Saturday, October 15, 2016

Sanctify Them Through Thy Truth: Thy Word Is Truth - Part 1503

"Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, "[Thy] sins be forgiven thee" or to say, "Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?" (Mark 2:9)

Good question. Because nothing is too difficult for the Lord of glory. And in the scriptures, we see numerous examples of the Lord healing those who were sick in the physical and similarly void in the spiritual. Indeed, His purpose was to restore people to completeness in Him through His Name.

As the angel of the Lord declared, when he appeared unto Joseph in a dream, "she shall bring forth a son and THOU SHALT CALL HIS NAME JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21-23)

So, how do we find that completeness? His purpose that was placed in our heart whilst we were still in our mother's womb?

By asking Jesus to become Lord and Christ in our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and being water baptized (immersed) in His Name -- the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 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. (Romans 6:3-4)

It is herein that we become clothed in His garment of righteousness, taking on His Name in repentance and water baptism, and from there in everything that we do. The born again experience - which Jesus shared with Nicodemus in John 3 -- is similar to a bride who takes on her husband's name in marriage. When we come to Jesus, we as members of His body -- the body of Christ -- His bride -- take on His Name in water baptism. (Acts 2:36-47; Acts 10:40-44; I Peter 3:21-22)

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." (Colossians 3:17)

Jesus answered them, "I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in My Father's Name, they bear witness of Me." (John 10:25)

As a consequence, we become complete in Him. The SAME He who created the world in the beginning was in the world, drawing all people unto Him. (John 1:10-11) His Word made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-18)

"All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men, and the light shines in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:3-4)

"For by Him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him, and by Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He might have the pre-eminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell; and having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him." (Colossians 1:1-29. 2:9)

Jesus. The only Name given under heaven whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) And when we believe on Him and are water baptized in His Name, we become complete. We die to self when we become clothed in His righteousness. Our hearts and minds are transformed when we continue in the faith, grounded and settled, moving not away from the hope of the gospel. Does this mean we become perfect? Of course not. We are still clothed in human flesh. What it does mean that in the eyes of the Lord, we are precious. We have been buried with Him in baptism wherein also we are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised Him from the dead, and you being dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses. (Colossians 2:6-15)

And as a consequence, "ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power: in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:10-15)

It is Jesus who blotted out the handwriting of ordinances (under the law and old covenant) so that we could be saved. He prepared Himself a body so that we as members of His body might have life. God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23) And now, in this current dispensation of grace, we have the opportunity to experience God our Saviour in us. (Titus 3:4-7; John 14:26; I Corinthians 12:1-31)

His Spirit -- the Holy Ghost that overshadowed Mary once again regenerated, leading and guiding us into all truth. (Luke 1:35; Ephesians 4:15)

Jesus said, "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine, therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see Me, and again, a little while and ye shall see Me, because I go to the Father .... I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world and go to the Father." (John 16:13-33)

Jesus told His disciples, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."

When Jesus saw the man by the pool of Bethseda and knew how very long the man had waited for restoration, Jesus asked him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" The impotent man answered Jesus, saying, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled to put me into the pool, but while I am coming, another steps down before me." What did Jesus say to the man? "Rise, take up thy bed and walk." And immediately the man did as Jesus said and was made whole, taking up his bed to walk.

As believers in Jesus, we need to understand that the humanity of Christ Jesus "manifested Thy Name" in all the world. (John 17:6) Jesus said, "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy Name those that Thou gavest Me I have kept ..." (John 17:12)

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that hears My Word, and believes on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life."

This is why Jesus "declared unto them Thy Name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:26)

In this dispensation of grace, it is all about Jesus. God manifest in the flesh so that we might have life more abundantly. (I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6)

Stand in the offering plate.

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