THE ACTS OF FAITH

      By the Christian's receiving of grace he has gained a most wonderful and important thing. The question is what will he do with it?

      It is through faith we have the practical knowledgeable application of grace and in no other way. Let me explain: When a Christian acts in faith; believes the word of God is literately true, and applies it to himself as God has; he then must necessarily be acting in the grace of faith. However many do not yet know their place in faiths object, the very application of grace; limiting their view.

      Jesus Christ's life is the Grace we have received. He is the object we are to live in: as the consciously defined self analytical image we have of ourselves. The Father has made us so in His mind. "For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus" Eph. 2:10. Should we not honor His perfect view? The knowledge that it is His Grace [Life] application upon us, is paramount to enjoy and honor and Love Him. As He has given us the privileged and capacity to do so by faith! "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything of ourselves, but our sufficiency [all inclusive inclusion in His Son] is of God" 2 Cor.3:5.

      We are called to be willing and able to acknowledge His [Jesus Christ's] life as ours. We do this by learning just who we are from the Word, as a new creation in Christ then believing it. "We are not under law," "not in the world," "not in the flesh, "but in the Spirit," and blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Eph. 1:3.

      Therefore, we must ask ourselves; does a certain act/work on our part, even enjoyable godly ones, accurately display a confidence in faith as a  place of grace; His life living in and through us? Well that is dependent upon the believers attitude/knowledge of his heavenly spiritual positional [our life is His] hearts apprehension; in the reception of grace. It is all based upon the believers knowing identification in Christ's Death and Resurrection and their co-ascension with Him. "Has made us alive together with Christ" Eph. 2:5. Which in fact makes up the entire source of our grace! It is God's view and estimation of His creation that counts. We simply must  trust Him in faith that His perfect perception casts us in the perfect light of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

      When Able offered the sacrifice of the lamb, the first of his flock, the dispensation of time [old testament] was all of works not grace; yet he was acting in faith. He believed there was a God whom he must honor, but it was by a act, therefore a work, one of faith but still a work. There was no grace applied. He [Abel] had no apprehension of grace, he only had his condition as a man on the earth. Grace was not apprehended because Christ the Saviour had not yet offered it. His Life exchanged for ours.

      So the act [Abel's]was only sufficient for the moment. There was not lasting enjoyment or a permanent condition of grace even available as a concept. This is no longer the faith believers condition under grace. There was no position or identification of grace's gift, as we now have in Jesus Christ, in Abel's faith offering; as the Christian under grace has now been gifted with. It seems more is required of the earthly-man, [all men in Adam] he must continue on by acts in the attempted attainment of a identity. It is not so for the man under grace! He is now heavenly, spiritual. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, it is a gift of God, not of works" Eph. 2:8.

      When Israel entered the new land they were no doubt entering by faith, yet they had to act in order to enter. But once there in order to actually posses the land they had to rely upon another [God's provision] for continuation of the possession. Again faith was required. Yet under the circumstance and in their earthly dispensation all of the practical retention of the land was dependent upon their acts/work/possession for continuation. Again no grace was involved. They had to contend with their only option; the Adam natural mans works based mental preoccupation. But Christians now have a choice under grace.

      They [Israel] must and did occupy the land by the means of there self will in the Adam man, eventually living under the yoke of the law; which as history attests often has failed in the attempt. Along with all attempts at justifications realization accomplished by duty or any Adam moral improvement.

     This is not however the prevailing position or need of the Christian in union with Christ. Grace has nullified any earthly connection; which the Adam man [the old creation] must toil under, for his apprehension of life. "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creation" 2 Cor. 5:17

      So then where is the faith apparent by grace if work is required? Grace must be known for a permanent enjoyment of the gift of faith, even when faith is exercised. Again if a continuation of acquisition, a attainment is required, no grace is evident or dependent upon. Therefore the grace of Christ Jesus' provision for life is not honored. These are some examples of where a great difficulty lies for all Christians living under the dispensation of grace, but retaining the Adam condition as their identification. Simply put the Holy Spirit must and will change our minds!

      The question is how do we apply the free gift of unmerited favor given us by God to our needful Adam man, in realization? After all we now are positioned in a all sufficient union with Him in heaven, received by grace but only found in faith. Which the bible makes abundantly clear is the case of the Christian. "But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" If true then why do we still work trying to acquire it, attempting to re- train our dead Adam man?

      Just as there are two aspects to love, negative and positive: as in some loved the light which is Christ, yet others loved the darkness which is the world. The same is true of faith. There is the acting in faith by works and attainment as a requirement to complete God's provision upon the earth: we might call that the busy work of the Body of Christ. Us active in the things of/for God, often attempting to convert our Adam man in the establishment of the church on earth.

      Adam trying to overcome what he is himself, a sin nature flesh man. A impossibility! But where, if a act is necessary even in faith, is the grace revealed and honored; as a unmerited favor, a free gift not requiring our active participation. As Christ Jesus in Himself is the provision. If the bible can be trusted that is. "By one offering He has perfected forever them [the Christian] that are sanctified" Heb. 10:14.

      On the other hand: If the believer is simply resting in the conscious application of that which he has been given under grace forever; that of being united with Christ. Taking full title and ownership of the heavenly position he has been placed in by God, "hidden in Christ" "in the heavenly places", before he even acts, then faith's grace is apprehended. As Paul said so wisely under God's inspiration; "that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of [grace given]Christ Jesus" Phil. 3:12.

      As we accept in faith the portion we have been given by grace: that of a heavenly all sufficient completeness in Christ, the greater is our faith carried out; taken advantage of, and does grace function. In other words the greater our sense of possession of a heavenly security, all of and in Christ; consequently the greater the enjoyment and the more is our life managed by and under grace. This is the life of Christ lived by the Holy Spirit in us, we the vessel of His life. Not a attempted attainment of the converted Adam man.

      Not a act we perform in anticipation of meeting faith in our self, converting our soul to please God; but a resting in what we already have "Life in Christ' "One Spirit with Christ". My brothers and sisters....if we anticipate and apprehend our Christian life, our salvation and justification and ultimately and expectantly the righteousness we have in Christ: by the definition of a proper application of our acts, morals, training or experiences then we have missed the free Gift. No, no, no, we are far above that earthly status. "For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus" Eph. 2:10.

      We simply must see this to enjoy the freedom of our unbreakable position we occupy [known by faith] in the reality and union of Christ as life! How may we see this true truth and then live in the pure freedom of faith under the grace of our security as ones hidden in Christ?

      By taking full title and ownership of the new nature Christ has provided for us in Himself. Reckoning as true in faith His heavenly federal representation of our new nature. He has occupation of our mind and heart by grace. Seen in us only by our faith; for our realized position in Him. In other words a life we live under the banner of the knowledge of the privilege afforded us in and of the New Man Jesus Christ. Him, the New Adam as our inheritance of the new nature, which is ours by Jesus Christ; the believer 'Hidden in Christ".

      Not as a reference point providing a object to view, a ladder of attainment to climb becoming a worker for Christ, or a good feeling as a sense of His presence; although we will experience great joy. But in acquisition of the Christians identification in complete union with Christ in heaven, received only by faith, obtained only under grace. Quiet simply the only true practical God defined reality of all Christians. We are heavenly partakers of Christ in his abode, in the new nature given us by God, us incorporated in His Son. "Likewise reckon also yourselves to be..... alive unto God through Jesus Christ, our Lord" Rom. 6:11.

      My friends, it is through grace we have life, not in the flesh, but in Christ through faith; even though the flesh prevails as our condition on earth. The Adam man [the flesh] however is annulled and is dead in God's sight! Our part, our destiny, is simply to reckon [count as true] that our flesh condition, the fallen Adam, has been put to death, before God, judicially. Put to death in Christ crucified; thus setting us free to constantly enjoy Him in faith of that truth. To be occupied with The Son of God's triumph. It is thus we will find all our strength, all our life and all our acts of faith, all completed in His graceful provision.

     

THE BETTER PLACE

      It is interesting to observe the place many Christians have arrived in these last days. We often seem most interested in perusing the blessings of God, working for Him, or are seeking His relief from our pain, troubles and weakness. But not coming to know just who we have become in union with the one who blesses us. A very wise man once said something quite profound regarding this, the condition of the Adam man. "Those who receive deliverance from their troubles [or seek blessings] never grow like those who get strengthened [come to know our identity in Him] in the difficulties".

      I also often hear saints praying for more of Him as an experience, really seeking a emotion or feeling a sensing of His presence. What will they do with more of Him when they get it is the question? Is He not always present? Can we even ever have more of Him? After all He gave us all of Himself in His Son did He not? He is our very life. Despite what we think or feel. "Nor heights, nor depth, nor any other [feeling, sin, thought] creation, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Rom. 8:9.

      Yes God blesses many in His grace, including non-christians. But it is also true many, including Christians have great suffering. History is filled with the results of mans presence on the earth and it almost always ends in pain and misery. What do we make of this? Why has God not made it all better for us? Could the reason be our permanent Adam condition still prevails in our life on earth? None wish to dwell on the negative of course.

      Could it be as Mr Stoney goes on to say; "How slowly one learns that His sympathy is not expressed in removing the affliction [or in getting the blessing/experience] but in raising one above it to Himself, so that He becomes so endeared to the heart that He is more of an object to the heart than ones self".

      This thought both to more experience and relief from troubles by more blessings is perhaps where we can learn something about the condition of all of mankind. We all are suffering from a selfish malady, that of the natural Adam man condition, no exceptions. We are ruled by the self and never will get away from this fate, on earth at least. That is really why [if one were honest] we seek such addition to our condition, we want desperately relief from ourselves, we know something is wrong.

     This my friends [the Adam man condition] is the part of us God found intolerable and therefore judged it dead on the cross, and by His blood forgave us [the Adam man] of our sins. This redemption was for ALL men, but very few accepted the gift. For those who did, according to the Fathers wish, their salvation and reception of eternal life is only granted and truly lived out by the gift of their Faith that Jesus Christ's work on the cross was sufficient to end our Adam condition Judicially before a perfect God. And we thereby became a new creation in union in heaven with Christ by faith.

      It is in our true faiths realization that in God's judgement His sacrifice has put away forever our Adam condition: that we are now free too in faith approach His glory and partake of it. We are removed from our condition in His judgement. We are now by faith indeed declared righteous. In fact we now are seen entirely in the Son in God's eye's, and in our own realization by faith that that is true. We are now by God's declaration,"Hidden in Christ". We have been transferred to a new heavenly creation; only beheld by us and lived out by us individually in and by faith. "Risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised Him [and us] from the dead" Col. 2:12.


      Well where does that leave us? Is God now to make it all better for the Adam man because we believed? Is He to convert our Adam into a powerful god-man on earth? Is He to offer special favor to a condition which He [judicially] died unto? A sort of reconditioning of the dead/annulled [in His sight] Adam, who is still possessed of sin in our earthly condition?

      This is what many seem to be busy at trying to accomplish in themselves; by morals/works/experiences. Working hard for the church, or to anticipate even hurry His return or just trying to be like Him. Even to qualify themselves for a overcoming privileged status. Of course always for a supposed higher purpose; encouraged by other Adam men to gain more of Him. For what purpose is the question? It really always comes back to us does it not? Make us [the dead on the cross Adam man] better we cry and by our improvement we will show the world and prove to ourselves His life is ours.

      Faith and resting in His Word however unlike self, takes us to the only true and better place; God's very life. Oh so simple, such little human effort required; despite our more lofty goals or Adams special needs. No brothers and sisters we must come to the clear sky of truth and life by faith only; to truly know God in personal intimacy. To dwell there with Him actively, in conscience awareness, in heaven with Him, requires simply and only faith. "As we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly" 1 Cor. 15:49.

      So little is asked, nothing of Adam need apply; no wonder Adam cannot rest with only grace. After all Adam cannot box up the free gift of grace, test it, traditionalize it, get it to look like a accomplishment. There is only one truth, one narrow road to God. Faith is the key to the door of that path. All Christians should know that it is the faith principal only which establishes them before God. "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be the Spirit of God dwell in you. Rom. 8:9.

     As we set aside our selves for another, even Jesus Christ's life and us in heavenly positional identification of Him in that life; seen by us in faith of that as our new creation. We will then find nothing else matters but our faith in Him as true. All that we are yet to do in the Body on earth will be accomplished by Him in us, as we rest in faith's truth. "Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near by the blood of Christ" Eph. 2:13.

      God brings us into His life in the Lord Jesus: as we learn nearness to Him by faith in His Word as true. Then we may come to except the ever present natural Adams distance from Him. But then we find by faith we are through grace morally/consciously set apart from our ever present selfish Adam man and sheltered from him, [Rom. 8:9] from moment to moment. The more our faith gains the greater the observance of the enormity of Adams natural distance from the things of God. But we are safe and secure in heaven by Faith in the trusting of the Second Adam Jesus Christ, who has replaced us in the Fathers estimation and taken us into God's presence. As a consequence, "I rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh" Phil. 3:3. Thus is the better way found!