A friend in college told me about a truth from the apostle Paul’s confession in 1 Timothy 1:15. While writing a teenage Pastor, Paul refers to himself as the greatest sinner of all time. The premise my friend shared is that the closer you draw near to God, the more your imperfections are exposed. Subsequently, a sign of a mature Christian faith is the acknowledgement that Jesus must become more, and you must become less.
I indeed baptize you [c]in (with) water [d]because of repentance [that is, because of your [e]changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins]. But He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fan (shovel, fork) is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out and clean His threshing floor and gather and store His wheat in His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with fire that cannot be put out. 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. 14 But John [f]protested strenuously, having in mind to prevent Him, saying, It is I who have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me? 15 But Jesus replied to him, [g]Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for [both of] us to fulfill all righteousness [that is, to [h]perform completely whatever is right]. Then he permitted Him, Matthew 3:11-15.
My favorite class in Seminary was Revival and Revivalism. This course studied the spiritual climate just before and immediately following the first and second Great Awakening. The content in this course was enhanced by the teaching of Leonard Ravenhill which I often listened to while I worked at Ton Communications. According to Ravenhill, these movements of God began with Christians honestly addressing the sins in their lives. These public confessions sparked spiritual awakenings.
You yourselves are my witnesses [you personally bear me out] that I stated, I am not the Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), but I have [only] been sent before Him [in advance of Him, to be His appointed forerunner, His messenger, His announcer]. 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the groomsman who stands by and listens to him rejoices greatly and heartily on account of the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my pleasure and joy, and it is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so,] John 3:28-30.
If you want to examine a great example of mature faith in the Bible, you can begin with John the Baptist. The first mention of John begins with Isaiah 40:3, “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” As John drew a large following from his baptism ministry, pride could have gotten in the way. “Hey, look what I’ve done!” Yet, when the timing was right, John acknowledged his role, “Jesus must become more and I must become less.” This is the type of faith modern Christians need to begin to emulate.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 