09/07/23 CHANGE YOUR MIND

09/07/23 CHANGE YOUR MIND

This may seem to be sophomoric or it may seem to be wool gathering, but follow it through. There is a very important point I am trying to make.

I realize (which is a good thing to do) that I don't know everything about everything (duh); that I don't know everything about anything; that I don't know anything about everything. But I do know something about some things.
I realize I could be wrong about some of the things, which I think that I know. I have realized my error on occasions and changed my mind to align with new information.

However, when the Bible says something about something, and when the Bible confirms or reaffirms a particular subject, then I am sure that what the Bible says accurate and true. There are passages or subjects in the Bible which may seem to be contradictory, but they actually complement each other. The Bible is God's revelation and therefore it is consistent with itself.

I know that I do not fully understand the concept of the Trinity (or eternity or other truths of the Bible), however I do not have to fully understand, or explain completely those great truths in order to believe them and to be confident that those truths are true.

Since I know what the Bible says about these great truths and I know that the Bible both confirms and affirms these great truths, then I can know that these things are true.
I know that there is only One God.
I know that God is Three Persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
I know the nature of God (such as love, justice, mercy, truth, holiness, eternality) and work of God (such as creation, incarnation, salvation), as it is revealed in the Bible.
I know that the works of God are consistent with the nature of God and that the word of God reveals God's redemptive work.
I know mankind is separated from God because of sin.
I know God loves and provides reconciliation for everyone through faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ.
I know Christ is the only way of salvation.

And, I know the following because the Bible clearly and repeatedly says it.
I know God saves us from sin (through regeneration, justification, sanctification and ultimately through glorification).
I know that God not only forgives and regenerates and cleanses us, but He also transforms us into new creations and conforms us to the likeness of His Son.

I know that God saves sinners from the sins they have committed and God also saves believers from the sin nature they inherited from Adam.
I know that God calls us to be holy, pure, righteous (as He is), and God actually makes the believing believer holy, pure, righteous (as He is).
I know that God saves from all sin in this present evil age.
I know that God cleanses from all sin in this present evil age.
I know that God delivers from all sin in this present evil age.
I know that God leads us not into temptation, but delivers us from evil (the evil one).
I know that God provides a way of escape from all temptation.
I know that God enables believers to walk in the light, even as He is in the light.
I know that God enables believers to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.
I know that God enables believers to walk in love and in truth and in the steps of Jesus.
I know that God calls believers to a perfection, which is attainable, by faith, in this present evil world. (It is not absolute perfection or angelic perfection or Adamic perfection, but it is Atonement Perfection, Biblical Perfection, Christian Perfection.)
I know that God calls and enables believers to be good and to do good.
I know that God is the One Who saves us to the uttermost, the One Who gives us victory, the One Who leads us in triumph.

There is much more I know, because the Bible tells me (all of us) so.
However, there are Christians who have been taught to deny many of these last points I made.

I challenge every Christian who has spoken against the power of God to "conform us to the image of Jesus" to read, to re-read the Bible. If the Bible says something and says it repeatedly and says it clearly, which you have been denying then you need to stop where you are, believe God, change your mind, change your direction and seek Him with your whole heart, love Him with your whole heart, mind, soul and strength.