2016-02-26
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Last week I was led to remind us of GN 1: 26-27 and GN 2: 20b-23, which discuss the creation of Adam and Eve. We also saw, in GN 3: 1-6, how they gave in to the serpent’s temptation and committed the original sin. Because we are their progeny, we inherited the original sin plus any sin we ourselves commit. God saw this as the way to certain spiritual death, and He loves us enough to want us to have a way out of this horrible fate. In GN 3: 21, we saw that God Himself supplied clothing for Adam and Eve made from animal skins, just before their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. With this, blood had to have been shed, which suggests future forgiveness for mankind [LV 17: 11; HE 9: 22]. God delivers on this promise with His sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross [JN 3: 16]. Christ is the Propitiation [only acceptable sin-sacrifice, which satisfies God’s requirement to pay the ransom for freeing believers in Him from the marketplace of slavery to sin [RO 3: 24-25; HE 9: 15]. However, there is nothing automatic about gaining faith in Christ. We must reveal our sins with honesty before God, repent, stop the sins, and genuinely profess faith in Jesus Christ. Upon doing this we are justified [RO 4: 3], saved, and eternally forgiven [1 JN 1: 9]. With the coming of the Covenant of the Law, given in EX 24: 7-11, people could know what pleases God and what doesn’t, but they were not saved, eternally forgiven, or justified. The latter would only come with the new covenant, the Covenant of Grace, instituted by the shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross [1 COR 11: 23-25].
Having reviewed all of this, we can now move forward with a better understanding of God’s secret, now revealed, of the mystery of belief in Christ, which is Christ in us [COL 1: 26-27; COL 2: 2-3; COL 3: 3-4]. This helps us better understand the statement that one is “inwardly transformed by the renewal of his mind” [RO 12: 2]. Christ has left us with a pledge of redemption by being “the First among many brothers” to return to God’s side for eternal life [RO 8: 29]. We are urged to understand God’s teaching and not to drop back into the trap of legalism, which is a problem for people living under the old covenant [RO 7: 6; 2 COR 3: 6]. We are not to live by the letter of the law but the spirit of it. We who believe are also given the guarantee of a new body when we are glorified [1 COR 15: 42-50], an immortal one. We are no longer slaves to sin and thus, joint heirs with Christ to the Kingdom [RO 8: 17]. In addition, we are given the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, teach us to understand God’s will and His ways, and to act as our Conscience [RO 8: 14-16, 26-27]. When one believes in Christ, he becomes a son (or daughter) who gains full rights-no longer a slave to sin-who is also an heir” [JN 15: 13-17; GA 4: 6-7]. The Holy Spirit calls out for us, “Abba Father” (the more familiar term in Hebrew for “Daddy”] to the Father.
We need to recall and memorize Christ’s words in JN 15: 5, “I am the Vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” This wonderful passage really says more than one sees on first inspection. It is another way of saying one must go through this “inward transformation by the renewal of his mind,” and he must be willing in all openness reveal his weaknesses before God, reverently seeking to begin the sanctification process, despite emotional pain it might bring. You’ll remember sanctification involves us revealing, confessing, and stopping even subtle sins we commit. It also involves God’s promise to gradually perfect (purify) us from sin. Once this covenant relationship is established, it’s a dynamic process, one that moves us forward in our spiritual maturity. When I wrote about the MasterLife course I took, it opened my eyes to the many ways that God does this, through our worship, prayer, discipleship in serving Him, study of His word, evangelism, and witnessing to our faith in Christ. At the center of all of this is our Lord Himself! Gradually, our hearts open to the Holy Spirit, while at the same time closing off to the temptations and dirty work of the evil one. Our interactions with believers and potential believers, our family responsibilities, our very relationship to our Covenant Partner are the most important things in our lives. Nothing else matters as much. When we look at MT 5: 3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven,” we realize that we can’t gain eternal life alone. Our Lord is there to intervene, to teach, to encourage us along that “hard road that leads from the narrow gate” to eternal life. He will carry us when the going gets too rough. We are completely in need of relying on Him for leadership of our lives. The minute we give that up, we founder and are in serious trouble. We must submit to His leadership and recognize how blessed we are to have it. We must be strong in the face of temptation, not to give in to the evil one. We must remember that even when we are “in the belly of the beast,” we have the power to send him packing, which the Lord gave us [EPH 1: 18-20]. We must remember to use it in Christ’s mighty name! I can witness to you that this works. Even when we don’t know how to express what to ask of Him ourselves, the Holy Spirit is here to help us. Now, this is my idea of being a blessed people!
PRAYER: O Lord, in reverence and awe, we come before You to acknowledge Who You are in our lives. You inspired Paul to write, in PHIL 2: 9-11, “Therefore God exalted Him [Christ] to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name. And at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth. And every tongue should acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” You have given us the gifts of the Holy Spirit [GA 5: 22-23] and made Your will for us clear. You encourage us amidst spiritual warfare. 2 TIM 1: 7, “For what the Spirit of God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us the power of love and self-discipline.” No one goes through life on earth without challenges, disappointments, and losses. But we don’t face these things alone. Our Lord remains with us, giving us His direction and encouragement. PS 27: 3, “Though an army besieges me, my heart will not fear; though war breaks out against me, even then, I will be confident.” We understand our need to submit to You, even though at times it’s not easy for us. We pray PS 31: 3-5, “Since You are my Rock and my Fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me. Free me from the snare that is set for me, for You are my Refuge. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.” We say all these prayers in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: As a quick review, we’ll look at the differences between the old and new covenants, as well as more about God’s love for us. It is my hope that this entire series of “Our Covenant” messages has done for you what it has for me. It has opened my eyes to both the blessings and the responsibilities of covenant relationships, the truth of the word of God, and given me an urgency about sharing with others this wonderful mystery-- Christ in the hearts of believers-- and the Gospel message of salvation and peace. There are many ways we can do this. As you already know, I’m doing it in secured computer chats with seekers who connect with me through In Search of Shalom. Throughout this series of messages, I have shared my own journey to where I am now in my faith walk. It’s been a long and sometimes difficult journey, and I’m far from perfect. This leaves me a sinner eager to be totally perfected, one who wants to bear fruit for the Lord. Do you have the same feeling? Of course, only you can answer that question. In my life, despite the trials I’ve been through, I have never felt so blessed before as I do now. Yesterday, I attended the memorial service for a dear friend who went home to be with the Lord. There is no question in my mind that that’s where he is, because he was a man of faith, who served our Lord with distinction. He didn’t do this alone. He had a great covenant relationship with our Covenant Partner, and he was supported in that by at least the 300 people who were in the sanctuary with Peter and I plus many more who couldn’t be there. His widow, also a wonderful servant of the Lord, could smile as she left that service, knowing full well that her husband was no longer suffering and was in the best Company ever for eternity. When her turn to go home comes, he will be waiting for her, and so will He! Be blessed and comforted in knowing that our Lord loves each of you more than you can comprehend. Praise be to Him forever!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 1015. All Rights Reserved.
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