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.