Being Faithful to God

[Behold]

Who here actually believes that Jesus will NEVER leave you?
I do, myself. Do you?
Much love!

People who are self righteous, and have lost their faith, or have never had it, will say...>"you can walk away from God".... as their silly idea that this stops God's Salvation.
Well, if you are born again, and you walk away from God, The God is right there with you, wherever you go.
Why?
First of all, it because the born again and God have become "ONE"., and the Born again and Christ have become "ONE".
Also, Because God purchased you with the Blood Of Jesus, and gave you to Jesus as His inheritance, that is not going to change if you have a crisis of faith.

Right now, some born again people are on this Forum.
And God is right there IN YOU.
He's not going anywhere, no matter what you do next. He'll aways be right there as "Christ in you, the hope of Glory".

 

[amadeus]

Exactly correct.

Can we walk in the Spirit today, by faith in Christ?

Much love!

Yes, we can, but do we still have a choice in the matter?

 

[marks]

What you are espousing is a denial of seeking God's face for God's presence. The whole point of the New Birth is to taste of the Lord and go to Him. Claiming the first step in a race is sufficient is to be disqualified as a DNF. Jesus is BOTH the author AND finisher of our faith. We go to the Lord before His throne so He can finish what He started.

Look at the story of the 10 lepers. Only 1 out of 10 went back. Surely the other 9 thought why do I need to go to Jesus if I am healed? Yet Jesus says..where are the other 9????

Being as the other 9 were Jews, and Jesus told them to go to the temple to offer the sacrifice of the leper in the day of his cleansing, perhaps that's what they were doing?

But they could have returned with gratitude! Did their Law keeping keep them from Christ? We don't know what was in their minds, and presuming to know doesn't make us smarter.

Yes, it is Jesus, the Originator and Finisher of our faith. Yes, nothing without Jesus!

New birth is to bring us into God's family, justifying us away from sin. And being now God's family, let us boldly come to Him, and live in His presence, having been reconciled in Christ.

In that faith, we can stand in grace. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Some say we cannot, but I say we can, but be it to you according to your faith. If you don't believe you can, you won't.

Much love!

 

[marks]

Yes, we can, but do we still have a choice in the matter?

I don't understand.

Do you believe Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us?

Much love!

 

[amadeus]

I don't understand.

Much love!

The answer to your question was, yes. Are we better than Adam and Eve were before they disobeyed God? Do we not have the same choice to obey or disobey God now as they did then when they made the wrong choice?

When a person quenches the Holy Spirit within, has he not made the same wrong choice that Adam and Eve did?

Is God a respecter of persons?

 

[Pearl]

Who here actually believes that Jesus will NEVER leave you?

I do, myself. Do you?

Much love!

I believe Jesus will never leave me. He has put his spirit into me:

2 Corinthians 1:21-23
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

2 Corinthians 5:4-6
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.

 

[farouk]

I believe Jesus will never leave me. He has put his spirit into me:

2 Corinthians 1:21-23
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

2 Corinthians 5:4-6
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.

@Pearl Great verses there....

 

[marks]

The answer to your question was, yes. Are we better than Adam and Eve were before they disobeyed God? Do we not have the same choice to obey or disobey God now as they did then when they made the wrong choice?

When a person quenches the Holy Spirit within, has he not made the same wrong choice that Adam and Eve did?

Is God a respecter of persons?

Then we are agreed that being children of God that we can walk in the Spirit, and in walking in the Spirit, we won't fulfill the lusts of the flesh. This is good.

To your questions of Adam and Eve, and how our state in rebirth may differ from their state, there are many differences, but that goes way outside this thread.

The topic is faithfulness to God. I believe that God has first been faithful towards us, and has provided the means to transcend the sin brought in by Adam. That He has provided the means for us to be faithful, and loving, and patience, and so on, through faith in Christ, through the power of His Spirit.

Much love!

 

[amadeus]

Then we are agreed that being children of God that we can walk in the Spirit, and in walking in the Spirit, we won't fulfill the lusts of the flesh. This is good.

To your questions of Adam and Eve, and how our state in rebirth may differ from their state, there are many differences, but that goes way outside this thread.

The topic is faithfulness to God. I believe that God has first been faithful towards us, and has provided the means to transcend the sin brought in by Adam. That He has provided the means for us to be faithful, and loving, and patience, and so on, through faith in Christ, through the power of His Spirit.

Much love!

No, I believe that probably Adam and Eve were closer to God than most believers I have known... that is before they disobeyed God. They could have been even closer still if they had partaken of the Tree of Life and left that other forbidden tree alone!

We may now again have access to the Tree of Life available, but what does it require for us to actually partake of it?

Consider this:

"So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
For many are called, but few are chosen." Matt 22:10-14

What must we be wearing in order to enter in...?

What must we overcome in order to eat of the Tree of Life?

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" Rev 2:7

What did Jesus overcome?

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

What world did Jesus overcome in order to be able to say this?

"And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world..." John 17:11

Are we still in the world? Why?

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" I John 2:15-17

Did not the world of temptation for Jesus pass away when he overcame that world?

 

[Behold]

What must we overcome in order to eat of the Tree of Life?
?

Nothing., other then your unbelief.
We must repent of that, before God will supply us with Salvation, that is "A Gift'.
....Its because Jesus died on THE TREE.....that all who will believe may have "eternal life" and do.
Jesus is your Author of Life, and the Bread of Life....and He is ETERNAL LIFE... and He lives IN the Born Again.
"Christ IN YOU"< is your eternal Life.

 

[Episkopos]

Nothing., other then your unbelief.
We must repent of that, before God will supply us with Salvation, that is "A Gift'.
....Its because Jesus died on THE TREE.....that all who will believe may have "eternal life" and do.
Jesus is your Author of Life, and the Bread of Life....and He is ETERNAL LIFE... and He lives IN the Born Again.
"Christ IN YOU"< is your eternal Life.

Jesus said...abide in Me AND I in you. Only then can we bear an eternal fruit. Many have been taught that our house within us is the same thing as being where God is in heaven. Such as these have not known the heavenly walk...but have been taught to be satisfied with the sample. Just the free stuff thank you!

 

[Behold]

Jesus said...abide in Me AND I in you.

Notice your verse, is a totally spiritual concept.

Christ says.....YOU IN ME.........and ME IN YOU.

So, Jesus is IN NOONE< unless they are born again.
That is how He becomes IN.....you.

And you are "IN" Him.....not next door. Not, Jesus up there, and you down here.

"IN" me....He says.
How do you get IN Him?

= "you must be Born again"., as then you are IN Him, and that is how you Abide IN IN IN Him."

 

[Episkopos]

Notice your verse, is a totally spiritual concept.

Christ says.....YOU IN ME.........and ME IN YOU.

So, Jesus is IN NOONE< unless they are born again.
That is how He becomes IN.....you.

And you are "IN" Him.....not next door. Not, Jesus up there, and you down here.

"IN" me....He says.
How do you get IN Him?

= "you must be Born again"., as then you are IN Him, and that is how you Abide IN IN IN Him."

Being born again is but a sample of the fulness of grace available IN Christ. You must be born again to SEE and enter into Zion...the kingdom of Heaven.

 

[marks]

No, I believe that probably Adam and Eve were closer to God than most believers I have known... that is before they disobeyed God. They could have been even closer still if they had partaken of the Tree of Life and left that other forbidden tree alone!

Rebirth is a new thing in Christ.

Adam and Eve being uncorrupted had fellowship with God, walking with Him in the garden. Scripture does not teach that they were indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Scripture teaches rebirth in Christ comes through His death and resurrection. Sins before the Law were overlooked, as sin is not imputed without Law. God holds us responsible for what He has told us.

Sins under the Law were covered by sacrifice, but not permanently removed. Only in Christ, the Lamb of God, are the sins of the world removed. Carried away by Christ.

Adam was uncorrupted, fellowshipping with God, until he disobeyed, and the corruption of sin began. Adam lost his fellowship with God, and lost his right to the Tree of Life. We don't know what his fellowship with God was like, I suspect that we can't really imagine or speculate on that very well.

Nothing in the Bible tells us that Adam was indwelt with the Holy Spirit, being joined to Christ. What the Bible does teach us is that we begin to share His life when we've shared with Him His death.

Adam began uncorrupted, we begin being corrupted by sin. God cleanses us from sin, justifies us - making us righteous - by immersing us into Christ in His death, and burial, so we can also share His resurrection life. Later, in our bodies, but now, in our spirits. Having been immersed into Christ, raised together with Him, we are joined to Him, receiving His Spirit.

We know we are in Him, and we know He is in us, by His Spirit given unto us. Our lives and Adam's life are very different things, starting in different ways, He fell from life to death. Did God's Spirit in Adam fail him? That's the problem with thinking that we and Adam are/were the same.

We aren't. Weren't.

We are restored from corruption by sharing the death and resurrection of Christ, he entered into corruption by disobedience. That very same corruption that is overcome by the power of a new life in Christ. The new life in Christ wherein God promises to overcome by our faith the power of the flesh, and the world, and all evil.

You question whether we may make the wrong choice as did Adam, whether we might fall from this life into death, didn't Adam fall from life into death? But our life is in Christ, who has promised, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

So I continue to ask . . . do you believe this is true? That Jesus will NEVER leave you, NEVER forsake you?

If you believe His promise is true, that Jesus will in fact now never leave you, never forsake you, shall we not rejoice in His steadfastness? And hold the ever closer to Him in trust and love?

Much love!

 

[marks]

Jesus said...abide in Me AND I in you. Only then can we bear an eternal fruit. Many have been taught that our house within us is the same thing as being where God is in heaven. Such as these have not known the heavenly walk...but have been taught to be satisfied with the sample. Just the free stuff thank you!

Colossians 3:1-4 KJV
1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Our walk is by faith and not by sight. Simply stated. Elegant. And definitive.

We are told that our life is hid with Christ in God, in the heavenly realm, being raised with Him, having died with Him.

Perhaps some have been taught to be satisfied with first things. And perhaps some have been discouraged from every attaining past first things, there are many ways people become discouraged.

There certainly do seem to be people who are very stuck on first things.

I'm curious if you will be able to clarify something for me. Maybe I understand, let's see.

You've spoken of being in Christ as being in an elevated walk in life, where you see light on things, you've had various descriptions, it sounds as if you are describing seeing through the veil into the heavenly realm alongside this terrestrial realm, is that along the lines of what you've said?

You've spoken of this elevated walk, which you identify as "walking in the Spirit" (accept no substitutes!), as something that will only happen in our lives if God does something special for us to bring us into that walk. And that we cannot just choose to be there, God must bring us there.

But then you've also spoken of this walk as something we must purchase from God with all that we are, and all we have. That we have to competely give up our lives for it.

Is what you mean that, should we reach a point of that kind of complete forsaking of our own lives, that this makes us elgible for God to choose us, should He do so, for this elevated walk? Do I have the right idea on this? That first we must put to death our flesh, and after that perhaps God will choose us for walking in Zion?

Much love!

 

[Episkopos]

Colossians 3:1-4 KJV
1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Our walk is by faith and not by sight. Simply stated. Elegant. And definitive.

We are told that our life is hid with Christ in God, in the heavenly realm, being raised with Him, having died with Him.

Perhaps some have been taught to be satisfied with first things. And perhaps some have been discouraged from every attaining past first things, there are many ways people become discouraged.

There certainly do seem to be people who are very stuck on first things.

I'm curious if you will be able to clarify something for me. Maybe I understand, let's see.

You've spoken of being in Christ as being in an elevated walk in life, where you see light on things, you've had various descriptions, it sounds as if you are describing seeing through the veil into the heavenly realm alongside this terrestrial realm, is that along the lines of what you've said?

You've spoken of this elevated walk, which you identify as "walking in the Spirit" (accept no substitutes!), as something that will only happen in our lives if God does something special for us to bring us into that walk. And that we cannot just choose to be there, God must bring us there.

But then you've also spoken of this walk as something we must purchase from God with all that we are, and all we have. That we have to competely give up our lives for it.

Is what you mean that, should we reach a point of that kind of complete forsaking of our own lives, that this makes us elgible for God to choose us, should He do so, for this elevated walk? Do I have the right idea on this? That first we must put to death our flesh, and after that perhaps God will choose us for walking in Zion?

Much love!

Amen..and well said Mark. Yes. That is the upper scale of what is possible as we walk in Christ to be where He is. We offer ourselves to God and He accepts the sacrifice or not...like Abel. The fire comes down when the surrender goes up...IF God permits.

There is also a walk in faithfulness that must accompany that walk as it is very difficult to stay in such a place...over time we get lonely. The best is a fellowship that supports that level of walk. That's why we need each other.

Otherwise the walk in faithfulness to what God has already given to us. So then whether we are absent from the Lord or present with Him in Zion...we do all to be accepted by Him.

 

[marks]

Amen..and well said Mark. Yes. That is the upper scale of what is possible as we walk in Christ to be where He is. We offer ourselves to God and He accepts the sacrifice or not...like Abel. The fire comes down when the surrender goes up...IF God permits.

There is also a walk in faithfulness that must accompany that walk as it is very difficult to stay in such a place...over time we get lonely. The best is a fellowship that supports that level of walk. That's why we need each other.

Otherwise the walk in faithfulness to what God has already given to us. So then whether we are absent from the Lord or present with Him in Zion...we do all to be accepted by Him.

I appreciate your confirmation. I feel that we waste a lot of time when we fail to understand what another person is saying. I know sometimes people can have a difficult time seeing past a disagreement, and especially if they start to feel threatened by it.

What do you say concerning this passage in Colossians, that we are in fact hid with Christ in God, in the heavenly realm, to be revealed when He is revealed?

Having died with Him, being raised with Him?

Where does being born again fit?

I understand born again referring to when we are baptized into Christ's death and burial, and recreated in our spiritual resurrection, even as we await our physical resurrection.

How do we have anything at all except in Christ?

Maybe my question to you is this,

Romans 6:4-12 KJV
4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9) Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

When in a man's life does this happen?

I would answer, this describes our recreation, being born again. That going forward, we reckon that these things are in fact true, and live accordingly, the faith by which we have access into the grace in which we stand.

Much love!

 

[marks]

as it is very difficult to stay in such a place...over time we get lonely.

This in particular is difficult for me to understand.

I've likewise had experience with an elevated walk, but what I found was such a sweet communion with God, I couldn't bear to not be able to share it. But I didn't anticipate the answer to my request, when I asked that God would enable me to share this, well, in particular with Derek, with whom I feel a particular affinity. I couldn't help him just saying, It's wonderful, and I hope God does this for you also! With anyone! A wonderful life! Did I see light on things? I don't think so, but there was such a feeling of light.

I really don't like to get to much into descriptions, because I think that God is so personal to each of us, I don't want someone trying to duplicate what they think I'm trying to describe. It's like my sister, she never watched movies about Jesus. She wanted her perceptions of Jesus formed entirely from the Scriptures, and her own relationship with Him.

I didn't get lonely, I became heartbroken. But shortly after I asked to be able to share with others, it ended. But the thing is, in the years since then, He's been training me in faith, and the fact is, I know we can live that life.

You and I have some differences in descriptions perhaps, but I'm talking about walking in the Spirit, not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, producing spiritual fruit, the Holy Spirit producing His fruit in giving me a Godly character.

And I agee with you completely, we don't "grow into that" walk. If we are walking in the Spirit, we do not sin. Well, that's where I stop. I leave it up to Jesus to be the determiner on that one. I'm not about to say, I've just spent this day without sin. I know better than to think I know myself so well. We grow into a better character, but when we walk in the Spirit, we are living in His character, as it were.

And as we walk in the Spirit, we ourselves become transformed, rendering our natural lives more agreeable to our spiritual lives. Though the flesh will plague us until our resurrection. But we don't have to live according to it.

While it seems so far away, so unattainable, I believe that God gives some of us a taste to show it's real. That's what it did for me. I truly did not believe that life was possible for me, but now I know it is, and I know that by our reconciliation in Christ, that we are at peace with God, that we are dead to our flesh, dead to sin, dead to law, and we should live as those who is now alive from among the dead ones.

A life of victory as we trust in Jesus . . . only, be it to you according to your faith, faith in the certainty of our reconciliation to God in Christ.

Much love!

 

[amigo de christo]

This in particular is difficult for me to understand.

I've likewise had experience with an elevated walk, but what I found was such a sweet communion with God, I couldn't bear to not be able to share it. But I didn't anticipate the answer to my request, when I asked that God would enable me to share this, well, in particular with Derek, with whom I feel a particular affinity. I couldn't help him just saying, It's wonderful, and I hope God does this for you also! But with anyone! A wonderful life! Did I see light on things? I don't think so, but there was such a feeling of light.

I really don't like to get to much into descriptions, because I think that God is so personal to each of us, I don't want someone trying to duplicate what they think I'm trying to describe. It's like my sister, she never watched movies about Jesus. She wanted her perceptions of Jesus formed entirely from the Scriptures, and her own relationship with Him.

I didn't get lonely, I became heartbroken. But shortly after I asked to be able to share with others, it ended. But the thing is, in the years since then, He's been training me in faith, and the fact is, I know we can live that life.

You and I have some differences in descriptions perhaps, but I'm talking about walking in the Spirit, not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, producing spiritual fruit, the Holy Spirit producing His fruit in giving me a Godly character.

And I agee with you completely, we don't "grow into that" walk. If we are walking in the Spirit, we do not sin. Well, that's where I stop. I leave it up to Jesus to be the determiner on that one. I'm not about to say, I've just spent this day without sin. I know better that to think I know myself so well. We grow into a better character, but when we walk in the Spirit, we are living in His character, as it were.

And as we walk in the Spirit, we ourselves become transformed, rendering our natural lives more agreeable to our spiritual lives. Though the flesh will plague us until our resurrection. But we don't have to live according to it.

While it seems so far away, so unattainable, I believe that God gives some of us a taste to show it's real. That's what it did for me. I truly did not believe that life was possible for me, but now I know it is, and I know that by our reconciliation in Christ, that we are at peace with God, that we are dead to our flesh, dead to sin, dead to law, and we should live as those who is now alive from among the dead ones.

A live of victory as we trust in Jesus.

Much love!

Your dear sister has the right idea . Learn well the JESUS of the bible . THEN we can test and see what christain movies are good
or bad . SIS Was RIGHT . Feast on that bible and do so daily . By grace i have been reading it since day one of my walks .
Daily for hours . And it never gets old to my soul . Thats been over sixteen years ago my friend .
Its probably why so many churches reject me , But be that as it may , LAMBS LOVE TRUTH and lambs will gather with those
Who love the LORD above all . Those who will not compromise one glorious thing HE taught , but rather embrace it with JOY
upon the heart . I have found the WORDS of GOD to be the most wonderful taste indeed . HE keeps us safe . From every warning
every example in that bible it does such good to the soul to feast upon those words .

 

[marks]

Your dear sister has the right idea . Learn well the JESUS of the bible . THEN we can test and see what christain movies are good
or bad . SIS Was RIGHT . Feast on that bible and do so daily .

It was my sister who testified before her passing that she never really understood how much God loves her until she was dying of cancer. God has a way of revealing Himself to us that no one can duplicate!

Yes, the more Bible we can have flowing into our minds, the more our minds will be reshaped to look like the Bible. Having the mind of Christ!

Much love!