Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 1

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 1

In our first lesson we were reminded of one of the “harsh realities” of life – we live in a post-Christian culture in which false truth claims seem to spread and multiply like dandelion seeds in the wind. Metaphorically, our culture is deluded into thinking that a field full of dandelions is more desirable than a lawn of lush, green grass!

The reality is that there is not a single person or organization which is capable of changing the culture. No program, no matter how well organized or promoted can do it. A super-charismatic, eloquent speaker could not, by virtue of his words and the manner in which they are delivered, bring about a change in the moral climate of the world we inhabit. If it were possible, that would be an example of “Top Down” change. That’s not going to happen…

The alternative is “Bottom Up” change. This type of change involves each of us, as individual parts of the body of believers, doing all that we can do to impact those around us for the glory of God. Now you may find it as difficult as I do to imagine that God could use me as a tool in the transformation of others’ lives, but we need look no further than the life of Paul to see the evidence that God can do extraordinary things with very ordinary people. But you and I, as believers, are no longer ordinary at all – we are, each and every one of us, a “new creation”.

I have no idea what you were like before salvation, but I was a stubborn, angry (at God and the world in general), harsh person – hard on myself and even harder on others. (Remember the Donkey picture I showed you? Well, that was a kind depiction of what I was like.) An amazing thing happened at the moment of my salvation – I became a new creation! No longer a donkey, but a Thoroughbred – built to run – swift and strong. And although a new creation, I found that I still carried many of the old “donkey” habits and characteristics. Over the years, the Lord has helped me to change, and become more like a Thoroughbred, but I still find the old “Donkey nature” appearing from time to time. But here’s my point…

You, as a believer, are a new creation. Whatever you were before, God has changed. You are now His beloved, His child, His ambassador. A saint! You are an extraordinary child of the God of the universe. He knows you personally, and you get to call Him “Father”. Isn’t that incredible? Isn’t it amazing?

Think about this: Christ is in you. The Holy Spirit is in you. Christ and the Father are one, and the Spirit proceeds from the Father and Son. That makes you pretty extraordinary, doesn’t it? You would think that so many extraordinary people would have a huge impact on the culture. So what’s the problem?

I think it’s fair to say that there a number of reasons why we have failed to impact the culture as we should. I can’t speak for you, but for me, it’s often an ATTITUDE problem.


God’s word says:

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” (Phil 2:5)

The word translated “attitude” has to do with “being mentally disposed in a particular direction”. This addresses how we think, how we view the world, ourselves, and ultimately, our purpose.

The verses which follow give us an idea of Christ’s attitude:

Although fully God, He poured himself out – emptied himself.
He humbled himself. Christ willingly humbled himself – He did have to be humbled by the Father – He willingly humbled himself.
He was obedient. The word translated “obedient” means “attentively listening, (by implication) submissive.”

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” Imagine how different our lives would be if we were disposed to have the same attitude as Christ - pouring ourselves out for Him, willingly humbling ourselves before Him, attentively listening to Him.

In addition to the ATTITUDE problem, there’s the “working it out” problem.

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” (Phil. 2:12)

“Work out’ means “to do work fully, i.e. accomplish; by implication, to finish,”

Let me be clear here in stating that this is NOT a reference to an attempt to earn one’s salvation by works. Your salvation and mine are a finished work through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Scripture plainly tells us that “by grace you have been saved through, not by works…” So what is this “work out” business all about?

Working out our salvation is the expression of one’s salvation in spiritual growth & development. Over time, we should find ourselves becoming more mature in our faith, more Christ like, less like the old fallen self.

How I wish this was something I could just check off my “To Do” list! I love “To Do” lists. I love it when I can check of an item, knowing it’s done. It’s not that way for me when it comes to working out my faith, and it’s not that way for you either.

Note that Paul says “continue to work out your salvation.” There is nothing accidental in the divinely inspired word of God. This clearly conveys to us that spiritual growth and development is a continuous, life long process. You can’t be “done with it.”

This week’s lesson reminded me that my attitude falls far short of that of Christ Jesus, and that I have a tendency to stop working out my salvation. I encourage you to take some time for your own self examination this week. Maybe you will discover the same is true for you as well.

Until next week – remember that God loves you with a love higher than the heavens are above the earth. Your sins have been removed from you as far as the east is from the west. Whether you act like a spiritual donkey or a spiritual thoroughbred, you are always beloved by Him.

In Christ,

John