Maturity
in Christ Jesus.
At this
phase we already have knowledge and awareness of good and evil. We know when we
are doing right or wrong. To be aware and conscious of a wrong act or fact is
the opposite of innocence of guilt. Let us check out a passage that John
writes, teaching us something about this. The purpose to be lived is to reach
consciousness of the fact that God wants each one of us to grow. John the
Baptist said I must become less, "He must become greater; I must become
less" - John. 3:30. Our "I" must decrease so that Christ may
grow within us. Our will and desire needs to decrease, our ego needs to learn
to humble itself before our Lord and Savior, because HE gave us an example as
He prayed: Not my will, but Thy will be done O Father.
“If we
claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not
live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from
all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is
not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us
our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not
sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1
John 1:6-10.
The word
here describes the fact that if we are saying that we are having fellowship
with God, yet walk in darkness, that is, disobeying the commandments of our
God, we lie. John while he was a disciple of Jesus, he learned to walk in the
light as, as Jesus walks in the light. And it was the day that Jesus spoke to
them about the New Covenant in his Blood, when they were eating supper with
Jesus; he actually learned what it was to have fellowship with one and other.
There in
that night, Jesus showed them the blessing it is to live in communion, as the
Church of Jesus. The body of Christ, who is here on earth, must be in communion
with Jesus. And when in a local church one of the members or church leader is
out of the light, and does not walk in the light as Christ is in the light; he
deceives himself and those who are with him. If one member suffers, the whole
body will suffer says the Word of God. John tells us what he received from
Jesus.
He shows us
that if anyone sins, he must correct himself. He teaches us: If we claim to be
without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Many people might
never say it out loud, but might think it. If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has
no place in our lives. Does this happen
to every human being? I do believe to a certain point, until we receive the
understanding from God about it; yes it does.
Being pure
before God is to be in his love, is to walk in the light. I think he makes us
aware of the fact that we still live in this body, in the earthly life in which
we still have the sinful nature; therefore we ought to learn to walk with
Christ in the light, as He is in the light. He goes on teaching that: If we say
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. This
does not mean that the Bible says that all of us, always have a sin in
ourselves and yes, that we are still in this human body, and while we live on
this earth we are subject to the fact that we are faulty. If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from
all unrighteousness.
It is so
wonderful to read that God is faithful and just and that He purifies us from
everything. Neither I nor you manage to purify ourselves no matter how much we
try to be holy; we will fail in this life, often without wanting we sin without
even realizing it. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar
and his word has no place in our lives. Paul teaches us that God helped him to
learn. Paul was aware of the fact that he, as a human being could not be the
apostle that Jesus called him to be. He was aware of the fact that he needed
God for this. When he was working with the Church in Rome, he wrote a letter to
them explaining to them the struggle he was going through, and how he managed
to have victory over it.
Let's check in Romans 7:14-24.
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am
unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I
want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I
agree that the law is good.
17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it,
but it is sin living in me.
18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that
is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot
carry it out.
19 For what I do is not the good I want to do;
no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.
20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is
no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21 So I find this law at work: When I want to
do good, evil is right there with me.
22 For in my inner being I delight in God's
law;
23 but I see another law at work in the members
of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of
the law of sin at work within my members.
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me
from this body of death?
In this
passage Paul expounds seven points to clarify that in human nature exists the
innate factor to act sinfully. He gave his clear opinion and idea on it; a
detailed explanation of it. He knew already what was right before God and what
was not right before God. But, he saw that in his life there was still the old
sinful nature. The human being has in himself the fallen nature of God's grace.
Adam lost the blessing of being protected by God after having acted against the
commandment of the Creator had given him. The human being exposed himself to
ignominy. Within every human being is the struggle that Paul describes. Adam
should have taken a stand: no, I am staying in the statutes of my Creator, if
he wants to give this fruit for me to eat, he will. If it's good for me to eat
it, the Creator will give it to me.
Collins
Dictionary says:
... Stand:
8 N-COUNT usu sing, oft N against/on n
“If you
take or make a stand, you do something or say something in order to make it
clear what your attitude to a particular thing is.”
Paul
explains that we are actually unable to act correctly before God on our own
efforts. We likewise already have the understanding that the law is spiritual,
and that we are fleshly. I, that is, my own personality has no desire of being
wrong. But as we decide our way of life based on the law under which we are
sold, we sin. Every Human Being goes through the struggle which Paul describes
above. He reaches the conclusion in his struggle that our Lord Jesus Christ is
the One who gives us the victory in all this. He continues writing in the
following chapter that there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ.
Even though as a human being living in the flesh, we tend to err, if we are in
Christ, we are no longer condemned for it; because Christ has already justified
us. Take a moment to read these verses of Romans 8:1-17 and see what is
expected from all of us, once we are in Christ Jesus. J
In the
letter to the Ephesians he explains as follows: "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in
which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the
ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are
disobedient." - Eph. 2:1-2.
Comparing
this with the verses of Rom. 8.
The apostle
Paul explains that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life sets us free
from the law of sin and death. What does this mean other than the fact that as
long as we lived without Jesus, we were living in sin; and it causes spiritual
death. In the Old Testament God gave the law how to teach His people to live
properly, but the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful
nature.
God had a
far better plan which went way beyond what the law could not do. Paul explains
that God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And
so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of
the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful
nature but according to the Spirit. The price to be set free from the sinful
nature that we should have paid, was paid in full by Jesus Christ. And
furthermore he goes on saying: Those who live according to the sinful nature
have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in
accordance with the Spirit have their minds are set on what the Spirit desires.
Let me ask you some things: Do you declare to be a Christian that does have God
in his heart? On a daily basis what is your mind set on? Do you think mostly of
all the movies and shows you watch on television? Is your mind still working in
the flesh? Or, have you already switched to the mind of Christ and His
thoughts?
Is there
quarrel and strife in your conversation in a daily bases? Do you have life and
peace within you? So, furthermore, he makes it very clear that the mind of
sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it
do so. Those controlled by the sinful
nature cannot please God. You, however,
are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God
lives in you. So, have you ever invited Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of your
life? Does God have a dwelling place in you? According to John 14:23 Jesus
replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will
love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” Some translation
say will make our dwelling place in him.
If God is in us, as John writes in his letter and we are in Him, in this
case we are no longer controlled by the sinful mind and its nature.
Paul goes
on to say to them in his letter that if we do not have the Spirit of Christ, we
do not belong to Christ. But if Christ
is in us, our body is dead because of sin, yet our spirit is alive because of
righteousness. And if the Spirit of him
who raised Jesus from the dead is living in us, he who raised Christ from the
dead will also give life to our mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in
us. Now, is it then worthwhile to invite Jesus to be our Lord and Savior? I
believe it is more than worthwhile!!!
After all
this he explanation Paul shows us our obligation. Therefore, brothers, we have
an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For
if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit
you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are
led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Praise God, hallelujah. For you did
not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the
Spirit of Sonship. And by him we cry, ""Abba," Father." The
Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Glory to
God, it is impossible to be mislead if we search for the truth that sets us
free. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with
Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in
his glory. Now in the letter to the Ephesians he explains as follows: "As
for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to
live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom
of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
This is one
of the greatest blessings for the life of a Christian because we belong to
Christ, no longer walk according to the ruler of this world. Now in Christ, the
power of the air, that is the spirit that operates in the world, has no more
power over us. This is a tremendous blessing that God gave us. Therefore we
have the confidence, when we walk in Christ; we are safe from the affronts and
attacks of the enemy against our lives. We have many blessings and privileges
when we are Gods´ children. We inherit with Jesus the blessings of a heavenly
citizen. "Let no one deceive you
with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are
disobedient”. Eph. 5:6. The wrath of God comes upon the sons of
disobedience, but once we are in Christ, we are children of obedience.
"Set your minds on things above, not on
earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in
God. When Christ, who is your life,
appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore,
whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust,
evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God
is coming." - Cl. 3:2-6. We have this promise of life as a
child of God; we are not under God's wrath. He talks about those whose live in
the lifestyle of those who do not have Jesus in their life. He tells us mortify
therefore your members which are upon the earth. I learned that when my flesh
lusts something, God gives me strength to resist which is not from God. Paul
writes to the Ephesians: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far
off have the blood of Christ brought near" - Eph. 2:13.
“You who
once were far off”, this describes all of us before receiving Jesus as our Lord
and Savior. But, Now that you have Jesus as Lord and Saviour in you, and have a
new faith, you are close to God. Having a close fellowship with Him in this
life in the flesh and learn to live as Jesus did. Well, now Jesus lives inside
of you and me. Jesus and the Father came to make dwelling place in us. He lives
within us, and with us. Jesus replied, "If
anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will
come to him and make our home with him”.
John 14:23
"... and in this one body to reconcile
both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their
hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to
those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one
Spirit" - Eph. 2:16-18.
All that
separated the human being from God, eating from the tree of knowledge of good
and evil, brought separation to between our Creator and us; but now in Christ
Jesus, this separation no longer exists. Now, we are even better than at the
time in the Garden Eden. If we live in Christ Jesus, and do not go after sin;
we are free set of it.
It seems
easy to quote and read this here, but how do we make it become reality in our
daily life? It is possible to live in the presence of “God is Love”, for the
fact that Jesus Christ has reconciled us all with God; on the cross by killing
with it the enmity that existed between us. We were reconciled, and now we are
children of "God is Love". Hallelujah, praise our Almighty God; the
only one worthy of praise and glory forever and ever.
I would
like to quote David Wilkerson, in one of his devotional letters (World
Challenge )
I receive on a daily bases we find written:
Here are the
other blessings of the joyful sound of Jubilee:
1. "Blessed is the people that know the
joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance"
(Psalm 89:15). The Hebrew meaning here suggests, "They shall walk in
cheerfulness, secure in God's promises, at ease in His presence." Simply
put, we no longer have to walk in darkness or confusion, because we will behold
the light of His face.
2. "In thy name shall they rejoice all the
day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted" (verse 16). We know
our own righteousness is as filthy rags and so we are to take courage by
rejoicing in His righteousness — which is ours by faith alone.
3. "For thou art the glory of their
strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted" (verse 17). We know
that Christ alone is the source of all our strength and we do not have to live
under the devil's thumb anymore. All we have to do is look upon Satan's back,
where we will see the heel print of our Savior. Jesus has crushed our enemy!
4. "For the Lord is our defense; and the
Holy One of Israel is our king" (verse 18). We are utterly helpless in our
flesh and so we totally trust in the victory of Jesus' cross. He defends us
against every enemy.
God has
given us everything we need to be victorious as HE wants us to be; He provided
everything for it. Hallelujah, Our Triune God is the only one worthy of praise
and glory forever. Let us make a quick review: recapitulating is wonderful way
to remember. When God created human beings in his Own Image And Likeness, the
essential thing God placed into them was LOVE; for them to be LOVE as HE IS
LOVE. We, the human being are creation of LOVE.
But,
thereafter came the fall of the human being, and we lost the great blessing
that had been placed in us. With the coming of Jesus, this Love was given back
to us. Now this love has been given back to us; through Christ Jesus,
Hallelujahs. Without God we are not children of true love. Everything that is
in the human being is expressed through his breathing, gestures and his
movements. What is inside of us will be shown outwards. The human being in fact
only shows what's on the inside of him. God clearly says that we were made in
His Image; we are created in His likeness.
The purpose to be lived is to allow God to exteriorize Himself through
us. If the Love lives within us, therefore love will be seen through us, amen?
For this to
exist in us though, there are a number of things that need to happen. We need
to:
Ø Become aware of: if we are children
of God or not
Ø Recognize that we are sinners, and receive
the gift of Life that is Jesus, as our Lord and Savior of our lives; repenting
from sin. As was explained before.
Ø Identify ourselves in God, as who we
are.
Ø Reshaped. When God shapes us from
the clay, and we get marred in his hands; God the potter forms us into another
pot, shaping it as it seems best to him; Jer. 18:4.
What does
it mean that God externalizes Himself through us? In my comprehension, this
means that he comes and expresses his love to our neighbors through us. Thus is
the Evidence Of His Love, which is obtained by observation. The evidence comes
within the persons reach, to the one who needs it, as we allow Him to guide us
in our journey and using us through our actions and life. We have several
verses that show us in the Word of God that once the human being fell short of
the glory of God; he is the son of disobedience. In another words they were
deprived of the pleasure of being in fellowship with God. But in Christ we are
children of Obedience.
In the Lord's Service
I greet you in His Love
Antonina Penner.
Missionary
Masters inTheology..
ISBN- 978-0-9881063-1-4
Copyright 2012/11/26 by: “Ministério Visão de Águias”.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher
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