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Quote from: Glen on August 30, 2011, 06:48:45 AMThe problem with so many of us, is that we don't leave our vile nature at the foot of the cross; then, henceforth partake of the divine nature. We are privileged to ...purify our souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit...23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. 1 Peter 1:22-25I listened to many sermons, through the years, by our late family doctor. In every sermon his consistent refrain, disclaimer, testimony(sic)... -while wringing his hands and almost whining, his confession was, “I sin every day!”! Then he would try to close his sermon with "a call", exhorting the brethren to be faithful to God in their service to Him. As a child, I frequently heard my Dad say to myself, or one of my five siblings, “Don't do as I do, do as I say.”! Isn't this refrain an oxymoron? My childish mind would ponder, “How can I do what's right, when Dad can't?” God says in Leviticus 11:44...I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy...in Matthew 5:46 the Spirit says, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.The life of the Christian will not be an oxymoron to, but the very life of, Christ.The world needs evidences of sincere Christianity. Professed Christianity may be seen everywhere; but when the power of God's grace is seen in our churches, the members will work the works of Christ. Natural and hereditary traits of character will be transformed. The indwelling of His Spirit will enable them to reveal Christ's likeness, and in proportion to the purity of their piety will be the success of their work. God's Amazing Grace 263.03The man who is working according to God's plan will pray, "Let it be known this day in my work for suffering humanity that there is a God in Israel, and that I am thy servant. Let it be seen that I am working, not according to my own impulse and wisdom, but according to thy word." Welfare Ministry 123.03When man places himself in this attitude, and realizes that he is working out God's plan, and that God is working out His plan through him, he is in possession of divine power, which knows nothing of defeat. Welfare Ministry 124.01 All the power of counteragencies is of no more account than the chaff of the threshing floor.—Manuscript 115, 1899.We may repeat His tender compassion for us to others who are wandering in the mazes of sin. The grace of Christ revealed to us must be tenderly revealed to others. A great tenderness and compassion will fill the soul for human beings who are still under the control of Satan. Christ is to be multiplied in every man and woman who believes in Him, for they are to live over the life of Christ in blessing and enlightening and bringing hope and peace and joy to other hearts. That I May Know Him 235[color] Faithfully, humbly, perhaps even unaware that we fully reflect the glory of Christ in our humanity, we will, with Paul, in Philippians 3:13-21, be of the mindset, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.That there is, most emphatically, a difference in the life of a Christian, is evidenced by the words of Christ to our heavenly Father, As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17:18-23 As Christians, keeping our eyes upon Jesus who has bridged the gap between fallen humanity and divinity, we may...take unto (us) the whole armour of God, that (we) may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. Psalms 34:7 takes on a whole new meaning to me as I carefully, yet eagerly contemplate that:The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:12-14 Christ, Himself, becomes our Shield, our Sanctuary, our Fortress.When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan.God's Amazing Grace 215.05 Christ taught that His church is a spiritual kingdom. He Himself, "the Prince of peace," is the head of His church. In His person humanity, inhabited by divinity, was represented to the world. God's Amazing Grace 14.04 ...God... 6 ...will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil... 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good... Romans 2:5-10
The problem with so many of us, is that we don't leave our vile nature at the foot of the cross; then, henceforth partake of the divine nature.