Weekly Devotional 01-12-15 The Efficacious Work of God
Jesus said that He would build His church, that is, He would call out of humanity an assembly of persons that He would form into a living body, a living organism (see Matthew 16:18). This work was and is a supernatural work. This body is formed of formally spiritually dead persons (Ephesians 2:1-5). Jesus explained that a person must be reborn spiritually in order to see or enter into the kingdom of heaven; to be part of that body (John 3:1-8). Thus, spiritual rebirth is the work of the Holy Spirit, not of anyone themselves. The apostle John was led to write that such rebirth was not of human heredity, nor was it by self-will or the will of another, but by the will of God (John 1:13). Original (Adam’s) sin so separated mankind from God that even though he or she may have some amount of spiritual desire (a spiritual void exists in all persons) they have no true desire to communicate or fellowship with True God. Paul wrote that all individuals, in their natural state, are alienated toward God (Ephesians 4:17-19; Colossians 1:21). This alienation needed and needs to be overcome without violating the will of man.
Impossible you say? Yes, it is, if left to man to accomplish it himself. Remember the bringing of a man back to God is a supernatural work. God accomplished both the overcoming of man’s alienation without violating his will while and, at the same time, creates (births) in him new spiritual life. God accomplishes this by the convicting, convincing, the regenera-ting work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8-11), and through His word (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV).
Jesus said, “8And when He (The Holy Spirit) comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged” (John 16:8-11 NKJV).
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) says, “12The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” I am not sure how all this works; just that it does. The natural (unregenerate) man comes to know, understand and believe that God is God and that salvation is found in His promises. For this to be possible the Holy Spirit opens his understanding. He pierces the darkness and hardness of the heart in order that a person may respond to God’s word, bringing spiritual regeneration (rebirth). If you are one that has been enlightened to these truths and have been born again, have had a spiritual rebirth, you know that this was not of yourself. It was by the grace, mercy and an efficacious call of God. You know that your salvation was by Jesus’ sacrifice and that you are sustained by His power through His Spirit (the Holy Spirit). However, if you are one who trusts in anything else, i.e. your own efforts (works) or the efforts (works) of another, be advised that your salvation is dependent upon the grace (the unmerited favor) of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not, nor ever could be of anything or anyone else (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Think of Jesus’ own words. Did He not say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life?” and that “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6). Furthermore, did He not say to Nicodemus and to us by extension, “3Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… 5Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ 9Nicodemus answered and said to Him, ‘How can these things be?’10Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God’” (John 3:3…5-21 NKJV).
Please understand, Jesus told Nicodemus and you and me that salvation comes by believing (believing to the point of commitment) in what God has done for us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son who was lifted up, and crucified on our behalf.
God Bless
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man
www.gbchurch.us