"For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." - Romans 8:13
“I have a heredity in which I had no say or decision; I am not holy, nor am I likely to be; and if all Jesus Christ can do is tell me that I must be holy, His teaching only causes me to despair.
Redemption means that Jesus Christ can put into anyone the hereditary nature that was in Himself, and all the standards He gives us are based on that nature— His teaching is meant to be applied to the life which He puts within us.
The proper action on my part is simply to agree with God’s verdict on sin as judged on the Cross of Christ. The moral miracle of redemption is that God can put a new nature into me through which I can live a totally new life. Just as the nature of sin entered into the human race through one man, the Holy Spirit entered into the human race through another Man (see Romans 5:12-19). And redemption means that I can be delivered from the heredity of sin, and that through Jesus Christ I can receive a pure and spotless heredity, namely, the Holy Spirit.” - Oswald Chambers
Sin entered the DNA of mankind through the first Adam. Redemption entered in through the second Adam, Jesus Christ.
"And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit." - 1 Corinthians 15:45
Seems pretty simple. So why then is it so hard for us, as Christians, to live in that redemption? The truth is that it is not, so long as we are willing to lay our lives down and live by the faith and the power of the Spirit. We --- cannot live our new lives in Christ through determination and effort. We can only live our new life through submission and sacrifice.
We must stop trying to “be good” and allow Him who IS good to live through us. The word Father means Source. God is the source of all that is good. It is by His grace that we are saved through our faith.
Do not be content with a mediocre - inconsistent Christian existence. It’s not attending church that makes you a better Christian. You can sit in a pew with a hard heart just as easily as you can sit on your sofa at home. Another conference is not the answer. Yielding your heart to God is the answer. Picking up your cross daily and following Jesus is the answer. Offering yourself as a living sacrifice is the answer. Living by faith. Walking by the power of the Spirit. Not leaning on your own understanding but trusting God is the answer. Do you need other Christians to help with your journey? Most probably. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken! But you can hang out with Billy Graham with your hard heart to no avail. This culture, this fallen world, will certainly harden your heart toward the things of God. Don’t kid yourself. Don’t pretend. We all struggle with this malady. Friend we all need more Jesus. He is the way, truth, and life.
I have a friend, George, who used to serve with us in Disaster Relief. We would be working on a house for doing something else and I would say, "George, what do you think?" Every time he would answer - "Jesus Saves". Our days should start and end with that truth!
"We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to ev'ry land, Climb the steeps and cross the waves;
Onward! 'tis our Lord's command; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!" - WE HAVE HEARD THE JOYFUL SOUND, Author: Priscilla J. Owens (1882)
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