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Christ, Christ Jesus, Christian, God, Jesus, Matthew Henry, new calvinism, religion, Sanctification, Second Epistle to the Corinthians
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. – 2 Corinthians 5:9
It was the Apostle Paul’s desire, ambition, and teaching that whether in this world or the next, that he –as well as ourselves – would strive, labor or work to please the Lord with his life.
The word for ambition here is philotimeomai, and means to be fond of honor, to be eager to do something, anything and to strive to please the Lord in doing it, regardless of what it is. In short, to live and to do, so as to be acceptable to the Lord.
A true believer in Christ will desire the same thing – to work and live in such a way as to seek the favor of the Lord. It makes us principled and conscientious to live holy lives. Such a life is pleasing to both God and man (Romans 14:18; Hebrews 13:21).
Let no one deceive you brethren, in regard to your sanctification, your works do matter. A Christian is not, as many are teaching these days under the banner of ‘new Calvinism’, totally depraved. Those outside of Christ are totally depraved, but you, brethren, are new creatures indeed.
Matthew Henry:
The apostle quickens himself and others to acts of duty. Well-grounded hopes of heaven will not encourage sloth and sinful security. Let all consider the judgment to come, which is called, The terror of the Lord. Knowing what terrible vengeance the Lord would execute upon the workers of iniquity, the apostle and his brethren used every argument and persuasion, to lead men to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to act as his disciples. Their zeal and diligence were for the glory of God and the good of the church. Christ’s love to us will have a like effect upon us, if duly considered and rightly judged. All were lost and undone, dead and ruined, slaves to sin, having no power to deliver themselves, and must have remained thus miserable for ever, if Christ had not died. We should not make ourselves, but Christ, the end of our living and actions. A Christian’s life should be devoted to Christ. Alas, how many show the worthlessness of their professed faith and love, by living to themselves and to the world!
Living in two kingdoms, Christians are NOT totally depraved – this was true before we were born again by faith foreign to ourselves, by the grace of God. Though we still have sin in our flesh and still continue to sin while we inhabit these earthly tents, we are not what we once were! But we will not be as He is until the Day of Judgment, when He returns to destroy sin and reclaim earth – and all those whose names are written in the Lamb;s Book of Life. To praise and glorry of His name.
NO, we are NOT totally depraved.
But we don’t improve ourselves where God is concerned. Like Manfred says, “two kingdoms”. We can and should improve ourselves in this earthly life.
But God declares us totally righteous and acceptable …for Jesus’ sake.
“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion…”
Do we really believe that? Yes, some of us do.
The only work we need is our believing. The work was is all Done!
What do we need to ADD? nothing. Just believing. What work did the thief on the Cross DO? He only believed why should we ADD to the great work and life of Jesus Christ.