A CHALLENGING EXHORTATION

"Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you." (Phil 3:15).

THE EXHORTATION IS CHALLENGING. Mind you, Paul is not writing to fellow Apostles! He is writing to a body of believers – just like us! The "mind" we are to have has been described as the one Paul Himself possessed: "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:13-14). Concerning the things that he has forsaken, he forgets! Concerning the appointed things that are ahead, he stretches forward to obtain them. Concerning the prize that is set before him, he presses relentlessly toward the goal. That is a sort of summation of spiritual life: cutting the chords to the past, fervently seeking to obtain what God has set before us, and making every effort to gain the prize to which God has called us in Christ.

THERE IS NO MANNER OF RELIGIOUS LIFE can compensate for failure in these areas. No religious achievement can make up for their absence. No church affiliation can take the place of these things: forgetting, reaching, and pressing. This spiritual aggression is essential if we are to "take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of" us (Phil 2:12).

THE ATTITUDE OF PRESSING toward the mark is to be possessed by all who are "perfect," or spiritually mature. However, if there are some who are not able to see the sense of this admonition, Paul does not give up on them! He says that God will "reveal that also to you." A person may choose to reject this reasoning, but that does not remove its power for those who receive it. If we will only be in earnest in our quest to know and fellowship with Christ, engaging in a sustained effort for Him, God will correct our minor misconceptions.

IF THAT SEEMS TOO GOOD to be true, hear the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, your King. "If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself" (John 7:17). The NRSV reads, "Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own." The NIV translates the verse as follows: "If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own."Mark it well, Paul teaches, but revelation comes from God – "God shall reveal even this unto you!" However well a teacher may teach, and however powerfully a preacher may preach, true wisdom comes "down from above" (James 3:17).

THOSE WHO "WALK HUMBLY" with their God, will soon be "taught" by Him! It makes little difference how this may impact upon personal or corporate theologies. God has spoken on this matter, and there is no room for varying opinions. That is why God will "reveal" the truth of a matter to those who walk according to the same "rule" or principle as Paul – seeking above all else to "know Christ!" If you are firmly anchored in the faith, the Lord will help you to understand otherwise troublesome matters. It is ever true, "They shall all be taught by God!"

A CHANGED LIFE. Spiritual growth is the result of Divine tutoring. There are people who "become callous," having"given themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness" (Eph 4:19, NASB). Often, such individuals wear the name of Jesus, tragic though it is to consider.

WHEN SPEAKING OF THIS unfortunate consideration (being dominated by the flesh), Paul states, "But ye have no so learned Christ (Eph 4:20). There is a consistency in spiritual life that forbids lapses into the flesh. Learning Christ is appropriating the Divine nature. It involves Divine instruction and human learning. Here are the words of the Spirit; "If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph 4:21-24). Considering this passage, it is apparent that no one has really heard and been taught by Christ who remains dominated by the flesh, being enslaved to the "old man." Such a person has actually spurned Christ and grieved the Holy Spirit.

HERE IS AN ASPECT of being taught by God that is exceedingly precious! The Lord effectively teaches us to subordinate the sinful nature and give heed to the Divine nature – a most remarkable achievement! Because this comes to us through the channel of God's grace, it is written, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Tit 2:11-12). Grace instructs us through a Person. We are "taught by God," and He does it through His grace and by His Son. While a change in life involves the discipline and activity of the believer, it actually happens because of the teaching of the Lord! Christ, through His grace, teaches us to effectually say "NO" to the flesh and "YES" to the Spirit! In this way, we are most wonderfully "taught by God."

– Given O. Blakely