We begin with a small deposit of grace...like a sample. This is the first deposit which is Christ in us the "hope" of glory (but not the glory itself). But to get the full measure we need to go to God...to seek His presence. We still need to enter INTO Christ. God will not give us the death and life of His Son unless we really want it. The life of Jesus comes with the death of Jesus...these cannot be separated. The work of the cross is that we lose everything that gets in the way of an intimate walk with God. But who wants that kind of intimacy with God? Not very many. Most just want to have some guarantee of salvation but WITHOUT actual contact with God.
So there is a difference between Christ in us and us entering into Christ. Many have received the free gift of grace...but few have gone to God for the full measure. Many are indeed called but few chosen.
Christ in us is the new divine nature. But that doesn't give us His perfect walk...and the grace which is the power over sin.
Then we put on the new man by entering into Christ. From there we cannot sin. We put on the new man which is already perfect and holy. So then we don't earn this victory...it is a gift of God...by faith. Grace through faith.
When we enter into Christ the new life within us is DRAWN out so that a spark becomes a flame. The life of God takes over in us so that it is no longer us...but Christ living through us.
Why doesn't God just give us the full grace at the outset? The cost...to enter Christ we need to let everything else go. We need to pass through His cross.
Because few want to surrender their lives and follow Christ...EVEN AFTER experiencing a taste of the Spirit. But some do....so God is very efficient in His ways.
If we taste of the Lord and love Him...then we will go get the whole measure. And we will keep going back.
Most who do enter will go in and out of the Spirit for many years before learning to remain. When we can remain we have achieved the full stature of Christ...looking only to Him.
So there is a difference between Christ in us and us entering into Christ. Many have received the free gift of grace...but few have gone to God for the full measure. Many are indeed called but few chosen.
Christ in us is the new divine nature. But that doesn't give us His perfect walk...and the grace which is the power over sin.
Then we put on the new man by entering into Christ. From there we cannot sin. We put on the new man which is already perfect and holy. So then we don't earn this victory...it is a gift of God...by faith. Grace through faith.
When we enter into Christ the new life within us is DRAWN out so that a spark becomes a flame. The life of God takes over in us so that it is no longer us...but Christ living through us.
Why doesn't God just give us the full grace at the outset? The cost...to enter Christ we need to let everything else go. We need to pass through His cross.
Because few want to surrender their lives and follow Christ...EVEN AFTER experiencing a taste of the Spirit. But some do....so God is very efficient in His ways.
If we taste of the Lord and love Him...then we will go get the whole measure. And we will keep going back.
Most who do enter will go in and out of the Spirit for many years before learning to remain. When we can remain we have achieved the full stature of Christ...looking only to Him.