Ok so I thought I would try to handle two blogs. It just didn't work. I will combine the best of both and only maintain one blog at moldedtoworship. Thank you for visiting this site and reading. Join me at moldedtoworship and let's continue our discussion on sin and a life of Worship to our King Jesus Christ.
God Bless
Thursday, October 23, 2008
MetamorphoO
I have been studying Romans 12 for the past week or so, because I was asked to teach Sunday school this week. As I have studied and listened to other messages about Romans, and one thing has become evident, Sin must be overcome, and we must be transformed into the likeness of Christ! Chapter 12, verses 1-2 speak about how we are to be transformed from our old selves and become a new creation in Christ. The greek word "MetamorphoO" is used for this description of the word "transformed". Usually in the english language, we use this word "transformed" to relate to a physical change. But Paul uses it in context of a "total transformation" much like a caterpillar being transformed into a butterfly. Everything that we are, is changed, and we start to become more like Christ.
Paul brings this point of view, you are either conformed into the likeness of the world and all that it is, or you become like Christ, it cannot be both ways. When we offer our bodies as "living sacrifices" as verse 1 says, there are also two sides to this, general and specific.
Generally we offer our bodies to God and say, "Ok God here I am, use me, here is my body, lead me.
And specifically, when God says, I want you to be a living sacrifice to the lost and tell them about me and share the good news with them, and I want you to be a living sacrifice and serve the body of Christ.
When we can begin to understand that we are to be transformed (MetamorphoO), into the image of Christ, and not be conformed any longer by this world, then we will begin to live our lives as God intended. Set apart, redeemed, and justified.
"Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, Holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is. His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2
Paul brings this point of view, you are either conformed into the likeness of the world and all that it is, or you become like Christ, it cannot be both ways. When we offer our bodies as "living sacrifices" as verse 1 says, there are also two sides to this, general and specific.
Generally we offer our bodies to God and say, "Ok God here I am, use me, here is my body, lead me.
And specifically, when God says, I want you to be a living sacrifice to the lost and tell them about me and share the good news with them, and I want you to be a living sacrifice and serve the body of Christ.
When we can begin to understand that we are to be transformed (MetamorphoO), into the image of Christ, and not be conformed any longer by this world, then we will begin to live our lives as God intended. Set apart, redeemed, and justified.
"Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, Holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is. His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2
Thursday, October 9, 2008
learning
I find it ironic, that as I felt the need to bring about a discussion of sin and how to deal with it within this blog, it ends up being the very thing I learn about in school this past week. I had no idea we would be diving into this subject at this time, but as we have, I am learning some interesting stuff. I will gather my thoughts and bring them here, lay them out, and hopefully you will take some of them to heart.
I will share this though, In his book, ""Exploring Our Christian Faith", W.T. Purkiser says this about sin and man.
"Clearly implied in the temptation and sin of Adam and Eve are theological insights of key importance. It is seen here that sin is not part of essential human nature. It is an intrusion in human experience. Adam and Eve did not become human when they disobeyed God: if anything, they became less than they were created to be. Jesus Christ was perfectly human in everything humanity was meant to be-yet He was "holy, harmless, unstained, separated from sinners" (Heb. 7:26. RSV), free from the taint of sin. SIn is not to be found in man's physical nature, nor in the finiteness of his psyche. It is a foreign element, a condition subject to cure by divine grace."
After reading this, I have to pause and ask myself, am I doing everything I can to be what God intended me to be? Am I addressing this foreign element, and purging it from my being?
Are you?
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
I will share this though, In his book, ""Exploring Our Christian Faith", W.T. Purkiser says this about sin and man.
"Clearly implied in the temptation and sin of Adam and Eve are theological insights of key importance. It is seen here that sin is not part of essential human nature. It is an intrusion in human experience. Adam and Eve did not become human when they disobeyed God: if anything, they became less than they were created to be. Jesus Christ was perfectly human in everything humanity was meant to be-yet He was "holy, harmless, unstained, separated from sinners" (Heb. 7:26. RSV), free from the taint of sin. SIn is not to be found in man's physical nature, nor in the finiteness of his psyche. It is a foreign element, a condition subject to cure by divine grace."
After reading this, I have to pause and ask myself, am I doing everything I can to be what God intended me to be? Am I addressing this foreign element, and purging it from my being?
Are you?
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Original Sin
I thought I would pas along something I read in class tonight, let me know what you think.
...............
Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, all subsequent human beings have been born in depravity. We are all affected by what theologians call “original sin.”
All human beings are sinful beings. People by themselves, not only bring forth bad fruit; they are bad trees (See Matthew 7:18).
People are born in total depravity. This does not mean that all humans are as corrupt as possible, nor that all are equally sinful in all respects, but that . . .
· every part of a person’s being is affected by sin.
· people have problems at the very center of their being.
· people are unable, in themselves, to please God.
This is not good. Because we are in sin, we deserve God’s wrath (his righteous anger, his punishment).
Romans 1:18 states that “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of (people) who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”
What are your reactions to this thought?
...............
Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, all subsequent human beings have been born in depravity. We are all affected by what theologians call “original sin.”
All human beings are sinful beings. People by themselves, not only bring forth bad fruit; they are bad trees (See Matthew 7:18).
People are born in total depravity. This does not mean that all humans are as corrupt as possible, nor that all are equally sinful in all respects, but that . . .
· every part of a person’s being is affected by sin.
· people have problems at the very center of their being.
· people are unable, in themselves, to please God.
This is not good. Because we are in sin, we deserve God’s wrath (his righteous anger, his punishment).
Romans 1:18 states that “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of (people) who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”
What are your reactions to this thought?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
________, line, and sinker
How many of you have ever been fishing? It's a common thing, often done to get away from life and enjoy nature and some quite time. I do it when I have a big decision to make or just need to clear my mind. Fishing, with all its serenity and peacefulness, ironically has something in common with sin.
See fish love worms, bee moths, minnows, and bait of all kinds, and it's not like when you go fishing, you are just out there to feed the fish (although being the poor fisherman I am, the fish get quite full when I'm on the water), you go out to catch them. So we take our bait and put it on the hook and throw the line out in hopes of catching a lunker. You see in a way when you go fishing, you play one of the devils most popular tricks. You disguise the hook to look appealing to the fish. You place on the instrument of death, something that the fish has a weakness for, something it will be drawn to.
This is exactly what the devil does to us. He knows what our weaknesses are, and he uses them over and over again to lure us into a place where we ought not to be. And be warned, the hook he uses is certain to bring death. So the next time you seem drawn to something that looks appealing, think twice before you bite, you might find yourself smoked skin side down.
From one sinner to another.
See fish love worms, bee moths, minnows, and bait of all kinds, and it's not like when you go fishing, you are just out there to feed the fish (although being the poor fisherman I am, the fish get quite full when I'm on the water), you go out to catch them. So we take our bait and put it on the hook and throw the line out in hopes of catching a lunker. You see in a way when you go fishing, you play one of the devils most popular tricks. You disguise the hook to look appealing to the fish. You place on the instrument of death, something that the fish has a weakness for, something it will be drawn to.
This is exactly what the devil does to us. He knows what our weaknesses are, and he uses them over and over again to lure us into a place where we ought not to be. And be warned, the hook he uses is certain to bring death. So the next time you seem drawn to something that looks appealing, think twice before you bite, you might find yourself smoked skin side down.
From one sinner to another.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Hello, my name is Chris, and I'm a sinner
Today I struggled with some feelings of anger and frustration. Nothing huge, but enough to put me in a bad mood and that affected my family. Here's my question; What do we do with anger? What do we do with the things that frustrate us, and what do we do with that frustration? I know me well enough to know, that when I get mad about something or at someone, the carnal side of me wants to do something in retaliation, even if it isn't toward the object or person that caused those feelings. Immature you say? Yes it is, but tell me you have never felt that way. We don't like to be hurt, we don't like to be put out, but it happens. So we must decide how we are going to react to these situations.
Psalm 4:3-5 says this: "Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD will hear when I call to him. In your anger do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
Selah. Offer right sacrifices
and trust in the LORD.
This is good advise. How many relationships and situations might survive if we were to take this scripture to heart. And we need to trust in the Lord, He knows us, He created us.
Ephesians 4:25-27 also says this: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
The devil loves and angry person, an angry person doesn't think straight. An angry person listens to flesh and not the spirit.
So the next time we get angry, myself included, we would be wise to remember these scriptures and take them to heart.
-Do not sin in your anger
-Search your heart and be silent before God
-Don't let it fester, dont' let the day end before you make amends. This requires humility, if you don't have it, get it!
God made us, he knows we get angry and frustrated, but how we handle it is what matters.
From a sinner, to a sinner what do you struggle with?
Today I struggled with some feelings of anger and frustration. Nothing huge, but enough to put me in a bad mood and that affected my family. Here's my question; What do we do with anger? What do we do with the things that frustrate us, and what do we do with that frustration? I know me well enough to know, that when I get mad about something or at someone, the carnal side of me wants to do something in retaliation, even if it isn't toward the object or person that caused those feelings. Immature you say? Yes it is, but tell me you have never felt that way. We don't like to be hurt, we don't like to be put out, but it happens. So we must decide how we are going to react to these situations.
Psalm 4:3-5 says this: "Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD will hear when I call to him. In your anger do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
Selah. Offer right sacrifices
and trust in the LORD.
This is good advise. How many relationships and situations might survive if we were to take this scripture to heart. And we need to trust in the Lord, He knows us, He created us.
Ephesians 4:25-27 also says this: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
The devil loves and angry person, an angry person doesn't think straight. An angry person listens to flesh and not the spirit.
So the next time we get angry, myself included, we would be wise to remember these scriptures and take them to heart.
-Do not sin in your anger
-Search your heart and be silent before God
-Don't let it fester, dont' let the day end before you make amends. This requires humility, if you don't have it, get it!
God made us, he knows we get angry and frustrated, but how we handle it is what matters.
From a sinner, to a sinner what do you struggle with?
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Temptations
Today in the service, we read scripture from Leviticus 26:1-5, "1 " 'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God.
2 " 'Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD.
3 " 'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land."
"Idolatry" is a sin, and far too often we allow it to creep into our lives. The Life Application Bible puts it this way;
"The people of the Old Testament were warned over and over against worshiping idols. We wonder how they could deceive themselves with these objects of wood and stone. Yet God could well give us the same warning, for we are prone to put idols before him. Idolatry is making anything more important than God, and our lives are full of that temptation. Money, looks, success, reputation, security - these are today's idols. As you look at these false gods that promise everything you want but nothing you need, does idolatry seem so far removed from your experience."
How often do we make excuses for not spending time with God?
How often do we allow life to dictate what kind of time we spend in His word?
How often do put God in the back seat to things that we deem important, when they have no importance at all.
There is no excuse worth uttering that is worth not spending time with God. Make time in your day, everyday to spend with God. Read His word, talk with him, and take time to close the lips he gave you and open the ears he created, and listen to what He is saying.
My name is Chris, and I'm a sinner. I am guilty of idolatry and placing God on a back burner. God please forgive me.
2 " 'Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD.
3 " 'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land."
"Idolatry" is a sin, and far too often we allow it to creep into our lives. The Life Application Bible puts it this way;
"The people of the Old Testament were warned over and over against worshiping idols. We wonder how they could deceive themselves with these objects of wood and stone. Yet God could well give us the same warning, for we are prone to put idols before him. Idolatry is making anything more important than God, and our lives are full of that temptation. Money, looks, success, reputation, security - these are today's idols. As you look at these false gods that promise everything you want but nothing you need, does idolatry seem so far removed from your experience."
How often do we make excuses for not spending time with God?
How often do we allow life to dictate what kind of time we spend in His word?
How often do put God in the back seat to things that we deem important, when they have no importance at all.
There is no excuse worth uttering that is worth not spending time with God. Make time in your day, everyday to spend with God. Read His word, talk with him, and take time to close the lips he gave you and open the ears he created, and listen to what He is saying.
My name is Chris, and I'm a sinner. I am guilty of idolatry and placing God on a back burner. God please forgive me.
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