KingsDaughter737

There are a lot of voices in the world and many religions, all crying to be heard, but there is only one true God and one head, Christ Jesus. The Bible says that at the name of Jesus every knee, in heaven and earth and under the earth, shall bow, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:10 & 11). All who adhere to evolution and believe that we are just here by "accident", or the "big bang" theory, or whatever, will find out that there is a creator in Heaven and that we are indeed here by "intelligent design" - and many do not want "intelligent design" or "creation" taught in our schools, but would rather teach our children a lie of the devil, and call it scientific evidence. The "mystery" of God is that God has fulfilled all things and in the end times God's plan of salvation shall be revealed to all mankind -- whether it is at the end of all time, as we know it, or it is the end of our life in this world -- God is in control of all things, in heaven and earth and under the earth -- and will bring all things together to the glory of God the Father. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 says that Jesus Christ must reign and be King until He has put all His enemies under His feet - the last enemy of which is death. Everything becomes one in Chirst. The Amplified Bible says in verse 28, "when everything is subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also subject Himself to (the Father) Who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all (be everything to everyone, supreme, the indwelling and controlling factor of life)." We must be born anew, in Christ Jesus, if we want to reign with Him - 2 Timothy 12:12 & 13 says, "If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny and disown and reject Him, He will also deny and disown and reject us. If we are faithless [do not believe and are untrue to Him], He remains true (faithful to His Word, and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself." Amp. version

I was enslaved in a body that was conceived in sin. Selfishness was the theme of my life. What I wanted, what I felt, what I thought. I was addicted to sin and then Jesus came and offered the "great exchange" - His sinless life for my life of sin. I was set free, and "who the Son sets free is free indeed". I was not what the world might call a 'great sinner" -- I had not "broken the law of man" -- I was what would be considered "a good girl", yet I was in bondage and needed to be redeemed by the blood of the lamb! Sometimes when we do not think we are too bad Satan can try to trick us into thinking we are OK & that all is well. I knew better, without God in my life I was on the path to destruction. Thank God for his Son Jesus and for the Holy Spirit of promise that convicts the world of sin. "I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see".

We, who were born and conceived in sin, outcasts in the Kingdom of God, are, by the Grace of God, "adopted as sons" and have become joint heirs with Christ when we come to Him in faith and true repentence. We then become sons of God in every sense of the word and are legally and eternally adopted into His Kingdom. When we were yet dead in sins and trespasses, God chose us out of the abundance of His great love for us to become His very own -- sons and daughters of God -- stamped with the seal of God -- the seal of the Holy Spirit which guarantees our inheritence and full redemption through Jesus Christ the Messiah -- to the Glory of God the Father. God did all of this so He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable riches of His free grace and goodness toward us in Christ Jesus. Oh how He loves you and me!

God Himself chose me, actually picked me out for Himself as His very own -- what amazing love! When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior I became consecrated for God's own holy use -- and not only that, but in Christ I am considered blameless before God because Jesus has become my substitute. Jesus took my sin and clothed me with His righteousness -- He took the curse that I should have received and I have received eternal life and the blessings of God that belong to Jesus Christ my Messiah. I am holy because He is holy. Of myself I am nothing. In Christ I am everything! Praise the name of Jesus!

I do not think this is "scary", but I do think it causes much reflection on whether I am fulfilling God's will in my life. I think God has a perfect will and a permissive will for each of us. He does not take our free choice from us, but if we are not in line with the Word of God we will not be able to fulfill the great things God had foreordained that we could accomplish - when walking in the Spirit. His will shall always be fulfilled, the questions is -- what part will I allow God to work through in me -- that is, in my life? It can be very comforting knowing that "in Christ" I can do all things. However, His word also states that "Without Him I can do nothing". The gentile Ephesians, as are those of us who are not "Jews" in the flesh, but in the Spirit, were adopted into God's perfect plan and are as chosen as adopted sons as His chosen people, the Jews, are. We are predestined to be chosen "in Christ" and grafted in to His perfect plan and purpose. Keeping in mind that we ALL receive an inheritance we do not deserve -- including the Jews -- for it is by faith that we are saved and brought into His kingdom. May we all seek to fulfill what God has predestined that we can accomplish with our life in Him. God has predestined that His plan will be accomplished and will never fail. But I believe that I can either assist or hinder God's plan in my own personal life by the choices I freely make.

To be "in Christ" all of a sudden becomes very personal when I think of this not as a doctrine or theological discussion, but that Jesus Christ Himself, the God of the universe, Creator of all things, wants me to be so closely connected to Him that I can actually become one with Him. John 17:22 & 23 states that I may be one even as God and Jesus are one -- and not only that, but I may be made perfect in my oneness with Him! How amazing is that! The implication of all of that is to desire to stay "in the Spirit" and walk not after the dictates of the flesh -- not what I think, or what I want , or what I feel, but to "put on Christ" every moment of the day -- to "dress" my spirit in His Spirit. That is the challenge, to die daily of myself is not easy, and I pray that it will be accomplished from Glory to Glory, not by my might or by my power, but by His Spirit - says the Lord of Hosts. Let it be, sweet Jesus. Then, I will be able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me. "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death" Rom. 8:2 Dear Jesus, help me to set my eyes on things above, and not on things below. This is the challenge, and the implications are a life filled with God Himself "in Christ", or a life of selfishness filled with me, myself and I, when I "mind the things of the flesh". No wonder Paul said, "I die daily".