30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 17 7-10 An unprofitable Doulos of Jesus Christ 05 Being the Doulos of God, continuously
📖 Luke 17:7-10
15Jul2020 - *Being the Doulos of God, continuously* - _Luke 17:7-10_ - A DOULOS OF JESUS CHRIST 5 - _Bible reading: _Colossians 1:21-23_
We said yesterday that the fundamental requirement in being a Doulos of God is to obey Him, entirely. This was the relationship that we had with God at the beginning of creation.
Man, knowing the command of God, knowing the joy of being in the kingdom of God, knowing that he has not lost or has been curtailed in any way in being a Doulos of God, yet chooses to rebel and rejects the command of God.
By doing so man dies, for life is only in a relationship with God. Death is alienation from God. Man has also become an enemy of God, for we are no more in His kingdom. Whoever is not in God’s kingdom is an enemy of His. _(Matthew 7:21-23)_
Does God leave man in this state of rebellion and death? No, the love of God, reaches out to a rebelling, stiff-necked and arrogant people, in order to restore us back to the first position of being His Doulos.
_Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,_
He has made us alive, who were dead. He has forgiven us all our sins. He has restored us back to Himself. Nonetheless, what is the purpose? Why has God built the bridge between man and God, by the cross?
_Colossians 1:21-23 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled (22) in the body of His flesh through death, *to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight*—_ He presents us holy, blameless and above reproach in His sight. This is the work of His abundant grace on us and in us.
What is our part? We continue in Him by dependence, by trust, by faith, which is to obey Him. This was the first relationship that we had with God, of being the Doulos of God. _(23) if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister._
_Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,_ We cannot stop at the first half of this verse, ‘I have been chosen by God’. Why were we chosen by God? We were chosen to be holy and without blame before Him in love. Being set apart and without blame before Him is the way to express our love for Him.
_Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works._ God’s purpose is not just to stop at redemption, forgiveness, restoration but to bring man back to the first relationship of being the Doulos of God. For in bringing us back to be the Doulos of God, He would be separating for Himself His own special people, through whom He would reveal His character and nature to a rebelling world.
_II Peter 3:13-14 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (14) Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;_
We are called, chosen, redeemed, forgiven, restored in order for us to be diligent to be found in God without spot and blameless, which is the work that He does in us, as we willingly submit and surrender our will to His.
_Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; (13) for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure._ Always obey, is the diligence that is expected of us as His Doulos, for it is God who works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure. He reaches us and empowers us even at the level of our will.
Will, we not say, “Yes, Lord” to Jesus for we know how easily we forsake His ways, how easily we disobey Him, how easily we hurt Him? We, therefore, always remain in an attitude of brokenness and repentance, seeking Him in order to obey Him.
*Thought to ponder*
_James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves._