Natural Born Sinners Or Supernaturally Born Again Saints?
Psalm 16:3
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In reality, however, the saints have always been a small minority compared to the multitudes of “professing believers” who confess Him as “Lord and Savior” but do not walk in a holy manner “worthy of the calling with which they were called"
- Ephesians 4:1 -
Each of us is accountable before our Creator and Savior who “searches the heart” looking at all of the hidden inner motivations and inclinations of the soul (Jeremiah 17:10). It is written, “The eyes of Yahveh [the Lord] search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). The humble obedient remnant, who seek and do the will of the Father by the power of the Spirit, are recognized and lovingly embraced as part of His holy eternal family and honorably referred to as “the saints”. This title for His righteous ones is highlighted throughout the entire Scripture approximately 70 times. In reality, however, the saints have always been a small minority compared to the multitudes of “professing believers” who confess Him as “Lord and Savior” but do not walk in a holy manner “worthy of the calling with which they were called” (Ephesians 4:1). Yahshua (Jesus) said to the religious people of His day, which applies to the masses of “double minded”, worldly, and “lukewarm” Christians of our day, “‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me …’” (James 1:8, Revelation 3:16, Matthew 15:8-9). It is a grief to our holy God and Messiah that so many profess to believe in God “… but by their actions they deny the power of the Holy Spirit and defame him.” It is written, “even the demons believe in God and shutter” (Titus 1:16, James 2:19).
Our Savior made it clear, “if you love Me you will keep My commandments"
- John 14:15 -
A true saint is one who is actively, by the Holy Spirit, overcoming their sin nature by “putting to death the deeds of the flesh” and its worldly passions (Romans 8:13). Righteous obedience is required and our Savior made it clear, “if you love Me you will keep My commandments” (see John 14:15). It is written, “Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same manner in which Yahshua (Jesus) walked” always glorifying the Father by obeying all of His commandments (1 John 2:6, John 12:28). Make no mistake, this is what qualifies a professing believer to truly be called and seen by our Father as one who is part of the eternal remnant of the saints of God.
As we deny our flesh and have it under the control of the Holy Spirit there is no longer an obstacle that obscures the view of the reality that Yahshua (Jesus) lives in and through our redeemed lives. Only then can we become holy and noble vessels to be used as “instruments of righteousness to God"
- Romans 6:13 -
Yahshua (Jesus) came to earth and shed His precious lifeblood to redeem us to be His “treasured possession”, a “born again” “new creation” who becomes as a spiritual “priest” and a holy “temple” filled with His indwelling Spirit of truth and grace (Malachi 3:17, 1 Peter 2:9, John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19). It is written, “… do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body” through your words and deeds (1 Corinthians 6:19). The saints are “fighting the good fight of faith” and “make every effort’ to “deny ungodliness and worldly desires and live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” “they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God” (1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Peter 1:5-8, Titus 2:12, 1 Peter 4:2). They are wholeheartedly indebted to their Savior and heed Apostle Paul’s admonition, “… I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Romans 12:1). Yahshua (Jesus) said, "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). So what is worship? Is it singing? Is it praising? Yes, but Paul tells us that the highest form of worship is pouring out our lives in gratitude to our Savior who poured out His life to redeem us from our sins and its eternally horrifying consequences. This is by far the highest form of worship that we must prayerfully attain to in order for our Savior’s holy sacrificial blood to be exalted through our surrendered lives on His altar. Then, and only then, can we say, "I have been crucified with Messiah [Christ]; and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). As we deny our flesh and have it under the control of the Holy Spirit, there is no longer an obstacle that obscures the view of the reality that Yahshua (Jesus) lives in and through our redeemed lives. Only then can we become holy and noble vessels to be used as “instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13).
Simply put, the life of a saint is as a poured out offering on the altar of service and sacrifice, which is seen as spiritual worship in the eyes of our Heavenly Father and Savior"
- See Romans 12:1 -
Yahshua (Jesus) said, “those who have been forgiven much love much” (see Luke 7:47). As a saint we are on that altar continually repenting, being transformed into a holy sacrifice, which is acceptable to Yahveh, which is the least we can do for what He has done for giving His lifeblood for us. Simply put, the life of a saint is as a poured out offering on the altar of service and sacrifice, which is seen as spiritual worship in the eyes of our Heavenly Father and Savior. HalleluYAH! HalleluYAH! HalleluYAH! The saints live by this simple Scripture, “He must increase, but I must decrease” and “may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross [crucifixion stake] of my Master Yahshua Messiah [Lord Jesus Christ], through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (John 3:30, Galatians 6:14). Their hearts and lips overflow with continual prayer and praises always delighting to do the will of the Father and bring Him great glory. They do not want to be seen, heard, or acknowledged. Through their humility and loyalty, their motivation through every word and deed is that Messiah would be “lifted up and would draw all peoples to Himself” (see John 12:32). Yahshua (Jesus) rejoices over those who, like Himself, lived and died to glorify the Father. He proclaimed, "… He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him” (John 7:18).
The righteous remnant have counted and continue to “count the cost” to follow Yahshua (Jesus). For the saints the price is never too high because their love for Him is constantly growing"
- See Luke 14:26 -
The true saints are not timid, they are valiant soldiers courageously following their Savior by “sharing in His sufferings” understanding well that “it is through hardships and many tribulations that one enters the kingdom of God” (1 Peter 4:13, Acts 14:22). The righteous remnant have counted and continue to “count the cost” to follow Yahshua (Jesus) on the straight and narrowing path that He said, “very few will enter” (Luke 14:28, 13:24). For the saints the price is never too high because their love for Him is constantly growing. Yahshua (Jesus) has rightly become their “first and utmost love”; everyone and everything else pales in comparison (Revelation 2:4, see Luke 14:26). Their love for Him is always growing into a deeper and more spiritually passionate relationship. They are consumed with the necessity to “work out their salvation” “making every effort to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless”, “perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (Philippians 2:12, 2 Peter 3:14, 2 Corinthians 7:1).
The book of Revelation highlights the endurance and the eternal triumph of the saints. It is written, “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Yahshua [Jesus].” Likewise we read, “The one who endures to the end will be saved”, as they “overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb.” As it is written, “If we endure, we will also reign with Him” (Revelation 12:11, 14:12, Matthew 24:13, 2 Timothy 2:12). The saints are the bride in waiting, they have lost the desire for the things of this passing world because of the bonds of love and unity they have with Yahshua (Jesus). They are eagerly preparing and longingly awaiting the fulfillment of their salvation, the wedding of the Lamb. Messiah’s “… bride has made herself ready. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (1 Corinthians 6:2, Revelation 19:7-8).
It is not too late there is still a little time left but you have got to count the cost now and forsake every competing affection and put your entire life surrendered on the altar once and for all, and seek and obey His every word and commandment"
Many of you who are reading this think that this is unattainable. The reason you think that it is unattainable is because you have not entered into that intimate love relationship with Yahshua, because you have competing affections that are from the flesh and are of this world. It is time for the bride to make herself ready and the bride cannot be ready until she comes out of the world, all competing affections, and becomes a saint who is preparing as a bride in fine white linen garments. Do not be deceived, multitudes of confessing believers are not going to make it into the kingdom because they did not grow up from being a “ superficial believer” into a born again saint, which matures into the bride of Messiah. “To all who are beloved of God, called as saints,” (Romans 1:7) Yahshua (Jesus) is not finished with you yet. It is not too late. There is still a little time left but you have got to “count the cost” now and forsake every competing affection, put your entire life surrendered on the altar once and for all, and seek and obey His every word and commandment (see Luke 14:28). Don’t look to pastors and don’t look to anyone else, the Holy Spirit is in you (if you are supernaturally born again) and will “teach you all things” (John 14:26). We have much to learn and get in order through repentance for the ways we fall so short by living in our flesh and doing our own will. It is time to go to the holy altar with a “godly sorrow that leads to true repentance, that leads to true salvation”, that helps us to quickly grow in this late hour from a casual believer into a saint and the bride that is ready (2 Corinthians 7:10, Revelation 19:7).
Yahveh, has a holy altar where His fiery presence is burning to consume as a holy sacrifice everyone who comes with true godly sorrow producing true repentance. Our God and Savior want this altar to be the nucleus, as it was in the temple, that people will know that it exists and that people will come. Yahshua (Jesus) in essence is saying, “You who are thirsty let them come, come and repent, come and bring your sins and put them on the altar with your life. Your flesh will be as a sacrifice that is burned up because you are cleansed of your sins through the power of My blood that will wash you clean and adorn you in My righteousness. You are to continue to keep pure and spotless by coming to the altar of repentance for My blood to wash you clean and for the Spirit to rule and reign in righteousness in and through your dedicated, consecrated, set apart lives.”
PRAYER
I praise You Heavenly Father that I could hear the call of Your loving instruction and discipline to repent, get in line with You, and push back my flesh nature. Thank You Yahshua (Jesus), this is a gift that has touched me so deeply, to truly keep my life cleansed with your precious blood. I wholeheartedly desire to be a called, chosen, and faithful saint. I know that I fail so miserably as I read all of the pertinent points to be one of Your holy ones. It is going to take great strength from You and so much self control that can only be from Your Holy Spirit’s touch, because I am too weak to accomplish all that I would desire to be for You. I pray for the power of Your Spirit to overcome and triumph once and for all while there is still time to put to death my arch enemy the flesh and be immersed, covered, cleansed and purified with the blood, and filled with Your Spirit. May I grow to be all that Your blood poured out to redeem me to be. Please help me to push back my earthly flesh and the desires and preoccupations for this world. Praise be to You Yahveh, this is my loving commitment to You, the Great I AM. As Your child, I have been encouraged, blessed, and lovingly disciplined to truly yearn to be more like Yahshua (Jesus). I praise and thank You for that loving hope that I have to trust in You for everything. I am holy and acceptable only because of Your holy life’s blood. Praise be to You, Yahshua, Amen.
