THE FINGERPRINT OF GOD

Access can be a real hassle these days with practically everything connected to the web and the “Internet of Things”. Increasingly, we need to authenticate ourselves to do the simplest of tasks. For example, to open my somewhat “smart” garage door opener, I first have to let my smartphone scan and recognize my face. If I’ve found favor, the digital gods may allow my garage door to open. The fact is, our participation in this crazy virtual rat race life, depends on our willingness and ability to prove who are at any given moment. So, we resign to live with our growing lists of passwords, dreaded password resets, and multi-factor verifications.

Sometimes no matter what we do, our access just fails, and we are unceremoniously and promptly left behind as disconnected outcasts.

Such frustrations are not a problem with a believer’s access to God. Our spiritual access is always available and 100% reliable. Also, uptime with our Heavenly Father is never a waste of time like the Web so often is. This spiritual access is part of God’s promise to never leave or forsake us. Of course, God knows us better than we know ourselves. He doesn’t need to get to know us. However, it is His expressed desire for us to know, and grow in Him. That desire remains true of God even when we turn our face away from Him.

I can testify to this in my own life. God has shown that He has been with me, even poking me, when I’ve tried walk alone in my own strength. Believers, be assured that God lovingly and actively seeks a deep and abiding relationship with each one of us, always. We are His children. Yet for our part, we can and often do quench His Spirit in us. When our fellowship is broken and we experience downtime, it is not God who is offline. There is NO downtime for God. He remains online, available, and ready to restore any lost fellowship. Uninterrupted uptime with our Father then, is dependent on having a heart of humility and obedience in faith. This heart of humility begins and ends with Jesus, who is both the start and completion of our faith.

Our Authenticator

No one has access to God unconditionally. I think we can all agree on this, God must make access to Himself possible. He must allow it or it won’t happen. Access is “Denied” because sin cannot pass through the firewall of God’s holiness. Sin must be dealt with. God told us at the very beginning how He was going to handle our sin problem. Right after the first sin in the Garden of Eden, God declared that the seed of the woman would “crush the head” of sin and death. Jesus is that seed! So, the way we are authenticated for access to God, is through the provision of God the Son. Out of His love for the World, God grants anyone who trusts in Jesus, eternal access to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is because of God’s amazing, and loving grace.

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

We first gained access to God through faith, where God chose to see us through his Son at the moment we believed the Gospel. (What Christ accomplished on the cross for us) see, (“C” Chosen In Christ, of God’s S.C.A.L.E.) From that moment on, we are IN CHRIST, and our authentication to the Father is complete. This is our position before the Father. God willed this from before the beginning of time, and so provided the ability for ANY person to have “boldness and access with confidence” to Him, through His Chosen One. Jesus Christ IS God’s “fingerprint” of authentication imprinted on our hearts.

EPHESIANS 3:11

according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

The bible teaches that it was God’s eternal purpose to accomplish in Christ the restoration of men, women, and children, to fellowship with Himself. This happened before he created anything. God chose to send His Son to die on a Roman cross, to be buried, and to rise from that death to sit at the right hand of his Father. This sacrifice paid our debt of sin. Why did God do this selfless act? It’s hard for our earthly minds to comprehend, but John 3:16 says it was because of God’s LOVE for the World that He did what He did. God does not want anyone to be left behind as an outcast!

Ephesians 2:13

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Contrary to the belief of some, even a few of the greats of the faith, there is only one Chosen ONE, chosen by God for the salvation of men. Jesus Christ the Redeemer, is The Elect One. It can further be stated that no one has ever been directly chosen, or will be chosen in such a way, for salvation, outside a turning of the heart in faith. We are elect, but not elect unto salvation.

Isaiah 42:1

The Servant of the LORD “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

1 Peter 2:6

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

“This cannot be so, the Bible says believers are the elect!”, is the reply of the objector. One must argue with scripture, for the Bible never says we are elect in ourselves. We are elect and precious primarily in Christ. We are not chosen for salvation independent of being in Christ. The Bible does say that God “prepared beforehand” that those who are saved would become new creatures in Christ, and would be able to walk in good works. We then stand in God’s Grace as a new creature, as Paul proclaims.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Our Spiritual DNA

DNA is often viewed as the “fingerprint” of God, and without a doubt, it declares that there is a designer in charge. But as a believer, the fingerprint of Jesus on our heart is far more amazing than our physical DNA. It is in this, the image of the perfect person and work of Jesus Christ, that we stand righteously before the Father, as well as, walk in our daily sanctification. Jesus becomes our spiritual DNA and blueprint when we are born again, just as surely as our physical DNA became our body’s blueprint at the moment of conception.

From our first baby steps as a new believer through our final breath, we have, because of our identity in Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, every spiritual help in our daily walk towards being more like Christ in all things.

Along with our new spiritual DNA, we become part of the family of Christ, joined with multitudes of believers around the world. We become part of the universal “church” body made up of MANY brothers and sisters!

Romans 8:29

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Ephesians 2:18

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

The Bible is clear on this…those who believe upon the Lord Jesus and his payment on the cross, are justified. We are then authenticated, or elected, through our new identity in Christ, becoming part of ONE body of believers. We can then enjoy peace with God, because we are no longer standing in condemnation, but in God’s grace. We are called to start to walk the Christian walk, victoriously, in Jesus.

Romans 5:1-2

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

All these amazing blessings are certainly great reasons for rejoicing, and this is where we find our joy. But beware, we are a work in progress. We are called to walk soberly. Examine God’s Word with me, to see why there is no boasting in being called “the elect” after The Elect One.

Our Boasting?

We certainly sin after our salvation. Even though our access and position in Christ is sure, the process of becoming more like Christ is just beginning. Our sin, our pride, waits at the door to get a foothold. We may even clutch onto being referred to as the “elect of God.” We are all guilty of pride without exception! This problem is known in our hearts. God, in His Word continually admonishes us in this. The focus of all accolades should always be on Christ and the cross.

Galatians 6:14

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Pride is a special danger for those who believe in Unconditional Election. The reason is, so often, at some point in the Christian life, the Gospel gets forgotten or at best, set aside as an afterthought. After all, we have OUR own peace with God. Also, “Elect” ones, may conclude that there is no urgency in preaching the Gospel, for God has already chosen who will be saved. The danger is that without the proclamation of the Gospel, we are in disobedience to God. We will be held accountable for what we do with God’s Gospel once we know it. Each one of us.

1 Corinthians 9:16

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

God knew this would be a point of stumbling, and warns over and over not to think too highly of ourselves. Being prideful damages our witness of The Good News, and is easily spotted as hypocrisy by the world around us. God has from the very beginning warned of the dangers of pride. He warned of it both in the Old Testament and the New, He warns those who believe and follow Him, and even those who do not. Whatever your theological position, don’t fall into pride, it is at the root of all sin and rebellion against God. Pride was the last step that Satan took in his walk with God.

Isaiah 14:12-14

“How you are fallen from heaven,O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart:” ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.‘

Conclusion

How is your access today? I don’t mean are you sporting an ultra fast broadband connection to the Internet. No, much more important than any earthly access, is your access to the creator of the universe.

What? Do you think God is too busy to care about you, or that you are carrying too much baggage to be able to call God your Heavenly Father? Both are not true. God loves you! You were made in His image, and He wants you to bear the image of His son Jesus as well.

1 Corinthians 15:49

And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

God decided to do the unthinkable…He sacrificed Himself for the World to give you a choice. Believe or Don’t believe. Jesus said that if you believe you will have life.

John 5:24

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

What do you believe? Do you believe what God did to give you access to Himself? The Good News is this…

The Risen Christ, Faith’s Reality – For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-5

I pray that God has put His fingerprint of authentication on your heart, and that you now have the spiritual DNA of your creator!