Christ Lives In Me

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 

How do you think you can live for Christ on your own? You can't, you never could and never will. "Christ liveth in me . . ."

When we believe in Christ, He will sanctify us -- set us apart -- by His blood and for His service and glory. It's not automatic. We must die to ourselves every day and allow Him to use us.

But sometimes we sin. We act ugly. We aren't perfect. Thank God for grace.

Sanctification requires a persistent yielding to God, confessing our sins and believing that He will do His work in us.

From The Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18 . . . . For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

From the cruel cross Christ offers salvation to the world, but the majority of people are offended by it. Some say it's too bloody.

O. A. Carson says, "The hardest truth to get across to this generation is what the Bible says about sin."

People don't want to believe they are sinners. They think their good works will get them to heaven. Isaiah said our righteousness is as filthy rags to God. Our Holy God looks for the righteousness of Christ in the hearts of  those who believe.

Absolute Truth:  There is one God and the only way to get to God the Father is by faith in The Son of God. Unbelievers are doomed for eternity.

What does the cross mean to you?

From the cross Jesus pleads, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28).

Mercy

Believers are surrounded by mercy. When we look back we can say, "Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life." (Psalm 3:6)

When we look ahead we remember the words of Jude 21. "Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

As we begin each day, we can say, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:2-23)

When a Christian shows mercy he is set free from grudges that drain the strength and unsettles the mind. It's thrilling to share God's mercy--not judging people, but seeing them through the merciful eyes of Christ.

Add To Your Faith

It's been said that a set of stairs has steps, a recipe has instructions, a school has grade levels, and the Christian life has 2 Peter 1:5-8.

Add to your faith virtue, then knowledge, then temperance, then patience, then godliness, then brotherly kindness, and then charity.

Each virtue builds on the previous one until the believer has reached spiritual maturity (not perfection). It isn't easy, but we will bear more fruit for The Lord's glory, and we will be blessed.

2 Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

This is a call for believers to make a once-and-for-all decision to live for God no matter how difficult it might become.