Saturday, June 10, 2017

CHRISTIAN SALVATION PART 3

LIFE AND PEACE

In part 1 we examined the importance of keeping ourselves in the love of God, and in part 2 we made the connection between 'sins being covered' and the establishment of true righteousness in the heart. In this final part I am going to extoll the benefits of abiding in what was discussed in the  first two parts.

In Romans we read...

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

To be spiritually minded is life and peace. Why? Because righteousness works.

The world can be likened to an engine and righteousness can be likened to the proper function of that engine. Sin could be equated to abusing the engine, perhaps draining the oil, or putting sand in the gas tank, or perhaps disconnecting the water pump and allowing the engine to run hot. A failure to operate an engine in accordance with its design will result in, at the least, an inefficient engine, or more than likely an engine breakdown and damage.

Imagine a world without sin, a world that operated upon the principle of genuine love. There would be no murders, jealousies, strife, evil surmisings, adulteries, deceptive acts, violence,  or whatever other evils one can think of.

You see, when one operates in discordance to the love of God then they are part of the problem and not the solution.

The love of God is life, the absence of it is death, not in a physical sense but in a spiritual sense.

The Spirit which sheds the love of God upon the heart brings life.

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Was it not a turning from God which brought death?

Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

It is a turning to God which brings life.

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Eze 33:11  Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

So it is in the Spirit we find life, hence the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ which works the righteousness of God in us, thus bringing about the manifest fulfillment of genuine righteousness.

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
...
Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

It is in being part of the solution, in not being an enemy of God, nor an enemy of our fellow man, in which we find true peace of mind. True peace is found in being aligned with God.

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

I'll sum up with one final scripture reference. Please read it several times and contemplate it.

1Jn 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Dear reader, do you abide in the love of God?

Thank you for reading.

Scott

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