Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
This passage is very clear, we are not about our own workmanship, we are not about our own ability to be righteous. It is Christ Who works righteousness in us when we have trusted in Him.
When we trust in Christ, what He did for us on that cross, paying for our sin, then is when He begins His work in us.
Those who think they can be good enough in their own effort are not trusting in Christ but in themselves.
Romans 3:20-21 "20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin. 21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.…"
We do good works and are changed because Christ is doing the work in us and He is the One changing us. When we have trusted in Christ He changes the way we think, we no longer love sin or our own works. We love what Christ is doing in us and love His righteousness. He gets all the glory while we get none.
Romans 7:7
"What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, "Do not covet."
It was the Law of God that showed us our sinfulness and led us to trust in Christ. Then Christ Who is the very essence of His Own law moved into us. We do not have to "follow" the law it is a part of who we are in Christ.
The Law once condemned us, but after He came to live in us we love His Law. Do we have to make sure we take a drink of water when we are thirsty, no, we automatically take the drink? It is the same with the Law, we obey not because we are trying really hard to do something we do not want to do, just the opposite, we love the Law and do not desire to go against it, it is a part of who we are in Christ.
If our flesh fails us we hate it, we confess to be cleansed and move on toward growing in holiness.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
1 John 2:1-2 "1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father— Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.…"
1 John 1:8-10 "…8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.
We are weak in our flesh at times, our Spirit is that of Christ and we remain secure in Him, however when our flesh sins from weakness we hate it and confess it to be cleansed by Christ Who lives in us.
We grow in direct proportions to how much we confess our failings. Those who will not confess their failings do not grow in holiness. They remain spiritual and emotional infants.
2 Timothy 3:8-10 "…8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith. 9But they will not advance much further. For just like Jannes and Jambres, their folly will be plain to everyone. 10 You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance,…"
Those who adamantly oppose the truth of the Scriptures have never been born again. A "depraved" mind is not one that has been changed by Christ into a new creation.
Those who fight against the truth of Scripture, even attacking believers who bring Scripture to bear in every matter, are not born again no matter how loudly they claim to be Christians.
Born again believers do not fight against God's Word, they rejoice in it, are excited about challenges to look more deeply into God's Word and enjoy the company of authentically born again believers.
Hallelujah: God said; "you shall know them by their fruit"
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
When this fruit is absent as a lifestyle from someone we can know they have not trusted in Christ.
When we see this fruit of Christ in someone as a continual lifestyle, then they have been born again. Even when a believer falls they hate it, confess it and begin again to obey Christ.
May each one reading this evaluate themselves to see if they are truly in the faith.
2 Corinthians 13:4-6 "…4 For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. And though we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you. 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you— unless you actually fail the test? 6 And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.…"
No comments:
Post a Comment