Do we REALLY Believe?

The One Secret

"The one marvelous secret of a holy life lies not in imitating Jesus, but in letting the perfections of Jesus manifest themselves in my mortal flesh. Sanctification is "Christ is you." It is His wonderful life that is imparted by faith as a sovereign gift of God's grace." Oswald Chambers

God's sovereign, free gift of grace is available to us by faith. Not so that we might consider "What Would Jesus Do", but so that we might show others Jesus Christ IN US, the hope of glory. Do we really believe that?

Do we really believe that...Christ lives in us?

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

Do we really believe that...Christ is being built up in us as we mature in the faith?

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you. Galatians 4:19

Do we really believe that...It is no longer we who live but Christ who lives in us?

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Do we really believe that...We are being conformed to the image of Christ?

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29

Do we really believe that...We are being transformed from what we were?

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

Do we really believe that...We are being changed to be more like Him?

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. II Corinthians 3:18

Do we really believe that...As He is, so we are in this world?

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. I John 4:17

Do we not only believe, but are we experiencing this as we live day by day? Are we living to be like Christ or are we dying so that Christ may live?

Have we hijacked Christ's body and are using it for our glory? For our fulfillment? For our pleasure?

Do we have the expectation that our walk with Christ is not about ourselves and what we can achieve, but about Christ and who He is? We should.

Consider the mark of our high calling in Christ Jesus.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing." Philippians 3:8-16

I encourage you to press toward that mark. Take up your cross daily and follow Him; for the crucifixion of the old man is the means by which the life of Christ in us (the power of salvation) is made visible to men. As we become living sacrifices on the altar of the cross, we become the sweet savour of Christ.

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:26-27

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 13:14

For added edification, read "Where Does God Dwell" by David Wilkerson.