Reflections on the Transforming Power of God Booklet One

Reflections
On The
Transforming Power of God

About The Book
Dear reader: The purpose of this work “Reflections On The Transforming Power of God” is to glorify God the Father, God The Son And God The Holy Spirit, to encourage believers in their walk, and interest others to pursue Him. If you are encouraged by what you read herein or become interested in a deeper understanding of God, please contact us at:
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work Of God On Behalf Of Man

Introduction

In today’s world the God of the Bible, if believed in at all, has been relegated as being not relevant in the affairs of mankind. John the revelator wrote that in the last days Jesus, God the Son will be expelled from the church He created and will seek to have fellowship with anyone who would ask Him to come back in (Revelation 3:30).

The author of this little booklet has written a book entitled “One Christian’s Perspective of Man’s Dilemma God’s Solution”; eleven chapters that present a God who is sovereign over all of creation and is bringing this present dispensation to a close. This booklet is the first in a series of booklets that continue with that perspective. It is intended to promote God to those who may be seeking Him and it is intended to encourage Christians who may be disheartened.

It is the author’s prayer that all who read this work will be greatly blessed. But, beyond that the author prays that God is honored.

Glossary
About God 1-3
The Work of God on Behalf of Man 4-5
All Persons Will Meet God 6-7
Securely Positioned in Christ 8-9
Regeneration & Sanctification 10-11
God Moves the Christian Towards Maturity 12-13
The Christian’s Participation in Salvation 14
The Christian is to Abide in Christ 15-16
Salvation and Commitment 17-18
The Christian’s Comfort; He is Secured by the Hand of God 19-20
No Condemnation 21-22
About The Author 23

About God

That There is One True God
We believe that there is only one living and true God, infinite in every excellence, that in the unity of the Godhead there are three personal distinctions, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one in essence and equal in every divine perfection. (Exodus 20:2-32; 1st Corinthians 8:6).
We believe in the absolute Deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; that He was divine as no other man can be, being God Himself, existing from all eternity co-equal with the Father and the Spirit; that He never ceased to be God for one instance and that His humiliation did not consist in laying aside His Deity; that as a man He was miraculously begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. (1st John 5;20; John 1;1-2; Matthew 1;20; Luke 1;26-38).
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with the Father and Son and of the same substance and nature; that He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment, bears witness to the truth, is the agent of the New Birth and that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies, and helps the believer, indwelling every true child of God. (2nd Corinthians 13:14; John 14:16-17; Romans 8:14-27; John 16:7-15).
The Scriptures
We believe that the Holy Bible as originally written was verbally inspired and the product of Holy Spirit inspired men, and therefore without admixture of error for its matter. We believe that it is the true center of Christian union and the only infallible rule for all human conduct, creeds and opinions. (2nd Timothy 3;16-17; 2nd peter 1;19-21).
Creation
We believe that God created the heavens and the earth in six literal days, including all life, “each after its own kind,” by direct act and not by the process of evolution. (Genesis 1 and 2; Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3).

Satan
We believe that Satan is a distinct created being, that he became other than what he was created when iniquity was found in him, that he is the God of this age, leader of all the powers of darkness and sin, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. Ezekiel 28:14-15; Matthew 4:1-3; 2nd Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10).

The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created, in innocence and true holiness, under the law of his maker and in the image of God, but by voluntary transgression fell from his created state and became sinful. In his fall he became totally depraved and wholly disposed toward evil, possessing neither the ability nor the inclination to seek God apart from the regeneration grace of the Holy Spirit; that all are sinners by nature and by conduct, and therefore are under just condemnation without defense or excuse. (Genesis 3:1-6; Ephesians 4:23; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 1:26; Romans 5:12; Romans 3:10-19; Genesis 6:5; Ephesians 2:1; Romans 1:8; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:32; Romans 1:20; Galatians 3:22).
The Only Atonement For Sin
We believe that the only escape from the condemnation of sin is through redemption wrought by Jesus Christ when He voluntarily took upon Himself a human body and nature, yet did not sin and by His vicarious suffering, death and resurrection made full satisfaction to the justice of God, and that “in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins;” that the blessings of salvation are given on the grounds of grace to all who believe and confess that Jesus is Savior and Lord; and that it is the immediate duty of all to accept these offers of mercy. (John 1:1-3; John 1:14; John 3:16-17; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:7).
Grace and The New Birth
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension by our sovereign God, not by culture or the will of man, but solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with the Word of God, so as to irresistibly draw men to Himself and secure their voluntary obedience to the gospel; that the proper evidence of the new birth appears in the holy fruits wrought by it; repentance, saving faith, and newness of life. (John 3:3; 2nd Corinthians 5:17; 1st John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 16:20-33; 2nd Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; Galatians 5:22; 2nd Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13; John 3:8; John 1:12-13; Ephesians 5:9).
Further
We believe in God’s sovereign election whereby in eternity past He chose some to be recipients of His grace in Christ. We believe that true believers in Christ are distinguished from mere professors by their persevering attachment to the Savior made evident as the Holy Spirit unfailingly brings to completion His work within them; that, moreover, the saints are eternally secure, kept by the power of God through faith unto ultimate redemption. (John 8:31; Psalms 37:24; Psalms 37:28; 1st John 3:9; 1st John 2:27; 1st John 5:18; Hebrews 3:14; 1st John 2:19; John 17:12; Romans 8:28-39; Luke 10:42; Luke 22:31-32; John 6:37-40; John 10:28-30; Romans 11:29; 1st Corinthians 1:8-9; 2nd Corinthians 1:21-22; Philippians 1:6; Philippians 2:12-13; Jude 1:24-25; 1st John 4:4; 2nd Timothy 1:12; 2nd Timothy 4:18; 1st Peter 1:4-5; John 4:14; John 5:24).
Further
We believe that God has elected those whom become saved but He does not prevent others from believing and coming to Him for salvation, if they would. But the truth is, left to himself, man has no desire to search Him out. ( John 3:19-20; John 5:39-40).
The Return of Christ
We believe in the bodily, personal, pre-millennial, return of Jesus Christ; that He will come before the seven years tribulation period to catch away His church, coming only in the air, and that He will come with His Church at the close of the tribulation judge the living nations and to set up His kingdom. (1st Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 24:31-46; Revelation 19:11-21).

The Resurrection
We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead; that believers who sleep in Jesus will be resurrected at the coming of Christ for His church and caught up with the translated living saints to meet the Lord in the air, and that those of the tribulation who die will be resurrected at the end of the tribulation, and the unbelieving dead of all ages will be resurrected at the close of the Millennial kingdom and stand in their bodies at the Great White Throne judgment to receive their final doom. (John 5:21-30; 1st Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 20:11-15).
Priesthood of all Believers
We believe in the New Testament order that every born-again Christian is a priest of God. This position of being a believer-priest under our great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, puts every Christian on the same level of priesthood. The believer-priest in the pew has just as ready access into the presence of God the Father and to the truth of God as does the believer-priest in the pulpit. (1st Peter 2:5-9; Revelation 1:5-6).

The Work of God on Behalf of Man

The work of God is a triune work, the work of God the Father, the work of God the Son, and the work of God the Holy Spirit. Interestingly, while each person of the trinity has a unique performance in that work, the purpose of each person is the same, to satisfy God’s desire and will. This uniqueness is seen in God’s creation of man. He said, “Let Us make man in Our image” (Genesis 1:26). There is no suggestion of individuality to be found in that declaration. However, man’s likeness of God is to be understood, that likeness is of the “us” and “our” not three separate likeness’s, but of a composite one God.
In man’s salvation there was and is a singleness of purpose in God’s work, but three performances, God the Father has purposed it, God the Son (Jesus Christ) paid the price for it, and God the Holy Spirit regenerates to newness of spiritual life all those that God the Father calls.
Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). The drawing of a person to the Son for salvation is God’s purpose. The work of God the Son is found in His sacrifice as the purchase price of that salvation. The writer of Hebrews explains, “1For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 5Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.’ 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’ 8Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the law), 9then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:1-10).
Jesus informed Nicodemus (and us) that the work of the Holy Spirit is the regeneration of those whom the Father calls. He said, “1There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:1-8).
What a wondrous work of God. Without this work of our triune God none of us would ever be qualified to be in His holy presence. Paul, the apostle by inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote; 1And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:1-10).
We, who are His children, are so because of His work on our behalf. He has called us out of spiritual darkness, He has regenerated in us a new spiritual life, and to qualify us for those benefits, God Himself paid the price by sacrificing His Son.

What a work! Thank you Lord God.

All Persons Will Meet God

There have always been some who deny the existence of God and live lives reflecting that denial. That is, they attempt to extract from their present experience of life all that they can because they are convinced that when they die life is over, one just simply stops being. There are others who believe that God exists and that there is a continuance of life after the death of their bodies, but that He is a loving benevolent God and will not be extreme in His judgment of them. They believe that their good works (so called) will overshadow their bad deeds and God will reward them with heaven and all that that entails.
But, it must be said; they will someday meet God and discover how wrong they were. When they, all such persons of whatever persuasion, meet Him they will be judged according to their conduct of life, their sin. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and further, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). God is a loving benevolent God, but He is also a holy God and cannot let sin go unpunished or be in His presence. There is life after death and all will enter into it. All will continue living after the death of their bodies. Some will enjoy eternity with God, but others will forever be cast away from Him into eternal torment. There is no third option. Heaven is a glorious place, a place filled with the glory of God, and nothing short of that glory can be in His presence. All persons from Adam until now fall short of the glory of God and therefore, in their natural state, cannot be in the presence of God. Why? All have sinned and come short of that glory.
But, God is a benevolent, loving God and for some that love and benevolence has restored them to a righteous holy state so they can be in His presence. The second part of Romans 6:23 tells us that “the gift of God is eternal life” (6:23b). Then it goes on to say that this gift came (comes) “through Jesus Christ” (6:23c). Putting Romans 3:23 and 6:23 together we read, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ah, the gift! It is eternal life through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whom God gave as the propitiation for sins. Those who reject God will not search out this gift, nor will those who believe that their good works outweigh their bad deeds. To seek salvation one must know that he (or she) is lost.
However, according to the inspired Word of God, God has endowed all persons with a divine light that testifies that He is, and a conscience that convicts them of sin. We read from John’s Gospel, “1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness overcame it not” (John 1:1-5). The spiritual life that was (is) in Jesus was (is) so powerful that even man’s rejection of Him (or the spiritual illumination that is of His being) could not (cannot) overcome it. Man may claim to deny God, but in his spirit he knows better.
As to being convicted of sin by conscience we read from Romans 1:18-20, “18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
Such persons know the truth. They have been convicted by their God given consciences, but in their rebellion against that truth they willfully and joyfully involve themselves in all kinds of wickedness as the remaining verses of this chapter tells us. Remember, we all will meet God someday. Some of us will be blessed with His presence for eternity, others will be cast out into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Also remember there is no third option. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6). Peter testified, “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 14:12). The Apostle Paul in answer to the Philippian jailor’s question, “what must I do to be saved” said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Jesus was killed because of His claim, but has risen and now sits at the right hand of the Father. Peter suffered martyrdom because of his testimony, and Paul was beheaded refusing to denounce his belief in, and commitment to, Jesus. What stronger testimony could there be?

Securely Positioned In Christ

The following question was asked by one of the readers of our weekly devotional series. What does it mean to be securely positioned in holiness? The question was in response to our previous offering, “Beyond Our Understanding” dated 9-24-12 in which we wrote; Jesus Christ, God the Son, has made us, we whom have trusted in His provision, perfect in the eyes of God our Father. Because of Jesus, we are holy; we are righteous because God sees us in Him.
The subject of that devotional was God’s holiness and our inability to understand the completeness of it. The reason for this is that we are finite and can only measure such things by the limitations of our being. We who are born again have a sense within us, granted by the Holy Spirit, of God’s holiness. However, we are unable to fully comprehend it. One thing that we who are born again (we who have been made spiritually alive) do know is that because of His holiness fallen man cannot be in His presence. Something has to be done in order for man to be able to be in the presence of holy God. Scripture tells us however that there is nothing man can do. Uh, oh! But wait, because man can do nothing to qualify himself to be in God’s presence God Himself has moved on man’s behalf. He has placed those who come to Him in faith, in Jesus Christ, His Son. When God looks upon the redeemed person He sees them standing in Jesus. They are positioned in Him.
God, speaking through Paul said, “1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:1-10).
Paul speaks of the “the righteous requirement of the law” in verse 4 and therefore our subject of being in a position of holiness (a position of being righteous) is a matter of spiritual legality. In verse one he writes, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”. Further on in this passage Paul wrote, “28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” We should note that the predestining, the calling, the justifying and the glorifying are all written in the past tense meaning that God has already brought those things about in the life of the person called. He is judicially positioned in Christ.
Because of that positioning Paul asks, “33Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?— 37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:33-35; 37-39).

We have a secure position in Jesus. But the proof of being in Jesus is one’s walk. Verse one makes this abundantly clear, “1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”. If we have been made spiritually alive (placed in Christ) we will not walk according to the desires of the flesh, but according to the dictates of the Holy Spirit.

Does this mean that the one positioned (placed) in Christ will not sin? No, but sinning is a matter of his walk, it does not change his (or her) position; they are secured in Christ.

Regeneration & Sanctification
Regeneration defined is, the bringing to life from the state of being dead toward God. God confided to Adam that in the day of his disobedience he would die in his spiritual nature toward God (Genesis 2:16-17). Jesus said to Nicodemus that for a person to see or enter the kingdom of God he (or she) must be born again, that is, born from above (John 3:3,5). The apostle Paul reminding the Ephesian believers of their way of life before spiritual rebirth wrote, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”
Sanctification is the commencement of spiritual growth at the time of regeneration and will continue throughout our lives. Regeneration and sanctification are the work of the Holy Spirit accomplished in us. Neither is initiated by us. The apostle Paul affirms this truth in his letter to the Roman Christians, “28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” Romans 8:28-30). We note this work was of God. He called, justified and glorified the predestined persons.
The Regenerated life will be evidenced by sanctification. From the time any person is regenerated he (or she) is being changed in his relationship with his Creator, his thought processes, and his conduct of life. Sanctification is the result of regeneration. If regeneration has occurred in one’s life, some amount of sanctification will follow. God the Holy Spirit cannot fail in either commission. To those whom He is sent He will regenerate, and those He regenerates He will sanctify, that is, He will bring about conformity to the image of God the Son.
Regeneration is instant, but sanctification is ongoing. It is a continuation of the work the Holy Spirit commenced when He regenerated the predestined person. This should cause each one to consider: Have I truly been regenerated? Have I been made spiritually alive? Is there evidence in my life that my consideration of God is different? Are my thought processes different? Is my conduct of life different from my conduct of last year, last month, last week or yesterday? If regeneration has truly occurred in my life, am I different? I no longer will love the things that I used to love. My consideration of God will be changed. I will think differently than I used to think. I will view things from a heavenly view point rather than from the world view I once held. I must realize if there is no change, regeneration has not occurred.
Regeneration and Sanctification of the human soul is a work of the Holy Spirit, but we who have been called, have a part in both. We will, in and by faith, work toward a greater maturity.
In regeneration God efficaciously called us to Himself. In that calling the Holy Spirit convicted us of sin, made us aware of our need of forgiveness, caused us to have a repentant heart, and directed us toward the only means of being made right with God; a trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. In sanctification, He set us apart from the world. He continues to work in us, giving us understanding of what is required for a godly walk. He illuminates His written word for us, convicts us of sin and encourages us toward a godly path. However, in order to be spiritually healthy we (the born-again Christian) must feed on the Word of God, communicate with Him “in prayer”, fellowship with mature brothers and sisters (other Christians), and be actively engaged in the building of the Kingdom of God. This may take different forms, but the point is we are not to set idly by, but be engaged.
The Christians of the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-19) were rebuked and chastised because of their lack of sanctification (maturity), but the Christians of the church of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) were blessed and rewarded for their faithfulness.
Lord, help us in our walk that we may be found as those of the Philadelphian church.

God Moves The Christian Towards Maturity
1 Corinthians 3:1-4 “1And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollo,’ are you not carnal?”
As a new Christian, one does not comprehend all that is involved in his new life. Certainly, he understands that he was a sinner separated from Holy God, with no hope of salvation apart from the mercy and grace of his Creator, and that his salvation was a free gift given from the hand of God; not because of his own merit, but because of the merit of Jesus earned by His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. However, as implied in Paul’s admonishment above, a Christian is to mature in his (or her) walk leaving behind carnality. Paul lays this walk out for us in his letter to the Ephesians. Note,
“17This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20But you have not so learned Christ, 21if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 25Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another. 26‘’Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27nor give place to the devil. 28Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.’ 15See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21submitting to one another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 4:17-5:21).
There is more to this passage, but this should be sufficient in instructing us toward a mature walk before the Lord. Paul penned these words by and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Meaning, they were not his instructions but God’s instructions.
The Ephesians were not to live as babes, but as mature persons in the Lord, and so are we. We have been called by God, and we are to walk worthy of His calling.

The Christian’s Participation in Salvation

In his letter to the Ephesians the apostle Paul instructed the believers about a proper walk before the Lord (chapter 4), and stated that they were not to engage in fornication, uncleanness, or covetousness, neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting. He said that such acts were not becoming of a saint, a child of God (chapter 5:1-4). He went on to say that God would judge the children of disobedience, the lost, whose lifestyle was the practicing of those things (5:5-6). Paul wrote that a Christian is not to be a partaker with them (5:7; 11).
Wearing the mantle of a Christian and being a follower of Jesus Christ is serious business, and we are not to take our calling lightly. We have been called out of spiritual darkness into the light of spiritual truth, which manifests or exposes the unfruitful works of darkness (5:13). We are to walk in the Holy Spirit and He will produce His fruit in us (vs.9). Paul adds that we are to be filled with the Spirit (5:18).
Often times we Christians seem to forget that our walk is a walk of participation. God gives us His Spirit to indwell us when He rebirths in us Spiritual life, but being indwelt by the Holy Spirit is not the same as being filled with Holy Spirit; being filled with the Spirit means to be under His complete control and His authority. In his statement of 5:18, Paul says that we are not to be drunk with wine (under the control of wine) but be filled with the Spirit (under the control of the Spirit). To be under His control, means that we have surrendered ourselves to His authority. This is our participation.
When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, that is, under His authority, it is interesting that we do not practice, we do not perform the things of the flesh, nor are we enticed by them. Why should we desire anything else? Who would not desire to enjoy the fruit of the Holy Spirit which is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23)? It is he (or she) that does not know God, it is he (or she) who lives according to the dictates of the flesh, which are; “19adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like” (Galatians 5:19-21a). These things are of Satan and the powers of darkness.
We are freed from these when in participation with the Holy Spirit we put on the armor of God. We are to gird ourselves with truth, with righteousness. We are to be prepared with the gospel of peace. We are to take the shield of faith. We are to live by the knowledge of our salvation and by the Word of God. We are to continually pray for our brothers and sisters as this keeps us engaged (6:14-18). These things are the power of His might (6:10) not ours. He works in and through these things to bless us and give us victory. Peace and rest is ours when we participate in these things.
The Christian is to Abide in Christ

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:5-10). Who in their right mind would say, “I have not sinned?” Since Adam, sin has been in the world and everyone has sinned, but later in the letter John wrote, “6Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1st John 3:6-9).
Many Bible commentators and students of Scripture believe that what John is saying in 3:6-9 does not contradict what he said in verses 1:5-10 “that all sin” as some have contended. John Macarthur and others believe that in these later verses (3:6-9) John is saying that a person who has truly been born again will not practice sin. Others hold that John is saying that one cannot sin in his (or her) new nature. That sin is of the flesh. One thing is clear, John wrote, “Whoever abides in Him does not sin” (3:6). So, a condition is given. He who abides in Christ does not sin “while abiding.” This should be comforting to us all. There is relief from sinning and that is found in abiding in Him.
Turning to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible we find that the word “abideth” (# 306) is translated from the Greek word “meno” a primary verb; with a meaning of to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy); — (such English words as continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand and tarry are appropriate synonyms of abide (abideth) and are applicable to the text. As we abide in Christ and He in us there is a desire to live righteously, to abstain from sinning, and in fact, while abiding we will not sin. Sinning is not the character of the “new man” but is of the flesh, the old nature.
To be remembered, John’s letter was a letter of encouragement. He knew that his readers would become discouraged when they realized they had committed a sin. He testified that when they became convinced of a sin they were to confess it and repent of it (1:8-10). He reminded them that they had an advocate with the Father (2:1) and that He (Jesus) was their propitiation for sin (2:2). Before he closed the letter he reminded them that because they had trusted in Jesus for those things they have eternal life (5:10-13). “10He who believes in the Son of God has the witness (God’s testimony) in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God”.
Oh, that I (that you) might abide in Him that we might live righteous lives.

Salvation and Commitment

Recently I heard a Bible teacher exclaim that, “Salvation is a free gift from God; it is given by Him to the undeserved. There is nothing that a person can do to earn his or her salvation” (end of quote). The apostle Paul affirms this truth in his letter to the Ephesians, he wrote; “1And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:1-5 NKJV). Paul included himself and his fellows (the Jews) in this assessment stating that before new life was granted all of them were dead toward God, both the Gentiles and the Jews and by extension, this falls to all persons from Adam to the present.
Considering the above assessment further we find that God has a purpose in the granting of this new life, it is to end the separation that exists between Himself and fallen man. God restored spiritual life to Adam and He has restored spiritual life to many across these many centuries, continuing to our day. This new life opens and keeps open the line of communication between God and the recipients of it. This new life causes the recipient to turn from (repent of) his or her sin, it brings about a change of behavior (a new lifestyle), and it causes the recipient to avow the lordship and authority of Jesus Christ over his or her life.
But, God doesn’t make His redeemed mind-numbed robots, they (we) are to work out their (our) salvation, that is, the child of God is to work out the salvation given freely to him (or her) by God (Philippians 2:5-15). This new life makes it possible to live a Godly life of discipline and obedience, to live a life that demonstrates what God has brought about, but the believer’s part is to be actively engaged. James, the Lord’s half brother after the flesh, said that the believer was to be “a doer of the word and not a hearer only” (James 1:22). He went on to list several things that would qualify a believer as being a doer and not a hearer only (verses 1:26-2:26). He pointedly asked in verse 14 of chapter 2; “14What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” So certainly, as the above mentioned Bible teacher proffered, salvation is a free gift, but there is a cost to the believer, salvation is not a free ride, it comes with surrender and commitment.
A person cannot truly claim salvation and live as he or she did before this new life was birthed in him (or her). In another letter (his letter to the Galatians) Paul wrote that his readers were to “Walk in the Holy Spirit” and if they did they “would not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:1). Walking in the Holy Spirit meant that they were to be committed to His authority, to His direction over their lives and this holds true of us.
New Spiritual life is regenerated (is birthed) by the Holy Spirit as He convicts persons of their sin, convinces them that they are separated from Holy God and are in need of His mercy. As the Holy Spirit performs this supernatural work in people they find themselves believing these truths and committing their life to Him, committing them-selves to Him not just for salvation, but to His bringing about change to their lives. God’s purpose for His children is that they be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son (Romans 8:29). Having been adopted by God, we, as His children, are to have a different mind-set than in the days when we lived according to the flesh, in the days in which we were controlled by our old natures.
If a person should claim salvation and not experience or desire change it is very doubtful that new spiritual life has been birthed, regenerated.

The Christian’s Comfort; He is Secured by the Hand of God

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. “3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1st Peter 1:1-5).
Peter, in an encouragement to Christian Jews who had been scattered throughout Asia Minor because of heavy persecution, reminded them that they had been elected to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled that would not fade away, but was reserved in heaven for them. What an encouragement! Just consider the meaning of the adjectives Peter employed in describing the Christian’s security:
1) Incorruptible, could not be corrupted by sin.

2) Undefiled, could not be defiled by sin.

3) Could not fade away, could not disappear.

4) Kept, held by the power of God.

Salvation is by grace through faith and not by works. We are not saved because we are good, nor lost because we are bad, but because of God’s mercy and grace. A man who is truly born again is safe forever and can be as sure of heaven as if he has already been there ten thousand years.

The apostle Paul in his letter to the Christian’s of Rome asked this question, “What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” and then answered, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, not things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Romans 8:35-39 KJV).
A Christian certainly may (will) fall into sin since his (or her) old nature has not been changed. It is still corrupt, but they have been sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30 KJV). The Holy Spirit Himself being the seal. He is God, and cannot be over powered by anything, even the sin of the Christian. The Christian therefore is secured in the hands of God.

Such security, however, is not a license to sin. Sin always has its consequence as did David’s sin. He lost his beloved child (2nd Samuel 11-12:25) and was pursued by his enemies until He died. The prodigal son of Luke chapter 15:11-32 is another testimony of this truth. David returned to God after being confronted with his sin and the prodigal returned to his father’s household after suffering many hardships and realizing what he had given up. Both were restored to the position that by right was theirs, the position that neither of them truly lost. We may be foolish and fall into sin, but we can never be separated from God. We have an advocate with God the Father who constantly advocates as the propitiation, the atoning sacrifice, for our sins (1st John 2:1-2)

Thank you Father God, that we who are your children are held by your mighty hand, and thank You for appointing Jesus as our advocate and propitiation.

No Condemnation

“1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For 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. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:1-14 NKJV).

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible translates the word condemnation from the Greek this way, Katakrima (2631) – pronounced “kat-ak’-ree-mah” an adverse sentence, and Katakrino (2632) – pronounced “kat-ak-ree’-no” to judge against. As we consider these translations we need to keep in mind that it is Holy God that condemns, who judges against sin and the sinner in an adverse way. But, according to Paul’s testimony above there is no adverse judgment toward those who are in Christ Jesus. How is that possible? Sin is still sin and Holy God is still holy. There is no compatibility between the two. It is possible because God condemned sin in the flesh and nailed the flesh of Jesus to a tree as propitiation for those who seek God’s forgiveness through Him.

As we think on these things, we must realize that the message of the Bible is that there are not different ways of becoming righteous before Holy God, but only through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. No amount of good works, in whatever form, will satisfy God’s adverse judgment against sin. Jesus said, “14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:14-21 NKJV).

Paul began this part of his letter (chapter eight) with the word “therefore” as he looks back upon what he wrote previously in the first seven chapters. Namely, that justification is by faith alone on the basis of God’s overwhelming grace. He assured his readers, those who had (have) come to faith in Jesus (which includes you and I), that no sin, past, present, or future can or will be held against them (us). Those sins have all been placed on Jesus. Paul wanted this to be the confidence of his readers. Their assurance, he writes, was (and is) to be found in their conduct of life. If they were walking in the Holy Spirit and not living in the flesh (in the carnality of an unregenerate mind) they assuredly belonged to Christ.

When we think about what God has done for us we must remember that Jesus was born to die. No other person was ever born for this exclusive reason. Jesus, the son of Mary and God, is God’s only accepted sacrifice for man’s sin, for your sin, for my sin.

The blessed truth is, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

About the Author
It was by the grace of God that Steve was brought to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It was by God’s longsuffering that he has been sustained in that faith. Steve became a Christian on November 17, 1961 when as a young marine on liberty he came upon a street meeting held by Open Air Campaigners for Christ in the city of Los Angeles, California. For the remaining three years of his enlistment after coming to faith, Steve immersed himself in various books and studies concerning his relationship with Christ.
During those three years he worshipped at Granada Heights Friends Church in La Mirada, CA. Sunday mornings and the Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles, CA. Sunday evenings. Steve was encouraged by three families who were members of Granada Heights Friends Church and nurtured his faith. To these three families he will forever be grateful.
Those three years were a tremendous blessing to Steve, and it was the foundation gained in those three years that sustained him through several tumultuous years during which he walked away from a faithful walk with the Lord and lived as a prodigal son. But thanks to God, Steve was still a son, and as the prodigal of Luke 15:8-22 was never disowned by the Father. In 1985, after living a life of riotousness that almost destroyed him, Steve surrendered to the authority of God and has since been in service of his Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ.
Steve readily acknowledges that it was and is only the grace of God that allowed him to remain alive during those years and by His love that Steve was brought back to fellowship with Him. This grace and love, Steve believes, is best spoken of in Romans 8:28-29: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and who he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
It is confirmed in this passage that each child of God is being conformed (being changed) to the image of Jesus Christ. First, however, God calls that person out of the world into a loving relationship with Himself, making him a son. He justifies that person so that they may have fellowship one with the other and also that justification makes it possible for him to eventually be in the very presence of God.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Books

Leave a Reply