Chapter Two
Realities of a True Christian
http://www.time2stand.com/realities-of-a-true-christian
Inspired & Sufficient
Paul writes to young Timothy, "I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”[1] Paul latter writes Timothy saying, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God maybe adequate, equipped for every good work.”[2] Very clearly we see the inspiration and sufficiency of Scripture; although in the verse above we find much of our current problems. Today we really don’t believe God inspired the Bible and we most certainly do not want anything to do with reproof, correction, and righteousness. If we did, America, and the world for that matter, would not be in its current state.
"But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”[3]
Here we have another problem. Our problem is that these were men moved by the Holy Realities New CoverSpirit. Notice it does not say they were moved by emotionalism, relevance, education or morality. These men heard from God Himself. They were men consumed with God and the things of God. "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction.”[4]
Today millions of people run to and fro declaring they are Christian having simply been led by their emotions, their education, their intellect, their decision and/or their morality. These things apart from the moving and breathing of the Holy Spirit of God, does not produce a godly righteousness leading to further sanctification but feeds a works based mentality and a self-made salvation. The most dangerous of the aforementioned may very well be morality.
Morality apart from the conviction of the Holy Spirit is sure death. A morality that has been established by a man, for the life of that man, and is highly esteemed by that man, is a blinding and damning mask to the truth of the Gospel. Humanistic morality hardens the heart to the Spirit of God and thus creates a false sense of security, or in other words, a false right standing with God (false assurance). False security keeps the soul from ever reaching a desire to grow in authentic godliness, holiness, and sanctification in Christ Jesus. For without having truly been born again in Christ and an initial conviction of the Holy Spirit against sin, it is impossible to have such an authentic desire for the things of God. Humanistic morality is of the flesh; the flesh cannot please God.[5]
"For the mind set on the flesh is death…; the mind set on the flesh is hostile towards God…; …those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”[6]
Holiness, godliness, and sanctification in Jesus Christ are standards, if I can say such a thing, much higher than that of anything morality has to declare. They are results of a truly converted soul. As a matter of fact, without sanctification "no one will see the Lord.”[7] Morality cannot justify an ongoing lifestyle of sin when biblical authority dictates otherwise. How can you see your sin and understand that you are a sinner without the conviction of the Holy Spirit? Morality does not bring about the necessary conviction needed to awaken a person to their sin.
A person constrained by the damning chains of morality must seek to intimately know God or thus be left strangled by a false ideology of a right standing with God. All that will be left for such a person is a harsh and sudden awakening to the truth while being sentenced to an eternity in hell on judgment day by the One that was thought to accept such philosophical humanism. Once again, the need for us to thoroughly examine ourselves in comparison to Scripture and to make sure that Christ has been formed in us should be extremely urgent upon our soul.[8]
Morality, if not led forth by God, is built upon self-confidence, pride, emotions, intellect, and a generous mix of cultural relevance. It is not built upon Christ, the Word of God nor the convictions of the Holy Spirit; essentially any type of morality that is not birthed through a genuine conversion of the soul unto new life in Christ Jesus, is not accepted by God as a right standing ticket to heaven. This is what makes morality so dangerous; it says that the Word of God is deceptive, irrelevant and completely useless in regards to truth. It says that man can achieved some sort of self-fulfillment and goodness. It speaks through a deceiving heart[9] whispering, "Oh soul, you have been doing good and right things, and living in good and right ways, relax, God has to accept your good works.”
"Thus says the Lord, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord.”[10]
On the other hand, godliness, holiness, and sanctification are found in the Scriptures and in the person of Christ. The Bible says of itself that it is born inspired and sufficient. If it were inspired would it not be sufficient? If it is sufficient need we look anywhere else for truth? So why do we look to the world? Simple, we no longer truly believe what the Bible says in regards to sufficiency, inspiration or infallibility.
Now if the Bible is neither sufficient nor inspired, then using the Bible for some form of morality is completely ignorant; ignorant because the Bible speaks of itself in regards to its infinite value. The Bible describes God the Father, Christ the Son, the Holy Spirit and clearly outlines what constitutes sin and illuminates our human depravity. Taking this into consideration, the thought that the Bible is merely moral is completely blasphemous and blindly ignorant, not only to the truth, but to reality itself. The Bible cannot be both inspired and deceptive nor can it be sufficient and worthless.
"For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”[11]
The problem for the unregenerate yet moral person and the nominal Christian (if there can really be such a thing) is that the Word of God is living, active, sharp, piercing, judging, and nothing can hide from the Author’s sight. There is deep pain associated with the Scriptures; there is deep pain associated with Jesus Christ as He exposes our sin. This type of pain wars against our flesh and our sin nature producing a sort of auto-self-defense mechanism whereby we justify our carnality and continued practice of sin. Morality, pride and selfishness all call this defense mechanism into action whenever godly soul pain is presented.
This godly soul pain is a result of the sword of Spirit piercing into the darkened heart and creating war in the innermost place of a human life. Jesus Christ, the very Word made manifest,[12] empowers such soul pain. The Word is active and alive. It cuts down into the sinful essence of a person in order to give opportunity for a sinner to be saved. Our response is either repentance or a bucking-up against the Spirit while raising our fist and attempting to justify our sinful lifestyle before God. We must either embrace the Bible or reject it, but we cannot do both. It is all or it is nothing.
As Joshua said, "Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve.”[13] I tell you, choose what you will do with the Word of God; it is either, inspired and sufficient for every one of your needs, or it is deceptive and worthless ”“ the living Word or a dead world ”“ the truth or a lie. Know that your choosing today may be your undoing tomorrow.[14]
"Here is a report of a survey of 10,000 Protestant ministers conducted by Sociologist Jeffrey Hadden; 7,441 responded to the questions. Here are the horrifying statistics. Read them, then wonder why God is grieved with our spiritual life. (I am indebted to Christ for the Nations, May 1982, for this information.)”[15]
Bible ”“ inspired Word of God?
82% of Methodists said "No”
81% of Presbyterians said "No”
89% of Episcopals said "No”
57% of American Lutherans said "No”
Jesus the Son of God?
82% of Methodists said "No”
81% of Presbyterians said "No”
89% of Episcopals said "No”
75% of American Lutherans said "No”
Physical resurrection of Jesus?
51% of Methodists said "No”
35% of Presbyterians said "No”
30% of Episcopals said "No”
33% of Baptists said "No”
13% of American Lutherans said "No”
"You’re in error if you don’t know the Word of God. But you’re equally in error without the power of the Spirit. And if you have the Scriptures without the power you end up being a fundamentalist. If you have the power without the Scriptures, you end up being a fanaticist. If you have the Scriptures and the power you’re an evangelist.”[16]
[1] 1 Timothy 3:15
[2] 2 Timothy 3:16-17
[3] 2 Peter 1:20-21
[4] Romans 15:4
[5] Romans 8:8
[6] Romans 8:6-8
[7] Hebrews 12:14
[8] 2 Corinthians 13:5; formed ”“ Galatians 4:19
[9] Jeremiah 17:9
[10] Jeremiah 17:5
[11] Hebrews 4:12-13
[12] John 1:14, 1-18 for context
[13] Joshua 24:14-15
[14] Thought owed to Keith Daniel
[15] Revival God’s Way, pg 145, Leonard Ravenhill, Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 1983, used by permission
[16] Malachi’s Resurgence ”“ David Ravenhill, "Fear of God” Sermon Index Conference 2011
