"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 39)
There are seventeen elements mentioned in Romans 8: 38-39)
Seventeen is the number of perfect victory, which rests in our peace in Christ from the law, which Jesus fulfilled on our behalf:
"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)
Some did not want His Victory, as many are too accustomed to defeat:
"And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts." (Mark 5: 17)
Jesus was present to heal all during His earthly minister, even the teachers of the law:
"And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them." (Luke 5: 17)
Notwithstanding our actions or beliefs, Jesus is working on our behalf:
"But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." (John 5: 17)
When we rest in this victory, including His Finished Work at the Cross, we do not have to fear what man may do, even the greatest temporal authorities of our day:
"17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." (Acts 5: 17-20)
We have a High Priest forever, and a King whose reign shall never end (Isaiah 9: 6), and in Him we reign in life:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)
Old things are past away, and we are a new creature, a new creation:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5: 17)
In Christ, you and I have perfect victory. Don't fight to get it, but pray (1 Thessalonians 5: 17) to identify with Him (Galatians 5: 17).
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Persuaded of Perfect Victory
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come" (Romans 8: 38)
Even though we are saved, even though through His blood we are taken from death to life, our minds take a while to renew to this truth:
"20But ye have not so learned Christ; 21If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4: 20-24)
and also
"1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12: 1-2)
The will of God is all about God's grace redefining us in His Son.
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
It takes time for us to understand all that we have in Christ, that no matter what the world, our flesh, or Satan may throw at us, we are more than conquerors:
"16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."" (2 Peter 3: 16-18)
And also
"10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6: 10-11)
Keep reading the Word of God, see your rich inheritance in Christ, and be persuaded of who you are in Christ!
Even though we are saved, even though through His blood we are taken from death to life, our minds take a while to renew to this truth:
"20But ye have not so learned Christ; 21If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4: 20-24)
and also
"1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12: 1-2)
The will of God is all about God's grace redefining us in His Son.
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
It takes time for us to understand all that we have in Christ, that no matter what the world, our flesh, or Satan may throw at us, we are more than conquerors:
"16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."" (2 Peter 3: 16-18)
And also
"10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6: 10-11)
Keep reading the Word of God, see your rich inheritance in Christ, and be persuaded of who you are in Christ!
More Than Conquerors
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)
This passage has been quoted so many times, that the deep revelations hidden in this passage can be overlooked.
The Word of God is inexhaustible, like God Himself, and so everyone of us can read something knew in this passage.
We are literally "hyper-victors" through Him who loved us.
We are like the wife of the champion boxer. He took all the blows, and we enjoy the money which he earns for us.
We are the prince who inherits the kingdom which our Father fought for and won.
We step into the Promised Land which He has paid for.
We are more than conquerors in Christ, yet the Holy Spirit does not identify our Savior by Messiah, or his anointed status.
He identifies Jesus as 'Him who loved us."
Galatians 2: 20-21 grants us more insight into how He loved us:
"20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
We are not victorious in our flesh, for no good thing dwells in our flesh, and we have no confidence in it.
We are more than conquerors in Christ, and in His strength we stand (Ephesians 6: 10).
We have a victory beyond victory because we had no part or party in the fight. If we try to add to the fight or gain something in our struggle, then we are insulting the perfect work which Jesus did.
Why would we fight any further when the fight is already fought, and He conquered all?!
This verse, Romans 8: 37, matters also because we see a perfect example of rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2: 15)
All the passages in the Old Testament, like Psalm 44: 11, 22, should be read in light of the New Covenant and the perfect victory which Jesus has wrought for us.
Whatever the Israelites endured, even then God Promised a New Covenant (Ezekiel 11: 19), and a final victory in Him, in His Son.
This passage has been quoted so many times, that the deep revelations hidden in this passage can be overlooked.
The Word of God is inexhaustible, like God Himself, and so everyone of us can read something knew in this passage.
We are literally "hyper-victors" through Him who loved us.
We are like the wife of the champion boxer. He took all the blows, and we enjoy the money which he earns for us.
We are the prince who inherits the kingdom which our Father fought for and won.
We step into the Promised Land which He has paid for.
We are more than conquerors in Christ, yet the Holy Spirit does not identify our Savior by Messiah, or his anointed status.
He identifies Jesus as 'Him who loved us."
Galatians 2: 20-21 grants us more insight into how He loved us:
"20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
We are not victorious in our flesh, for no good thing dwells in our flesh, and we have no confidence in it.
We are more than conquerors in Christ, and in His strength we stand (Ephesians 6: 10).
We have a victory beyond victory because we had no part or party in the fight. If we try to add to the fight or gain something in our struggle, then we are insulting the perfect work which Jesus did.
Why would we fight any further when the fight is already fought, and He conquered all?!
This verse, Romans 8: 37, matters also because we see a perfect example of rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2: 15)
All the passages in the Old Testament, like Psalm 44: 11, 22, should be read in light of the New Covenant and the perfect victory which Jesus has wrought for us.
Whatever the Israelites endured, even then God Promised a New Covenant (Ezekiel 11: 19), and a final victory in Him, in His Son.
Jesus: Our Lamb Led to the Slaughter
"As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." (Romans 8: 36)
The Psalmist wrote this passage:
"Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen." (Psalm 44: 11)
and also
"Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter." (Psalm 44: 22)
Today, we have a Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep:
"11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (John 10: 11)
and then
"14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10: 14-15)
We are not led to the slaughter, because Jesus went for us:
"He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, He did not open His mouth." (Isaiah 53: 7)
This testimony helped convert the Ethiopian eunuch in the service of Queen Candace:
"The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:" (Acts 8: 32)
Reminder: this is Jesus led to the slaughter for us. Let us get over this idea that we need to face any kind of slaughter or setback in order to prove something to Him.
The Psalmist wrote this passage:
"Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen." (Psalm 44: 11)
and also
"Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter." (Psalm 44: 22)
Today, we have a Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep:
"11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (John 10: 11)
and then
"14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10: 14-15)
We are not led to the slaughter, because Jesus went for us:
"He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, He did not open His mouth." (Isaiah 53: 7)
This testimony helped convert the Ethiopian eunuch in the service of Queen Candace:
"The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:" (Acts 8: 32)
Reminder: this is Jesus led to the slaughter for us. Let us get over this idea that we need to face any kind of slaughter or setback in order to prove something to Him.
Nothing Can Separate us From His Love
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"
Nothing can separate us from God's love. Nothing.
Let's get practical, though.
Why?
First of all, God is love:
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." (1 John 4: 8)
and then
"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4: 16)
So God is love.
And God is everywhere, witnessed in the power, authority, and glory of His Son Jesus:
"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1: 15-20)
The reason why people do not receive this love, even though He is everywhere, is that they do not have, know, or sense His love in them. Such is the power of sin.
Yet because of what Jesus did at the Cross, we can know and believe that we are reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5: 17-21), and thus wherever we go, we can trust that He is for us, and that His love carries us, that nothing can separate us from His love.
Nothing can separate us from God's love. Nothing.
Let's get practical, though.
Why?
First of all, God is love:
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." (1 John 4: 8)
and then
"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4: 16)
So God is love.
And God is everywhere, witnessed in the power, authority, and glory of His Son Jesus:
"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1: 15-20)
The reason why people do not receive this love, even though He is everywhere, is that they do not have, know, or sense His love in them. Such is the power of sin.
Yet because of what Jesus did at the Cross, we can know and believe that we are reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5: 17-21), and thus wherever we go, we can trust that He is for us, and that His love carries us, that nothing can separate us from His love.
Jesus Intercedes for Us
"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8: 34)
The High Priesthood of Jesus Christ is one of the most neglected subjects in the Body of Christ today.
We need to know that we have an Advocate not just within us, the Holy Spirit, but a representative on our behalf, Jesus, sitting at the right hand of God the Father.
"1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2: 1-2)
What causes us not to sin, by the way? Knowing that we have a perfect Advocate on our behalf at the right hand of God the Father.
He is our High Priest, one forever:
"As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 5: 6)
Jesus intercedes on our behalf forever:
"15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." (Hebrews 7: 15-16)
You have a tireless representative speaking on your behalf today!
The High Priesthood of Jesus Christ is one of the most neglected subjects in the Body of Christ today.
We need to know that we have an Advocate not just within us, the Holy Spirit, but a representative on our behalf, Jesus, sitting at the right hand of God the Father.
"1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2: 1-2)
What causes us not to sin, by the way? Knowing that we have a perfect Advocate on our behalf at the right hand of God the Father.
He is our High Priest, one forever:
"As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 5: 6)
Jesus intercedes on our behalf forever:
"15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." (Hebrews 7: 15-16)
You have a tireless representative speaking on your behalf today!
God Justifies You
"Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth." (Romans 8: 33)
We cannot ignore this truth enough - God justifies us.
That statement is in the present tense.
Our justification is once for all, and forever:
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;" (Hebrews 10: 12)
For ever!
This truth is still not active enough in people's minds, though, because they are not identifying with it.
We have to understand that we are God's elect, that He has chosen us:
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15: 16)
This is not an issue of predestination, but rather of submission:
"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost." (Luke 15:4-6)
Repentance is all about letting God save us. Being chosen requires us allowing God to take us. That is all.
Today, God justifies us. No matter what bad thoughts or feelings we may think or feel, especially when we are not aware of them, we accept today that we are justified, and continue to be justified before God:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5: 17)
We can keep receiving this righteousness because God is still justifying us through His Son.
Now, when we understand this unending righteousness, these verses make perfect sense:
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1: 7-9)
Jesus' blood cleanses us, and we are cleansed from all unrighteousness.
We cannot ignore this truth enough - God justifies us.
That statement is in the present tense.
Our justification is once for all, and forever:
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;" (Hebrews 10: 12)
For ever!
This truth is still not active enough in people's minds, though, because they are not identifying with it.
We have to understand that we are God's elect, that He has chosen us:
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15: 16)
This is not an issue of predestination, but rather of submission:
"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost." (Luke 15:4-6)
Repentance is all about letting God save us. Being chosen requires us allowing God to take us. That is all.
Today, God justifies us. No matter what bad thoughts or feelings we may think or feel, especially when we are not aware of them, we accept today that we are justified, and continue to be justified before God:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5: 17)
We can keep receiving this righteousness because God is still justifying us through His Son.
Now, when we understand this unending righteousness, these verses make perfect sense:
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1: 7-9)
Jesus' blood cleanses us, and we are cleansed from all unrighteousness.
He Graced His Son -- He Graces All Things With Him
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 32)
There are two alls in this verse.
Jesus died for us all.
He died for the "worst" of us (even though before God, no one is good, because we are all dead in Adam).
He died for those who were not yet born.
He died for all the sins of man, from Adam to eternity.
The crossing of the river Jordan demonstrates the fullness of Jesus' payment for all sin:
"And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) 16That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho." (Joshua 3: 15-16)
Joshua means "Savior", and in Joshua 3:16, we read about a Savior who leads the Israelites over the River Jordan, through the payment of all their sins.
All of them.
Jesus was delivered up for us all. When we receive the fullness of this payment, then we can freely receive all things from him, for we have given up justifying ourselves through our own efforts, and believe in the free goodness of His grace.
We receive all things with Him, because all things are ours in Christ:
"21Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." (1 Corinthians 3: 21-23)
All things are ours today because we are in Christ, and we are Christ's.
God the Father gave His Son, and with Him we can be certain He gives all things with Him.
One more thing. . .that word "freely receive" is more powerful than the English bears forth:
χαρίζομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: charizomai
To favor and to forgive.
We have forgotten the first part, in all our talk about the forgiveness we receive in Christ.
We also receive great favor, and God favors us in all things, too!
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 6)
"Accepted" is "highly favored", or χαριτόω, the basis for "freely receive".
There are two alls in this verse.
Jesus died for us all.
He died for the "worst" of us (even though before God, no one is good, because we are all dead in Adam).
He died for those who were not yet born.
He died for all the sins of man, from Adam to eternity.
The crossing of the river Jordan demonstrates the fullness of Jesus' payment for all sin:
"And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) 16That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho." (Joshua 3: 15-16)
Joshua means "Savior", and in Joshua 3:16, we read about a Savior who leads the Israelites over the River Jordan, through the payment of all their sins.
All of them.
Jesus was delivered up for us all. When we receive the fullness of this payment, then we can freely receive all things from him, for we have given up justifying ourselves through our own efforts, and believe in the free goodness of His grace.
We receive all things with Him, because all things are ours in Christ:
"21Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." (1 Corinthians 3: 21-23)
All things are ours today because we are in Christ, and we are Christ's.
God the Father gave His Son, and with Him we can be certain He gives all things with Him.
One more thing. . .that word "freely receive" is more powerful than the English bears forth:
χαρίζομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: charizomai
To favor and to forgive.
We have forgotten the first part, in all our talk about the forgiveness we receive in Christ.
We also receive great favor, and God favors us in all things, too!
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 6)
"Accepted" is "highly favored", or χαριτόω, the basis for "freely receive".
God is For You Today, Beloved!
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8: 31)
In Christ, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8: 37).
He did all the fighting, and He overcame all things:
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16: 33)
Jesus has overcome the world, and that includes all things in it.
Yet before we can understand that Jesus has overcome all things, we have to see that He overcame the greatest hindrance to our lives: sin and death:
"13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Who can be against you today?" (Colossians 2: 13-15)
Jesus overcame sin, death, and the Devil through His Work on the Cross.
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1: 29)
Jesus fulfilled the law, so that Satan can no longer use the law against us:
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." (Matthew 5: 17)
Jesus also judged the Devil:
"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8-11)
The prince of this world has been judged, found guilty, and will be put away forever:
"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Revelation 12: 10-11)
The Devil is defeated!
The world is overcome, too:
"4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4: 4)
and also
"4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5: 4-5)
God is for you today, Beloved, because of Jesus, for in Him you are accepted (Ephesians 1: 6)
Whatever may be against you, know that God is for you today!
In Christ, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8: 37).
He did all the fighting, and He overcame all things:
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16: 33)
Jesus has overcome the world, and that includes all things in it.
Yet before we can understand that Jesus has overcome all things, we have to see that He overcame the greatest hindrance to our lives: sin and death:
"13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Who can be against you today?" (Colossians 2: 13-15)
Jesus overcame sin, death, and the Devil through His Work on the Cross.
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1: 29)
Jesus fulfilled the law, so that Satan can no longer use the law against us:
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." (Matthew 5: 17)
Jesus also judged the Devil:
"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8-11)
The prince of this world has been judged, found guilty, and will be put away forever:
"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Revelation 12: 10-11)
The Devil is defeated!
The world is overcome, too:
"4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4: 4)
and also
"4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5: 4-5)
God is for you today, Beloved, because of Jesus, for in Him you are accepted (Ephesians 1: 6)
Whatever may be against you, know that God is for you today!
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Guided to Righteousness in Christ
30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus." (Acts 8: 30-35)
We need someone to show us Jesus. We do not take him in our minds, through our efforts.
Let us not think, however, that we have to find the right teacher, as much as we need to rest in the Spirit of God, who convicts us of righteousness:
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:" (John 15: 26)
and
"8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8-11)
The Holy Spirit, not ourselves, convicts us of righteousness, of God's righteousness, which we receive through Christ:
"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" (1 Corinthians 1: 30)
and
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
And what is Scripture all about, anyway?
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3: 16)
Any ministry which trains you that you are righteous by faith in Christ, that is a ministry to keep receiving!
Friday, August 29, 2014
Born Again, then Predestined
"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." (Romans 8: 29)
Many people have wrested this Scripture, bringing people into untold bondage.
Battles broken out among believers even created warring theological schools.
Does God know in advance who will be saved and who won't?
Passages like Romans 8: 29 suggest that God has already figured out or decided who will be saved and who will not.
In reality, man is not predestined to anything until he gets saved, until He receives the gift of grace through faith.
Notice that it is a gift, which we receive, not something which is forced on us:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. " (Ephesians 2: 8-9)
and also
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 15-17)
Notice also that Romans 8:29 talks about being conformed to the image of His Son.
To be a son of God is a matter of faith, but when we become sons of God through Jesus, we are then transformed into His image from glory to glory:
"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3: 1-3)
Notice that we are sons of God, Beloved. Then we will be like Him.
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
The Holy Spirit transforms us from glory to glory, yet before the Spirit can transform us, we have to receive Him into us.
That is a choice given to every person in the world.
First we need to be born again:
"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3: 7)
and then
"16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3: 16-18)
We have to believe. That is up to us.
When we believe, we are born again, taken from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly places in Christ.
Then we are predestined to be like Jesus!
Many people have wrested this Scripture, bringing people into untold bondage.
Battles broken out among believers even created warring theological schools.
Does God know in advance who will be saved and who won't?
Passages like Romans 8: 29 suggest that God has already figured out or decided who will be saved and who will not.
In reality, man is not predestined to anything until he gets saved, until He receives the gift of grace through faith.
Notice that it is a gift, which we receive, not something which is forced on us:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. " (Ephesians 2: 8-9)
and also
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 15-17)
Notice also that Romans 8:29 talks about being conformed to the image of His Son.
To be a son of God is a matter of faith, but when we become sons of God through Jesus, we are then transformed into His image from glory to glory:
"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3: 1-3)
Notice that we are sons of God, Beloved. Then we will be like Him.
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
The Holy Spirit transforms us from glory to glory, yet before the Spirit can transform us, we have to receive Him into us.
That is a choice given to every person in the world.
First we need to be born again:
"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3: 7)
and then
"16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3: 16-18)
We have to believe. That is up to us.
When we believe, we are born again, taken from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly places in Christ.
Then we are predestined to be like Jesus!
Thursday, August 28, 2014
All Things Work Together for Those Who Let God Love Them
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8: 28)
Many read this passage, in one of the most resplendent chapters on grace, and still bring out an element of law in it.
All things do not work together for us because we love God, or as a response to our loving God.
Let us never forget that apart from Him, from Jesus, we can do nothing (John 15: 5)
In his poem on love, First Corinthians 13, Paul makes it clear that if we do not have love (not actively give it, but receive it), then we are nothing.
First Corinthians 13 speaks of God's love for us, for when we understand God's love for us, then we love Him in turn.
His love takes from dead sons of Adam to sons of God living and reigning in life (Romans 5: 17):
"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (1 John 3: 1)
Now, some will still charge that we have to love God for things to work for our benefit.
Yet what is love? While First Corinthians 13 describes love, First John defines it:
"9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4: 9-10)
Love is not about our love for God, but His love for us. It could not be any simpler.
Yet if this revelation is still not enough, consider these passages:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 17-19)
Love is perfected in our identity in Christ, not our activity through Him (which was mentioned in 1 John 4: 9)
Last of all, "for those who love God" refers ultimately to those who have let God love them first, for He has called us, and made us sons, and one with His Son and in His Son Jesus! When we understand how much God loves us, then we love him -- and thus, all things indeed work together for our good.
Many read this passage, in one of the most resplendent chapters on grace, and still bring out an element of law in it.
All things do not work together for us because we love God, or as a response to our loving God.
Let us never forget that apart from Him, from Jesus, we can do nothing (John 15: 5)
In his poem on love, First Corinthians 13, Paul makes it clear that if we do not have love (not actively give it, but receive it), then we are nothing.
First Corinthians 13 speaks of God's love for us, for when we understand God's love for us, then we love Him in turn.
His love takes from dead sons of Adam to sons of God living and reigning in life (Romans 5: 17):
"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (1 John 3: 1)
Now, some will still charge that we have to love God for things to work for our benefit.
Yet what is love? While First Corinthians 13 describes love, First John defines it:
"9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4: 9-10)
Love is not about our love for God, but His love for us. It could not be any simpler.
Yet if this revelation is still not enough, consider these passages:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 17-19)
Love is perfected in our identity in Christ, not our activity through Him (which was mentioned in 1 John 4: 9)
Last of all, "for those who love God" refers ultimately to those who have let God love them first, for He has called us, and made us sons, and one with His Son and in His Son Jesus! When we understand how much God loves us, then we love him -- and thus, all things indeed work together for our good.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Jesus Knows Our Hearts, and the Spirit works His Will
"And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8: 27)
When we read this passage, readers are often convinced that the Spirit of God is searching our hearts.
We have to understand that Jesus is our Advocate today, and He is making intercession for us:
"34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8: 34)
and
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4: 15)
So, we can know that Jesus knows our hearts: what is weighing on our hearts, and even the sins which we still think and feel.
Regarding this knowledge about our hearts:
"20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." (1 John 3: 20-21)
Now, regarding the Spirit of God, yes indeed He is making intercession on our behalf, and in accordance with the will of God.
"12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 12-13)
Other passages witness to this powerful truth about the Holy Spirit and the will of God:
"16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18)
God works within us and through us because of His Spirit, yet even though Jesus does not physically live in us, we can know that He knows us, and everything about us, and thus he hears every prayer we pray.
When we read this passage, readers are often convinced that the Spirit of God is searching our hearts.
We have to understand that Jesus is our Advocate today, and He is making intercession for us:
"34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8: 34)
and
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4: 15)
So, we can know that Jesus knows our hearts: what is weighing on our hearts, and even the sins which we still think and feel.
Regarding this knowledge about our hearts:
"20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." (1 John 3: 20-21)
Now, regarding the Spirit of God, yes indeed He is making intercession on our behalf, and in accordance with the will of God.
"12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 12-13)
Other passages witness to this powerful truth about the Holy Spirit and the will of God:
"16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18)
God works within us and through us because of His Spirit, yet even though Jesus does not physically live in us, we can know that He knows us, and everything about us, and thus he hears every prayer we pray.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Through our Groanings, the Spirit Helps Us
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8: 26)
Did you know that the Spirit of God is your helper?
For this reason, and many more, Jesus said to His disciples, and to us today:
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." (John 16: 7)
In a way, however, because Jesus become a man, then resurrected into a perfect body, He chose to limit Himself.
Yet at the same time, His sacrifice permitted Himself to sit at the right hand of God the Father, and thus permit His Spirit to live within all who would receive Him:
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:" (Joel 2: 28)
Because of His Spirit, we have the Son now living in us (Colossians1: 27) and working in us (Colossians 1: 29)
This same Spirit gives us the power to pray when we do not know what to pray, too.
These groanings, whether we are in great pain and cannot speak, or we are just puzzled, permit us to pray in an unknown tongue, and thus we can know that our prayers are always in line with His will.
The first mention of groanings here:
I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt." (Acts 7: 34)
What does the Original Hebrew bear out:
"And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;" (Exodus 3: 7)
Groanings speak of the end of our efforts, and our willingness to trust His efforts.
Praying in the spirit, praying in unknown tongues, edifies our entire man:
"He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church." (1 Corinthians 14: 4)
Praying in the Spirit permits us to edify every aspect of our lives -- spirit, soul, and body.
When the Spirit prays, He acts as our advocate before God the Father, too, and through the Spirit we manifest the knowledge which He has graced to us:
"1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John 2: 1)
and then
"20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things."
followed by
"27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2: 27)
Did you know that the Spirit of God is your helper?
For this reason, and many more, Jesus said to His disciples, and to us today:
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." (John 16: 7)
In a way, however, because Jesus become a man, then resurrected into a perfect body, He chose to limit Himself.
Yet at the same time, His sacrifice permitted Himself to sit at the right hand of God the Father, and thus permit His Spirit to live within all who would receive Him:
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:" (Joel 2: 28)
Because of His Spirit, we have the Son now living in us (Colossians1: 27) and working in us (Colossians 1: 29)
This same Spirit gives us the power to pray when we do not know what to pray, too.
These groanings, whether we are in great pain and cannot speak, or we are just puzzled, permit us to pray in an unknown tongue, and thus we can know that our prayers are always in line with His will.
The first mention of groanings here:
I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt." (Acts 7: 34)
What does the Original Hebrew bear out:
"And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;" (Exodus 3: 7)
Groanings speak of the end of our efforts, and our willingness to trust His efforts.
Praying in the spirit, praying in unknown tongues, edifies our entire man:
"He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church." (1 Corinthians 14: 4)
Praying in the Spirit permits us to edify every aspect of our lives -- spirit, soul, and body.
When the Spirit prays, He acts as our advocate before God the Father, too, and through the Spirit we manifest the knowledge which He has graced to us:
"1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John 2: 1)
and then
"20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things."
followed by
"27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2: 27)
Monday, August 25, 2014
His Spirit Gives Us Patience for Hope
"But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." (Romans 8: 25)
Why can we expect the things that we hope for from God our Father?
Because God gave us His Word, literally:
"1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1: 1)
Then
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1: 14)
Then
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)
Because God has given us the gift of righteousness through His Son (2 Corinthians 5: 21), a gift which we keep on receiving (Romans 5: 17), we can expect all things to be added to us through Him:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)
and then
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 32)
Now, when people see the word "patience", they think that they have to strive at manifesting this behavior.
The truth is that patience is a fruit of the Spirit, not a work of our flesh, or our effort:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. . ." (Galatians 5:22)
Notice that the fruit of the Spirit is singular. There is no love without joy or peace, and certainly the patience which follows.
The Spirit of God manifests this confident waiting and resting in the Lord our God, that He will come through at the perfect time. So even in times of pause, we can rest assured that He is working even in our waiting.
The redemption of our bodies will be the right time, when all who believe on Jesus will be raptured. As we grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3: 18), letting His life flow in every area of our lives, we will find that more of the things that we hope for come to pass in our lives:
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." (Habakkuk 2: 3)
Regarding Abraham and his seed, Jesus Christ, Paul then writes:
"Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be." (Romans 4: 18)
What we hope for comes to pass, so we can wait with confidence for the good which God our Father promises us.
Why can we expect the things that we hope for from God our Father?
Because God gave us His Word, literally:
"1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1: 1)
Then
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1: 14)
Then
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)
Because God has given us the gift of righteousness through His Son (2 Corinthians 5: 21), a gift which we keep on receiving (Romans 5: 17), we can expect all things to be added to us through Him:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)
and then
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 32)
Now, when people see the word "patience", they think that they have to strive at manifesting this behavior.
The truth is that patience is a fruit of the Spirit, not a work of our flesh, or our effort:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. . ." (Galatians 5:22)
Notice that the fruit of the Spirit is singular. There is no love without joy or peace, and certainly the patience which follows.
The Spirit of God manifests this confident waiting and resting in the Lord our God, that He will come through at the perfect time. So even in times of pause, we can rest assured that He is working even in our waiting.
The redemption of our bodies will be the right time, when all who believe on Jesus will be raptured. As we grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3: 18), letting His life flow in every area of our lives, we will find that more of the things that we hope for come to pass in our lives:
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." (Habakkuk 2: 3)
Regarding Abraham and his seed, Jesus Christ, Paul then writes:
"Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be." (Romans 4: 18)
What we hope for comes to pass, so we can wait with confidence for the good which God our Father promises us.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Saved By Hope For Eternal Glory
"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" (Romans 8: 24)
Hope is based on something that has not come to pass yet.
Hope is based on something that we do not see.
Yet it is coming to pass.
Often, when we read passages like this, discouragement may set in.
Why do we have to wait for something good to happen in our lives?
God's prayer for everyone of His children, recorded toward the end of the New Testament, will give us insight:
"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 2)
The deciding element in this passage, as your soul prospers, is very important.
Too many of us want to have the full promise of redemption realized in our lives. Wealth and health in full abundance along with the inherent reality of eternal life.
Yet many of us still hold onto our flesh, our selves, our efforts, our prior successes.
There is still too much of us, and God cannot flow where we insist on going it alone in our efforts:
"26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence." (1 Corinthians 1: 26-29)
Now, why is that no flesh may glory in His presence? Sin, for one:
"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." (Romans 7: 18)
Also, God wants us to have eternal life and to enjoy His life. Our flesh is not eternal, but temporal, not fit or able to enjoy eternal things:
"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:" (1 Peter 1: 24)
God wants us to have everlasting glory: His glory.
For this reason, also, God does not want us identifying with our flesh, for we are Spirit, and fleshly things do not last:
"15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2: 15-17)
Moreover, God delays the redemption of our bodies because He wants as many people as possible to be saved:
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3: 9)
We are saved by hope, by something that we cannot see, so that we can enjoy his glory eternally.
Hope is based on something that has not come to pass yet.
Hope is based on something that we do not see.
Yet it is coming to pass.
Often, when we read passages like this, discouragement may set in.
Why do we have to wait for something good to happen in our lives?
God's prayer for everyone of His children, recorded toward the end of the New Testament, will give us insight:
"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 2)
The deciding element in this passage, as your soul prospers, is very important.
Too many of us want to have the full promise of redemption realized in our lives. Wealth and health in full abundance along with the inherent reality of eternal life.
Yet many of us still hold onto our flesh, our selves, our efforts, our prior successes.
There is still too much of us, and God cannot flow where we insist on going it alone in our efforts:
"26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence." (1 Corinthians 1: 26-29)
Now, why is that no flesh may glory in His presence? Sin, for one:
"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." (Romans 7: 18)
Also, God wants us to have eternal life and to enjoy His life. Our flesh is not eternal, but temporal, not fit or able to enjoy eternal things:
"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:" (1 Peter 1: 24)
God wants us to have everlasting glory: His glory.
For this reason, also, God does not want us identifying with our flesh, for we are Spirit, and fleshly things do not last:
"15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2: 15-17)
Moreover, God delays the redemption of our bodies because He wants as many people as possible to be saved:
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3: 9)
We are saved by hope, by something that we cannot see, so that we can enjoy his glory eternally.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
We are Waiting for Redemption
"And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8: 23)
Jesus is the firstborn from the dead:
"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1: 18)
He was appointed to the firstborn since the beginning:
"And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth." (Psalm 89: 27)
Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords:
"Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;" (1 Timothy 6: 15)
and then
"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19: 16)
Jesus introduces Himself to John in Revelation as follows, too:
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood," (Revelation 1: 5)
As the firstborn, He is king. The two cannot be separated.
When we understand the redemption that we have in Christ, we must realize that He did not just die for our sins, for all our sins, but He granted to us kinship and kingship in Himself:
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8: 17)
and then
"That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" (Ephesians 3: 6)
Indeed, we are awaiting the redemption of our bodies:
"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15: 50-54)
While we wait for the redemption of our bodies, we can know that our inner man is growing (2 Corinthians 4: 16), and we keep receiving the grace of God and the gifts of righteousness in Christ Jesus today (Romans 5: 17).
Jesus is the firstborn from the dead:
"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1: 18)
He was appointed to the firstborn since the beginning:
"And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth." (Psalm 89: 27)
Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords:
"Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;" (1 Timothy 6: 15)
and then
"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19: 16)
Jesus introduces Himself to John in Revelation as follows, too:
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood," (Revelation 1: 5)
As the firstborn, He is king. The two cannot be separated.
When we understand the redemption that we have in Christ, we must realize that He did not just die for our sins, for all our sins, but He granted to us kinship and kingship in Himself:
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8: 17)
and then
"That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" (Ephesians 3: 6)
Indeed, we are awaiting the redemption of our bodies:
"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15: 50-54)
While we wait for the redemption of our bodies, we can know that our inner man is growing (2 Corinthians 4: 16), and we keep receiving the grace of God and the gifts of righteousness in Christ Jesus today (Romans 5: 17).
Friday, August 22, 2014
No Longer Groaning, but Glowing and Growing
"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." (Romans 8: 22)
God never meant for the earth to be fallen, or for man to fall.
In Revelation, Jesus assures John, His Beloved disciple, that He restores all things:
"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21: 5)
This statement is a prophesy as well as a fulfillment, of course:
"Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them." (Isaiah 48: 6)
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached to his Jewish brethren, and to us today:
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." (Revelation 3: 19-21)
Today, we witness the upsets and tumults in the world, yet we know that no matter what may happen around us, we have the protection of God Almighty because of His great love for us:
"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Proverbs 4: 18)
and then
"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." (1 Thessalonians 5: 5)
Jesus is our Light today (John 8: 12), and in Christ we shine in this dark, groaning world, glowing in His love, and growing in His grace:
"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12: 11)
"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (Hebrews 2: 10)
Grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus (2 Peter 3: 18), and He will transform you from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3: 18).
God never meant for the earth to be fallen, or for man to fall.
In Revelation, Jesus assures John, His Beloved disciple, that He restores all things:
"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21: 5)
This statement is a prophesy as well as a fulfillment, of course:
"Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them." (Isaiah 48: 6)
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached to his Jewish brethren, and to us today:
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." (Revelation 3: 19-21)
Today, we witness the upsets and tumults in the world, yet we know that no matter what may happen around us, we have the protection of God Almighty because of His great love for us:
"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Proverbs 4: 18)
and then
"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." (1 Thessalonians 5: 5)
Jesus is our Light today (John 8: 12), and in Christ we shine in this dark, groaning world, glowing in His love, and growing in His grace:
"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12: 11)
"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (Hebrews 2: 10)
Grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus (2 Peter 3: 18), and He will transform you from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3: 18).
Thursday, August 21, 2014
The Spirit Prays for Us
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8: 26)
Our prayers in our efforts are self-centered by their origin.
On the day of Pentecost, God provided a way for His glory to be fully manifested to the Jews on that blessed day:
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2: 1-4)
Praying in the Spirit, or praying in an unknown tongue, allows the Spirit of God to speak through us, without our flesh (our mind and feelings) getting in the way.
God has provided us this better way to pray, one which is always in line with God's will, and edifies our entire man:
"He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church." (1 Corinthians 14: 4)
Who is the Holy Spirit, and what does He do for us? The Amplified Translation brings out the full extended ministry of Him in us:
"But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me." (John 15: 27, AMP)
He is our advocate within us revealing to us what Jesus does for us at the right hand of God the Father today:
"33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8: 33-34)
This Spirit within us intercedes on our behalf, first of all convicts us of our righteous standing before God in Christ:
"8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8-11)
He teaches us all things, too (1 John 2: 20, 27) and informs us of our new identity as adopted children of God (Romans 8: 15; Galatians 4: 6)
Most importantly, though, when we pray in the Spirit, we found ourselves kept, guarded by the love of God:
"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost," (Jude 20)
Intercession, protection, and affirmation: the Spirit is praying for us for all things!
Our prayers in our efforts are self-centered by their origin.
On the day of Pentecost, God provided a way for His glory to be fully manifested to the Jews on that blessed day:
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2: 1-4)
Praying in the Spirit, or praying in an unknown tongue, allows the Spirit of God to speak through us, without our flesh (our mind and feelings) getting in the way.
God has provided us this better way to pray, one which is always in line with God's will, and edifies our entire man:
"He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church." (1 Corinthians 14: 4)
Who is the Holy Spirit, and what does He do for us? The Amplified Translation brings out the full extended ministry of Him in us:
"But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me." (John 15: 27, AMP)
He is our advocate within us revealing to us what Jesus does for us at the right hand of God the Father today:
"33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8: 33-34)
This Spirit within us intercedes on our behalf, first of all convicts us of our righteous standing before God in Christ:
"8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8-11)
He teaches us all things, too (1 John 2: 20, 27) and informs us of our new identity as adopted children of God (Romans 8: 15; Galatians 4: 6)
Most importantly, though, when we pray in the Spirit, we found ourselves kept, guarded by the love of God:
"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost," (Jude 20)
Intercession, protection, and affirmation: the Spirit is praying for us for all things!
Delivered to His Glory
"Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." (Romans 8: 21)
Our lives are meant for greater things than what the world would have us believe.
God intended for man to be fruitful and multiply on the earth:
"28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." (Genesis 1: 28-29)
God granted man great abundance and life as well as authority and dominion over all the creation.
When Adam sinned against God, and brought all of creation down with Him, the corruption of sin and death entered into the world.
At the same time, God provided the way for man to be redeemed, restored, and even promoted to greater standing through His Son, Jesus.
To the Israelites in bondage, God said:
"And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians." (Exodus 6: 7)
Even when the Israelites had sinned repeatedly, enough that God had no choice but to uphold his end of the Old Covenant and allow the Babylonians to take them away, God promised to restore them to the land and give them a new heart and direction from within:
"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31: 33-34)
and also
"Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. 18And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. 19And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:" (Ezekiel 11: 17-19)
When Jesus came, He did not offer a pathway to victory or glory, but Himself:
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10)
and also
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)
Today, as new creation in Christ, we still groan and feel strain in our bodies (Romans 8: 23), but we can look forward to the following:
"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4: 16)
and also
"2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3: 2 )
Because of all that Jesus has done for us, and today ministers on our behalf, we know that we have His glory:
"13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. " (2 Thessalonians 2: 13-14)
We have been delivered to glory because of Jesus, and in Him we reign in life (Romans 5: 17)
Our lives are meant for greater things than what the world would have us believe.
God intended for man to be fruitful and multiply on the earth:
"28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." (Genesis 1: 28-29)
God granted man great abundance and life as well as authority and dominion over all the creation.
When Adam sinned against God, and brought all of creation down with Him, the corruption of sin and death entered into the world.
At the same time, God provided the way for man to be redeemed, restored, and even promoted to greater standing through His Son, Jesus.
To the Israelites in bondage, God said:
"And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians." (Exodus 6: 7)
Even when the Israelites had sinned repeatedly, enough that God had no choice but to uphold his end of the Old Covenant and allow the Babylonians to take them away, God promised to restore them to the land and give them a new heart and direction from within:
"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31: 33-34)
and also
"Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. 18And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. 19And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:" (Ezekiel 11: 17-19)
When Jesus came, He did not offer a pathway to victory or glory, but Himself:
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10)
and also
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)
Today, as new creation in Christ, we still groan and feel strain in our bodies (Romans 8: 23), but we can look forward to the following:
"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4: 16)
and also
"2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3: 2 )
Because of all that Jesus has done for us, and today ministers on our behalf, we know that we have His glory:
"13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. " (2 Thessalonians 2: 13-14)
We have been delivered to glory because of Jesus, and in Him we reign in life (Romans 5: 17)
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
The Gift of Righteousness Exalts a Nation
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| Righteousness -- The Gif of God Who Exalts a Nation |
If men and women are troubled by what they see in this country, then they need to consider that the answer is not found in electing the right people, but rather returning to righteousness.
Now the troubles really begin, because for many people, righteousness is still defined by what people do, how they think, or how they operate, rather than resting in what Jesus Christ has done at the Cross for us, and the gift which he ministers to us as our High Priest forever.
The United States of America needs to return to righteousness, indeed. Two men marrying, killing children before they are born because of inconvenience for the loose and irresponsible parents, taking from one group of people to another, discriminating against others because of skin color, or ethnic status, or how much they have (or do not have) is all a manifestation of sin, of death.
Nations which rested, received, and proclaimed the truth of the Gospel thrived. With the growing prominence of the Gospel of grace preached in China, in Singapore, and in India, it is no surprise to see that these nations are thriving even while other countries are struggling, and churches are closing.
This sad account now includes the United States.
A couple of things we need to keep in mind when we read the above passage.
Righteousness as understood in the Bible, as understood to the Jews before the coming of Christ, and even in Solomon's day, was never established in what one did.
It was a gift, one wrought for the Israelites every day through the sacrifices of the priests, and ultimately in their acceptance before God through the High Priest.
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| Italian Rendering of the Biblical High Priest |
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." (Daniel 9: 24)
Everlasting righteousness cannot come from us, but can only be given to us.
Consider also the prophesies of Isaiah:
"For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee." (Isaiah 54: 9)
When we know and believe in this love, that because of Jesus' work at the Cross, God will never be angry with us again, then we can rest in this truth:
"14In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54: 14)
In righteousness we are established - that in itself should bear witness of this fact: it is not our righteousness, since it establishes us.
Then Isaiah continues:
"17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 17)
Most preachers love to shout: "No weapon formed against you shall prosper." But why?
Because our righteousness is from Him. We have a perfect standing against every accusation, against every wile and attack of the Enemy.
"1And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 5And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by." (Zechariah 3: 1-5)
Notice that the Angel of the Lord gives the robe of righteousness. We do not make it for ourselves.
This figures perfectly with the type developed in the beginning:
"21Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them." (Genesis 3: 21)
So, how do we receive this righteousness? As a gift, and one which God keeps giving, and the basis for this gift is from Jesus, our righteousness.
Jesus was prophesied as the "Lord our righteousness" long ago, even among the writings of the weeping prophet Jeremiah:
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| Jeremiah |
"In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jeremiah 23: 6)
and then
"In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness." (Jeremiah 33: 16)
and
"The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God." (Jeremiah 51: 10)
This is fulfilled in Christ Jesus today:
"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" (1 Corinthians 1:30)
and then
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
From this verse, we can better understand sin.
In the Bible, from the beginning until Jesus' death on the Cross, sin was a noun, a status of being, not an action.
In effect, it is worse than what many religious people are inclined to accept. We are not sinners because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners.
Throughout the book of Romans, sin is presented almost every time as a noun, a state of being. Not what we do, but who we are, or what defines us because of Adam.
Even when Paul writes:
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3: 23)
He prefaced this stinging statement with this passage from the Psalms:
"9What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" (Romans 3: 9-10, from Psalm 14: 1; 53: 1; 143: 2)
We need a new identity, we need a new standing, we need to be lifted out of Adam and brought into Christ:
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5: 12)
and then
"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 15-17)
And in this passage, we find that sin is a noun, yet the gift of righteousness -- a noun and something that we receive, not something we earn, or do -- manifests. Looking more closely at verse seventeen, we find the recognition that righteousness is a gift which we keep on receiving.
The Youngs Literal Translation brings out this wonderful, powerful promise:
"for if by the offence of the one the death did reign through the one, much more those, who the abundance of the grace and of the free gift of the righteousness are receiving, in life shall reign through the one -- Jesus Christ."
The gift of righteousness is needed today -- and this gift is not dependent our flesh, our feelings, or our knowledge of certain facts.
Righteousness is a gift, one which we cannot earn, because the price is an eternal price, Christ's blood shed on the Cross.
You Were Created for Hope
"For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope," (Romans 8: 20)
Even when we were God's creatures, and not yet His children, God had great plans for us.
Even for the people under the Old Covenant, God promised not to forsake them, but to grant them a hopeful, hope-filled end
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29: 11)
and then
"2Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
Even when we were God's creatures, and not yet His children, God had great plans for us.
Even for the people under the Old Covenant, God promised not to forsake them, but to grant them a hopeful, hope-filled end
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29: 11)
and then
"2Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
"3The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
"4Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry." (Jeremiah 31: 2-4)
Later on, Zechariah prophesied:
"Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;" (Zechariah 9: 12)
Today, we have this hope living in us, because of Jesus:
"25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1: 25-27)
When we understand that hope, the confident expectation of good, comes to us because of Christ in us, then this passage makes more sense:
"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 3-6)
We were chosen before the foundation of the world, even as creatures, to have Christ living in us, and to be in Christ before God the Father. We were created for hope, because Christ is our hope, the earnest expectation of all creation, to be redeemed from sin, death, and the enemy, to receive His life and glory in all things.
"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5: 8)
and
"3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5: 3-5)
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Creation is Waiting for You
"For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." (Romans 8: 19)
Notice that we are no longer creatures, but now sons of God.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5: 17)
Before we can appreciate this verse in its fullest, therefore, we must recognize that we are not creatures but children.
The previous verses in Romans 8 spell out this wonderful rebirth:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)
We are not just children, but full-grown sons before God our Father:
"23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3: 23-26)
Now, why does the creature wait for our manifestation?
Because God originally intended for man to have dominion over the earth:
"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Genesis 1: 28)
Creation wants us to have dominion over the evil in this world, too:
"Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling." (Psalm 49: 14)
In Christ, we are made upright:
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." (1 Peter 3: 18)
and
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)
In Christ, we receive His dominion over all things, too, greater than Adam:
"19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians 1: 19-23)
Followed by:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 4-6)
Creation is waiting for you today, Beloved, to accept and act on your new identity in Christ, that you are a child of God, and that as Christ is, so are you today in this world!
Notice that we are no longer creatures, but now sons of God.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5: 17)
Before we can appreciate this verse in its fullest, therefore, we must recognize that we are not creatures but children.
The previous verses in Romans 8 spell out this wonderful rebirth:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)
We are not just children, but full-grown sons before God our Father:
"23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3: 23-26)
Now, why does the creature wait for our manifestation?
Because God originally intended for man to have dominion over the earth:
"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Genesis 1: 28)
Creation wants us to have dominion over the evil in this world, too:
"Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling." (Psalm 49: 14)
In Christ, we are made upright:
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." (1 Peter 3: 18)
and
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)
In Christ, we receive His dominion over all things, too, greater than Adam:
"19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians 1: 19-23)
Followed by:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 4-6)
Creation is waiting for you today, Beloved, to accept and act on your new identity in Christ, that you are a child of God, and that as Christ is, so are you today in this world!
Monday, August 18, 2014
Sufferings Reveal His Glory
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8: 18)
We also endure sufferings today, in that there are enemies outside of us and within us, but these enemies have all been defeated.
First of all, there is the Enemy, the Devil and Satan:
13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)
Notice that when Jesus died on the Cross, He made an open display of principalities and powers, meaning that He disarmed them. They cannot harm us, because Satan and his minions no longer have a legal basis for accusing us before God the Father.
The law has been fulfilled, and a New Covenant has been enacted, one in which we can know and believe that all our sins have been put away forever, and that God will never be angry with us again:
"8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
We also endure sufferings today, in that there are enemies outside of us and within us, but these enemies have all been defeated.
First of all, there is the Enemy, the Devil and Satan:
13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)
Notice that when Jesus died on the Cross, He made an open display of principalities and powers, meaning that He disarmed them. They cannot harm us, because Satan and his minions no longer have a legal basis for accusing us before God the Father.
The law has been fulfilled, and a New Covenant has been enacted, one in which we can know and believe that all our sins have been put away forever, and that God will never be angry with us again:
"8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
"9For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee." (Isaiah 54: 8-9)
Now, there is another source of suffering: our flesh.
We have to recognize that we are born again in our spirits, for we are spirit, possessing a soul and living in a body:
"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4: 16)
We are a new creation, in our Spirit:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5: 17)
Now, this flesh has been condemned:
"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:" (Romans 8: 3)
and
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5: 16)
Here, "walk" is a Hebrew concept, which speaks of identity. We identify with the Spirit of God, and thus we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
But also:
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5: 24)
Satan has been defeated, judged even (John 16: 11), our flesh has been condemned. What about the world?
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16: 33)
Jesus promised His disciples then, and to us His brethren before the Father, that there would be tribulation. Yet He has overcome the world.
And in Christ, so have we:
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)
and
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4: 4)
Whatever suffering you may face, will actually reveal the glory of His overcoming power in your life:
"Herein is our love perfected, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world."
When we rest and confess this truth, we can understand this glory, too:
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (1 John 5: 4)
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Children and Heirs With Christ
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8: 17)
Though we were dead in Adam, and thus inherited the curse which came with his sin and death, today we are in Christ, and thus in Him we receive all things.
Consider once again all the blessings which come with our new standing in His life:
"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 3-6)
Before Paul explains how and why we are blessed, that we are blessed, and sadly, there are too many Christians out there who do not know that they are blessed. They know that Jesus died for them, but even the meaning behind His death has escaped their knowledge, as they are convinced that they must live on their own in their own power.
We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings, which speaks of their origin, not their final destination.
We are blessed in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, because God the Father has seated us in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-6).
This plan to redeem, restore, and promote us before God the Father was in place since before the foundation of the world.
He has planned since before the foundation of the world that we would be before Him without blame and in His love. There are a number of people out there who believe that God saves us, then He hammers us if we do not conform perfectly to everything that He tells us to do. Yet from before the beginning, He has intended that we stand before Him in a status of no condemnation, received in his perfect love (Romans 8: 1)
In fact, we are accepted, made gracious in every way, in the Beloved Jesus. Paul went out of his way to point out that we are not just in Christ, which to many still seems distance or unfeeling. We are in the Beloved.
These blessings come to us because of Jesus, because of the great love which God has for us:
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (1 John 3: 1)
We are now fellow citizens in the Kingdom of God, too:
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;" (Ephesians 2: 19)
and also
"For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 3: 20)
Now, when people read the passage "suffer together", we have to take that phrase in context with the prior chapters:
"4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7: 4-6)
We have died with Christ, and thus we are dead to sin, the law, and the flesh:
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5: 24)
Because we are now born again, children of the living God, we are heirs of God because we are joint-heirs in Christ Jesus:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Though we were dead in Adam, and thus inherited the curse which came with his sin and death, today we are in Christ, and thus in Him we receive all things.
Consider once again all the blessings which come with our new standing in His life:
"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 3-6)
Before Paul explains how and why we are blessed, that we are blessed, and sadly, there are too many Christians out there who do not know that they are blessed. They know that Jesus died for them, but even the meaning behind His death has escaped their knowledge, as they are convinced that they must live on their own in their own power.
We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings, which speaks of their origin, not their final destination.
We are blessed in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, because God the Father has seated us in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-6).
This plan to redeem, restore, and promote us before God the Father was in place since before the foundation of the world.
He has planned since before the foundation of the world that we would be before Him without blame and in His love. There are a number of people out there who believe that God saves us, then He hammers us if we do not conform perfectly to everything that He tells us to do. Yet from before the beginning, He has intended that we stand before Him in a status of no condemnation, received in his perfect love (Romans 8: 1)
In fact, we are accepted, made gracious in every way, in the Beloved Jesus. Paul went out of his way to point out that we are not just in Christ, which to many still seems distance or unfeeling. We are in the Beloved.
These blessings come to us because of Jesus, because of the great love which God has for us:
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (1 John 3: 1)
We are now fellow citizens in the Kingdom of God, too:
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;" (Ephesians 2: 19)
and also
"For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 3: 20)
Now, when people read the passage "suffer together", we have to take that phrase in context with the prior chapters:
"4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7: 4-6)
We have died with Christ, and thus we are dead to sin, the law, and the flesh:
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5: 24)
Because we are now born again, children of the living God, we are heirs of God because we are joint-heirs in Christ Jesus:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Saturday, August 16, 2014
His Spirit Witnesses to Our Spirit
"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" (Romans 8: 16)
What does the Spirit of God do for us?
More than just healing our bodies or our finances, He convicts us of righteousness:
"8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8-11)
"Of righteousness, because I go to my Father -- and ye see me no more."
Jesus lives in us today because of His Spirit, and He acts as a witness on our behalf reminding us that He has made us righteous:
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
Now, righteousness is more than a one-time gift, but a gift which we keep on receiving:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)
We keep on receiving this gift of righteousness, even if our feelings and our thoughts scream otherwise.
We are made righteous by the blood of Jesus:
"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5: 9)
Since we are righteous, we know that we are God's children:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)
and also
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4: 6)
The Holy Spirit is there to witness to you, whether in good season or bad, whether you are struggling or succeeding, that you are a child of God in Christ.
What does the Spirit of God do for us?
More than just healing our bodies or our finances, He convicts us of righteousness:
"8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8-11)
"Of righteousness, because I go to my Father -- and ye see me no more."
Jesus lives in us today because of His Spirit, and He acts as a witness on our behalf reminding us that He has made us righteous:
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
Now, righteousness is more than a one-time gift, but a gift which we keep on receiving:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)
We keep on receiving this gift of righteousness, even if our feelings and our thoughts scream otherwise.
We are made righteous by the blood of Jesus:
"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5: 9)
Since we are righteous, we know that we are God's children:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)
and also
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4: 6)
The Holy Spirit is there to witness to you, whether in good season or bad, whether you are struggling or succeeding, that you are a child of God in Christ.
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