Learning From the Source
Notes
Transcript
Growing In Christ
Growing In Christ
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Once a famous artist wanted to draw a painting of Jesus and the twelve disciples. Before he chose the models to pose for the characters, he studied each one carefully and noted the characteristics, features, expressions, and every possible detail that each character should reflect. He began with Jesus. He did all the research necessary, then set about choosing a model— someone who would reflect the greatness, dignity, compassion, love, divine spark, and human touch that were some of the marks of Christ that the artist knew. After a long search, he found a person who fitted the artist's conception.
After drawing the Master, the artist set about painting the disciples—John, James, Peter, Andrew, and so on. The painting took quite some time, but the artist was pleased that his work was turning out to meet his expectations. After several years, he was ready to complete the Master and the Twelve, and he had only one more painting to do—that of Judas. This was no easy task. The artist read as much as he could from all available writings on Judas. How does one paint someone who had every promise to be a disciple, but failed? How can ink and paper reveal treachery, betrayal, and the slow path toward suicide? The artist made as wide a search as possible in every hamlet and town that his journey could take, and after a long and arduous struggle, he found a man whose face was a mixture of promise and failure, an urge to excel and a willingness to betray, a search for leadership and a readiness to crush anything that came his way He was a pitiable, hopeless, and ignominious man, with selfishness and hatred etched on every line of his face.
The artist invited this one whom he considered a desperate creature to come to his studio and pose for a painting-for a generous fee. The man accepted the invitation, walked with the famous painter to his studio, and sat down for his pose. The painter took his brush and colors, steadied his canvas, and searched the man's face. But before he could put his first stroke, he heard his model sobbing, tears trickling down his unkempt face.
"Why are you crying," the artist asked. "Your pay will be great."
"You cannot really pay me for what I am or rather what I have become," the man said in agony mixed with self-pity. "You see, years ago, I came to this studio, and posed for you as a model
The artist was stunned. "No, it can't be. I've never seen you before.'
"That's precisely the point," the man said. "Years ago you brought me here to pose for Christ' But over the time, I walked away—far away—from Christ. The farther I went from Him, the more despairing my life became.”
From looking like Jesus to looking like Judas is a journey of choices—small choices, to be sure but a steady stream of choices to leave the fellowship of the Master, to forsake His teachings, to refuse to follow Him, to abandon the demands of discipleship, to refuse to take up the cross, and instead betray Him and His relationship.
Discipleship cannot be sustained without constant abiding and growing in Christ.
Preview
Preview
Christian discipleship is a call to grow to be like Christ. Often, we want to be His disciple. We even become His disciple, but we don't remain in discipleship.
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me" (John 15:4, NKJV). Abiding in Jesus, and He in us, is the secret of growing in Christ and becoming like Him. "The true seeker who is striving to be like Jesus in word, life, and character, will contemplate his Redeemer and, by beholding, become changed into His image, because he longs and prays for the same disposition and mind that was in Christ Jesus... . He longs after God. The history of his Redeemer, the immeasurable sacrifice that He made, becomes full of meaning to him. Christ, the Majesty of heaven, became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich; not rich merely in endowments, but rich in attainments" (Ellen G. White, God's Amazing Grace, p. 61)
If daily fellowship with Christ makes us grow in Him, grow to be like Him, what would be the disastrous consequences if we did not have that fellowship?
Points to Ponder
Points to Ponder
1. List some of the ways we can maintain a growing fellowship with Christ.
1. List some of the ways we can maintain a growing fellowship with Christ.
the Bible says that Enoch walked with God, abide with me it tells us, he who understands and does My commandments will be mine.
We need to ask ourselves whether our discipleship life meets those demands:
2. Growth is indispensable to life. Where there is no growth, death sets in. Is this true in Christian life? If so, how?
2. Growth is indispensable to life. Where there is no growth, death sets in. Is this true in Christian life? If so, how?
Everyone knows that without growth, life starts to deteriorate.If we deprive ourselves of food and nutrients our cells and body start to decay. Maybe you remember that study done in Russia I think it was where children in orphanages were deprived of love and attention. Their brains didn’t develop and they didn’t thrive. They didn’t continue to grow.
The Christian life works much the same way. If disconnect ourselves from the source of power and life. We loose our ability to love. We become hateful and resentful.
3. Christian life begins with death. In fact, two deaths. What do you understand by this?
3. Christian life begins with death. In fact, two deaths. What do you understand by this?
The Bible talks about a first and second death. Thes 2 deaths a very important to a christian. The first death is the death that all of us mortals will experience at one time or another. It is described a sleep in the Bible. It is a stasis so to speak. For the Christian is also involves a death of self. For those that fall asleep in Jesus, we will be raised to meet Him Jesus in the clouds at the second coming. All others will be kept in that stasis until the end of the 1000 years when the second and final death will come for the wicked that none will escape. Jesus “tasted” that second death for us the Bible tells us in Heb 2:9 so we wouldn’t have to if we so choose.
4, Salvation is a free gift of God, but it is not cheap. It has a cost to the Giver as well to the receiver-to God as well as to us. Do you agree?
4, Salvation is a free gift of God, but it is not cheap. It has a cost to the Giver as well to the receiver-to God as well as to us. Do you agree?
5. Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me" (Matthew 12:30, NKJV). If one is against Jesus, on whose side is that person?
5. Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me" (Matthew 12:30, NKJV). If one is against Jesus, on whose side is that person?
Satan is the answer to that question.
Nuts and Bolts
Nuts and Bolts
Without the death of Christ on the cross there is no cleansing from sin, and without the cleansing Of sin there is no possibility of new life.
Lets look at a couple of verses that show this understanding.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Life in Christ demands that we die to our self.
Life in Christ demands that we die to our self.
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
This is where the death to self is understood.
If we are dead to sin, what are we to live for?
If we are dead to sin, what are we to live for?
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Growing in Christ has at least seven significant marks.
Growing in Christ has at least seven significant marks.
A life of Spirit
A life of Spirit
A life of Spirit, is bearing fruits of the spirit.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
There are nine of them aren’t there. Name them again with me.
A life of love and unity
A life of love and unity
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
A life of Bible study
A life of Bible study
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
A life of prayer
A life of prayer
Paul speaks about six principles of prayer life in Ephesians 6:18
18 With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.
Pray on every occasion, pray with gratitude and thanksgiving, pray in the Spirit, pray for alert to temptation, pray with perseverance, pray for the saints.
How’s our prayer life. If this is Paul’s pattern, do you and I measure up?
A life of fruit bearing
A life of fruit bearing
20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
A life of spiritual warfare
A life of spiritual warfare
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
How are we to engage in this war with satanic forces against God?
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
A life of worship, witness, and hope
A life of worship, witness, and hope
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
5. Life in Christ is a series of battles.
5. Life in Christ is a series of battles.
With whom is our battle? How real is this warfare?
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Jesus issues three calls to His disciples: self-denial, taking up one's cross, and following Jesus. These are not one-day or one-time acts. They are a daily act, as growth in Christ is an On-going process of maturity. In this daily growth, disciples are called upon to be prepared to meet the wiles of the devil.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
One who experiences growth in Christ will be able to say what Christ said:
30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Words To Remember
Words To Remember
"Disarmed principalities and powers" (Colossians 2:15, NIV). Paul's expression of what Christ accomplished on the cross includes this dynamic phrase. Principalities and powers represent Satan and his agents responsible for sin and its results. The Greek for "disarmed" literally means "stripped." By His death on the cross, Christ stripped Satan of all his demonic powers over God's people. Those who abide in Christ need not fear Satan or his agencies. In and through Christ, Satan stands as a defeated foe. Christ's victory over Satan is our victory.
Reconciliation: means to restore friendship or harmony "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them" (2 Corinthians 5:19). Sin has separated humanity from God and has made us subject to its wages, which is death (Romans 6:23). But through His death on the cross, Christ defeated Satan and has obtained forgiveness and redemption for our sins. By what Christ did on the cross, those who accept Christ are no longer separated from God but reconciled to Him. Those in Christ are now part of God's family.
Cheap grace: We are saved by the free grace of God, and our salvation has nothing to do with our works of obedience—it is a gift of God (Ephesians 1:7; 2:7, 8). While salvation comes to us through faith in God's free grace, the after-salvation experience demands a new lifestyle that is in accordance with God's will. A call to obedience is the new life of the Christian. If we say that we are saved by grace, and therefore we are freed from the law of obedience, then that grace is called cheap grace. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Grace without a life in tune with God's will is cheap grace and is of no effect.
I Truly Believe
I Truly Believe
Before I accepted Christ as my personal Saviour, I was in the bondage of sin. I was helpless was burdened, I was lost. But by faith in the sacrifice of Jesus for my sins on the cross, I fully believe I am saved and that I belong to God's family. It is my commitment that I want to be that family and be saved in His kingdom.
I also believe that Christian discipleship is a battle and a warfare. Satan is wandering like a "roaring lion" seeking whom he can devour (1 Peter 5:8). As part of God's family, I am aware that while life is a daily battle against Satan and sin (Ephesians 6:10-12), God has made sufficient provision for me to be victorious through Christ (Ephesians 6:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:57)
I believe I can lead a victorious life over sin and Satan through the enabling power Of my Saviour. Christ is my victory. I fear no evil.