As we have come to celebrate and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, let us consider some of the realities of who we are becoming as we are being called, justified, sanctified, and, as of today, let us realize that we also have become members of God’s family as “Beatified Beautiful Family Of Jesus Christ”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 17:8 – 15 (KJV)
Psa 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
Psa 17:9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
Psa 17:10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
Psa 17:11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
Psa 17:12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
Psa 17:13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
Psa 17:14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
Psa 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
New Testament Scripture Reading: 1John 3:1 – 3 (KJV):
1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) There is a clear difference from the people who know God through His Son Jesus Christ from all other peoples in the world, because the true believer in Christ comes to realize that they have been called to become like Jesus (The Messiah, God’s Son) and therefore to understand things in this life according to God’s Word, which describes the differences between godliness and ungodliness.
2) The Psalmist rejoiced in the differences that he possessed as he compared the way of the godless to the way of the godly, and also knew that God had beatified his life on earth, with a destination of being in the likness of God when the process is completed.
3) John the Apostle in the New Testament, also carried on the same idea pointing out that when we see Jesus, we shall be “like him” for we shall see Him just as He is; and that we all who possess this hope, like the Psalmist, live in a constant state of being beatified (sanctified) from day to day.
