But What About My Rights?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ... Ephesians 1:3


I have struggled with a certain area in my life for many years. Can you believe that I actually thought I was right?

Today it dawned on me that it would be easier just to agree with God and no longer hold onto my so-called right to be right.

I think of a commercial from, of all places, Kentucky Fried Chicken from many years ago. It had a little jingle to it as the commercial reminded us, "You've got a right to chicken done right!"

I used to laugh and make up my own little response, "You've got a right to chicken done wrong!" Now, of course KFC chicken should be done right, and is done right, but my point is, why do I think I should have a "right" for anything while I am living in this fallen world?

Maybe it's not popular, but I really have no rights, except to go to the lake of fire, which would be exactly my right, except that Jesus Christ took my place and received the due penalty for my sins. Because He did not take advantage of His own rights as God, He graciously gave me the golden opportunity to receive many spiritual rights, privileges, and a home forever in heaven.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [Phl 2:5-11 NKJV]

It is not hard to homologeo, it is easy. It was hard for Jesus to make a new and living way for us. But for us, just to say yes and stop arguing with God is far easier than going the way of the backslider. When the Word says one thing and I say another, guess which one of us is right? (Hint: it's not me.)

 The word for confess is #3670 "homologeo,"  and in the Greek dictionary it looks like this: 

ὁμολογέωhomologeō

In the outline for Biblical usage, the first definition of homologeo (confess) is this to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent.

I found such a relief in that today. God really does know what is best for me. Just something little I thought I would share in case someone else maybe struggling with holding on to their rights.

I actually had one right. I thank God He did not give me that "right,"  but instead the free gift of eternal life. 

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3670&t=KJV

Dead to Sin....Alive to God

I found an old message from my church while on my cleaning binge the other day. It was from five years ago. Sometimes, when we find old things like that, we tend to shrug them off, or at least I do. I think to myself, "Oh, that was from 2007, it's 2012, what could that message have to say to me now?"

I found out it had something very important to say. Something that I am ashamed to admit, I have not really learned yet, even after knowing Christ for the greater portion of my life.

The book of Romans is a foundational book. I need to understand Romans in my spirit for victory in my spiritual life. It tells me what Christ did for me, it tells me what happened that day when He took my sins upon His body on the tree. But it also tells me that I was crucified there with Him when He died, that my old sinful body was put away permanently.

Is that true or isn't it? Most of my life I have not believed it is true. But Scripture says I am dead to sin (Romans 6:11) but alive to God. That doesn't mean I won't sin anymore, but if I do, its because I chose it, God has made a way for me to be free from that old life forever.

I think it has to start with thinking about what Christ did for me, and not only me, but everyone else too. Seeing people differently than I have before. Like layers of onion skin, God slowly peels layer after layer away to reveal the truth about mankind and His great love for them.

There are two categories of people really. One is bound for heaven. Earth is the closest to hell they will ever get. The other group is blinded by the evil one for whatever reason. Let us have compassion. They may do us great harm. Let us have compassion. This is the only heaven they will ever see.

Its not about "trying" to be nice to them. It is about begging them to be reconciled. (II Corinthians 5: 20-21) We don't deserve redemption either. It is realizing Christ took their sin burden just like He took yours and mine. He paid for their crimes too. That is what makes "hell" hell. They could have had heaven as a free gift. But they said no.

If I stand here and judge by my own human judgments than I am just like the rest of the world. But Jesus said "Judge the righteous judgment." (John 7:24) Jesus judged nothing by appearances, how much less so then should I?

It boils down to this: Everyone I see is "a dead man walking." Now hear me out. You are either dead to sin and alive to God like the Bible says if you are in Christ,(Romans 6: 11) or if you are not yet born again you are dead in your trespasses and sins.(Ephesians 2:1-3) But, and here is a BIG but, you can change that destiny, however, in ONE moment, by a moment of personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Lord, help me reckon, moment by moment, I am dead to sin and alive to God... Amen.

But Of Him You are in Christ Jesus. . .

What an inestimable privilege to think... because of Him, because of the Father's tender mercies and the wooing of the Holy Spirit today, this very moment, we are in Christ Jesus.

That is what I Corinthians 1:30-31 tells us:

"But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-
and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-

that, as it is written, He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."

It tells us what Christ is for us:

1. wisdom: (sophia)n by definition: wisdom, broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters

2. righteousness (dikaiosyne) in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God

3. sanctification (hagiasmos) consecration, purification

4. redemption (apolytrosis) a releasing effected by payment of ransom

(All Bible helps come from free online Bible resource: Blue Letter Bible)

Christ paved the way for all of us to have this standing before God. All a free gift!
But I love how the Apostle Paul ends the thought, if we are tempted to boast, the only thing we are allowed to boast in is the Lord.

We all have certain talents. Maybe yours is musical ability. Another might be a super brain and land an awesome job that pays an inordinate amount of money. Another might be a star athlete and end up playing professional football.

Let me ask you a question. Did any of these people give themselves the talents they have? Can they turn one hair black or white? If the answer is no, then it makes sense to answer like Paul did, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."

Whenever I take credit for something, I quickly get reminded quickly in some way of this Truth:God shares His glory with no one. So let us praise Him for His wisdom in this, even if some days it does seem hard to swallow.

When we reach the golden shore, it will all make perfect sense...