In the book of Revelation, Jesus further clarifies this work short in righteousness when He said, " I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My Name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee." (Revelation 3:8-9)
This is His promise to those who believe -- that if we keep His Word and do not deny His Name, people around us will know how much He -- our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ -- loves us. We know this time is upon us, and that right now, with our little strength, we see the darkness in the world increasing, because those who profess to believe are even less knowledgeable of His Word, or even His Name.
Still, the angel of the Lord announced that His Name shall be called JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. The same Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last who made this world and all creation so that He could call unto Himself a family -- the bride of Christ church wherein He -- Jesus -- is the Head.
I am going to take this one step further, because in the last days, many will come saying they are the Christ. Jesus said we are not to follow them because there is only one Christ, the man Christ Jesus -- the humanity of God displayed for one and all to see -- who willingly gave up His life on the cross so that we might have everlasting life -- abundant life -- a manifold much life when we keep our eyes focused on Him. (John 1:10-11; I Timothy 3:16; Titus 3:4-7; Revelation 1:8; Isaiah 9:6)
Who is Him? The same Spirit of the Lord God who moved upon the face of the waters in the beginning. The same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that is the God of the living. The same God who was manifest in the flesh and dwelt among us. And, in this dispensation of grace, His Name is Jesus -- the I AM that was from the very beginning.
And God said unto Moses, "I AM THAT I AM" and He said, "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." (Exodus 3:14)
Jesus said, " ... have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, "I AM the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Matthew 22:32)
In the New Testament, Jesus said, "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I AM not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matthew 9:13)
There is only one I AM and we who believe are not the I AM. Let those with ears to hear, hear. Let those with eyes to see, see.
For what saith the scripture? "Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Romans 4:3; Genesis 15:6)
But His promise to us goes further, because when the Spirit of truth dwells within, we are no longer entangled in the bondage of this world. Rather the truth which sanctifies us sets us free. Thy Word is Truth. (John 17:17) Paul makes this very point in Romans.
"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 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: for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; 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; to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:21-26)
This is why there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own [begotten] Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
"For 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. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 5:1-8)
" ... that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:4)
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." (Romans 8:10)
Stand in the offering plate.
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