Teleios

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Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Yes, we are secure! The Bible says it, believe it!

Welcome again to my blog. I am delighted you have taken the time to read it.

Teleios and other authors have shown Christian belief actually can improve personal wellbeing! Therefore, we are examining the Christian life in more detail to see if we can uncover some of the potential underlying causes of the improved wellbeing. As a biblical basis for the Christian life we are using 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7 (KJV). Here again is the passage!

1Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

1Th 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

1Th 1:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

Let’s look at verse 5 and our precious security of salvation. Based on the list of Biblical reasons noted last week regarding our eternal security, this week we are examining direct Biblical statements describing our everlasting home with God.

Direct statements to our eternal security - Verses in the Bible that directly indicate a believer, who has trusted in Jesus Christ by faith for his salvation, is eternally secure, are the following:

1 Peter 1:4-5 (KJV). In these verses Peter comforts his readers that despite their troubles on earth they have an eternal home.

1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Romans 8:31-39 (KJV). This marvelous passage indicates that nothing can separate us from God's love and no one can lay a charge against us. In contrast, it is God alone who brings us to salvation and He will complete His work in us (verses 29-30).

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (passage shortened)

John 10:29-30 (KJV). Although Christ had not yet died for our sins, these verses indicate that those who are given to God are also given to Christ, and no one can take them out of either of their hands.

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

1 John 5:10-13 (KJV). This passage, at the end of this marvelous epistle, indicates that those who believe in Christ for their salvation have eternal life. They can have confidence in this because of the changes shown in their life noted in chapters 2-4.

1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Well that is our blog for today. Thank you for joining me. Indeed, we possess wonderful direct promises in scripture as believers that we are eternally secure by our faith in Christ. We will continue with this series detailing this great promise next week by discussing perseverance.

WC Stewart

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Yes, we are secure!

Welcome again to my blog. I am delighted you have taken the time to read it.

Last week we started a series on the Christian life and the wonderful promises of Scripture and their benefits to us. Teleios and other authors have shown Christian belief actually can improve personal wellbeing! Therefore, we are examining the Christian life in more detail to see if we can uncover some of the potential underlying causes of the improved wellbeing. As a biblical basis for the Christian life we are using 1 Thessalonians1:5-7.

Here again is the passage!

1Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

1Th 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

1Th 1:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia (KJV).

The verses are neatly outlined by the following:

Ø Becoming a Christian (Verse 5)

Ø Security of salvation (Verse 5)

Ø Accepting God's Word in daily life (Verse 6)

Ø Becoming imitators of Paul (Verse 6)

Ø Becoming examples to others (Verse 7)

Last week we discussed our glorious salvation.

This week let us discuss the certainty of our salvation. This is one of the great comforting promises of Scripture. It is our hope. Yet the topic remains controversial even among Christians.

What are the evidences of our security? I believe they are on five levels.

Ø Direct statements of our security (1 Peter 1:4-5, Romans 8:28-39)

Ø New unchangeable positions as a believer which we discussed recently (throughout a series of 6 blogs) and include our: justification, adoption, sealing by the Spirit, and spiritual baptism.

Ø God causing us to persevere (2 Timothy 1:12, Philippians 1:6)

Ø God's negative reaction to those who don't believe in eternal security (Hebrews 6:1-8, 10:26-39)

Ø We are individually chosen to belief before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-5, 1:11, Romans 8:29-30, John 6:44, 6:65)

Why is eternal security so important for our wellbeing?

It is the helmet of our salvation (Ephesians 6:15) and our great hope! Life is full of joy yet sometimes disappoints with missed goals, crushed expectations, death of loved ones and ultimately even ourselves. The knowledge of our salvation and a better future life beyond helps us through every step of our lives to maintain joy despite difficult times. Knowledge of our salvation provides good wellbeing as shown by our foundation, Teleios.¹ It's difficult to have hope in the future and good wellbeing if you don’t even know you are truly saved.

Eternal security also allows us to better serve God as it becomes difficult to be a joyful servant when we lack confidence that we will ever really be with God. Such doubt can sap our energy and turn our thoughts from serving God to our own selves. We can only serve fully when we have a confident secure foundation (Colossians 1: 9-14).

Obviously, our salvation, but also our security, are necessary for moving on to maturity in the Christian life as noted in I Thessalonians 1. We may not feel we deserve salvation (actually we do not - it is God’s gift through Christ) and it may fight against our nature and upbringing, yet as Christians we must live by the facts of Scripture and not our emotions. We are saved eternally, get over it, and move on to maturity (Hebrews5:11,12 – Hebrews 6:1-19).

Over the next few weeks let us discuss the points of our security as noted above. The information is just too exciting! We then will move along to discuss the Christian lifestyle. We thank God for such wisdom in Scripture in His promises to us.

WC Stewart

1. MacIlvaine WR, Nelson LA, Stewart JA, Stewart WC. Association of strength of religious adherence to quality of life measures. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2013;19:251-5.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

The Christian life and wellbeing - Where do we begin?

Welcome to my blog. I am delighted you have taken the time to visit.

This week we start the series on the Christian life and the wonderful promises of scripture and there benefits to us. Teleios and other authors have shown Christian belief can improve personal wellbeing. This is great! How do we get it?

Well, the answer is neatly outlined in scripture in 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7. Let us spend this next series of blogs following and expanding on this great passage, the basis of the Christian life, and so good wellbeing.

Here is the passage!

1Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

1Th 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

1Th 1:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia (KJV).

In these verses the Apostle Paul reflects warmly on the acceptance by the Thessalonians of the gospel that he presented to them and their progression through the Christian life. The verses are neatly outlined by the following:

Ø Becoming a Christian Verse 5

Ø Security of salvation Verse 5

Ø Accepting God's Word in daily life Verse 6

Ø Becoming imitators of Paul Verse 6

Ø Becoming examples to others Verse 7

Let us start today with salvation. This is the obvious starting point for the Christian life as Christ said to enter through the narrow gate to life and to avoid the wide gate to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). To those who proceed through this narrow gate all the benefits of Christianity are available, but one must first enter!

How do we do this?

The basis of salvation is to understand:

Ø Each person has done misdeeds (sin) which deserve judgment and punishment from a perfect and just God.

Ø However, God, being loving, sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins on the cross to take the punishment that we deserved.

Ø Consequently, we can be declared as perfect by God by accepting by faith the forgiveness that Christ provided by his death on the cross. This gracious provision of justification before God provides eternal life!

(Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10, and Romans 3:21-26).

This forgiveness is by faith alone. No work is required. When you believe, confess it to somebody else so you're able to articulate it (Romans 10:9-10). A person generally does not really know something until they can tell another person.

So there you have it; it's that simple! If you have not believed in Christ as your savior please do so now. Please tell us about it and we will be happy, if you desire, to help you in your beginning journey as a Christian.

What is the next step…simply to believe it! We will talk about this more next week.

WC Stewart