Romans 5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. To gain access into God’s grace is not a momentary action by God or a momentary reaction by the child of God. It is not something you pick up and set aside whenever it pleases you. But is a choice that is made because of the knowledge that God gives, so that each may make a healthy and well-rounded decision to live in or not to live in Him. This state of grace is set in a place where both good times and bad times are accepted equally because the child of God has come to know their Savior and they know that everything is in His hands and that: Rom. 8:28 “all things will work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose” You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from Gods wrath through him! For if, when we were Gods enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. If anything has been reconciled (in this case man had been removed from God’s presence in Eden because of sin and was now reconciled) then what was once in the way (sins penalty, death) that caused man to be removed from God’s presence, has now been removed. Therefore those who live in God may now stand boldly before His throne. And also: Eph. 2:6-9 ...God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. If we say we belong to God, we need not fear Him or think of ourselves as being unworthy or unable to be in heavenly places with Him. For a long time now that doctrine has been taught so that the people have a feeling of helplessness (along with a lack of power) to be the sons of God. This is not so! God through His Son made a road that leads straight to the throne, that ALL great and small, rich and poor, free and slave alike may be one with Him where He is and may know Him as their friend, and may be sure that whatever they ask in His name they will receive. But what is it that we want? Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. If those things that are good exist in the child of God, and they live in God, then what need is there of a law that continues to remind them of their sins (or an idea of falling down and continually repenting) when they no longer stand apart (fall down) from God? None, of course. But this must mean that God views them as a new creature in Him; holy, blameless and undefiled, virgins and first fruits. The meaning of the word Israel (you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed) has now come alive in their life. Gen 32:28 And He said, Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed. Gen 32:28 And he said, your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince you have power with God and with men, and have prevailed. Then a new character (the character of God) has replaced the old man that was once dead in sin and a new name has been given: child of God. It is still a day-by-day growth experience but now on an entirely new level of existence where the direction of the heart is what matters (the decision that was made to live in/with God.) And just as it was before there was law, sin is not taken into account because Love now rules in its place. Even though mankind’s body stills suffers death, this new way of living gives Life to the soul and takes place in those who choose it in the place of death and the body is brought in submission to that decision. Thus these new creations can say the same as their Lord and Savior before them that they are not part of this world any more then He was in mind, body and soul. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did Gods grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one mans sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive Gods abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. No one can do anything to cause God to look down upon them with any more love than He gave in the form of His Son that paid the ultimate price so that we would look up and see our Salvation and become one with Him as He is with His Father. All the penance in the world, all the crying out, all the bearing of guilt and seeking God like an elusive dream WILL NOT AND CANNOT bring down His favor or Love any more than He has already given in His life, death and resurrection. God came with such Love that He cleared away all that stood in the way because of one man’s sin (Adam) and made a clear path for all to follow that leads to the very throne of God. The only thing that can stop us from seeing this is misconceptions and misinterpretations of His Word and a lack of knowledge and understanding of His Love for us. God, through that act of Love, has given a wealth of information and wisdom to those who desire to know about this Love so that all may win the battle over the enemy of righteousness and may stand clean before their Lord. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was given so that all who had become blind to sin could see. But the more we see sinfulness, the more we see God’s grace increased, so that, just as sin reigned in death (through Adam) so also grace might reign (through Christ) through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. This has been misinterpreted by millions around the world. The law that God gave to Israel is disregarded by many because it is believed that the cross (God’s grace) covers the sins of man and thus the law was just something given during one of the dispensations or evolutionary changes of God; while at the same time others demand obedience to that same law even (though it only ends in death) while also holding to the belief of grace over obedience. And what makes this issue even more complicated (for many who are searching for truth) is that both sides have a portion of truth involved in their self-proclaimed doctrine; however, neither side has revealed the character of God and His reason for introducing the law at Mount Sinai in the first place. Yet the reason is in plain sight for all to see and God declares it: The law was given so that all who had become blind to sin could see. The point of distinction here is the fact that there are two laws, one based on death (the law of Moses) and one based on Life (Jesus Christ.) One Law that justifies while the other condemns. What many fail to see is that the law on stone was only given that Israel would see their sinfulness and would leave behind their state of death and look up to that Law that gives Life. That which ends in the death of the old man would lead those who had rejected their God to that which gives life to the new creation in Christ. God gave to His own exactly what they needed for Love to break through their stony hard hearts and to raise up a heart of flesh within His people. The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Does this somehow mean that our sins make God look good because He gives grace? NO! Instead He give power, dominion and authority to overcome in His name. If we are going to say we are a part of His body then how can we say that there is no sin in His body and yet be sinners who never stop sinning?
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 12:30:37 +0000
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