Racoon John Smith, one of the Restoration Movement's colorful characters, once said that a full glass of liquid of one kind had to be emptied before it could be filled with liquid of another. Just so the human mind can only be filled with the Holy Spirit when repentance of sin, coupled with immersion in water for the forgiveness of sin, renders the spirit empty, but pure, ready for the Spirit's occupancy.
As emphasized in Finale, Part B, it's a pleasure to be an oppositionist in an accommodationist culture. But Christians are also re-constructionists. Jesus had only scathing words for the person who swept his life clean, then left it a vacuum Luke 11:24-26. The bread in Communion also symbolizes our post-conversion state as servants of Christ's mission and witnesses of his Lordship in evangelism Matthew 28:18-20. Joseph in Egypt proved a reconstructionist. Giving Pharaoh the good news—seven years of plenty, followed by the bad—seven years of scarcity, he suggested a solution to balance the difference: a man to be in charge, with associates supervising the storing of excess of plentiful years as reserves for years of inevitable depletion Genesis 41:33-40. Being a citizen of heaven means we judge all teaching, belief, practice and behavior by what would make us WELCOME in Heaven, not what will make us COMFORTABLE on earth. If we know from God's word that something happening here and now, will never happen there and then, it has to change, however tolerant society may be of it, however many declare for it, however few stand with us opposing it. In these few words a brief idea exists of "our Citizenship is in Heaven." In summary, that citizenship presently embodies Christ's:
The unfaithfulness of some believers to these strict Bible standards won't weaken, eliminate or eradicate them from Powerful, Active Bible-disciples Galatians 2:20-21. Indeed, we will not be deterred from possessing and proclaiming them. We will not be spiritually neutered by having these bedrock convictions removed from our life! We will engage in preserving the truth of spiritual ideas, because God authors, protects and preserves them. Get up, Christians, don't sit. Buck up, Christians, don't shrink. Pull back your shoulders, Christians, don't slump. RISE to the WORTH of our spiritual enfranchisement, Christians, a relationship with God that never fails though we often do. Remember,"The body they may kill; God's truth abideth still; His kingdom is forever." Luther, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. Finale/Fini
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