SUNDAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURES: GIVE YOURSELF 'UP'...

Surrendering, or giving yourself UP TO THE LORD *GOD*, leads us to being *GODLY*! We are made new by HIS regenerating, transforming powers---

WHEN we make a TRUE commitment to THE LORD, we begin to leave the carnal world, and the flesh, in it's troubled state, and desires, behind, while looking UPWARD, and FORWARD to our TRUTH, and our eternal HOME, THE KINGDOM OF *GOD*...

Words are NOT enough; intent is only valid when action accompanies it! MANY since way back when have insincerely proclaimed HIM as their LORD, and SAVIOUR, but their behaviour, and conduct speaks loudly! SOMETIMES this is due to incomplete, and faulty instruction; sometimes it is because they just can't part with the world; sometimes it is belief that they can have it both ways; sometimes it is, simply, their stubbornness, as they fight TRUTH, imagining that it is more work than not, and that it doesn't matter...

Misinterpretation sees some ignoring our authentic role IN HIS WILL, and PLAN, which again, derives from lack of knowledge, and understanding! THOUGH HE IS AT WORK IN US, IF we resist HIM, THE HOLY SPIRIT, and HIS SOUND precepts, and decrees, we are not able to grow, develop, mature, AND produce according TO HIS WILL...

HE COMMANDS us to 'BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY' (1 PETER 1: 16), which indicates: A strong and perfect trust in the grace of God, is agreeable with best endeavours in our duty. Holiness is the desire and duty of every Christian. It must be in all affairs, in every condition, and towards all people. We must especially watch and pray against the sins to which we are inclined. The written word of God is the surest rule of a Christian's life, and by this rule we are commanded to be holy every way. God makes those holy whom he saves.

DUTY is disregarded often, as it conjures drudgery in the minds of many, but I tell you what, in every aspect of time, humans have duties, let alone those involved with THE LORD *GOD*, SALVATION, and RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!

There IS a Christian WAY, CLEARLY depicted BY THE LORD *GOD*, AND WE ARE to FOLLOW it, and HIM, AS we STRIVE to BECOME MORE LIKE HIM, DESPITE HIS WORKING IN us, THROUGH us, and AROUND us, AS we OUGHT to BE WILLING PARTNERS, ACCEPTING the changes IN our beings FOR HIS GLORY, our share IN HIS GLORY, and the greater good of all!!!

WE ARE NOW WORKERS OF EQUITY, having left inequity behind! We WERE once enslaved by inequity, but NOW WE ARE FREE, thus, JUSTLY we exist IN HIS NAME! We ARE to be DISTINCT from the worldly, and to exist in *GODLY* standards! There IS GREAT purpose for this, for THROUGH *GOD* IN us, we EMULATE HIS GLORY, HIS WILL, and HIS WAY, THAT those lost MIGHT SEE HIM, and turn TO HIM! YAH, we ARE INSTRUMENTS OF HOLINESS FOR HIS GLORY, AND the GOOD of souls! May we EVER gain more knowledge, THAT we understand just how INVOLVED WE ARE IN FULFILLING HIS WILL, and PLAN FOR Mankind!!!

Commentary on 2 CORINTHIANS 5: 16-21; The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company. The believer is created anew; his heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given him. He is the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Though the same as a man, he is changed in his character and conduct. These words must and do mean more than an outward reformation.

The man who formerly saw no beauty in the Saviour that he should desire him, now loves him above all things. The heart of the unregenerate is filled with enmity against God, and God is justly offended with him. Yet there may be reconciliation. Our offended God has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ.

By the inspiration of God, the Scriptures were written, which are the word of reconciliation; showing that peace has been made by the cross, and how we may be interested therein. Though God cannot lose by the quarrel, nor gain by the peace, yet he beseeches sinners to lay aside their enmity, and accept the salvation he offers. Christ knew no sin. He was made Sin; not a sinner, but Sin, a Sin-offering, a Sacrifice for sin. The end and design of all this was, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, might be justified freely by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Can any lose, labour, or suffer too much for Him, who gave his beloved Son to be the Sacrifice for their sins, that they might be made the righteousness of God in him?

2 CORINTHIANS 6: 1...
And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain-

The gospel is a word of grace sounding in our ears. The gospel day is a day of salvation, the means of grace the means of salvation, the offers of the gospel the offers of salvation, and the present time the proper time to accept these offers. The morrow is none of ours: we know not what will be on the morrow, nor where we shall be. We now enjoy a day of grace; then let all be careful not to neglect it.  

Ministers of the gospel should look upon themselves as God's servants, and act in every thing suitably to that character. The apostle did so, by much patience in afflictions, by acting from good principles, and by due temper and behaviour. Believers, in this world, need the grace of God, to arm them against temptations, so as to bear the good report of men without pride; and so as to bear their reproaches with patience. They have nothing in themselves, but possess all things in Christ. Of such differences is a Christian's life made up, and through such a variety of conditions and reports, is our way to heaven; and we should be careful in all things to approve ourselves to God.  

The gospel, when faithfully preached, and fully received, betters the condition even of the poorest. They save what before they riotously spent, and diligently employ their time to useful purposes. They save and gain by religion, and thus are made rich, both for the world to come and for this, when compared with their sinful, profligate state, before they received the gospel.

ROMANS 12: 1-2...
1+++Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2+++Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

The apostle having closed the part of his epistle wherein he argues and proves various doctrines which are practically applied, here urges important duties from gospel principles. He entreated the Romans, as his brethren in Christ, by the mercies of God, to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. This is a powerful appeal. We receive from the Lord every day the fruits of his mercy. Let us render ourselves; all we are, all we have, all we can do: and after all, what return is it for such very rich receivings? It is acceptable to God: a reasonable service, which we are able and ready to give a reason for, and which we understand. Conversion and sanctification are the renewing of the mind; a change, not of the substance, but of the qualities of the soul. The progress of sanctification, dying to sin more and more, and living to righteousness more and more, is the carrying on this renewing work, till it is perfected in glory. 

The great enemy to this renewal is, conformity to this world. Take heed of forming plans for happiness, as though it lay in the things of this world, which soon pass away. Do not fall in with the customs of those who walk in the lusts of the flesh, and mind earthly things. The work of the Holy Ghost first begins in the understanding, and is carried on to the will, affections, and conversation, till there is a change of the whole man into the likeness of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. Thus, to be godly, is to give up ourselves to God.

LWINSOR © 2017
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS