.
The only things we bring to the table are fig leaves and filthy rags. God does all the heavy lifting.
He saved us.
“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour“ – 1 John 2:18
By definition, anyone who says Jesus is not the Christ, is one of the many antichrists.
They are liars (1 John 2:22)
They oppose Jesus.
They try to replace Jesus.
This doesn’t make them The Antichrist, but it does place them in the very real and very dangerous category of adversary.
PRAY for the many antichrists that have come.
A Verse A Day 