The Aaron Papers  www.the-aaron-papers.net 

PART TWO             ADDENDUM "A"

PASSIVE RELATIONSHIP AND ACTIVE RELATIONSHIP DEFINED 

  Though I have generally attended the Reformed Church throughout these years that I have spent in study and many of my comments might appear to be directed toward the Reformed Church, this is clearly not the intent nor purpose of this work.  The comments that have been made in these writings would apply to most, if not all, of the Denominations and religions that I have come in contact with throughout these years.  I would have to believe that God sent me to the Reformed Church because of their great patience and love which they generally show toward other Christians and Churches.  And now I find that my own patience is being sorely tested. 

  Now, as I have progressed through these years of study, I keep thinking maybe I should have named "THE CHRISTIAN’S GUIDE”-"AFTER SALVATION".  

***God also impressed these two conditions upon my heart for additional consideration: PASSIVE RELATIONSHIP and ACTIVE RELATIONSHIP.  

  The point of understanding that is being sought here, is a very fine point. And to increase the difficulty factor, this point involves a dimension which is completely outside of our own physical dimension. We are talking, of course, about the Holy Spirit and the spirit world.  Not one of our physical senses has the capacity to naturally pervade this unknown area.  The interaction must completely originate from within that dimension itself.  I personally would not, and factually could not, understand the active intimate workings of the Holy Spirit if I had not experienced it in my own relationship with God.  

The Christian's position and condition:

  The present day Christian seems to be content to understand the things of God in the very way that they understand the things of God. This would be wholly acceptable if that understanding was complete and accurate. But unfortunately that is not always the case. So to observe a small part of our problem, I would have to point out that many Christians and Churches are presently stuck in the JUSTIFICATION mind set.  What I mean by being stuck in justification, is to be stuck in the salvation mode or mind set.  

  Now no one would argue against the joy and comfort of salvation, but there is much more involved in the Christian walk.  I am terribly afraid that this condition could have a tremendous negative affect on a Christian's growth and development.  I would call this condition--basking in the comfort zone; or operating in a total dependency upon God’s saving grace; or, the God is doing it attitude.  

  So to develop a strategy for progress, we must have the ability to distinguish between JUSTIFICATION and SANCTIFICATION! There is something more: There is life beyond salvation that can lead to a higher level of joy and peace, a higher level of strength and power in our individual walk, and an enhanced inner peace that can only come from our relationship with God through the intimacy of His Holy Spirit.     

  God warns us concerning this dangerous condition in Heb.5:11 - 6:3. We are, of course, re-visiting this passage, so please bear with us:   "(Jesus) of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and have come to need milk and not solid food.  For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe." (5:11-13)

This segment describes a condition, in which the believer, because of their failure to grow and mature over the natural course of time, have literally forgotten some of the first principles of their salvation: Because of their lack of growth, they appear to be guilty of backsliding into some of the worldly things that they had previously been delivered from.   

Instead of being teachers as the passage of time might dictate, they now needed someone to re-teach them the first principles of Christ (to give them milk): to remind them of who they are in Christ: to tell them that their struggle in the world and the struggles in their lives are the result of this failure to mature.  We cannot, under any circumstance, stand still as a Christian: We must continue to grow in the SANCTIFICATION process.  

"But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (5:14)     

This portion of Scripture uses dietary restrictions to show the distinction between the mature and the immature Christian.  It tells us that solid food belongs to those who are of full age; those who have become mature.  It also tells us that maturity is achieved through the exercise of our senses; our organ of perception; our minds.  

Exercise defined: Activity for the purpose of training or developing the body or mind; practice.      

We can recall from v.13 that the immature Christian had a problem in their use of the word of God; They were "unskilled in the word of righteousness": Which tells us that they failed to establish an exercise regiment in the Scriptures; That they failed to study to show themselves approved.  And the consequences of this failure are fatal for any Christian’s walk: Because this failure can result in their inability to clearly discriminate between what is good and what is evil.  

For any Christian to mature, they must receive this instruction: "Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ (milk), let us go on to PERFECTION, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment, and this will we do if God permits."(6:1-3)  

The instructions given here for all Christians, is to go on to "PERFECTION" (maturity).  They tell us to leave the elementary principles behind--which are the principles of Christ: Which are the principles of salvation: Which is the "milk" of the word; repentance, faith, baptisms, resurrection, and judgment. The things we received when we became a Christian: Which is representative of our JUSTIFICATION.  This instruction is for every Christian to move on in their Christian life and walk--to go on to "PERFECTION" (maturity): Which is to move on in the SANCTIFICATION process.  We are, with God's help, instructed to grow up.

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There is one issue that we might point to as central to the problems that we are experiencing within today’s Churches-and that issue would be our inability to focus.

First, all Christians must ask this question—our focus on what?        

And the answer to this inquiry, is for us to keep our eyes focused on the imminent return of Jesus.  Our lives in this world have become so complex, it is nearly impossible for us to hold our focus on the things that really matter.

  a. Now before we can begin to focus, we must have our priority system aligned.  This is accomplished by God's Holy Word and the power of His Holy Spirit.  It involves our submission to the Word of God, as it conforms us into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  b. We must understand that we are, by design, creatures of habit. Because of this, we must recognize the relationship between habit and focus: Understanding that our focus is greatly dependent upon our ability to conform our habits.  An example of an established habit, would be seen in our practiced relationship with God: How much of our literal time do we regularly sanctify to our Heavenly Father?  

As we just saw in Heb.5:11 - 6:3 : the results of dealing--or, more accurately, the results of not dealing with our habits: We also saw the need for our own interaction in this process for success.   

This is most clearly seen in Heb.5:14 "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses (their organ of perception; their minds) exercised to discern both good and evil."   Now, in order for us to have an aptitude for discernment, it is absolutely essential that we expand our knowledge and understanding within those areas that are important in our lives.  

*(Some natural questions.)

(1) How can we keep our eyes focused on Jesus?

(2) How can we live our lives day to day, week to week, month to month, year to year, decade to decade, century to century, millennia to millennia, and still hold on to our focus?

*(answer.)  

  (a) We must live our lives on a day to day basis: always keeping the reality of Christ's imminent return before our minds-eye: 

1) Only by living our lives on a day to day basis can we hope to maintain our focus on Jesus.

2) Focus is maintained only when we have total and absolute faith in that imminent return of Christ for His Church.                                    

3) We must believe that Jesus can return in the clouds of Glory at ANY MOMENT--to gather His Church unto Himself. I know of no pending event that would impede our Lord's return.

  (b) It is when we extend our vision beyond today that our focus will naturally begin to blur.

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***Two conditions were also sighted earlier for consideration:

1. PASSIVE RELATIONSHIP.

2. ACTIVE RELATIONSHIP.  

  I believe that the JUSTIFICATION and the SANCTIFICATION portion of this argument has some correlative value with respect to these two conditions:  

(1) JUSTIFICATION is monergistic (God alone), which would correlate nicely with what has been defined as the God is doing it attitude--because He does supply everything associated with salvation: That would, by necessity, be defined as a PASSIVE RELATIONSHIP; Or, the Passive portion of our relationship.

(2) SANCTIFICATION is synergistic (God and man working together), which would correlate nicely with the ACTIVE RELATIONSHIP and the active participation that is mandated for all of God’s peoples.  

As we have discussed the potential for Christians to be stuck in the salvation mind set--in the God is doing it attitude: I believe it is time for all of us to wake out of our sleep, for the night is far spent and the day is at hand.  Let us cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light.  Let us put on the Lord Jesus as a shining testimony to the world.  It is time for all of us to stop basking in the comfort zone of JUSTIFICATION and move on in our walk through SANCTIFICATION.

                                                                  -AMEN-