Holiness: Risen for Relationship

Hello there and Merry Christmas to all!! What an appropriate time to share the joyous news of The Advent Season… the Coming of the Promised Deliverer!!

Jesus, the “Second Adam”, is the “First-Fruit” of the New Covenant of God through His blood… 1 Corinthians 15: 20-23

The Old Testament Laws of Sacrifice and Slavery to sin are gone…. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh (man’s works), GOD did: sending His own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh (man), and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh (man’s life); so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh (man’s ways) but according to the (ways of) the Spirit. Romans 8: 1-4

This is why the Birth of Christ we celebrate at Christmas is so important. God entered the world (Emmanuel, God with Us) through a virgin birth, (Joseph is not the Father) so that our Messiah/Deliverer came… just as God promised through prophets hundreds of years before! Now, I know you are probably well aware of the Christmas story… but just take a minute and ponder what happened. The GOD of all creation projected Himself into the Earth to the very people He created, through a pregnant virgin, who miraculously gives birth to a Baby, born in Bethlehem as many prophets had foretold for centuries. God, in human body form and feature, yet endowed in DNA with the mind and heart of His real Father, GOD. Wow!

As you ponder this, realize that this plan, His plan, of fusing God and Man in Jesus, was the only way to to crush Satan’s lies and control over our lives. Adam blew it, Satan owned him at the Fall… Death Reigned. But Jesus, as the “Second Adam” tempted in all ways known to Man but without sin; was, is and forever will be the only way that we can break the hold of Sin and Death in our lives.

God also planned through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection a New Covenant and a New Heart agreement. This new agreement had been revealed through the prophets years before in the Old Testament, but it was now available through the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God that is our seal of redemption into God’s family. As we have spoke of before in the blogs about adoption and Transformation, it is the Holy Spirit’s presence working in our lives that draw us and transform our hearts and lives to reflect and live out our Spirit-led life.

The Holy Spirit of God leads and guides the “Spiritual” Transformation of our mind and heart for God. This transformation is not about a few cosmetic changes to the things we do to make us look good to people. This is a full-bore transformation from the inside (Heart and Mind) out. The only way this happens is by an intimate relationship with God… daily, moment by moment.

Many folks think that “when I accept Christ” for the forgiveness of my sin and rebellion against God, that “I’m good”. Sorry, that is Satan’s lie. Walking forward, or getting dunked in a pool is not what He had in mind. Salvation is not a “get out of jail free” card… it is much more. Our sin and rebellion separate us from God. we need repentance, which means that with remorse we agree with God about the crud in our lives; because we have lived our own way and really have screwed it up. We need help. He wants to help, but He also knows our heart and true desires. He seriously loves us, but He won’t be manipulated. He created you and has an awesome plan for the rest of your life… but are you in? The story has been told for years about Joseph and Mary having to go and sleep in a barn the night Jesus was born because there was no room in the Inn. To allow God to enter your life is a big step and one not to take lightly. But becoming His son or daughter is the best Christmas present you will ever receive… I promise. It is an incredible adventure that is not always easy, but it is beyond belief good!

Next time we will talk again about our transformational journey of Holiness and DNA. But until then I have one last question…. Mary, did you know???