Are you really “all in” for Christ Jesus?
What, exactly, does it mean to be all in?
We can find answers to this question either by taking the whole of the experiences recorded in the New Testament or by the short yet profound letter of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians.
Philippians is packed, in its four short chapters, with powerful and insightful truths into the lives of all who pure their steadfast faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is one of only three epistles where Paul does not begin with his credentials as an Apostle. This letter seems to have a more personal and tender tone to it than his other epistles.
Paul addresses his letter to the ‘saints’ in Philippi. This word, saint (with a small “s”), is rarely used in our day to describe those who have put their faith in Christ. But Paul uses this title, I believe, to emphasize the believer’s position in the spiritual realm which should dictate their behavior and self-identity in the physical realm. He reminds the church at Philippi that the manner in which they live should “be worthy of the Gospel of Christ”.
Paul gives a number of directives, or attributes, by which the disciple of Christ Jesus should live their life. These attributes can be a mirror by which we can examine our own progress of sanctification.
Here is his short-list:
- Being of the same mind and having the same love, being in full accord (all believers in agreement with the Gospel of Jesus Christ). [Php 2:2]
- Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. [Php 2:3]
- Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. [Php 2:4]
- Do all things without grumbling or disputing. [Php 2:14]
- Count the loss of all things as garbage compared to what you have gained by knowing Christ [Php 3:7-8]
Take The Hard Look
We should frequently examine ourselves to see if we are genuinely pursuing a disciple’s relationship with Jesus and not just a cultural and casual acquaintance. We must ask hard questions, such as: Are we prepared to…
- Surrender our earthly security (will we still be able to praise God in the face of sudden poverty)?
- Surrender our pride and self-respect (ready to face ridiculed and be considered ‘fools for Christ’ by friends, family, co-workers…)?
- And are we willing to be scorned and alienated from society, perhaps even our own families, for our faith in Christ?
- Are we currently living our life for an audience of only one person, the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that by doing so we are ultimately living before an audience of all?
What Ozzie Says
For a man who only lived for 43 years on this earth, Oswald Chambers has been a powerful influence in the lives Christ-followers since before and since his death in 1917. An introduction to Chambers in the world-famous devotional book, “My Utmost for His Highest”, updated to the modern vernacular by James Reimann, passes on this information on Oswald’s life:
“[Chambers] lectured at the Bible Training College in Clapham, England, from 1911 to 1915, and…while serving the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) from 1915 to 1917. The YMCA had appointed him to serve in Egypt with the Australian and New Zealand troops who were guarding the Suez Canal during World War I. These lectures and talks were later compiled by Chamber’s wife and published in book form in 1927 in England, and 1935 in the United States. It has since become the best-selling devotional book of all time.”
Small groups and individuals alike read this book every day, year after year. Chambers insights into Scripture and how is relates and applies to everyday life for the believer never goes stale or becomes obsolete with the passing of time. Some of his ideas and interpretations of Biblical truth challenge and even shock long-held convictions and conventions within main stream Christianity. He has an insightful way of stripping away the sentimental and laying bare the hard truth.
In regards to today’s post, he has several ‘stinging’ truths to wakeup the lethargic Christian as well as those who are involved in the “holiness movements” of today:
“The holiness movements of today have none of the rugged reality of the New Testament about them. There is nothing about them that needs the death of Jesus Christ. All that is required is a pious atmosphere, prayer, and devotion. This type of experience is not supernatural nor miraculous. It did not cost the suffering of God nor is it stained with ‘the blood of the Lamb’…The New Testament example of the Christian experience is that of a personal, passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ…He is salvation itself; he is the gospel of God!”
What Jesus Says
Never assume you are right with God because you go to church, much less that you go to a particular church. Neither church membership or attendance is the way to Heaven. Jesus made this emphatically clear:
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” -John 14:6
And again in speaking of the Sheep and Goat Judgement at His second coming:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ -Matthew 7:21-23
Reality Check
Chew on this startling snippet from the (too long to post here) American Worldview Inventory 2025 – Report 1 from Dr. George Barna, Director of Research, Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University. Release Date: February 18, 2025:
*Most Americans Believe in a Supreme Power, But Not the God of the Bible
Note: Theologically-identified born-again Christians refers to people who believe that when they die, they will go to
Heaven, but only because they have confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. The designation is not
based on self-identification of being “born-again.”
__________
The most disturbing outcomes, however, relate to the beliefs and worship practices of one the most crucial segments of the Christian community—individuals who constitute the one-third of adults who qualify as theologically-defined born-again Christians. The inconsistent and biblically untenable commitments within that segment are shocking.
• Barely half of the born-again group (55%) says that they worship the God of the Bible.
• Overall, even though they claim their eternal destiny has been sealed by their confession to and acceptance of Jesus Christ, 25% of the born-again segment admits to not worshipping Jesus.
• One out of every nine (11%) worships God but not Jesus.
• One-third (31%) worships Jesus but not God.
• Just one-third (36%) worships both God and Jesus but no other spiritual beings.
• One out of 12 (8%) worships not only God and/or Jesus, but also Mary and/or the prophets.
• One out of 14 (7%) worships God and/or Jesus in addition to one or more deities from non-Christian faiths or philosophies.
Not only is this information a wake up call to all passive self-proclaimed Christians but also to all of the churches who have taken the focus of their message off of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, preferring instead to preach a social justice gospel that will not save anyone from the wrath of God. We must all, as individual believers, wake up and choose sides. This is not something we can give a passive nod to but something we must stand up make a life-changing decision to step over the line that Jesus Christ has drawn in the sand and proclaim with all sincerity, “Jesus, I am yours…100 percent! No exceptions, no holding back!”
We all need to get this right while we still draw breath.
“It is appointed for man once to die and then the judgement. -Hebrews 9:27
God bless.