WORD FOR WORD

WORD FOR WORD

Thursday, June 02, 2016

Matthew ESV 4:1-4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'

Ephesians 1:11-14 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

“ … put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, … be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. … And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians chapter 4. Please read in entirety.

  Being a new creation, born-again, is an absolute, for once we trust Lord Jesus Christ our eternal salvation is settled. It is no longer a question to be repeatedly rehashed or suffer anxiety over. (Jn.1:12, 10:28-29; Rom.8:33-34, 38-39; 2Cor.5:17; Eph.1:11-14; 4:30b)

  Living as His new creation is an entirely different story. Whereas our eternal redemption is absolutely indisputably sealed, our service as His disciple is not at all so; the reason being His work for us is complete and incontrovertible, whereas our work for Him throughout the remainder of our days this side of heaven is controvertible, depending on us. If we read the Word at length we soon discover that little space is dedicated to salvation but much of it is about that which the Apostle Paul highlighted in Philippians 2:12: Now that we are running His race, how we emulate His pacing is up to us.

  There again the answer lies in the Word. As we received John 1:1-13 family-membership in and through the Word, we discover family-life direction and application in and by the Word.

EBB4