MINI STUDY

Obviously, we cannot become absolutely perfect in character until the resurrection when God will complete the process and give us new, perfect spiritual bodies with a perfect — sinless (I John 3:2. 9) —nature~that will be like Christ's and_the_Father's. But in the meantime, God wants us to grow in His spiritual character daily by obeying His commandments and overcoming and rooting sin out of our lives — growing toward that spiritual perfection.

Hebrews 5:8-9. Did Christ overcome.' John 16:33. Did He resist temptation'1 Hebrews 4:15.

Jesus Christ became perfect through the trials and tests of human experience., He overcame the temptations of the devil. His flesh and the world around Him. In spite of opposition and temptation. He kept God's commandments perfectly. Thus He was able to become the Savior of mankind and the supreme example of spiritual maturity Christians are to be striving to emulate.

We If we have become true Christians, are now the Spirit-begotten children of God. We are heirs — joint heirs with Jesus Christ_— destined to inherit and help rule everything God has created when we are born again at the resurrection as members of the God Family'

Through overcoming the sinful pulls and impulses of the flesh, the world and the devil, and rather submitting to God and His ways, our spiritual character is being developed. We are building the very character of God. And the more we over-come, the greater the responsibility Christ will give us in His government on earth. Thus the greater will be our reward!

But no one can overcome for us. No one can produce spiritual works for us. Ft requires putting forth effort on our part, together with the help of God's Holy Spirit, to become the kind of spiritually minded and motivated persons God can use in His Kingdom. Overcoming (ceasing from doing) the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) involves letting Christ, by means of His Spirit, live in us to empower us to bear spiritual fruit — to perform spiritual works.

Whether your reward in God's Kingdom is great or small depends on you! It depends on your works. It depends on how much effort you expend in overcoming and growing spiritually. It depends on whether you always willingly let Christ mold you into His character image or whether you tend to resist change. Notice Paul's advice in Romans 12:2: "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remake you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed. Thus you will prove in practice that the will of God is good, acceptable to him and perfect" (Phillips Modern English translation. paraphrased).

The parable of the pounds recorded in Luke 19 shows that the degree of reward each Christian will receive will be according to how much he grew and overcame spiritually in this life :— how much good fruit he produced by his effort and the help of the Holy Spirit. In this parable Christ pictures Himself as a young nobleman going to a far land (heaven) to receive a kingdom and to return (to earth) (verses 11:12). As He left. He delegated certain responsibilities to each of His servants (representative of converted Christians to whom God has given His Holy Spirit). 7. At His return, having obtained the Kingdom. how will Christ judge His servants? Luke 19:15. Notice the words ''that he might know how much every man had gained by trading."

Each pound represented a unit of money symbolizing spiritual value. God has given each Christian His Holy Spirit to be used to serve others, to overcome and develop spiritual character and to accomplish the Work of God.

True Christians are the servants of Jesus Christ. (I "Corinthians 7:22-23). Some overcome more than others — accomplish more spiritual works with what they have been given and develop more spiritual character than others. Thus, in the Kingdom or Family of God. each will receive greater or lesser positions of responsibility dependent on the degree of his spiritual overcoming and character development in this life. Each will be rewarded "according to his works" (Matthew 16:27). But everyone will have a vital, meaningful responsibility to perform.

The responsibilities, which each one of God's Spirit-begotten children today is in the process of qualifying for. and which God wishes to bestow on us. are in addition to the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23). So the reward is commensurate to our effort and diligence in overcoming, but access to eternal life comes freely through Christ as God's gift. There is no way we can earn salvation.

If you are not moving forward in growth, then the tendency is to slip backward?

As the High Priest of all Spirit-begotten children of God. Jesus Christ is always available to help us overcome. He takes special interest in our spiritual development, helping to prepare us so we can eventually inherit all things with Him!

Christ is always on the job and available to help in times of weakness or trial. Through_the_ Holy Spirit He helps us to live a life of overcoming. Thus we have an active role in the salvation process too. It is up to us to "take earnest heed" to use today's time and opportunities for overcoming spiritually.