BEING AND BECOMING

By Pastor Walt Scott

April, 2013

Webster’s dictionary defines “becoming” as “to come into existence”

Webster’s dictionary defines “being” as “the quality or state of having existence”

Genesis 2:7

⁷ Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Genesis 5:1 & 2

5 This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. ² He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” when they were created.

Acts 17:24-28

²⁴ “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. ²⁶ From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. ²⁷ God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ²⁸ ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

We are born into this world in what I will call a natural or physical state of being. This natural state of being we acquired involuntarily at birth. There is another state of being that we voluntarily acquire. This I will call our supernatural or spiritual state of being. This supernatural state of being is a process of spiritual development I will call becoming. The time line for this varies from person to person and is dependent on a person’s belief, faith, trust and obedience to God. Some will never reach a state of supernatural being.

We are born into this world already bearing sin because of the original sin of Adam and Eve. I know we didn’t ask to be here but most of us, if given a choice, would remain here. This world is no picnic or Garden of Eden. Life can be, and is, usually a struggle through at least a portion of our lives. Yes? We do, however, have to walk life’s path whether we like it or not. But, we do have a free will choice about which path we take.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

¹⁹ Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Most of us are not aware of the constant battle going on around us in the supernatural realm. This is a battle between satan (sin) and Triune God (Christians and Christianity). This is a battle for souls and will determine where our spirits will eternally exist.

Matthew 10:28

²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

John 8:12

¹² When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

³ For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Co-existence seems to be the most applicable word I can think of to explain the relationship between the seistance seems to be the most applicable word I can think of to explain the relationship between the idn'cular and Christian natural world. Usually, but not always, this is peaceful. One is always trying to influence the other, with successes and failures on both sides. However, the narrow path of a Christian’s life is more difficult and takes more effort and self-discipline.

Matthew 7:13 & 14

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

This path requires belief, faith and trust and obedience in Triune God.

2 Corinthians 4:18

¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

This road we travel down is called becoming. The rewards are incomparable. Freedom from anxiety and questioning about all worldly trials and tribulations, although we will all still have them. We know and understand what the answers are. Our hope is in an eternal life in Heaven with Triune God.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

John 15:18-19

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Being in the world daily and existing with the relentless influence of this world makes it difficult often times, for some people, to focus on Triune God. What is the solution for this? A close relationship with the Holy Spirit, prayer, Bible study, and regular fellowship with Christian brothers and sisters. This will keep our thoughts and actions in line with God’s plan for our lives, and the joys and satisfaction with our natural life will be fulfilled. Triune God is our creator and benefactor, although we often lose sight of this. The natural world can be challenging, but there is hope in God’s grace. We can and will win the war between the natural and supernatural realms.

1 John 2:15-17

¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 4:1-6

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

⁴ You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ⁵ They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

John 16:33

³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

All through the life of Jesus, from birth to manhood, he was becoming what he was born to become. At the same time he was being what he was intended to become. He was the Son of man, with all the emotions and temptations of all men, while at the same time knowing he was the Son of God and realizing his destiny. Think and imagine, could we do this? And all the while he was without sin. The real test for Jesus, son of man, came after John baptized him. He went into the dessert and fasted and prayed for 40 days. During this time satan tempted him three times. Did he survive and pass this trial? Yes! God knew His son would pass the test.

Job 23:10

¹⁰ But he knows the way that I take;
    when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

GOD KNOWS ALL THINGS, PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE. THIS TRIAL WAS SO THAT Jesus would know within himself, as the son of man that he had the faith, strength and ability to continue in his destiny and succeed. He was becoming so he could be. He became the example for all mankind to follow. If he could overcome and become , so can we. He said we could:

John 14:12-14

¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Revelations 1:17-18

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

From Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, we quote “to be, or not to be, that is the question.” In order to be we all require a variable time period of becoming. So maybe the question should be; can we become until we reach a state of being in Christ Jesus? Are our trust, belief and faith and obedience strong enough?

We do have to be here until our time in this life is over. How do we realistically carry out Jesus’ commission? We do so with joy in our heart, thankfulness, understanding and wisdom. With compassion and love in our actions. This is called faith and requires action. So, brothers and sisters, what do we do for ourselves and for our Christian and non-Christian brothers and sisters? How do we be and become in a world where we are surrounded by multiple distractions, all competing for our attention? Many, contrary to our faith. Examples like multiple information mediums, theories, ideas, natural and supernatural forces, and so on.

We have to be the example and Triune God’s definition of the Good News. The world’s peoples are forever seeking truth, love and a relationship that is honest and dependable. We can do this through fellowship, as we are becoming who God created us to be. What is the only way to maintain our core values and God’s truth? I think the following scripture answers this best:

Ephesians 6:10-18

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Being is freedom and abiding in God’s truth, through Jesus Christ’s example. Faith, trust, hope and obedience is the reality of belief in Triune God.

Matthew 7:7-8

⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Revelations 3:19-21

¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. ²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

²¹ To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

And for reference only:

Matthew 5:14 1 Corinthians 3:19

James 4:4-8 1 John 4:7-12

2 Corinthians 5:11-21 Luke 11:9-10