The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Romans 7:8 NIV
My dearest Brothers and Sisters,
"The Life of Christ is the holiness of Christ. The reason we so often fail in the pursuit of holiness is that the old life, the flesh, in its own strength seeks for holiness as a beautiful garment to wear and enter heaven with. It is the daily death to self out of which the life of Christ rises up." AWT
We are not told to pursue holiness, but to 'be holy,
but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” I Peter 1:15-16
Did you say impossible?! I second that with a resounding uh-huh! Just reading these verses, I am pierced to the heart with conviction that I do not and cannot measure up, ever. That is the bad news. The good news is Jesus does, did and will. I am to pursue Him, behold Him, and love Him with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. His holiness is mine. This is so amazing! Do you believe this?
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor 5:21
In receiving Christ we receive the divine-human life, which is death to the old sin nature, producing fruit of sin and self. We often try and live in both worlds simultaneously- in self and in God, in the flesh and in the Spirit. We try and live by faith but walk independently by feelings and our rights, by abiding and by self-effort! To have life in Christ is not enough; this very life demands death to the flesh if we are to grow in holiness and be fruitful. Reckoning on the finished work of the Cross is the only relief from the burden of self. We are not to crucify ourselves but to agree with what God has said and done! Self loves to usurp the place belonging to the Lord Jesus. Self is a criminal worthy of death. Begin to take God's truth in Romans 6, Galatians 2:20 and Luke 9:23 and let it become who you are, who God is creating you to be... a reflection of His Son. Then you cannot help but bring Him glory.
"The hope of true faith is that we are truly powerless." Personal powerlessness is scriptural. "Scripture points to this condition through a variety of images. "Blind." Not just nearsighted. "Dead." Not merely comatose. "Broken." Not simply a little bit weak." s.s.
It is not until we realize this truth will we reach out for the strength of Christ! Christ died for the powerless and ungodly allowing Himself to be crucified in weakness and offering us this promise: I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Phil 4:13 What do you have to face today in your own strength? Not one thing! For all you face today, you have His strength. The strength to forgive. The strength to endure. The strength to love. The strength to obey. The strength to die. The strength to take the next step. All things, not some but... all! I am dancing. Hear me: Do not let familiar scriptures slide over your ears but grab them, hang on and let the Spirit apply them to you in ways which changes you!
The constant tendency is to try to improve the manner of one's life here below by adopting Christian principles, whereas you will never arrive at it unless you start from 'crucified with Christ.' Then it is not thinking of what I am, but of what He is, 'Christ liveth in me." JBS
Amen!
Father of all that is Holy and righteous and good, You who are strength, thank You for the amazing provision each second of each day. My flesh continually refuses the Cross and desires to be strong. It feels good to be able to stand on my own, I do not like feeling weak, being weak, being foolish. Is this why I fight the Cross daily with renewed vigor? My hostile flesh will never yield willingly to the Cross, so thank You for this Truth: I am crucified with Christ. By Your Spirit apply this Truth moment by moment, for only then am I free and content and fruitful. Hearer of my heart, of every unspoken word and desire, You know that I love You. To You who bear the earthly scars of my death, I surrender now and as many times this day as necessary. To surrender is to allow You to apply the Cross to me! I want to cry out, 'At any cost Abba,' and then remember how great the cost was. You made your Son the sacrifice Lamb, dying in my place. Teach me to focus continually on Him. I bow in praise and worship and cry, "thank You!" praying in the Name of the Lamb of God, amen
Have a great week beholding Him moment by moment,
az
My dearest Brothers and Sisters,
"The Life of Christ is the holiness of Christ. The reason we so often fail in the pursuit of holiness is that the old life, the flesh, in its own strength seeks for holiness as a beautiful garment to wear and enter heaven with. It is the daily death to self out of which the life of Christ rises up." AWT
We are not told to pursue holiness, but to 'be holy,
but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” I Peter 1:15-16
Did you say impossible?! I second that with a resounding uh-huh! Just reading these verses, I am pierced to the heart with conviction that I do not and cannot measure up, ever. That is the bad news. The good news is Jesus does, did and will. I am to pursue Him, behold Him, and love Him with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. His holiness is mine. This is so amazing! Do you believe this?
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor 5:21
In receiving Christ we receive the divine-human life, which is death to the old sin nature, producing fruit of sin and self. We often try and live in both worlds simultaneously- in self and in God, in the flesh and in the Spirit. We try and live by faith but walk independently by feelings and our rights, by abiding and by self-effort! To have life in Christ is not enough; this very life demands death to the flesh if we are to grow in holiness and be fruitful. Reckoning on the finished work of the Cross is the only relief from the burden of self. We are not to crucify ourselves but to agree with what God has said and done! Self loves to usurp the place belonging to the Lord Jesus. Self is a criminal worthy of death. Begin to take God's truth in Romans 6, Galatians 2:20 and Luke 9:23 and let it become who you are, who God is creating you to be... a reflection of His Son. Then you cannot help but bring Him glory.
"The hope of true faith is that we are truly powerless." Personal powerlessness is scriptural. "Scripture points to this condition through a variety of images. "Blind." Not just nearsighted. "Dead." Not merely comatose. "Broken." Not simply a little bit weak." s.s.
It is not until we realize this truth will we reach out for the strength of Christ! Christ died for the powerless and ungodly allowing Himself to be crucified in weakness and offering us this promise: I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Phil 4:13 What do you have to face today in your own strength? Not one thing! For all you face today, you have His strength. The strength to forgive. The strength to endure. The strength to love. The strength to obey. The strength to die. The strength to take the next step. All things, not some but... all! I am dancing. Hear me: Do not let familiar scriptures slide over your ears but grab them, hang on and let the Spirit apply them to you in ways which changes you!
The constant tendency is to try to improve the manner of one's life here below by adopting Christian principles, whereas you will never arrive at it unless you start from 'crucified with Christ.' Then it is not thinking of what I am, but of what He is, 'Christ liveth in me." JBS
Amen!
Father of all that is Holy and righteous and good, You who are strength, thank You for the amazing provision each second of each day. My flesh continually refuses the Cross and desires to be strong. It feels good to be able to stand on my own, I do not like feeling weak, being weak, being foolish. Is this why I fight the Cross daily with renewed vigor? My hostile flesh will never yield willingly to the Cross, so thank You for this Truth: I am crucified with Christ. By Your Spirit apply this Truth moment by moment, for only then am I free and content and fruitful. Hearer of my heart, of every unspoken word and desire, You know that I love You. To You who bear the earthly scars of my death, I surrender now and as many times this day as necessary. To surrender is to allow You to apply the Cross to me! I want to cry out, 'At any cost Abba,' and then remember how great the cost was. You made your Son the sacrifice Lamb, dying in my place. Teach me to focus continually on Him. I bow in praise and worship and cry, "thank You!" praying in the Name of the Lamb of God, amen
Have a great week beholding Him moment by moment,
az
