Once we are born again, we receive new nature that wants to please God. However, we find also that we are beset by problems, sins and difficulties that seem to hard to overcome. We end up like Paul in Romans 7. We finds that our good intentions are derailed by inner desires that conflict with God's standard.
Some respond with despair and give up. Others try the best that they can. Christian bookshops are full of self help books that give methods to assist in our self improvement program. Yet still there is a nagging sense of failure. How can we possibly be like Jesus, who is God's standard for mankind?
First and foremost, we must discover what it means to be born again. Our problems usually stem from out attempts to change from the outside in. We think that if we modify our behaviour, we must be pleasing God. Many people end up in a cycle of trying, defeat, promising to do better and failing again. God permits this. He wants us to become totally disillusioned with ourselves. However, we must not stop there. We must go on to find the answer. It is much easier than we imagine. It is so simple that many never get it.
The answer is Christ and the cross. The cross terminates our old, dead spirit man. That means that we are no longer who we used to be. Galatians 2:20 is one of the most famous verses in the Bible. This is the literal translation:
"I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And that which I now live in the flesh, I live through faith from the Son of God, the One having loved me and having given up Himself for me."
The emphasis is mine. Most translations translate "from" as "in". No, we have faith because we have Jesus within. Can you see this? "I" am crucified. That can be hard to accept. God deems you so beyond repair that he consigns you to the grave, never to return. "And yet I live.........." How can this be possible? It is simple. Lord Jesus did not stay dead. This is why the resurrection is so central. In order to be accepted by God, we must be alive. Would you want a dead person in your home? As an aside, that is my issue with universalism. God can forgive sin, but only those who accept Christ in this life are made alive. It is God who puts us into Christ - 1 Corinthians 1:30. So we die with Christ and we are raised with Him to new life.
Lord Jesus said that He came to give us abundant life. He also said that He is the Life. What does this mean? I have cat and a dog. Nobody would ever confuse the two. They are physically similar, but entirely different by nature. Those who are born again are as different from sinners as a cat is from a dog. Trying to be something that you are already is not very clever. Imagine going to try outs for the Olympics when you've already been selected for the team.
One of the verses in the Bible that blew me away was 1 John 4:17. Look it up See if it the same impact. Ionce began counting how many times the NT says "in Christ...", referring to what we have and who we are In Him. I got to 50 before I thought, "That's enough! I get the picture!"
Watchman Nee puts it something like this: God is not a chemist dispensing medications for our ills. He does not give us humility to deal with pride, patience to deal with impatience or faith to overcome doubt and unbelief. No, God gives Christ to be our all in all, to be everything that our longing hearts need or want. It's all ours in Christ Jesus. Our role is to learn to live in it.
Some respond with despair and give up. Others try the best that they can. Christian bookshops are full of self help books that give methods to assist in our self improvement program. Yet still there is a nagging sense of failure. How can we possibly be like Jesus, who is God's standard for mankind?
First and foremost, we must discover what it means to be born again. Our problems usually stem from out attempts to change from the outside in. We think that if we modify our behaviour, we must be pleasing God. Many people end up in a cycle of trying, defeat, promising to do better and failing again. God permits this. He wants us to become totally disillusioned with ourselves. However, we must not stop there. We must go on to find the answer. It is much easier than we imagine. It is so simple that many never get it.
The answer is Christ and the cross. The cross terminates our old, dead spirit man. That means that we are no longer who we used to be. Galatians 2:20 is one of the most famous verses in the Bible. This is the literal translation:
"I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And that which I now live in the flesh, I live through faith from the Son of God, the One having loved me and having given up Himself for me."
The emphasis is mine. Most translations translate "from" as "in". No, we have faith because we have Jesus within. Can you see this? "I" am crucified. That can be hard to accept. God deems you so beyond repair that he consigns you to the grave, never to return. "And yet I live.........." How can this be possible? It is simple. Lord Jesus did not stay dead. This is why the resurrection is so central. In order to be accepted by God, we must be alive. Would you want a dead person in your home? As an aside, that is my issue with universalism. God can forgive sin, but only those who accept Christ in this life are made alive. It is God who puts us into Christ - 1 Corinthians 1:30. So we die with Christ and we are raised with Him to new life.
Lord Jesus said that He came to give us abundant life. He also said that He is the Life. What does this mean? I have cat and a dog. Nobody would ever confuse the two. They are physically similar, but entirely different by nature. Those who are born again are as different from sinners as a cat is from a dog. Trying to be something that you are already is not very clever. Imagine going to try outs for the Olympics when you've already been selected for the team.
One of the verses in the Bible that blew me away was 1 John 4:17. Look it up See if it the same impact. Ionce began counting how many times the NT says "in Christ...", referring to what we have and who we are In Him. I got to 50 before I thought, "That's enough! I get the picture!"
Watchman Nee puts it something like this: God is not a chemist dispensing medications for our ills. He does not give us humility to deal with pride, patience to deal with impatience or faith to overcome doubt and unbelief. No, God gives Christ to be our all in all, to be everything that our longing hearts need or want. It's all ours in Christ Jesus. Our role is to learn to live in it.
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