Need Rest and Reasonable Service; the flow of transformation in the life of a disciple of Jesus

Paul taught that the creation itself was groaning to be liberated. He also wrote that anyone in Christ Jesus is a new creation. He taught that believers are the righteousness of God in Christ. This is positional….it is a declaration that is our designation in Jesus. Peter explained that we become partakers of the divine nature and many New Testament writers explained that believers would be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Further, Paul explained that God made Jesus, who knew no sin to be made sin for us that we might be the righteousness of God in him. We know that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus and, being in Christ Jesus is putting faith in him….it is trusting him and quite frankly, I like how the amplified bible explains it…trust, that is…it says when speaking of faith…trusting in, relying on and clinging too.

Now then, what is the flow of the transformation? How does it work practically in the believer? It can be summed up in three ideas; need, rest and, reasonable service. It flows in that sequence. What is the rest? Well we looked at the Sabbath Rest in Hebrews and found that it was believing (trusting in, relying on and clinging too Jesus) and, that it was holding fast our confidence at all times until the end. Holding fast our confidence no matter what; It is not measured by our successes or failures in sanctification. In fact, sanctification is the work of the process and is by the effort of the Holy Spirit working through need, rest and reasonable service.

The Book of Romans spells out this process. Romans 1:1 through 3:20 explains the need…and the need is great. Romans 3:21 through 11:36 explains all of the reasons for the rest (resting in Jesus) and, Romans 12:1 through Romans 16:20 focuses on our reasonable service. The reasonable service is last. It is only efficacious from a place of rest which is trusting in, relying on and clinging too Jesus with a settled confidence that perseverses.

Unfortunately, the bulk of evangelical doctrine teaches that one must do the reasonable service to be considered really converted. That is a very harmful teaching and is responsible for multitudes of saints striving to please God, striving to control sin, striving to love each other and, striving to be obedient.

This is especially sad when the writer of Hebrews told his audience that they should strive to enter the rest. What does it mean to strive to enter the rest? Well it meant for that author to hold the confidence until the end…no matter what. It meant to persevere; to go boldly to the throne of grace whenever necessary; it meant that faith had great reward; it meant that without faith (persevering faith –trusting in, relying on and, clinging to faith) it was impossible to please God. Sabbath Rest, is a most necessary ingredient to properly do reasonable service.