O Glorious Day...

One day when heaven was filled with his praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin—
Dwelt amongst men, my example is he!

Chorus
Living, he loved me; dying, he saved me;
Buried, he carried my sins far away;
Rising, he justified freely, for ever:
One day he's coming—O, glorious day!


I love this song. It really has nothing to do with my thought for the day other than the ending chorus - "Oh glorious day!" You see, today was a "glorious day." Classes went well. I got some good quiz scores back. (Earthly joys) All classes were very good! Old Testament... another FAST day. It seems we just sit down and it is time to leave. Great teacher - knows his stuff and is PASSIONATE about teaching it! Chapel... now we get to the glory of the day....

Today's speaker was a graduate of the seminary. He just completed his Ph.D, is pastoring his first church, and is 29 years young, and full of the Spirit!

Text - I Cor. 1:18 - "The preaching of the cross is to them that are perishing foolishness.." Thesis - we have churches and pulpits full of individuals who cling to "justification" and are thrilled by future "glorification" yet seem to overlook "sanctification."

John 15 - I am the vine... he that abideth in me WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT;

James 2 -
14What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
18But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
19You believe that God is one You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. (In other words, "Big Deal!")
20But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

(Are you willing to recognize, admit, agree..., confess!?)
26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.


Matthew 7 -
21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you

"he that doeth the will of my Father...." Doeth is a verb. It requires action! It REQUIRES action, it does not suggest. Serving (another verb) is not a suggestion for a follower of Christ. Being about THE FATHER'S business is a command, a requirement, a must, a necessity, a obligation, a condition of salvation! (Yes, justification by faith, but if there is no "doeth," no works..) Where did we get the idea we can get saved and get comfortable and sit- Same pew, same boring devotional life, same response to teaching and preaching, same lack of witnessing, same lack of caring that the world is LOST!! Where did we get the notion this is acceptable to our Savior? Where did we get the notion that living this way means I am actually saved? Do we really understand "Not everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord will enter....?

Sanctification involves fruit.

1 - To hear a preacher call out seminary students, call out seminary professors - most of whom are pastors, call out the Southern Baptist Convention! to examine our own sanctification and the sanctification emphasis preached (or rather NOT) from the pulpit... "Oh glorious day!"

2 - Dear reader - Are you sure of your salvation? Are you really cleansed by the bold of the Crucified one? Or did you have an emotional "experience" while a youth? Did you offer mental acceptance of the facts of the Gospel - you agreed with and understood, but you really have not surrendered your very life to Him and His will? Do you admit you have never really desired to serve him the way he commands his followers to? I believe you want him to save you from hell! But do you want to surrender and serve him today? That is the issue involved in true salvation. You must repent of "me" and turn to Him. You can do that right now. Make this a Glorious Day!

Sanctification involves fruit. There is NO way around it.