Pressing On Toward the Upward Call
"Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection...Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." (Heb. 6:1, Phil. 3:14)
Our Lord is the true foundation that we are building our lives upon. Before we can press on toward spiritual maturity, we must be clear and sure about our foundation in Christ. He is the perfection and fulfillment of the Law and Prophets and therefore we cannot move onto perfection without Him being the Person that we place all of our trust and hope.
The writer of Hebrews gives six key foundational teachings that both Jews and Christians share in common but now has new meaning as they all point us to Christ.
The first couplet deals with personal salvation inside of us (INWARD).
The second couplet deals with public affirmation from the church (OUTWARD).
The third couplet deals with prophetic calling of what is to come (UPWARD)
When Paul the Apostle came to see Jesus as the true Messiah of Israel (or "the Christ" as we now call Him from the Greek perspective), he had to change his whole outlook and direction in how he lived his life. Paul now had a clear direction which centered upon the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
He began to count things that were once gain to him as loss (namely his zeal for the law and his reputation among his Jewish contemporaries) and to learn how to forget the things that were behind to press forward to what lies ahead. One of the clearest statements that Paul made on the matter was when he said, "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Phil. 3:8).
What do you count most dear in your life? is the direction of your life obvious to you and to others of what you are now living for?
Once we become a new creation in Christ, our life must not only take on new direction but with increasing affection for the things that are eternal. We all ought to be pressing on toward maturity until Christ is fully formed in us and of our fellow believers. We must think vertically and horizontally.
Has there been a clear break from your past and are you now on a passionate pursuit to what lies ahead? Is your highest goal to press toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus?
The writer of Hebrews loves to highlight the advantages and far surpassing greatness of Christ. We have read how Jesus is better than the angles, more faithful than Moses, comes from a better priesthood, and is superior to the entire sacrificial system that the Jewish people were once a part of.
Hebrews gives us the following serious exhortations that we should all consider:
Hebrews 2:1-3 says, "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him"
Hebrews 3:12 says, "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God."
Hebrews 4:1 says, "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it."
Hebrews 5:12 says, "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Anyone can drink milk, but it takes mature believers who desires to press on to partake of the meat that allows you to grow in the fullness of all God has prepared for us.
THIS WEEK’S “New Covenant” EXHORTATION:
Pray about how God is calling you to press on toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Ask God to give you a deep hunger and thirst for righteousness and spiritual maturity…until you are experiencing present REVIVAL!
Our Lord is the true foundation that we are building our lives upon. Before we can press on toward spiritual maturity, we must be clear and sure about our foundation in Christ. He is the perfection and fulfillment of the Law and Prophets and therefore we cannot move onto perfection without Him being the Person that we place all of our trust and hope.
The writer of Hebrews gives six key foundational teachings that both Jews and Christians share in common but now has new meaning as they all point us to Christ.
The first couplet deals with personal salvation inside of us (INWARD).
- Repentance from dead works (Acts 8:22,15:10, Gal. 3)
- Faith toward God (1 Peter 1:18-21)
The second couplet deals with public affirmation from the church (OUTWARD).
- Doctrine of baptisms (more than “baptizo”, also deals with “washings”)
- Laying on of hands (Acknowledging the gifts, offices, and God's authority)
The third couplet deals with prophetic calling of what is to come (UPWARD)
- Resurrection of the dead (Isa. 26:19, Dan. 12:2, Job 19:25)
- Eternal judgment (Acts 17:31, 24:25, Rev. 20:10)
When Paul the Apostle came to see Jesus as the true Messiah of Israel (or "the Christ" as we now call Him from the Greek perspective), he had to change his whole outlook and direction in how he lived his life. Paul now had a clear direction which centered upon the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
He began to count things that were once gain to him as loss (namely his zeal for the law and his reputation among his Jewish contemporaries) and to learn how to forget the things that were behind to press forward to what lies ahead. One of the clearest statements that Paul made on the matter was when he said, "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Phil. 3:8).
What do you count most dear in your life? is the direction of your life obvious to you and to others of what you are now living for?
Once we become a new creation in Christ, our life must not only take on new direction but with increasing affection for the things that are eternal. We all ought to be pressing on toward maturity until Christ is fully formed in us and of our fellow believers. We must think vertically and horizontally.
Has there been a clear break from your past and are you now on a passionate pursuit to what lies ahead? Is your highest goal to press toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus?
The writer of Hebrews loves to highlight the advantages and far surpassing greatness of Christ. We have read how Jesus is better than the angles, more faithful than Moses, comes from a better priesthood, and is superior to the entire sacrificial system that the Jewish people were once a part of.
Hebrews gives us the following serious exhortations that we should all consider:
Hebrews 2:1-3 says, "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him"
Hebrews 3:12 says, "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God."
Hebrews 4:1 says, "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it."
Hebrews 5:12 says, "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Anyone can drink milk, but it takes mature believers who desires to press on to partake of the meat that allows you to grow in the fullness of all God has prepared for us.
- LET US GO ON TO PERFECTION (maturity) in FAITH
- LET US GO ON TO PERFECTION (maturity) in HOLINESS
- LET US GO ON TO PERFECTION (maturity) in LOVE
THIS WEEK’S “New Covenant” EXHORTATION:
Pray about how God is calling you to press on toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Ask God to give you a deep hunger and thirst for righteousness and spiritual maturity…until you are experiencing present REVIVAL!
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