"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in Glory" -- Col. 3:3-4
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the word of life- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us- that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full." -- 1 John 1:1-4
How glorious, then, is the blessing which every one receives that believes in the Lord Jesus. Not only does there come a change in his disposition and manner of life; he also receives from God out of heaven an entirely new life. He is born anew, born of God: he has passed from death into life.
(God was not being mean to Adam and Eve when he told them not to eat of the tree of Knowledge. The law of Sin and death did not apply to man at this time and it wasn't until they became aware of good and evil, that they came to an understanding of good and evil that they came under the law.
It's like your Driver's License. There are a slew of laws that govern it's use. But you are not subject to them until you get into that vehicle.
We are Lawful captives to satan. Like begets like. In other words, lost sinful people will bring forth lost sinful people. People with a wrong spirit will bring forth people with a wrong spirit. People residing in death will bring forth people residing in death.
And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day...... And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. -- Genesis 1:10-13, 20-25
This life was in death even before it began. Not just physical death, but Spiritual death. Every time we sin we become more and more spiritually dead, and farther and farther away from God. When we are born again we become Spiritually alive to God, This Physical body will eventually die, but our spirit will live with God forever.
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. -- Ephesians 2:1-9
Our debt was settled because Jesus paid the penalty, for us. This is the new life, Spiritual Life, and life spent with God.)
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” -- John 1:12-13
“Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I say to you, “You must be born again”'” -- John 3:5-7
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” -- John 5:24
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.” -- 1 John 3:14
(Hatred is the emotion of a hurt wounded spirit. It is not an emotion of a reborn, healed spirit. A reborn person is able to forgive whatever was done, and move on. A wounded spirit cannot do so.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. -- Galatians 5:19-21)
“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) is born also of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. -- 1 John 5:1
This new life is nothing less than Eternal Life.
(Eternal: adjective. Middle English, from Middle French: from late Latin aeternalis, from Latin aeternus- eternal, from aevum – age or eternity.
1. A: having infinite duration: everlasting
2. A: continued with out intermission, perpetual.
3. archaic: infernal
4. valid or existing at all times: timeless.
Enternalize, Enterally, Eternalness.
So our new life is just as I said above a life spent with God. Not only in this body but out of this body.)
“He who believes in the Son of God has everlasting life; and he who does not believe in the Son of God shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” -- John 3:36
(There is no room for misunderstanding here. This is simple and straight forward. There is no other way to right relationship with God than through Christ. There is no other way to be made free and whole, to be healed. Any other way attempted will only lead to more hurt and wounding.)
“And this is the will of Him who sent Me that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.....I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” -- John 6:40, 51
“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord....For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -- Romans 6:11, 23
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” -- Romans 8:2
“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” -- 1 John 5:12-13
This does not mean, as many suppose, that our life shall now no more die, but shall endure into eternity. No: eternity life is nothing else than the very life of God, the life that He has had in Himself from eternity, and that has been visibly revealed in Christ. This life is now the portion of every child of God.
(Like begets like. So when we are born again by the Spirit of God through Christ we become spiritually alive. Spirit begets Spirit.
“Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I say to you, “You must be born again”'” -- John 3:5-7
We are then given the life of God, who is Spirit.)
This life is a life of inconceivable power. Whenever God gives life to a young plant or animal, that life has in itself the power of growth, whereby the plant or animal as of itself becomes large. Life is power. In the new life, that is, in your heart, there is the power of eternity.
“Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For ye were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.” -- 2 Corinthians 7:9
"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in Glory" -- Colossians 3:3-4
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” -- Philippians 4:13
More certain than the healthful growth of any tree or animal is the growth and increase of the child of God, who in reality surrenders himself to the working of the new life.
What hinders this power and the reception of the new spiritual life is chiefly two things. The one is ignorance of its nature, its laws and workings. Man, even the Christian, has of himself not the least conception of the new life that comes from God: it surpasses all his thoughts. His own perverted thoughts of the way to serve and to please God, namely, by what he does and is, are so deeply rooted in him, that, although he thinks that he understands and receives God's word, he yet thinks humanly and carnally on Divine things.
Not only must God give salvation and life; He must also give the Spirit to make us know what He gives. Not only must He point out the land of Canaan, and the way thither; we must also, like the blind, be led every day by Himself. The young Christian must try to cherish a deep conviction of his ignorance concerning the new life, and of his inability to form right thoughts about it. This will bring him to the meekness and to the childlike spirit of docility, to which the Lord shall make His secret known.
(To be able to live in this life you must surrender yourself to the work of the Holy Spirit. You cannot lead the proud. This is why pride is considered a deadly sin, because pride will keep you from this surrender.
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. -- Galatians 5:16-25
You must surrender to a person in order to Walk and Live with that person. It is the same with the Spirit of God. He Will Not force you to walk with him. You must decide to do so. It is your choice.)
“Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” -- Psalm 25:5,8-9
“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” -- Psalm 143:8
“And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” -- Isaiah 42:16
“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” -- Isaiah 64:4
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-19
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” -- 1 Corinthians 2:7-12
There is a second hindrance in the way of faith. In the life of every plant and every animal and every child there lies sufficient power by which it can become big. In the new life, God has made the most glorious provision of a sufficient power whereby His child can grow and become all that he must be. Christ Himself is his life and his power of life.
(Faith: noun. Middle English feith, from Anglo-French feid, fei, from Latin fides; akin to Latin fidere to trust.
1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : LOYALTY b (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions
2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs
BELIEF
on faith : without question
Faith is to be fully persuaded that things are as God has said they are. And not only persuaded, but so fully persuaded that no one and no argument, no circumstance can shake you from that faith. It means knowing God well and trusting him completely, even when it looks like he doesn't care. Remember Romans 8:28 says all things work together for the good of those that Love God. That's the good the bad, and the ugly. [I am a living proof of this, Should I give my testimony you'll see why I am firmly convinced of the truth of this verse.] For the child of God, nothing can get to you unless it first goes through him. And if he OKs it it's for your good.)
“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” -- Psalm 18:2
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” -- Psalm 27:1
“There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.” -- Psalm 38:3
“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” -- Psalm 34:8
“Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” -- John 14:19
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” -- Galatians 2:20
"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in Glory" -- Colossians 3:3-4
Yet, because this mighty life is not visible or cannot be felt, but works in the midst of human weakness, the young Christian often becomes of doubtful mind. He then fails to believe that he shall grow with Divine power and certainty. He does not understand that the believing life is a life of faith whereby he reckons on the life that is in Christ for him, although he neither sees, feels, nor experiences anything.
(It is difficult to walk by faith when what we see goes against what is truth. Just because we cannot see God doesn't working doesn't mean that he isn't. Just like the sun. When the sky is overcast, and we cannot see it arise, we know it is there because it's a fact, though what we see says it's not risen at all. Often we are caught in storms and we cannot see God working, but that doesn't mean that he's fallen down on the job. No he's still working, and even in the hard times we must keep the conviction that he is working, and walk by that conviction and not what the eyes see.
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. -- 2 Corinthians 1:24
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) -- 2 Corinthians 5:7)
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” -- Habakkuk 2:4
“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” -- Galatians 3:11
“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” -- Hebrews 10:38
Let every one then that has received this new life, cultivate this great conviction: it is eternal life that works in me: it works with Divine power: I can and shall become what God will have me be: Christ Himself is my life: I have to receive Him every day as my life given by God to me, and He shall be my life in full power.
(Conviction: noun.
1 : the act or process of convicting of a crime especially in a court of law
2 a : the act of convincing a person of error or of compelling the admission of a truth b : the state of being convinced of error or compelled to admit the truth
3 a : a strong persuasion or belief b : the state of being convinced
CERTAINTY, OPINION
When I first became a Christian I did not trust anyone, even God [no not really]. It was very hard for me to read and believe that he'd keep his word. I was afraid of being disappointed like I had been every other time I'd ever take anyone at their word. But gradually I began to see that he would, and I came to trust him more than even my folks. It is in this way that faith and convection are cultivated. I would tell him [literally] 'this is what your word says, I need you to do this.' And he'd do it every time. Some pastors condemn this, don't you listen to them! Cultivate your faith! Take him at his word and watch what he'll do!)
O my Father, who hast given me Thy Son that I may have life in Him, I thank Thee for the glorious new life that is now in me. I pray Thee, teach me to know aright this new life. I will acknowledge my ignorance and the perverted thoughts which are in me, concerning Thy service. I will believe in the heavenly power of the new life that is in me: I will believe that my Lord Jesus, who Himself is my life, will by His Spirit teach me to know how I can walk in that life. Amen.
Try now to apprehend and appropriate the following lessons in your heart.
1. It is eternal life, the very life of God, that you have now received through faith.
2. This new life is in Christ, and the Holy Spirit is in you to bring over to you all that is in Christ. Christ lives in you through the Holy Spirit.
3. This life is a life of wonderful power. However weak you may feel, you must believe in the Divine power of the life that is in you.
4. This life has need of time to grow in you and to take possession of you. Give it time: it shall surely increase.
5. Forget not that all the laws and rules of this new life are in conflict with all human thoughts of the way to please God. Be very much in dread of your thoughts, and let Christ, who is your life and also your wisdom, teach you all things.
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