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CONCERNING LORDSHIP

Discussion in '2000-02 Archive' started by mel, Oct 12, 2002.

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  1. mel

    mel New Member

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    CONCERNING LORDSHIP

    Some teach that the Lordship of Christ in a Believer’s life is optional. The fact that there are carnal Christians they say proves this. May I say there is no such option! There never is a time when Jesus is not Lord. Though we have the power to ignore His Lordship, and by so doing, live outside of reality, we do not have the right.

    The Bible gives us only two explanations for the absence of an active commitment to Jesus’ Lordship on the part of professing Christians: either they are not true Believers and therefore not saved, or they are out of touch with reality. The first reason is expressed in a very clear and straightforward way in 2 Corinthians 13:5.

    Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you-unless, of course, you fail the test? (NIV)

    The second reason [being out of touch with reality] can happen to any true Believer whenever he loses sight of the majesty of God and who he, the Believer is in Christ Jesus [his spiritual identity]. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 illustrates this very well.

    Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (NIV)

    I wonder how many Christians realize that they no longer belong to themselves?

    The Bible says in Romans 8:29 for those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. In Romans 12:2 the Bible also says do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

    Commitment to the Lordship of Christ is the normal lifestyle of the Believer; anything else is abnormal and out of touch with reality. Don’t rob yourself of the joy, the fellowship, and all the other benefits that comes with a consecrated life. Living any other way is just plain insanity.

    We are told in Philippians 1:6 what God began He will finish. Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (NKJV) Note a work in progress!

    In Christ Jesus we already are holy, righteous, sanctified and redeemed. [See 1 Corinthians 1:30]. God has called us to live what we are in Christ, not to become what we are not yet.

    The Bible teaches that it is God’s will that His life [His attributes, character and nature] be manifested in the lives of His children. He has given us His Spirit and empowered us for this very reason. Philippians 2:12 states work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (NKJV)

    Child of God be true to who you are in Christ Jesus; there is no better evidence of His Lordship than a Believer walking in the fullness of His Spirit. May God bless you.

    In His grip and grace, Mel. [​IMG]
     
    #1 mel, Oct 12, 2002
  2. Rev. G

    Rev. G New Member

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    Mel:

    Just curious, what is your denominational affiliation? I know you're a Baptist, but what kind in particular? By the way, this is germaine to your post.

    Rev. G
     
    #2 Rev. G, Oct 13, 2002
  3. mel

    mel New Member

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    In answer to your question Rev. G I am a Christian by new birth (born again washed in the blood) and a Southern Baptist by choice.

    In His grip and grace, Mel. [​IMG]

    [ October 13, 2002, 09:49 PM: Message edited by: mel ]
     
    #3 mel, Oct 13, 2002
  4. Rev. G

    Rev. G New Member

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    So, how many "members" do you have at your home church?
     
    #4 Rev. G, Oct 13, 2002
  5. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    Why on EARTH does that matter?
     
    #5 Helen, Oct 13, 2002
  6. Rev. G

    Rev. G New Member

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    Helen, are you Southern Baptist? If you are, then you might understand where I'm going with this.

    Southern Baptists have over 16 million members on their church rolls, yet only a little over 5 million can be found regularly (at least three times a year) on Sunday mornings. In other words, if we believe in "Lordship" then it should impact the way we "do" church.

    Do you understand now?

    Rev. G
     
    #6 Rev. G, Oct 13, 2002
  7. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    Rev. G, I think what that indicates is that belonging to a church and being a Christian are often two different things...

    sad to say

    Some of the most straight-ahead churches I have seen are relatively small -- and they will probably never be very big, because they don't compromise the gospel, but they aren't legalistic, either. It seems people are attracted far more to either of those ends than the biblical approach. They either want to do what they want or be told what to do. How many people do you know who actually depend on the leading of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives?
     
    #7 Helen, Oct 13, 2002
  8. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Lordship is a forgotten doctrine in most churches who have bought into the 1-2-3-spray-after-me finneyesque methodology. Salvation is free, but not cheap. It is simple but not easy.
     
    #8 Dr. Bob, Oct 13, 2002
  9. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    Amen.

    And it is just the beginning. Trusting and obeying come next as we mature in Christ.

    Those are not easy steps, either. Simple....but not easy.
     
    #9 Helen, Oct 13, 2002
  10. Rev. G

    Rev. G New Member

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    Helen, I agree with you 100%. We Southern Baptists need to truly get back to "the Book" and reform the way we do membership. Of course, we are not the only ones guilty of employing "cheap grace" in our evangelism. :(
     
    #10 Rev. G, Oct 13, 2002
  11. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    I wouldn't worry about the technicality of membership. I would concentrate on good straight Bible for those who are there. A lot of horses may have left the water, but you can make sure the water for those who stayed is pure!

    quick edit: weren't the kings NOT supposed to take census? :D

    Peter was only told to feed the sheep, not count them...

    [ October 13, 2002, 11:12 PM: Message edited by: Helen ]
     
    #11 Helen, Oct 13, 2002
  12. Rev. G

    Rev. G New Member

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    Helen:

    This might take us to a whole new topic, but if we are going to have "membership" it needs to actually mean something, don't you think? It seems that "membership" (using that term very loosely) matters in the NT.
     
    #12 Rev. G, Oct 13, 2002
  13. Lorelei

    Lorelei <img src ="http://www.amacominc.com/~lorelei/mgsm.

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    Could you please clarify what you mean by this statment and show me some scriptural support for it. Where does it say in the NT that "membership" matters?

    I am just trying to understand what you are getting at.

    Thank you

    ~Lorelei
     
    #13 Lorelei, Oct 14, 2002
  14. Daniel David

    Daniel David New Member

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    You will see in the Pastoral Epistles a reference to a "list". That would be a membership list.
     
    #14 Daniel David, Oct 14, 2002
  15. Lorelei

    Lorelei <img src ="http://www.amacominc.com/~lorelei/mgsm.

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    Do you know where I would find the exact reference?

    ~Lorelei
     
    #15 Lorelei, Oct 14, 2002
  16. Daniel David

    Daniel David New Member

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    Off the top of my head... no. I think it is in 1 Timothy 5. I don't have a Bible right in front of me. I often wondered about membership until I read the passage.
     
    #16 Daniel David, Oct 14, 2002
  17. mel

    mel New Member

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    Lordship is the subject:
    Rev. G sorry it took so long for me to get back to you, but here I am. I have a question! Do you believe as I do that lordship is progressive, a part of sanctification if you will. I would really like to know your view. By the way Helen's post; lines up pretty close to the way I see it.

    In His grip and grace, Mel. [​IMG]
     
    #17 mel, Oct 14, 2002
  18. Rev. G

    Rev. G New Member

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    Sorry it has taken me so long to reply. I have been gone all week and this is the first day I have been back in front of a computer....

    First, salvation is all of grace. We are justified the moment we believe in / trust Christ alone to save us.

    Second, sanctification begins immediately. It is a progressive work. We mature in our walk with the Lord. No question there. The thing is that we are called to trust in Christ AND repent of our sins. There is no justification where there is no sanctification. It is possible to "believe" facts without repenting. It is possible to "believe" without surrendering to the Lordship of Christ. This is a false faith (see James 2).

    Hope this makes my position a bit clearer on the matter.

    Rev. G
     
    #18 Rev. G, Oct 20, 2002
  19. mel

    mel New Member

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    I can not believe it, you and I are in 100% agreement again. Could this be what the Bible means when it refers to unity in the Body?

    In His grip and grace, Mel. [​IMG]
     
    #19 mel, Oct 20, 2002
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