Hi there,
So there is a pitfall, when it comes to the faith, that if you believe it (the faith), then there will be some concrete way to witness to it. Jesus on the cross, is a constant, so the theory goes, there must be some constant way to witness to Him. That is not so. Why is it not so? Because faith comes by hearing and that by the Word of God. Christ on the Cross, is Christ's faith, not ours! We can't take from Him, His being on the Cross, because He still wanted to be there. When we sin, when we are unrighteous, when we fight with the Devil, Christ thinks back to the Cross and how by that He might save us. He has compassion. Even while we struggle.
We have to remember, that Christ chose us, not to become puppets, but to love. If we were compelled by a particular doctrine to love the Cross more, that would not be "love". That said, love is still needed. So it is that God granted us to be immersed in the mystery of the Cross. Be immersing ourselves, we become stronger swimmers, the same fish we were (as men of the past) but more capable. This enables us to develop compassion. Compassion does not rule men in or out, but encourages them to swim as we do. If we can swim together, we can begin to appeal to the faith, which is established by the Cross. Not that the Cross no longer be a mystery, but that the Cross become more of a mystery.
How are men persuaded by a mystery? In part that remains a mystery! But in part, we know, that it is also a work of the Holy Spirit. Some small part of the mystery in us, comes to have a fascination in the men of the world. They think they can grasp it, but don't; think they will go without, but don't. This is the working of the Spirit - that there be something of Christ, that can be imparted to them, free of charge! By the end, the Cross is more a mystery than we ever imagined: but in it we have done good, remained in faith and trusted that the Gospel would reach the lost. This is power. Power of Word. We should not ever expect to be doing the work of God in its entirety (that is where many false preachers get caught, actually - thinking that they have satisfied the Wrath of God, through their religion).
Some days we may fulfil part of the Gospel, others more, it is not our doing: we must learn to trust the unction of the Holy Spirit - He alone can make a way, where there is no way. It will not persuade many, that we know this: this is just for our edification (our spiritual nourishment). We will know the mystery of the Gospel more but we will never know it completely, until that Day when we are in Heaven, fully aware of our faith before God. We must be mindful not to promise more than this, actually: God is not interested in believers that know the Gospel in and out, but those (believers) whose heart is rent before Him, that He have pity on them. Pity from God, is a sustaining quenching (of the fire that burns us in sin and that burns in the worm of our iniquity sin not cut off).
I hope this has been of some encouragement, that you know where you stand and why you ask for pity (from God) the way that you do.
God bless.
So there is a pitfall, when it comes to the faith, that if you believe it (the faith), then there will be some concrete way to witness to it. Jesus on the cross, is a constant, so the theory goes, there must be some constant way to witness to Him. That is not so. Why is it not so? Because faith comes by hearing and that by the Word of God. Christ on the Cross, is Christ's faith, not ours! We can't take from Him, His being on the Cross, because He still wanted to be there. When we sin, when we are unrighteous, when we fight with the Devil, Christ thinks back to the Cross and how by that He might save us. He has compassion. Even while we struggle.
We have to remember, that Christ chose us, not to become puppets, but to love. If we were compelled by a particular doctrine to love the Cross more, that would not be "love". That said, love is still needed. So it is that God granted us to be immersed in the mystery of the Cross. Be immersing ourselves, we become stronger swimmers, the same fish we were (as men of the past) but more capable. This enables us to develop compassion. Compassion does not rule men in or out, but encourages them to swim as we do. If we can swim together, we can begin to appeal to the faith, which is established by the Cross. Not that the Cross no longer be a mystery, but that the Cross become more of a mystery.
How are men persuaded by a mystery? In part that remains a mystery! But in part, we know, that it is also a work of the Holy Spirit. Some small part of the mystery in us, comes to have a fascination in the men of the world. They think they can grasp it, but don't; think they will go without, but don't. This is the working of the Spirit - that there be something of Christ, that can be imparted to them, free of charge! By the end, the Cross is more a mystery than we ever imagined: but in it we have done good, remained in faith and trusted that the Gospel would reach the lost. This is power. Power of Word. We should not ever expect to be doing the work of God in its entirety (that is where many false preachers get caught, actually - thinking that they have satisfied the Wrath of God, through their religion).
Some days we may fulfil part of the Gospel, others more, it is not our doing: we must learn to trust the unction of the Holy Spirit - He alone can make a way, where there is no way. It will not persuade many, that we know this: this is just for our edification (our spiritual nourishment). We will know the mystery of the Gospel more but we will never know it completely, until that Day when we are in Heaven, fully aware of our faith before God. We must be mindful not to promise more than this, actually: God is not interested in believers that know the Gospel in and out, but those (believers) whose heart is rent before Him, that He have pity on them. Pity from God, is a sustaining quenching (of the fire that burns us in sin and that burns in the worm of our iniquity sin not cut off).
I hope this has been of some encouragement, that you know where you stand and why you ask for pity (from God) the way that you do.
God bless.