The Christian Objective is to be conformed to the “Image of Christ” (Romans 8:29) by the renewing of our minds. We must continually renew our minds with the “Mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). Our objective is to be “imitators” of Christ (1 Cor. 4:16; Eph. 5:1). We are to become a Spiritually Mature Believer at which point we have become fully “occupied with Christ” on a consistent basis.
Bible Doctrine, through the filling of the Spirit, erects a structure, a building, a house in the soul: “the house in the soul” (Proverbs 24:3, 4).
In Eph. 3:17, we have the terms: “rooted and grounded.” In Col. 2:7, we have the terms: “rooted and built up.” “Built up” is the verb “epoikodomeo.” Also, the word “oikodomia” in the Greek means “to build up,” both are definitive as to build on a foundation. The foundation for this structure is Bible Doctrine resident in the soul; and every believer is a stone in the foundation.”
The believer is a stone in the foundation.
The Holy Spirit is constructing a firm foundation who’s Cornerstone is Christ IN EACH OF OUR SOULS. Notice God does the construction through His Word. The erection of this structure takes time, it is not a spring event! It takes perhaps many years to build, depending on our obedience to His Word, our study habits and the “filling” of the Holy Spirit.
The world reads the believer like a book. We are “Living Epistles” (2 Cor. 3:3). When the world reads us, our testimony should reflect Christ.
The Following Ten Steps Illustrate mechanics of the Ascent to the Christian Objective. The ultimate goal in every believer’s life should be to become like Christ — conformed to His Image — transformed by Bible Doctrine residing in the soul. How do bible truths end up residing in the soul? Truth must be put there by daily study and intake of the Word. Scripture must not only be meditated upon but memorized for use in the daily struggles of life.
Thinking like Christ — Thinking Christ.
1). The Filling of the Holy Spirit — the believer’s “power source;” Experiencing fellowship with the Trinity; Learning to “walk with God in fields of grace.”
2). Teach-ability: Humility; Submission to Pastor/Teacher; Learning God’s Word; Respect for authority.
3). Spiritual Momentum: A solid grounding in, and reliance upon, God’s Grace; Doctrinal Grounding (Application of Bible Doctrine to the details and challenges of life).
4). Basic Christian Life: Discipline; Learning to serve the Lord and serve others; Prayer (talking with God); Meditation (Listening to God, thinking about the messages of scripture and processing the messages for use in life).
5). Spiritual Self-Esteem: The genuine instant gratification of allowing the Holy Spirit to execute step 4, above.
6). Spiritual Autonomy: Relaxed mental attitude or resting in the Lord through faith.
7). Momentum Testing: Ability to face the tragedies, afflictions, adversities and sufferings of life as a believer in the devil’s world; Accelerates spiritual growth to spiritual maturity.
8). Motivational Virtue: Personal love of God, family, friends; impersonal love for lost mankind.
9). Personal Sense of Destiny: Inspired by the Holy Spirit; The knowledge of ultimate sanctification; Eternity with the Lord.
10). Spiritual Maturity: Occupation with Christ; Consistently executing God’s grace plan.
The terms above express the function of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God. The believer’s objective therefore is to glorify God by means of the Holy Spirit controlling and directing the life of the believer. Be sure to see “Terms and Definitions” for additional related details concerning the “Filling of the Holy Spirit” and “Spiritual Maturity.”
We believers are to live God’s grace plan by means of the Holy Spirit. His plan is happening right before our very eyes … we are literally eyewitnesses to God’s actions in all circumstances of our lives. This is called “proving our faith” by this writer. God literally proves our faith by our experiences in the details of life. From these circumstances the believer recognizes and appreciates the Grace Plan of God and the “power of His Glory.”
With recognition comes appreciation, and with appreciation comes thanksgiving. This is what Paul is expressing in Eph. 5:20; 1 Thess. 5:18. We actually learn as alert, mature believers how to really appreciate God and fully appreciate His Plan for our lives and therefore we should applaud our God in suffering and blessing.
When you can truthfully applaud God no matter what the circumstance, you are learning how to function as a mature believer, both in Christ and from the doctrine processed and stored in your soul. I have termed the structure or complex that God erects in our soul as a Fortress, because that is exactly what it is … and God’s Holy Spirit is Guardian of every believers soul-fortress – our fortified soul.
FROM SEMINARY to the PULPIT to the CONGREGATION
Are Americas Seminaries teaching the fundamental Truths of God’s Word? NO! Could this be the reason so many Pastors no longer teach the “filling of the spirit” and the “edification fortress of the soul? YES!
The Christian Objective is to become a Spiritually Mature Believer fully “occupied with Christ.” Spiritual maturity should be the objective of every Pastor and every believer, because the mature stabilized believer has successfully integrated into his thinking Divine Viewpoint – The Mind of Christ, and is consistently under the control of the Indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit executes the Predesigned Personal Plan of God (PPPG) in the believer’s life.
There is no higher calling than “OCCUPATION WITH CHRIST.” So, why don’t we hear this term from the pulpit?
This study is based on Gal. 3:26; 2 Peter 3:18; Eph. 3:13, 18-21; 4:11-16, 29; 1 Cor. 2:4-7; 10, 12; 3: 12-14; 1 Cor. 8:1.
The inculcation of God’s into Word into our spirit, giveth Light – illumination (Psalms 119:130). Bible Doctrine in our soul becomes the reflected glory of God to the world.
Christ is in every believer positionally (John 14:20), but He must also be formed in us experientially, through the application of God’s Word. The believer must daily inhale God’s Word and exhale to a world living in darkness without Christ. For more on God’s grace-plan, please see the study entitled PPG/PPPG.
Happy Studying in Fields of Grace.