Amazed and Thankful
Posted September 7, 2010
"While salvation certainly was secured for all men through the finished work of Christ while He was on the cross, what that 'finished' work accomplished is that now, in spirit, Christ can live His life in us. We can now "fill up in our flesh that which is behind of the sufferings of Christ." It is Christ living His life of rejection and suffering in us that matures us. That was never possible before the work of Christ was "finished"."
S_____
Hello, Mike,
Above I put a sentence you said in answer to a question. This very paragraph JUMPED out to me. Again I am so thankful for the Lord allowing my understanding to grow. .."what that finished work accomplished is that now, in spirit Christ CAN live His LIFE in us. Also "living His life of rejection and suffering in us that matures us' Oh how I love the truth in the scriptures!! I have been reading the articles that pertain to the flesh must die etc.. and that salvation is a life long process. This is just the complete opposite of what I was once taught. I was taught that Jesus Christ lived the life he lived in His flesh so that we would not have to go through what He did; that our life is an exchange with His. But now I know that is a lie!! I was taught this from the understanding of what the new covenant is. It is a very big doctrine about the New Covenant and its blessings. Sorry Mike, but I am so ashamed of my ignorance so please bear with me. Would you kindly direct me to the articles or the scriptures that teach the whole truth on just what is the New Covenant and just what are the details. I like printing off the articles from your web site so I can read them several times along with the scriptures in them. THANK YOU so much for being so encouraging, helpful and with such clarity. Everything is starting to fit like a puzzle, and yet I know it is the milk of the word, but I really need it as this is just where I am. I have absolutely no clue what Christ actually did for me, but I'm longing to know the truth. God bless you all at IWASANDWILLBE. By the way, also after your last e-mail I found a tutor of the e-sword with Dave Rogers explaining the program on youtube. I am using more of what he showed to do.
Hi S____,
I cannot tell you how encouraging it is to hear that the things we are posting are helping to open your eyes to the spiritual truths which are "hidden" behind the letters of God's Word.
1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
Christ said "My words are spirit", so the "demonstration of the spirit" is the demonstration by God's own Word as to what the letters of His Word means, and when we do that, lo and behold, we discover that His words really do have a spiritual message concerning spiritual matters, and "the flesh profits nothing".
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth [Greek, gives life]; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
When we let God's own Word interpret God's Word, we discover that "the flesh" and "the letter" are almost interchangeable in scripture, and that the holy spirit teaches us only by comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 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.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
I pray that God will continue to open your eyes to "the things of the spirit". God bless your continued studies. A good starting point for your studies would be the articles listed on the left on the home page.
Your brother in Christ,Mike