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DOES GOD KNOW YOU?
Sunday 24th August, 2014.
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (II Tim 2:15-21).
Does God know you? This is a pertinent question that each professing Christian should ask him/herself individually and answer as an individual. It is believed that there are about 3.5 billion professing Christians in the world today; but how many of them are recognized by God and the Christ of the Christians? One may belong to a church with a large or small congregation but that does not mean that the individual is recognized by God. In today’s society, where people like to identify with multibillionaire churches does not mean that the individual is recognized by God. Christianity is not a religion as people think, it is personal relationship with God, it is a way of life, the life that Jesus brought into the world (John 10:10). If the whole estimated 3.5 billion professing Christians were recognized by God I can assure you that God would know each of them by name without mistaking one for the other.
In the text before us, the apostle Paul warned Timothy against unprofitable arguments of words that have no substance because they would increase to more ungodliness. He mentioned two personalities, namely, Hymenaeus and Philetus who had already erred from the truth, teaching people that the resurrection had already passed and thereby overthrew the faith of many. There are more heretics in today’s Christendom than they had in times past because these are the last days, perilous times, days of false teachers and false prophets – wolves that appear in the form of sheep. By their fruit you will know them. There are the so-called motivational speakers in this generation, who have sugar-coated mouth and oratorical capacity to draw many behind themselves. Beware of them! God knows those who are His and everyone who names the name of Christ should depart from iniquity. If you want God to recognize you as His own child that will enter His kingdom, having accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour, you need to depart from any form of sinful lifestyle. The Bible say, every unrighteousness is sin. Every work of the flesh is sin (read I Cor 6:9,10, Gal. 5:19-21) In each of these two references the writers says that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Christians that are known by God are those who are His real children, though not saved by good works but grace through faith, do not practice sinning. It is true that we are saved by grace through faith, not by observing any code of conduct, but grace is not a license for sinning (read Rom 6:1-2). “The person who is born into God’s family does not make a practice of sinning, now because God’s life is in him; so he can’t keep on sinning, for this new life has been born into him and controls him- he has been born again. So now we can tell who is a child of God and who belongs to Satan. Whoever is living a life of sin and doesn’t love his brother shows that he is not in God’s family” (I John 3:9,10 TLB). You can be born again today and have the grace to be recognized by God. You only need to acknowledge your sin, repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ that He died for your sin, call Him to enter your heart, and cleanse you from your sin for forgiveness (Rev 3:20). If you are already a believer, I advise you to read your Bible regularly, be the doer not a hearer only, pray regularly and thirst for your spiritual growth to be like Christ as your goal. God will help you, it is possible (read Rom 8:14-17, 28-30; Eph 1:3-14; I John 2:3-6).
May His grace abide with you. Amen.
In the text before us, the apostle Paul warned Timothy against unprofitable arguments of words that have no substance because they would increase to more ungodliness. He mentioned two personalities, namely, Hymenaeus and Philetus who had already erred from the truth, teaching people that the resurrection had already passed and thereby overthrew the faith of many. There are more heretics in today’s Christendom than they had in times past because these are the last days, perilous times, days of false teachers and false prophets – wolves that appear in the form of sheep. By their fruit you will know them. There are the so-called motivational speakers in this generation, who have sugar-coated mouth and oratorical capacity to draw many behind themselves. Beware of them! God knows those who are His and everyone who names the name of Christ should depart from iniquity. If you want God to recognize you as His own child that will enter His kingdom, having accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour, you need to depart from any form of sinful lifestyle. The Bible say, every unrighteousness is sin. Every work of the flesh is sin (read I Cor 6:9,10, Gal. 5:19-21) In each of these two references the writers says that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Christians that are known by God are those who are His real children, though not saved by good works but grace through faith, do not practice sinning. It is true that we are saved by grace through faith, not by observing any code of conduct, but grace is not a license for sinning (read Rom 6:1-2). “The person who is born into God’s family does not make a practice of sinning, now because God’s life is in him; so he can’t keep on sinning, for this new life has been born into him and controls him- he has been born again. So now we can tell who is a child of God and who belongs to Satan. Whoever is living a life of sin and doesn’t love his brother shows that he is not in God’s family” (I John 3:9,10 TLB). You can be born again today and have the grace to be recognized by God. You only need to acknowledge your sin, repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ that He died for your sin, call Him to enter your heart, and cleanse you from your sin for forgiveness (Rev 3:20). If you are already a believer, I advise you to read your Bible regularly, be the doer not a hearer only, pray regularly and thirst for your spiritual growth to be like Christ as your goal. God will help you, it is possible (read Rom 8:14-17, 28-30; Eph 1:3-14; I John 2:3-6).
May His grace abide with you. Amen.
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