House Church Talk - All life proceeds from Him. True.

[RoyalHeirling at aol.com]

Hey David,

That is a very good passage to study. This one verse...

> Col. 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

The hiding is what? Does it mean that our life, what we do, is hidden because 
Christ blocks it from view--as some would interpret this verse. Or, does it 
mean that our natural life died with Christ on the cross and though we are 
alive today it is not us but Christ who is living in us so that when people look 
at us they see Christ? This would be very similar to another passage Paul 
wrote. He also wrote, "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless, I live. Yet, not I 
but Christ liveth in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the 
faith of Jesus Christ." And, again he wrote, "I die daily," implying that we 
too need to rededicate (submit) our life to Christ each day. And again, "That 
Christ may live in your hearts by faith." 

Today's Christian is always making excuses for sin with words like, "we all 
come short of the glory of God." This is true and will remain so if that is our 
faith, our hope, the height of our striving. But in Hebrews, the author 
(which I believe is Paul) writes about entering into God's rest. Those who enter 
into that rest enter by faith. Those who do not enter that rest fail due to 
unbelief (which also appears to be called disobedience). 

We can never expect to succeed at anything if we embark with an attitude of 
sure failure. Wouldn't it be the same with our Christian walk? Especially since 
we will only conquer by faith. And, what is faith? It is the evidence of 
things not seen. It is the substance of things yet hoped for. So, if our Christian 
experience is based on our works--what we can do without God, then, yes, we 
will fail. If, however, it is based on faith in Jesus--His life, His death, His 
resurrection--then how can we fail?

Given that faith is the substance of things yet hoped for, we can by faith 
have the very substance now in this life that we hope for; which is Christ in 
us. And, if Christ is in us then we are new creations. The old things have 
passed away. But for many of us it is not a reality because we either haven't the 
faith, haven't this hope, or have been deceived by our pastors (whom in their 
human frailty have concocted false doctrines to ease their weary consciences 
from the daily struggle against the natural man). 

Given that faith is also the evidence of things not seen; why haven't we the 
evidence of things we have not seen or felt? Why do we yet wait for that which 
we may have now--the kingdom of God in us? Why must we think we must feel it 
or see it before we believe it? Faith is not the cart, but the horse. Faith 
comes first. Is it unbelief? Disobedience? Love of sin more than God? Ignorance 
of the truth? Why?

Given all these verses that you and I have discussed, and more we have yet to 
quote, there should be no reason why a Christian with faith in the promises 
of Jesus could not now, in this life, have the evidence of things not seen and 
the substance of things yet hoped for.

But, this faith must be a faith that works by love. Without the love that 
makes perfect their is no true motivation. We learn to love Jesus by spending 
time with Him. Talking to Him and learning of Him. There really is no other way 
for a relationship to develop no matter how badly a person wants to have 
eternal life or live in heaven. We must take the time to be with Jesus.

What are you thoughts on this subject, David? I don't really care to hear 
from others right now. I've heard the poor excuses already and the lack of faith 
that seems to abound. (You don't have to write publicly.)

Jeff Logan

PS. I have been here all along. How many years now?

PSS. I just came back from the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. I can see 
that what Hitler did to the Jews the World will do to God's remnant people. 
See Rev 13. It started with economic sanctions against the Jews, followed by 
public humility and contempt, followed by outright hatred, followed by gassings 
(called the 'final solution.') Don't tell me human nature is not capable now of 
such atrocities. 

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The same power that upholds nature, is working also in man. The 
same great laws that guide alike the star and the atom control 
human life. The laws that govern the heart's action, regulating 
the flow of the current of life to the body, are the laws of the 
mighty Intelligence that has the jurisdiction of the soul. From 
Him all life proceeds.
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