Via Of First Importance

“In our vision of ultimate reality, who is occupying the throne today? Are we authentic New Testament Christians, whose vision is filled with Christ crucified, risen and reigning? Is guilt still reigning, and death? Or is grace reigning, and life?

To be sure, sin and Satan may seem to be reigning still, since many continue to bow down to them. But their reign is an illusion, a bluff. For at the cross they were decisively defeated, dethroned and disarmed.

Now Christ reigns, exalted to the Father’s right hand, with all things under his feet, welcoming the nations, and waiting for his remaining enemies to be made his footstool.”

—John Stott, The Message of Romans (Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press,  1994), 162

“Are you relying on your own righteousness? Or on ‘the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ’? Do you know the grounds of your standing at this moment? Have you got this solid rock beneath you? Are you relying utterly upon the Son of God and His perfect work on your behalf? If not, you have not got the breastplate of righteousness, and that means that you are already defeated by the devil. This is the only righteousness that avails, not only when we go to God in prayer, but when we are confronted by the wiles of the devil, and as we wrestle against the principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, the spiritual wickedness in high places.”

“Worldview” is translated from weltanschauung, a German word meaning “a comprehensive conception or image of the universe and of humanity’s relation to it.”  Our “worldview” is our overall perspective from which we see and interpret the world; a collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by an individual or group (source).  Here’s what Jesus said: “The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear (healthy), your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad (evil, wicked), your whole body will be full of darkness … (Matt. 6.22-23a NASB).”    - Brian

via citizenlink.com

We were at a conference over the weekend focusing on spiritual awakening for the church and the reformation of society.  Here’s the 2nd of several posts underlining several themes.

In Mark 1.15, Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand (lit., has come near); repent and believe in the gospel.”  Jesus said we must be born again to see and enter into His Kingdom (John 3.3-8).  When we are born again in Christ, the DNA of Christ’s Kingdom is birthed within us, awaiting full development and manifestation.

These 3 elements, given to us by our Creator, release a synergistic power and fruitfulness within our sphere of influence:

• The DNA of our natural gifts
• The DNA of our spiritual gifts
• The DNA of the Kingdom within us

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Eph. 2.10 NKJV)

The Christ-follower is the workmanship of the most skilled Artisan in the universe.  When we come to Christ in saving faith, we are regenerated, created anew.  The Father takes us in Christ as His workmanship.  The word workmanship is a fascinating word here.  Poiema (poy-ay-mah) is a Greek word from which we get our word “poem.”  The word means something which is manufactured, a product, a design brought forth by an artisan.  Just as God is the Master Designer of the universe, he is the Designer of the Christ-follower.  He brings forth rhyme, reason, balance, symmetry, beauty, and order.  And this is art with a purpose.  We are recreated in Christ for those good works that He has prepared beforehand for us.  We are “looped” back into the heart and mind of God concerning us before the foundation of the world.  This is no small thing. 

Yes, “Jesus is Lord”.  He is also brilliant, resplendent with limitless knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.  I’m not entirely sure about bumper sticker theology, but if one must adhere theology to one’s bumper, let’s consider placing Jesus is Brilliant adjacent to Jesus is Lord.