Now, in your hearts consecrate Christ Lord...*
The word consecrate ἁγιάζω (hagiazō) is derived from the word holy. The idea is of consecration, of being set apart, a holy people unto the Lord. Consecration speaks of our high calling and reasonable service, to become holy like Jesus.* In the scriptures, holiness speaks of maturity which is also means perfection, working out our salvation, growing up into our salvation, and the salvation of our souls. We are born of Spirit, but holiness is the end goal of faith. The idea of Christ as Lord is related to this reasonable service, consecration, becoming holy like Jesus.
through the mercies of God present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, your reasonable service.*
The reasonable service speaks of the highest form of worship and service to God, of consecrating your hearts. Many Christians believe their reasonable service is to a vocation, a "calling" into ministry, or to serve in a Church. ti tithe and give, or to the great commission in its various forms of going into all the nations; of baptizing, disciplining, teaching, and even spreading the gospel. But if we go into all nations and have not entered into this reasonable service, if we have not consecrated Christ as Lord, then we go unprepared. If we do not look like Jesus the world is not fooled by any good works we do. There is no doubt in regards to this reasonable service being the highest form of worship and service to God. This service is to become holy, like Jesus, and it is related to consecration. So the question becomes how do I become holy, which is also to ask how do I consecrate my heart, present the body a living sacrifice?
For that Christ also suffered once for sin, righteous under the unrighteous, so that he leads you to God, putting to death the flesh making alive the Spirit.*
Christ was King of kings, Lord of lords, the Son of God, and he humbled himself becoming a servant, even to the point of death on a cross, this is Christ as Lord. He gave this example and said the greatest in the kingdom of God are servants of all, they do not lord over as the authority of the world. All authority was given to Jesus by the Father and to the one he reveals himself to, it is not as one who lords over, but he says "come to me all the ones weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest."* When I consecrate Christ as my Lord it is a yoking to him and what does he say? "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am meek and lowly in heart, also you will find rest for your souls."* Christ as my Lord, he is meek and lowly in heart, not domineering, not lording over, and when yoked to him there is rest for your soul. Peter writes of an unequal yoking, in it there exists a purpose, as Christ the righteous suffered under the unrighteous, so do we for the purpose of consecration; putting to death the flesh, making alive the Spirit.
This prefigures baptism, also now saving you, not the removal of dirt from the body, but a profession of a good consciousness unto God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,*
Paul writes of three that testify, spirit, blood, and water, the greatest being of Spirit. The one born of God has an internal testimony of Spirit, and of blood, as John writes the child knows the Father and that their sins have been forgiven. Then there is a testimony of water, washing of body of sin, not like water that washes away dirt, but like the washing of a good conscience unto God. The washing is of the word of God which consecrates. What is the profession of baptism? maturity, growing up, putting to death the body of sin, "profession of a good consciousness unto God." This is entering into our reasonable service, this is presenting the body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.
On which account put aside all uncleanness and superabundant wickedness, receiving in meekness the implanted word of God, the one power to save your souls.*
The salvation of our soul is equated with maturity or working out or growing up into your salvation, with Christ as Lord, in regards to consecrating our heart, receiving with meekness the implanted word of God. Jesus is the Word of God thus to receive in meekness the implanted word of God is to consecrate your hearts, Christ as Lord. It is to look intently into the perfect law of liberty which is equated to abiding in the words of Jesus. The true disciple abides not turning away but looking intently into the truth, knowing the truth and being set free. Of course, truth without agape love is not of God, to receive the truth we are rooted and grounded in agape love. I write these things as an ongoing testimony of what I have experienced and what Christ has done. Consecration comes in truth when we set apart our hearts, Christ as Lord.
Now then Christ suffered fleshly, arm yourselves also with the same mind so that suffering fleshly he finished with sin, to the extent no longer living the remaining days in the flesh, in human desires but the will of God.*
How can one do the will of God? having the mind of Christ, a renewed mind. One can obey the spiritual laws of God with such a spiritual mind. What is the purpose of Christ as my Lord? unto consecration, holiness. And what does Christ look like as Lord, what example does he give us? one who was Lord but became a servant, suffering the righteous for the unrighteous. Yes, he is Lord, but he is meek and lowly at heart. What mindset did Christ have? though he was Lord he became a servant, even to the point of death on a cross. For what purpose? suffering fleshly finished with sin. This is the example of being great, such example Peter speaks of, not lording over, not domineering, not for personal gain, but submitting in meekness unto the Lord.* And this is the example Peter gives us to submit to the unrighteous, to the unequally yoked authority, as unto the Lord. There is a purpose in the trial, setting apart the heart unto consecration.
And who is the one harming you if you become zealots for good? But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Now, be not fearful of their threats nor be troubled, yea, consecrate your hearts, Christ Lord...*
The submission that Christ gave as an example, was suffering under the unrighteous, in such, he entrusted himself to God. Entrusting oneself to God is key to entering this reasonable service were grace is a service to us as it is God's power perfecting us. The example Peter gives us is an unequally yoked marriage, in such the wife is submitting to the husband, as unto the Lord. We think that the submission is primarily to convert him by her good conduct, while this could be an outcome the greater purpose is of her maturity, she in her heart enters into consecration. See, submitting to authority without Christ as Lord is of no benefit. James writes I can helping orphans and being pure from the world is pure religion. In other words, if I am not pure, holy, if I have not consecrated my heart to the Lord, I do not have pure religion. Likewise, I can spread the gospel, make disciples, teach, serve, tithe, give, and help orphans and widows but if I have not set apart my heart unto the Lord, unto holiness, I do not have pure religion. Peter writes there is a blessing in the suffering, as Jesus said, blessed are those persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
dear friends, be not surprised that a proving by fire has come among you as if something strange is happening to you, but rejoice according to the sufferings of Christ, so that his glory is revealed, the one. Also, rejoice and be glad, if you are insulted in the name of Christ, blessed, because the Spirit of glory, also the Spirit of God, rests on you.*
James writes of the same type of proving under fire, it has a purpose, unto consecration, holiness, maturity. The glory we see in Jesus, it speaks of maturity, this glory we are being transformed into, and he is the hope of this glory. The glory of heaven supersedes the glory of men. Stephen experiences the glory of God, and he was stoned because he did not submit to the authority of man but spoke against them, submitting to the authority of the Lord. We submit to authority as unto the Lord. Peter writes we submit to the authority that rewards good and punishes evil.* To slaves at the time of his writing time, which we could relate to unequally yoked authority, authority at work, of this world, Peter writes we submit to both good and bad unto the Lord, for a good conscience toward God.*
For this is pleasing to God through a good conscience unto God someone endures pain, suffering unjustly.*
Submission to the unjust authority of the world for righteousness sake is unto the Lord, for the purpose of consecrating the heart, unto holiness. And what good is it if we are punished for wrong? Surely, the authority that comes against you will have justified in their mind why and they will try very hard to find wrong, any excuse to continue to justify their actions. So as Peter writes, do not give them a chance by your good conduct and be prepared to give a defense for the hope in you. Christ submitted to the unrighteous authority for us so that we die to sin and are raised into newness of life. Likewise, we submit to such authority, as unto the Lord, for the purpose of our consecration, setting apart our hearts, Christ as Lord.
"For this is pleasing to God if through conscience to God someone suffers pain and injustice, for what credit, if doing wrong also afflicted and enduring it? But if doing good also suffer this is pleasing to the Lord"* Why is this pleasing to God that we suffer?
For this, you have been called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving behind your example so that you follow in his footsteps.*
To follow Jesus means to walk in the footsteps of His suffering, to participate in His sufferings. When the Church puts focus on earthly blessings and prosperity then many will question when the trial comes, why is this happening... The suffering is not because you have done evil, no, there is a purpose and the example Christ gave us; putting to death the flesh and being raised in newness of life. The example of consecration. And when we submit to this unjust authority possibly they might by our good conduct be won over. But this is not so that we will be exalted by men, but by God. It is about maturity, becoming like Jesus which internal beauty is precious in the sight of God, more pleasing than external beauty, more valuable than silver and gold.
But also if you suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed. Now, do not be fearful of their threats nor be troubled.*
The kingdom of God belongs to the poor, the meek and humble in heart, to the peacemakers, to those persecuted for righteousness sake. What is the blessing in the suffering? James writes, "consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various kinds of trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and possessing endurance, having its intended purpose; so that you exist mature and whole, lacking in nothing."* So that your internal beauty is mature and whole, lacking in nothing. Peter and Paul tell us that Christ suffered for a purpose, "Christ suffered once in place of sin, the righteous for the benefit of the unrighteous, so that he leads us to God, putting to death the flesh, now, alive in Spirit."* The example Jesus gave us is that suffering leads us to God, putting to death the flesh and being raised in newness of life.
Now, this is the end goal; of the same mind, sympathetic, brotherly love, compassionate, humble, not returning bad for bad, reviling for reviling, yea, blessing, because for this we are called, to inherit a blessing.*
Red Letters
The word consecrate ἁγιάζω (hagiazō) is derived from the word holy. The idea is of consecration, of being set apart, a holy people unto the Lord. Consecration speaks of our high calling and reasonable service, to become holy like Jesus.* In the scriptures, holiness speaks of maturity which is also means perfection, working out our salvation, growing up into our salvation, and the salvation of our souls. We are born of Spirit, but holiness is the end goal of faith. The idea of Christ as Lord is related to this reasonable service, consecration, becoming holy like Jesus.
through the mercies of God present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, your reasonable service.*
The reasonable service speaks of the highest form of worship and service to God, of consecrating your hearts. Many Christians believe their reasonable service is to a vocation, a "calling" into ministry, or to serve in a Church. ti tithe and give, or to the great commission in its various forms of going into all the nations; of baptizing, disciplining, teaching, and even spreading the gospel. But if we go into all nations and have not entered into this reasonable service, if we have not consecrated Christ as Lord, then we go unprepared. If we do not look like Jesus the world is not fooled by any good works we do. There is no doubt in regards to this reasonable service being the highest form of worship and service to God. This service is to become holy, like Jesus, and it is related to consecration. So the question becomes how do I become holy, which is also to ask how do I consecrate my heart, present the body a living sacrifice?
For that Christ also suffered once for sin, righteous under the unrighteous, so that he leads you to God, putting to death the flesh making alive the Spirit.*
Christ was King of kings, Lord of lords, the Son of God, and he humbled himself becoming a servant, even to the point of death on a cross, this is Christ as Lord. He gave this example and said the greatest in the kingdom of God are servants of all, they do not lord over as the authority of the world. All authority was given to Jesus by the Father and to the one he reveals himself to, it is not as one who lords over, but he says "come to me all the ones weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest."* When I consecrate Christ as my Lord it is a yoking to him and what does he say? "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am meek and lowly in heart, also you will find rest for your souls."* Christ as my Lord, he is meek and lowly in heart, not domineering, not lording over, and when yoked to him there is rest for your soul. Peter writes of an unequal yoking, in it there exists a purpose, as Christ the righteous suffered under the unrighteous, so do we for the purpose of consecration; putting to death the flesh, making alive the Spirit.
This prefigures baptism, also now saving you, not the removal of dirt from the body, but a profession of a good consciousness unto God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,*
Paul writes of three that testify, spirit, blood, and water, the greatest being of Spirit. The one born of God has an internal testimony of Spirit, and of blood, as John writes the child knows the Father and that their sins have been forgiven. Then there is a testimony of water, washing of body of sin, not like water that washes away dirt, but like the washing of a good conscience unto God. The washing is of the word of God which consecrates. What is the profession of baptism? maturity, growing up, putting to death the body of sin, "profession of a good consciousness unto God." This is entering into our reasonable service, this is presenting the body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God.
On which account put aside all uncleanness and superabundant wickedness, receiving in meekness the implanted word of God, the one power to save your souls.*
The salvation of our soul is equated with maturity or working out or growing up into your salvation, with Christ as Lord, in regards to consecrating our heart, receiving with meekness the implanted word of God. Jesus is the Word of God thus to receive in meekness the implanted word of God is to consecrate your hearts, Christ as Lord. It is to look intently into the perfect law of liberty which is equated to abiding in the words of Jesus. The true disciple abides not turning away but looking intently into the truth, knowing the truth and being set free. Of course, truth without agape love is not of God, to receive the truth we are rooted and grounded in agape love. I write these things as an ongoing testimony of what I have experienced and what Christ has done. Consecration comes in truth when we set apart our hearts, Christ as Lord.
Now then Christ suffered fleshly, arm yourselves also with the same mind so that suffering fleshly he finished with sin, to the extent no longer living the remaining days in the flesh, in human desires but the will of God.*
How can one do the will of God? having the mind of Christ, a renewed mind. One can obey the spiritual laws of God with such a spiritual mind. What is the purpose of Christ as my Lord? unto consecration, holiness. And what does Christ look like as Lord, what example does he give us? one who was Lord but became a servant, suffering the righteous for the unrighteous. Yes, he is Lord, but he is meek and lowly at heart. What mindset did Christ have? though he was Lord he became a servant, even to the point of death on a cross. For what purpose? suffering fleshly finished with sin. This is the example of being great, such example Peter speaks of, not lording over, not domineering, not for personal gain, but submitting in meekness unto the Lord.* And this is the example Peter gives us to submit to the unrighteous, to the unequally yoked authority, as unto the Lord. There is a purpose in the trial, setting apart the heart unto consecration.
And who is the one harming you if you become zealots for good? But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Now, be not fearful of their threats nor be troubled, yea, consecrate your hearts, Christ Lord...*
The submission that Christ gave as an example, was suffering under the unrighteous, in such, he entrusted himself to God. Entrusting oneself to God is key to entering this reasonable service were grace is a service to us as it is God's power perfecting us. The example Peter gives us is an unequally yoked marriage, in such the wife is submitting to the husband, as unto the Lord. We think that the submission is primarily to convert him by her good conduct, while this could be an outcome the greater purpose is of her maturity, she in her heart enters into consecration. See, submitting to authority without Christ as Lord is of no benefit. James writes I can helping orphans and being pure from the world is pure religion. In other words, if I am not pure, holy, if I have not consecrated my heart to the Lord, I do not have pure religion. Likewise, I can spread the gospel, make disciples, teach, serve, tithe, give, and help orphans and widows but if I have not set apart my heart unto the Lord, unto holiness, I do not have pure religion. Peter writes there is a blessing in the suffering, as Jesus said, blessed are those persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
dear friends, be not surprised that a proving by fire has come among you as if something strange is happening to you, but rejoice according to the sufferings of Christ, so that his glory is revealed, the one. Also, rejoice and be glad, if you are insulted in the name of Christ, blessed, because the Spirit of glory, also the Spirit of God, rests on you.*
James writes of the same type of proving under fire, it has a purpose, unto consecration, holiness, maturity. The glory we see in Jesus, it speaks of maturity, this glory we are being transformed into, and he is the hope of this glory. The glory of heaven supersedes the glory of men. Stephen experiences the glory of God, and he was stoned because he did not submit to the authority of man but spoke against them, submitting to the authority of the Lord. We submit to authority as unto the Lord. Peter writes we submit to the authority that rewards good and punishes evil.* To slaves at the time of his writing time, which we could relate to unequally yoked authority, authority at work, of this world, Peter writes we submit to both good and bad unto the Lord, for a good conscience toward God.*
For this is pleasing to God through a good conscience unto God someone endures pain, suffering unjustly.*
Submission to the unjust authority of the world for righteousness sake is unto the Lord, for the purpose of consecrating the heart, unto holiness. And what good is it if we are punished for wrong? Surely, the authority that comes against you will have justified in their mind why and they will try very hard to find wrong, any excuse to continue to justify their actions. So as Peter writes, do not give them a chance by your good conduct and be prepared to give a defense for the hope in you. Christ submitted to the unrighteous authority for us so that we die to sin and are raised into newness of life. Likewise, we submit to such authority, as unto the Lord, for the purpose of our consecration, setting apart our hearts, Christ as Lord.
"For this is pleasing to God if through conscience to God someone suffers pain and injustice, for what credit, if doing wrong also afflicted and enduring it? But if doing good also suffer this is pleasing to the Lord"* Why is this pleasing to God that we suffer?
For this, you have been called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving behind your example so that you follow in his footsteps.*
To follow Jesus means to walk in the footsteps of His suffering, to participate in His sufferings. When the Church puts focus on earthly blessings and prosperity then many will question when the trial comes, why is this happening... The suffering is not because you have done evil, no, there is a purpose and the example Christ gave us; putting to death the flesh and being raised in newness of life. The example of consecration. And when we submit to this unjust authority possibly they might by our good conduct be won over. But this is not so that we will be exalted by men, but by God. It is about maturity, becoming like Jesus which internal beauty is precious in the sight of God, more pleasing than external beauty, more valuable than silver and gold.
But also if you suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed. Now, do not be fearful of their threats nor be troubled.*
The kingdom of God belongs to the poor, the meek and humble in heart, to the peacemakers, to those persecuted for righteousness sake. What is the blessing in the suffering? James writes, "consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various kinds of trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and possessing endurance, having its intended purpose; so that you exist mature and whole, lacking in nothing."* So that your internal beauty is mature and whole, lacking in nothing. Peter and Paul tell us that Christ suffered for a purpose, "Christ suffered once in place of sin, the righteous for the benefit of the unrighteous, so that he leads us to God, putting to death the flesh, now, alive in Spirit."* The example Jesus gave us is that suffering leads us to God, putting to death the flesh and being raised in newness of life.
Now, this is the end goal; of the same mind, sympathetic, brotherly love, compassionate, humble, not returning bad for bad, reviling for reviling, yea, blessing, because for this we are called, to inherit a blessing.*
If my brother insults me, I am called to inherit a blessing. If authority at work reviles me, I am called to a blessing. The blessing comes in the persecution, in the trial, when I consecrate my heart, Christ as Lord. In the proving comes maturity, an approved mind, of the mind of Christ, that accepts God's will. And it is a test of the genuineness of your faith, as John writes those born of God do not continue in sin, as God's seed abides in him. The young person is strong as the word of God abides in him, he overcomes the evil one. Consecrate your hearts, Christ as Lord, submit in meekness to the implanted word of God, the one power to save your soul. When yoked to Christ we know by example he is meek and lowly in heart, his burden is light and we find rest for our souls. Its a good place to be.