Brethren, I do not count myself
to have apprehended; but one
thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind and
reaching forward to those
things which are ahead,
I press toward the goal for
the prize of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
Authentic Biblical Faith is marked by growth, a growth that is demonstrated by our increased love of Jesus Christ. It is this wonderful rest in Jesus Christ knowing that He has promised and has demonstrated throughout history that He keeps His promises. We have this sure hope: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). The Greek words used in this verse are very important to our understanding; they are; ἐλπιζομένων ὑπόστασις, the first is a genitive plural participle in the present tense and is passive, that means that the word for hope is transliterated as: you all are hoping now, in the present, it is of this hope made assured; therefore the next word is transliterated as standing under, or in English to understand, but not just understand it is an understanding of the very essence of this hope, and this hope in faith that gives us this understanding is sure and true and the writer of Hebrews goes on to prove to us that this has been the case from the beginning. Therefore, we are charged to be presently hoping in assurance even though we do not see the actuality of what we hope for at this time, but in faith we do. Our faith is in the atonement provided by our Savior Jesus Christ on the cross for He is our Substitute for our sins a debt which we cannot pay, He is our Intercessor, Priest, Advocate, Physician, Great Shepherd and Friend. If you desire to know if you are growing in grace then just examine you faith and life, is it growing within you for increased knowledge of Jesus Christ? Does your love of Him make cause for you to place Him first in your life?
It is not that we can be sinless in this life as Mr. Wright so many years ago in the 16th century tried to promote, no, we do sin, and we do fall back at times, but this is not to discourage us, as this example may help: you take three steps forward and then fall back two, but notice this, you have advanced one step, and from that place you are growing and can grow.
A mark of growth in grace in increased holiness of life and conversation. It is our taking control of our life and having dominion over those things that are in our past that have controlled us to sin. We become more careful about our temper, our words and our actions. We are more careful about our actions in every relation of life. Be strive to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ in all things. We forget that which lies behind, and press forward toward the goal that is set before us, as that old hymn says: "Onward Christian Soldiers." When we get to heaven this sin that so entangles us will be no more, you can look for it and it will not be found, you will be in the presence of Jesus Christ, in fact, you won't even look towards your past. Until then we press forward and we strive in all things to be Authentic Biblical Christians, we strive to be holy.
For yet a little while,
and He who is coming
will come and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.
Hebrews 10:37-38
In Faith Press Forward
Richard L. Crumb
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