It's all by faith, yes I agree. Technically it's all ours, but in reality we aren't all walking in everything that is ours are we....we can see that with our own eyes looking at ourselves honestly and other believers. Kind of the "yes, but not yet" of things in reality. But we are to grow in the Lord. We must know there is a big difference between "ye are yet carnal" and "you who are spiritual" and grown into the full stature of Christ.
This is how I understand this....I'm seeing it that all the promises are ours, but we're on a journey of growth to apprehend them all. And His word is the light unto our path as we grow, the Lord leading us by His word and by His spirit. I think a few are like Joshua and Caleb and have grace to enter the land of promise quickly, while most of us have 40 years (or however long it takes) of wilderness trekking in order to die to ourselves, shedding our old man, so that we can enter. Everyone is given a measure of faith and grace in the beginning as the Lord apportions it...some have more, some less (parable of the talents)....but whatever measure we have received we are to keep growing and increasing in it. And we can only grow if we are paying the price to follow Jesus...staying on the narrow path and obeying Him and His leading even when it costs us.....don't be rolling off the altar......that is how we "buy the truth" and are buying more oil for our lamps, paying the price for it. If we are His legitimate children we undergo His discipline/chastisements of our flesh. "Be not surprised at the fiery ordeal...." because that is just the norm for His children. I had never heard this preached in the churches....it would have been very encouraging and strengthening if I had heard it earlier on, but the Lord began showing me these things after I left off with churches to follow Him outside the camp. I think sometimes you have to live it before you can see it.
As we are Christ's body on earth, we are filling up what remains of the sufferings of Christ.
Yes, I'm very much in agreement in these things!
I've seen, as I understand things, where God has given gifts of faith to enable a sanctified life beyond one's level of maturity. I believe that sanctified life is the life of the mature Christian. Yes, sometimes we can be there quickly, sometimes it can take a lifetime, and sometimes God puts us there, or allows us to no longer be there. All for His Own reasons.
I compare spiritual immaturity to having millions of dollars in the bank, but living like a pauper because you don't know it's there. You are rich beyond your dreams, but you don't realize it, so you don't benefit.
I believe we are waiting for ourselves, and not another Spirit baptism. I believe that we can apprehend by faith all that God has promised us, because it is all ours in Christ, and having already given us Christ, He does not withhold anything else we need.
And this has put me at odds with some of the people here, who hold to a "latter rain" end times "second Pentecost", looking for when the Spirit will restore the church to unity and power. I believe we are actually to be edifying each other, and to be growing spiritually ourselves, in order to bring unity to the church. I believe the Spirit's power is in us now. But we choose fleshy things out of hidden fleshy motives, sometimes even hidden from ourselves. And tell ourselves we are waiting for that second outpouring.
And the same thing in our lives. We are remade by God in righteousness and holiness of truth. I remain fascinated with the nuances of the meaning of Ephesians 4:24. And we persist in not believing that. We are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to be walking in those works, but we don't believe, and therefore we don't walk. We choose fleshy things because we are used to being fleshy people, not because God hasn't provided for us what we need to live His Way.
As far as the fiery trial being taught in churches, yes, I've come to realize, largely from my forum participation, that I live in an area unlike many, as we have a good number of churches where all the Bible is taught, including the fiery trials, and the tribulations in the world. Of dying to self, and enduring. I'm very thankful for this!
Much love!