2024-04-05
Good Morning Dear Ones,
We can learn more about what happens in God’s process of transforming us. Knowing how God sees us helps us to know how much we are loved by Him. EPH 1: 4, “For He chose us before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” Our Lord Jesus has told us, in JN 15: 16, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask for in My name the Father will give you.” To understand well, we must start at the formal beginning of a person’s life in Christ. GA 3: 26-27, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
Before going on, it’s important to briefly discuss water baptism first. It is a public declaration of one’s faith in Jesus Christ, signifying a break with the old way of life and a commitment to walk in the newness of life found in Him. This is a spiritual rebirth and profound transformation within the believer’s heart. A Biblical definition of baptism is a rite of washing with water as a sign of spiritual purification and consecration—a cleansing from sin and devotion to God. Now to the meat of what one does by Christ’s example that follows as a part of baptism: Baptism in the Holy Spirit refers to the experience of receiving the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in one’s life. Let’s look at Christ’s experience, found in MT 3: 13-17. “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter Him by saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and do you come to me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then, John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is My Son, Whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’”
Because of the way many of us are brought up, we question if God really loves and accepts us. However, if we look at the following citations, we will understand that “nothing can separate us from His love” [RO 8: 38-39]. So, we ask: How does God see us? He never would have “adopted” us into His family if He didn’t love us! JN 1: 12, “But all who did receive Him, who believe His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” GA 3: 26, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” God took great care in creating us in the first place. PS 139: 13-14, “For You created my inmost being, You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful.” When Christ gave His physical life on the cross for us, He saved us [gave us the hope of eternal life], justified us [deemed us as believers acceptable in God’s sight], and eternally forgave us for our sins [JN 3: 16; RO 4: 3; 1 JN 1: 9]. In RO 4: 5, Paul shows us the difference between working for wages which doesn’t involve faith and by being made right with God by trusting Him.
Our transformation is shown in 2 COR 5: 15,17, “And He died for all for all, that those should no longer live for themselves but for Him Who died for them and was raised again…Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, a new creation has come: The old is gone, the new is here!” We know that God extended His grace to believers as His gift to us and nothing for which we can take credit [EPH 2: 8-9]. EPH 2: 10, “For we are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God created in advance for us to do.” RO 7: 6, “But now by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.”
In COL 1: 26-27 and COL 2: 2-3, we are told the long-held mystery of God, which is Christ in us and how He opens the way for us to learn the wisdom of God. This gives us discernment never before possible and suggests God’s “anytime” accessibility to us when we pray to Him. Moreover, we are given God’s “Love Letter [the Scriptures], the benefits of which are found in 2 TIM 3: 16-17. GA 2: 20, “I have been crucified with Christ . It is no longer I who live in the flesh; I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.” We have been told, in RO 12: 1-2, Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is the true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then, you will be able to test what is God’s will --what is good, pleasing, and perfect.” Believe God wouldn’t do all of this for us, if we weren’t loved by Him!
PRAYER: O Most Holy Lord, You have told us, in 1 PET 2: 9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of Him, Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” I believe that when You behold believers, He sees us as He sees His Son, Jesus! That bold statement comes from all the Scriptures above. There is no love like the love You have for us. We are wholly dependent on You, Lord, and You have no evil in You [1 JN 1: 5]. We are so very blessed! Thanks and praise to You for blessing us with Your goodness, kindness, and other wonderful attributes and deeds, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I’m commanded by the Holy Spirit to write about what God grants us as we are transformed into believers who can please Him. The contrast between our lives before Christ enters them and after is extreme. My testimony is that the Gospel true and God’s power to transform our lives is powerful. This has been my personal experience. God loves us so much that He will eventually allow us to see Him face to face; He has given us faith, hope, and love (with love being the greatest of these [1 COR 13: 12-13]). Not only has He given us these things, but also the gifts of the Holy Spirit [GA 5: 22-23]. Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2024. All Rights Reserved.
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