Making an Elephant Statue from a Rock

 

Chip off fairly large pieces, to bring out form.  But details do not show ... Chip off what does not look like an elephant.

 

examine & chip off a little here or there & repeat.  the closer it becomes to an exact elephant - the more he exams & the smaller the chips each time.  The more he exams and compares to the perfect and make corrections by taking off the imperfections - the better his statue.

 

How do you make a Christian?  All people are like a stone or rock.  In every person is a christian.  We only have to take away what doesn't look like a Christian or the imperfect parts.

 

 Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

 

 Isa 64:6 ¶ But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

 

We are not born perfect .. selfishness is natural .... envy is natural

 

 Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

James 4:5-10

 

We are all vile old rocks.  But With God's help we can become like Christ ... the perfect rock.

 

 Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

 

 Ro 8:29 ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

 

WE are to conform to the image of Jesus Christ the son of God.

 

All can --- if he will. Re 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  

 

ROM. 12:1-2

 

aLL WHO ASCRIBE TO WORSHIP gOD THROUGH Christ HAVE A FORM.  It is possible for us to have a form but be conformed - just like a sculpture made in a rough form.

 

In Rom. 2 we see that they Jews had a "form of knowledge" (rom 2:20)

 

 Ro 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

 

We could have a from of Christ but not be in Christ nor have Christ in us.

 

 2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

WE need to examine ourselves and chip away the parts that keep us from being conformed to the image of his dear son. 

 

 1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

 

Let's examine our life and compare to the prefect - Christ!!!

 

! Cor. 11:34 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged

 

1 Peter 4:16-19

 

Chip off our disobedience -- Rom. 1:16

chip off our pride  "humble yourself ...."James 4:10

Chip off our lust

Chip off our bad language

Chip off  our grudges & forgive

Chip off our hatred & ill will

Chip off our covetousness

Chip off our selfishness

Chip off our indifference

 

Gal. 5:19-21

 Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 

A sculpture takes a big ugly rock with flaws and cracks and bad places.  He carefully chips away to make a statue.  Sure we all have faults, but all can become Christians or Christ like.  Just as all the statues are not all just alike but all are clearly have an image of an elephant or whatever.  We can all clearly become Christians and have the image on Christ on us and in us.

 

cs 12/6/92