There are four key points to consider regarding believers and the life God says they can live. First, Believers have been made fully forgiven from all past, present, and future sins through the blood of Christ. Second, Believers are under the grace of God while still living in the flesh; you notice I said living in the flesh, not by the flesh, because sin does not have any authority over you when you live a life of faith that embodies righteousness.
Rom 6:13-14 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Third, the Holy Spirit comforts believers as He instructs them in how to live this new life in Christ; this comfort comes not in a fleshly manner, but in a spiritual one, nurturing the spirit and the soul. And He confirms the truth of what is or is not acceptable to the Lord in living your life as a believer. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Fourth, a believer’s life should be a record, not a reflection; in other words, history’s record of your life should be like Jesus’s regarding a life of Zoe or Godkind. In the New Testament, “martyr” translates as “witness,” but we refer to it as one who is punished for whatever he has seen or heard.” So, there are truths in the Word that say you are, by the word of God, to live the good life in your present way of living. This same way of life is for the whole family of God, the Church, the body of Christ; this is to be our way of living by the power that we receive through the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 (AMP)But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.
Unfortunately, many believers are not living this kind of life and are too much a part of the world, a result of a lack of truth from pulpits. Those looking at today’s Church do not see this kind of life emanating from it. However, do not be consumed by conviction, but allow the Holy Spirit to transform you by the truth, changing your appearance and the appearance of Christ’s body. So, believers take note: If God’s offspring live as the world lives, the Spirit and the anointing are voided by the darkness they abide in.
It is God’s will to raise His children destined for the times ahead who, by His Spirit, live a life that shows His ways. For the child of God, this life is the way of truth in righteousness, a way without the fruit of darkness, void of conforming to worldly things, in essence, just a clean, Godlike life. For you believers who are conflicted about how to live this life, let us examine it from this perspective. Instead of anxiety over trying to do all these things so God will be seen in your life, how about making your efforts not to do the things of darkness? I know I said it is not so much about the no’s as it is the yeses, but if it’s hard to see yourself doing it, then try to see yourself not doing sin.
In other words, you are not called to be Jesus, but called to be like Him in your manner of life, seen in your doing every acceptable thing. By the Holy Spirit you learn what you are not to do, since scripture has as much to say about that as it has about what to do.
Math 8:11-12And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus, in these verses, refers to those who have the kingdom of God within and those who are subject to the darkness of the kingdoms of this world, in this case, the empire of Rome.
Many believers live by the world’s ways because they cannot see themselves as living by kingdom ways within them. The wicked one took away the life that was given to Adam, but God has restored such a life to all who have received His Son, Jesus. Go and live the good life that will reveal God’s ways and, by it, reveal His Son Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. Every believer is righteous, and a minister of Christ, and set free. His body of believers is to live in one accord so that the Church will rise unified as the glorious hope of all nations. This way of life isn’t about sacrifice; it is about obedience to the truth of the word.
2 Cor 5:21 (TPT) For God made the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we who did not know righteousness might become the righteousness of God through our union with him. The day is coming when Jesus will receive a Church without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. Although they are still present in the body of Christ today, the Church must present a view different from that of the world. Many pulpits are undoing the foundations of faith for believers, cowering to those presently attacking churches and the faith of many. This is a defiling of the foundations of Christ and His spiritual body, through an acceptance of the world’s way of gathering humanity.
As stated, the day is coming, and Jesus will cleanse His spiritual body, the Church, by a washing with the water of the word, and He will present it to Himself without spots, wrinkles, blemishes, or any such things. Eph 5:26-27 So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, 27 That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless].
Now is the time to discover your living heritage within the family of God and learn how it shapes your image as the church, the body of Christ, as seen by the world. The Holy Spirit is pouring out the truth about the good life, as promised, which is an inheritance for all who are the children of God, and that ZOE life is His kind of life. He is here to speak to us in real and factual, truthful ways regarding the appearance of the Church on earth, of which all believers are a part.
Today, there is a consensus among socialists and any anti-God groups that Christians cannot be considered spiritual entities but socially influential associates promoting the simplistic rhetoric of idealistic utopia that requires acts or actions of faith. You may not be concerned with the issues discussed in the media about the world or about the Church in this country. But I challenge you: By the Spirit of God, be responsible for your part of the body of Christ, as the Church. It is a believer’s responsibility to ensure that the Holy Spirit freely flows through every other part of the whole body of Christ.
You being spiritually conscious of worldly views does not mean abiding in them regarding evil. But by a unity of faith, work to fulfill each one’s part in a plan of reconciliation of humanity to God through Christ. Look at this statement: ……….[With this great movement the Christian Church is deeply concerned; first, because of the endeavor which many are making to identify Socialism with Christianity; and, secondly, because, on the other extreme, popular Socialism is suggested as a substitute for religion and is antagonistic to Christianity; and, thirdly, because the strength of Socialism consists largely in its protest against existing social wrongs to which the Church is likewise opposed but which can be finally righted only by the universal rule of Christ]
The preceding is a quote from a 1909 writing in a book titled “The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth,” in a section called “The Church and Socialism,” by Professor Charles R. Erdman, D.D. Although written over one hundred years ago, what is said remains relevant in relation to the socialist view of the Church. In case you are oblivious to what is going on, socialism today is the enemy of the Church and is dangerously present through those in leadership who accept it. There is a senseless and demeaning nature toward the integrity that God has, by many in the Church, which has become a standard in our nation, as it fails to stand against evil.
Math 16:23 But Jesus turned away from Peter and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way [an offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me]; for you are minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men. Though Jesus’ rebuke appears aimed at Peter, the proper focus of His words was on the one who is the source of all evil, the devil. He influences people to ignore God’s nature and essence, focusing on themselves. He promotes creation’s love of itself rather than its creator’s love. Why did Peter find himself in the fire of such words spoken by his Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, whom he had just testified of by Divine revelation?
It was because he spoke in the same manner and terms as the world, which is contrary to the nature and essence of God. What did Peter say? Math 16:21-22 From that time on Jesus began to inform his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem. There he would have to suffer a lot because of the leaders, chief priests, and scribes. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be brought back to life. 22 Peter took him aside and objected to this. He said, “Heaven forbid, Lord! This must never happen to you! What is apparent is that Peter did not discern Jesus’ true purpose.
Peter later developed a different way of thinking, as evident in several verses about what a believer must be mindful of. Therefore, all believers must seek to discern the truth as the Holy Spirit reveals it. 1 Pet 1:13-15,17 Therefore, your minds must be clear and ready for action. Place your confidence completely in what God’s kindness will bring you when Jesus Christ appears again. Peter emphasizes the importance of obedience, noting that we must no longer live as we did before, satisfying our desires through ignorance, but rather have confidence in what God’s kindness brings.
This is not a suggestion; it is a command for all believers in Christ. 14 Because you are children who obey God, don’t live the kind of lives you once lived. Once you lived to satisfy your desires because you didn’t know any better. So, all generations are to be holy in every aspect of life because God, our heavenly Father, is holy. And He expects each to present themselves as one made holy by Jesus Christ. 15 But because the God who called you is holy you must be holy in every aspect of your life. 16 Scripture says, “Be holy, because I am holy.
Every believer must be aware that they are here temporarily and must maintain a fear, awe, and reverence that God judges all by what they do while here in the flesh, and none are exempt. 17(AMP)If you address as Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in [reverent] fear [of Him] and with profound respect for Him throughout the time of your stay on earth. Peter’s view on the things that reflect one’s nature and quality of God no longer involves thinking about the world, but now involves what is relevant to the things of God. What has changed, Peter?
1 Peter 2:22-24 (GW) Christ never committed any sin. He never spoke deceitfully. 23 Christ never verbally abused those who verbally abused him. When he suffered, he didn’t make any threats but left everything to the one who judges fairly. 24 Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so that freed from our sins, we could live a life that has God’s approval. His wounds have healed you. This was not the only thing that influenced Peter’s life. Still, the opportunity to socialize with the Lord Jesus, to develop a spiritual consciousness, and to gain an understanding of His purpose and manner of life — a life in direct contrast to the world’s darkness in His day — was significant then, and remains essential today.
Jesus was hated not just because He said He and the Father are one, but because He lived in a way that it could not be denied. Therefore, the facts concerning the Church and our so-called spiritual integrity are being questioned by those who advocate a more secular, humanistic approach to social activity within local church bodies. For believers to adopt this mindset among other members is a result of leaders who are too focused on worldly concerns; this has made the Church’s overall image too secular, rather than spiritual.
This is where we, the individual parts of the Church body, must stand up for the truth of God’s word and declare that the social manner of all is, at its core, God’s very nature and essence, relevant to the quality of His way of doing things, not on what the world desires us to reflect, which defiles Christ work on the cross.
Ballenblog.com 