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Why Are We Called To Overcome?
By John O. Reid
April 24, 2005
Tape 716C
All of us who have been in the church for any length of time understand what these days and the events in which we participate represent. Leaven represents a way of life that is against God and against us, as well. Being unleavened represents harmony with God and positive things for us now. It represents a wonderful positive life in the future, as a beloved member of the family of God. We all understand that the physical act of de-leavening our homes shows that we are obedient to God in His commands and also shows our desire to become unleavened. Being diligent in our search for leaven, looking in every conceivable place where it might hide, shows that we have an understanding that leaven—and the sin that it represents—is reflected in our Jeremiah 17:9 heart that is deceitful above all things. We are determined to ferret it out.
As preparing for the Passover is good for us, preparing for the Days of Unleavened Bread is good for us, too. It places our mind where it needs to be after the taking of the bread and the wine, and that is remaining clean before God.
I Corinthians 5:1-8 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father's wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
In the United States, the fact that someone commits adultery or has his father's wife or anything else immoral is not considered unusual at all in this society. We in this nation put up with anything and everything today; but in Paul's time, this was a tremendous, unheard of sin. Verse one should read something like this: "It is actually reported everywhere, that there is an example of fornication (incest) among you that is not even named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife." (It is abhorred and not tolerated even in the Gentiles' society at all.)
Verse 2: "But rather than being heartsick about it, you are puffed up, or filled with pride at your tolerance, and allow this wickedness and example to remain in the church. Do you not know that it will spread? You should have mourned that this sin occurred and taken steps to remove this sin from the church by not allowing the one who continues to live this way remain in your group."
Verses 3-5: "Give this one to Satan that he might be removed from the teaching and safety of the church. He may again realize what it is like to be on his own, apart from his spiritual family, and that he may repent and not lose his salvation. In short, this man should be receiving correction, not 'understanding.'"
Verse 6: "Do you not know that a little leaven will eventually leaven everything?"
The leavening action, by whatever the agent, can produce explosive results. There have been ocean-going vessels that have carried cargo such as rice or some other grain that became wet, expanded, and split the ships' seams. I have seen a truck full of frozen dough with cases bulging from leavening, starting to work from the temperature not being quite low enough. It is interesting to note that leavening in frozen items continues to work, though much more slowly. In short, leavening is always at work. Because of this, it is evident that God chose the right ingredient to picture pride and sin, since it seems to always be working. Thus, Paul is telling the church, "If this is not taken care of, it will permeate the church."
Verse 7: "Get rid of what produces sin, that you may become a new lump, or person. Why? Because you are a new person, called by God. Therefore you are to be pure, removing every impurity, that you might become holy."
Verse 8: "Let us keep these Holy Days (or this calling that we have been given) not with the pulls and attitudes of the life that we were called from, not with the leaven of malice and wickedness—because, as leaven, it can cause all the church to become infected—but we are to keep the Feast with the 'unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.' In other words, let us be sincere, true, and faithful. As unleavened bread pictures purity, so let us be pure, clean, and righteous."
It is easy, during this season, to concentrate on a specific sin on which one is working to put out, but today I would like us all to look at the larger picture—the picture of why we are called to overcome—that it might be an incentive to really work at becoming unleavened. Paul points out that it all boils down to two different ways of living: the living of Satan's way, which is leavened, or the living of God's way, which is unleavened.
What is God doing with His wonderful creation?
Genesis 1:26-28 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Mankind as a whole does not believe that God created them, and they do not have a clue as to their future potential. Their religious leaders are no better. However, we know that God the Father and Jesus Christ have a huge and awesome plan. They want to call and convert, if possible, all of mankind that they might eventually become the very members of the God family. We who at this time who are the foolish, weak, and insignificant have been called by God, and we had better not forget it.
The reason is that we see our many shortcomings and flaws. As Jesus states, in Matthew 5, blessed are the poor, those humble of mind; and blessed are they who mourn at the lack they feel. Blessed are the meek, who do not hold resentments because of remembering all their past mistakes and the flaws in their character. Because of this, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, those who long to change from what they are to what God is offering.
I Corinthians 1:26-31 For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yes, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.
It is this group that God is first calling. Through us, He will put to shame the things which are mighty; and we who are insignificant will bring to nothing the system and the way this world lives. God will use us to accomplish His goal, and that is what it is all about. What an awesome calling we have been given! We have tremendous potential, and God has a wonderful future for us. It is going to be just astounding.
Matthew 21:28:32 "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' "He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.
This is the parable that Jesus Christ gave to the Pharisees, who were the religious leaders of the day. Adam Clarke comments thus on verse 31:
In their former conduct they had said "No." Now they yield to the voice of truth when they hear it, and enter into the kingdom, embracing salvation brought to them in the Gospel. The others, who had always been professing to be most ready and willing to obey, and who pretended to be waiting for the kingdom of God, saying: "We love God, we will obey the truth of God," did not receive it when it came, but rather chose, while making the best professions, to continue as members of the synagogue of Satan. This is what we are up against with this world.
Let us pause and consider just how special we are to God. I want you to really understand that you have been called by God.
John 6:44-45 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me."
You may read over this and say, "Well, that is fine." Is this true? Does God the Father specifically select us?
Hebrews 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
I Thessalonians 2:4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.
Acts 13:47-48 "For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'" Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
John 17:2 As You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
All the way through the Bible, you will find where this group is told, "You are called brethren, and you are special." To me, one of the most amazing things about being in the church is the way that God drew us. I do not know how many of you go deep-sea fishing. On a fishing reel is what is called a 'star drag.' It is like a brake on a car or a hand brake on a bike. You do not set the drag so hard that the fish can just get off the hook; you set it loosely to allow the fish to run with the line. He runs out and starts to get tired, and then you crank him in. He runs back out again, and each time he cannot get away. The drag keeps pulling him toward the fisherman, and he is finally caught. God draws us, or pulls us, over a long period of time.
I do not know of anyone who just stopped in church one day and stayed, although it may have happened. Even here, somewhere in the individual's background, God the Father provided events preparing for him to come; they could have been years and years ago. I know that before we ever came into the church, I remember being in Korea and reading the "Stars and Stripes." There was an article in there on the history of Christmas and how it was totally pagan. This was brand new to me as I was sitting there, behind the gun, reading all of this. Then, we had communion, and they put the wafer on our tongues and say, basically, "Go back there and kill the enemy." I thought about it, and I said, "It says somewhere in the Bible that you are not to kill." I was not the brightest bulb on the lamp.
When I was a kid, we all knew which day the Sabbath was. It did not mean a thing. We knew the Ten Commandments. People talked about those things in those days, but not anymore. Slowly, I began to wonder. I even read a book once that was supposed to be the second biggest selling book in the world. It was called "What Would Jesus Do?" It was a little tiny pamphlet of about ninety-eight pages. The question on the cover got me wondering, "What would Jesus do?" So I read it.
There was a church of about four hundred. It is really quite humorous now, because the pastor got up and said, "Who would like to do what Jesus did for a year?" We got six volunteers, out of a church of four hundred. You would think the whole church would have volunteered. One man sold liquor, and he put the liquor in the back and the coke in the front of his stand. The newspaper man only put good news on the front page. The sheriff was kinder to his prisoners, and they did all of these simpler things. The question got me, "What would Jesus do if He were wearing my shoes?" I guess a better way of putting it is, "What should I be doing?" We heard the broadcast as some of you did, and we eventually got here. I went to Ambassador College to inquire about a visit from the minister, to be baptized. They had a big Cedar of Lebanon tree that was dying, and I, in my innocence, said, "Well, if this is God's church, why do you not heal that tree?"
I am sure God does not draw everyone the same way. Unbeknownst to us at the time, we were being positioned by the great God of the universe to come to Him, receive His Spirit, and eventually inherit, as brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God. That is why you are here, and that is why you were called.
John 6:45 "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me."
This is showing that God the Father is intensely interested in each one of us. For many years in the church, I did not even know that God the Father did anything. It seemed to me that Jesus Christ did everything, while God the Father seemed removed from His creation. That is not the case.
Matthew 20:20-23 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom." But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."
John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."
God the Father is in charge of everything. Considering that God the Father and Jesus select those who will be called and the great purpose for their calling, it would be inconceivable to think that the Father would not be deeply involved with their individual training and growth. There is tremendous potential in front of you.
While the world around us goes on blindly, why is it that we have been given the understanding of the truth, and what enables us to do so? It is the giving of God's Spirit. God called us, and He has given us His Spirit. Thus, we have the understanding that this world does not.
I Corinthians 2:1-6 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
I do not mean that they cannot see and possibly understand the facts that we see about Easter. In the Orange County Register, we had a tremendous article on Ishtar, the pagan sex goddess and her rabbit. Yet people read that and say, "How was your Easter?" It does not matter; it does not mean a thing; it is just an interesting fact. It is the same thing with Christmas. As Mr. Armstrong used to say (correctly, I might add), "Trying to tell someone who is unconverted—and not being called—about God, is like trying to teach a cow mathematics." That is the truth. They cannot comprehend it.
Concerning the ministry, I think that we read of the great people in the Bible and what they accomplished, but we do not stop to consider their fears and pressures. Here, the apostle Paul was coming into a nation of people that loved oratory and speaking in long flowery sentences. It was probably a people that loved to argue and discuss different philosophies on each and every subject. It was going to be a difficult presentation. Paul's job was to teach God's truth despite the ridicule and meaningless arguments, not to mention various religious traditions.
Paul was with the Corinthians about a year and a half, and no doubt felt a great lack of ability compared to other great speakers in the area. He still had to get his message to God's people, even though there were those against him and his message. He did not approach this job with the tricks or persuasion of men but spoke the plain honest truth, and what he said was made clear to the people by God's Spirit.
Indeed, this is what happened to each one of us. We heard the broadcast, read the Plain Truth and the church literature, and with God's Spirit guiding us, it made perfect sense. As God's people, we began to see the contrast between the ideas of men and God's truth. Our faith shifted from what we had always believed to the truth, again because of God's Holy Spirit drawing and teaching us.
Paul said we are speaking this wisdom, or truth, to those who are mature. Again, he states that this wisdom is not that of the world, its intellectuals, or philosophers. That kind of worldly wisdom will come to nothing; it is just garbage.
I Corinthians 2:7-8 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
When you think of it logically, this is amazing. The wisdom that we have been given because of our calling is a wisdom hidden from the world around us. It is a mystery to men, but it was pre-ordained to be revealed for our glory, for those called by God.
The truth of what I am telling you is in the fact that they crucified the Lord of glory. His identity was hidden from them, even though they saw Him resurrect the dead, heal the sick, cast out demons, and feed the five thousand. You would think that anybody that saw this would say, "This man is something special"; but, as we will see, when the truth is given to this world, they want to get rid of it—and that usually involves getting rid of the one that brings the truth.
I Corinthians 2:9-11 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
We who are God's have been given the truth of which mankind does not have a clue. It was given to us freely by God's grace, which is the power that we might have the means to become unleavened and to become His.
I Corinthians 2:13-16 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
That is true, brethren.
Who are we? Let us turn to Ephesians, which was Mr. Armstrong's favorite book. I want us to realize as much as possible what is being said here. This is being said to us—not to somebody who just happens to read it on the street—but to us who have been called.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ...
A better way to translate that last phrase would be, "Who has blessed us with spiritual understanding of heavenly subjects or things." These are things that the world cannot understand.
Ephesians 1:4 ...just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.
For this reason, the blessings were conferred, fully in God's mind, with His eternal purpose and plan for us. The word chosen has the meaning of "laying out" and "selecting" with kindness and love, with the idea of imparting future benefits and greatness on those chosen. Remember that phrase, greatness for those who are chosen.
We were not an afterthought. We were chosen by Him to be saved and to share in the future with Him. This was done before the foundation of the world. Most commentators have a problem with this; but as Albert Barnes stated, there could be no more plain statement in the Bible than this. Why? That we should be unleavened, brethren, holy and without blame before Him. Most view this as predestination, meaning one can do as he wishes because he is predestined to be saved; but Paul writes that we should be holy, which means that to achieve that status, we must work at it.
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will...
The word predestined means "to have boundaries that have been previously set" or that an event was predetermined. Jesus was excited about putting His Father's plan into operation. You are what it is all about.
Ephesians 1:6 ...to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.
Thus, we have the forgiveness of our sin through His sacrifice, and we are accepted as sons, as part of the body of Christ.
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace...
We have deliverance from sin through the tremendous price paid for us in the death of Jesus Christ and have had grace bestowed upon us. Grace is unmerited pardon, but it is also God's power given to us that we might succeed in our calling. God the Father did not call us to fail.
Ephesians 1:8 ...which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence...
In this calling, Jesus has made all wisdom, prudence, and understanding available to us by His Spirit—prudence, in this case, is defined as "wisdom put into practice"—that we might live a sound, solid, and good life, doing the right and correct things.
Ephesians 1:9 ...having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself...
That is, having made known to us the "mystery," or that which had been concealed throughout all the ages, the wonderful plan of God. Jesus had planned to do this that we might have a vision that the world does not have. This would cause us to have great incentive to overcome, that we might please God and become a part of His family.
Ephesians 1:10 ...that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
That is, at the completing or the filling up of times, when all things should be gathered to Jesus, to wind up human affairs. He gathers all things to Himself, meaning a new age, or world, will begin to take place, with Jesus ruling. Peace will be established at last, and we will be there.
Ephesians 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will...
We have been specifically called now to share in a joint inheritance, as it says in Romans 8:17.
Ephesians 1:12-14 ...that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
We who are called at this time have been sealed with God's Holy Spirit of promise. This is the earnest, or down payment, on what is to come, until the redemption of the purchased possession. Remember, brethren, we are that purchased possession!
Ephesians:18-23 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
You and I are called and are part of His body, the body of the church.
In chapter 2, Paul reminds us that we were made alive while we were dead in our trespasses. We are all sinners, and God called us out of Satan's world; that agrees with Romans 5:8. God died for us individually while we were without strength and did this while we still were sinners.
All of this was done for a reason, and we have to understand that reason.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us.
He is overflowing in mercy with His great love wherewith He loved us. How great is that love?
John 17:23 I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and has loved them as you have loved Me.
What an astounding statement to make! Here is a quote from Pat Higgins in the Berean:
Understanding the full impact of this verse hinges on the little two-letter word "as." One definition is "to the same extent or degree; equally." Equally implies no more or no less. This definition makes Jesus' request staggering in its implications! It means we can truthfully say that there is not a being in the universe—including Jesus Christ—whom God loves more than us. Each individual whom God has called can say the same thing. God loves us all at the same incredible, beyond-our-comprehension level.
We see our own sins, flaws, and weaknesses; and we do not feel that we are lovable—yet God loves us the same as He loves Jesus Christ. That is awesome! Even with all of our mistakes and flaws. That is how much He wants us, and you had better understand that and be thankful for it.
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)...
Even when we were dead to God and His law, He brought us to Him for a specific purpose. By grace we are saved. Grace is indeed unmerited pardon; but, again, it also means that He has given us the power to grow and overcome, that we might be a part of His family. In short, He has given us the power to make it, but w
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