Deeper Dive
God Enables
“For one will scarcely die for a righteous person — though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die — but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
How many of us have wanted to change our lives and have even tried but found we can’t do it on our own? Fixing the broken — relating to God — is just like that as we do not have the ability to “fix” our brokenness.
In 2 Peter it is written speaking of Jesus, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence”.
Jesus Himself talked about providing us with a Helper in the Holy Spirit: “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about me.” Then He went on, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
God provides not only the restoration but the means to live life to the full in Him. Forever.
“Enabling” is that measure to make possible and probable the accomplishment of intent. In this discussion, it is that beyond knowing about God but being able to live out relationship with God, that being in agreement with His desires for this life. Paul encourages followers of Jesus to choose God’s way when he speaks of the dichotomy of ‘with’ versus ‘without’ God’s enabling:
“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”1
Jesus’s promise of the participation of God through the Holy Spirit into our lives as the enabling that makes possible that which accomplishes God’s purposes through us is clear. We simply do not have it in ourselves apart from God’s indwelling Holy Spirit and that only comes with agreement with God’s desires lived out in our being.
The enabling is distinctly of God and not of our own works apart from Him: “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me [Paul], in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”2
There are two telling verses early in the Book of Acts which point to the necessity of God’s enabling:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”3
“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”4
This enabling is vital to being able to live in agreement with God for how else will you know the way? It is not of your own design but of His Spirit dwelling in you and giving you the equipping for living as honors God Himself.
FOOTNOTES:
1 Philippians 3:17-21 (ESV) – https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/phl/3/17-21/s_1106017
2 2 Timothy 1:13,14 (ESV) – https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/2ti/1/13-14/s_1126013
3 Acts 1:8 (ESV) – https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/act/1/8/s_1019008
4 Acts 2:38 (ESV) – https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/act/2/38/t_conc_1020038