THE MISSING LINK! ( Part 1 )
Over the years, we've been exposed to several teachings with very strong emphasis on man's need of righteousness, his weaknesses, and inability to please God. There has been a very strong denunciation of "sins" in the believer. We've had teachings against unbelief, world conformity and lack of faith but sadly there has been a dearth of truth about what/who we are in Christ or how Righteousness and faith are made available. Most of our hymns and special songs put redemption off till after death; that we are going to have rest,peace and be overcomers when we get to heaven. That we have nothing in this world except failure, misery, disappointment and weakness/sin struggle. In essence, making the whole idea of preaching/teaching the word all about condemnation and always making the believer inadequate, incomplete and always leaving the presence of God with a huge and overwhelming sense of guilt.
Wait a minute! What does He mean when He says " You are complete in him who is the head of all principalities and powers" (Col 2:10 )? When are we to be complete? Is it in this life or in the next? What does it mean in Rom 8:37, " Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" ? When are we to be more than conquerors? Is it after death when we leave this vale of tears? Phil 4:13 " I can do all things through the 'anointing' that strengthens me" . When are we going to be able to do all things? Is it after we finish the course and stand with him in the New Heaven and New Earth? He declares in Rom 8:1 " There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." When does this become ours?
Often times we hear nothing but condemnation preached. Seldom do we hear a clear cut distinction between who a sinner is and who a saint ( believer ) really is. When does " Being therefore declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" ( Rom 5:1 ) become a reality? We don't hear of peace for and in the believer in the present but rather always in the future. When are we to find this glorious thing called peace? When is "Jesus Made unto us wisdom from God, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption" ( 1 Cor 1:30 ). Is that to come to us at death or is it a fact for us right now? " Him who knew no sin, God made to be sin on our behalf ; that we might become the righteousness of God in him." ( 2 Cor 5:21 ) We know the first part is true, but is the last part true also? Is Jude 24 to be dependend upon? " Now unto Him that is able to guard you from stumbling ( falling ), and to set you before the presence of His glory without blesmish in exceeding joy".
In other words, is our Redemption, Wisdom, Righteousness and Sanctification as expressed in 1 Cor 1:30, metaphysical i.e cerebral concepts we are supposed to be ever running after or praying for and never attaining until we probably get to heaven ( if at all by chance we ever make it there); or a statement of fact, a reality of who we are and what we have in Christ right now?
Wait a minute! What does He mean when He says " You are complete in him who is the head of all principalities and powers" (Col 2:10 )? When are we to be complete? Is it in this life or in the next? What does it mean in Rom 8:37, " Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" ? When are we to be more than conquerors? Is it after death when we leave this vale of tears? Phil 4:13 " I can do all things through the 'anointing' that strengthens me" . When are we going to be able to do all things? Is it after we finish the course and stand with him in the New Heaven and New Earth? He declares in Rom 8:1 " There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." When does this become ours?
Often times we hear nothing but condemnation preached. Seldom do we hear a clear cut distinction between who a sinner is and who a saint ( believer ) really is. When does " Being therefore declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" ( Rom 5:1 ) become a reality? We don't hear of peace for and in the believer in the present but rather always in the future. When are we to find this glorious thing called peace? When is "Jesus Made unto us wisdom from God, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption" ( 1 Cor 1:30 ). Is that to come to us at death or is it a fact for us right now? " Him who knew no sin, God made to be sin on our behalf ; that we might become the righteousness of God in him." ( 2 Cor 5:21 ) We know the first part is true, but is the last part true also? Is Jude 24 to be dependend upon? " Now unto Him that is able to guard you from stumbling ( falling ), and to set you before the presence of His glory without blesmish in exceeding joy".
In other words, is our Redemption, Wisdom, Righteousness and Sanctification as expressed in 1 Cor 1:30, metaphysical i.e cerebral concepts we are supposed to be ever running after or praying for and never attaining until we probably get to heaven ( if at all by chance we ever make it there); or a statement of fact, a reality of who we are and what we have in Christ right now?
posted by Dunamis @ 3:11 PM
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