By grace we are saved, it is true. Sinners saved by grace, it is true. Our righteousness is as filthy rags, it is true. Yet, Jesus Christ is all our righteousness, and His righteousness is perfect! When I declare it is no longer I that lives, but Christ that lives within me, I am declaring the holiness of the living Christ within - and this by grace. The grace extended us through Jesus Christ is that through Him we are made holy. Holy fruit comes forth from our lives! Jesus told us we MUST be born again. This follows death to the old man, and becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus. When we are born again we are set free from the bondage of sin. This is God's grace extended to us through Jesus Christ - that we may be holy as our Father in Heaven is holy! Our liberty in Christ Jesus is liberty from sin - not liberty to sin. Faith in Christ Jesus produces works in keeping with His holiness. These works prove whether our Father is God, or the devil.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew:5:16-20
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
Matthew:5:48
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
2 Corinthians:5:17
Jesus calls us to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect. Is this an unreasonable expectation for the one who has been born again? Jesus also says His yoke is easy, His burden is light. How can this be? It is impossible for me to be holy! Yet, when I die to me, and come alive in Christ, it is Christ living in and through me that makes me holy. Jesus makes it clear that He did not come to do away with the perfect Law of God, but to fulfill this Law - within us! It is not some ideal out there, for some day. The Living Christ is a reality for NOW! And His salvation is NOW. Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith - NOW. When we are born again, we are born again NOW. Yes, we repent - continually. Why balk at this most precious gift of repentance? What a relief repentance brings us from the despot ruler of self! What a gift to become so diminished, in repenting of ourselves, as Jesus Christ becomes everything! To lose self importance for the sake of the importance of Christ Jesus. Truly, then, the burden becomes easy and light. Dying to self is where the struggle lies - the death struggle. Think of a dying bug...
The death struggle can also be termed 'rebellion'. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and left to rule in the individual's life, indeed, comes to look very much like witchcraft! When in rebellion, and arguing, and accusing, against God and His words we find in opposition to our sensibilities and desires (of our wicked heart), we have set ourselves up as gods. We are in great mistrust. We are inclined, then, to distort scriptures to be more palatable and acceptable. We are given to nuances and frivolities in our doctrines - doctrines of demons, the Bible says - "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Timothy:3:5 God becomes in our service for healing and riches. He becomes enamored with us, and soft. We do not seek His Kingdom first. We seek our importance and comfort. Things become backwards to the Truth. The light within us is darkness, and oh how dark is that darkness.
Jesus said, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, THEN all these things shall be added unto you." Here is what Jesus said about the Kingdom of God: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew:13:44-50
What do you seek? Healing and provision, or the Kingdom of God? "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Philippians:2:12-13. Perfect loves casts out fear. Let us be made perfect in the love of God through the life Christ lives within us and through us. This holy life Jesus gives us is His gift of grace and love, alone. Let us only boast in this - in Christ Jesus our King - and live holy lives in keeping with the holiness of our Heavenly Father. Let us allow Christ Jesus to live this holy life in and through us. It is only His doing! This is the Father's heart toward us. Let us not spurn this most precious gift of grace and love. Amen.
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..."
Ephesians:6:10-17
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