When We First Believed

[Netchaplain]

It has been said that “religion is man reaching to God but Christianity is God reaching to man.” As we know, the Word of God is the primary source of His revelation concerning who He is and His union and fellowship with believers. Scripture, which are words of faith, are also actual words of facts, because they are truths and their presence is for us to believe them and to come to know them as unmovable, even before understanding them.

A good example is, "Likewise reckon yourselves also to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 6:11). It's not as we "reckon" that we are dead to sin that makes this a reality in us, because as this passage indicates, it is a fact that the believer is dead to sin. Put otherwise, this passage is a proclamation that the believer is dead to sin. The instruction is that we reckon or look upon ourselves as such, because for the Christian, it has been made so by Christ and this fact accompanies another fact for us to “reckon”; that we are “alive” in Him, which without being preceded by death in Him could not be so.

When we chose to believe in Christ for our salvation, all of the accompanying blessings where inherited (2 Pet 1:3). Therefore the truths of Scripture for the believer do not come to a reality upon faith (all which occurred when we first believed), they are realized by it, which make awareness to the fact that they are already accomplished ("it is finished"). This is the intention of walking in faith, which doesn't bring about a truism, but rather acknowledges it.

Whether or not a Christian understands a truth or is unaware of one, the blessings are still possessed. Ignorance of a truth does not negate its presence within, nor the performance of its functionality; it just causes unawareness of all that is active in our lives, which otherwise we would be appropriating for encouragement.

God's blessing to your Family and blessed be God!

 

[Rex]

That was very well said I enjoyed reading it

 

[Axehead]

It has been said that “religion is man reaching to God but Christianity is God reaching to man.” As we know, the Word of God is the primary source of His revelation concerning who He is and His union and fellowship with believers. Scripture, which are words of faith, are also actual words of facts, because they are truths and their presence is for us to believe them and to come to know them as unmovable, even before understanding them.

A good example is, "Likewise reckon yourselves also to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 6:11). It's not as we "reckon" that we are dead to sin that makes this a reality in us, because as this passage indicates, it is a fact that the believer is dead to sin. Put otherwise, this passage is a proclamation that the believer is dead to sin. The instruction is that we reckon or look upon ourselves as such, because for the Christian, it has been made so by Christ and this fact accompanies another fact for us to “reckon”; that we are “alive” in Him, which without being preceded by death in Him could not be so.

When we chose to believe in Christ for our salvation, all of the accompanying blessings where inherited (2 Pet 1:3). Therefore the truths of Scripture for the believer do not come to a reality upon faith (all which occurred when we first believed), they are realized by it, which make awareness to the fact that they are already accomplished ("it is finished"). This is the intention of walking in faith, which doesn't bring about a truism, but rather acknowledges it.

Whether or not a Christian understands a truth or is unaware of one, the blessings are still possessed. Ignorance of a truth does not negate its presence within, nor the performance of its functionality; it just causes unawareness of all that is active in our lives, which otherwise we would be appropriating for encouragement.

God's blessing to your Family and blessed be God!

Can you give us some example of not understanding a truth or being unaware of it, how the blessings are still possessed, yet unknown to us?

Jesus said, "Ye shall KNOW the truth, and the truth shall set you free".

Are you then saying that you were never given revelation by God that brought additional blessing to your life that you had previous not experienced? And, doesn't the Lord revealing new things to us that we heretofore did not know about, help us to "possess more of the land?"

Since I asked you for examples, I should give you one. I am thinking of Peter and the sheet from heaven that was lowered to him with unclean animals. When Peter came into the knowledge that the Gentiles were not viewed as unclean by God and that they too, are cleansed by the blood of Christ (What God has cleansed, do not call it unclean), it brought additional blessing in his life which he had not been experiencing and help him to possess more of Christ in true reality.

If we go from faith to faith and glory to glory in our walk with Christ, does that imply growth? And does growth imply and apprehending of more and more of Christ. That is what Paul was talking about in Philippians 3.

If I have misunderstood anything at all, my apologies ahead of time, I just need some clarification.

In my own life and experience, I can say as Christ is revealed more and more to me, then more blessings become a reality of my life and I in turn possess more of the land (overcome and grow in Christ and in faith).

Blessings to you, Bob.

Axehead

 

[Netchaplain]

That was very well said I enjoyed reading it

Thanks Rex for encouraging me by letting me know your desire concerning the post! God's blessings!

Can you give us some example of not understanding a truth or being unaware of it, how the blessings are still possessed, yet unknown to us?

A good example concerns the doctrine of "Eternal Security," which is the teaching that at rebirth, the regenerate can be assured, in this life, that he has eternal life; e.g. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life" (1 John 5:13) and the companion-passage is, "We know that we have passed from death unto life" (1 John 3:14; John 5:24).

Many do not accept these, along with numerous like passages, as containing the concept of a present assurance for the Christian and though in misunderstanding the concept it makes them unaware of the advantage of using it for their spiritual development and encouragement, it still stands true for them.

 

[Axehead]

Thanks Rex for encouraging me by letting me know your desire concerning the post! God's blessings!
A good example concerns the doctrine of "Eternal Security," which is the teaching that at rebirth, the regenerate can be assured, in this life, that he has eternal life; e.g. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life" (1 John 5:13) and the companion-passage is, "We know that we have passed from death unto life" (1 John 3:14; John 5:24).

Many do not accept these, along with numerous like passages, as containing the concept of a present assurance for the Christian and though in misunderstanding the concept it makes them unaware of the advantage of using it for their spiritual development and encouragement, it still stands true for them.

Do you agree that one cannot receive forgiveness from the Lord without receiving the Lord, also? In other words, they are not separate things. He is FORGIVENESS. To be clearer, to receive forgiveness and just go on our way is not what the NT teaches. Do you agree with that? Being born-again, is not only to receive forgiveness, but to receive Jesus (John 1:12) and receiving Jesus means to come under His authority. Right? Further, to come under the Lord's authority (Headship) is to come into relationship with Him.

Laid out linearly, receiving forgiveness one must receive the Lord --> Receiving the Lord implies one receives His authority in their life (stop going their way and turn and walk in harmony with Him), In order to be in right relationship with the Lord, one must come under His authority.

I think and hope you agree with that.

When one is in Christ, and under His authority (submitting to Him), one is wonderfully secure. No debate there. The Devil cannot snatch that person out of Christ's hand.

Did you agree with my story about Peter? You did not comment on my example about how a Christian can be ignorant of a revelation/divine principle and by doing so is not reaping the blessings of that revelation.

Remember how the Hebrew children progressively came into more and more revelation of God and His ways and as they did so they possessed more of the land?

Do you think as Christians we are called to mature and part of maturing is apprehending more and more of Christ in experiential reality? So, that we can truly say, "I know Him" not just because we read a book, but because He has made Himself known to us by His Spirit and by His dealings in our life confirming the reality of His word IN US?

I know I asked multiple questions so I will stop there and give you a chance to answer them.

Axehead

 

[Netchaplain]

Do you agree that one cannot receive forgiveness from the Lord without receiving the Lord, also? In other words, they are not separate things. He is FORGIVENESS. To be clearer, to receive forgiveness and just go on our way is not what the NT teaches. Do you agree with that? Being born-again, is not only to receive forgiveness, but to receive Jesus (John 1:12) and receiving Jesus means to come under His authority. Right? Further, to come under the Lord's authority (Headship) is to come into relationship with Him.

Laid out linearly, receiving forgiveness one must receive the Lord --> Receiving the Lord implies one receives His authority in their life (stop going their way and turn and walk in harmony with Him), In order to be in right relationship with the Lord, one must come under His authority.

I think and hope you agree with that.

When one is in Christ, and under His authority (submitting to Him), one is wonderfully secure. No debate there. The Devil cannot snatch that person out of Christ's hand.

Did you agree with my story about Peter? You did not comment on my example about how a Christian can be ignorant of a revelation/divine principle and by doing so is not reaping the blessings of that revelation.

Remember how the Hebrew children progressively came into more and more revelation of God and His ways and as they did so they possessed more of the land?

Do you think as Christians we are called to mature and part of maturing is apprehending more and more of Christ in experiential reality? So, that we can truly say, "I know Him" not just because we read a book, but because He has made Himself known to us by His Spirit and by His dealings in our life confirming the reality of His word IN US?

I know I asked multiple questions so I will stop there and give you a chance to answer them.

Axehead

I'm at a loss for a reply and cannot determine what you're trying to relate to me, because I fail to see how what you've posted applies to the thread.

 

[Axehead]

I'm at a loss for a reply and cannot determine what you're trying to relate to me, because I fail to see how what you've posted applies to the thread.

It has to do with your last reply on Eternal Security. Does that help? Can you respond now?

 

[Netchaplain]

Do you agree that one cannot receive forgiveness from the Lord without receiving the Lord, also? In other words, they are not separate things. He is FORGIVENESS. To be clearer, to receive forgiveness and just go on our way is not what the NT teaches.

I agree, to be born again includes receiving forgiveness and those who continue to willfully disobey God and live in sin have not been born again.

 

[Axehead]

I agree, to be born again includes receiving forgiveness and those who continue to willfully disobey God and live in sin have not been born again.

Amen, brother! Being born-again is receiving Christ and Christ deals a death blow to the self-life and leads us increasingly into the Christ-life.

 

[Netchaplain]

Christ deals a death blow to the self-life

As you may already know Ax, our concepts are different concerning what Christ does to our "self-life" or otherwise put, our "old man" (sinful nature). What you call a "death blow" I call "crucified," which I believe according to Scripture is not synonymous and I'm about to post an article related to this issue entitled "Eradication or Existential?"

God's blessings to your Family!

Raised With Him (Col 2:12)<><

 

[Axehead]

You would seem to disagree with lesjude that those who have been born-again cannot be lost. See, I actually agree with lesjude on that one. Somehow, you think that a born-again person cannot turn back to the world and deny Christ and yet we have scripture that proves otherwise.

Oh well, time to move on.

Axehead