The Truth All Believers Need to Grasp
Not long ago, my husband attended a training in Virginia, and because I could get away for a few days, we decided that I would fly to Norfolk to join him at the Navy lodge for a long weekend. While there, several important events occurred:
- We attended church at the same Virginia Beach, downtown church, where we have been before, a church my husband found and fell in love with during an extended stay on base a few years ago.
- We took a day-trip one afternoon, driving to the first church known to America, one that sits next to the first lighthouse constructed on American soil.
Today, let’s consider those two important points in relation to the duty and obligation of all Christians.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place.
For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
- to the one an aroma from death to death,
- to the other an aroma from life to life.
And who is adequate for these things?
For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.”
(2 Corinthians 2: 14-17 NASB)
If we have ever participated or attended a parade, then we understand the concept of a parade.
- One person is on display IN the parade.
- One person watches the display of the ONE on display in the parade.
Today, let’s consider these two separate groups of people (those IN the parade & those WATCHING the parade). Furthermore, let us see these two groups of people in relation to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers living in Corinth and in relation to the words Jesus Christ spoke to His disciples. Clearly, they speak the same truth all believers need to grasp.
When we awoke on Sunday, my husband and I did not hesitate to know which church we desired to attend that Sunday we were visiting Virginia Beach. Driving there, walking inside, greeting the members in attendance felt like going home. Even though we could not call them by name, still we felt the sense of belonging, the sense of knowing we were worshipping the same God as these believers. Since this church sits in a military town, a place where people’s lives are more transient than stationary, some faces were familiar and some were different; nevertheless, the sense of “belonging” was present.
How can that be?
How can believers come together with other believers, with other Christians, and feel as if they are family?
The short answer: GOD!
The long answer: JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY TO PROVIDE THE ONLY WAY TO COME TO KNOW GOD!
- Christians should not be deceived; we are workers for the same goal—to lead those who remain in unbelief to see the TRUTH of CHRIST.
- Christians should not be misled; we are walking our lives “in a parade” (ALL Believers Together) as the unbelievers watch from the sideline, and as such, we must reflect JESUS in our every action & in our every word.
Our calling is HIGH. & Our task is IMPORTANT!
We MUST NOT FAIL!
Not only that, but as we walk together in the parade, we walk worthily, following the “MASTER” of our life-parade: JESUS HIMSELF.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place.”
(2 Corinthians 2: 14 NASB)
- JESUS IS THE MASTER!
- BELIEVERS, HIS FOLLOWERS, WALK CLOSE BESIDE HIM!
- CHRIST FOLLOWERS ARE TO REFLECT CHRIST.
- THE SAINTS OF GOD ARE TO BE A TANTALIZING FRAGRANCE IN THE WORLD!
- THE FRAGRANCE OF GOD SHOULD EMIT FROM EVERYTHING BELIEVERS “SAY” & “DO!”
Whether we worship with our own local church family inside our hometown OR
Whether we worship with other believers in the local church family outside our hometown
WE CAN WORSHIP IN JUBILATION BECAUSE WE ALL WORSHIP AND HONOR THE KING OF KINGS: JESUS CHRIST WHO TRIUMPHED OVER DEATH OF THE CROSS!
- We are the church of God, and as such, the fragrance of Jesus to the world among us who do not yet believe.
- We are the church of God, and as such, the reflection of Jesus to the world among us who are perishing.
“For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
(2 Corinthians 2: 15-16 NASB)
to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?”
We are not peddling untruth.
NO!
We are not to dilute the word of God.
NO!
We are to walk and live with sincerity!
We are to speak “JESUS CHRIST” in everything we do!
WHY?
Because we are on display within this world in which we live!
&
Because people are dying lost and going to hell, to eternal separation from God!
&
Since we are walking our life-parade in the sight of God, we may not know until we reach heaven how our every word, every smile, every action was used by God to build His Kingdom!
So, may we begin anew today.
- May we speak and live in such a way that people who surround us sense the LOVE & GRACE of CHRIST in us! &
- May those who surround us be drawn to the SALVATION JESUS OFFERS!
The truth all believers need to grasp:
- Christians belong to Jesus Christ!
- Believers owe their lives to the Savior!
- Christians have a responsibility & privilege to spread the Gospel!
Two melodies that proclaim this TRUTH, songs worth listening to this day:
“Evidence” by Josh Baldwin (featuring Dante Bowe) &
“Jesus Does” by We The Kingdom
It is Jesus our Savior who spoke these words to His disciples, and today, may we read Jesus’ words and see how He is speaking these same words to us.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
(Matthew 5: 14-16 NASB)
nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”