Our Fitness for heaven (continued)
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Our fitness for heaven develops proportionately as we allow Christ to reproduce His character in us. The works that pour out of us, because of this character change, represents a visible “evidence & proof” that we are abiding in Christ. Now, going back to the first Bible Commentary statement:
The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven.[1]
The second part of this commentary says: "the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted;" And that is our Fitness for heaven. Now, we are not talking about your "Salvation" here, this is about your Fitness for heaven. How you will serve Christ, in what position. What you will be doing.
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Webster’s Dictionary:
Sanctified—the state of growing in divine grace as a result of christian commitment
Imparted—to give or to grant
Fitness—put into a suitable state, or made ready
You’re being made ready, for the level of responsibility and status in heaven, that you will be given!!
Heb 6 (v. 10) For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (v. 11) And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, (v. 12) that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Another author put it this way:
The one object God (has) in making you a branch is that Christ may through you bring life to men. Might this be the reason we read that God is waiting for His people to perfectly reflect His image? Why? Because men and women can only feed on what they really see, and are only attracted to come to Christ on the basis of what they see as well.[2]
John 15 (v. 5) I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (v. 4) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
The one object God (has) in making you a branch is that Christ may through you bring life to men....Through what? The fruit! The fruit is what nourishes anyone who comes to the vine....And if we are the branches, we are to bear fruit and thus supply the food through which the world is to know the Lord Jesus.[2]
Let us read again, our foundational statement: Now, our Fitness for heaven, results from the righteousness by which we are sanctified. Notice that this is not automatically credited to us, but rather “given” to us or “granted” to us. How is it “given” to us or “granted” to us? It is “given” to us as a result of christian commitment to Christ!!
Matt 16 (v. 27) For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and He will reward each according to his works.
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What is the reward? Is it “Heaven”? If so, then:
Does every believer get the same reward?
The precious rewards of the future will be proportioned to the work of faith and labor of love in the present life. He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. We should be most grateful that now in probationary time through the infinite mercy of God we are permitted to sow the seed for our future harvest.…Whether the crown of our eternal rejoicing shall be bright or dim depends upon our own course of action.[3]
Apparently, the more that you sow here on this Earth, means the more that you will reap in Heaven!!
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. He that is faithful in his earthly possessions, which are least, making a judicious use of what God has lent him here, will be true to his profession.[4]
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He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. He that will withhold from God that which He has lent him, will be unfaithful in the things of God in every respect....God proves us by trusting us with earthly possessions. If we are faithful to impart freely of what He has lent us, to advance His cause, God can entrust to us the immortal inheritance.[4]
Rev 22 (v. 12) And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to "give" to every one according to his work.
The reward is given (to give) according to your work!
Which definition means the same as “to give” a reward? (Read it off the pop-up PDF page below)
Adobe Acrobat document [234.9 KB]
Do you remember what “imparted” means? And what is the word “imparted” related to?
( Justification or Sanctification )
Notice that your “reward” is not credited to you, based on someone else’s merits, but rather it is “given” to you or “granted” to you, according to your works. Keep that in mind!!
Let not the idea prevail for a moment that a man’s power to command high wages is a measure of his value in the sight of God.…But heaven’s books register his worth in proportion to the good he has accomplished with the means he has had entrusted to him. In the fear and love of God, with his talents wholly sanctified to advance the glory of God; man….will show his true value. Only when the reward is given to every man as his work shall be estimated in the judgment, can it be known how much he has sent before him to heaven.[5]
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Now, let us look at another bible verse about works:
I Cor 3 (v. 8) Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
Is that talking about “reap what you sow” in getting fruit from your garden?
(verse 9) For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field....
This is not talking about growing crops, but rather doing the Lord’s work!!
.…The sanctification of the soul by the operation of the Holy Spirit is the implanting of Christ's nature in humanity. It is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ revealed in character, and the grace of Christ brought into active exercise in good works. Thus the character is transformed more and more perfectly after the image of Christ in righteousness and true holiness. There are broad requirements in divine truth stretching out into one line after another of good works.…and like threads of gold they run through the whole of Christian work and experience.[6]
Prov 24 (v. 12) ....Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? ....And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?
So, the christian experience through Sanctification, is brought into active exercise in good works. Again, we are not talking about your salvation; we all know, that our salvation is not earned through good works.
Eph 2 (v. 8) For by grace you have been saved through faith.... (v. 9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The christian needs to know, that while good works do not contribute to your salvation, it does contribute to your reward “given” to you in heaven!!
References:
1. E.G. White, The Review and Herald. (4 Jun 1895), par.7
2. Dan Augsburger, (2009). The Branch and the Vine (sermons by Frank B. Phillips), p.21-22, Booklet.
3. E.G. White, Welfare Ministry, p.316-317
4. Testimonies for the Church (vol.1) “Lessons from the Parables” p.198, par.2
5. E.G. White, Selected Messages (book 2), p.193, par.1
6. E.G. White, Selected Messages (book 3), p.198, par.4
Image #1: Lamb and Lion Ministries, (n.d.). What you do now in this life will have a profound impact on the rewards you will receive. Retrieved from http://christinprophecy.org/articles/heavenly-rewards/
Image #2: CCF San Mateo, (n.d.). For God is not unjust to overlook your work. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/search?sa=N&hl=en-AR&q=girl+scouts+in+mexico&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSmAEJFEOhmYzedHUajAELEKjU2AQaBggUCAMICgwLELCMpwgaYQpfCAMSJ-AHUdgH1QfXB98H1geBCNQH3QfuKNUz5jOhJNQz0zOiJOgz7yjnMxowER3HArWNsg5YiiX4ypVAqRPVlRrHkIChW8WANdenI2P3BkjeONjYLj7ducMxYdQzIAQMCxCOrv4IGgoKCAgBEgTozgDtDA&ved=0ahUKEwi1v9ytz6nbAhUJ0IMKHYhtAlIQwg4IJCgA&biw=1173&bih=813#imgrc=nbvfTalz1wM9hM:, also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaA2LsbDpu0
Image #3: FaithAlone.org, (n.d.). The condition is works, not faith. Retrieved from https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ARD-xwBkWwCP6zHL6e9PLxv6m1_hOVxpLnsDQ82tO3HN4O-Sa4UFG4WYwubghThZ2cwCtw=s101
Image #4: Author Unknown, (n.d.). The foundation of God’s building. Retrieved from https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/S8dODudtxgFuP24nBCNnW237aUlzVLhgupE5H3Y5j8TmE0N26q0aS6O0gKoTQ82etQSWynQ=s114
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