Articles
What Comes AFTER Becoming a Believer?
Barbara L. Klika, MSW, Undershepherd, Life Coach
August 2017
Written for Wisconsin Christian Newspaper
Becoming a believer in Messiah is the beginning of a journey, not the final goal. Salvation in and through
Messiah’s shed blood on our behalf is indeed Good News! But the story doesn’t end there as so many seem to believe and teach. Sanctification follows: learning how to walk after our God in His ways, not ours. One vivid OT image is that of people dancing on the shores of the Red Sea, singing, “HalleluYah! I’m saved!” But then came the journey (sanctification process in the wilderness) to Mount Sinai where the Word was written on tablets, and a ketubah/marriage covenant was made with both these who were there and those who were yet to come…us!
I will be your God and you will be My people.
If you have read Exodus and Deuteronomy you know of the significant trials and conflicts, resulting in the death of an entire generation (except Caleb and Joshua) who failed to honor our Elohim during that process. The children that they feared would die on the way where preserved and re-educated to walk after our God in His ways; ways which the enslaved Israelites had fallen away from during their Egyptian bondage. They prevailed and were able to enter the Promised Land, overcoming the adversary, which included those of Nephilim heritage; thus the need for their annihilation.
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon
whom the ends of the world are come.
1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV
The joy of our salvation in Messiah, and the gift of eternal life is not the final chapter, but if a believer doesn’t heed the instruction to learn through the Word and lean into the Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit they will be stunted in their growth. The first Exodus happened to them as part of our instruction …we who are living in the last days. We who will be facing the released Nephilim and unholy Watchers that are foretold to return. We have been enslaved by the world system, fallen away from the righteous teachings of our God, and need to be re-educated to walk after Him. This is one very important transition to make and I stand ready to encourage and exhort as Undershepherd and Personal Life Coach.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach
you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not
solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of
righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have
their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Hebrews 5:12-14
What was true in the first century, that maturity was needed, is yet again true now, as we face the increasing intensity of the spiritual battles raging in our world. We have been entrapped and ensnared by the outworkings of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the world system, the “kings of the earth” who buy and sell the bodies and souls of mankind. We have only to look at the worldwide network of sex trafficking to see one aspect playing out yet again.
Last month, I asked whether or not people really want God’s righteousness. His Word defines His righteousness as walking in His ways, honoring His commands, not the golden calf or new oxcarts of our own making. (Might I join the chorus of concern expressed in WCN, too, about all those denominational splits?)
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to
write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people.
Jude 1:3 NIV
His love is unconditional but He makes it clear that there are requirements in various ways, too.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the Truth is not in us. If we confess our sin, He is
gracious and merciful to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8 KJV
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.
1 John 3:4 NIV
Follow Him and His ways and be blessed. Choose to reject Him and His ways and receive cursings. (Leviticus and Deuteronomy)
Our Abba knows that we are His children, made of the dust of the earth and He has been patient and long suffering with us in ways we likely don’t even realize. Yeshua Messiah, Fully God and Fully Man, came to make a way back to the Father. Have we accepted that way or have we designed it over to match our ways? One day I believe the time will come when He will tell all to choose, as He has called many to choose already. Do we love Him enough to learn and follow His ways or will we choose to keep our own modern golden calves? Then, it will be clear who honors Him with their lips while their heart is far from Him.
In order to overcome through the adversity that is on the earth, we must be found in Him. We must be under His wing and under His covenant promises, not being disciplined while outside the camp. Not continuing as the children who are too immature to hear the full Truth but as the mature composite Bride, made without spot or blemish, through the multi-faceted sanctification process.
Peter and Paul both speak of the continuing need for God’s people to be holy. (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:14-16). Do you know what it means to be holy? It is from the Hebrew, Kadosh, meaning to be set apart for a special purpose. In this case, our Father’s special purpose.
It is time to return to know what is holy/set apart and what is profane as we near Messiah’s return. Our service to him needs to be of the character of Zadok, fully devoted to His ways, not of Eli, where what was convenient or desirable to the flesh overran what is holy.
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is
righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Revelation 22:11 KJV
Next time: What does this transition back to His righteousness look like for us today?
What_Comes_AFTER_Becoming_a_Believer.docx