There are three ways a father can help a son or daughter with a project. First, he can do it for them using his own wisdom and expertise. Second, he can assemble all necessary supplies and tools, then patiently guide them through each step making them use the tools themselves. Third, he can tell them it is their responsibility to do the project and leave it to them to assemble the tools and do on their own.
In the first example, the father does all the work, the project moves quickly, the outcome is better, but the child learns very little. Gathering the right tools and supplies and giving enough guidance to work through each step takes more effort from the father, leads to results far lower than the father could have produced himself, but it helps the child grow in wisdom and experience. Having a child do it on his own forces him to be self-reliant, take greater initiative, and learn from his mistakes.
In the first example, the father does all the work, the project moves quickly, the outcome is better, but the child learns very little. Gathering the right tools and supplies and giving enough guidance to work through each step takes more effort from the father, leads to results far lower than the father could have produced himself, but it helps the child grow in wisdom and experience. Having a child do it on his own forces him to be self-reliant, take greater initiative, and learn from his mistakes.
A wise father will carefully assess the age of the child, the complexity of the project, and the danger of certain tools before deciding which is the best way to help his son. Sometimes a project is so complicated and the child so young it is wiser for him to do it. Other times even though it will push him to the limit, a child is greatly blessed to work with his father, learning how to use tools and gaining from his father’s wisdom and experience. Finally, there are times when a child must be allowed or even forced to do the project alone.
The above parable perfectly describes our Father in heaven. God is the wise father who did all the work in the material creation. By the time God brought Adam and Eve into the world, he was finished. It was far too complicated for him to ask for their assistance.
God’s plans for man’s salvation are clearly an example of the second. He used Israel and the Law to bring the Messiah into the world. Yet though he gave Israel great tools and continued guidance through Moses and the prophets, they often marred the project.
What about those of us in the church? The Scriptures actually reveal that depending upon the complexity of the project all three means are open to us as children of God.
The revelation of God’s will is an example of the first. Although man watched as God did it, the Holy Spirit made certain “it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” (Mk 13:11). While inspired, Paul said, “we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches.” (1Cor 2:13). Although many today want to blame Paul for some of the things he wrote, those who wrote Scripture had no input. None of their own flaws or imperfections mattered since “holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2Pet. 1:21).
Salvation is also a project in which God gives man a comparatively minor role, “for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). For “his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,” (2Pet. 1:3).
But there are many things God has left us the tools and the instructions and expects us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil 2:12). With all the tools and materials already set aside, “God worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). God will work with us, teaching us how to add “virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love to our faith” (2Pet. 1:3-11). “He is faithful and righteous to forgive us all unrighteousness.” and will “never fail or forsake us.” But the actual work begins and ends with us. God will bless us with success, but only if we do the work. If we do not take these tools and materials God has given and work diligently and zealously with them, we will “fall short” of our eternal redemption. We have to “add to” and we have to “cut off.” God gave us the materials and through prayer and his word he will instruct and guide us to wisdom and success, but he left it to us to work it out.
Finally, there are those things we must work on ourselves. God is very clear that he is not tempted with evil, and that he himself tempts no one (Jas 1:13-15). Sin is entirely within the mind and heart of each individual. The doors we open, the evil imaginations we create, the terrible things we do are all of our own making. So also are the consequences. “Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that sows unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:7-8). “Each is tempted when drawn away by his own lust and enticed.” We can pray, we can look for the way of escape, and we can use the sword of the Spirit to put to death the deeds of the body. But as we see in Adam, David, and Judas, each is fully responsible for making these decisions and God does not intervene. Personal consecration and holiness are completely our responsibility! It is not God’s fault when we choose to sin or think an evil thought. Along with Paul we have to buffet our bodies and look for a way of escape. We have to turn off the TV, shut down the imaginations, and bring every thought into captivity. If we reap corruption we have no one to blame but ourselves.
The above parable perfectly describes our Father in heaven. God is the wise father who did all the work in the material creation. By the time God brought Adam and Eve into the world, he was finished. It was far too complicated for him to ask for their assistance.
God’s plans for man’s salvation are clearly an example of the second. He used Israel and the Law to bring the Messiah into the world. Yet though he gave Israel great tools and continued guidance through Moses and the prophets, they often marred the project.
What about those of us in the church? The Scriptures actually reveal that depending upon the complexity of the project all three means are open to us as children of God.
The revelation of God’s will is an example of the first. Although man watched as God did it, the Holy Spirit made certain “it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” (Mk 13:11). While inspired, Paul said, “we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches.” (1Cor 2:13). Although many today want to blame Paul for some of the things he wrote, those who wrote Scripture had no input. None of their own flaws or imperfections mattered since “holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2Pet. 1:21).
Salvation is also a project in which God gives man a comparatively minor role, “for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). For “his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,” (2Pet. 1:3).
But there are many things God has left us the tools and the instructions and expects us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil 2:12). With all the tools and materials already set aside, “God worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). God will work with us, teaching us how to add “virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love to our faith” (2Pet. 1:3-11). “He is faithful and righteous to forgive us all unrighteousness.” and will “never fail or forsake us.” But the actual work begins and ends with us. God will bless us with success, but only if we do the work. If we do not take these tools and materials God has given and work diligently and zealously with them, we will “fall short” of our eternal redemption. We have to “add to” and we have to “cut off.” God gave us the materials and through prayer and his word he will instruct and guide us to wisdom and success, but he left it to us to work it out.
Finally, there are those things we must work on ourselves. God is very clear that he is not tempted with evil, and that he himself tempts no one (Jas 1:13-15). Sin is entirely within the mind and heart of each individual. The doors we open, the evil imaginations we create, the terrible things we do are all of our own making. So also are the consequences. “Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that sows unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:7-8). “Each is tempted when drawn away by his own lust and enticed.” We can pray, we can look for the way of escape, and we can use the sword of the Spirit to put to death the deeds of the body. But as we see in Adam, David, and Judas, each is fully responsible for making these decisions and God does not intervene. Personal consecration and holiness are completely our responsibility! It is not God’s fault when we choose to sin or think an evil thought. Along with Paul we have to buffet our bodies and look for a way of escape. We have to turn off the TV, shut down the imaginations, and bring every thought into captivity. If we reap corruption we have no one to blame but ourselves.