“ARE WE PASSING IT ON?”
1Corinthians 15:3 (NLT) I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.
1Corinthians 15:2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you...
Romans 10:17 (NLT) So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
We have been “COMMANDED” to pass it on; we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to pass it on. Are we “burying the talent (thing of most value given to us) in the ground or investing it/planting it in the soil of the hearts of men, women and children? Walking in the obedience that comes from trusting Jesus and His love is the most exciting, life-giving way to live (John 10:10). For sure, EACH of us will give account (2Corinthians 5:10). Don’t procrastinate. That is a manifestation of doubt and unbelief. Rather, GET OFF THE FENCE AND PUT HIS WORD TO PRACTICE IN YOUR LIFE AND WATCH THE FRUIT COME.
We will not be able to make an excuse or play the “victim card” in that day of accountability! Look at Paul. He “worked harder than any of the other apostles,” yet was “the least of all the apostles...not even worthy to be called an apostle” for the way he was so “right” and got it 100% wrong...FAILURE. Yet, God chose him and taught him to not rely on his own performance, but to trust in Christ and His performance on his behalf, which resulted in a decision to BELIEVE IN HIS HEART THAT JESUS WAS LORD, LOVED HIM, DIED AND WAS RESURRECTED FOR HIM SO HE COULD BECOME GOD’S SON, BE BORN AGAIN. HE CONNECTED THE DOTS.
IF THAT IS TRUE, THAT GOD LOVES ME NOT BASED ON WHAT I DO, THEN I MUST TRUST HIM TO DO WHATEVER IT IS HE ASKS OF ME. PAUL FOUND OUT THAT WALKING IN THAT DIRECTION WAS MET WITH “ABOUNDING GRACE,” GOD’S OPERATIONAL POWER BEYOND HIS WILDEST DREAMS. HE WAS THE WORST FAILURE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE MERCY SHOWN HIM, BECAME “ALL IN!”
WHAT ABOUT YOU AND ME? ARE WE “ALL IN?”
Our commitment to follow Him, obey His voice, & renew our mind/change our STINKING THINKING reveals how much we are persuaded that He loves us & how much power we believe He truly has. We may say He is Lord, but do we allow Him to be Lord in our lives, or do live as if we are our own god? We cannot explain away the Word of God. It is our “rule for faith & practice.” In ALL things, we should ask ourselves & search out, “WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY,” not do whatever the spirit of this age says (the god of this world - 2 Corinthians 4:4). Don’t be deceived. The wisdom of this world is FOOLISHNESS! The fear of God is the BEGINNING of wisdom. When we come to Christ HE IS OUR WISDOM (1Corinthians 1:30-31; 2:13-16). If we continue to live as we did “in the world” after “coming to Christ,” we will get the same results. To “do” the same thing and expect a different result is INSANITY. LET US RENEW OUR MINDS, THAT OUR BEHAVIOR MIGHT CHANGE, resulting in bringing glory to God IN OUR BODIES (Romans 6:6, 12-16; 1Corinthians 6:19-20)!
If we “receive the grace of God in vain” (1Corinthians 6:1; 7:1; 1John 3:1-3; Galations 5:1-7), THEN we are under the Law...N
1Corinthians 15:56 (NLT) For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.
There is NO GOSPEL WITHOUT THE RESURRECTION (1Corinthians 15:13-55). And BECAUSE THERE IS INDEED A RESURRECTION, let us “be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (1Corinthians15:58). AND KNOW THIS, in order for a new plant to grow, the seed of it must die and be planted in the earth. OUR LIVES NOW ARE MERELY A SEED OF WHAT IS TO COME! NB. PAUL DIED DAILY (1 Corinthians 15:31); DO WE? The ONLY way to experience the ABUNDANT RESURRECTION LIFE CHRIST GIVES is first to be crucified.
Luke 9:23 (NLT) Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.