Welcome to Hank’s Place
By the Grace of God – His favor, blessings, mercies, lovingkindness — are ours — and to all who believe in Jesus and His mighty work at Calvary!
Colossians 1:22 tells us He has now reconciled us in His body of flesh through death, in order to present us before Him, holy, blameless and beyond reproach. That means we ALREADY ARE who we have been wanting to be, struggling to be! And someone who the devil whispers we will NEVER be!!!
The next verse may appear to add a condition to this truth, for it says, “if indeed we continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel.” Don’t freak out, dear friend! Paul is simply telling us to persevere in the truth of what Jesus Christ has already done for us, and not give heed to words, or thoughts from the accuser of the brethren, the devil.
Some devilish thoughts come from pulpits declaring WE must try harder, work harder, that we must, in our own strength, put off and put on. And until we succeed in all the areas of weakness we are ‘not there yet.’ This is NOT TRUE.
It is the Blood of Jesus that has already cleansed us from ALL unrighteousness. We already ARE that spotless Christian for we’ve been placed IN Christ and Christ is IN us. We rely now on His power to put off anything of darkness, be it habits, practices, addictions, fleshy desires, whatever. We RESIST the devil in God’s strength.
The third chapter of Colossians is amazing. It says if we have been born again, to keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is. To set our minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For we HAVE died (to this world), and our life is hidden with Christ in God.
The result? We are to treat the parts of our earthly bodies as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which this is idolatry. Yes, at one time we walked in those evil deeds, and many others. But NOW, Paul says, let us rid ourselves of all of them — for we HAVE put on the new self, which is being renewed, to a true knowledge, according to the image of the One who created it.
Can you grasp this truth? We ARE NEW creations. We HAVE received Christ even as He has received us. We are learning by the Spirit more and more of who we really are, and no longer DOING those deeds of darkness we once did.
Paul closes the chapter saying, “Whatever we do in word or deed, let us do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
Today, let us live in the freedom Jesus purchased for us. Live according to the treasures of the Kingdom of God of which we are members.
Live life loving lavishly – COME ALIVE!
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