Lewis

I believe that Apostles are truly sent ones...Sent to encourage....I don't believe that they have authority over the churches. I don't believe that Paul had authority over the churches that he wrote to. He was able to send letters to encourage....and to admonish. but in all reality they were free to do as they please. Just as we as believers are free to do as we please. We are not under the law but under grace. You cannot control people.. that is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict when there is error; which of course correction can come through an apostolic ministry or even through the believers. I see to many running around today claiming to be apostles that want to control the local body when they have no relationship other than showing up once in awhile to collect some money and then move on to the next body-repeating the same. The Apostle Paul had built relationships with the churches but in all reality he had no control or authority over them. They still went about there own business just as Jesus described them in the book of Revelation. Some had ears to hear and some did not.

I can only stand blameless and be Holy because of my identity in Christ. Again, Romans states that I must believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and God raised Him from the dead...then I am saved. Salvation means more than just fire protection... At the moment of confessing and believing my identity is forever changed. I cannot work my way to becoming Holy....I am Holy because of who I believe in and what He did for me on the cross. I am blameless because He took the blame.....There is nothing that I can do that would ever changed the Father's point of view toward me......He sees me blameless and Holy because of my new identity......Does that mean that I can sin because Grace Abounds? Of course not! The song Amazing Grace....says...."Saved a wretch like me." I don't sing those words....I sing...."Saved a wretch like I used to be." That's Amazing Grace.

Q1. (Ephesians 1:3) What does it mean to you to be "in Christ" -- incorporated into Christ? What are the implications of this for your life? As I meditate on the question of being in Christ....I think of standing before the Father....blameless....in full right standing....standing boldly at the Throne of Grace transformed by the renewing of my mind....no longer a slave to sin but free because of what Jesus the Christ did on the cross for me and that I chose to believe that He is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. No longer am I of this world. I applied for a citizenship for Heaven....was accepted and given a new identity.........IN CHRIST!!!! This is the good news. Mike