Perfectly Perfect in Christ

Hello Beloved! I pray all is well with you and your family, and that the peace of God which transcends all understanding, guards the hearts and minds of every one of your family members. I pray that the love of God rests, rule, and abide within them; and I pray that from the youngest to the oldest, Christ Jesus is formed in them. And lastly, I pray that no evil befalls them, nor any plague nor sickness come upon them.

In Jesus' name, I pray, amen.

Today I am sharing a more personal post, I pray that it helps you in your walk with Jesus Christ.

Last Sunday, I made a carrot cake for the very first time, and while the outside or the decoration of the cake didn’t look that good, the cake tasted delicious. It’s amazing how the carrots, the flour, the raisins, the nuts, and all the other ingredients work together to make such a delicious cake. I never really thought that carrots in a cake could be so delicious, but get this, not only did I think that the cake was delicious, but some of the truck drivers on my husband’s job thought it was delicious as well; as a matter of fact, two of them asked, and paid me, to bake them a carrot cake; and so, I baked them a cake; and yes, they both sent word by my husband saying that the cake was delicious.

Beloved, this was amazing to me. Someone actually liked and paid for a cake that I made, but what is even more amazing is that shortly after baking those two truckers a carrot cake, I got another request from another trucker to bake him a cake; so, once again, I baked another carrot cake. Again, as you can see for yourself, I need a whole lot of help decorating cakes. I am not ashamed to admit it, my cake decorating skills are horrible. I don’t know how to decorate cakes, but I have learned to show myself a little mercy in that area because if truth be told, I just started consistently baking cakes about four months ago. In that short time, I have learned how to make red velvet, pound, and pineapple upside-down cakes. For some reason, I am struggling with chocolate and key lime cakes, but I won’t give up. I am determined to perfect both of those cakes. One thing that I have learned in baking cakes is that it's my cake, and I can make it however I want, but in doing so, I must make sure it's good enough to eat, otherwise, I will be the only one eating it.

My mom was an excellent baker, and my sister Jackie, {Jacqueline) has some great baking skills as well, but as for me, all I can say is, “You all who know the word of prayer, and can get a prayer through, pray for me.” If you grew up in the country and attended one of the little wooden churches, which, by the way, was very popular and very common in African American neighborhoods, then you have heard prayer requests like that before.

Beloved, this whole cake scenario reminds me of one of my many favorite Bible scriptures, as well as the positional and practical aspects of the believer’s salvation.

Hebrews 10:14, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” {KJV}.

This scripture continually reminds me of the eternal reality of just what God has done, through Christ, in us, for us, and through us. Just like all the ingredients of that cake blended to make the perfect cake, even so, all the redemptive acts of Jesus Christ have come together in the perfect salvation, all for the purpose of perfecting imperfect people like you and me. And so, while inwardly, we are perfect, like the cake, yet outwardly, just like the cake, we are not so perfect; in fact, I think it is safe to say that outwardly, we are like the broken toys on the island of misfits; but let it be known, we are in process and we are determined to press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Now, let’s look at the same Scripture, Hebrews 10:14, in the Message translation:

“It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process.”

I also like the Philipps translation, “For by virtue of that one offering he has perfected for all time every one whom he makes holy.”

The Word of God is very clear, by that single offering, all those who are in Christ Jesus have been perfected; Yet, just like the cake, it was perfect inwardly, but outwardly, there was much work to be done. This reminds me of my eternal reality, in that inwardly, I am perfected, but outwardly, there is much more perfection, or let’s say, conformity to that inward work performed by Holy Spirit in the New Birth.

You see, beloved, just like I must continue to practice the art of cake decorating if I am to perfect it, even so, we must, by God’s grace, and the help of Holy Spirit, perfect outwardly what Christ has done inwardly. The saints of ole are known for saying it this way, “The work that God has performed in you, must now be walked, or worked out of you." The Apostle Paul, in Philippians 2:12, says it this way, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Now beloved, notice what Apostle Paul goes on to say in Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” In other words, God gives you and me the grace to walk/work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

Beloved, we can, by God's grace, walk in the newness of life. Not only do we have the grace to walk out our salvation in Christ, but we also have Holy Spirit’s help. He is our helper, and by God’s grace, as we submit to His leading, we can walk out this great salvation which God has freely given unto us. Let us walk in the spirit that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. The Holy Spirit has come to lead and guide us into the truth; therefore, let's be sensitive to his leading and follow after him as he teaches us how to work out our salvation.

Also, please note, that not only has God given us grace and the Holy Spirit to walk out this great work which He himself has begun within us, but He has also given us a church family to help us walk out our salvation. Notice the instructions given us in Hebrews 10:25, {AMPC}

"Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching." Beloved, God is a relational God. He works through people. He uses us to bless, to encourage, to build up, and to help conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. It's hard to do that if you neglect to assemble together with other believers, preferably, with your church family. Beloved, there are no solos in the body of Christ. You are not the Church by yourself. The Church is the assembly of believers, not just one person. Okay, I am going to leave that alone because that is a whole other post.

As I close this post, it is my prayer that my whole cake scenario helped you to understand that positionally, we have been perfected in Christ, but practically, we must, by grace through faith, walk, or work out this perfect salvation. All the redemptive work of Christ that God, by His Spirit, has wrought in us, is to be walked out in every aspect of our lives. For the most part, we do this through the process of sanctification, our obedience to the Word of God, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s Pray:

Our Father, thank you for translating us out of the darkness and into the marvelous light. It is truly a privilege and an honor to be sanctified and made holy in Christ Jesus. You have done a great work within us, and we know, and do believe, that You will continue this divine work unto the day of redemption. Now, as we go on to perfect holiness in reverence of You, grace us with an abundance of grace to walk worthy of our vocation, and to live a sanctified life. Just as You are holy, even so, we have chosen to be holy, and that, in every area of our lives.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your great and eternal sacrifice for the saving of the souls of men, past, present, and future. For those who have yet to receive salvation, we ask that You give them sight to see you high and lifted up, and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying in this hour; and finally, we pray that You would lift the veil from over their mind so that the light of the glorious gospel can shine in, and that they come to accept, by grace through faith, Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

And when all has been said and done, let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in earth as it is in heaven.

Father, these and all prayers, I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

Beloved, if you would like my carrot cake recipe, leave me a comment and I will gladly share it with you. As for the other cakes that I am trying to perfect, here are some images of them: