Intentions

Intentions, what are they? I suppose a good comparison would be our aims, goals or plans regarding a particular path we desire to take. Intentions can be good or bad. However, unless the intention is completed, it becomes pretty ineffective.

You can intend on achieving good physical health, but unless you take specific action steps towards that goal, that intention becomes worthless, even detrimental.

One of the biggest misconceptions about becoming, or even being a follower of Christ, is that it has to do with our intentions. Jesus said in John 3:3, that unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Regardless of how hard we try, without God making us see, our intentions are futile. No one can see Jesus' kingdom unless He makes it happen. The same goes with living for Him.

Without the power of God the Holy Spirit, again - our intentions of living for Jesus are useless. As Paul told the Galatians, 'Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? [Galatians 3:3 NASB95].

So what is becoming or being a follower of Christ all about if it's not about our intentions? The answer - it's about God's promises. God promised through the scriptures to seek, save, and keep a people for Himself, unto the end. And this means you if you're a follower of Christ! Praise the Lord for that! Your salvation and even your sanctification is impossible without the promise of God's grace to call you and keep you.

So where am I going with all this? Well, tomorrow, we will be doing a baptism immediately after our worship service. Our sermon text in this sermon is Ezekiel 36:22-28. Where I'm going, is that as we'll see, baptism is not any different - this symbolic action of new life in Christ is not about our intentions, but rather God's covenant promises. Again, praise the Lord for His glorious grace!

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