A man who is born of God would not continue in deliberate sinful acts because the seed of God is in him. This awareness comes from the standpoint of knowledge of who he is in Christ and what Christ has done for him on the cross.
1 John 3:9 [AMP]:
No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him.
The newness of life in Jesus Christ is a switch from the life dominated by the flesh to a life of the Spirit, hence there is a change of culture and mentality for the new man in Christ. This culture and mentality are inherent in the Spirit of God which the new man now possesses in his inside through adoption, but as a child, he must grow in the knowledge of Christ to cultivate the inherent nature of the Spirit of God, and get himself accustomed to them by the help of the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 2:12 [AMP]:
So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ].
The phrase CONTINUE TO WORK OUT, as used in the book of Philippians 2:12 has nothing to do with the justification through works, or attempting to please God through human efforts, but a phrase translated from the Greek word κατεργάζεσθε (katergazesthe), which means to produce or accomplish. In other words, permit me to rephrase that line in Philippians 2:12 by saying thus;
"..... Continue to produce the works of salvation with awe - inspired fear and trembling." [Emphasis mine].
The Spirit of God who resides in the inside of a believer in Christ, has a language, culture and acts which leads to good works with the intent of revealing Christ in him and through him, and affirming that he is a child of God, that all who come in contact with him may glorify God who is his Father.
Mathew 5:14 [AMP]:
“You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
Mathew 5:15 [AMP]:
nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Mathew 5:16 [AMP]:
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven
Jesus Christ is the light of the world, and the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer connects him to the life of Jesus Christ in its entirety, because the Holy Spirit came to reveal Christ.
John 8:12 [AMP]:
Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
In the next parts of this article, I would be detailing how to grow in the knowledge of Christ, that you may live a life that truly examplifies the life and attributes of Christ.
THINGS TO NOTE:
1. The life of Jesus Christ has no connection with iniquity, because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth.
2. The Spirit of God is powerful and expressive in nature, with the aim of revealing Christ in the life of a believer.
3. The Holy Spirit is a well of living waters, and those who seek His depths will reveal His treasures.
4. The life of the new man in Christ is a life of constant personal evaluation which seeks to please God and not men.
.....TO BE CONTINUED.
Min. Awe Hilary
#TheMessenger
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