THE STATUS AND DUTY OF A BELIEVER
Believers should know clearly that their status before God and in the church is very valuable.
Matt 6:26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
The value of a believer is measured spiritually and not according to standards of the world, for the things of the world have no eternal value. Therefore, it does not matter if we do not have a high status or an honourable position in this world for the honour and glory that the king of the world (Satan) can give to us is temporary and full of hypocrisy. It causes us to lose more than we can gain. But, what profit is it to us if we gain the whole world but lose our souls?
Joseph had great status and power after he had become the governor of Egypt. When he was dying, Joseph told the children of Israel that they should not stay in Egypt forever. Instead, they must rely on the guidance of God to go to the Promised Land.
Gen 50:24-25 24And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”
The children of Israel became slaves and were afflicted greatly after the death of Joseph. They would have been bonded forever if God had not reached out to free them. This historical fact teaches us that the king of the world (Satan) will reward us with the glory of his kingdoms as long as we bow down to him. As a result, our souls will perish and this loss is beyond compare.
Matt 4:8-9 8Again the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
Gen 41:41-44 41And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”
The world belongs to Satan and its ways are cruel and merciless. It is not a paradise to Christians for snares to gain power and political favours abound. Daniel was a high official who had contributed greatly to the kingdom of Babylon. He was thrown into the den of lions for defying its law. Daniel’s three friends who held high status in Babylon were also thrown into a fiery furnace for not worshipping the golden image of the king due to their belief in God. Fortunately, God saved Daniel and his three friends from danger. These incidents teach us that this world is a dangerous, crafty and cruel place regardless of one’s stature in life. In fact, Satan keeps creating havoc and chaos with his great wrath especially in these last days.
Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.
In the last days, the hearts of men are more evil and their deeds more cruel. (2 Tim 3:1-5) records the dangers of the last days that have since materialized. Weapons can kill but true danger lies in the hearts of men, for all lethal weapons are born from sinister hearts. In fact, the devil continues to work in the sons of disobedience to create sins and oppose God in order to accelerate the destruction of the world.
Eph. 2:2 In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience
Worldly people do not have the hope of eternal salvation so they desire and pursue after the pitiful world. They seek after temporary gratifications, set their minds on earthly things, base their glory on their shame and place their trust in worldly riches and material things. Their ultimate aim is to enjoy life.
It is not surprising that an ordinary person would have such perspective of life. However, Christians should not treat the world as a paradise for seeking glory or see it as heaven on earth. Rather, they must surpass worldly norms and abide in the spirit in their way of life. The Lord Jesus Christ will enhance our spiritual lives if we believe in Him. This new life is abundant, everlasting and incorruptible. He will also free us from the slavery of sin, just like how He had delivered the Israelites from the power of the devil.
Jhn 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
2 Tim 1:10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
As believers, our sins have been forgiven and we are born again. It is due to these two important factors of salvation that having believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, our thoughts and stance in the world undergo tremendous transformation. Paul said: If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Since we have become a new man, our life, behaviour, thoughts, lifestyle, status and duties ought to become new. This means that though our physical bodies are still old and we are still living in the world, our spiritual new man must be renewed day by day.
Adam, who is the forefather of our old man, is the originator of corruption and death. On the other hand, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the forefather of our new man, is holy and submissive. He is the resurrection and gives eternal life. This stark contrast enables us to identify the different characteristics and status of an old man and a new man. We are the children of God and are joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ. God has prepared an inheritance that is in heaven and not on earth for us, the heavenly citizens. Therefore, we may be dwelling in the flesh on earth but our status is in the spirit and is in heaven.
Jhn 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
1 Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.
Phil 3:21 Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Eph 2:6 And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Our spiritual lives belong to heaven since our spirits and souls have been raised together with the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, we should set our affections on things above and not on things on the earth. Labouring for food and doing good in order to sustain our physical needs is part and parcel of staying alive in the world. Nevertheless, we should embrace contentment as long as we have sufficient food to eat and clothing to wear all our lives.
2 Ths 3:12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
1 Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
Believers have the important duty to glorify God and benefit men. Believers should also deny themselves and do good. Thus, they should volunteer to work in the church not for the greed of power, but rather to shoulder up the responsibility that God has entrusted to them. The Lord God wants them to be the salt and light of the world.
Paul said: I 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.
Paul had a deep and steadfast knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul had suffered the loss of all things but counted them as rubbish. He changed his perspective of life from a worldly perspective to the satisfaction of gaining the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is similar for us today. Our perspective of life will be filled with negativity and hopelessness (instead of having a new hope towards an abundant life) if we have yet to gain Christ. Hence, we must enter into the world as salt and light and bring the love of God and the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ to the people of the world. Paul had asked us to shine as lights in the world and hold forth the word of life in this generation.
Phil 2:15-16 15That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16Holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
The church of God is very different from the society of the world. The spiritual true church is superior, holy and independent, and her status is in heaven.
Heb 12:22-23 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect.
Every believer is a cell or member of the church (the body of the Lord Jesus Christ) with the Lord Jesus Christ as the leader or head. The church is the house of God and believers are the children of God and members of His household. The church is like a vine while believers are like the branches that bear much fruit. This tells us that the status and roles of believers in the church are important and eternal.
The Bible tells us of the four spiritual characteristics that believers have: that they are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God’s own special people. To be a chosen generation means believers are different from worldly people. Being a royal priesthood means having an honourable (royal) status before God. Being a holy nation means having perfect morals. Being God’s own special people means not belonging to the world. As such, let us treasure ourselves, spur ourselves ahead and proclaim the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light. Let us do our best to be faithful to God, fulfil our duty towards the church, love our brethren and work hard for the gospel.
1 Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light;
A believer has four aspects of duties that he must discharge responsibly. A summary of the four aspects is as follows:
To be faithful to the end – We must live for God and have the Lord Jesus Christ as the principle and basis of our way of life. We must be faithful to God in everything that we do. The selflessness of Moses and of Paul are good examples of faithfulness to Him.
2 Cor 5:15 And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
To fulfil our duties – We must perform our duties for the church. Every believer is a member of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ and everyone has a role to play in contributing to the church. Since God has set each member as a specific part of His body, we should utilise such talent by helping the church to the best of our abilities.
1 Cor 12:21-22 21And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
To love – We must love our brethren and maintain unity in the spiritual body so that the church can be a family and a paradise. Through love, the divine work of the church and our spiritual lives will progress.
Eph 4:15-16 15But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
To work hard – We must strive together for the faith of the gospel. This is the great responsibility that believers must bear. We should emulate Paul who did everything for the gospel’s sake.
Phil 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.
1 Cor 9:23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
As Christians, we are in a spiritual position on earth and in heaven. Our duties here are to glorify God and to bring benefits to man before we leave the earth. This is the example set by the Lord Jesus Christ and it is also the basic principle of the Christian way of life.
(Holy Spirit Times – Issue 1 November 1968)