Romans 3:23-26, ²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵Whom 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; ²⁶To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Romans 8:1-5, ¹There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ²For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. ³For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: ⁴That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ⁵For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:20-22, ²⁰But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. ²¹For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. ²²For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Prior to the crucifixion, burial, and ascension of Jesus to be at the right hand of the Father man was under the Levitical Law which was impossible to keep in its entirety. The Law called for the blood sacrifice of a perfect animal, usually a bull, goat or lamb for the forgiveness of sin. This sacrifice had to be offered by the High Priest once each year for the people. Even so they, the people, could not enter into the presence of God ever themselves because they were still under the curse of Adam. It was necessary for God to send His Son to be that perfect blood sacrifice. Some one has said that when we are justified by Christ it is "just as if we had never sinned" which would make us pure and holy.

We have been cleansed or our sins washed from us by the precious blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus. Not only did that redeem us but it also made us kings and priests unto God. What an awesome honor and privilege we have as we believe on the Lord Jesus for that salvation He has purchased for us.

Revelation 1:5-6, ⁵And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, ⁶And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

All our former trespasses have been forgiven by God when we accept the sacrifice Jesus became as He hung on that cross for us. Jesus paid the bill in full for us for our previous sins. When we accept this free gift it costs us nothing; we cannot earn it, we are not worthy to receive it, there is nothing we can do to merit it.

We are adopted by God the Father. We are His children, not servants but sons, who are joint heirs of God with Christ. Our adoption was preordained by God before the foundation of the world according to His good pleasure. We also are redeemed from the law that was impossible for us to obey in its entirety. Only Christ, who knew no sin, was able to fully obey the law. Through His blood we now are forgiven and are made joint heirs with Him.

Romans 8:14-17, ¹⁴For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. ¹⁵For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ¹⁶The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ¹⁷And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Ephesians 1:3-6, ³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: ⁴According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ⁵Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

We are no longer servants under the Law but now are a son and heir of God through Christ Jesus.

Galatians 4:4-7, ⁴But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ⁵To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ⁶And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ⁷Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

He is the Shepherd and we are His Sheep. A good shepherd will see to it his sheep have water, feed and are well protected from predators. We can rest easy for He has already laid down His life for us, His sheep and will continue to provide for all our needs because He sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.

As is written in the 23^rd Psalm, He, Jesus our Lord, will be our shepherd. He will give us plenty of rest, food and water to meet our needs in the green pastures and still waters that He provides for us. We will be restored, led in paths of righteousness and comforted even in the presence of our enemies. And beyond all that we will live in the House of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23, A Psalm of David.

1Peter 1:13-16, ¹³Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: ¹⁵But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; ¹⁶Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy,

1 Peter 2:9, ⁹But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

We are a new creature. God, through our belief on the name of Jesus Christ, has made us a new creation. Our old Adamic nature has been put to death and our new Christ nature is made alive. We are also called into a ministry of reconciliation to bring the world to God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19, ¹⁷Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ¹⁸And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Galatians 3:26-29, ²⁶For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Ephesians 1:3-9, ³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: ⁴According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ⁵Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. ⁷In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; ⁸Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; ⁹Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Ephesians 2:4-7, ⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, ⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) ⁶And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: ⁷That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

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

We have no righteousness in and of ourselves but because of our faith of Jesus we are robed with His righteousness. This righteousness, His righteousness, comes as a part of the gift of salvation. He has become our righteousness. We are not able to become righteous because we pray but rather we pray because we are righteous. Our works do not purchase us righteousness but because we have His righteousness we willingly do works.

Romans 3:20-26, ²⁰Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. ²¹But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; ²²Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: ²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵Whom 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; ²⁶To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:21, ²¹For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Romans 10:10, ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

We, who are born again of the Spirit, are individually and collectively the Body of Christ. This Body of Christ is made up of many members. Each member of this body, us individually and also collectively, has a function to perform that cannot be perfectly performed by any one else. God has given us gifts, or abilities and talents, which we are to use in performing those functions He has assigned to us. If we choose to not do our part that function will be hindered in its ability to accomplish the intended task. God may, and probably will, use someone else to accomplish the task He intended for us to perform. Because we have chosen to neglect our assignment His perfect will becomes His acceptable will. Not only do we need to perform our function but we also have an obligation to do it in cooperation with the other members of the body so that the body performs the work of the Lord. An example of working together is to look at the human hand. It is designed so that the thumb and fingers work together to be able to grasp, pick up and hold objects. If the thumb decides it doesn’t want to cooperate the hand is less able to pick up or hold the object and so the hand is prevented from accomplishing its full design function. Likewise, if the toes, foot, ankle, knee and leg don’t all work with one another we are not able to stand. And when those on the left side don’t cooperate with those on the right side we cannot walk. When this type of cooperation is lacking we become a severely handicapped body. It is then very difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish that which a fully functioning body is able to.

Romans 12:4-5, ⁴For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: ⁵So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1 Corinthians 12:1-31, ¹Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. ²Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. ³Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. ⁴Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. ⁶And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. ⁷But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. ⁸For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; ⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; ¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: ¹¹But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. ¹²For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ¹³For 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. ¹⁴For the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? ¹⁸But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. ¹⁹And if they were all one member, where were the body? ²⁰But now are they many members, yet but one body. ²¹And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. ²²Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: ²³And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. ²⁴For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: ²⁵That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. ²⁶And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. ²⁷Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. ²⁸And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? ³⁰Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? ³¹But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

We have been given a rich heritage, through Christ Jesus, to be a child of God. As a child of God, when we ask of the Father, according to His will, He will give good gifts to us.

Romans 8:14-17, ¹⁴For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. ¹⁵For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ¹⁶The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ¹⁷And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Phillippians 4:11-13, ¹¹Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. ¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Jesus Christ has made us acceptable to God, a holy priesthood and a spiritual house built of lively stones to offer up spiritual sacrifices.

1 Peter 2:3-5, ³If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. ⁴To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ⁵Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

The Holy Ghost resides in us which makes our body the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Christ purchased us with a price, His blood, in order that the Holy Spirit could come in to us to bring His truth to us.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ¹⁹What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? ²⁰For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

As we let the Spirit of God direct our ways through our new creation we are sowing to the spirit and will of the spirit reap life everlasting. Likewise if we allow our flesh to direct our activities we will reap the crop of corruption that comes from our Adamic nature. These two, the Spirit of God and our flesh, are at war with each other for control of us. It is up to us to choose which we will allow to have control over our behavior.

Galations 6:7-8, ⁷Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Paul tells us that for our redemption God not only delivered up for a sacrifice His Son Jesus to sit at His right hand making intercession for us but that we can not be separated from His love. There is nothing, not tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword that can cause Jesus to stop loving us. And besides that we are more than conquerors through Jesus who loves us.

Romans 8:31-39, ³¹What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? ³²He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? ³³Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. ³⁴Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. ³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16, ¹⁴Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. ¹⁵For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: ¹⁶To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

 

If you desire additional information you may contact me:  Bill

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