And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 On Photo of Aunt Sarah’s Rose Bush by Donna Campbell
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
What is our purpose as Christians? What is it we strive for? Ultimately what we strive for on this earth, is what will be gifted to us in eternity, the perfection of the image of Christ. One day we will be made complete in Jesus, wholly holy, no sin, no flaws, and no shortcomings. We hope and do our utmost to glorify Christ, our Lord. But on earth we still have our flesh and while The Holy Spirit makes us more like Jesus every day, and we endeavor to be like Him. While we live on this earth we still have our flesh, the sin nature we were born with. Verses 13-14 read,
“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The first century Christians are the firstfruits. Firstfruits is defined as “the earliest gathered fruits offered to God in acknowledgment of the gift of fruitfulness, and the earliest products or results of an endeavor” They were the first results of Jesus’ ministry. They were gifts to God as thanks for Jesus richness and blessings. We are the results of their faith and glorification of Jesus. Our lives, like theirs are gifts to God for His blessings. The way we live our lives affects other people. We can glorify Christ, that is project Jesus’ character and love to the world, or we can live in stagnation and never impact the Kingdom of Heaven. Romans 12:1-2 reads,
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”
We are not alone in our effort to be like Jesus. We are not alone in our hopes to be firstfruits to future generations and living sacrifices to The Lord. We have our Lord Jesus as an example and our Holy Spirit as our teacher, sanctifier, and comforter. We have each other. We have the Christians of the past and the Apostles who have taught us so much. Verse 15 says,
“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.”
Ritual is not meant to replace relationship but the traditions of our faith can teach us and enhance our relationship with God. He doesn’t want ritual, He wants love and He wants us to grow in that love. (Hosea 6:6). It is not legalism to understand and practice the traditions passed down to us from Jesus to the Apostles and to us. Jesus told us to continue the practice of The Passover Seder that we know as The Lord’s Supper. (Luke 22:14-23). When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, He told them to wash one another’s feet. (John 13:1-17 verse 14). We practice these customs because Jesus told us to and because they glorify Him. These traditions give us a practical lesson in Jesus’ salvation and love. They remind us of what Jesus did for us. They encourage us to continue walking the walk with The Lord and with one another. Verses 16-17 read,
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”
Because The Lord is indwelled in His people, it is He who teaches us, even when it is our pastor, brother, sister, or mentor who lets God use Him. None of us is finished and so we can understand what we’re going through, help each other, and encourage one another. We are not perfect, but we are comforted in knowing that God began working in us and one day that awesome work will be completed and we will be perfected. We take consolation in knowing that God will never give up on us, and we do not give up on each other. Our salvation is not due to us, it is due to Jesus’ grace. Philippians 1:3-7 reminds us,
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.”
What is our purpose as Christians? What is it we strive for? Ultimately what we strive for on this earth, is what will be gifted to us in eternity, the perfection of the image of Christ. One day we will be made complete in Jesus, wholly holy, no sin, no flaws, and no shortcomings. We hope and do our utmost to glorify Christ, our Lord. But on earth we still have our flesh and while The Holy Spirit makes us more like Jesus every day, and we endeavor to be like Him. While we live on this earth we still have our flesh, the sin nature we were born with. Verses 13-14 read,
“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The first century Christians are the firstfruits. Firstfruits is defined as “the earliest gathered fruits offered to God in acknowledgment of the gift of fruitfulness, and the earliest products or results of an endeavor” They were the first results of Jesus’ ministry. They were gifts to God as thanks for Jesus richness and blessings. We are the results of their faith and glorification of Jesus. Our lives, like theirs are gifts to God for His blessings. The way we live our lives affects other people. We can glorify Christ, that is project Jesus’ character and love to the world, or we can live in stagnation and never impact the Kingdom of Heaven. Romans 12:1-2 reads,
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”
We are not alone in our effort to be like Jesus. We are not alone in our hopes to be firstfruits to future generations and living sacrifices to The Lord. We have our Lord Jesus as an example and our Holy Spirit as our teacher, sanctifier, and comforter. We have each other. We have the Christians of the past and the Apostles who have taught us so much. Verse 15 says,
“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.”
Ritual is not meant to replace relationship but the traditions of our faith can teach us and enhance our relationship with God. He doesn’t want ritual, He wants love and He wants us to grow in that love. (Hosea 6:6). It is not legalism to understand and practice the traditions passed down to us from Jesus to the Apostles and to us. Jesus told us to continue the practice of The Passover Seder that we know as The Lord’s Supper. (Luke 22:14-23). When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, He told them to wash one another’s feet. (John 13:1-17 verse 14). We practice these customs because Jesus told us to and because they glorify Him. These traditions give us a practical lesson in Jesus’ salvation and love. They remind us of what Jesus did for us. They encourage us to continue walking the walk with The Lord and with one another. Verses 16-17 read,
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”
Because The Lord is indwelled in His people, it is He who teaches us, even when it is our pastor, brother, sister, or mentor who lets God use Him. None of us is finished and so we can understand what we’re going through, help each other, and encourage one another. We are not perfect, but we are comforted in knowing that God began working in us and one day that awesome work will be completed and we will be perfected. We take consolation in knowing that God will never give up on us, and we do not give up on each other. Our salvation is not due to us, it is due to Jesus’ grace. Philippians 1:3-7 reminds us,
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.”
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