For many of us, these are pursuits and may remain that way, simply a dream and a goal never reached. For others, this pursuit has become more like a rat race at times. And as one person has said, "It's been a real rat race here, and the rats are winning". Nevertheless, these motivations have brought about many accomplishments by us as a people.
But I submit to you that there is much more to life than this, that there is a much higher calling to each one of us individuals, a much more motivational power available to us. And what's more it is close to each one of us, and not just a dream. I'm talking about a relationship with God so personal that He takes up residence in your very being. We have some big words for this including: salvation, righteousness, redemption, justification and reconciliation. All of these terms, clearly defined can help us to understand it, and appreciate it, and often times to get it in the first place.
But has Jesus Christ taken up actual residence in your very being? I do not ask you if you understand the concept, rather, I ask you, Do you have the reality of Christ in you? Have you experienced the indwelling of God in the person of Jesus Christ? Has the Spirit of God born witness with your spirit that you belong to Him? Have you received the Spirit of adoption Who gives you the sense and assurance that God is your Father by relationship? Do you know (by experience) what it means to be "in the Spirit" and not merely "in the flesh "?
In Paul's gospel, we find God using "great plainness of speech" and asking straight forward questions like this. God wants us to know where we stand with Him. Paul said, "examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates? II Corinthians 13:5)
Unlike the American dream, which can remain that way, only a dream, God's desire is for each one of us to have the reality of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" which is the seal of peace with God, sins forgiven, and eternal life. Paul explains this by saying "you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest (or down payment) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory ", (Ephesians 1:13-14)
Secondly, unlike the American dream, God has brought salvation close to each
one of us. In Romans 10:6, Paul announces, "say not in thine heart, who
shall ascend into heaven? (That is to bring Christ down from above:) or, Who
shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the
dead). But what saith it? The word is near thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy
heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath
raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
"
What Paul is saying, is that now because of the finished work of Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection, He has made salvation, righteousness, justification, redemption, and eternal life as close as believing the words. Now, the operation of God goes like this, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. " (Ephesians 1:13) And again in Ephesians 2:13, Paul declares "But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh (near) by the blood of Christ. "So, much more than a dream, God's calling is a reality and rather than a far off hope, all the spiritual blessings of salvation and sonship are as close to us as believing.
What Paul is saying, is that now because of the finished work of Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection, He has made salvation, righteousness, justification, redemption, and eternal life as close as believing the words. Now, the operation of God goes like this, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. " (Ephesians 1:13) And again in Ephesians 2:13, Paul declares "But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh (near) by the blood of Christ. "So, much more than a dream, God's calling is a reality and rather than a far off hope, all the spiritual blessings of salvation and sonship are as close to us as believing.
A SURE THING
Thirdly, the American dream holds no promise of being a sure thing, but look at what our Lord Jesus Christ announces thru Paul, "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed." (Romans 4:16) During this present dispensation, believing sets a process in motion. Paul called it conformation predestination. In Romans 8:29-39, he explains "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long: we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
So then, the promise of eternal life, righteousness, salvation, redemption, justification, and glorification are a sure thing for the one who believes. Once we believe, we become a member of the church which is the body of Christ. Each of these members is now predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ.
Salvation during this present dispensation of grace is all about the love of Christ for us, not our love for Him. Our love for Him is only a reflection of gratitude for His great love and long suffering toward us.
These wonderful and sure promises are made possible because of two things. First it's possible because of the all-sufficient sacrifice made to God for our sins (called propitiation) (see Romans 3:25) which was made by our Lord Jesus Christ in Calvary's cross. Secondly, these promises, and this conformation process is possible because of the Holy Spirit's power and work in us after we believe. That's why Paul said, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians1:6) and "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)
There is a teaching and a power which comes automatically to us when we believe. That's why Paul could say, "But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus; that ye put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:20-24) And again to Titus, Paul wrote "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." (Titus 2:11-12) So we have good news from our Lord Jesus Christ which was announced "afterwards" (Galatians 3:23) thru Paul that is a "sure" thing.
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHALLENGE REWARD
So the challenge from our Lord Jesus Christ is now to follow Paul in this and "Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children" (Ephesians5:1) And to seek perfection the way Paul did as he states, ''Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14)
Paul said, "I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereon." "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, every man's work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide (remain)which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. (I Corinthians 3:10,12-15)
These are things which God has brought close to us, and within our reach. Eternal life, the reality of relationship with God, salvation as a sure thing to anyone who believes, and in this present life, the challenge to live as a possessor of the inheritance with the promise of reward for doing so.
So why not choose the gospel of the grace of God and believe. Set in motion, in your very being, the power of God's conformation process and become a possessor of the life of God and of the inheritance of eternal life by trusting in the shed blood of Jesus Christ as the only payment for sins, trusting in Him as the only way of salvation. You'll be glad you did!
How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
(A 10 Minute Video)
Posted By Cecil and
Connie Spivey
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