Five Lessons we should learn from Christ’s time in the Wilderness

In the Gospel of Sunday of the First Week of Lent, we are given a lesson of what it takes for us to attain salvation through the saving work of Jesus Christ.

“Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry” (Luke 4:1-2).

Key Lessons to Remember

The lessons taught by our Lord through the example of His time in the wilderness include:

We enter the life of grace through faith and the Sacrament of Baptism.
We must deepen this life of grace by spending time periodically in the wilderness.
Fasting and other acts of self-denial, through faith and by grace, performed out of Love of God, strengthen us to grow in faith and charity.
Through surrender of our will to the Lord, we are able to more deeply advance in prayer and communion.
Thus equipped, we are able to resist temptations and avoid sin and perform the good works of mercy God has prepared for us.

Deacon Mike Bickerstaff is the Editor in chief and co-founder of the The Integrated Catholic Life™. A Catholic Deacon of the Roman Rite for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Deacon Bickerstaff is assigned to St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church where he is the Director of Adult Education and Evangelization.

He is a co-founder of the successful annual Atlanta Catholic Business Conference; the Chaplain of the Atlanta Chapter of the Woodstock Theological Center’s Business Conference; and Chaplains to the St. Peter Chanel Business Association and co-founder of the Marriages Are Covenants Ministry, both of which serve as models for similar parish-based ministries.

Once Saved — Always Saved is nonsense in my thinking. We are all sinners.

1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

.... .

1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Christians are nothing more than sinners saved by God's grace. We can and do murder, abuse children, lie, slander, think bad thoughts and all sorts of things. Even be busybodies. Funny that Peter should link the sin of murder to the sin of busybody. The only difference between Christians and non-Christians is that we don't make sin a practice. We repent and ask God for forgiveness because to us Christ is glorified. We HAVE OBTAINED mercy.

As far as Once Saved Always Saved as being nonsense, yes the doctrine is muddled. But I believe you'll find Perseverance not to be so...

CHAPTER XVII. Of The Perseverance of the Saints.

I. They whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.

II. This perseverance of the saints depends, not upon their own free-will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ; the abiding of the Spirit and of the seed of God within them; and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.

III. Nevertheless they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalancy of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their perseverance, fall into grievous sins; and for a time continue therein: whereby they incur God's displeasure, and grieve his Holy Spirit; come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts; have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded; hurt and prevalancy others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves.

Westminster Confession

As Peter states, Christians are a holy nation called out and set apart by God's grace. We may fall. We may stumble. And, like King David, we might even murder after the lust of our own hearts. Yet in spite of ourselves, God is always loving and gracious to bring us back to Him. We are a people who have obtained mercy-not by our doing but because God looked upon us.

Our salvation does not rest on how well we live for God. Our salvation rest on the perfect work of Christ. Our will should be to do His will. However, our evil nature gets the better of us from time to time. Even as busybodies-meddling in other people's affairs. But it is our assurance that when we stray, we know that He will correct us and brings us back. This is what a Good Shepherd does.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.