The Appeal of God
The Appeal of God
βWe implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to Godβ
2 Corinthians 5:20
In the true servants of God there is a Divine entreaty. There is an imploring, a pure stream of exhortation and admonition, that flows from those who are touching the heart of God.
Paul is not writing to the world here. He is writing to Godβs own. In 2 Corinthians, chapter five (please read this chapter prayerfully), he shares the piercing truth of our accountability to God and what should be the corresponding response of our hearts to Him in light of this truth.
βBecause of this, we also are striving to be pleasing to Him,
whether being at home, or being away from home.β
2 Corinthians 5:9
Because of what?
Because God has sent His Son to reconcile a people unto Himself, Paul contends that there is to be a βstrivingβ within the hearts of His own to live a life that is βpleasing unto Himβ (the striving spoken of here is not of the flesh but of the Spirit). The heart that has truly been captured by the love of God seeks to please Him in every aspect of life. Life becomes a journey into an ever growing dynamic: drawing from Him the power to become a vessel of honor, βfit and prepared for every good workβ.
βTherefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
2 Timothy 2:21 (ESV)
If an individual βpurges himself (KJV)β from the things mentioned, they will be a vessel unto honor. There is a holy response required of us in our walk before Him which will unerringly bring us to becoming ministrations of His Life into the world around us.
There is an omission in much of the Gospel today concerning our response to the incomprehensible act of Christβs redemption and His desire that we βwork out our own salvation with fear and tremblingβ. The βfear and tremblingβ is because God is the One who seeks to work in us βto will and to DOβ. This requires a vital submission on our part to His workings within that our full salvation may be worked out.
ββ¦work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.β
Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)
The foolish heart neglects its responsibility to work out its own salvation; it understands little of the glory and the infinite riches of βeternal lifeβ. When Jesus defined eternal life, He presented it as a relationship not a one-time event.
βAnd this is everlasting life, that they may know You,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.β
John 17:3
What is this βeverlasting lifeβ (eternal life in KJV) of which Jesus speaks? It is a life determined by our growing relationship with God through the outworking of Christ within our own hearts.
Let us consider the Greek definition of βknowingβ referred to by Jesus in His prayer in John 17:3:
ΞΞΉΞ½ΟΜΟΞΊΟ – ginoΜskoΜ Thayer Definition:
1) to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel
1a) to become known
2) to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of
2a) to understand
2b) to know
3) Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman
It is compared to a man βknowingβ a woman in an intimate way, a holy intimacy within the covenant of marriage. Many present His salvation as an event rather than a deep, ever-growing relationship made richer by our response to His workings within.
βStrive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness
without which no one will see the Lord.β
Hebrews 12:14 (ESV)
The appeal of God to us to personally SEE Him, know Him and abide IN Him there is to be a submission to His cleansing and workings within. In this critical aspect I am determining the depth of my own salvation. When faith is the active agency within a heart there is a joy of relationship with God in Christ that is becoming experientially more powerful within.
May our lives touch the resonating work of the Holy Spirit:
βBecause of this,
we also are striving to be pleasing to Himβ¦β
He is not speaking of a fleshly striving. He is speaking of the indomitable press of the Spirit of God within to LIVE and to pass our time on this earth βpleasingβ Him.
βif ye through the Spirit
do mortify the deeds of the body,
ye shall liveβ
Romans 8:13
See related Post: God’s Invitation
β₯
βIt is the very nature of grace to make a man strive to be most eminent in that particular grace which is most opposed to his bosom sin.
Thomas Brooks
Brian Troxel
I was just thinking about this last night. I pray daily that my relationship with God continues to grow. I submit to His working within me so that I may live a life pleasing to Him and fulfill His purpose for my life. Great post! God’s blessing…
Such are the prayers of all those who genuinely desire Him above all things. May His grace continue to be in us the enabling to give ourselves to Him without reserve.
yours in the common hope,
BT
Yes, relationship! “And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3).” βοΈπ Thanking God for such a loving, gracious, and merciful privilege.” π ππ
Such undeserved promises filled with His grace to those who find the ONE pearl of great price and respond to His beauty… may it be so with us!
Blessings
BT
βThat they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.β
John 17:21
Yes, Amen. Our oneness with Him determines our oneness with one another. It can be no other way. “that they may be one in US” This is the privilege of those who allow His Spirit to “work in them (us) to will and to do of His good pleasure”.
As in the seven letters in the Book of Revelation the promises are only fulfilled to the “overcomers” though they are offered to the whole.
Critical days we are in. “The Bride hath made herself ready…”
Blessings brother
BT
Excellent!
Thank you my friend for stopping by and taking the time to comment!
BT