"Be still and know that I am God. Know too that there is no other Lord and Saviour beside Me." (Isaiah 45:1,5-6, Isaiah 43:11, Isaiah 44:6)
",,, And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Co.lossians 2:10)
What does it mean to be complete in God our Saviour -- His name JESUS in this current dispensation of grace? Given the times in which we live, the idea of being complete -- regardless of the circumstances around us -- might seen unachievable. And yet, we can be complete if we stand perfect in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12)
How can we know this completeness? From stepping into by faith a personal relationship with the One and Only who is Jesus. As the scriptures declare, "He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world." (I John 2:2)
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thessalonians 5:23)
",,, And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Co.lossians 2:10)
What does it mean to be complete in God our Saviour -- His name JESUS in this current dispensation of grace? Given the times in which we live, the idea of being complete -- regardless of the circumstances around us -- might seen unachievable. And yet, we can be complete if we stand perfect in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12)
How can we know this completeness? From stepping into by faith a personal relationship with the One and Only who is Jesus. As the scriptures declare, "He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world." (I John 2:2)
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thessalonians 5:23)
Similar to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and by extension all humanity -- you and I -- our Lord God and Saviour desires that we become complete in Him as a consequence of His grace and mercy. Fulfilled. Joyous. Complete in the knowledge and wisdom that our Lord God and Saviour Jesus loves us beyond measure.
"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man [or woman] that trusts in Him." (Psalm 34:8)
Moreover, when we believe in Jesus, we can be confident in this God-intended completeness that has been decided since the beginning. Indeed, even before the universe as we know the salvation plan was shaped. This is why -- when we open the scriptures, we begin to understand that the written Word -- God in the flesh-- established Jesus the Christ as the Head of the church. The scriptures similarly establish that Jesus alone saves.
That it is in Him -- Jesus our Lord God and Saviour -- that the safety of the members of His body depends. For it is Jesus the Christ who loves the church -- His betrothed bride. It was Jesus the Christ that surrendered His own sinless body of flesh up to death for His betrothed. It was Jesus the Christ who counted His own sinless flesh body to be incomplete without the companionship of His betrothed.
Certainly, creation alone could not break the shackles of sin that had engulfed His one and only love. We know this from the prophecies and journeys elaborated on within the Old Testament.
We also know that salvation required -- indeed demanded -- that any redemption plan that would save humanity had to include a pure righteous man. This is why Jesus laid down His sinless flesh on a cross for you and I. In so doing, Jesus rescued His betrothed, sanctifying and cleansing her.
His betrothed church body -- holy -- purifying and consecrating her. As a consequence, Jesus made her body free from all sin. The Spirit of God washed His own redeemed betrothed church body with the washing of the water of His indwelling. Loving words of His declared promises. She in turn willingly submitting to His words of love, and even following Him to death.
The Spirit of God then -- desirous to present to Himself a glorious church-body. His betrothed as a beautiful splendid bride -- a bride who has not one spot or wrinkle, blots or disfigurements. This redeemed church body -- the betrothed bride of Christ -- became His purchased possession. Now born again. Now faultless and perfect. The Spirit of God which was in Christ loves His betrothed body. He loves His betrothed bride even as He loved His own flesh. For indeed, she was His own flesh. She was created in the beginning for Him. She was the flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone.
Furthermore, there were no limits to His love. There was no orders to her to do this or else. In fact, Jesus did not just talk the talk. He also walked the walk too. For the God who created us, there was no mountain high enough or valley deep enough to keep His holy Spirit from His betrothed. So Jesus sacrificed His own natural body in order to woe her back from the house of bondage. He willingly sacrificed His own sinless body. He endured all things. Now that is love.
"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man [or woman] that trusts in Him." (Psalm 34:8)
Moreover, when we believe in Jesus, we can be confident in this God-intended completeness that has been decided since the beginning. Indeed, even before the universe as we know the salvation plan was shaped. This is why -- when we open the scriptures, we begin to understand that the written Word -- God in the flesh-- established Jesus the Christ as the Head of the church. The scriptures similarly establish that Jesus alone saves.
That it is in Him -- Jesus our Lord God and Saviour -- that the safety of the members of His body depends. For it is Jesus the Christ who loves the church -- His betrothed bride. It was Jesus the Christ that surrendered His own sinless body of flesh up to death for His betrothed. It was Jesus the Christ who counted His own sinless flesh body to be incomplete without the companionship of His betrothed.
Certainly, creation alone could not break the shackles of sin that had engulfed His one and only love. We know this from the prophecies and journeys elaborated on within the Old Testament.
We also know that salvation required -- indeed demanded -- that any redemption plan that would save humanity had to include a pure righteous man. This is why Jesus laid down His sinless flesh on a cross for you and I. In so doing, Jesus rescued His betrothed, sanctifying and cleansing her.
His betrothed church body -- holy -- purifying and consecrating her. As a consequence, Jesus made her body free from all sin. The Spirit of God washed His own redeemed betrothed church body with the washing of the water of His indwelling. Loving words of His declared promises. She in turn willingly submitting to His words of love, and even following Him to death.
The Spirit of God then -- desirous to present to Himself a glorious church-body. His betrothed as a beautiful splendid bride -- a bride who has not one spot or wrinkle, blots or disfigurements. This redeemed church body -- the betrothed bride of Christ -- became His purchased possession. Now born again. Now faultless and perfect. The Spirit of God which was in Christ loves His betrothed body. He loves His betrothed bride even as He loved His own flesh. For indeed, she was His own flesh. She was created in the beginning for Him. She was the flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone.
Furthermore, there were no limits to His love. There was no orders to her to do this or else. In fact, Jesus did not just talk the talk. He also walked the walk too. For the God who created us, there was no mountain high enough or valley deep enough to keep His holy Spirit from His betrothed. So Jesus sacrificed His own natural body in order to woe her back from the house of bondage. He willingly sacrificed His own sinless body. He endured all things. Now that is love.
The good Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep.
That is, He brought His grace to man. Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary. His divine love so that you and I would be the betrothed bride of Christ. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come into him and will sup with him and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)
That is, He brought His grace to man. Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary. His divine love so that you and I would be the betrothed bride of Christ. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come into him and will sup with him and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)
Stand in the offering plate.
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