So, if you be in Christ, then you be “a new creature” (II Corinthians 5:17). You are no longer a part of Adam’s sinful race, a race that has a fixed moral nature in sin. No, you are now part of a new race, a spiritual race, created solely by Jesus through death and resurrection. This new spiritual race has a nature that is fixed in righteousness. No longer do we “know good and are unable to do it.” No longer do we “know evil and are unable to resist it” (Ephesians 2:1-3). We have been given “a second chance.”

“But God is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead—only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved—and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms—all because of what Christ Jesus did. And now God can always point to us as examples of how very, very rich his kindness is, as shown in all he has done for us through Jesus Christ. Because of his kindness, you have been saved through trusting Christ. And even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it. It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others” (Ephesians 2:4-10 TLB).

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Most believers are familiar with “The Great Commission.” These were a set of instructions given to the disciples by Jesus Christ.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Jesus gave these instructions shortly before he ascended to heaven to “sit at the right hand of the Father” (Acts 2:33-34). These instructions basically told his disciples, which now includes all “those who have love one to another” (John 8:35) to go forth and to make disciples in all nations, teaching them “to observe all things whatsoever and to obey all the commands” that he, Jesus had given them. Some of you do not feel that you are qualified and will not answer the call. But if that be the case, then listen to these words of Paul.

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Let us continue with the “snapshot” of you and your faith. Remember that this snapshot is not meant to be a picture of where you wanted to be with your faith but one that will reveal where you are and where your faith currently stands. Once you determine where you are, you can determine the course that you need to take to get you where you want to be with your faith and then, then you will be able to determine when you reach your goal. Previously, we covered “great faith” (Matthew 8:5-10); “little faith” (Matthew 14:22-31); “weak in faith” (Romans 4:17-19); “strong (strengthened) in faith,” (Romans 4:20-21); and “full of faith” (Acts 6:1-5).

FAITH UNFEIGNED (SINCERE FAITH) - Now the end (purpose) of the commandments is charity (love) out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of “faith unfeigned (sincere faith)” (I Timothy 1:5).

SHIPWRECKED FAITH - This charge (command) I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee (previously made concerning you), that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put (rejected) away concerning faith have made (suffered) shipwreck (I Timothy 1:18-19).

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Not long ago, we talked about “taking a snapshot” of you and your faith. With this snapshot, we mentioned that you would be able to see where you were in accordance with your faith. We also mentioned that this snapshot was not meant to be a picture of where you wanted to be with your faith but one that revealed where you are and where your faith currently stands. You see, you have to determine where you truly are with your faith so that you can know what you need to do and where you need to go to get your faith where you want it to be an in order to maximize your faith. Once you determine where you are, you can determine the course that you need to take to get you where you want to be with your faith. Then you will be able to determine when you reach your goal.

Everything in your Christian life depends on your faith. You can develop your faith through knowledge by knowing and understanding the word of God. The greatest hindrance to your faith is your own human reasoning. The greatest limitation to your faith is you yourself. What you do with the faith that you have been given is entirely up to you, but it is you that must grow it, that must develop it, that must exercise it. Here is a partial list that we hope will help you to develop your snapshot and to determine where you are with your faith. Do not forget to be honest in your estimate of yourself, measuring your value based on how much faith God has given you.. See if you can locate exactly where you currently are with your faith.

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All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both freshwater and saltwater flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water (James 3:7-12 NIV).

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29 NIV). Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:4 NIV). Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips (Ecclesiastes 10:12 NIV). You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Matthew 12:34 NIV).

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We have mentioned that you have to follow God’s instructions if you want to become all that God has planned for you to become. As believers, we now know some of the many benefits to following God’s instructions. While we are still a work in progress, we have discovered one of “the rewards for them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). We become “spiritually and morally mature.” When we become “spiritually and morally mature,” we speak wisdom among them that are the same. We speak not the wisdom of the world or the wisdom of those thought to be intelligent, wise, learned, or scholarly. We speak not the wisdom of the sages and the men of discernment. We speak not the wisdom of the Greek philosophers and orators or the Jewish theologians and the Christian teachers. No, we speak the wisdom of God, which is given to us by divine revelation. Yes, we speak the wisdom of God, wisdom that was hidden before the world began. Yes, that’s right; wisdom that God predestined from the beginning that would result in glory to us. Jesus prayed, thanking the Father for revealing this wisdom to those who would become “the spiritually and morally mature.” And as the spiritually and morally mature, we now know that the word of God is wisdom only to “those who have an ear to hear.”

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Because of Adam’s disobedience, the penalty of death came and reigned like a king over all mankind. It, death, was passed to every man because all have sinned.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

But the sin spoken of here is not what you may think it is. “Sin is not sin.” And no, we have not lost our minds or gone over the edge. However, the explanation may interest you, especially, if you be one of those who has an ear to hear. One definition of “sin” says, “to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong.” Another one says, “to wander from the law of God or to violate God’s law.” Another definition says, “that which is done wrong as in an offence or a violation of the divine law in thought or in act.” Then there is “the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many” definition. Traditionally, “sin” has a very simple definition. “Sin” is basically defined as “a violation of divine law.” But could there be an alternative definition?

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Rejoice in the Lord always. Even though the fig trees are all destroyed, and there is neither blossom left nor fruit; though the olive crops all fail, and the fields lie barren; even if the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be happy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; he will give me the speed of a deer and bring me safely over the mountains (Habakkuk 3:17-18 TLB). Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near (Philippians 4:4-5 NIV). The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him (Exodus 15:2 NIV). I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations (Isaiah 61:10-11 NIV). I will rejoice in the Lord and I will be joyful in God my Savior.

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Proud men end in shame, but the meek become wise (Proverbs 11:2 TLB). Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall (Proverbs 16:18 TLB). Pride ends in destruction; humility ends in honor (Proverbs18:12 TLB). Pride ends in a fall, while humility brings honor (Proverbs 29:23 TLB). And how does a man benefit if he gains the whole world and loses his soul in the process? For is anything worth more than his soul (Mark 8:36-37 TLB)?

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits (store my crops)? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow (store) all my fruits (crops) and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God (Luke 12:15-21). For what is a man advantaged (benefited), if he gain the whole world, and lose himself (is destroyed), or be cast away (lost) (Luke 9:25)? For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul (Matthew 16:26)?

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