RELIGIONS of the world like Jesus’ charitable and compassionate deeds during His earthly ministry. They say that He was a great prophet.
However, they do not want parts like He was/is God in man called incarnation and do not agree that He is the Messiah and the Way to God the Father.
Furthermore, they hold themselves back from His sufferings, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, ascension and seating on the right hand of God the Father.
The moment we interpret the Gospels, they exit. But we know that is where our salvation is by substitutionary sacrifice and identification with the believer.
You know that Christianity is not a religion but the life of Christ in the heart(spirit) of humanity.
When this life bears fruit through believers in love, religions will be okay with that.
The church itself has often failed to explain the fruit-bearing aspect of Christianity and drove believers to work and self-effort though they know that our salvation is by grace through faith not by so-called good deeds.
Apostle Paul points out in Ephesians 2:8-9, “[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
- ZRC wraps up stakeholder consultations
- Letter from America: Ariel Primary: A school that teaches pupils to be angels
- Grace tidings: Faith of God: The access code to victorious living
- Grace tidings: Right and wrong thinking
Keep Reading
We are compassionate or we show love because of Christ in us. Many have stumbled in explaining James 1:27, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
This verse simply shows how a spiritually developed believer does beyond inner peace and rest of eternal life. It does not in any way say that Christianity is a religion.
Let me get this out of the way. Religion is humanity’s attempt to reach God whereas Christianity is God coming into humanity and abides forever in those who receive and accept the Gospel of Christ.
This column has taught that a born-again believer did not receive Jesus of Nazareth or the Man of Galilee but the resurrected and triumphant Christ seated on the right hand (place of authority) of God the Father.
To carry on with the strand we have been discussing in the last couple of weeks that a born-again believer is a new creation, we will look at more examples.
We reiterate that the new creation has no generational curses or past sins.
S/he did not give their life to Jesus but received the life of Christ seated on the right hand of God the Father.
This new creation has no deliverance issues. All s/he has to do is know the truth.
This new creation does not stand in front of the congregation and give testimony that s/he was a serial killer or a prostitute.
Salvation brought about remission not forgiveness of sins. It was not an atonement like under the law.
Atonement covers up sins but remission clears away sins and God does not remember them any longer.
Apostle Paul does not mince his words in 2 Corinthians 5:16, New King James Version, “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.”
Jesus Christ of Nazareth Who went about doing good is not the one we received upon salvation. We received Christ Who finished the work of the Father, redemption.
It is futile to try to keep reminding believers of the old man and it keeps believers in guilt and under condemnation. We look at Jesus beyond the pages of His earthly ministry.
We received the resurrected Christ, the apex or maximum of power.
Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:18-20, “[18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, [19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.”
The power that raised Christ from the dead in its original language means beyond target.
It is like using a missile to shoot a bird. We as the church have more than enough power to deal with the evils of this world.
We read Ephesians 1:22, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.” We were born-again or saved with super power deposited in us. All we need is to know and acknowledge it.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. May Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.
