SUNDAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURES: DO WE EVEN 'KNOW' WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST???

How many believe that Christians are to forsake sin, and to resist it, as is feasible? Great are the numbers whom are sure that since sin is with us, and will be unto the end, and since CHRIST JESUS died for these errs, we don't have ANY control, or need of the matter---

SURELY, we WILL sin; it pops up even when we are thriving in HIS WILL, but, that does NOT mean we should enjoin to that sin/err, instead, we ARE to, in HIS NAME, and WILL, defy it, and understand that it only has power that we allow it to! Unless we partake, consciously, and with intent, HOW can we be led into it?!!

Oh, we WILL be challenged, we WILL be taunted, we WILL, at times, have a battle with err, and sin, but that we RECOGNIZE it, then, RESIST it, IS the nature of the spirit, NOT the flesh! The carnal being gives in; the spiritual being doesn't, at least, not without a fight!!!

TITUS 2: 11-15...
11+++For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 
12+++It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 
13+++while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 
14+++who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
15+++These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

The doctrine of grace and salvation by the gospel, is for all ranks and conditions of men. It teaches to forsake sin; to have no more to do with it. An earthly, sensual conversation suits not a heavenly calling. It teaches to make conscience of that which is good. We must look to God in Christ, as the object of our hope and worship. A gospel conversation must be a godly conversation. 

See our duty in a very few words; denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, living soberly, righteously, and godly, notwithstanding all snares, temptations, corrupt examples, ill usage, and what remains of sin in the believer's heart, with all their hinderances. It teaches to look for the glories of another world. At, and in, the glorious appearing of Christ, the blessed hope of Christians will be complete: To bring us to holiness and happiness was the end of Christ's death. Jesus Christ, that great God and our Saviour, who saves not only as God, much less as Man alone; but as God-man, two natures in one person. He loved us, and gave himself for us; and what can we do less than love and give up ourselves to him!  

Redemption from sin and sanctification of the nature go together, and make a peculiar people unto God, free from guilt and condemnation, and purified by the Holy Spirit. All Scripture is profitable. Here is what will furnish for all parts of duty, and the right discharge of them. Let us inquire whether our whole dependence is placed upon that grace which saves the lost, pardons the guilty, and sanctifies the unclean. And the further we are removed from boasting of fancied good works, or trusting in them, so that we glory in Christ alone, the more zealous shall we be to abound in real good works.

We exist to SERVE THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY; to PRAISE HIM, to WORSHIP HIM, to HONOUR HIM, and to GLORIFY HIM! Whatever we do, should be done IN HIS NAME, FOR HIS GLORY, and IN LOVE, FOR the good of all, and everything! We KNOW, but few actually believe it, THAT IF we ARE OF CHRIST, our former ways are gone (the old being is dead), and the new being now LIVES for ALL eternity; in which case, this new being, IS SPIRIT, and IS *GOD*-like, at least, as much as we ALLOW it to be, and open UP TO HIS WORK in us! Odd IS the idea that ANY form of wrong, bad, or evil shall exist in THE KINGDOM; IT WON'T, IT CANNOT, for THE KINGDOM IS AS PURE AS IS HE, and those souls therein, HAVE been MADE HOLY, ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, and WAY!!!

The idea that a person could “trust in Jesus Christ” for salvation and then go on living just as he/she lived before, is absolutely foreign to the Bible. Believers in Christ are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). The Holy Spirit changes us from producing the acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) to producing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The Christian life is a changed life because the Christian is changed...

Christianity: FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS, CAUSES us to give up particular things, and TO DO select things, BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US! Listen, repentance IS conduct IN conformity TO *GOD'S* WILL, which then, PROVES HIM IN us, through our every aspect of existence, and yah, this includes our struggles TO REMAIN IN HIM, SO that HE WILL REMAIN in us!!!

1 PETER 2: 9-10...
9+++But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 
10+++Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

All true Christians are a chosen generation; they make one family, a people distinct from the world: of another spirit, principle, and practice; which they could never be, if they were not chosen in Christ to be such, and sanctified by his Spirit. Their first state is a state of gross darkness, but they are called out of darkness into a state of joy, pleasure, and prosperity; that they should show forth the praises of the Lord by their profession of his truth, and their good conduct. How vast their obligations to Him who has made them his people, and has shown mercy to them! To be without this mercy is a woeful state, though a man have all worldly enjoyments. And there is nothing that so kindly works repentance, as right thoughts of the mercy and love of God. Let us not dare to abuse and affront the free grace of God, if we mean to be saved by it; but let all who would be found among those who obtain mercy, walk as his people.

Even the best of men, the chosen generation, the people of God, need to be exhorted to keep from the worst sins. And fleshly lusts are most destructive to man's soul. It is a sore judgment to be given up to them. There is a day of visitation coming, wherein God may call to repentance by his word and his grace; then many will glorify God, and the holy lives of his people will have promoted the happy change.

Our PAST sins were forgiven when we received CHRIST JESUS; but our DUTY IS to resist future, and favourite sins/errs FOR HIS GLORY, and FOR HIS TRANSFORMING WORKS IN us, as well as THROUGH us! CONSCIOUS, and CHOSEN sins ARE those we CAN work through, and diminish, if not eradicate! Other sins are like arrows being shot in our direction, and MIGHT catch us off guard, or even hinder us, but these are NOT the problem, so to speak; instead, the sins we dote, and adore, and refuse to resist ARE!!!

IF we are TRUE TO THE LORD, and LOVE, we KNOW THE WAY, and we OPT TO REMAIN IN HIM, DUE TO LOVE, and KNOWLEDGE that we are NOW citizens of HEAVEN, NOT of this Earth/world, WHICH MEANS, we strive, hour by hour, to EXHIBIT our citizenship IN the best of our understanding, and ways, THAT HE IS GLORIFIED, and WE ARE SHINING OF HIS TRUTH FOR ALL, and EVERYTHING TO BEAR WITNESS TO! We ARE CO-PARTNERS TO THE COVENANT OF RECONCILIATION, and THEREFORE, HAVE duties, and roles therein!!!

LWINSOR © 2018
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS