There is a great blessing in resting in the assurance of the blood of Christ for our salvation, but it is far more of a blessing to know we have resurrection life---a life that lives on the other side of death and judgments---a life that instinctively lives by the faith of the knowledge of what we have become in the new creation--- a life that looks to heaven ever upward and is not aliened to the flesh or the earth and the world system as occupation---a life that enjoys the same taste, feelings, and joys suited to the Father and the Son--- a life which is untouchable by sin, Satan, the world system or the law.
The above is the description of the life God has designed for us to live in the here and now. Why oh why would we opt for another? Yet most Christians do!
There is a great advantage in the loneliness of a needful heart, one is motivated to find something to fill the deep burning desire for completeness.... if only for momentary release. However if one has found the living God to fill the void, of course guided by His destiny, then truly a miracle has taken place and its forever. But with that gift comes responsibility; we must learn to maintain His destiny in what He has prescribed, a new Christian identification awareness. In which we may take diligent action toward knowing Him. By building knowledge toward a growing faith; a knowingly in occupation immaterial faith. A existence positioned in Him formed in our mind where we will walk worthy of His grace in thoughtful release. In other words, not in the self identification or actions of earthly men as to any connection with His esteem toward us.
In order to live this new life of honoring Him, as partakers of our position before Him, gained for us within His Son's worthiness, now applied to us, we must become dedicated to one object; Christ Himself, fully in faith of Him as our true life, our spiritual life. Thus making use of His gift, "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus".
We will learn He is not merely a representative or simply a substitute, but our true reality before the mind of God affording us a new life we may actively live now. A life within our mind lived in the identification of Christ Jesus. Holding the mental concept of our existence, as formed by the faith of Him, as life. And Him as our true place of a spiritually based communion within Him where He is. A spiritual faith based presence with the Father Himself. This life in accomplishment is a matter of our will via our new creation renewed mind all made by His Spirit in us. Living aware of this new spiritual inner life honors Him and living it in a faith brought to us and made real and experiential by His Spirit is made known to us by His word. "The Lord directs your hearts into the love of God" 2 Thess. 3:5.
Does this biblical mandated mental vision of true Christianity require all the actions of the Christian to be accomplished in a new spiritual identify thereby causing a subjective behavioral change? Well yes and no. The NO is we can know by a new creature awareness of faith, that we may rest in a absolute fact within our soul and mind, that the way we are seen by God is the exact way/value and in the very Person of His Son; by learning it from His Word. "I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehend of Christ Jesus' Phil. 3:12. This is a big positive NO if learned inwardly as to any flesh requirement, involves no work as it is steeped in Grace, and produces a life which over time is outwardly affected.
The sad yes is we are relinquished to the earth, trapped in a Adam flesh condition, [the one rejected by God and condemned to death] which is by nature self centered and which also influences our actions, including so called "godly, traditional behavior" which is in fact often simply our earth bound self in action. The very one put to death with Christ Jesus upon the cross, because his actions produced only sin. But never fear all works for His Glory toward His will.
In order to cope with this dichotomy [two natures] however we must come to know one thing: That our inner mans actions, all of our behavior, both selfish and loving, sinful and sacrificial, is used for the glory of God in us. We have inherited His Glory by His judicial decree. The great gift is He has formed us into His Son in His mind and He has declared us innocent. Jesus Christ being His only avenue of judicial and heavenly recognition of us, thus making us free [not guilty] in spirit as seen by Him.
For our benefit here in our earthly condition however He is forming our soul and mind, into privileged awareness of living His Sons life, by knowledge to be lived in faith. All in order for us to apprehend the new creatures we have become in "His Spirit". We will come to know His Son's image as ours before Him by a needful belief first, followed by forming a intelligent faith in apprehension of His Holy view. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind".
If we allow in any way the thoughts that what we are or do [works/service] will effect how God sees us or what God is toward us we become controlled by our sinful self-centered nature or the Adam man. But when we come to see that what God is toward [how we are appraised] us is entirely the natural formation of who we are identified as within His application of His love and divine will we live His life; entirely accomplished wholly within Christ Jesus His Son.
It is thus we are allowed [can know] that we are seen in Christ by Him because He loves us. And He is showing us that He is realized in our conscience as identification life and therefore in that worthy mindset capable of honoring Him as partakers of Himself. To be realized only through faith in His ways toward us in His Son. All to be lived through a responsible faith application, never defined by our experiences. But by knowing then believing we are thus transferring His words unalterable truth toward the apprehension of what He sees when He views us. All realized in faith, and in no other way. "Without faith it is impossible to please God".
Faith of this fact is His criteria for participation in a conscious way of the spiritual life or eternal life He Has made for us, which may now be enjoyed actively only in a renewed mind. Of course this true life is made possible in us by His Holy Spirit brought to our apprehension by the word and then entering our soul; through altering our thoughts, our very minds renewal. It is thus we become "partakers of the divine nature". All brought to us by what really is a matriculation of the mind. This is the manifestation of the life of Christ Jesus in us! His mind His thoughts. We knowing His very appraisal of us with no conditions, complete inclusion within Him, as to our new creation status, the alive awareness of eternity now in action here on earth.
But are we as believers even aware of His nature as active in us? The great inclusion that which we are made partakers of. In other words are we walking worthy of the knowing of His life in us? "Walk worthy of the Lord" Eph. 4:1.
Most all of the letters Paul wrote to the Churches contained a note of admonishment. Perhaps the early believers started off on the fresh Godly path [the heavenly/spiritual sanctification of their inner thoughts] but soon they strayed. We also have the same issues. We tend to teach that which was really originally Paul's inspired corrective commands from God to believers for their minds transformation, in a way that is often presented presently as encouragement to behave/live our life in certain ways as a attainment. In other words creating laws [guidelines' of proper living] within the boundaries of grace. Makin His words mere conditions for godly living.
In our modern approach we often do not see that Paul was guiding his disciples to a corrective truth for their realization of freedom in spirit. Encouraging them to abandon any hope for themselves as natural Adam men in their church /personal conduct. We unfortunately have in todays world followed the same old well worn worldly interposition of the Christians Adam man condition life induced by the flesh just as those of old.
We like them have missed something. The very thing Paul was encouraging his charge to return too. Namely the not adding to Christianity the traditions developed in the world, and to gain a apprehension of our co-death to Adam and the world in Christ. That is; to walk worthy we must know our position both in death and in life to know of a new creation life in the Lord Jesus Christ. All contained in our inner man, a heavenly spiritual life. A new life that will bear conscious fruit and develop our soul and sub-conscious completing us in His Son. A life to be occupied heart and soul with Him in a new awareness of spirit induced by faith. The true secret of Christianity is in a new identity discovered thus gaining the privilege to carry ourselves as true men and women of God! "Walking worthy".
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