On almost every website on the internet there is a place for FAQ's or Frequently Asked Questions. Usually, we find that they are fairly short, succinct answers that enable us to get the information we need without spending too much time browsing the rest of the website. Many people seem to turn to their TVs or local book stores to do the same type of thing when it comes to finding answers to questions about the meaning of their lives.
There are several popular TV shows where people voluntarily sit and talk about their problems in front of the world. Psychologists and talk show hosts dispense their new age philosophies in between commercial breaks and everyone feels a little better about themselves by the end of the program. There are also many bookstores full of self help books that are marketed to people seeking answers about themselves. It seems the main question everyone wants answered is, "Who am I?" or more accurately, "What is my place in this world?" and "Do I have any value?"
These are questions that we all need to have answered or we may end up like the men described in 2 Tim. 3:1-9, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." The problem with most talk shows and self help books is that they never really answer these questions. It is because most of the world is not willing to seek answers from the one source that can always help them: God's Word.
We Are a New Creation
In order to answer these questions about ourselves we have to go back to the very beginning. God created man in His own image which means He gave us the ability to think, reason, and make choices. Unfortunately, we do not always make choices that are pleasing to Him. Each of us is born with a sinful, selfish nature that we inherited from the first man, Adam (Rom. 5:19). The Bible calls this our "old nature" or "the flesh."
"So, then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Rom. 8:8)
Have you ever wanted something so much you felt you would do anything for it? That's the flesh. Have you ever wanted to be involved in something sinful just because everyone else seemed to be? Most parents are very familiar with their children saying, "But, everyone else is doing it!" That's the flesh. The world we live in is full of things that look, taste, sound, and feel good that are simply not good for us. That's because sin appeals to our flesh. Thankfully, God gave us a way to have victory over the flesh. He sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on the cross to pay for our sins. Once we place our trust in what He did for us, He gives us a "new nature." Sometimes we call this "the spirit" because it is His Holy Spirit that comes to indwell us. When this happens, we go from being a fleshly, spiritually dead human to being a beautiful, brand new creation.
"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation); old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5:17)
We Are "in Christ"
When we are born, God sees us as being "in Adam" because we have inherited Adam's nature. Once we trust Christ as our Savior, God takes us out of Adam and places us "in Christ". So, how does God see someone that is "in Christ?" We are holy and righteous in His eyes because He's not looking at our old sinful flesh. He looks at us and sees His Son.
"There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Rom. 8:1)
When He sees us "in Christ" He sees that we have died to sin. The power that the old fleshly nature had over us was crucified on the cross. Now, we have been made alive, and are risen with Him (Rom. 6:11; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:11). In Christ, we are accepted by God, and kept safe from the wrath and judgment of sin. We have redemption, forgiveness, and we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies (Eph. 1:3, 7). We have been made citizens of heaven along with the saints in the household of God (Eph. 2:19; Phil. 3:20). This also gives us access to God at any time, day or night (1 Tim. 2:5). That means we are never without Him.
Whenever we are in the midst of difficult times or simply having a bad day, it helps to remember that we are "in Him." We are always in a place where we are secure and loved.
We Are Part of a New Creation
When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are not only made new creatures in Him, but we also become part of a new creation called the Body of Christ. This was a mystery that was kept secret in God until He revealed it to the Apostle Paul (Eph. 3:1-9). It was an entirely new program that the Lord created for believers of this dispensation.
Throughout the Scriptures, God had always dealt with His special people, the nation of Israel. However, the nation as a whole rejected their Messiah. All of the other nations, the Gentiles, had turned away from God long before and went on to live wicked lives. The Bible says that the Gentiles were strangers and aliens and had no hope (Eph. 1:12).
In this present dispensation of God's grace, it doesn't matter whether we are a Jew or a Gentile. Every man, woman or child that trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior becomes a member of the Church, which is Christ's Body. It is a living organism made up of all believers with Christ as the Head over all. We are baptized into the Church by the Holy Spirit. It is a spiritual baptism that is done without hands. There are no special rituals required and we don't feel anything strange, but it can give us an inward peace and joy that can only come from knowing that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16).
Once we become members of this new creation, it is our job to be ambassadors or representatives for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). We are to be active in sharing the gospel of grace so others may believe and become members as well.
When we become members of His Body, we also become members of each other. In the Church, if one person suffers, we all suffer, and if one member receives honor, we all rejoice (1 Cor. 12:26). The whole Body suffers when one member is disobedient to the Head (Christ). Each one of us is very precious and important to the Lord.
So, who are you? Do you have any value? What is your place in this world? God's Word is where we find the meaningful, life changing answers to these frequently asked questions of life.
Video Archive - Les Feldick Bible Study
(A 10 Minute Video)
There are several popular TV shows where people voluntarily sit and talk about their problems in front of the world. Psychologists and talk show hosts dispense their new age philosophies in between commercial breaks and everyone feels a little better about themselves by the end of the program. There are also many bookstores full of self help books that are marketed to people seeking answers about themselves. It seems the main question everyone wants answered is, "Who am I?" or more accurately, "What is my place in this world?" and "Do I have any value?"
These are questions that we all need to have answered or we may end up like the men described in 2 Tim. 3:1-9, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." The problem with most talk shows and self help books is that they never really answer these questions. It is because most of the world is not willing to seek answers from the one source that can always help them: God's Word.
We Are a New Creation
In order to answer these questions about ourselves we have to go back to the very beginning. God created man in His own image which means He gave us the ability to think, reason, and make choices. Unfortunately, we do not always make choices that are pleasing to Him. Each of us is born with a sinful, selfish nature that we inherited from the first man, Adam (Rom. 5:19). The Bible calls this our "old nature" or "the flesh."
"So, then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Rom. 8:8)
Have you ever wanted something so much you felt you would do anything for it? That's the flesh. Have you ever wanted to be involved in something sinful just because everyone else seemed to be? Most parents are very familiar with their children saying, "But, everyone else is doing it!" That's the flesh. The world we live in is full of things that look, taste, sound, and feel good that are simply not good for us. That's because sin appeals to our flesh. Thankfully, God gave us a way to have victory over the flesh. He sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on the cross to pay for our sins. Once we place our trust in what He did for us, He gives us a "new nature." Sometimes we call this "the spirit" because it is His Holy Spirit that comes to indwell us. When this happens, we go from being a fleshly, spiritually dead human to being a beautiful, brand new creation.
"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation); old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5:17)
We Are "in Christ"
When we are born, God sees us as being "in Adam" because we have inherited Adam's nature. Once we trust Christ as our Savior, God takes us out of Adam and places us "in Christ". So, how does God see someone that is "in Christ?" We are holy and righteous in His eyes because He's not looking at our old sinful flesh. He looks at us and sees His Son.
"There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Rom. 8:1)
When He sees us "in Christ" He sees that we have died to sin. The power that the old fleshly nature had over us was crucified on the cross. Now, we have been made alive, and are risen with Him (Rom. 6:11; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:11). In Christ, we are accepted by God, and kept safe from the wrath and judgment of sin. We have redemption, forgiveness, and we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies (Eph. 1:3, 7). We have been made citizens of heaven along with the saints in the household of God (Eph. 2:19; Phil. 3:20). This also gives us access to God at any time, day or night (1 Tim. 2:5). That means we are never without Him.
Whenever we are in the midst of difficult times or simply having a bad day, it helps to remember that we are "in Him." We are always in a place where we are secure and loved.
We Are Part of a New Creation
When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are not only made new creatures in Him, but we also become part of a new creation called the Body of Christ. This was a mystery that was kept secret in God until He revealed it to the Apostle Paul (Eph. 3:1-9). It was an entirely new program that the Lord created for believers of this dispensation.
Throughout the Scriptures, God had always dealt with His special people, the nation of Israel. However, the nation as a whole rejected their Messiah. All of the other nations, the Gentiles, had turned away from God long before and went on to live wicked lives. The Bible says that the Gentiles were strangers and aliens and had no hope (Eph. 1:12).
In this present dispensation of God's grace, it doesn't matter whether we are a Jew or a Gentile. Every man, woman or child that trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior becomes a member of the Church, which is Christ's Body. It is a living organism made up of all believers with Christ as the Head over all. We are baptized into the Church by the Holy Spirit. It is a spiritual baptism that is done without hands. There are no special rituals required and we don't feel anything strange, but it can give us an inward peace and joy that can only come from knowing that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16).
Once we become members of this new creation, it is our job to be ambassadors or representatives for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). We are to be active in sharing the gospel of grace so others may believe and become members as well.
When we become members of His Body, we also become members of each other. In the Church, if one person suffers, we all suffer, and if one member receives honor, we all rejoice (1 Cor. 12:26). The whole Body suffers when one member is disobedient to the Head (Christ). Each one of us is very precious and important to the Lord.
So, who are you? Do you have any value? What is your place in this world? God's Word is where we find the meaningful, life changing answers to these frequently asked questions of life.
Video Archive - Les Feldick Bible Study
How
God Saves Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read
Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
(A 10 Minute Video)
E-mail
this BIBLE STUDY to all your friends
No comments:
Post a Comment