Focus: 1 Corinthians 15:48-49 - KJV
48. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1 Corinthians 15:45-50
Everyone declares being born again but the impact appears not to be showing in society. To be born again is to be a new creature with old things passing away and all things becoming new. Old things being the ways of sin and sinfulness, inherited from the first Adam who was made of earthly clay, and all things being new connotes, not just that sin has been forgiven and that there is opportunity to begin on a new slate, but also that the new slate be in imbibing the culture and likeness of the second Adam who is not of clay but Himself a quickening Spirit. What we find is the lack of understanding of the final part of the equation which is the likeness of the quickening Spirit. Bearing the likeness of Christ, the quickening Spirit is possible when we abide in Him. That sounds ordinarily technical. To abide in Him is to remain within the perimeters He has described for us as His disciples. For us to so abide, His word must dwell in us.
While He walked the face of the earth, His Apostles at the time, operated as the pastors that people saw and related with to reach Him. They were meant to be like Him. But because they were yet to be like Him, when they met blind Bartimaeus, rather than be compassionate like Christ would be, and eventually proved, they shoved him off and would prevent him from seeing the Lord. Many are in that category today as leaders. Even after the ascension of Christ, and when He had directly instructed Peter to feed the flock, it was unlike Christ for Peter to see to the death of Ananias and Sapphira in that Christ came to give life and not take it. Had Peter taken time to imbibe Christ in himself by His word, he would not have allowed the duo to die. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus only went about doing good. He, rather quickened men than see to their destruction. It is abiding in the quickening Spirit that ensures Christ-likeness and not any personal prowess.
The Lord is inviting us to take the benefit of Christ that has been delivered to us for the sake of being like Him. All the works we do that do not dovetail into the fruit of the Spirit has no Christ in them. When we abide in Christ, our words, actions and even mode of dressing would depict Christ truly. No one is deceived any longer by seeming gentle mien which carries venom and wicked thoughts under. If we refuse to rescue them that are dying or suffering and pretend to be godly, people see through it easily. Let us emulate Christ so that when others see us, they see the personality of Christ in us, and through us. understand what we preach and come to Christ. We are not worthy disciples when we fail in this particular matter. The one who is the quickening Spirit loves righteousness and hates iniquity. We must be likewise to be truly His.
SOLUTION: It is not enough to be born again by mouth; our totality ought to reflect Christ-likeness by allowing the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwell in us richly. We achieve this by abiding in Christ through our obedience to His word that dwells in us.
Please pray:
Father, I thank you for this day and the grace to know your word. Please accept my thanks in Jesus’ name. Lord, I seek to be like you, but I cannot achieve that by myself. Please help me to abide in Christ who was man, made of a quickening Spirit, that I may also be pleasing to you in every way of life, in Jesus’ name. Let this day be a day of blessings unto me; please banish evil and curses from my path dear Lord, in Jesus’ name.
If you are blessed by this post, kindly share with your contacts, as well as others, that they may be blessed also. Thank you and may God bless you abundantly as you do so, in Jesus’ name
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