HOW GOD SEES US

IN LIFE, WHEN WE SIGN A CONTRACT, SPECIAL TERMS ARE OFTEN USED TO DESCRIBE THE PARTIES INVOLVED WITH THE AGREEMENT.

a) Such is also true in the Bible.

b) If we are in a covenant with God (part of the New Testament), we are described in several unique ways.

2) Today we want to look at how we are described, and several references will be given.

3) I will be starting with Matthew and systematically proceed to the book of Revelation.

4) My beginning point is Mt. 5:3, a verse where Jesus spoke about people who are “poor in spirit.”

5) The Lord had in mind people who are willing to recognize their sins and shortcomings.

6) This is a one description for people who are in a covenant relationship with God, and it is quite good.

7) Other descriptions are also found in Mt. 5:

a) Verse 4 tells us about those who “mourn over sin.”

b) Verse 5 teaches that those in a covenant with God are “meek.”

c) If we are associated with heaven’s agreement, we are hungering after righteousness, verse 6.

8) Purity of heart is important to members of the covenant (Mt. 5:8).

9) Covenant members are willing to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness (Mt. 5:10).

10) Because of the agreement Christians follow, they are a light to the world (Mt. 5:14).

11) Covenant people are those who pray that God’s will shall be done (Mt. 6:10).

12) In the 7^th chapter of the Sermon on the Mount (7:16) Jesus said we are known by our fruits.

a) In other words, our actions show what kind of agreement we are following:

b) It is the way of the world, some dedication to the Word of God, or complete compliance.

13) All who are committed to God’s New Testament are like a wise man who built a house on a rock.

14) Jesus used this analogy in Mt. 7:24.

15) Later in this same book Jesus used yet another way to describe those in a covenant with Him.

16) By the time we come to Mt. 12:50, we find Christians described as Jesus “brother, sister, and mother.”

17) Very few agreements in life will actually bring us into another person’s family.

18) God says that this is the result of being part of the New Testament.

19) We actually become part of God’s family.

20) Living as we are describing means we are the “good seed” in the sower parable, Mt. 13:23.

21) Faithfully following God’s covenant means we know and we are obeying the truth, Jn. 8:32.

22) Not only do we know and obey the truth, Jn. 8:32 says we are “free.”

a) We live in a “free” country but many are not free.

b) Sin, error, and unrighteousness enslave people.

c) True freedom is release from sin.

d) Being in God’s new covenant means we have found true and full freedom.

23) As part of the New Testament, we are part of God’s flock (one of His sheep), Jn. 10:4, 27.

a) Later in John’s gospel, Jn. 15:14, Jesus said we can be His “friends.”

b) Today, when we follow the terms of a contract, we generally get along with people.

c) When we refuse to comply with stated terms, that refusal usually creates problems.

d) This is also true in the spiritual realm.

e) If we follow the agreement God has given, we can be friends with God.

f) Failing to do that means we will be heaven’s enemy, and we can expect to face God’s wrath.

24) On the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), the terms for the new covenant were proclaimed.

25) Peter told people to “repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38).

26) People did that, and the Bible says (KJV), that those who were obeyed were “added to the church.”

a) A natural consequence of following God’s agreement is being added to God’s flock.

b) A study of the New Testament shows that we cannot join the assembly of God’s people.

c) Rather, Jesus adds people to His church, Acts 2:47.

d) Before the Day of Pentecost, Jesus indicated that this was what He planned to do.

e) Before the Lord died He referred to Himself as the “door.”

f) Jesus is the door to the church; He is the one who admits people.

g) It is impossible for anyone to get past Him and into the flock (church) on their own.

h) When we obey God’s New Testament, Jesus opens the door for us to enter the church.

i) From the book of John we go to Acts.

27) Acts 11:23 refers to people who “cleaved” to the Lord.

28) Those who are part of the New Testament cleave to God.

29) This is one more description of those who are in God’s New Testament.

a) Stated another way, God is not a “Sunday morning” phenomena.

b) Christianity is not something we take out of the closet once a month or a few times each year.

c) God is the center most part of our life if we have accepted His covenant.

30) When we are in a covenant with God, we are among the “called” (Rom. 1:6).

31) We have been called by God’s agreement and we have accepted that call.

a) Most people appreciate and enjoy being called by someone important.

b) Maybe the call involves a job; an employer calls and says “we really want you to work for us.”

c) Or, it might be a college—they call us and say, “We want you to attend school here.”

d) The call might be come from one unmarried person to another, “I want to date/marry you.”

32) If we are following God’s will as revealed in the Bible, we can say that we have been called.

33) Another helpful verse from Romans is 6:4.

34) Because Christians are in an agreement with God, they are “dead to sin.”

35) This does not mean they are sinless; it means sin as a way of life has been rejected.

36) We have chosen Christ and the way He has prescribed in the Word of God.

37) We have said yes to the Lord, and no to Satan and sin.

38) Romans 8:14 is next on my list, and this is a passage which has perplexed people.

39) Paul said Christians are “led by the Spirit.”

40) Many have taken this expression and associated it with wild ideas.

41) When we look at the Bible as a contract (covenant), the meaning is not hard to grasp.

42) What has the Holy Spirit done for mankind?

43) Jesus said in Jn. 16:13 that the Spirit would guide the apostles into “all truth.”

44) This was done, and that truth given by the Holy Spirit has been recorded in the Scriptures.

45) Christians are thus “led by the Spirit” (Rom. 8:14) when they follow the New Testament.

46) One more description for Christians therefore people who are led by the Spirit.

47) We read the terms and conditions in God’s agreement us and we are led by them.

48) Because this is what we are led by, we are “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37).

49) When we stay with God’s New Testament we cannot lose.

50) By following the Bible we are also among the “sanctified” (1 Cor. 1:2).

a) Sanctification is important, because it allows us to be associated with God.

b) Stated another way, we need sanctification (holiness) if we want to go to heaven.

c) God says there is only way to become holy: fully embrace God’s covenant.

d) We must allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit (the Word of God).

51) By saying yes to God’s agreement with mankind, we receive holiness and a lot more.

52) We are washed from our sins (1 Cor. 6:11) and we are “justified” (same verse).

53) We are able to receive “mercy” from God (2 Cor. 4:1) by adhering to the New Testament.

a) In today’s world, many want divine blessings.

b) They want grace. They want mercy. They want freedom from sins and justification.

c) They want to be led by God.

d) All these blessings are sought, but these same people say “forget about the Word of God.”

e) We need to stress that turning from the Bible means turning from God’s covenant.

f) When we reject the covenant, we reject all of God’s blessings.

g) God’s agreement is absolutely crucial to receive heaven’s blessings.

54) As we look at the scriptures, how else are people in heaven’s covenant described?

55) 2 Cor. 5:17, the next book refers to covenant members as “new creatures.”

56) How is life new and different for those who are part of the new covenant?

57) At the end of this verse Paul said “the old things are passed away” (former life of sin and wrong).

58) A fuller commentary on this point is found in Gal. 5:22.

a) People who are in a covenant with God have certain qualities:

b) Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self control.

59) Eph. 1:4 goes even further.

a) Christians are classified as perfect people.

b) In the eyes of God, a Christian is a perfect person.

c) This perfection is not because we are sinless (perfect in our actions).

d) It is because we have been purified by the blood of Jesus.

e) A condition in God’s agreement with us is faithful Christian living.

f) We have some responsibilities.

g) When we do what we are instructed to do, we stand faultless in the eyes of God.

h) This status is part of God’s new covenant.

i) Is not this part of the covenant not attractive to both Christians and non-Christians?

60) Covenant members are described as people who “speak the truth” and do so lovingly (Eph. 4:15).

61) In recent times we have heard lots of talk about speaking the truth.

62) Politicians like to talk about truth, but they are not always truthful.

63) Neither are they always kind to one another.

64) Being part of God’s New Testament means that we are interested in truth.

65) It means we have found the truth, we hold to the truth, and we will speak the truth.

66) We will speak it as kindly as possible, but sometimes it is going to wound some people.

67) Nevertheless, because God has put truth into His covenant, we are people of truth.

68) Part of this truth involves our worship, Phil. 3:3.

69) Here Paul spoke about “worshipping in truth.”

70) We cannot be in a covenant with God if we worship in error.

a) God’s covenant has specific information about worship.

b) We are told what to do, and we are ordered to stick with the truth.

c) If we violate the terms concerning worship, we are covenant breakers, a very serious sin.

d) Our religious lives must be governed by God’s word.

71) When we are in God’s covenant, we are people who are thankful, Col. 1:12.

72) We can be nothing else because we have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness, Col. 1:13.

73) Being part of the kingdom means we are a very special people.

74) We are individuals who have agreed to be gentle, patient, and a teacher to others, 2 Tim. 2:24.

75) Our contract with God says we are a holy priesthood, 1 Pet. 2:5.

76) We are qualified and directed to offer up “spiritual sacrifices” (same verse).

77) We have committed ourselves to being a “peculiar people” (1 Pet. 2:9).

78) We are fully committed to doing the will of God (1 Pet. 4:1).

79) What this means is found in 1 Jn. 2:3.

80) “We know that we know him if we keep his commandments.”

a) Today preaching about “commandment keeping” is not very popular.

b) Saying God has made an agreement that we must follow offends many.

c) About half of the Bible is designated as the “New Testament.”

d) In this New Testament, we read about “keeping the commandments.”

81) When we think about who covenant people are, they are commandment keepers.

82) Not Ten Commandment keepers, but keepers of what is found in the New Testament.

83) An incentive for doing this is found in Rev. 1:6.

84) By following the terms of the New Testament, God “has must us kings unto God the Father.”

85) I have not exhausted all the descriptions for those who are part of God’s New Testament.

86) We have had a brief overview of the matter from Matthew-Revelation.

87) When we consider the descriptions, how Christians are described is truly amazing.

88) God says to the world, “each person can be described in all these ways plus many more.”

89) We can be and have the very things studied this morning.

90) The conditions are accepting and following God’s covenant.

91) Have we done that?

92) To enter into the covenant God has commanded that we hear, believe, repent, confess, & be baptized.