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We who are Saved by Grace through Faith are “His Workmanship”

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

The born again believer is “justified by faith,” sanctified by faith, set apart to the LORD (Psalms 4:3). God deals with the sin and the sinner. He makes us new creatures in Christ upon saving us (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Following being justified initially, the believer denies self, takes up his cross daily and follows his new Master which has replaced self-rule. The rule and reign of Christ in that  new creature is instituted and established. In the cross life, the crucified life, the old man is put off and the new man put on (Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 4:21-24; Colossians 3).

Holiness is not manufactured, is not achieved by mere men. No. Holiness is the very nature of the LORD and is the work of God in the life of the yielded, the crucified saint (Romans 6-8).

We are are saved by God through Christ’s perfect sacrifice, by grace through faith, and yet true saving faith ALWAYS produces the fruit of an obedient, holy life. The fruit, the obedience saves no one and yet is the fruit, the proof one truly knows and is known of God. Anyone teaching otherwise is fulfilling the grace-perverting prophesy of Jude 4. Read James 2; 1 John 2:3-6, chapter 3, etc.

Jesus is 100% the One who saves us.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. … We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:9-10, 19

Jesus saves us we meet HIS stated conditions – repentance, saving faith which always produces good works.

“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21

Jesus saves us, not our faith and obedience which simply appropriate His salvation. Saving faith and obedience to Him are always found in each of those who are His. Repentance and faith are the conditions – to the end of ones life on earth (Acts 20:21; Revelation 2:26).

Jesus alone can save. No one saves themself. Jesus “by himself purged our sins.” (Hebrews 1:3) Yes God requires your repentance and faith and yet it’s still Christ that saves you.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7

Understanding the salvation of our God in Christ does wonders to envelope us in His love, to forge sonship in our heart as “we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

Good works are not the way to Jesus. Jesus is the way to God-glorifying good works. Without being genuinely born again and presently abiding in Christ, in His stated terms, our works are on vain.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5

Those who know the LORD, are known of Him, WILL absolutely bring forth the good and corresponding fruit that glorifies Christ (Galatians 5:22-24, etc.).

From the moment Jesus saves us, we “work out” and not “work FOR” our salvation “with fear and trembling.” We walk it out by His divine enabling grace working in us and our own continued agreement with and compliance towards Him.

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

Notice here below in the latter verses of Romans 3, how the “THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD” is appropriated “by faith.” Notice the eternal contrast made here between our own “righteousness” which is as “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) and “HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Life changing! This passage is so very stellar. Pore over it today beloved of God. Ask the Father to open the eyes of your understanding.

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD Through Faith – Romans 3

21 But now THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

We don’t do good works in order to get saved. We do good works BECAUSE we are saved.

Jesus doesn’t save us by our doing good works, yet Jesus did save us by His grace to do good works (Ephesians 2:8-10).

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

If your body of truth, your understanding concerning your view of salvation, soteriology, is not yet built upon the foundation of the whole counsel of God’s Word, you will have an imbalance and very likely go deeper into deception, unless those gaps are filled with biblical truth. With this in mind, let’s learn together as we grow in the grace of our God in Christ (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18).

Is obeying God legalism, works-salvation? Why do we obey the message of the cross? Jesus gave it. If obeying Jesus is trusting our own selves, meriting our own way with God, then Jesus is a liar. His instructions are commandments, not suggestions. All who don’t love Him enough to trust and obey Him are going to hell Matthew 7:21.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

If obeying God were legalism, were a defiance of the cross, every person heralded in the Word, the heroes of the faith from Abraham on, are self-reliant, wicked, rebellious, devils.

Can’t be both.

“We cannot pray in love and live in hate and still think we are worshipping God.” AW Tozer

The LORD fully expects His people to obey Him and grants us every iota of His grace to accomplish this (Romans 6:14-16, etc.).

The LORD wants obedience, not lip service.

“I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt (sin, the world). 37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:36-37 

To worshipfully obey God is pleasing to Him and not just rendering a fake love, fake allegiance to Him.

“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23

When we honor God with our words but not with our actions, it proves we are “hypocrites.”

“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Mark 7:6  

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

This is not an exhaustive study on this important biblical topic, yet it’s divine food for thought to help the believer in his understanding of the salvation of our God.

This subject is being addressed here because some seem to have a propensity toward the legal and others toward the lascivious, and others simply over spiritualize the Word and/or neglect, put aside, clearly stated biblical truth. There is the positional and there is the practical.

Obeying God by faith, in worshipping Him truly, is the expression of one’s love for Him and not law, not legalism, not works-salvation.

Jesus says “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Then, a few sentences down, He says “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21).

True love, genuine saving faith, will always have corresponding action. God didn’t merely just SAY He loves us – He sent His only begotten Son to DIE for us (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8; 1 John 3:16). There’s always a corresponding action that follows truly loving someone, in this case, God so loved us that He did something, “he gave.” And in loving Jesus, we give ourselves to Him and good works will always result (Ephesians 2:8-10).

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see YOUR GOOD WORKS, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

The idea that one can love Jesus and have no fruit to show it is completely foreign to the teachings of the Bible.

Notice the order below in Jesus’ words – “LOVE” (v12), “LOVE” (v13), “DO” what He commands (v14). And if you truly LOVE Him, you will obey Him.

“This is my commandment, That ye Love one another, as I have LOVED you. 13 Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye DO whatsoever I command you.” John 15:12-14

Jesus laid down His life to save us. Will the true disciple not lay down his life for Christ, his Friend, and for others?

If the “faith” one claims to have doesn’t give, isn’t giving, isn’t obedient, such a man has the faith of devils, who believe there’s a God but have no salvation (James 2:19).

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:19-20

Jacob Loved Rachel

Jacob loved Rachel very much and so working seven long years for her difficult father was nothing to him – because of how much he loved her. This verse captures such a truth:

“And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.” Genesis 29:20

We all know that “Time flies when you’re having fun,” right? Think about that in light of choosing to love the LORD, that serving Him is a natural overflow and something we love to do because we delight in Him.

Think about your children, your babies. Did you get out of bed at 2 AM to feed them when they were crying because it was convenient or felt good to be awaken out of a deep sleep? No. You did it because you loved them.

Do you always feel a chill bump when you serve your family, when you serve others? No, yet you do it because you are loving and serving the LORD and He commands such.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3

The resurrection after dying and being buried, will ALWAYS result in the manifesting of Christ in our lives, in the form of good works, good fruit.

Bible verses in the New Testament on obedience are mountainous. And, they must not be viewed as doing something to earn God’s favor, justification, or blessings but rather an overflow of gratitude for the LORD and our “reasonable service” to our LORD who saved us to Himself by His grace (Romans 12:1).  … “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us” (Ephesians 2:4).

All relationships hold as a necessity, the need for each party to participate. Relationships come with responsibilities and they simply will not work if those duties aren’t done. Owning up to duty, to responsibility, does not equal seeking to earn or merit salvation. As pertaining to our relationship with the LORD, laying down our lives, taking up the cross and following Him who died and rose again to save us, is our “reasonable service.”

When did complying with the One we claim to love somehow become legalism, works-salvation, or seeking to earn our way with Him?  Obeying God in the cross life is our “reasonable service”/serving – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1).

What would happen if you stopped complying with your wife, stop doing what it is your DUTY to do?

Will God bless rebels? Isaiah 1:19-20 “IF ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it” – that’s Bible.

So you believe God will bless rebels in a special way so they keep rebelling and stay disconnected from Him? That’s not the God of the Bible who is love. So God blesses what’s against Him? No, the LORD loves all and especially those He chastens, rebukes, seeks to draw to repentance, before it’s too late (Proverbs 3:12; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 3:19, etc.).

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

Will “all these things,” these blessings of God, come to those who do not seek first God’s kingdom? Is there no condition? (See Matthew 6:33.) The blessings of God are conditional, not unconditional.

So who does God reward people? If so, who does He reward? He rewards those who diligently seek Him:

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

Believing God requires His people to obey Him and blesses them as they do, is not believing one is meriting those blessings or justification. The two must never be automatically conflated.

Obeying Jesus is not, does not, equal believing that you’re meriting your own salvation or justification.

Once again we see faith and good works produced from that faith in the life of Noah.

“…he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Hebrews 11:6-7

By faith, Noah was moved by the fear of the LORD, and into action. That’s how the ark got built. Genesis 5-10.

Faith moved Abraham forth in his calling, in the calling of God upon his life.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:8-10

Obeying God is fueled by the cross life, the raising up of the LORD in our lives as we are crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, etc.). God requires that we die. He commanded it and has locked up His resurrection blessings in it as we comply.

Obeying the LORD is an expression of our love for God.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15

1 John is called “the book of absolutes.”

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:3-6 

James 2 – Faith Without Works Is Dead

14  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 

15  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 

16  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 

17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 

18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works

19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 

20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 

21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 

22  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 

23  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 

24  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 

25  Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 

26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. 

James 2 – show me your faith WITHOUT good works that glorify God and I will show you my saving faith BY MY WORKS …. Good works are always the product of true, saving faith. Here James challenges all who claim they have saving faith to prove it by obeying God, letting our “light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

We must never remove or ignore Scripture truth and diminish aught from one truth to accommodate another. This will always lead to imbalance, error. May God bless us to compare Scripture with Scripture and to synthesize all His truth into a glorious tapestry as the Holy Spirit enables and teaches us, revealing how all these things of His kingdom are knit together.

While our works do NOT merit our place with God, they are always present, always found in the life of the true believer. We are saved by grace through faith which always produces the fruit of good works.

The works come out of the resurrection and if there are not works, it’s clear that such a person is not submitted to his own death and burial, to the cross life, the crucified life (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; Galatians 2:20, etc.).

When God raises a man upward, a crucified man, he will behold things like Paul – “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Romans 6 is clear proof that grace and the cross life cannot be separated. They are eternally, divinely intertwined, married.

“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” 1 Corinthians 9:16

The faith of the apostles and every true New Testament believer has and does always move him into Gospel action.

This is not a “oh I have to do good works to merit God’s favor and justification.” No. This is a “He must increase but I must decrease” posture (John 3:30).

Paul commands: “maintain good works.”

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” Titus 3:8

Also in Titus, we read:

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16

Jesus told all seven churches of Asia they had to overcome to be with Him (Revelation 2-3).

“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:” Revelation 2:26

Keeping His “works unto the end” proves one is enduring to the end in true, saving faith, which Jesus says is essential to final salvation (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; 25:1-13, etc.).

If our relationship with God He requires no participation, why do we read such words in the New Testament?

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12 

Jesus went to the cross. That was a good work, motivated by His love for the Father. Christ’s apostle Paul declared “the love of Christ constraineth us” and “constraineth” means to compel (2 Corinthians 5:14).

“For the love of Christ constraineth (compels) us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:5:14-15 

Paul and every true, abiding, remnant New Testament saint is seeking God, is full of His love, and “moved with compassion” to bless others (Matthew 9:35-38). –“the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5).

“Your Work of Faith, and Labour of love”

Where’s the phrase “It’s a labor of love” come from? God’s Word.

Knowing and serving God is not drudgery but rather joy!

“Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;” 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Our work for Christ must emanate from our “faith” toward Him and our “love” will bear the fruit of “labour” for His glory. You may wish to really grab on to this divinely-inspired phrase – “work of faith, and labour of love.”

The bottom line is that Jesus is not at all interested in you trying to serve and please Him IF YOU DON’T LOVE HIM. Of course, you must repent in order to be His son/daughter to begin with (Luke 13:3, 5). And, repentance is putting your full trust in Him and the beginning of loving Him. The LORD looks upon and wants your heart. – “Rend your heart, and not your garments” (Joel 2:13).

Jesus commanded His people to go and preach and teach His Gospel, His Word (Matthew 28:28-20; Mark 16:15, etc.). That’s the law of Christ – where the disciple loves Him, their “first love,” and delights to obey Him, and is fueled by His resurrection grace.

No matter who we are, how mature we are in Christ, there are holes in all our theology and so we should remain teachable  -searching the Scriptures and asking God to show us (Ephesians 1:16-21).

Since when is a relationship one sided? Stand back and meditate on every vital relationship in your personal life…. Which one doesn’t involve your personal participation? Not one. Yet in participating, that in no way means you are trying to earn the love of the other party, person. When you love, you willingly give. Isn’t that what God did when He gave His only begotten Son? (See John 3:16.) Do we not emulate Him?

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:1-2 

We have no divine permission to dismiss or set aside biblical truth that disturbs the doctrinal fortress we build around us. If truth disturbs your doctrine, that’s exactly what God designed it to do and to quicken you to fresh repentance and an allowance for the whole of His Word (Psalms 119; Mark 7:6-10; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, etc.) According to 1 Corinthians 2:13 – all must be compared, considered, collated… line upon line, precept upon precept (Isaiah 28).

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Corinthians 2:13

It’s convoluted theology to speak against, contrary to the whole of the Word of God which among other things says “ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God.” (2 Timothy 3:16) Ignoring known, clearly stated Bible truth to perpetrate a certain view is confusion, a violence against the picture painted by the WHOLE of Holy Scripture and is not a rightly dividing of the Word of truth but instead a deliberate, subjective ignoring of known truth to perpetrate an agenda (1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:15).

Good works are not the way to Jesus. Jesus is the way to God-glorifying good works. Without being genuinely born again and presently abiding in Christ, in His stated terms, our works are in vain.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5

Those who know the LORD, are known of Him, WILL absolutely bear the good and corresponding fruit that glorifies Christ (Galatians 5:22-24, etc.).

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please teach me Your ways. Integrate in me the whole of Your Word, into a tapestry that brings glory to Yourself. Change my life from this moment forth dear LORD. Please take away the stony places in my heart. Break the wicked unbelief and pride in my heart and grant me to have a heart of flesh. In Jesus’ Name, amen. 

Support | STORE | PodcastsLight of the Word | Evangelism | Jesus, Light of the WordCompassion in Light of Christ’s Soon ReturnStriving Together for the Faith of the Gospel [podcast]

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Abiding

“Buried with Him by Baptism into Death” [podcast]


“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3

Every person “hid with Christ in God” is saved and under divine grace, saved by Christ.

Everyone not “hid with Christ in God” is going away in judgment (Colossians 3:3; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:19-21, 24). When we are “hid with Christ in God,” we are safe, secure, and under the blessings of His divine grace instead of His condemnation.

“Of the doctrine of baptisms” Hebrews 6:2

Baptized into Jesus Christ and Baptized into His Death

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” Romans 6:3

Jesus defeated death, hell, sin, and satan by dying (Hebrews 2:14)…. whereby He was then resurrected and redemption was completed. Redemption culminated, was finalized in the resurrection of Christ.

In the same way, God calls us to die downward with Christ so that He can raise us upward into His victory…. letting go and letting God, not a striving or struggle but rather a surrender, we are to let Christ consume us, as we surrender (John 3:30).

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” Luke 23:46

Are we willing to declare today to declare with our LORD Jesus that we are submitting our spirit into His holy hands?

“death is swallowed up in victory” – death results in God raising us upward, into His full victory, ultimately into final, eternal victory, glory with the Father, Son, and the saints of the ages.

We can be sure, completely confident that as we die downward and are buried with Christ, God is going to raise us up into His victory God’s answer to death and burial is resurrection.

The resurrection is the victory and in order to experience His resurrection life, we must be dead and buried and ultimately raised up into eternal  glory with Him.

“Thou fool, that which thou sowest (plant downward) is not quickened (made alive), except it die:” 1 Corinthians 15:36

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:54

Romans 6

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

v3 – “baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death”

v4 – “buried with him by baptism into death”

v5 – “his death … his resurrection”

Notice that death and buried, being immersed into the death and burial of Christ must of necessity precede, must come before the resurrection we experience with Christ through the daily cross life.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

When He saves us we are baptized with Him “into his death” …. “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20)

“When a person is saved, he is baptized into Christ Jesus in the sense that he is identified with Christ in His death and resurrection. This is not the same as the baptism in (or of) the Spirit, though both occur simultaneously. The latter baptism places the believer in the body of Christ (1Co_12:13); it is not a baptism into death. The baptism into Christ means that in the reckoning of God, the believer has died with Christ and has risen with Him.

When Paul speaks of baptism here, he is thinking both of our spiritual identification with Christ and of its portrayal in water baptism. But as the argument advances, he seems to shift his emphasis in a special way to water baptism as he reminds his readers how they were “buried” and “planted together” in the “likeness” of Christ’s death.

The NT never contemplates the abnormal situation of an unbaptized believer. It assumes that those who are converted submit to baptism right away. Thus our Lord could speak of faith and baptism in the same breath: “he who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mrk_16:16). Though baptism is not a requirement for salvation, it should be the invariable public sign of it.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

Baptized into the body of Christ

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13

“1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized, etc. – As the body of man, though composed of many members, is informed and influenced by one soul; so the Church of Christ, which is his body, though composed of many members, is informed and influenced by one Spirit, the Holy Ghost; actuating and working by his spiritual body, as the human soul does in the body of man.

To drink into one Spirit – We are to understand being made partakers of the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost agreeably to the words of our Lord, Jhn_7:37, etc.: If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink: this he spake of the Spirit which they that believed on him should receive.
On this verse there is a great profusion of various readings, which may be found in Griesbach, but cannot be conveniently noticed here.” Adam Clarke

“Baptism is more than just getting wet! When we go down into the water it signifies we are now dead and buried and our “life is hid with Christ in God.” Col 3:3. Coming up out of the water is our resurrection life! We are then raised up into newness of life! Our old man is crucified and we no longer serve sin but we have a new Master! Jesus Christ is the new Master of our lives! We now serve God and not sin. And should be bearing fruit of rightness and holiness! Romans 6. When we embrace the crucified life we are given overflowing rivers of new life! New life is breathed into us. Walking in the flesh only makes our soul sick with sin! And sin kills and destroys! (Romans 6:23). Rotting us from the inside out! But the way of the cross brings life to our flesh! (Proverbs 3:8, 4:22). Our flesh meaning our whole spirit, soul and body. 1 Thessalonians 5:23. We cannot be a whole person until we are completely given over to the Lord! And this can only happen through the cross. When we are dead and buried and raised up in the newness of life Jesus offers us! Then the joy of the Lord will fill our hearts!” Karen Cochran

What some don’t realize is that just because they were saved in the past in no way means they are still in Christ. This is why we read things like this throughout Scripture:

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5

We must judge ourselves against God’s Word.

“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32

Prayer: Father please penetrate my heart with Your holy conviction, granting true repentance and obedience. LORD, I want to be dead and buried with You. I am crucified with Christ and I know You are raising me up and will ultimately raise me up with You into eternal glory… I am not planted together in the likeness of His death and burial and I know You are raising me up into the victory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Is Romans 7 Before or After Paul’s Salvation?

“The truth is that while Christ dwells in the believer’s new nature, He has strong competition from the believer’s old nature. The warfare between the old and the new goes on continually in most believers.” AW Tozer

The law of God is “holy, and just, and good.” (Romans 7:12)

The holy law of God and the depraved nature of fallen mankind could not be further apart – the righteousness of God inherent in His law vs the “old man,” the iniquitous fallen nature of mankind (Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9).

Nothing but a caustic reaction, explosion could be the result of the 2 colliding (Romans 7). One or the other must reign.

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17

In what tense did the great apostle speak in when addressing this “old man” that wars against the Spirit in us?

“O WRETCHed man that I am! (presently) who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:24

Paul’s flesh was and our flesh is a constant reminder of the ever momentary need for the cross, burial, and resurrection grace of Jesus (Romans 6:3-10; 8:11; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20, etc.). Read Romans chapters 6-7 each morning this week.

It really is true that Jesus “saved a wretch like me” when He mercifully saved me.

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Romans 7:18

No, the apostle wasn’t admitting to living in sin but rather that that “old man” – the flesh – was present and must be crucified with Christ daily. Is that not exactly what Jesus taught?

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his CROSS DAILY, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24

I believe Romans 7 applies to both before and after one is saved …. Because if the saved person departs from the daily cross walk, that same “old man” will take center stage. “O wretch man that I AM (present) (Romans 7:18) ….. we are born again children of God, saints of the Most High and yet that potential to evil, that “old man” must be crucified and “put off” by the daily cross so the “new man” can reign with Christ in this life and eternity. What Paul calls the “old man” must be “put off” and so we can conclude that there IS an “old man” to be “put off” otherwise no such instruction would have been given. We are not to deny the “old man” – the sinful bent – but rather to crucify it (Romans 6; Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9).

Charles Pray writes: “So many want to hide their sins, especially those who like to appear Holy on the outside while inside they are dark, unholy ministers of the flesh. They have become a product of their own desires. Dear Lord, please bring them back to their first Love–Jesus! Amen.”

Saints, we cannot possibly begin to appreciate this “so great salvation” that is Christ until we understand how lost, helpless, and alienated we were in our sin (Ephesians 2:1-10; Hebrews 2:3). We must study to understand the biblical doctrine of inherent sin, fallen mankind, and the holiness of God …. in order to begin to be able to appreciate the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.

What to “Put Off” and What to “Put On”

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation THE OLD MAN, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on THE NEW MAN, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off THE OLD MAN with his deeds; 10 And have put on THE NEW MAN, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” Colossians 3:9-10

“When we embrace the crucified life we are given overflowing rivers of new life! New life is breathed into us. Walking in the flesh only makes our soul sick with sin! And sin kills and destroys! (Romans 6:23). Rotting us from the inside out! But the way of the cross brings life to our flesh! (Proverbs 3:8, 4:22). Our flesh meaning our whole spirit, soul and body. 1 Thessalonians 5:23. We cannot be a whole person until we are completely given over to the Lord! And this can only happen through the cross. When we are dead and buried and raised up in the newness of life Jesus offers us, then the joy of the Lord will fill our hearts!” Karen Cochran

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry UpdatesBecause You Care Page | Bible/Word of GodThe Greatest of these is CharityBe Ready in the Morning [podcast]The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast]At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God Grace and Truth Bible School [modules] | 7 Study Guides to a Greater Foundation in Christ | Knowing God | The Cross Life | Christology = the Study of Christ

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What Does it Mean to Follow Christ? [podcast]


“Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 3

THE LORD is calling for an immediate release of the WHOLE counsel of HIS WORD!

DO you have a 20/20 vision? Read Acts 20:20 and get it!

Just like fake news TV, wolves only give you a small part of the whole story – in order to manipulate you! Half truths kill!

YOU know when you are right with God when you are running TO the cross message and not AWAY from it! “Enemies of the cross” of Christ “mind earthly things” and not the things the LORD commanded (Philippians 3:18-19).

The cross is a dethroning, unseating of self and the enthroning of Christ!

The Crucified Life 

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry UpdatesBecause You Care Page | Bible/Word of GodThe Greatest of these is CharityBe Ready in the Morning [podcast]The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast]At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God Grace and Truth Bible School [modules] | 7 Study Guides to a Greater Foundation in Christ | Knowing God | The Cross Life | Christology = the Study of Christ

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