Series: Living in the Kingdom X
Message – Unified in Purpose I
Union
Though through the new birth we have been placed into a living union with and made like Christ spiritually, there are still some glaring differences. For example, He will forever be Creator and we will always be created – that is an insurmountable gap! He is Holy! The word Holy at it’s root simply means, “other than”, so this is a very good and simple description of God – He is the ultimate – “other than”.
While our “likeness” to Christ is undeniable in regard to our spirit, in our hearts and bodies we could not be more different – here He is the most “other than” from us. God the Father in the new birth however, is at work within us to create union.
- Union requires oneness.
- Oneness requires agreement.
- Agreement with God requires change.
Unified in Purpose
If we are to be unified with God we must regard Him as HOLY.
Lev. 10:1-3,
“Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. (2) So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. (3) And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’ ” So Aaron held his peace.”
There are those who, with an overly simplistic understanding of the word holy, believe all Christians already are “other than”, but this is simply not borne out in the New Testament.
Our “union” with God, as we learned about last week, is paramount to our living in the Kingdom and so regarding God as holy and having holy character is extremely important in the kingdom!
Below are some of the verses we went through tonight as we walked through this very important topic.
1Peter 1:13-23, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (14) as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; (15) but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, (16) because it is written, “BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” (17) And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; (18) knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (20) He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you (21) who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (22) Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, (23) having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,”
Other scriptures:
Roman 6
Romans 8:9-30
James 4:1-8
Blessings!
I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
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Blessings!