House Church Talk - All life proceeds from Him. True.
RoyalHeirling at aol.com
RoyalHeirling at aol.com
Wed Dec 3 22:44:59 EST 2003
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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