Saturday 3-21-15 (Martinez,
Argentina) Scripture reading: Josh 9-11 1 Cor 6
S. 1 Cor 6:11
There was a time when some
of you were just like that, but now your sins have been washed away, and you
have been set apart for God. You have been made right with God because of what
the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you. NLT
O. The Apostle Paul lays out an
ugly list of obvious sinful conduct. He
is dealing with the Corinthians who were mostly Gentiles that did not have a
background in the Mosaic law. He wants
no doubt to remain in their minds. Sin
is sin and if we chose to live in it we will have no place in the Kingdom of
God. He reminds them of a time when some
of them (and some of us) were just like that.
That was “then,” but “now” all the ugly stains of that sinful life have
been washed away (cleansed) and we have been “set apart” (sanctified) for God.
A. Set apart! Lifted out of the mud of sin! Hallelujah!
Cleansed by the purifying blood of Jesus! The old song says, “Wash me in the blood of
the Lamb and I shall be whiter than snow.”
The Corinthian Christians needed to be reminded that they no longer
belonged to the “then”. They were “now”
a people “set apart” from others that still lived that evil life style. “Now” their bodies and minds were dedicated
to the service of God. Like the vessels
in the temple under the Old Covenant, they were cleansed thoroughly and then
“set apart” to be used only for God’s specific service.
My parents were both saved and raised in
the “holiness movement” of the early 20th century. Later I joined with them at the close of
their preaching services, kneeling at the altar seeking “sanctification”. We had been saved. Our past sins were no longer keeping us out
of the kingdom, but we wanted the Holy Spirit to “set us apart” for Christ’s
service. We wanted to live a life
pleasing to God. In one sense we had
been “set apart” at the moment of our salvation, but the process that began
then would continue throughout our entire lives. As we keep our eyes upon Jesus, we will be
changed from glory to glory into His image.
Paul makes it clear that this sanctification is an ongoing process in 2
Cor. 3:18. But we all, with
unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being
transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of
the Lord. NKJV And, yes, the Holy Spirit of God is still
working on me.
P. Thank You, Jesus, that You
never gave up on me. Thank you for Your
love, mercy and grace. You are not quick
to toss us into the waste basket. You
just encourage us to keep coming back close to You and with our eyes fixed upon
You… we will be changed. We will
actually become more like You. Your
image will be formed within us. Dear
Lord Jesus, if it takes place at a church altar there on my knees or at my
bedside in early morning or late night hours… just help me to return close to
Your side and fix my eyes upon You. And
I know that Your Holy Spirit will be at work within me to change me from glory
to glory into Your image. Amen.
Ralph
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
By
Helen H. Lemmel
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow
strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O'er us sin no more hath dominion-
For more than conquerors we are!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow
strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
His Word shall not fail you-He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow
strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
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