Pastor’s corner - July 28, 2011

WHO ARE THE TRUE PEOPLE OF GOD?

To put it another way…what characterizes a person or a group of people who are truly saved? Are there some characteristics that the Bible describes that should accompany those who belong to the Lord? The apostle Paul wrote,

“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Jesus Christ,and have no confidence in the flesh” ~ Philippians 3:3

In this passage in Philippians, Paul is warning the church in Philippi to stand firm against false teaching/legalism. There were those who had “crept in” to many churches in the apostolic era who were teaching a “mixed bag” message of truth(affirming that you need to put your trust in Christ) and error (saying you must also keep the Law…teaching – in this case – that you also need to be circumcised in order to be saved).

Circumcision was just one of many external “works” that man prided himself in doing to show that he was “fulfilling the law of God” and was therefore right with God. Yet, the Bible repeatedly says that keeping the Law (which no man can do to the satisfaction of God…) will not put you in a right standing with God at all.

Again, Paul writes, “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified (declared righteous) in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20, definition added). The law of God (the Old Testament Scriptures), then, had a specific purpose: to expose our sin! “…for by the law is the knowledge of sin”.

Keeping the law was never intended by God to be the means of our salvation. Rather, the law perfectly exposes our need for salvation…our need to be clothed with a righteousness we can never attain through our efforts.

So…building on the theme of circumcision (which, again, to the Jew was one of those major external works), Paul wisely presents to his readers what the truly saved person looks like…referring to them as “the circumcision”. It’s as if he is saying, “Do you want to know what kind of circumcision God is really interested in? It’s not something physical at all…it is spiritual…it is a circumcision of the heart (see Rom. 2:28-29). And do you want to know what ‘circumcision people’ look like?”

Here’s what characterizes them...

First, they “worship God in the spirit.” Biblically, the kind of worship reflected from those who have been saved is a worship that is imbedded in truth!(John 4:24); is reserved for God alone!(Matt. 4:10; Rev. 22:9); gives God all the glory! (I Chron. 16:29; Ps. 29:2); and flourishes under the clear teaching and admonition of the word, which will solicit praise from the soul! (Col. 3:16-17).

A second characteristic of the people of God is that they “rejoice in Jesus Christ.”

This is the natural response of a soul set free…knowing that it is through Christ alone that I am made righteous in God’s sight, even though I know that I deserve judgment and hell.

The prophet Isaiah, writing hundreds of years before Christ was sent from heaven, was looking ahead to the sacrifice of Christ and the righteousness provided through Him when he wrote, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness…” (Isa. 61:10).

A third characteristic of the people of God is that they “have no confidence in the flesh.” A person who has put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, having been born again to the newness of life in their spirit, realizes the futility of trying to “please God” by adding more works to the finished work of Christ on the cross for them!

One of the last things uttered by Christ from the cross was, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Everything that was required of God’s Son to accomplish salvation for you was done…it was accomplished. Then the Father put His seal of approval on that work by raising Him from the dead!

As Paul said on another occasion, “…if righteousness comes the law, then Christ died in vain” (Gal. 2:21). All the works of our flesh are meaningless, in terms of our trying to get to heaven. There will never be enough church services for you to attend (though you should go to a Bible preaching/teaching church so that you can grow) or good deeds for you to accomplish that will “tip the scales” of God’s favor in your direction.

As D.L. Moody once said, “We Christians don’t work to the cross (to get saved)…we work from the cross (because we are saved)!” Paul said, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest we should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).

How about you? Do you “worship God in the Spirit?” Do you “rejoice in Jesus Christ?” Do you “have no confidence in the flesh?” These are the characteristics of a person who has been to the cross for salvation.

If you have a doubt about your relationship with God, you can settle it right now! If you believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the dead, then, through prayer…

1. Admit your need (confessing to the Lord that you are a sinner).

2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent) in His power.

3. Invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit (receive Him as Lord and Savior).

When you receive Christ, the Bible says that all of the angels of heaven will rejoice! Why? Because there is a new member added to “the people of God.”

Dean Ellis

Pastor of Evangelism

First Baptist Church,

Colfax