My Answer is... July 12, 2009

Q: The bible says take "every" negative thought "captive"...What does that mean?

A: 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Our actions follow our thoughts. If we focus on good things and truth we will eventually see it manifested in our deeds. And vice versa. The Corinthian Church was so carnal that Paul wrote at least two letters to them regarding it. If we are focusing on negative things that will most likely lead us to sin in some way. Scripture says the natural comes before the spiritual. When things are going bad or we are sinned against our first response is often to be sow to our flesh. We want to inflict the same pain and suffering on others as they have towards us. But, the way we take a thought captive is to make it a "prisoner" to the truth of the Scripture. Any time we act we should ask ourselves if what we are doing is consistent with who we are as children of God? If not change it. If so, continue on.

Q: Which way are you going?..The bible says walk in the "spirit" not the "flesh"...How do we(Christians) apply that statement to our lives?

A: Mankind was created by God to live in dependence on Him. Whenever we refuse to live in dependence on Christ, through the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are forced to depend upon Satan and the things of this world. God is the initiator and we respond to His leading. Jesus did, and said, nothing unless the Father told Him (John 5:19,30; 12:49, 8:28; 14:10-11). And He tells us what to say and do through the Holy Spirit. We respond accordingly. This is the only way to bear the fruit of the Spirit. We must rest from what we are doing and trust in what God is wanting to do through us. We are told to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 3:16-20). This means to be controlled by God. When this happens we are being controlled by the love of God. God's love is an action taken on behalf of man (1 Cor. 13). When we realize the love God has for us we, in turn, share that love with others. In that way we won't be sinning against others by walking in the flesh, but serving them in love.

Q: Are you alive?..The bible says the righteous shall "live" by faith..How do we(Christians) apply that statement to our lives?

A: Yes, I am alive. Salvation is the restoration of the life of God, lost when Adam sinned, made available through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I now live by trusting in the indwelling Holy Spirit, the life of God, to live out the Christian life through me. I don't live a life of repentance and obedience, but a life of faith and trust. Faith puts the focus squarely on Jesus and what He did for me and off of me and what I do for Him. Under grace Christ says look at what I did for you, went to Calvary, was raised from the dead, gave My Life, took away your sins, died for your sins, saved the lost world, suffered for evil-doers, became one of you, raised the dead, spoke in love and how successful my death was. I enter into these truths by faith trusting in my secure position in Him. Are we willing to enter into the New Covenant with full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:19-23)? We must be willing to die to self-effort and rest in the saving grace of Christ Jesus (Hebrews 4:9-11)?

Q: Believer" or "Disciple"...Is there a difference?

A: You could make the argument there is no difference in the sense that "disciples" call themselves "believers." However, Satan knows Jesus is God, saw Him die on the cross and be resurrected from the dead. But, we know he is not a disciple. Knowledge of, and belief in, the facts surrounding Jesus does not a disciple make. You have to put faith in what you believe. Do you believe, and accept, that Jesus died and rose for you? That is what separates the believer and the disciple. A disciple is a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another. Very few dispute the existence of Jesus, but only those born again of the Spirit of God through faith in Christ are true disciples. They, we, are the ones who "contend for the faith," give a "reason for the hope" we have and, as His sheep, "know His voice" and follow Him. Disciples believe, but those who believe aren't necessarily disciples.