"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)
It is disheartening to read and hear how many believers carry themselves, still convinced that they have to try and improve themselves.
The flesh -- our fallen bodies and mind -- are beyond repair:
"For 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." (Romans 7:5)
and
"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin
in the flesh:" (Romans 8: 3)
Purifying the flesh is a dead-on-arrival mission:
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his
sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20)
and
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of
Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified
by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the
law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2: 16)
The only tool that the devil has used for so long is to convince believers that they must do more to fix, repair, or enhance their flesh, their dead-in-trespasses Adam old man. Jesus gives us life, and that more abundantly (John 10:10):
"Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not
sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him
that was to come." (Romans 5: 14)
This "figure" is Jesus!
"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)
and
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15: 22)
Beloved, you are a new Creation in Christ! Forget about your "old man"!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Rejoice Because You See Him
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
"Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
"The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments." (Habakkuk 3: 17-19)
Are you face a crushing defeat, losses incalculable?
Notice how the prophet Habakkuk, the same who declared "the just shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4) chose to see the Lord and trust in what He will do.
For what is faith, but to see with the eyes of our understanding (Ephesians 1: 17) what is unseen to the human eye (Hebrews 11: 1)?
I used to quote this verse at length, not exactly what to hope for. I was not seeing the work that He had already done. That is not faith. Paul tell us what we need to be looking at:
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
'For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3: 1-3)
We have to know who we are in Christ, fully justified (2 Corinthians 5: 21), seated at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 2: 6)
The more that we know and believe that Christ lives in us (Colossians 1: 27), the more then we can rely on His strength in us:
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)
Then we can realize that, unlike the prophet who foresaw the glory, we can partake of it now:
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
"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: 37-39)
When we know how much God loves us, then our faith works (Galatians 5: 6), and indeed we receive His glory, walking on every high place.
"Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
"The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments." (Habakkuk 3: 17-19)
Are you face a crushing defeat, losses incalculable?
Notice how the prophet Habakkuk, the same who declared "the just shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4) chose to see the Lord and trust in what He will do.
For what is faith, but to see with the eyes of our understanding (Ephesians 1: 17) what is unseen to the human eye (Hebrews 11: 1)?
I used to quote this verse at length, not exactly what to hope for. I was not seeing the work that He had already done. That is not faith. Paul tell us what we need to be looking at:
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
'For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3: 1-3)
We have to know who we are in Christ, fully justified (2 Corinthians 5: 21), seated at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 2: 6)
The more that we know and believe that Christ lives in us (Colossians 1: 27), the more then we can rely on His strength in us:
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)
Then we can realize that, unlike the prophet who foresaw the glory, we can partake of it now:
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
"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: 37-39)
When we know how much God loves us, then our faith works (Galatians 5: 6), and indeed we receive His glory, walking on every high place.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Righteousness then Grace -- The Red Sea
"And Moses said unto
the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which
he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall
see them again no more for ever." (Exodus 14: 13)
After the Israelites had partaken of the Passover Lamb, covered by the Blood which protected them from the Angel of Death (Exodus 12: 29-32).
The blood on the door posts is a type of the final sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf at Calvary:
"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)
Moses then told the Israelites to "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord".
When we know and believe the love that God has for us (1 John 4: 16), that God has sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins and the sins of the world (1 John 4: 10), then we can stand and see Him take care of all our needs:
"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).
The Red Sea was also a picture of this redemption which brought the Israelites out of slavery:
"By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned" (Hebrews 11: 29)
and
"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
"And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (1 Corinthians 10: 1-2)
Crossing the Red Sea was indeed a type of baptism, the same which make us righteous in Christ:
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6: 3-4)
His grace then saves us from all our enemies, just as the same water that baptized the Israelites then drowned the pursuing Egyptians. Stand fast in your righteousness, and see Jesus your salvation defeat all your enemies.
After the Israelites had partaken of the Passover Lamb, covered by the Blood which protected them from the Angel of Death (Exodus 12: 29-32).
The blood on the door posts is a type of the final sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf at Calvary:
"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)
Moses then told the Israelites to "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord".
When we know and believe the love that God has for us (1 John 4: 16), that God has sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins and the sins of the world (1 John 4: 10), then we can stand and see Him take care of all our needs:
"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).
The Red Sea was also a picture of this redemption which brought the Israelites out of slavery:
"By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned" (Hebrews 11: 29)
and
"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
"And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (1 Corinthians 10: 1-2)
Crossing the Red Sea was indeed a type of baptism, the same which make us righteous in Christ:
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6: 3-4)
His grace then saves us from all our enemies, just as the same water that baptized the Israelites then drowned the pursuing Egyptians. Stand fast in your righteousness, and see Jesus your salvation defeat all your enemies.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Righteousness then Grace -- Established then Victorious
"In 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)
If we want to be free from oppression in our lives, if we want the fear taken away in our lives, we must be established in righteousness.
Righteousness is the victory ground in our lives. Righteousness is not a matter of doing, but believing and 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)
Why do we receive this righteousness and this grace?
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5: 6)
Christ's death, the righteous for the unrighteous, gives us this life or righteousness and grace (1 Peter 3: 18)
In Christ, we are made the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5: 21).
In Christ, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8: 37)
Then can we declare:
"No 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)
"No weapon prospers" -- people will attack, but they will not prevail. "Every tongue that rises in judgment you condemn". We stand up to shame because Jesus took our condemnation at the Cross.
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
"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: 31-32)
The grace to withstand and overcome comes over us when we stand established in our righteousness in Christ.
If we want to be free from oppression in our lives, if we want the fear taken away in our lives, we must be established in righteousness.
Righteousness is the victory ground in our lives. Righteousness is not a matter of doing, but believing and 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)
Why do we receive this righteousness and this grace?
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5: 6)
Christ's death, the righteous for the unrighteous, gives us this life or righteousness and grace (1 Peter 3: 18)
In Christ, we are made the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5: 21).
In Christ, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8: 37)
Then can we declare:
"No 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)
"No weapon prospers" -- people will attack, but they will not prevail. "Every tongue that rises in judgment you condemn". We stand up to shame because Jesus took our condemnation at the Cross.
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
"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: 31-32)
The grace to withstand and overcome comes over us when we stand established in our righteousness in Christ.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Righteousness then Grace -- Barren No More
"Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 1)
A barren woman sings because she is about to have children? Really? Well, the Israelites already had an example to believe on:
"And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him." (Genesis 18: 10)
and
"And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
"For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him." (Genesis 21: 1-2)
In fact, every Israelite was a walking and talking witness of God's faithfulness, descendants of the same child of promise which came from a barren woman, even Sarah!
But even if that were not reason enough for the Israelites, or even the barren woman, to sing aloud for the work which the Lord was going to do in their lives, the Lord gives another reason:
"Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
"For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called." (Isaiah 54: 4-5)
The Lord speaks of redemption and the righteousness that accompanies this great work. The reproach will be taken away, the shame will be no more. And the same is true for every believer in the Body of Christ:
"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.
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
"If 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)
We can know and believe that God will move in our lives because He has taken away all our shame and sin for ever!
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Righteousness then Grace -- Abram to Abraham
The parallel of righteousness before grace occurs in the Old Testament, types and shadows to confirm the substance of the New Covenant.
Abram heeded the call of the Lord to leave his family and his country into a land that He would show him (Genesis 12: 1).
When Abram heard that his nephew Lot was in trouble, Abram came to his rescue:
"And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan." (Genesis 14: 14)
Abram was already so well-off, he commanded 318 hired servants who were born in his own house!
After he rescued Lot and all of his substance, then came Melchizedek, which means "King of Righteousness":
"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
"And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
"And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." (Genesis 14: 18-20)
The King of Righteousness, who is Jesus our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1: 30), established Abram with blessings. It is the goodness of God which brings us to repentance (Romans 2: 4), the same goodness which empowered Abram to believe the Lord:
"And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15: 5-6)
First, Abram received the gift of righteousness. Even though he acted in unbelief to father a child with his bondmaid Hagar (Genesis 16), the Lord did not give up on Abram, a reminder to all believers that our righteousness is based on faith, not on works.
The grace of God then manifested in Abram's life when the Lord changed his name:
"As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
"Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee." (Genesis 17: 4-5)
In order to change his name, the Lord added a "Heh" or a "הָ֔ which is the letter for "grace".
Because Abraham was ninety-nine years old, without a doubt it would be God's grace, and His grace alone which would empowered Abraham and Sarah to receive a child of promise.
Get established in righteousness before God, then get ready for God's grace to flow into your life.
Abram heeded the call of the Lord to leave his family and his country into a land that He would show him (Genesis 12: 1).
When Abram heard that his nephew Lot was in trouble, Abram came to his rescue:
"And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan." (Genesis 14: 14)
Abram was already so well-off, he commanded 318 hired servants who were born in his own house!
After he rescued Lot and all of his substance, then came Melchizedek, which means "King of Righteousness":
"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
"And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
"And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." (Genesis 14: 18-20)
The King of Righteousness, who is Jesus our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1: 30), established Abram with blessings. It is the goodness of God which brings us to repentance (Romans 2: 4), the same goodness which empowered Abram to believe the Lord:
"And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15: 5-6)
First, Abram received the gift of righteousness. Even though he acted in unbelief to father a child with his bondmaid Hagar (Genesis 16), the Lord did not give up on Abram, a reminder to all believers that our righteousness is based on faith, not on works.
The grace of God then manifested in Abram's life when the Lord changed his name:
"As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
"Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee." (Genesis 17: 4-5)
In order to change his name, the Lord added a "Heh" or a "הָ֔ which is the letter for "grace".
Because Abraham was ninety-nine years old, without a doubt it would be God's grace, and His grace alone which would empowered Abraham and Sarah to receive a child of promise.
Get established in righteousness before God, then get ready for God's grace to flow into your life.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Established in Righteousness to Receive His Grace
"That as sin hath
reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal
life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5: 21)
God's grace reigns in righteousness.
Both grace and righteousness are gifts that we are called to receive:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive [lit. are receiving] abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)
Yet in order for God's grace to work in our lives, we must be established in His righteousness:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)
"All these things added" -- unmerited favor, but we are called to receive His righteousness, not our own:
"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)
We are made righteousness, we are called to keep receiving His righteousness, His perfect standing, and indeed everything else is taken care of:
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)
The Holy Spirit within us brings righteousness, peace, and joy. Since the Holy Spirit is a gift, what gives us the impression that we can work for anything else in our lives on our own?:
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
"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: 31-32)
"Freely give" -- that's grace, again, Beloved. Rest in His righteousness, and receive everything else with Him!
God's grace reigns in righteousness.
Both grace and righteousness are gifts that we are called to receive:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive [lit. are receiving] abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)
Yet in order for God's grace to work in our lives, we must be established in His righteousness:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)
"All these things added" -- unmerited favor, but we are called to receive His righteousness, not our own:
"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)
We are made righteousness, we are called to keep receiving His righteousness, His perfect standing, and indeed everything else is taken care of:
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)
The Holy Spirit within us brings righteousness, peace, and joy. Since the Holy Spirit is a gift, what gives us the impression that we can work for anything else in our lives on our own?:
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
"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: 31-32)
"Freely give" -- that's grace, again, Beloved. Rest in His righteousness, and receive everything else with Him!
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