The doctrine of glorifying God, Part 15, John 15:8Title: The doctrine of glorifying God, Part 15, John 15:8.
/Point 3: The person and work of God brings glory to Himself.\
/a. God alone is worthy of glorification and this has been and will always be true whether there are creatures to acknowledge it or not, Eph 1:3. \
/2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.\
/ kainos [kainos] = substance of a new kind. Ktisis [ktisis] = creation. “brand new creature” directly from the hand of God without any prior material.\
This is positional truth. “In Christ” comes first in the sentence so that you know that you did not do anything outside of faith in Christ to become a new creature.
Eph 4:22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self [don’t try to remodel it], which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
Eph 4:23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
Eph 4:24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
The plan of God for your life is not a self-improvement program. It is a relationship with God where the new creature in Christ lives in the protocol plan of God; abiding in the vine.
/Living in the plan of God for your life is the act of investing what you have been given at salvation into God’s system which together becomes the life beyond dreams.\
God is glorified because of who He is. He does not need us. Yet He has given us assets by which we can bring Him glory by walking in a manner in balance with our calling. Therefore, why not invest those assets into God’s plan?
Luke 19:11 And while they were listening to these things, He went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.
Luke 19:12 He said therefore, "A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.
Luke 19:13 "And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business with this until I come back.'
The mina was given by the nobleman in grace. It was not earned by the slaves or deserved and could have been just deposited in the bank to earn interest.
Luke 19:14 "But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'
Luke 19:15 "And it came about that when he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him in order that he might know what business they had done.
Luke 19:16 "And the first appeared, saying, 'Master, your mina has made ten minas more.'
Luke 19:17 "And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, be in authority over ten cities.'
Luke 19:18 "And the second came, saying, 'Your mina, master, has made five minas.'
Luke 19:19 "And he said to him also [in the same manner], 'And you are to be over five cities.'
Luke 19:20 "And another came, saying, 'Master, behold your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief;
Luke 19:21 for I was afraid of you [infinitive – and have always been afraid], because you are an exacting man [harsh or severe]; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.'
Luke 19:22 "He said to him, 'By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow?
God is not like this, yet the man thought Him to be so, so why didn’t he invest the mina? And if he did invest it wouldn’t he have found out who God was, a God of grace?
/Jer 2:8 "The priests did not say, 'Where is the Lord ?' And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit. \
If the believer comes to know God through dedication to His word there will be more investment of the dividends that accrue from understanding God’s relationship to the believer.
When money was invested in the banks of this time it was leant out and repaid with interest which accrued to the investor. All three parties profited.
/When a believer invests his time in doctrine, others are blessed by association, Ps 37:25-26.\
/Ps 37:25-26 I have been young, and now I am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Or his descendants begging bread. All day long he is gracious and lends; And his descendants are a blessing. \
It is interesting to note that the Jews were forbidden to charge interest from one another put could charge interest from foreigners. This shows us that in this parable Gentiles are the borrowers and perhaps Jews the writers of the Bible, the prophets, and most of all the Lord Himself were the investors.
/Deut 23:20 You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countryman you shall not charge interest, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess. \
/Jews become the first evangelists and pastors and spiritually mature Christians in the Church. Jews also become the first evangelists and spiritually mature in the Tribulation, i.e. the 144,000 Jewish evangelists. \
/In this parable the servants were held responsible as stewards for the use of the money entrusted to them. The born-again Jews at the birth of the Church were given stewardship. \
The stewardship of the Apostle Paul was unique.
/Col 1:25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, \
Carrying this into the church, all born-again believers are given a stewardship, which is something to guard, something to take care of, and in God’s instruction something to invest.
/2 Thess 1:11 To this end also we pray for you always that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power; \
/2 Thess 1:12 in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. \
Luke 19:23 'Then why did you not put the money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?'
Luke 19:24 "And he said to the bystanders, 'Take the mina away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.'
/Rev 3:11 'I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown.\
Luke 19:25 "And they said to him, 'Master, he has ten minas already.'
/Those who don’t understand the grace of God complain about the grace of God.\
/Matt 20:11-12 they grumbled at the landowner, saying,' These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.'\
Luke 19:26 "I tell you, that to everyone who has shall more be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
This in no way means a loss of salvation. The citizens are unbelievers whereas the slaves are believers.
What could a loser believer who did not invest in spiritual growth in the very early church lose that another winner believer could gain? Souls. There are a certain number of believers that God knows from eternity past. If a loser witness fails to communicate the gospel then God will appoint a winner witness to drive home the gospel clearly, with conviction, and with boldness.
/Prov 11:28 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls. \
/Dan 12:3 "And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.\
/1 Thess 2:19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?\
Luke 19:27 "But these enemies of mine [unbelievers], who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence." |