"And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." (Genesis 5: 24)
When we read "walked with God", we need to understand that in this verse refers to identifying with God.
Other translations reveal this deeper element:
New International Version
Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
New Living Translation
walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.
We have fellowship with God our Father, because of Jesus!
"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
" (1 Corinthians 1: 9)
Walking with God speaks of our identity with Him, because of Jesus:
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5: 16)
and also
"1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4: 1-5)
and also
"1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.") (Ephesians 5: 1-2)
We do not walk in order to become beloved children, but rather our walk is a reflection of our new identity in Christ. We have this new standing in Him because of the Truth:
"2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 2: 2-4)
Walking in the truth does not "do not tell lies", but rather to believe the Gospel, that in Christ you have forgiveness of sins and are justified from all things (Acts 12: 38-39)
Now some may read about Enoch, and say: I can't have what Enoch had:
"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." (Hebrews 11: 5)
But in fact, Beloved, today, we do!
"[God the Father] hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" (Colossians 1: 13)
Today, you and I are members of the Kingdom of Heaven. God our Daddy sees us in His Son, and just like His Son. Like Enoch, you have indeed been translated into the Kingdom of Heaven, but unlike Enoch, God brought the Kingdom to us!
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Monday, January 5, 2015
Life is a Person (Not a Problem)
Life is a Person:
"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)
Not an example to keep, not a standard to meet, but a King who reigns, and wants us to reign with Him:
"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)
All of this is so new to me.
All of this may seem too new to you, too.
You mean, this life is not about trying to make yourself better?!
"4But 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: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For 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. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2: 4-10)
If God your Father has placed you in Christ, above everything else, there is no "making yourself better".
So, get over it!
Life is a Person, and He is all about you:
"10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Mark 10: 45)
and
"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
"I 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." (Galatians 2: 20)
and
"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
and
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5: 12)
He is Life. The problem is that we want problems to fix, rather than resting in the truth that He is fixing our problems, and has solved the greatest, sin and death, at the Cross.
"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)
Not an example to keep, not a standard to meet, but a King who reigns, and wants us to reign with Him:
"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)
All of this is so new to me.
All of this may seem too new to you, too.
You mean, this life is not about trying to make yourself better?!
"4But 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: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For 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. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2: 4-10)
If God your Father has placed you in Christ, above everything else, there is no "making yourself better".
So, get over it!
Life is a Person, and He is all about you:
"10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Mark 10: 45)
and
"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
"I 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." (Galatians 2: 20)
and
"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
and
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5: 12)
He is Life. The problem is that we want problems to fix, rather than resting in the truth that He is fixing our problems, and has solved the greatest, sin and death, at the Cross.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
The Gospel Purifies Us
"22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." (1 Peter 1: 22-23)
In religion, man strives to purify himself through what He does.
The truth is, it is the truth which purifies our souls.
The Gospel speaks of our righteousness before God because of Jesus:
"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 38-39)
We are not justified through the law of Moses, or anything else that we do, but what Jesus did:
"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)
The focus of the Gospel is that we are born again, taken out of dead Adam, and brought to life in Christ Jesus (Colossians 3: 1-4)
Now, when Peter writes about obeying the truth, He is not talking doing something, but believing that Jesus is our justification:
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," (Ephesians 1: 13)
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)
We do not purify ourselves, but rather we rest in the truth that Jesus has purified us, and in fact:
"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)
Yet, James tells us to purify our hearts, does he not?
"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded" (James 4: 8)
Let us remember the importance of rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2: 15). James is writing to his Jewish brethren, in which some of them believed on Jesus, and some did not. In the Fourth chapter of his letter, James is writing to those who do not believe, yet.
Because we believe on Him, we can rest assured that we are purified from all sin, and even when we sin, the blood of Jesus cleanses us (1 John 1: 7)
The Gospel purifies us, and when we believe it, we can rest assured that we have been purified, and do not have to do something more.
In religion, man strives to purify himself through what He does.
The truth is, it is the truth which purifies our souls.
The Gospel speaks of our righteousness before God because of Jesus:
"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 38-39)
We are not justified through the law of Moses, or anything else that we do, but what Jesus did:
"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)
The focus of the Gospel is that we are born again, taken out of dead Adam, and brought to life in Christ Jesus (Colossians 3: 1-4)
Now, when Peter writes about obeying the truth, He is not talking doing something, but believing that Jesus is our justification:
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," (Ephesians 1: 13)
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)
We do not purify ourselves, but rather we rest in the truth that Jesus has purified us, and in fact:
"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)
Yet, James tells us to purify our hearts, does he not?
"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded" (James 4: 8)
Let us remember the importance of rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2: 15). James is writing to his Jewish brethren, in which some of them believed on Jesus, and some did not. In the Fourth chapter of his letter, James is writing to those who do not believe, yet.
Because we believe on Him, we can rest assured that we are purified from all sin, and even when we sin, the blood of Jesus cleanses us (1 John 1: 7)
The Gospel purifies us, and when we believe it, we can rest assured that we have been purified, and do not have to do something more.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
The Kingdom of Heaven is In You (and Why)
"20And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17: 20-21)
Rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2: 15), we can better understand passages like this one.
How is that the Pharisees would have the Kingdom within them, when many of then had rejected Jesus as the Messiah (Matthew 12)
Jesus was still ministering on earth as the perfect Man, who had not yet died for our sins, who had not yet been raised for our justification (Romans 4: 25).
The point that Jesus was making is that the Kingdom is not some place that we search for.
The Kingdom of Heaven came to us:
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4: 17)
Now, what is the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Kingdom of God, for those terms are interchangeable:
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)
Righteousness is a gift, in which we are established because of Jesus:
"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)
Because we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God (Romans 5: 1)
With this peace, we have the fruit of His Spirit breaking forth in us: love, joy, peace (Galatians 5: 22-23)
The Kingdom of Heaven is the Holy Spirit living in us, and we have His Spirit because of Jesus:
"33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2: 33)
Today, you and I are not looking for the Kingdom of Heaven, but in fact we have received this Kingdom because we believe in Jesus, and have received Himself into us.
Rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2: 15), we can better understand passages like this one.
How is that the Pharisees would have the Kingdom within them, when many of then had rejected Jesus as the Messiah (Matthew 12)
Jesus was still ministering on earth as the perfect Man, who had not yet died for our sins, who had not yet been raised for our justification (Romans 4: 25).
The point that Jesus was making is that the Kingdom is not some place that we search for.
The Kingdom of Heaven came to us:
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4: 17)
Now, what is the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Kingdom of God, for those terms are interchangeable:
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)
Righteousness is a gift, in which we are established because of Jesus:
"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)
Because we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God (Romans 5: 1)
With this peace, we have the fruit of His Spirit breaking forth in us: love, joy, peace (Galatians 5: 22-23)
The Kingdom of Heaven is the Holy Spirit living in us, and we have His Spirit because of Jesus:
"33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2: 33)
Today, you and I are not looking for the Kingdom of Heaven, but in fact we have received this Kingdom because we believe in Jesus, and have received Himself into us.
Friday, January 2, 2015
Only Heaven on Earth For You
"That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth." (Deuteronomy 11: 21)
When we read the passages in the Old Testament, we must accept that the commands to the Israelites of those days are not for us today.
In that same chapter, for example, God says to His chosen people:
"26Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: 28And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known." (Deuteronomy 11: 26-28)
Today, because of Jesus, there is no curse:
"13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:1 3-14)
Notice that Paul writes about the blessings of Abraham coming on the Gentiles, not the curses.
While many well-meaning church people would contend that the promises accorded to Abraham do not count, either, Paul corrects that misunderstanding, too:
"13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression." (Romans 4: 13-15)
and also
"Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." (Galatians 3: 7)
Because Jesus has freed us from the curse of the law, by being the Curse for us on the tree and fulfilling the condemnation in Himself for us, we can expect nothing but Heaven on Earth.
When we read the passages in the Old Testament, we must accept that the commands to the Israelites of those days are not for us today.
In that same chapter, for example, God says to His chosen people:
"26Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: 28And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known." (Deuteronomy 11: 26-28)
Today, because of Jesus, there is no curse:
"13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:1 3-14)
Notice that Paul writes about the blessings of Abraham coming on the Gentiles, not the curses.
While many well-meaning church people would contend that the promises accorded to Abraham do not count, either, Paul corrects that misunderstanding, too:
"13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression." (Romans 4: 13-15)
and also
"Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." (Galatians 3: 7)
Because Jesus has freed us from the curse of the law, by being the Curse for us on the tree and fulfilling the condemnation in Himself for us, we can expect nothing but Heaven on Earth.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
The Year 2015: Days of Heaven on Earth
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"That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth." (Deuteronomy 11: 21)
The Year 2015 will be the year of Heaven on Earth.
We are all citizens of a New Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven:
"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 is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 3: 20)
Consider today where you are seated, too:
"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
Now, many people may read these passages, and conclude that we need to focus on heaven.
But heaven now resides in us. Jesus prophesied about this to the Pharisees:
"Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17: 21)
and also
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)
Instead of playing by the world's rules, or the Ten Commandments (which no one can keep Romans 3: 20; Galatians 2: 16) we are invited to allow the Ruler, the King of Kings, to keep us in all our ways.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Ministers of the New Covenant
"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Corinthians 3: 6)
Because of Jesus, because of all that Jesus has done for us at the Cross, because of His ongoing, never-ending minister before our Father, we are no longer ministering death and condemnation under the Old Covenant, through the Ten Commandments.
We are called to inform all men that they can receive God's perfect protection and life because of Jesus:
"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
"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)
What Jesus did when He died on the Cross, we receive a record of in Hebrews:
"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 14)
We are perfected in our conscience, recognizing that all our sins have been paid for, forever at the Cross:
"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)
and
"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)
When He comes again, He will not come to judge us for our sin, but to redeem us completely:
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9: 28)
We must understand that to be apart from sin is not through the law:
"But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead." (Romans 7: 8)
but rather through the grace of God:
"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)
Because of His grace, we live:
"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)
Let us look to the New Year, 2015, and let us be ministers of the New Covenant, setting forth what the Old Covenant was, and what it did, and revealing to all Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith (Hebrews 12: 2)
Because of the New Covenant, God Our Father has promised for us a Year of Heaven on Earth.
Happy New Year!
Because of Jesus, because of all that Jesus has done for us at the Cross, because of His ongoing, never-ending minister before our Father, we are no longer ministering death and condemnation under the Old Covenant, through the Ten Commandments.
We are called to inform all men that they can receive God's perfect protection and life because of Jesus:
"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
"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)
What Jesus did when He died on the Cross, we receive a record of in Hebrews:
"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 14)
We are perfected in our conscience, recognizing that all our sins have been paid for, forever at the Cross:
"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)
and
"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)
When He comes again, He will not come to judge us for our sin, but to redeem us completely:
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9: 28)
We must understand that to be apart from sin is not through the law:
"But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead." (Romans 7: 8)
but rather through the grace of God:
"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)
Because of His grace, we live:
"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)
Let us look to the New Year, 2015, and let us be ministers of the New Covenant, setting forth what the Old Covenant was, and what it did, and revealing to all Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith (Hebrews 12: 2)
Because of the New Covenant, God Our Father has promised for us a Year of Heaven on Earth.
Happy New Year!
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