We Should Honour God And Try To Be Like Him
If It's Not Apostolic, It Is Not Of God
2 CORINTHIANS 7:1-4
“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
”II Corinthians 7:1-4 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/2co.7.1-4.NKJ
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Cleansing is a two fold action: Turning away from sin, and turning toward God.
It is a complete change of direction and goes against our basic human nature.
It is a process that we humans cannot do in our own strength; we need the help of the Holy Spirit to lead us and empower us to make godly decisions.
Jesus said and promised, ““If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
John 14:15-18 NKJV
Turning from sin toward God takes commitment and cooperation (see ROMANS 12:1-2), and is not easy, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
Galatians 5:17 NKJV
The Corinthians wanted nothing to do with paganism. They were to make a clean break from their past and give themselves completely to God.
“Working towards complete holiness" means "perfecting holiness." It connotes becoming mature or complete.
Paul wasn't suggesting that the Corinthians had become sinless, but rather he was pushing them to work at building and maturing in their faith.
God had provided them and us believers today with all the resources needed to live godly lives and become more like Christ.
Paul insisted that the Corinthians should open their hearts to him; he knew just how much those in church needed each other.
Like in Paul's day, fellowship is crucial, in fact even more crucial when time has become more valuable than money.
Each day holds barely enough time to care for personal family needs, let alone time to meet the needs of others. Yet the activities that occupy our time are not as important as the community described in these verses. Paul's intention was not tea and cakes between church fellowship, but rather loving and active fellowship that brings about help, understanding of God’s Word, discipline, and unity.
A disciple is a disciplined follower of Christ.
As Christians, we need accountability that comes from lives intwined by the chords of love and commitment.
It is really important to assemble with other believers regularly, not just on Sundays in church.
It would be very helpful to join a bible study group; regular study of the Word in more detail will increase your understanding and faith, and gives opportunity to meet new friends and spend time with others of the same mind set.
It is by putting away all pride and joining together in Spirit led worship, fellowship, and regular in-depth study that we shall grow into mature, productive Christians; furthermore, loving relationships shall develop, unity will manifest, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.””
Mark 16:17-18 NKJV
My beloved, though accountability is necessary, that doesn’t mean that church leaders should lord over the whole congregation. Jesus is the only head, “For we are all individual parts of one body. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
This is the apostolic ministry of Christ, and every member is of equal importance and has an individual calling.
My beloved, every member falls into at least one of the five categories of Christ ministry of which Jesus alone is the head. “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”
I Corinthians 12:12-31 NKJV
That is Jesus way; and there is no other way to our Father in heaven (JOHN 14:6).
If it’s not apostolic, it’s not of Christ, and if it’s not of Christ, it shall profit you nothing.
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
