WE are looking at The Realization of Spiritual Growth, Part 5 in The Complete Green Letters, specifically Chapter 42—Knowledge of Reckoning. We’ve already viewed Chapter 40 – Principles of Reckoning; Chapter 41 – The Three Steps in Reckoning; and now our author goes forward to expand on this theme in Chapter 42—Knowledge of Reckoning.
DOES all this seem tedious? In the opening of this chapter which we reviewed last time, Miles Stanford says: Knowledge of scriptural truth should precede spiritual growth. Is that not somewhat stating the obvious, and yet?
THERE have been moments when I’ve thought what would happen if on any given Lord’s Day, the pastor were to begin his message with 2Tim. 2:15: Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing [understanding] the word of truth. Then my minds eye sees him stepping out of the pulpit to walk the aisle to distribute a test sheet to all seated with 50 basic doctrine questions (or maybe not so basic, depending on the supposed maturity of the congregation); after which he returns and sits at the podium after explaining to the assembly that today’s sermon is a practical examination of 2Cor. 13:5:
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
CONTINUING my musing, I envision a somewhat painful time of silence over the gathering, followed by the pastor’s pronouncing the benediction, walking to the back door to collect each completed examine as the members head out and exit the sanctuary, or maybe not … depending upon their mood, some members might try another way to leave. I realize this is a broad and not so accurate interpretation of 2Cor. 13:5, “examine yourselves” – but it is rather thought provoking.
THE fact is – we are tested everyday in the trials of our faith to a purposed end towards the shaping of our thoughts, words and actions in Christ (1Pet.1: 6-7; James 1: 2ff). When I was the Principal at Covenant Christian Academy, frequently I would begin the day as part of our opening exercise, having the students recite the following axiom:
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Words become your actions.
Actions become your habits.
Habits become your character.
Character becomes you!
(Prov. 23:7 – as a man thinks in his heart, so is he)
Every day you are becoming the person you are going to be forever!
I HAVE more to say on this, but will leave my thoughts here for next time. For now, let’s get to the point of this lesson, continuing where we left off with Knowledge of Reckoning – Part 2.
In the inexorable riches of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa 30:15, Jas 1:2; Prov. 21:30
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Chapter 42—Knowledge of Reckoning – Part 2
We are to reckon and stand upon certain truths for our foundation. Linked with these are other truths upon which we are to reckon and rest for growth
Foundation
There can be no growth unto maturity without an established foundation. By knowledge of the Word we are anchored and rooted in the eternal foundation of our Christian life: (1) Born anew in Christ: “Born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (I Pet. 1:23). (2) Accepted in Christ (our Father is able to accept us fully in His Son): “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:6). (3) Eternally secured in Christ: “Your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). (4) Positioned in Christ: “God … hath quickened [enlifed] us together with Christ … and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:4–6). It is futile to seek to grow by means of these truths—they are foundational. But it is imperative that we grow upon this imperishable foundation.
Growth
Once we receive the head- and heart-knowledge by which we are established upon our foundation in Christ, the question of growth in Him is all but settled. The deeper truth, the spiritual master-key to all growth and maturity, is the fact that we are not only founded in Him, but that we are complete in Him. “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him” (Col. 2:9, 10). As the Holy Spirit gives us the knowledge of our position in Christ, we are prepared to know Him as our Life (Col. 3:4). To reckon himself “alive unto God in Christ,” the branch must know the True Vine as his complete source of life. “Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (I Cor. 1:30). To reckon upon the truth is to rest in, and receive the fruit of, the truth.
Can we now see where the failure began in our Christian walk? We had the knowledge of the justification truths for our new birth, and upon this “milk of the gospel” we sought to grow and serve. But there was defeat, because the foundation truths are for beginning only. Further knowledge was our need. We had simply gone beyond our teaching! We knew the Lord Jesus as our Foundation, but not as our Life. …to be continued
