“But Unto Him”

[WordSword]

No man could have a better moral and religious record than Job in the Old Testament and Paul in the New; but both these men were brought into the presence of God (e.g. He spoke to both—NC), and each one found that his best bit was corrupt; and it was not just God’s estimate but their own estimate of themselves in God’s presence. Job cried, “I abhor myself” (Job 42:6); and Paul states, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing” (Rom 7:18). If you have learned to abhor yourself (in my opinion this is in reference to the old man—NC), you will easily understand that if you are to be before the Father “holy and without blame” (Eph 1:4) and in divine acceptance, it must be on the ground that you are in the acceptance of another man.

Now I ask, “Is there another man? One who has been to the Cross to take up the whole question of sin and its consequences, and to maintain in connection therewith everything that is due to the glory of God. As you think of Him in His life, death and ascension in glory, are you not delighted to think of standing in the acceptance of that Man? Now, through God’s rich grace, knowing the Lord Jesus as our Savior, we enter by the Holy Spirit into the joy of this new position. Our Father has set us before Him in the acceptance and beauty of the One in whom He has found all His delight, and has given us His Spirit that we might rest in that acceptance.

You may ask, then, has God simply ignored our sinful condition as children of Adam in giving us this wondrous acceptance? No, that sinful state which has cost you so much grief and struggle—which you have not been able to ignore—has been fully taken into account by God, and dealt with to His perfect satisfaction. It has been brought before Him at the Cross, and has received its full and righteous condemnation there. “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh (sin nature, not the physical body which for the believer is holy – 1Co 3:16, 17; 6:19—NC), God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom 8:3).

Is that living Person now in heavenly glory really the Object of your heart? For some time after I knew the Savior I used to think of Him as One who had lived and died on earth long years ago, and I well remember the day when I knelt down with a dear brother who prayed that we might know the Lord Jesus as a living Person in heavenly glory, and it dawned upon me that there was a present Object for my heart in heaven. You heart will never be satisfied until that glorified Person becomes its Object—bright and fair.

“The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if One died for all, then were all dead: And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor 5:14, 15). Now, are we living unto Him? Do our lives in some small degree bear the impress of true devotedness?

You may ask what has often been said, that this is all very well for people who have nothing to do but to go about preaching, but that the trials and difficulties of practical everyday life render it all but impossible for most Christians. But this is a great misconception. To begin with, the only thing which a believer has to do in this world—whether he breaks stones on the road-side or preaches to thousands—is to live unto the Lord Jesus Christ. Then the trials and difficulties which so many complain of are intended for the very purpose of helping and not hindering devotedness to Him. Martha could no doubt say, “My beloved is mine”; but Mary had tasted the deeper joy of confessing, “I am my beloved’s.” It is one thing to say, “Christ for me,” and another to say, “Me for Christ.” The latter is true devotedness!

- C A Coats

 

Excerpt from MJS devotional for June 27:

“If I allow the thought that what I am toward God will in some way or other affect what God is toward me, I shall be filled with the spectrum of bondage. But when I see that what God is toward me is altogether the outcome of what He is, and that He is this though knowing perfectly what I am, it puts my heart in the right direction for liberty.” -C.A.C.

http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/

[Not me]

@WordSword

I really liked this;

 “I well remember the day when I knelt down with a dear brother who prayed that we might know the Lord Jesus as a living Person in heavenly glory, and it dawned upon me that there was a present Object for my heart in heaven. You heart will never be satisfied until that glorified Person becomes its Object—bright and fair.”

May I only add, that God has dealt with our old natures by putting them to death on the cross with Christ. It is seeing this truth and believing it from the heart and than “reckoning” it so, that sets a man free from his fallen nature. Whereby it enables him to walk in newness of life. Or in other words walk in a victorious Christian life. 

(my thoughts) 

much love in Christ, Not me

[WordSword]

2 hours ago, Not me said:

@WordSword

I really liked this;

 “I well remember the day when I knelt down with a dear brother who prayed that we might know the Lord Jesus as a living Person in heavenly glory, and it dawned upon me that there was a present Object for my heart in heaven. You heart will never be satisfied until that glorified Person becomes its Object—bright and fair.”

May I only add, that God has dealt with our old natures by putting them to death on the cross with Christ. It is seeing this truth and believing it from the heart and than “reckoning” it so, that sets a man free from his fallen nature. Whereby it enables him to walk in newness of life. Or in other words walk in a victorious Christian life. 

(my thoughts) 

much love in Christ, Not me

Good observations and opinions on the issue of our freedom from the old man! All who believers are free from it spiritually by the Cross in the new birth, but as you've mentioned, we need conscience freedom of this truth in our walk and understanding in order to grow from it.

[Not me]

12 minutes ago, WordSword said:

Good observations and opinions on the issue of our freedom from the old man! All who believers are free from it spiritually by the Cross in the new birth, but as you've mentioned, we need conscience freedom of this truth in our walk and understanding in order to grow from it.

So true! It is to the degree that a believer understands and comprehends his death with Christ on the cross, from his heart. To that degree, can he and will he be set free from the old man and his deeds. This understanding of our “deaths with Christ” is a on going and growing thing. For a deeper understanding is always available for a deeper and more complete freedom from sin. 

Much love in Christ, Not me  

[WordSword]

1 hour ago, Not me said:

For a deeper understanding is always available for a deeper and more complete freedom from sin. 

Yes, the freedom we have mentally in our conscience and understanding (practical freedom) will always increase because it's related to our walk, but the spiritual freedom which we receive at rebirth is as full as it will ever be because it does not admit in degrees like our practical (put into practice) freedom, which is continually learned as long as we are here.

[Not me]

5 hours ago, WordSword said:

Yes, the freedom we have mentally in our conscience and understanding (practical freedom) will always increase because it's related to our walk, but the spiritual freedom which we receive at rebirth is as full as it will ever be because it does not admit in degrees like our practical (put into practice) freedom, which is continually learned as long as we are here.

I understand what your saying about practical vs mental freedom. I just don’t know if I like the terminology. For in my walk all seems to be centered on doing those things that please God, actually, in real time. But each has a little different understanding for we all see as through a fog. So I find no fault with it, it just doesn’t seem to find a place in my walk before God. Unless your talking about the fact that we are “accepted in the beloved” and “He is working in us what pleases Him.” Which is just righteousness in all things. It’s early and I just woke up and I am rambling. . 

Much love in Christ keep loving and serving your Creator. Not me.

Edited June 28, 2018 by Not me

[WordSword]

3 hours ago, Not me said:

I understand what your saying about practical vs mental freedom. I just don’t know if I like the terminology. For in my walk all seems to be centered on doing those things that please God, actually, in real time. But each has a little different understanding for we all see as through a fog. So I find no fault with it, it just doesn’t seem to find a place in my walk before God. Unless your talking about the fact that we are “accepted in the beloved” and “He is working in us what pleases Him.” Which is just righteousness in all things. It’s early and I just woke up and I am rambling. . 

Much love in Christ keep loving and serving your Creator. Not me.

Terminology can differ in understanding between people and that's okay of course. I like your use of "real time" to make it clear, and everything we're discussing is in real time. Concerning my meaning of practical it refers to the "walk," that which we put into practice or doing, which is what we will continue to grow in until we leave. I was trying to differentiate between this and our position. Our position is where we are now and eternally in the Lord Jesus (redeemed, as saved as we will ever be) which is unchangeable in any fashion, but our walk (practice) continues to change unto growth in Christ's image. Salvation doesn't change but our faith does, in strength.

Blessings, and God be blessed!

[Not me]

10 hours ago, WordSword said:

Terminology can differ in understanding between people and that's okay of course. I like your use of "real time" to make it clear, and everything we're discussing is in real time. Concerning my meaning of practical it refers to the "walk," that which we put into practice or doing, which is what we will continue to grow in until we leave. I was trying to differentiate between this and our position. Our position is where we are now and eternally in the Lord Jesus (redeemed, as saved as we will ever be) which is unchangeable in any fashion, but our walk (practice) continues to change unto growth in Christ's image. Salvation doesn't change but our faith does, in strength.

Blessings, and God be blessed!

 I do agree with you, the fact we are saved never changes. I like to use this analogy; 

It is like when someone is born, they will forever be the product of that union. It can never be undone for “life” has come into existence. Now many things both good and bad can happen to that life. But nevertheless it remains a product of that union. The same is true of our “New Birth,” once it is brought into existence it can never “not be.” Now it is true, some “New Births” will stay infants, others children,  and some will grow to maturity. But they all are saved just the same. It’s all about how much growth the New Birth is allow to grow. And I feel it is  100%  up to the individual believer how much he grows. For God has given Christ to mankind, it's up to what the person does with Christ. They may have as much or as little as they want. Or even none at all. 

(my thoughts) 

Much love in Christ, Not me 

Edited June 29, 2018 by Not me

[Behold]

On 6/27/2018 at 2:11 PM, WordSword said:

To begin with, the only thing which a believer has to do in this world—whether he breaks stones on the road-side or preaches to thousands—is to live unto the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

A & D

 

These are the two best characteristics - traits - of discipleship,  that a born again Christian can both possess and offer to God.

 

Availability

Dependability 

 

 

[WordSword]

On 6/27/2018 at 7:20 PM, Not me said:

May I only add, that God has dealt with our old natures by putting them to death on the cross with Christ. It is seeing this truth and believing it from the heart and than “reckoning” it so, that sets a man free from his fallen nature. Whereby it enables him to walk in newness of life. Or in other words walk in a victorious Christian life. 

Also, my understanding of the sin nature (old man) is that it's not said to be dead but only "crucified" (Rom 6:6) and continually "mortified" by the Spirit (Rom 8:13; Col 3:5; Gal 5:17). Our being "dead to sin" (Rom 6:2, 11; Col 3:3) involves us being free from the sin nature's guilt (Rom 8:1) and its "reign and dominion" (Rom 6:12, 14), but not from its indwelling presence and affect. We are dead to it but it is not dead to us, and is actually enlivened by the precepts of Christ's commands. As we learn the Lord's will, sin becomes more aware to us and is "revived" concerning its evil (Rom 7:9).