Beautiful Believers
Acts 15: 28- 29
"For it pleases the Holy Spirit and us that we not place any unnecessary burden on you except for the following restrictions: stay pure from anything sacrificed to a pagan idol, from eating what is strangled or with any blood, and from any form of sexual immorality. You will be beautiful believers if you keep your souls from these things, and you will be true and faithful to our Lord Jesus. May God bless you." Acts 15: 28- 29
As Christ followers we are expected to be set apart from worldly pleasures, lusts, acts of abomination, and unholy customs. The apostles and elders of the early church wrote this Letter to non-Jewish people to simplify how to become a beautiful believer. First, we must address the soul. Our souls (mind, free-will, and emotions) are entangled with the world, we must detach ourselves from ungodly worldliness through the process of sanctification. When we believe Jesus is Lord and have received Him as the eternal sacrifice for our sins, we have been justified by faith, cleansed by the blood and now given a right standing with Him. But in the bible, we are given an exhortation that believers are to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. " How can one stay pure? The bible says that the one who hides thy words in thy heart, will not sin against Him. The Fear of the Lord is the holy reverence towards God, that convicts the soul of living a life separate from God.
Reference:
"But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7 (NLT)
"And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5 (NLT)
"I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Psalms 119:11 (NLT)
Being aware of things the bible proclaims as unholy, allows us to recognize that there is a standard of living that has been given to us. The elders of the gospel are not emphasizing the law and circumcision as a command, rather holy lives influenced by a pure heart. Religion says fix the exterior alone, Jesus preaches clean the inside and the outside will be cleansed. Jesus wants our whole heart, our whole mind, and our whole soul.
Reference:
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too." Matthew 23: 25-26 (NLT)
"If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work." 2 Timothy 2:21 (NLT)
If you are having a hard time separating yourself from the things of this world, you must check your heart. The bible states, " choose this day in which god you will obey", will it be God or gods of this world? the Bible then goes on to state, we cannot serve 2 master's at the same time. For believers, you will encounter no peace when and if your heart is divided, when you choose to follow God and God's way alone you will enter into eternal peace, because you are in right standing with God the eternal judge.
[Read Joshua 24 for more context]
What are some things the Holy Spirit is revealing to you to let go of?
People. Places. Things. Ideas. Traditions.
Jesus wants to empower you to become a true and faithful believer, meaning a devoted follower. To be devoted is to put your whole being into the faith of Jesus. No doubt. No separation.
Like a father, God places boundaries and commands to protect his children out of pure love. Because God is holy, his love is pure, without flaw. He desires for us children to be set apart.
"But you are God’s chosen treasure —priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world. For at one time, you were not God’s people, but now you are. At one time you knew nothing of God’s mercy, because you hadn’t received it yet, but now you are drenched with it!" 1 Peter 2:9-10 (TPT)
Take a moment to pray these words:
"Keep creating in me a clean heart. Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you." Psalms 51:10 (TPT)
Amen.
May We Flourish in our Faith.
"And all who focus their hope on him will always be purifying themselves, just as Jesus is pure." 1 John 3:3 (TPT)
