BIBLE NAMES OF BELIEVERS

(Part 3)

Acts 11:26

Morning Meditation 10/27/17

"And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."

WE ARE CALLED PILGRIMS

1 Peter 2:11 says, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;"

Let's note the following:

1. First, we note the affection that Peter had for those to whom he writes. One of the outstanding features of our Lord's discipling the twelve is His emphasis on love. He said in John 13:35, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Peter is speaking the truth in love. He has learned his lesson about loving the brethren.

2. Peter's attitude stands out in his exhortation to those he calls "Dearly beloved." He says, "I beseech you." This is used in the sense of entreating someone. It is not an order it is pleading. Peter is saying, "Dearly beloved, I plead with you." This is the kind of approach that makes one want to listen and consider seriously doing what is being ask. Grace pleads, law threatens. There was a time when Peter would not have pled, he would have exercised apostolic authority and threatened anyone who challenged him.

3. The word pilgrim is a term by which Christians were called. The word pilgrim is "one who comes from a foreign country into a city or land to reside there by the side of the natives." The word "strangers" describes further what the pilgrim is. He is a stranger. He originated in another country.

I was reading one of Watchman Nee's books where he made a point I want to share with you that fit with the word pilgrim and its definition. John 15:19, "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."

The particle "if" is a second class condition. The "if" in a second class condition means, "if, and it is not true." A paraphrase is, "if ye (the plural you) were of this world, and you are not." Then follows, "the world would love his own." Jesus is saying that you are not of this world any more, and this is why the world does not love you. Let me ask you a question. Has the world changed its attitude toward you since you have been saved? This is a question, the answer to which, makes the difference between heaven and hell.

The words, "but because ye are not of (of is a preposition denoting origin) the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." Jesus is saying, "you did not originate in this world like the unsaved." Next Jesus tells them how this change in their origin took place, "but I have chosen you out of the world." When we were born again, we were born from above, i.e., from heaven as a country. So when one is saved, his Spiritual birth gives him a new origin. We have a heavenly accent in our speech and our walk unveils a different culture. Have you ever noticed that people who are different make you uneasy? Our doctrine and walk infuriate the unsaved world is what Jesus is saying.

One of the names by which we are called as Christians are Pilgrims. Next,

WE ARE CALLED HEIRS

Paul says in Romans 8:17, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

The word "heir" according to Strong: "in Messianic usage, one who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship."

The word "joint-heirs with Christ," means that the believer is by right of birth an equal heir with Christ. Jesus is the Son of God and we are sons with Him because the New Birth puts us in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." The words "in Christ" describe the believer's permanent position. He also has Christ's righteousness imputed to him. And because he is in Christ, he shares what Christ inherits because of His incarnation, sinless life, death, and resurrection.

Peter refers to this in 1 Peter 1:3-5, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." The believer's origin is in heaven and that is where the inheritance will be.

Next,

WE ARE CALLED INSTRUMENTS

2 Timothy 2:21, "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."

The word vessel is used to emphasize that the believer, like the vessel, is made to hold contents. The contents in a vessel may vary but the contents in the believer as compared to the vessel is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Wherever the believer goes, he has in him the gospel of Christ that will save any person who will believe it. Notice what this verse says about the vessel:

1. First of all, look at the lead statement: "If a man therefore purge himself from these." The "if" here is a third class condition. It is "if" and maybe it is true and maybe it isn't. This simply means that Paul is declaring a truth that there is a condition on man's part, if he is going to be a vessel of honor. It is conditioned on whether a man is willing to purge himself from "these."

2. What does the word "these" refer to? The two prior verses answer this question. 2 Timothy 2:19-20, "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonor."

The words "the foundation of God standeth sure" is speaking of the foundation of the Church. Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Church. Jesus says in Matthew 16:18, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (a word meaning a little rock), and upon this rock (a huge building stone) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The name "Peter" literally means, "a stone." The words, "and upon this rock," Jesus uses a different word for rock. When referring to Peter He used Petros and means a small stone compared to the next word. When Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church" He use the word Petra. This word means, "a rock, cliff or ledge, a large stone." Now if you can picture this. When Jesus said, "Thou art Peter (Petros)," He had a finger pointed at Peter, but "Upon this rock (Petra) He had a finger pointed to Himself. Now to support this Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:11, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Jesus is definitely the foundation of the Church.

The words "the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his," is a statement that suggests strongly that this passage has to do with the saved and unsaved in the church. If not, why would Paul say, "The Lord knoweth them that are His?"

This being true, "the vessels of honor" are those who belong to the Lord. The Lord knows them and fills them as vessels to take in them the message of salvation. The vessels of dishonor are those who do not belong to Him. He knows they are not. They have stuff in them as vessels but they do not have the power of God upon the message they carry. They may be the PhD's and be very skilled is public speech, and organization, and they may build big churches. But there is a good chance when the rapture takes place they won't be down 10 in Sunday School the next Sunday!!! I'm not a prophet. What I said is just an opinion. I base it on this. It is doubtful that anyone will be saved listening to a lost man preach the gospel. It is not just the facts of the gospel that saves, it is also the power of God upon the message that is preached.

Here is what God says about this matter: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

3. God uses His people to carry the message of salvation to the unsaved world. The words of our text: 2 Timothy 2:21, "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." Some things this verse definitely teaches:

God uses His people to spread the message. Any saved man can tell an unsaved man how he himself was saved. God can and does use our WITNESS to bring others to a saving experience. A witness does not just give four or five steps to tell another how to be saved, this witness is given in the power of the Holy Spirit. He tells them that these things are what he believed to be saved. He was there when it happened!!! He says, "This is what I believed to be saved and I want to tell you from personal experience that it worked because it worked on me."

The next thing states what one must do to be an effective witness: "If a man (a believer in Christ. One whom God knows is His) purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet (fit) for the master's use." The word "purge" means, "to cleanse thoroughly" and it is an aorist active subjunctive verb. The aorist tense refers to a point of time. It may take place in one's home or at Church. A personal worker may lead an unsanctified saved person to repent and ask God to cleanse him in the blood of Jesus. The active voice means that the unsanctified believer makes the decision to do this, and by an act of his will, decides to seek restoration so that he can be a vessel of honor. The subjunctive is the potential mood. It is one of those things where one has a choice. He is given a call, through exposure to the Word of God, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. If he turns the invitation down, he will remain as is. If he turns from his sin and comes to the Lord confessing his sin, he will be cleansed and made fit for the Master's use. No one is made to serve the Lord. God seeks volunteers. You can reject God's call to service but you cannot reject what happens to you as a result of your decision. Hebrews 12:6-8, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."

Are you an instrument in the Lord's service? God wants to use us. It is a decision we have to make. May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White