He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the Spirit,
seen by angels,
preached among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.” 1 Timothy 3:14-16

—

I was enjoying lunch with some other local Christian Church ministers this week, and as we were sitting down to eat, the topic came up of helping people to understand the gravity of the decision they make when they come to Christ. How do we communicate fully the need to die to the old self, separating from your old life -in every aspect- and beginning your new walk with Christ. People want to be saved, but they don’t want to change. They want their sins forgiven, but they don’t want to change the behavior that led to that sin. Repentance must come as we submit ourselves to Christ and come to receive His grace in baptism and he new life He promises. 

Paul writes here, after talking about the morals and standards for Elders and Deacons, that there is a set expectation for behavior for those in God’s household. He also says, the Spirit speaking through Him, that the message and the church are the pillar and foundation of the truth. If we are going to come and live on that foundation, under the support of that pillar, we cannot do so still clinging on to what once was, and that former life being corrupt and sinful. The Gospel does not allow for it. We cannot be spiritually in two places at once. Either we cling to Christ or we do not. Either we live God-honoring lives, or we do not. There are absolutes and truth here that cannot be compromised. 

So, leadership must be addressed in this first, which is what Paul does. Elders/Overseers and Deacons, modeling the lifestyle and behavior for the rest of the congregation. And then, each man, woman, student and child who comes to Christ must live under the standard of the Gospel, the great mystery of the faith. We cannot live a faith of words alone. It must be a faith adopted in the heart, seated in the mind and spoken on the tongue. It must be walked through, and served out daily by our hands. We are the living, walking representations of the great mystery, glory & truth of the Gospel, and that cannot be taken lightly. 

So, take Paul’s encouragement seriously, know how you ought to live, and then make the changes necessary to live in compliance with grace and the truth of Scripture. Make your home in Christ, take your sabbath rest in Him, work, serve, give and sing in Him as you GoLove in His Name every day. This is so far beyond a ‘Sunday thing’ or a simple moral/social constraint. This is the life of the Gospel in you, and we should all be changed because of it. The mystery is profound, yet accessible. The Glory is blinding, yet meant for us to inhabit one day. The Truth is unassailable, but we make our homes in it and it brings comfort to our souls. 

Examine. Evaluate. Change.
Pray that the Spirit moves in you to do this work.