SALTED WITH FIRE
The children of the kingdom are those who have experienced the new birth.
John 3:3 Unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God.
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again through the word of God.
The children of the evil one are those who have not been born again by the Holy Spirit through faith in the word of God. This includes false Christians.
To themselves, and to those outside the church, false Christians appear indistinguishable from true Christians.
False Christians do not see the difference between themselves and true Christians, neither does the world. Only believers know the difference by the Holy Spirit.
False Christians can only manifest false Christianity.
True Christians are capable of displaying both true and false Christianity, though not at the same time.
It is possible to be a true Christian and yet not display true Christianity.
In the parable of the wheat and weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) the Master forbade the servants to separate the weeds from the wheat. Instead the wheat (true Christians) should become so healthy and strong that the weeds become weak and sick and unable to carry out their purpose. It is not the weeds that choke out the wheat but the wheat that chokes out the weeds.
Jesus said that he would build his church on a rock, an unshakeable foundation. That rock is the revelation of his deity! Jesus is God the Creator.
Matthew 16:17 Jesus said, Blessed are you Simon, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
The church was born on the day of Pentecost. It became the task of the apostles to instruct Christians in how to recognize the counterfeit, not only false Christians, but also the false Christian life that was in them, along with the new life, how to deny the one in the power of the Spirit, and how to give themselves by faith to Christ so that they might display the unique life of the resurrected and triumphant Lord.
The theme of Paul's letter to the Ephesians is the church, its origin, nature, function and relationship to the Lord. The book of Ephesians is our guideline to the truth about the church.
Paul was in Rome when he wrote Ephesians, a prisoner of Caesar, awaiting trial. He was chained day and night and what did the apostle tell the Christians to do when he wrote?
Ephesians 4:1-3
I Therefore a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness (humility) (gentleness) and meekness, with patience, accepting one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace.
IN THE BOND OF PEACE
What is the bond of peace?
Mark 9:49-50
Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.
Explanation:
EVERYONE WILL BE CLEANSED FROM SIN WITH SUFFERING / OPPOSITION / PRESSURE
HAVE DISCIPLINE / SUFFERING / THE WAY OF THE CROSS / HOLY SPIRIT / CHRIST
AND BE AT PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER.
EVERY BELIEVER WILL BE CLEANSED FROM SIN THROUGH SUFFERING
SUFFERING IS MEANT THE BACKLASH OF THE SINFUL WORLD THAT CANNOT TOLERATE THE HOLY SPIRIT
STEPHEN IS ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES AFTER CHRIST. THEY GRINDED THEIR TEETH AT HIM AND MURDERERD HIM BECAUSE HE WAS FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE MORE FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT YOU BECOME THE MORE YOU WILL FEEL THE OPPOSITION, PRESSURE, BACKLASH, HATE, DIFFERENT PERSECUTION AROUND YOU. THIS IS WHAT IS MEANT BY SUFFERING.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST TRUTHS OF SCRIPTURE. I HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED THIS IN VERY SMALL AMOUNT BUT I WANT TO EXPERIENCE THIS IN FULLNESS AS PAUL HIMSELF SAID:
Colossians 1:24
I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body the church.
THIS GOES BACK TO EPHESIANS 4:1-3 AND THE BOND OF PEACE AND MARK 9:50 HAVING SUFFERING IN OUR BODY AND BEING AT PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE 1 PETER 4:1 SAYS:
1 Peter 4:1
Since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also to be always ready for suffering in the body because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
WHOEVER SUFFERS IN THE BODY IS FINISHED WITH SIN.
HEBREWS AND PHILIPPIANS CONTINUE THIS TRUTH OF PEACE, POWER AND SUFFERING.
Philippians 3:10
I want to know Christ ”“ Yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death!
1 Timothy 4:8
Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come!
Hebrews 2:10
In bringing many children to glory, it was fitting (it was right, it was appropriate) for God, for whom and through whom, all things exist, to make Jesus, the source of their salvation, perfect (brought to completion) through suffering!
Hebrews 5:8-9
Although Jesus was a son, he learned obedience through suffering, and being made perfect (complete, brought to a finish) he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
Philippians 1:27-29
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence (hear Christ speaking) I will know you stand firm in one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel, without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved ”“ even by God himself. FOR YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN NOT ONLY THE PRIVILEGE OF BELIEVING IN CHRIST, BUT ALSO THE PRIVILEGE OF SUFFERING FOR HIM.
Philippians 2:1-12
THEREFORE IF YOU HAVE ANY ENCOURAGEMENT FROM BEING UNITED WITH CHRIST, IF ANY COMFORT FROM HIS LOVE, IF ANY FELLOWSHIP WITH THE SPIRIT, ANY TENDERNESS AND COMPASSION, THEN MAKE MY JOY COMPLETE BY BEING OF ONE MIND, HAVING THE SAME LOVE, BEING UNITED IN SPIRIT AND PURPOSE. DO NOTHING FROM SELF-INTEREST (DON'T BE SELFISH) DON'T TRY TO IMPRESS OTHERS (EMPTY PRIDE, VAIN CONCEIT) RATHER BE HUMBLE, IN HUMILITY THINK OF OTHERS ABOVE YOURSELVES, NOT LOOKING TO YOUR OWN INTERESTS, BUT EACH OF YOU TO THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS. LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU! WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO BEING GOD, DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO (CLING TO) INSTEAD BEING POURED OUT, HE EMPTIED HIMSELF, BY TAKING THE FORM OF A SLAVE AND BEING MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF HUMANS! HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT TO DEATH, EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS. THEREFORE GOD EXALTED HIM TO THE HIGHEST PLACE AND GAVE HIM THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE WILL BOW OF THOSE WHO ARE IN HEAVE AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH AND THAT EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. THEREFORE, MY BELOVED, AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED, SO NOW, NOT ONLY IN MY PRESENCE, BUT MUCH MORE IN MY ABSENCE, WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING (REVERENCE AND AWE) CONTINUE TO WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION.