Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
The US agencies responsible for detecting counterfeit currency do not train their agents by having them study fake money. No, they train them by having them study genuine currency. They become intimately familiar with the genuine article so that when they encounter the counterfeit they have no trouble “judging” that it is not genuine….
Over the last several posts we have been looking at what makes up genuine “orthodox Christian faith.” The purpose of this is to expose the hearts of the readers to these truths knowing that the Holy Spirit will work through the expounding of the Word of God to confirm these things there.
Doing this this way also does one other thing that is vital to the spiritual health of the genuine Christian. As Christians see what a miracle their salvation really is and how they are totally dependent upon God in order for them to walk in repentance, their love for Him grows. This is part of that work the Holy Spirit does in the hearts of God’s people. Their love for Him grows deeper and deeper as they mature and learn to deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Jesus every day. While that sounds like “no fun” to the majority, it is what God uses in the genuine Christian’s walk, their race of faith, to cleanse them, shape them, and sanctify them. <Continue reading post>