Divine Illumination

“Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment“ Hebrews 6:1-2

As Christians we should not remain childlike forever, never maturing in our knowledge of God. We need to mature and edify ourselves by working on understanding God’s spiritual will, not just settling with the basic understanding. Graduate to the next level of belief, live in the divine radiance with what you believe, knowing Christ and being a light like Jesus. As Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Growing in this knowledge will encourage us to flourish spiritually.  You could do all the acts in the world but it’s all frivolous  unless you have Christ in your heart, this is the only way to be saved. God sent His Son to die on the cross for us, believing in Him eliminates the necessity of works to be saved, for we could never save ourselves. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 

Works are to reflect your belief, we can use the knowledge we attain from Scripture to glorify God with our actions, and have Jesus shining through our lives. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-16

How do we accomplish spiritual growth? Read the Bible, study the Bible, instead of twiddling your thumbs memorize Scripture. Listen to podcasts that preach the Word, go to church, and pray! Ask God for help and He will give you guidance that will help your light shine.

No Tokens Needed

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.“

Romans 8:1-4

No fear, God won’t say, “You’re fired” if you’re a believer. True Christians can have peace in life knowing they do not need to work for tokens for salvation, for they know Christ’s sacrifice on the cross fulfilled the Law. Hebrews 4:1-3 says, “Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered (today)…For indeed we have had glad tidings (Gospel of God) proclaimed to us just as truly as they (the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them)… for we who have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter that rest, in accordance with his declaration those (who did not believe) should not enter when He said, as I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest; and this He said although (his) works had been completed and prepared (and waiting for all who would believe) from the foundation of the world.” For those who are saved, we find rest because we find peace and freedom with God.

In every season of life, we find a reason for rest. Psalms 91:11 says, “For he will command his angels in regard to you, to protect and defend and guard you in all your ways (of obedience and service).” Lots of people won’t ever experience this because they don’t believe, or only believe that their works will save them, so they never truly enter this rest and are stuck in work work work. 

There is also joy in the future rest found in heaven. All God is looking for from you and I is to believe in Jesus. With salvation you can live with him, resting in the beautiful kingdom for all eternity, praise the Lord!