"Our Eternal Significance"
January 1, 2017
By: Pastor/Teacher Roger Redmond
If our life is to have eternal meaning, if we are to impact the world around us, we must fully embrace Christ. The weight of our life will be determined by the degree in which Christ is believed. Faith comes by hearing God's Word, Rom. 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." It is through the Word of God, that the Spirit of God enlightens our mind. Understanding is the gift of God's grace. Therefore, the depth in which you esteem Christ will be determined, by the biblical understanding you have of God reason for giving Christ. Many people live as if they do not need a Savior.
Example: Why was there no room in the inn Luke 2:7 "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."
He could have provided a room in the Inn. He made no reservation for a room! Luke 2:11-14. The word "guest chamber" and the word "inn" the same word in the Greek. The Lord prepared a room for the pass over and He had a place prepared for the incarnation to take place. And that place was the "Tower of the Flock". He is telling us Christ came to die as the Lamb of God, as our sacrifice. He was born where the sacrificial lambs were born. Until this time, the fullest of time, animal sacrifices were used, Heb 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, But Christ is the end of all such sacrifices, For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Hebrews 9:26
Gal 4:4 but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
God's Reason for Sending Christ
He came to restore our glory. Sin took our greatness and it is the Father's will that we obtain Eternal Significance Hebrews 2:1-8.
We need to remember: Sin robbed us but it was through our rebellion. We live in a world of "The devil made me do it", "or it is their fault". Or as Adam said, "The woman you gave me..."
Genesis 3:1-6. Eve made her choice before she had the sin nature. She rebelled against God's word and His order of submission(order of creation). And Adam sinned by listened unto the voice of his wife, Genesis 3:7-17 i.e. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Gen. 3:17. It is our rebellion against God.
Because of sin man lost the dominion given him, Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Hebrews 2:7
Because of sin man must be born again, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12 "......Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:5
Because of sin what is said of the dominion of man can only be true in the person of Christ, Heb 2:7 "Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:" ".........But now we see not yet all things put under him." Hebrews 2:8
He came to restore our honour and glory, Heb 2:9,10 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
We live in a fallen world, a sin-cursed world, and the judgment of death is upon all, "For as in Adam all die...." 1 Cor. 15:22. There is only one way to escape the pollution and waiting judgment on this world and that is to be in Christ. "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:3-6. As in Adam all die but in Christ all shall live, " For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Cor. 15:22. 1Co. 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. The last Adam is Christ. He was made to be born of woman, the virgin birth (the conception). The sin nature of the first Adam is by - passed. The sin nature of the first Adam is that which brought death to mankind. It is now left in the first Adam and we have life in the Last Adam, Christ. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23. Col. 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
You can believe the record of God concerning His Son. And that established truth is written for you in 1 John 5:11, "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son". As being a member of the human race you can accept/believe God's offer of Eternal Life, "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:12. He is asking you to have confidence/believe in what He did for you in Christ
Our eternal significance should be of great concern to us. It is of great concern to our Heavenly Father. It is His desire that you be saved and live a fruitful life in following Him.
He came that we might gain eternal significance, Rev 22:12 " And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Someone said life is the opportunity to prepare for eternity. After salvation, we are given the opportunity to serve Him. This is where rewards enter in..... to our life. He said "I sought for a man....... Eze_22:30 "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."
To be a disciple, a follower of Christ is a choice we make. Luk. 9:23 "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."
Consider Moses
" Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them."
The Choice must be made by faith: By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Heb.11:24-27
Faith is being convinced of the truthfulness of God. A reliance upon what God has said as being true to the point it will come to pass as He hath said!
In making the choice you must always count the cost, "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."
Luk. 14:28-33, i.e.28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
If you lose your salt you are worthless, Luke 14:34-35.
Salvation is not of works but discipleship is works. There is a cost!
- Presenting your body a living sacrifice....... Romans 12:1-2
- You must go to the other side, Mark 6:45-56.
"I like the way Juan Carlos Ortiz tells the story of the pearl of great price. A man sees this pearl and says to the merchant, "I want this pearl. How much is it?"
The seller says, "It's very expensive." "How much?" "A lot!" "Well, do you think I could buy it?" the man asks.
"Oh, yes," says the merchant, "everyone can buy it."
"But I thought you said it was very expensive." "I did." "Well, how much?" "Everything you have," says the seller.
"All right, I'll buy it." "Okay, what do you have?"
"Well, I have $10,000 in the bank." "Good, $10,000. What else?" "That's all I have." "Nothing more?" "Well, I have a few dollars more in my pocket." "How much?" "Let's see … $100." "That's mine, too," says the seller.
"What else do you have?" "That's all, nothing else." "Where do you live?" the seller asks. "In my house. Yes, I own a home." The seller writes down, "house." "It's mine."
"Where do you expect me to sleep—in my camper?" "Oh, you have a camper, do you? That, too. What else" "Am I supposed to sleep in my car?" "Oh, you have a car?" "Yes, I own two of them." "They're mine now."
"Look, you've taken my money, my house, my camper, and my cars. Where is my family going to live?" "So, you have a family?" "Yes, I have a wife and three kids." "They're mine now."
Suddenly the seller exclaims, "Oh, I almost forgot! You yourself, too! Everything becomes mine—wife, children, house, money, cars, and you, too." Then he goes on, "Now, listen, I will allow you to use all these things for the time being. But don't forget that they're all mine, just as you are. And whenever I need any of them, you must give them up, because I am now the owner." (Adapted from The Disciple [Creation House], pp. 34-35.)
That's what Jesus means when He says that we must give up all our possessions in order to be His disciple. He isn't just Lord of a tenth; He is Lord of all. We are just managers of it for Him. Of course, in return we gain all the riches of heaven for all eternity. But, still, we need to sit down and determine if we're willing to follow Jesus as Lord of everything from our families, to our possessions, to our very lives." Copied bible.org
If after trusting Christ as your Saviour you do not live as you ought unto Him: you are useless to Him. Luke 14:33-35. "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
Consider the cost of discipleship verse the cost of not following Him! What will it be like when you stand before Him?
Selfishness will take away your saltiness
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