Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 06.08.2005
Self-denying Church
Jesus denied Himself, took His cross and confessed the name of His Father. If the church denies itself, takes its cross and confesses the name of Jesus, we can say that it is the self-denying church. Such a church doesn't present itself but Jesus.
Who would like to deny oneself?
The salvation is a gift of God in Jesus Christ. Many have received this gift of grace. In the peace given by God's grace a believer then can continue living for himself or for God. He can freely choose either to follow himself or to follow Jesus. However Jesus says to His own: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mt.16:24
"If" - anyone wants to follow Jesus, it is love for God. Because He first loved us, we love Him. It's worthy of the gospel that this desire is produced in us. However this desire must only be produced by appealing to God's love in His sacrifice. If the desire was produced by any other reason, it is as if praising God with zeal which is kindled from another fire than the fire of the altar of God.
It is dangerous to bring human fire before God. "Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorised fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD." Le.10:1-2 So do not praise God with the fire of your spontaneous love, but let the sacrifice fire of Golgotha kindle your praises to God.
What if someone doesn't want to follow Jesus, although he has received Him as the Redeemer of his sins? Why would not someone want? Doesn't he love Jesus? Why is the fire of love missing?
The gospel aims to give us the will to follow Jesus. If someone doesn't have this will, the grace of God has not yet reached the bottom of one's heart. The heart of this kind of a person is still uncircumcised.
God is long-suffering with us and He wants to conquer us to be obedient to His will with the love He showed us in the sacrifice of Golgotha. "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because in this world we are like Him." 1Jo.4:16-17
If we have received God's love completely, we behave the way Jesus did. But can this be verified in practice: In this world we Christians are like Jesus?
The salvation is a gift of God in Jesus Christ. Many have received this gift of grace. In the peace given by God's grace a believer then can continue living for himself or for God. He can freely choose either to follow himself or to follow Jesus. However Jesus says to His own: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mt.16:24
"If" - anyone wants to follow Jesus, it is love for God. Because He first loved us, we love Him. It's worthy of the gospel that this desire is produced in us. However this desire must only be produced by appealing to God's love in His sacrifice. If the desire was produced by any other reason, it is as if praising God with zeal which is kindled from another fire than the fire of the altar of God.
It is dangerous to bring human fire before God. "Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorised fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD." Le.10:1-2 So do not praise God with the fire of your spontaneous love, but let the sacrifice fire of Golgotha kindle your praises to God.
What if someone doesn't want to follow Jesus, although he has received Him as the Redeemer of his sins? Why would not someone want? Doesn't he love Jesus? Why is the fire of love missing?
The gospel aims to give us the will to follow Jesus. If someone doesn't have this will, the grace of God has not yet reached the bottom of one's heart. The heart of this kind of a person is still uncircumcised.
God is long-suffering with us and He wants to conquer us to be obedient to His will with the love He showed us in the sacrifice of Golgotha. "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because in this world we are like Him." 1Jo.4:16-17
If we have received God's love completely, we behave the way Jesus did. But can this be verified in practice: In this world we Christians are like Jesus?
The Gospel of self-denying
For your sake God sacrificed everything He has, Jesus. God gave up everything for your sake. Therefore you are allowed to give up everything for His sake. Deny yourself and confess Jesus. If you are going to continue confessing yourself, you will deny Jesus.
It is a miracle of God in our heart when we give up everything for the sake of Jesus. It happens to us when we are watching the Lamb of God who died for us. Then God circumcises our heart so that we are set free from our selfishness. We get this change of our mind when we face God on the altar of our heart. This mind of Jesus, we have got, is put into practice with the power of the Holy Spirit in the trials of our daily life. The attitudes given by God's Spirit produce behaviour that is in accordance with the Spirit. "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." Ro.8:5
Having His mind shows that Jesus lives in us. In this way self-denying actually is Jesus' life in us. "If anyone comes to me and does not have hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Lu.14:26-27
It is individual what we in practice are allowed to give up - for His sake. Different persons love different things. One loves his father or her mother the other loves one's spouse. Everyone loves at least oneself. God's love gives us the readiness even to die for the sake of God's name, because we have the same faith in our resurrection as Jesus. "They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Re.12:11
Only the self-denying for the sake of God's love is acceptable to God. Some have wanted to be great men of God and they have given up very much for the sake of their ambitions: "If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1Co.13:3 My deeds are in vain if the love of God that appeared on Golgotha is not my motive.
The likeness of Jesus can be seen in the life of many who belong to Jesus. Instead it is difficult to find a Christian organization that would deny itself like Jesus.
If the leaders of the organization have not denied themselves and taken up their crosses and followed Jesus, it is natural that also their church doesn't deny itself and present Jesus. On the contrary the church is egocentric and Jesus is pushed into the background. By observing them it can be seen how they try to use God to help them to live a selfish life.
For your sake God sacrificed everything He has, Jesus. God gave up everything for your sake. Therefore you are allowed to give up everything for His sake. Deny yourself and confess Jesus. If you are going to continue confessing yourself, you will deny Jesus.
It is a miracle of God in our heart when we give up everything for the sake of Jesus. It happens to us when we are watching the Lamb of God who died for us. Then God circumcises our heart so that we are set free from our selfishness. We get this change of our mind when we face God on the altar of our heart. This mind of Jesus, we have got, is put into practice with the power of the Holy Spirit in the trials of our daily life. The attitudes given by God's Spirit produce behaviour that is in accordance with the Spirit. "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." Ro.8:5
Having His mind shows that Jesus lives in us. In this way self-denying actually is Jesus' life in us. "If anyone comes to me and does not have hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Lu.14:26-27
It is individual what we in practice are allowed to give up - for His sake. Different persons love different things. One loves his father or her mother the other loves one's spouse. Everyone loves at least oneself. God's love gives us the readiness even to die for the sake of God's name, because we have the same faith in our resurrection as Jesus. "They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Re.12:11
Only the self-denying for the sake of God's love is acceptable to God. Some have wanted to be great men of God and they have given up very much for the sake of their ambitions: "If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1Co.13:3 My deeds are in vain if the love of God that appeared on Golgotha is not my motive.
The likeness of Jesus can be seen in the life of many who belong to Jesus. Instead it is difficult to find a Christian organization that would deny itself like Jesus.
If the leaders of the organization have not denied themselves and taken up their crosses and followed Jesus, it is natural that also their church doesn't deny itself and present Jesus. On the contrary the church is egocentric and Jesus is pushed into the background. By observing them it can be seen how they try to use God to help them to live a selfish life.
Who is allowed to serve God?
Often one is satisfied with a church where only believers are allowed to serve in the actions of the church. However God wants that also the sinful nature of the believers must be prevented from serving in the church.
If the members of an organization have not denied themselves, spiritual work in the church is not possible. Instead, the work is fleshly and that brings shame on the name of God.
Our sinful nature can be eager to serve God. Therefore every believer must determinedly resist any congregational work selected by his sinful nature. Only a new creation in Jesus Christ is allowed to serve God.
It is natural that a recent convert can be fleshly "as an infant in Christ". However, if a believer continuously lives according to his sinful nature, he is in danger of losing his faith and of dying spiritually. "For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." Ro.8:13 Serving God fleshly is not only in vain, but it is dangerous.
Only labouring in the Spirit of God is not in vain. "Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain." 1Co.15:58 How do you know if your work has been done in the Lord or in flesh? Surely you know what Jesus has affected in you. Struggle with His energy. "To this end I labour, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me." Col.1:29
Someone objects to this saying that it is better that something is done for Christianity than nothing at all. This objection proves that the debater has not surrendered his sinful nature to dying together with Jesus. All Christianity created by our corrupted nature will burn in the fire of God's holiness. "His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work." 1Co.3:13 You see how it is in vain to do on purpose such deeds that do not to God. However every believer accidentally does something that will not pass the test of the fire of God. It is better to fear deeds done from wrong motives than to fear works left undone.
No believer always lives completely according to the Spirit of God, but if God has circumcised his heart, he has the will and the ability to seek it. Paul says that he has not yet been made perfect but he hurries up to it as fast as possible. "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Php.3:12
The desire to follow Jesus is the holy fire of God, which Jesus kindled on Golgotha. Let that fire burn in the hearts of His own!
Often one is satisfied with a church where only believers are allowed to serve in the actions of the church. However God wants that also the sinful nature of the believers must be prevented from serving in the church.
If the members of an organization have not denied themselves, spiritual work in the church is not possible. Instead, the work is fleshly and that brings shame on the name of God.
Our sinful nature can be eager to serve God. Therefore every believer must determinedly resist any congregational work selected by his sinful nature. Only a new creation in Jesus Christ is allowed to serve God.
It is natural that a recent convert can be fleshly "as an infant in Christ". However, if a believer continuously lives according to his sinful nature, he is in danger of losing his faith and of dying spiritually. "For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." Ro.8:13 Serving God fleshly is not only in vain, but it is dangerous.
Only labouring in the Spirit of God is not in vain. "Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain." 1Co.15:58 How do you know if your work has been done in the Lord or in flesh? Surely you know what Jesus has affected in you. Struggle with His energy. "To this end I labour, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me." Col.1:29
Someone objects to this saying that it is better that something is done for Christianity than nothing at all. This objection proves that the debater has not surrendered his sinful nature to dying together with Jesus. All Christianity created by our corrupted nature will burn in the fire of God's holiness. "His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work." 1Co.3:13 You see how it is in vain to do on purpose such deeds that do not to God. However every believer accidentally does something that will not pass the test of the fire of God. It is better to fear deeds done from wrong motives than to fear works left undone.
No believer always lives completely according to the Spirit of God, but if God has circumcised his heart, he has the will and the ability to seek it. Paul says that he has not yet been made perfect but he hurries up to it as fast as possible. "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Php.3:12
The desire to follow Jesus is the holy fire of God, which Jesus kindled on Golgotha. Let that fire burn in the hearts of His own!
Congregations of uncircumcised hearts
The attitude, which a believer takes towards his own sinful nature, is reflected to everything he does. It is remarkable that having mercy on one's own sinful nature makes it difficult to listen to the voice of God. It is hard to teach the way of God to an uncircumcised heart. He has a tendency to misunderstand the thoughts of God and therefore he is inclined to go astray from the will of God.
A congregational organization that is controlled by uncircumcised hearts can stay alive only for about the time of one generation. This is due to the attitude of the believing parents towards their children. A believer who has not given up everything for the sake of Jesus is not able to take up the attitude of God's mind towards his children. If you had mercy on your own sinful nature, you easily will do the same to the sinful nature of others.
Those with uncircumcised hearts like to take their children with them to the activities of the congregation, because they don't bear that their children would be outsiders. They manipulate their children into believers and lead them to be baptized so that they could boast that their children belong to the church. In this way the congregation is filled with the unbelieving children of the believers and finally its operations are nothing but religiousness of the sinful nature and often it is downright hostile to the Christianity caused by the Holy Spirit.
This is what is needed to put Christian congregations in order, the circumcision of hearts in the Holy Spirit. Many believers have experienced it. In order to the actions of a congregation to be spiritual also its leaders must experience it.
Everyone, who wants to serve God, must first be tested, if his heart is circumcised. Especially this must be done to the leaders of the congregation. "They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve." 1Ti.3:10 It must be possible to see in daily life that a person follows Jesus. Nobody should lead a congregation with an uncircumcised heart, "or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil." 1Ti.3:6
The worst persecutor of a believer is his own sinful nature, "for the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other." Ga.5:17 When I judge my own evilness and don't follow myself, I understand that also other sinners besides my own sinful nature persecute me for the sake of Jesus. "Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2Th.3:12
Thus we have the three similar conflict lines: a new creation of a believer against his sinful nature, a spiritual believer against a fleshly believer and one who belongs to Jesus against a godless person.
The attitude, which a believer takes towards his own sinful nature, is reflected to everything he does. It is remarkable that having mercy on one's own sinful nature makes it difficult to listen to the voice of God. It is hard to teach the way of God to an uncircumcised heart. He has a tendency to misunderstand the thoughts of God and therefore he is inclined to go astray from the will of God.
A congregational organization that is controlled by uncircumcised hearts can stay alive only for about the time of one generation. This is due to the attitude of the believing parents towards their children. A believer who has not given up everything for the sake of Jesus is not able to take up the attitude of God's mind towards his children. If you had mercy on your own sinful nature, you easily will do the same to the sinful nature of others.
Those with uncircumcised hearts like to take their children with them to the activities of the congregation, because they don't bear that their children would be outsiders. They manipulate their children into believers and lead them to be baptized so that they could boast that their children belong to the church. In this way the congregation is filled with the unbelieving children of the believers and finally its operations are nothing but religiousness of the sinful nature and often it is downright hostile to the Christianity caused by the Holy Spirit.
This is what is needed to put Christian congregations in order, the circumcision of hearts in the Holy Spirit. Many believers have experienced it. In order to the actions of a congregation to be spiritual also its leaders must experience it.
Everyone, who wants to serve God, must first be tested, if his heart is circumcised. Especially this must be done to the leaders of the congregation. "They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve." 1Ti.3:10 It must be possible to see in daily life that a person follows Jesus. Nobody should lead a congregation with an uncircumcised heart, "or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil." 1Ti.3:6
The worst persecutor of a believer is his own sinful nature, "for the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other." Ga.5:17 When I judge my own evilness and don't follow myself, I understand that also other sinners besides my own sinful nature persecute me for the sake of Jesus. "Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2Th.3:12
Thus we have the three similar conflict lines: a new creation of a believer against his sinful nature, a spiritual believer against a fleshly believer and one who belongs to Jesus against a godless person.
Congregations of circumcised hearts
A circumcised heart shows itself in the humbleness of Jesus. In the same way as Jesus said He came in His Father's name we live in the name of Jesus and not in our own name. If Jesus had even a little sought glory from men, the Jews would have received Him as the Messiah. "I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him." Joh.5:43
People have their clubs of mutual boastings. There people give glory to each other and receive it from each other. Jesus never can enter these clubs, because He doesn't receive glory from men and He gives all glory to His Father. They who seek glory to themselves don't like Jesus because of His humbleness.
Many Christian leaders say that they don't work in Jesus' name, because people don't like that name. So they approach people in their own name. Obviously they think they can smuggle Jesus into the hearts of people in the cache of their own dignity. They quite openly confess that they receive praise from men, the opposite to Jesus who says: "I do not accept praise from men." Joh.5:41
If the heart of a Christian leader has been circumcised he denies himself and confesses the name of Jesus. If he doesn't seek praise to his own name, he also doesn't seek it to the name of his congregation. In this way also the name of the organization is left completely into the shadow of Jesus' name. In the congregation of the circumcised hearts the attitudes of Jesus are brought out in all actions.
A congregation that follows Jesus doesn't ally with a government, but neither resists it. A congregation behaving as Jesus doesn't defend itself with violence but by doing good. A Jesus like congregation doesn't ride on the power of multitudes but on the sincerity of the humble. A Jesus loving congregation doesn't praise God in a sensual ecstasy but in the fire and the truth of the Holy Spirit. A self-denying church doesn't seek praises to itself, but carries the glory of Jesus before all people.
A self-denying congregation is rare. Jesus gives this acknowledgement of the congregation of Philadelphia: "You have kept my word and have not denied my name." Re.3:8 A believer who denies himself doesn't deny his Lord.
Jesus promises to His followers: "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth." Re.3:10 Patience means complying with sufferings. Denying self for the sake of Jesus leads us to sufferings, but Jesus promises to save the self-denying congregation from the great trial which the whole world will soon experience.
A circumcised heart shows itself in the humbleness of Jesus. In the same way as Jesus said He came in His Father's name we live in the name of Jesus and not in our own name. If Jesus had even a little sought glory from men, the Jews would have received Him as the Messiah. "I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him." Joh.5:43
People have their clubs of mutual boastings. There people give glory to each other and receive it from each other. Jesus never can enter these clubs, because He doesn't receive glory from men and He gives all glory to His Father. They who seek glory to themselves don't like Jesus because of His humbleness.
Many Christian leaders say that they don't work in Jesus' name, because people don't like that name. So they approach people in their own name. Obviously they think they can smuggle Jesus into the hearts of people in the cache of their own dignity. They quite openly confess that they receive praise from men, the opposite to Jesus who says: "I do not accept praise from men." Joh.5:41
If the heart of a Christian leader has been circumcised he denies himself and confesses the name of Jesus. If he doesn't seek praise to his own name, he also doesn't seek it to the name of his congregation. In this way also the name of the organization is left completely into the shadow of Jesus' name. In the congregation of the circumcised hearts the attitudes of Jesus are brought out in all actions.
A congregation that follows Jesus doesn't ally with a government, but neither resists it. A congregation behaving as Jesus doesn't defend itself with violence but by doing good. A Jesus like congregation doesn't ride on the power of multitudes but on the sincerity of the humble. A Jesus loving congregation doesn't praise God in a sensual ecstasy but in the fire and the truth of the Holy Spirit. A self-denying church doesn't seek praises to itself, but carries the glory of Jesus before all people.
A self-denying congregation is rare. Jesus gives this acknowledgement of the congregation of Philadelphia: "You have kept my word and have not denied my name." Re.3:8 A believer who denies himself doesn't deny his Lord.
Jesus promises to His followers: "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth." Re.3:10 Patience means complying with sufferings. Denying self for the sake of Jesus leads us to sufferings, but Jesus promises to save the self-denying congregation from the great trial which the whole world will soon experience.
The Bible version used in references is NIV