11/18/18 REPOST FROM 6 YEARS AGO
10/23/12 THE PLAN OF GOD FOR BELIEVERS
Not long ago I pointed out that the Biblical order is,
1- Jesus SEEKS US to SAVE US.
2- He SAVES US to to SANCTIFY US.
3- He SANCTIFIES US to SEND US.
I was reminded of this when I read a passage from Isaiah tonight (Is. 6:5-8).
(let me add,)
4- He SENDS US to SEEK and to SERVE OTHERS.
Isaiah 6:5-8
(5) Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
(6) Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
(7) And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
(8) Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
DLG notes...
vs. 5 Isaiah confesses his own uncleanness, resulting in his own unworthiness to seek and serve an unclean society.
vs. 6 God answers Isaiah's cry by applying the redemptive and sacrificial work to the life of Isaiah.
vs. 7 The purifying work of God TAKES AWAY (removes) our sins and PURIFIES us from the nature and pollution of sin.
vs. 8 The thoroughly cleansed and purified (sanctified) believer is then fit for service (2 Tm. 2:21).
2 Timothy 2:21
(21) If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
This great truth is also seen in the Titus passage.
Titus 2:11-15
(11) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
(12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
(13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
(14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
(15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
DLG notes...
vs. 11 God provides salvation for the entire world.
vs. 12 Christians (those who have received salvation) turn from a sinning life and from a sinful disposition (nature), and they live with their whole being dedicated to righteousness and godliness in this present evil world.
vs. 13 Those who are totally dedicated to holiness of heart and life look forward to the Second Coming of Christ.
vs. 14 Christ gave Himself that He might, 1- REDEEM us from all of our sins (not just from the penalty of our sins) and 2- PURIFY us from all the remains of sin, making us a distinctive people, zealots of good works.
vs. 15 The message of full salvation, salvation from sins committed and sin inherent is to be proclaimed to all believers. The proclamation is to be saturated with convinced fervor and Divine authority. We are to live consistently with the message we proclaim.
