That I May Know Him /Unbelief & the Deceitfulness of Sin
Psalm 106- 1 Corinthians 2-3. Philippians 3. Hebrews 3, 12The warning of failing of the grace of God through unbelief and hardening of the heart through the deceitfulness of sin.
This speaks to believers about the importance of being faithful. Holding fast to your profession is just as important as it is to hold on to it, not just holding a thing but securely with endurance. Take for example Esau who for one moment to satisfy his cravings to be sustained. Sold his birth rights. ( http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/Matthew-Henry/Gen/Esau-Despises-Sells-Birth )
Esau faced his hour of temptation and despised the gift of God on his life. Esau saw no profit in keeping his profession, (His Birthright) he lost track of its value. Esau traded in his birth right, for something immediate and passing. Therein lies the meaning of the deceitfulness of sin. Sin tricks us into thinking that the substitute is better. It's never better.
There are two things that go hand in hand, Confidence and Rejoicing. The believers’ victory dance is an outward showing of an inward profession of faith. Jesus said, “It is finished” You might say, it's time to rejoice.
THE NEW DECLARATION
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after flesh but after the spirit. For the law in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Christ changed what was going to be your last chance and gave a you a second chance.
He made a new law, a law that now says you're no under condemnation, when you give your life to him. Under sin, outside of salvation in Christ, you are in danger. The wages of sin is death, meaning if you continue to live a sinful life, your going to be in separation from God. The death here it's not just the end result but the now result. The now result is a life sentence of death, the exclusion of that sweet relationship you could have through Christ in God. It's like being divorced while your ex still lives. The relationship is dead, there is no fruit that can come from it. Separated from, living but not having real life, death. You are not really alive until you are in Christ and he in you. He came from heaven to earth for you and all who will receive him, he will never cast away. Those are his words not mine.
( Romans 8:1 )
There is nothing the believer can do to change this fact. No weapon that is formed against us shall ever prosper, because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. In that Jesus died, he died unto sin once. Christ wont be going back up on the cross again friend, it's a done deal, it is truly finished. The nest step is yours, you must come to this knowledge and receive his sacrifice for you and repent. Repent simply means to turn away form your old way of living, turn direction. Turn to God with your heart. Dont stress about how holy you feel you have to be, learn from Jesus and you will begin to desire to be holy, and he will help you in every struggle you face in life.
Temptation not only comes by way of right and wrong. But the believers’ hour of temptation comes during the battle, striving against sin. When after prolong battle. When weariness sets in. And nothing seems to change. Your confidence is tried. Your needs, wants and desires seem to outweigh your faith. Sins apparent overwhelming dominates desire you into thinking, what’s the use. We lose joy and rejoicing, sin deceives us into changing confession from faith to needs.
THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN
Sin tells us that needs must be met. Our wants are most important. I am hungry, I need someone and I am too poor. When our needs are not met, we gradually become bitter, and resentful. We can’t rejoice with them that rejoice because we want what they have. It seems unfair. So we decide that the only way to get our needs met is to step out of faithfulness and righteousness. And seek to attain our wants. Or we try to gratify our cravings. Another thing that takes place is hardness of heart. We are no longer tender hearted concerning the things of God. We slowly stop believing God. We struggle with fundamental faith. We become prone to other spiritualist systems, substitute religion, a form of Godliness but in fact it denies the the true power of God and his work in our lives. Deception has taken a toll on our hearts.
STRUGGLING TO BELIEVE
Israel grieved God with their unbelief . His promises, his purpose, his word found no resting place in their hearts. To rest in the Lord is to let his word rest in our hearts and live in the confidence of who God is and what he has declared and said. Every time I struggle with faith I battle with unbelief. I force God to prove himself yet again because the last 5 times God proved himself i was not fully convinced he is really true. My attitude says I don’t believe you. You have to show me again if it’s really you.
God said that the people alway err in their hearts and they have not known his ways. They were not able to predict what God would do because they did not know him. They did not find a place of rest in him. God, though he proved himself for 40 years to the Israelites because of unbelief. Still they erred because they from the start did not believe in God. They struggled with trusting his word. Perhaps they always felt there was another explanation to what they were experiencing.
WORTH THE COST
They would have seen the sorcery of Egypt and the demonic practices of the heather nations around them. Doubt and a firm belief in God seemed to have evaded them continually.
So Paul in Philippians 3, was saying that he counted all things but dung, he count them loss, and was willing to suffer the loss of all things for Christ. That he may know him. There is a prize that is worth the cost you pay. The prize of the high calling in Christ is worth the suffering we as believers go through. In the end, the sufferings we experience won't stand compared to the glories that will be revealed in us. To be perfect is to maintain humility. Romans 8:18
PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 3
Paul goes on to make a list of eliminations. Paul declares he has counted what he had before Christ, loss, so that he may know Christ. He confesses that he was not yet perfected. That he was following on after Christ that he may attain him for that which he was apprehended by Christ.
Paul realised that there were much more to gain in knowing Christ. And suffering the loss of the previous was more than worth while exchange, sufferings included. That is was paramount to the procurement of what lies before him. The prize of the high calling in Christ, so Paul says I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
VITAL REMINDERS
There is a reoccurring word that appears often in these passages of scripture, as Paul admonishes the believers regarding the pursuit of the prize of the high calling.
Hebrews 3:6 If we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Hebrews 10:24 let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for he is faithful that promised)
Philippians 4:1 therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the lord, my dearly beloved.
Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.
Paul goes on to describe his commitment and joy. Paul was eager to take his show of suffering as to him it seemed a debt he must pay. Not to clear his name but as if it was a kind of glory exchange. A right of passage and also that God had given him a special ministry.
That I may know him
Study References
Philippians 3:4
Hebrews 3:10:12
Psalms 106
Amos 3,4
Corinthians 15: 54-58
Colossians 1:23
Colossians 3
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