Exclusive Source

[WordSword]

It’s a very distracting thing, to walk without our own righteousness, but this tests our humility in the fact that we have “the old man,” and that we are willing to endure whatever it takes to be right with God, and have Him for our own. We know it is more than well worth of knowing sin and being forgiven, in order to know His righteousness and holiness and love. To know something just by words, or just knowing about something, is a far cry from knowing something through experiencing it and becoming a part of it! No matter how this all sounds, I find there is much importance in knowing that having to endure the sin nature is surly worth all involved, in order to be as God wants us to be. 

He knew we would have to deal with the sin nature (old man) in His way, so that experiential-knowledge in Him could have its way. Regardless of all things, the way everything is going is how God knew it would go; and by the fact that He is allowing it so, manifests that it is how He chose it all to be, or He would have chosen a different way to do it all! It’s obvious He wants everything done only one way—and that way is the way it is going. “He that doeth righteousness is righteous” (1Jo 3:7). “He that doeth righteousness is he that being convinced of the insufficiency of his own righteousness, and of the excellency and suitableness of Christ's righteousness, renounces his own, and submits to His” (John Gill).
NC

 

 

 

Exclusive Source

 

Salvation is a deliverance wrought by the divine work on the Cross, so as to bring us out of one position into another. It is true we are morally changed, but we want more than that (morality has only to do with interaction between men and is not necessarily godliness; one can be morally good but not godly, but one godly will be morally good—NC). But supposing I have the new life, with its desires after holiness, what is the effect? It gives me the consciousness of all the sin that is in me. I want to be righteous, but then I see that I am not righteous (within myself, because of the indwelling old man or sin nature—NC); and I bow under the power of indwelling sin (not intentional sin but unavoidable sin—NC), and of the knowledge of such holiness which I have learned to desire, only to find out that I have not got it (my own righteousness—NC).

I say, what is the good of my knowing holiness in this way, if I have not got it? It is no comfort to me. Here we have been speaking of God’s righteousness; but when I look, I find I have no righteousness. Where can I find a resting-place for my spirit in such a state as this? It is impossible; and the very effect of having this new life, with all its holy affections and desires after the Lord Jesus, brings me to the discovery of the lack of what this new life cannot itself impart (self-righteousness—NC). I have got the hungers of this new life—all its holy and righteous desires; but the thing yearned for (self-righteousness—NC) I have not got.

It is the desire of my new life. I say, Oh that I could be righteous; but then I am not righteous (within myself—NC). In that way the Father meets us with a positive salvation. He meets us and quickens us into the desire and want of holiness, giving us a new life and nature capable of enjoying it when we get it. But that is not all. When I have got that new life, have I got the thing I want? No, I strive, and think, Oh! If I could get more of this holiness, but still I have not got it. I may hate sin, but the sin is there that I hate (the sin-source, the old man—NC).

I may long to be with my Father, to be forever in the light of His countenance, but then I see that I have got sin, and know that the light of His countenance cannot shine upon my sin; I want a righteousness fit for His presence, and I have not got it. It is thus God meets us at the Cross. He not only gives the life and nature that we want, but He gives us the thing that we want (Christ’s righteousness—NC); and not only so, but in Christ He gives us both the perfect Object and Life.

We have borne the image of the first Adam, in all the consequences of his sin and ruin, and we shall bear the image of the Last Adam. But the Father lays down first this great truth for our hearts, “As is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly” (1Co 15:48). It is what we are now! There I find what my heart as quickened by God wants; and I learn what blessedness is in Christ, by whom the Father has revealed it to us. He has given us a righteousness in the Lord Jesus, who is the blessed accepted Man in the presence of the Father (the Father gives all, in that a righteousness in Christ is more infinitely blessed than a righteousness of our own—NC).

Now, as regards my soul and eternal life, the Father has come and brought us into this position, making the Lord Jesus to be my “righteousness” and “my Life” (1Co 1:30; Col 3:4). He has brought me in, by faith and in the truth of my new life, into this wondrous position in Christ. The realization of it is another thing, and may be hindered (temporarily—NC) through failure or infirmity (trials—NC). You begin to search, perhaps in yourself, and find such and such a thought contrary to Christ. But I say, That is the old man (unintentionally sinning, yet in the light of continuous forgiveness - 1Jo 1:9. The Father knows that this is the sin nature and not us in our new nature - Rom 7:17, 20—NC). If you take yourself by yourself, there is no righteousness before God, and therefore you cannot stand an instant in the Father’s sight. I must look at the Lord Jesus to see what I am, and I say, “As the heavenly, such are they that are also heavenly”; and this is what I am in the presence of my Father. There is no veil: we are to “walk in the light, as He is in the light” (1Jo 1:7 – to me walking in the light is knowing you are forgiven in spite of the old man’s sins—NC).

—J N Darby

 

 

 

 

 

MJS daily devotional excerpt for May 3

“The fact is that it is the old life which is in the way of the new life and its full expression. It is the natural life which obstructs the course of the divine life. Thus what has been done for us has to be done in us, and as it is done in us that life becomes more than a deposit, more than a simple, though glorious possession; it becomes a deepening, growing power, a fullness of expression.

“You may have been in the fires and have been having a pretty hard and painful time in your spiritual life, but that only means that God has been preparing you for something more. No, God is not a God who believes in bringing everything to an end. He is always after something more. And if He has to clear the way for something more by devastating methods (Cross), well, that is all right, for it is something more that He is after. There is so much more, far, far transcending all our asking or thinking.”  -T. A. S.
http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/
 

[com7fy8]

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26)

So, we have the Holy Spirit praying for us.

The Holy Spirit prays better than we can, for all so better than we can ask in prayer. So, God Himself is our exclusive source of prayer, even, which really works to change us out of our old man stuff, and into how Jesus is and loves while pleasing our Father; this is motivating, for God 

But we can join with the Holy Spirit, and how He has us praying and not only concerned about our own selves.

With Him almighty we can do all that God means by His word; this includes >

"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation" (in Philippians 2:13-16).

So, "in the midst of" this world's "crooked and perverse generation" we can "become blameless and harmless" and "without fault" > this works by getting rid of the stuff which can have us complain and argue > anti-love stuff. And God is our exclusive source for succeeding like this, instead of bleeding.

This is possible with God >

"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (in Luke 18:27)

By means of God in His love sharing with us, we can become holy the way Jesus in us is holy and pleasing and loving and caring and sharing . . . so superior, yet not at all conceited, but willing to so share with us intimately in His own love. God's word says we have hope of this >

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)

"Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)

True holiness, then, is in God's love shared with us, our Father loving us, blessing and carressing us, as He has loved Jesus > Jesus Himself has claimed this for us in the Lord's prayer in John 17:20-26 > in verse 23 Jesus claims that You our Father love us "as You have loved Me," Jesus prays in John 17:23.

So, this is a basic of where God has our attention in Christian prayer.

So, right now "in this world" this is what God is succeeding at doing. And He is the exclusive source of this > His grace is doing this.

And so, we do well to seek Him for all He is now committed to doing in us, in our character, so we join with Jesus in how He shares with our Father and has us loving and praying as His family . . . not each one struggling on one's own, trying to get oneself to choose and do things, but snuggling.

Edited May 4, 2023 by com7fy8

[farouk]

3 minutes ago, com7fy8 said:

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26)

So, we have the Holy Spirit praying for us.

The Holy Spirit prays better than we can, for all so better than we can ask in prayer. So, God Himself is our exclusive source of prayer, even, which really works to change us out of our old man stuff, and into how Jesus is and loves while pleasing our Father; this is motivating, for God 

But we can join with the Holy Spirit, and how He has us praying and not only concerned about our own selves.

With Him almighty we can do all that God means by His word; this includes >

"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation" (in Philippians 2:13-16).

So, "in the midst of" this world's "crooked and perverse generation" we can "become blameless and harmless" and "without fault" > this works by getting rid of the stuuf which can have us complain and argue > anti-love stuff. And God is our exclusive source for succeeding like this, instead of bleeding.

This is possible with God >

"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (in Luke 18:27)

By means of God in His love sharing with us, we can become holy the way Jesus in us is holy and pleasing and loving and caring and sharing . . . so superior, yet not at all conceited, but willing to so share with us intimately in His own love. God's word says we have hope of this >

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)

"Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world " (1 John 4:17)

True holiness, then, is in God's love shared with us, our Father loving us, blessing and carressing us, as He has loved Jesus > Jesus Himself has claimed this for us in the Lord's prayer in John 17:20-26 > in verse 23 Jesus claims that You our Father love us "as You have loved Me," Jesus prays in John 17:23.

So, this is a basic of where God has our attention in Christian prayer.

So, right now "in this world" this is what God is succeeding at doing. And He is the exclusive source of this > His grace is doing this.

And so, we do well to seek Him for all He is now committed to doing in us, in our character, so we join with Jesus in how He shares with our Father and has us loving and praying as His family . . . not each one struggling on one's own, trying to get oneself to choose and do things, but snuggling.

@com7fy8 What a tremendous chapter is Romans 8!

[Guest]

2 hours ago, com7fy8 said:

The Holy Spirit prays better than we can

Amen; and you can't get more exclusive than that! Thanks for the reply and comments, and God bless!

[Guest]

2 hours ago, farouk said:

@com7fy8 What a tremendous chapter is Romans 8!

True. My favorite passage is still 8:28. It's the most encouraging, when pertaining to trials especially. It can't get better than knowing everything that you encounter is being used for your "good." Appreciate your reply and God bless! 

[R. Hartono]

2 hours ago, com7fy8 said:

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26)

So, we have the Holy Spirit praying for us.

The Holy Spirit prays better than we can, for all so better than we can ask in prayer. So, God Himself is our exclusive source of prayer, even, which really works to change us out of our old man stuff, and into how Jesus is and loves while pleasing our Father; this is motivating, for God 

But we can join with the Holy Spirit, and how He has us praying and not only concerned about our own selves.

With Him almighty we can do all that God means by His word; this includes >

"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation" (in Philippians 2:13-16).

So, "in the midst of" this world's "crooked and perverse generation" we can "become blameless and harmless" and "without fault" > this works by getting rid of the stuff which can have us complain and argue > anti-love stuff. And God is our exclusive source for succeeding like this, instead of bleeding.

This is possible with God >

"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (in Luke 18:27)

By means of God in His love sharing with us, we can become holy the way Jesus in us is holy and pleasing and loving and caring and sharing . . . so superior, yet not at all conceited, but willing to so share with us intimately in His own love. God's word says we have hope of this >

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)

"Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)

True holiness, then, is in God's love shared with us, our Father loving us, blessing and carressing us, as He has loved Jesus > Jesus Himself has claimed this for us in the Lord's prayer in John 17:20-26 > in verse 23 Jesus claims that You our Father love us "as You have loved Me," Jesus prays in John 17:23.

So, this is a basic of where God has our attention in Christian prayer.

So, right now "in this world" this is what God is succeeding at doing. And He is the exclusive source of this > His grace is doing this.

And so, we do well to seek Him for all He is now committed to doing in us, in our character, so we join with Jesus in how He shares with our Father and has us loving and praying as His family . . . not each one struggling on one's own, trying to get oneself to choose and do things, but snuggling.

Amen, Holy Spirit Will take over our tongue in desperate situation with Glosolalia. God did not promise Rose garden but He promise Holy Spirit to strengthen us in trials.