It changed

Are you guilty?

In Hebrews 7:12 we are told that when the priesthood changed the law had to change.  Under the law given to Moses if anyone did not do every single thing in the law they were cursed.  Under the new covenant GOD standards remain the same, for they are the divine nature of GOD, but the law changed.  Below describes the changes.

In the spiritual sense every person stands accused and is guilty for: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of GOD” (Romans 3:23).

“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of GOD is eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD? (Romans 6:23).

GOD so loved the world that HE sent HIS eternal SON JESUS (who took on a human body so HE could die as an innocent sacrifice without spot or blemish for the sins of the world) that any who believe in HIM (JESUS) would not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

We who believe in JESUS are now Justified- declared not guilty (a legal, external, objective standing)It is instantaneous and complete.  Once we come to JESUS, we are righteous in GOD’s sight washed clean by the blood of JESUS.

Romans 3:²⁴ Being justified freely by HIS grace through the redemption that is in CHRIST JESUS:²⁵ Whom GOD has set forth to be a propitiation (to appease anger and give favor) through faith in HIS blood, to declare HIS righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of GOD.

But GOD does not stop at just declaring believers righteous in CHRIST. 

Before the creation of the world GOD knew everything that would ever happen.  For GOD can learn nothing since HE is omniscience (knows all things). Before the creation of the world GOD made a choice according to HIS foreknowledge (what HE knew before it happened).

1 Peter 1:² Elect (chosen) according to the foreknowledge of GOD the FATHER, through sanctification of the SPIRIT, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of JESUS CHRIST: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

What foreknowledge or what part of what GOD knew is 1 Peter 1:2 talking about? That verse speaks of those who would believe and accept JESUS HIS SON whom HE would send into the world. We know that is what GOD is referring to because of the context.  Believing in the saving work of the LORD JESUS and calling on HIS name is the only condition to be saved (Romans 10:9-10, 13).  And one must be saved to be sanctified.

GOD had decreed something more:  Romans 8:²⁹ For whom HE did foreknow, (would believe in JESUS) HE (GOD the FATHER) also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his SON, that HE (JESUS) might be the firstborn among many brethren.

I Thessalonian 5:23 says that the HOLY SPIRIT sanctifies (just like 1 Peter 1:2) believers through and through so we might become what GOD has declared to be.  So, although we are declared to be righteous, the HOLY SPIRIT must teach and enable us to live righteously.  Sanctification is a step-by-step process.  It is the work of GOD (experimental, internal, and subjective). 

Sanctification is a renovation of our nature by the HOLY SPIRIT.  HE shows us what to do, energizes us and enables (Philippians 2:13) with the view of conforming us to the image of JESUS CHRIST (who is the exact likeness of the GODHEAD in body form (Colossians 2:9).

The timing is subjective for we bring effort to sanctification by doing/walking out what the HOLY SPIRIT has written in our minds and placed in our hearts to do (Philippians 2:13, 12, Hebrews 10:16).  When we refuse to do what the HOLY SPIRIT shows us, GOD disciplines us and although discipline is never fun it does produce righteousness in the ones exercised thereby (Hebrews 12:11).

The law written on stone depended on man’s effort to keep it.  If they didn’t keep every point, they were cursed (Galatians 3:10).  But in the new covenant the HOLY SPIRIT writes GOD’s law in our minds so we will know what we should do, and HE places it in our hearts so we will want to please GOD (Hebrews 10:16, Philippians 2:13).  When we choose to follow the lead of the HOLY SPIRIT the process of growing CHRIST-like goes smoothly (2 Corinthians 3:18).

When we fail to listen, or refuse to obey the HOLY SPIRIT, we are not cursed.  But if after the HOLY SPIRIT convicts us of wrong and we refuse to confess (agree with GOD concerning our wrong) GOD the FATHER disciplines us (1 Corinthians 11:31-32) and no discipline is fun but grievous.  But HIS discipline will eventually yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness in those exercised thereby (Hebrews 12:11).  

Just like an old fashion spanking when we were little taught us to change our actions.

Philippians 1:⁶ Being confident of this very thing, that HE (GOD) which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of JESUS CHRIST

Hebrews 7:²⁵ Wherefore HE (JESUS) is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto GOD by HIM, seeing HE (JESUS) ever lives to make intercession for them.

So, we see that GOD the HOLY SPIRIT works to develop us into the image of JESUS CHRIST, so does GOD the FATHER and so does our LORD JESUS CHRIST.  It is just another example where GOD is ONE.  All of GOD does all that GOD does.  The Trinity-persons of the GODHEAD are never at odds with one another but work in conjunction with each other in everything they do.

GOD loves us so. 

Hugs

Sharon

How many times?

Have you ever known someone who kept stumbling into the same sin again and again?  Its easy to think “shame on them.” But let’s not be too quick to judge that one. It took me years to learn not to jump to conclusions and judge the heart of another, which is itself a sin.

I know a gal who loves the LORD yet she when she gets in a certain situation she slips into sin.  My friend was so discouraged.  She wondered if GOD would forgive her again.  But as we prayed together I asked, “How many 2nd chances (new beginnings) are there for ______, LORD?”

JESUS answered me immediately by bringing a verse to my mind. “70 times 7” (an idiom meaning times without number).  As I told her what the LORD reminded me of, she beamed.

Peter had asked JESUS how many times he had to forgive and then put a number by it.  “Even 7 times?”   (Matthew 18:22).  Actually, he was really being generous for the Rabbinical rule (taken from Amos 1:6) stated that you were to forgive 3 times period.

But JESUS who was going to die for all sin, went past the man-made ideas.  If a believer, cleansed by the blood of JESUS wants another chance, all they have to do is go to the throne of grace and they will find mercy (forgiveness) and be given grace to help them overcome whatever they are struggling with.

And there is more.  When we believed in JESUS and called on the name of the LORD we were saved, given eternal life (John 3:16,36, Romans 10:13) and GOD the FATHER transferred us out of the power of darkness and placed us into the kingdom of HIS dear son (Colossians 1:13).

We also were sealed by the HOLY SPIRIT (Ephesians 1:13-14). HE baptized us into the body of CHRIST (1 Corinthians 12:13,27) and teaches us (John 14:26), leads us and when necessary convicts us, prays for us in our weaknesses (Romans 8:26) plus so much more.

I am so glad my Savior the LORD JESUS CHRIST whose blood on the cross paid for all my sin didn’t stop there but will save me to the uttermost because HE lives forever to intercede for me.

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering HE (JESUS) hath perfected forever them that are sanctified (it is a process).

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore HE is also able to save forever (to the uttermost) those who come to GOD through HIM, since HE always lives to make intercession for them.

It is as Martin Luther said, “A Christian is at one and same time sinner and righteous person.  He is a sinner in fact (for he falls short of the glory of GOD), but a righteous person by the sure reckoning and promise of GOD (Romans 3:21-23) that HE will continue to deliver him from sin until HE has completely cured him (Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 12:11). So, he is totally healthy in hope, but sinner in fact.  He has the beginning of righteousness so always continues more and more to seek it, while realizing he is always unrighteous.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that HE which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of JESUS CHRIST:

Behold, what manner of love the FATHER has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of GOD…Beloved, now are we the sons of GOD, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when HE (our LORD JESUS CHRIST) shall appear, we shall be like HIM; for we shall see HIM as HE is (1 John 3:1-2).

Hugs

Sharon