Monday, August 20, 2012

Christ is Our Promise Keeper

One movement that emerged recently in the Body of Christ emphasizes that men need to keep promises, honoring Jesus Christ in all that they do. The emphasis of this movement is on the “manhood” of the believer.

Yet in the Body of Christ, these divisions do not exist, or at least the distinction of male and female dissolve within his body:

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3: 28)

In fact, Jesus makes it clear that manhood is irrelevant in heaven, as is womanhood:

"For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." (Matthew 22: 30)
Movements which emphasize manhood or womanhood, which press people to live up to standards, no matter how moral, will end up creating bondage, not freedom:

"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." (1 Corinthians 15: 56)

The law is manifested every time there is a demand placed on us, for in Christ the law is fulfilled:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." (Matthew 5: 17)

and

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8: 3-4)

Jesus is our righteousness and our peace (Ephesians 2: 14). He lives His life in every believer(Galatians 2: 20; Colossians 1: 27). Paul disdained without reserve any system of living apart from the Spirit of God:

"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

"Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. " (Galatians 4: 6-7)

We have a new identity in Christ, which has accorded to us adoption as sons of God. There is no set of rules to follow in order to receive this inheritance. Therefore, Paul then writes:

"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?" (Galatians 4: 9)
Since we are children of God, we receive promises from the Father, and He keeps these promises for us, not we ourselves:

"For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." (1Corinthians 1: 20)

We are not Promise Keepers, but rather Promise Receivers:

"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3: 29)

and

"That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel." (Ephesians 3: 6)
Receive the Promises through His grace, and let Him answer the prayers of others through you!

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