Beloved, now are we the sons of
God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:
but we know that when He shall appear,
we shall be like Him; for we shall see
Him as He is.
And every man that hath this hope in him
purifieth himself, even as He is pure.
1John 3:2-3
A literal translation of the Greek add to a greater understanding of how these verses apply: "Beloved (plural and vocative) now children of God we, and not ye wait manifested what we shall be; but we know that if (subjunctive, if you do, and if you do not, results will occur for either choice), for we shall see (future) Him as He is.
and everyone that has this hope in Him, purifies himself, even as He is pure." Why take this Greek tour? To help you understand, you are "sons" but more clearly, you are "Children" of God, and as "children of God" you have a responsibility to "purify" yourself, not because you have yourself to be the model for purity, no, you have Jesus Christ as your example as how to be pure in this life. Authentic Christians are those who attempt in every way for purity, but not seeking purity outside of that which has been revealed to us in the Scriptures. The attempt for a purity begins with our relationship with Jesus Christ. The relationship we have with Jesus Christ determines our attitude and our heart and by this determines the pragmatic use of the purity in our lives. the command by Jesus that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves and our self is to love God with our whole heart and mind and our soul seems to be lost at times and seen by the inability to get along with others in other denominations and even in our own congregations.
Why is it that people cannot get along together? It does not matter whether you're a person, a community, a nation, some ethnic group. The reason people do not get along together is because of pride and a sense of self-importance. There seems to be a division between the haves and the haves-not. This division is so distorted and demands that others be treated in the way that they view themselves, an example in our present time is that of Islam. The Islamic political/governmental religion demands that all people adhere to their theology and ideology. Let me get this closer to home: Presbyterians against Baptist, Baptist against Methodist, Nazarenes against the Church of God, all thinking that they have the better hand they do if they would only look at the better. What is the better? Simple: The Gospel, the fact that Jesus Christ is both God/Man and that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for sin and applies that payment to all who put their faith in Him. Now, there are certain doctrinal and remember this is teachings, that are different between the different groups: per instance: The Baptist do not want wine served at the communion and think it's wrong, the Presbyterians say it's okay to have wine at Communion and there is a battle between these theological and ideological doctrines. What it really does show a deep sense of pride, not pride in the right way but pride in the wrong way. What's the battle anyway? Whenever we have Communion we use a liquid that is available at that time and one that which we would like to drink to represent the blood of Jesus Christ and if you say wine does it better than grape juice are red, and if one uses cracker and the other uses a piece of bread broken lets get real both are bread and represent the broken body of Jesus Christ: so what is the battle only because one thinks what they have is better than the other and more scriptural than the other one that I really has nothing to do with this particular sacrament. Authentic Christians do not get all twisted out of shape over these matters of in difference. The dynamics between these groups produce a terrible competition in the rough edges of these debates rub against others and create friction and this friction is bound to disturb the interpersonal harmony and peace. I'll are
When Christ is at work in our lives then our lives are filed down and the rough edges or renewed. you see when we rub against each other in such a manner as in disagreement we do not act like steel sharpening steel we are not acting together like a well oiled-machine. When authentic Christians act in this manner it makes us wonder whether now or asked to seeing cultural Christianity instead of true and Authentic Christian Faith. When pride and greed and self importance or exercise those authentic Christian virtues leads a person to pursue personal and professional success.
We are told that if we are children of God we are to purify our lives. Authentic children of God, those who have Authentic Christian Faith will be doers of the word, and that means to purify oneself and you cannot purify anything if that thing is not worked. You can look at a piece of gold in the rock but until it is crushed and washed there is no beauty in it has very little value but once it is crushed and the chaff removed leaving the gold you will find a shiny.you will object. Do you want to be that shiny golden object? If so, it become an Authentic Christian who has Authentic Christian Faith. Are we not told to deny ourselves? YES! Well, will you do it? Only you hold the answer.
Acquaint now thyself with Him,
and be at peace: thereby good
shall come unto thee. Receive,
I pray thee, the law from His mouth,
and lay up His words in thine heart.
If thou return to the Almighty,
thou shalt be built up, now shalt be
put away iniquity far from
Thy tabernacles.
Job 22: 21 -- 23
build your relationship with Jesus Christ
Richard L. Crumb
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