The Faith of God's Elect

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; to Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” (Titus 1:1-4 ESV)

The apostle Paul was a servant of God, a bond-slave to Christ, and someone who belonged to Jesus Christ and who had no ownership rights of his own. All of us who believe in Jesus Christ with genuine God-provided and God-inspired faith in him have been crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin but now as servants (bond-slaves) of God and of his righteousness. We are those who willingly live under Christ’s authority as his devoted followers. And this is what Paul was saying about himself here.

Paul was also an apostle of Jesus Christ. And an apostle of Christ is a messenger of Christ who is taking his messages to the people of the world and to the church. He or she is one who has been called of God and sent by God out into the world to preach the gospel of Christ according to what Jesus and his NT apostles taught was the gospel of Christ, and not what so many people today are referring to as “the gospel.” Now the apostles of the New Testament had a position of authority over the church, and they spoke the words of God as carried along by the Holy Spirit.

But all of us who believe in Jesus Christ are called of God to be his witnesses, and to take the message of the gospel of Christ to the people of the world to many nations. And we are all to make disciples of Christ of people, baptizing (where possible), and teaching them to obey our Lord’s commandments (New Covenant). And we are to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth in preserving and in sharing the truth (the light) of the gospel message. And all of us are to be proclaiming the excellencies of our Lord who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light (the gospel).

And all of us are to be ministering to the body of Christ in the ways that the NT apostles ministered to the body, except that we will not all be in positions of authority over anyone. For we are to be those who are encouraging one another in the faith, and who are united together as one by that same faith. And we are to love one another, and to serve one another, and to utilize the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit, in the power and working of the Spirit in our lives, in ministering to one another’s needs. And we are to help make certain that all the body parts are treated equally and not treated unfairly.

For “the ministry” is not just for those who are pastors or evangelists or missionaries (with credentials and titles), but it is for all of us within the body of Christ. We just all have differing gifts and ministries as are gifted by the Spirit and as are assigned to us by God. And so all of us are to be speaking the truth of God’s word to one another, urging, teaching, and admonishing one another in all wisdom, exhorting one another daily so that none of us may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. And we are to stir one another to love and good works which God prepared for us to walk in.

[Matt 5:13-16; Matt 28:18-20; Jn 4:31-38; Jn 13:13-17; Jn 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-18; Acts 26:18; Rom 10:14-15; Rom 12:1-8; Rom 15:14; 1 Co 12:1-31; 1 Co 14:1-5; Gal 6:1; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:1-16; Eph 5:11-27; Eph 6:10-20; Php 2:1-8; Col 1:9; Col 3:12-16; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:23-25; Jas 5:19-20; 1 Pet 2:9,21; 1 Jn 2:6]  

So all of us who profess faith in Jesus Christ are to be bond-slaves (servants) of the Lord Jesus, doing what he has called us to do, sharing the truth of the gospel with people, and ministering to the body of Christ, according to their needs. And all this is for the sake of the faith of God’s elect (his chosen ones) – those of us chosen out of the world and out of our lives of sin to now serve Jesus Christ with our lives and in walks of holiness and righteousness, and in obedience to his commands. But this faith comes from God, is persuaded of God, and must accord with godliness.

And Jesus taught that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if sin is what we obey, and not righteousness, and not obedience to our Lord, we will not inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what our lips profess. For he also said that not everyone saying to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING the will of God the Father. So many will stand before him on the day of Judgment, calling him, “Lord,” but he will say, “I never knew you. Depart from me you workers of lawlessness.”

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]

So, please take this seriously. Commit your lives to Jesus Christ today to do his will as his bond-slaves (servants). Die with him to sin, not just once, but daily, and walk now in obedience to his commands and no longer in sin. 

To Be Like Him  

An Original Work / March 16, 2014  

Based off Scripture

Crucified you are with Jesus.

To be like Him, oh, you’ll be,

Because He died at Calv’ry,

So from sin you’d be free.

Oh, what joy He brings into your life,

Giving life with Him endlessly. 

Oh, what plans He has for your life.

Share the gospel faithfully.

Show the people He loves them.

Now His witness you’ll be.

Tell the world of sin about Jesus,

How He died for them on a tree.

Purifying hearts, He saves them,

Who believe on Christ, God’s Son.

Turning now from their idols,

New lives they have begun.

Jesus saves from sin; we’re forgiven.

Over sin, the vict’ry He won!

When He comes again to take us

To be with Him evermore,

There will be no more crying.

Gladness will be in store.

Heavens joys will now overtake us:

We’ll be with our Lord evermore.

https://vimeo.com/89237609