The New Life In Christ - Are We In Him? (Jesus)

The Man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1John 2:4-6. Who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 2John 1:9. …lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called…Ephesians 4:1-3.

Amen.

The New Life In Christ - “He (Jesus Christ) must become greater; and I (we-humanbeings) must become less.” John 3:30.

Peter looked straight at him ;( the crippled beggar)…said “… In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” … Then he went with them…walking and jumping, and praising God. …all the people were astonished and came running to them…When Peter saw this, “… why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power and godliness we had made this man walk? … We are witnesses of this. … It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. Acts 3:1-16. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - Consider how you have fared. Haggai 1:5.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven. Matthew 7:21. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - A Workman and A Follower Approved by God:

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness. 2Timothy 2:15 and 2:19. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - The Two Foundations:

I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation (fear of God) on rock; when a flood (losses and sufferings) arose, the river (evil thoughts) burst against that house but could not shake it (reward in heaven), because it had been well built (obey to the word of God). But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without foundation (fear of God). When the river burst against it (losses and sufferings) immediately it fell (permits evil thoughts) and great was the ruin (reward in heaven) of that house. Luke 6:46-49.

All must test their own work; … Galatians 6:4.

Amen.

The New Life In Christ - True Blessedness

He (Jesus) said, “When you give…a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they can not repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous,” Luke 14:12-14.

“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28. Amen. 

The New Life In Christ - Jesus Expects Your Own Faith And Your Own Willingness

One man was there who had been ill for thirty eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.” Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” At once the man made well…   John 5:2-9. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - The Birth Of Jesus Christ And It's Purpose

And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God. John 3:19-21.

I have come as light into the world, so that every one who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. John 12:46. …they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” John 6:60. So Jesus asked... (now asks you & me) “Do you also wish to go away?” John 60:67. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - The Purpose Of His Blessings

                                       By Photopoly

And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good works. As it is written,

“He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor ;

his righteousness endures forever,” 2Corinthians 9:8-9.

Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them (poor) and with all others… 2Corinthians 9:13. Examine yourselves… 1Corinthians 11:28. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - How To Glorify Your God?

And they shall not teach one another or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. Hebrews 8:11. (But) In the same way, let your shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16. Conduct yourselves honorably among Gentiles, so that,…they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge. 1Peter 2:12. So you shall be a sign to them; and they shall know that I (Jesus Christ) am the LORD. Ezekiel 24:27. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - Regulations Concerning Tithes

…you shall bring out the full tithe, …and store it within your towns;… as well as the resident aliens, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, may come and eat their fill so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work that you undertake. Deuteronomy 14:28-29. …contributing a freewill offering in proportion  to be blessing that you have received from the Lord your God… as well as the strangers, the orphans, and the widows who are among you – at the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. Deuteronomy 16:10-11. We intend that no one should blame us about this generous gift that we are administering, for we intend to do what is right not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of others. 2Corinthians 8:20-21. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - His Holy Servants

 I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions… I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’… Acts 20:34-35. …we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 1Thessalonians 2:9. …and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day,…but in order to give you an example to imitate.2Thessalonians 3:8-9. You received without payment: give without payment. Matthew 10:8. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - I Am The Living Bread

Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, (spiritual blessings), but because you ate your fill of loves (material blessings). Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. John 6:26-27.  Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6: 19-21. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - The Real Living Water

…for my people have committed two evils: They have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, (rejecting what God said… Mark 7:13) and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns (By your own rules … Mark 7:13) that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13. Jesus said to her, “ Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty…a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” John 4: 13-14. You search the scriptures… John 5:39. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - What Is The Real Spiritual Growth?

Do those who plow for sowing plow continually? ...when they have leveled its surface, do they not scatter dill, sow cummin, and plant wheat in rows and barley in its proper place, and spelt as the border? For they are well instructed; their God teaches them. Isaiah 28:24-26. Therefore let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: Hebrews 6:1-2. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - The Act Of Real Spiritual Worship

And they shall not teach one another or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest. Hebrews 8:11. (But)...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and accepable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2. …you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds… That is not the way you learned Christ! Ephesians 4:17-20. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - "I believed, and so I spoke"

Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. John 6:32. What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 1Corinthians 3:5-7.  For there is one God: there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus... 1Timothy 2:5-6. He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease… John 3:30. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - Be Kind To The Poor

                                 Image By Sailing "Footprints:Real To Reel"

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full. Proverbs 19:17. If you close your ear to the cry of the poor, you will cry out and not be heard. Proverbs 21:13. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; Mark 14:7. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - The Power Of One's Individual Prayer

And after he (Jesus) had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. Matthew 14:23. Early the next morning, while it was still dark, Jesus woke and left the house. He went to a lonely place where he prayed. Mark 1:35. So Jacob was alone, and a man came… “I have seen God face to face” Genesis 32:24 & 32:30. When Moses led the flock to the west side of the desert, he came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him… Exodus 3:1-2. I (Daniel) was left alone to this great vision. Daniel 10:8.Amen.

The New Life In Christ - The Importance Of Teaching

Jesus…teaching…and proclaiming Matthew 4:23. Then he (Jesus) began to speak, and taught them,… Matthew 5:2. Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching…and proclaiming… Matthew 9:35. He (Jesus) went on from there to teach and proclaim… Matthew 11:1. (So) If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, … James 1:5-6. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - A Holy Calling

…lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3. (So) Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. …understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:10 & 17. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - Baptism, The Holy Spirit & Our Own Conscience

Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people. Acts 24:16. I am speaking the truth in Christ-I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit. Romans 9:2. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you-not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1Peter 3:21. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - The Real Riches

Do not love the world or the things in the world… for all that is in the world – the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches – comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever. 1John 2:15-17. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - Faith Without Works Is Dead

Photo by Sailing "Foot prints; Real to Reel"

What good is it,… if you say you have faith but do not have good works? … If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food. And one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good for that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. James 2:14-17. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - Only When We Permit Him...

… I am standing at the door (each heart of every one), knocking; (make them to realize their sins); if you hear my voice (my teachings) and open the door, (obey my word), I will come in to you (with spiritual blessings) and eat with you, and you with me (in the kingdom of heaven) Revelation 3:20. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - The Good Shepherd

…Theudas…and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared. … Judas…and all who followed him were scattered. Acts 5:36-37. (But) And this is the will of him who sent me, that I (Jesus) should lose nothing of all that he has given to me,...  John6:39. He chose his servant David,… to be the shepherd of his people… With upright heart he tended them, and guided them with skillful hand. Psalm 78:70-72.

But test everything; hold fast to what is good; 1Thessalonians 5:21.Amen.