SIMPLE CHRISTIANITY – Part 3

 

SIMPLE CHRISTIANITY – Part III

“As a person thinks in his own heart, so is he”

There is a verse in the Bible that makes a great point about the inward thoughts and intentions of a person, despite what they may project to you. This expression means that what someone says or does is not necessarily what they think in their heart. People may be courteous or polite, but have contentious thoughts and sentiments. This is particularly troublesome if that person is you.

Ultimately, “what a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” The book of Proverbs is known for such concise wisdom. People ruled by sin are influenced by the chief deceiver, Satan, and become deceivers themselves – to the point of being self-deceived.

The main takeaway here is that AS YOU THINK, SO IT SHALL BE WITH YOU, both now and for all eternity. It is important to realize that you were created as an eternal being. God placed you into carbon-based organic flesh-blood-and-bone-shell, so to speak. When the sapient outer-you passes away, the sentient inner-you, your true essence, continues to exist. And “as you have thought, so it will continue to be for you.”

If you based your life on the lusts and passions of this world which cease to exist and dies, like your flesh, then that will have directed your after-life existence (sentient) into a wasteland of outer darkness, horrors of torment, rot, decay and fire. (see Romans 8:6-8). This is the result of rejecting Jesus Christ, “being lost, alone without God”.

If, however, you have set your mind, while you live, on things of the Spirit of God, then you will have life and peace. You will live eternally in the presence and light of God. Revelation 21:4 and Revelation 22:1-5 tells us “and God will wipe away every tear from your eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

 “You will see the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb of God (Jesus), in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them; and they will reign forever and ever.” This is the result of accepting Jesus Christ and your savior and Lord, and being born again – saved!

In this regard, Oswald Chambers, in one of his devotionals, says, ‘The work of salvation through Jesus is complete and finished forever. “I am not being saved — I am saved’. (Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost for His Highest devotions on 12/5/2019.)

This made me wonder.

I have heard some say “you are BEING saved”, referring to “the process of Sanctification” (that is, to “set it apart for God’s special use and purpose”. But most of the time, when Christians use the word sanctification, they are referring to the progressive work of God to make a believer more like Jesus Christ.)

First, if you believe (or want to believe), it would be important to know what the word ‘saved’ means. Here is what I have found in the Bible:

SAVED: Strong’s concordance #4982 = sozo = safe, save, make whole, heal, be whole.

1) to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction; (from injury or peril)

2) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health

3) to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue

4) to save in the technical biblical sense; to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment

To be made safe, saved, made whole, healed, to be made whole, and kept safe and sound, rescued from danger or destruction in your marriage; with your family; with your friends; in your career or job; in your body, mind, soul and spirit; where you live; where you travel; while you sleep and when you get up.

(Please Note: In this world you will still have tribulations (troubles and stresses), but the eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, (those in right standing with Him through faith in Jesus), and His ears are toward their cry for help. (But), the face of the LORD is against evildoers (and non-believers – those who reject Jesus as their savior), to eliminate the memory of them from the earth.

The righteous, (those in right standing with Him through faith in Jesus), cry out, and the LORD hears and rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The afflictions of the righteous are many, but the LORD rescues him from them all. (see Psalms 34:16-19)

With that said, there are 4 essential uses (tenses) of the word SAVED that can apply to you:

John 3:17, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that THE WORLD MIGHT BE SAVED through Him.” (NASB)

Acts 2:21, “AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” (NASB)

Acts 2:47, “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those WHO WERE BEING SAVED.” (NASB)

Ephesians 2:8, For by grace YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (NASB)

What struck me is the uses of this Word, SAVED (SOZO) shows a progression:

ALL MIGHT BE SAVED

THOSE WHO WILL BE SAVED

THOSE WHO WERE BEING SAVED

YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED

Why is this significant or interesting?

It is interesting that many believe that they “MIGHT BE SAVED”.

Many others believe they are among those “WHO WILL BE SAVED”

Some believe they are among “THOSE WHO WERE BEING SAVED”

And some of you know, “YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED“.

WHICH ONE OF THESE 4 USES DESCRIBE YOU?

No kidding. Only one of these four scenarios can secure your eternal destiny in heaven with God, that one is KNOWING that YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED.

Anything less can be tragic.

How can you tell which 1 of the 4 fits your situation and condition?

NOW, HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD:

John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

You will follow Him.

You will yearn to Think as He thinks;

You will endeavor to Act as He acts;

You will desire to Do as He does;

You will long to Be as He Is.

And, His Reward is waiting for you:

John 10:28-30, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand”.

“My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

 “I and the Father are one”.

Be Certain – It will show and it will tell.

Your Brother and Friend

Mike Young

PS: Ultimately, what “a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” The book of Proverbs is known for such concise wisdom. But beware: People ruled by sin are influenced by the chief deceiver, Satan, and become deceivers themselves and of themselves.

:PREVIOUSLY: SIMPLE CHRISTIANITY – Part 2

NEXT: SIMPLE CHRISTIANITY – Part 4