Christlikeness, therefore, is God’s goal for all who trust in Christ, and that should be our goal also...
Can one say enough about our BECOMING more LIKE our LORD, CHRIST JESUS? It IS the core of our role in HIS WILL, and PLAN THAT we do so, and because we are in the world, it is NOT an easy task TO become so, for we are challenged by the moment, by the hour, by the day, as *GOD'S* enemy IS hell bent on causing us great strife in doing what IS common IF we so LOVE our LORD *GOD*!!!
Few seem to understand UNION with THE LORD *GOD*; it IS much more than a thought, or a proclamation: it IS a lifestyle, a mindset, a PROACTIVE existence ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, and WAYS, in which case, CHRIST JESUS IS THE MODEL which we pattern ourselves after; body, mind, and spirit! To BECOME ONE WITH HIM DOES contrast WITH the way we were raised in this realm, and conflicts with the human condition in various ways; causing us to ever be confronted by questions, insecurities, and all the way through to doubts, AS we STRUGGLE to rid ourselves of the carnality into which we have grown! NO fear IF we RELY ON THE LORD, and TRUST HIM, THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO LEAD us, AS we study, learn, embrace, and UTILIZE HIS instructions, and WILL!!!
The renewing of the mind points to a mind that does indeed require renewal. Contemplation alone, in the confines of manmade philosophy, sets a deceptive trap that ensnares the pride of man. Rather than releasing him; it further deceives him (Col. 2:8). God himself is holy (Col. 3:9-10). Holy means “to be separated” and “set apart” from any sinful use. Inanimate objects – such as the vessels and utensils used in the temple in Jerusalem (2 Chron. 7:16). – are sanctified, or set apart for the specific purpose of serving God. In this sense, also, our sinless Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, was sanctified (John 10:36; 17:19). Christlikeness, therefore, is God’s goal for all who trust in Christ, and that should be our goal also...
8+++See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
9+++For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
10+++and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
11+++and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;
12+++having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13+++When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
14+++having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
15+++When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Those who walk in the way of the world, are turned from following Christ. We have in Him the substance of all the shadows of the ceremonial law. All the defects of it are made up in the gospel of Christ, by his complete sacrifice for sin, and by the revelation of the will of God. To be complete, is to be furnished with all things necessary for salvation. By this one word complete, is shown that we have in Christ whatever is required.
In him, not when we look to Christ, as though he were distant from us, but we are in him, when, by the power of the Spirit, we have faith wrought in our hearts by the Spirit, and we are united to our Head. The circumcision of the heart, the crucifixion of the flesh, the death and burial to sin and to the world, and the resurrection to newness of life, set forth in baptism, and by faith wrought in our hearts, prove that our sins are forgiven, and that we are fully delivered from the curse of the law.
Through Christ, we, who were dead in sins, are quickened.
Christ's death was the death of our sins; Christ's resurrection is the quickening of our souls. The law of ordinances, which was a yoke to the Jews, and a partition-wall to the Gentiles, the Lord Jesus took out of the way. When the substance was come, the shadows fled. Since every mortal man is, through the hand-writing of the law, guilty of death, how very dreadful is the condition of the ungodly and unholy, who trample under foot that blood of the Son of God, whereby alone this deadly hand-writing can be blotted out!
There IS CHANGE involved IN being CONSECRATED! HOW could it NOT be so?! That people SO resist change, especially of the HOLY kind, speaks volumes of the influence of the flesh, and the enemy! Change ACCORDING TO *GOD'S* WILL IS beneficial NOW, and FOREVER, and despite it being uncomfortable, or mind boggling, IT IS NECESSARY, not only for our good, but HIS GLORY OVER ALL, and EVERYTHING, and ULTIMATELY for the good of everyone who MIGHT be brought INTO HIM!!!
We are urged to be Child like as we UNITE WITH HIM; this holds GREAT purpose; for one, it OPENS us UP TO RECEIVING what HE SO GRACIOUSLY, and LOVINGLY OFFERS, AS it removes the calloused, prideful self from the WORKS being wrought in us!!!
This is a very deep, and layered subject matter/lesson which cannot be fulfilled in passing, and so, we will delve into the depths, by degrees throughout the next few weeks, or however long it takes to present it effectively enough for it to take root! In the meantime, let us PRAY FOR *GOD* to OPEN us UP TO KNOWING HIM more, more, and more, and let us PRAISE, WORSHIP, and REJOICE IN HIS NAME before all!!!
LWINSOR © 2016
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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