Unity # 20: He Has Provided All

Unity # 20: He Has Provided All

Theme Song: By Faith

Dear Father,

     Your glory will be revealed to all mankind. You are the Great King, the Mighty Warrior by our side. What a dreadful thing it is to fall into Your Hands, the Hands of the living God. Teach us to keep Your Name holy, not to speak of You in vain, but to uphold Your true Character: Your justice, Your infinite unfailing love for righteousness and Your people and Your infinite and dreadful hatred against wickedness and all that is devoted to destruction. We do not want to leave You, Abba, Father. Where else can we go? Help me to have Christ’s attitude towards all men. Jesus Christ is Lord and He has come in the Flesh.

In Jesus Christ’s Name,

Amen

Dear Beloved,

     In last week’s letter, I spoke of the Covenant of Peace which God has established for His people through the blood of Christ. By this Covenant, we are reconciled to God through Christ, and experience the eternal Life of knowing Christ. This knowledge of Christ increases over time in the lives of all believers until they see Him Face to face and the knowledge of Christ is perfected. Even when the children of God stray, the result of the Shepherd’s discipline and omnipotent search-warrant is a peaceful harvest of righteousness and a magnificent restoration marked by exceeding underserved Spiritual growth. He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or think. As God spoke through the prophet Zechariah , “Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; this very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you” (Zech 9:12). He repays the locust eaten years of His painful loving discipline. This letter is about God’s certain provision of all the needs of all of His people from all time through His grace shown at the cross.

     Dear saints, our God will truly supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). This promise is not simply for some saints, or with regard to some or most of their needs. God surely will meet all of our needs. Those of us who feel that we lack something, whether  Spiritually or physically, can trust in the faithful Provider for He will surely give His children all that they need. King David said, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread. All day long he is gracious and lends, and his descendants are a blessing (Ps 37:25-26).” An important principle we must consider is God’s perspective of what is considered a need in our lives. For many lust and do not have so they commit murder. Some are envious and cannot obtain, so they fight and quarrel. God says that they ask and do not receive because they ask with wrong motives, so that they may spend it on their pleasures. Those who are friends with the world are adulteresses and live in hostility towards God. For whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us. He gives us a greater grace. He is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:1-6). Thus, our needs do not involve anything that is born either consciously or subconsciously from a love for the world. Rather our needs involve what is a part of God’s will for our souls to be preserved under His New Covenant. For He has made an everlasting Covenant with us, ordered in all things, and secured; for all our salvation and all our desire, will He not indeed make it grow (2 Sam 23:5)? Our needs comprise of whatever is required according to the will of God for each of His children to be sanctified entirely by the God of peace and for our spirits, souls, and bodies to be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls us, and He also will bring it to pass. (1 Thess 5:23-24) Remember the great salvation that our Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished for us. The Father who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered”. But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loves us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:32-29) Dear saints, because we have been regenerated, our only desire is to know Christ, to glorify Him, to obey Him, and to remain in Him. Thus, our only needs are what our Father deems necessary for these things to be fulfilled in our lives. So may we never fear or worry over our earthly needs, for our Father has secured our souls for eternity. He has secured our justification and our progressive sanctification both of which comprise the eternal Life of knowing Christ, our only heart’s desire. Christ tells us not to be worried about our life, as to what we will eat or drink nor for our body, as to what we will put on. For those who are not regenerated and still love the world seek all these things. Our heavenly Father knows that we need all these things. But we must seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to us. (Matt 6:25-33)

     We have been discussing that when people profess Christ as Savior, and yet continually refuse to obey Him, they undergo the irreversible hardening of the heart resulting in damnation (Heb 10). Thus, if our needs are those very things required for our ongoing perseverance in our faith, our needs consist of what is required for our obedience and ongoing bearing of good fruit/works and what is required for our escape from temptation. God is able to make all grace abound to us, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, we may have an abundance for every good deed. He scattered abroad. He gave to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply our seed for sowing and increase the harvest of our righteousness; we will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for our obedience to our confession of the Gospel of Christ and for the liberality of our contribution to the saints. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Cor 9:8-15). Now the God of peace who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal Covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equips us in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever, Amen (Heb 13:20-21). God grants us the request made in the Lord prayer to lead us not into temptation, but to deliver us from evil. For no temptation has overtaken us but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that we will be able to endure it (1 Cor 10).

     Often our needs are for the Words that proceed from the mouth of God. It is written that man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matt 4:4). Often we cry out for greater filling of the Holy Spirit. If we, even when we were evil, knew how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13)? Jesus said that if anyone is thirsty, let him come to Him and drink. Those who believe in Him, as the Scripture says, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. Here Jesus was speaking of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive. (John 7:37-39) Often we need wisdom. If anyone of us lacks wisdom, we should ask of God, who gives to all generously without reproach, and wisdom will be granted to us. But we must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8) Other times, we need gratitude, hope, joy, and peace. Paul prayed that the Colossians would be firmly rooted and built up in Him and established in their faith, just as they were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude (Col 2:7). He prayed for the Romans that the God of hope would fill them with all joy and peace in believing, so that they will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13).

     As Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him” (Matt 7:7-11). For those who are regenerated, they abide in Christ, and His Word abides in them. Thus, when they ask for anything according to His will and in His Name, it will be granted to them (John 15:7).

     When God’s children are temporarily trusting in the things of the world to satisfy them He may do to them as He did to the Israelites. He led them in the wilderness for forty year that He might humble and test them to know what was in their heart, whether they would keep His commandments or not. He humbled them and let them be hungry, and fed them with manna which neither they nor their fathers knew, that He might make them understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. In His grace, their clothing did not wear out on them, nor did their feet swell during those 40 years. (Deut 8:2-4) In the weakness of His people, His glory and strength are revealed to them. Though Paul pleaded three times that the thorn in his flesh would be removed, God told Paul that His grace is sufficient for him, and that His power is perfected in weakness. For this thorn was given to Paul to keep him from exalting himself. In fact, though Paul initially prayed for the thorn, the tormenting messenger of Satan, to be removed, God gave him the thorn as a gift to prevent him from becoming proud unto damnation because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations. As Paul understood this he said, “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:7-10). He was filled with comfort and overflowed with joy in all his and his fellow saints’ affliction (2 Cor 7:4). For in a great deal of affliction and deep poverty of the saints the abundance of joy overflowed in the wealth of their liberality (2 Cor 8:2).

     The Lord says that behold, He extends peace to us like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream (Is 66:12). He tells those who thirst to come to the waters. He tells those with no money to come, buy, and eat. He asks us why we spend money on what is not bread and our wages on what does not satisfy. He tells us to listen carefully to Him, and eat what is good, and delight ourselves in abundance. He tells us to delight ourselves in His abundance, to incline our ears and come to Him, to listen that we may live. For He has made an everlasting Covenant with us! (Is 55:1-3)

     Dear saints, listen to Paul’s introduction in his letter to the Ephesians:

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love ⁵ He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. ⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight ⁹ He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him ¹⁰ with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him¹¹  also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, ¹² to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.  Eph 1

Excellent Messages:

10 Written Sermons by Spurgeon on the Passion and Death of Christ

Final Judgment Sermon by John Piper

Dying as a Means of Loving Sermon by John Piper

Love in Christ,

Preethi

Unity # 19: The Covenant of Peace

Unity # 19: The Covenant of Peace

Theme Song: O Mighty Cross

Dear Father,

     You are our Life, our King, strong and mighty to save. There is no one worthy like You to receive praise, honor, and glory. Please forgive me for the impatience of my flesh and teach me to trust in You like a child. Thank You for the saving peace that You have established by Your blood by which we are reconciled to You. There was no peace for us before we knew You, but now You Yourself, Jesus, are our peace. Help us to do what is better: to drink and eat from the Life of Christ, to know Him with our whole beings, and to sit at Your feet. Please bless Your people everywhere to cry out to You for revival and bring it soon. Just a few more days, and we will be with You. Jesus Christ is Lord and He has come in the flesh.

In Jesus Christ’s Name,

Amen

Dear Beloved,

     In last week’s letter we discussed the eternal Life that is granted to all those who have been regenerated. This eternal Life starts at the time of conversion and is the state of knowing Christ. Our knowledge of Christ will surely grow over time until we see Him Face to face, and we are perfected in His love, joy, peace, and righteousness for all eternity.  This letter is about the Covenant of Peace which God has established for all of His people. Because of the peace made between God and man, man is able to have the eternal Life of knowing Christ that we discussed. Prior to our regeneration we had no peace; the Lord says that there is no peace for the wicked (Is 48:22). We did not know the way of peace, and there was no justice in our tracks. We had made our paths crooked, and those who treaded on us did not know peace (Is 59:8). The false leaders among us sought to superficially heal our brokenness by proclaiming peace to us, but there was no peace (Jer 6:14). Even when we thought that we had peace, it became a trap and a snare (Ps 69:22) because it never lasted, and we would be destroyed under this false peace. Formerly, we were alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds. Yet, it was our Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in His Son, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.  He has established peace for us by reconciling us in His fleshly body through death, that is our sinful nature was destroyed with Christ, in order to present us before Him holy, blameless, and beyond reproach—if indeed we continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which we heard and which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven (Col 1:19-23). Dear saints, we will come forth as righteous on the Day of Judgment only if we continue in our faith until the end. God speaks peace to His people, to His Godly ones, but let them not turn back to folly (Ps 85:8).

     God extends His offer of peace to all of His children. For example, when the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he was afraid, but God told him “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die”. Gideon then built an altar there to the Lord and named it “THE LORD IS PEACE”. (Judges 6:22-24) Often, when God appeared to His people in Scriptures, He proclaimed peace to them as the initial greeting. Now apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Rom 3:21-26)

     Our peace with God also results in peace with all those who have been granted the same peace. Now in Christ Jesus we who were formerly far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. From now on we recognize no one according to the flesh, that is, from an earthly point of view, though we used to know Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in that way no longer. If we are in Christ, we are new creatures; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the Word of reconciliation. We are ambassadors, therefore, for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. God made Christ who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor 5:16-21)  How lovely on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who announce peace and bring good news of happiness, who announce salvation and tell Zion that her God reigns (Is 52:7). The seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (James 3:18). He Himself is our peace, who made the Jews and the rest of the people of God from all nations into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by having put to death the enmity. He came and preached peace to us who were far away and peace to us who were near. Through Christ we have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So we are no longer strangers and aliens, but we are fellow citizens with all the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the Cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. (Eph 2:13-22) Now all the people of God are to Him a Name of joy, praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good that He does for them, and they will fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that He makes for it (Jer 33:9).

     Therefore, dear saints, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a self-righteous man; though perhaps for a good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. As we deny ourselves, we share in His sufferings. And as we fellowship with Him we know His love, joy, and peace; we know eternal life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. (Rom 5:1-11)

     The Counsel of the Old Testament elaborated greatly on God’s extension of the Covenant of Peace to His people. The Lord said through the prophet Isaiah that He extends peace to His people like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream (Is 66:12) For a Child would be born, a Son would be given to them; and the government would rest on His shoulders; and His Name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. (Is 9:6-7). He will create the praise of our lips. He would proclaim peace, peace to those who are far and to those who are near and God would heal them (Is 57:19). He willbring health and healing to His people; and He will reveal to them an abundance of peace and Truth (Jer 33:6). For He makes a Covenant of Peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. He will place them and multiply them, and will set His sanctuary in their midst forever (Ez 37:26). Dear saints, we are the temple of the living God! There will be peace for the Seed of Christ: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce and the heavens will give their dew; He will cause the remnant of His people to inherit all these things (Zech 8:12). For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but His lovingkindness will not be removed from us, and His Covenant of Peace will not be shaken says the Lord who has compassion on you (Is 54:10). The Covenant of Peace was made through Christ, our High Priest. He revered His Father and stood in awe of His Name. True instruction was in His mouth and unrighteousness was not found on His lips; He walked with His Father in peace and uprightness, and He turned many back from iniquity. For the lips of the Priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from His mouth; for He is a messenger of the Lord of hosts. (Mal 2:5-7). He vindicates the afflicted of the people, saves the children of the needy, crushes the oppressor. They fear Him while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. He comes down like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. In His days the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace till the moon is no more. (Ps 72:4-7) Dominion and awe belong to Him who establishes peace in His heights (Job 25:2).

     Our reconciliation to God through the blood of Christ affects us in all ways. The Lord has established peace for us, since He has also performed for us all our works (Is 26:12). For He has given His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:77-79) Christ leaves with and gives us His peace; not as the world gives, but a peace that comes from Him. For in the world we will have tribulation, but He has overcome the world and so we may have courage. He tells us not to let our hearts be troubled or fearful. (John 14:27, John 16:33) The work of Christ’s righteousness is peace, and the service of His righteousness is quietness and confidence forever (Is 32:17) Our minds controlled by faith are steadfast and the steadfast of mind, God keeps in perfect peace, because they trust in Him (Is 26:2). In peace we both lie down and sleep, for He alone, the Lord, makes us to dwell in safety (Ps 4:8). The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace (Rom 8:6). The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace (Ps 29:11). We are to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, to which indeed we were called in one body; and we are to be thankful (Col 3:15). We are to depart from evil and do good; to seek peace and pursue it (Ps 34:14). Remember that the desires of the regenerate are for the righteousness of Christ. Those who love God’s Law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble (Ps 119:165). Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy (Prov 12:20). May the Lord of peace Himself continually grant us peace in every circumstance. He is with us! (2 Thess 3:16)

     Not everyone delights and exults in our peace. As the Psalmist wrote, “⁵ Woe is me, for I  sojourn in Meshech, for I dwell among the tents of Kedar! ⁶ Too long has my soul had its dwelling with those who hate peace. ⁷ I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war. Ps 120” But He will redeem our soul in peace from the battle which is against us, for they are many who strive against us (Ps 55:18). The God of peace will soon crush Satan under our feet (Rom 16:20). Dear saints, now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit, soul, and body by preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. (1 Thess 5:23-25)

Excellent Messages:

What is Baptism and Does it Save? Essay by John Piper

Dr. Lloyd Jones on the Altar Call Article

Pray and Be Alone With God Sermon by Paul Washer 52 min

Summary of our Trip to Indiana: Our family went to Indiana for the past several days to spend time with Anand and Prasanna. God always has a glorious purpose for each of our traveling experiences. The Spirit taught me through Anand’s pastor about the Light of God’s glory invading the darkness of sin, gloom, hopelessness, despair, slavery, apathy, everything in the world apart from Him. I felt the Spirit’s promise that I will continue to see the Light of His glory in increasing measure in the time ahead. And whenever the worst trials, temptations, and burdens would come upon me, His Light will always dispel the darkness. Our family was also encouraged to pursue intimacy with Christ above all else and to pray for revival (also from Anand’s pastor). Our work for the Lord flows out from and its efficacy is dependent on our intimacy with Christ (See Ps 63). I understood more about baptism in the process of understanding from Anand that a certain false Gospel called “baptismal regeneration” exists even among seemingly God-fearing people from all ages (the heart of which seems to be the opposite extreme of free grace theology). The external act of being baptized is an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 3:21). The outward act of baptism is a due response of the inner saving regenerating work of the Spirit. Finally, I learned that the true Gospel and the right Doctrine are vindicated by the fruit of love and obedience in those who hold fast to them. Thus, by our fruit we know that we abide in the Truth and that we have eternal Life. (see 1 John) We were also able to spend time fellowshipping with several of Anand’s friends and Anand Uncle, Lois Aunty, Timothy, and Abby who know the Counsel of God’s Word and desire to know Christ above all else. I am amazed how God enables Anand to make such blessed friends. On the drive back home, I realized that God had improved my deliberation to pursue Him and His Kingdom in the past few months and deepened my understanding of His Word in an unimaginable way. He has also increased my love for the saints and their righteous acts of faith and love. I never thought that my life would become what it is now, but I praise Him, and I long to desire to be with Christ! I pray that He continues to discipline me and remove from me everything that hinders my obedience and love. This song is in honor of and love for Anand and Prasanna: O Mighty Cross  

Love in Christ,

Preethi

Total Moral Depravity

Unity # 18: Bearers of the Life of Christ

Unity # 18: Bearers of the Life of Christ

Theme Song: Yahweh

Dear Father,

     We do not want to go away from You because You have Words of eternal life. Lord, to whom shall we go apart from You. (John 6:67) Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in Your house than to dwell in the tents of the wicked. Please renew Your deeds in our time and in Your wrath remember mercy. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, o Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Please give me strength now, for my flesh is weak. Jesus Christ is Lord and He has come in the flesh.

In Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen

Dear Beloved,

     This letter is about the eternal life that all believers have been granted at the time of regeneration when the old sinful nature was crucified with Christ and a new heart and spirit was granted to them. This process of regeneration has taken place through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. We have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4). We have died and our lives are hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then we also will be revealed with Him in glory (Col 3:3-4).

     Prior to our regeneration, we were darkened in our understanding and excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that was in us because of the hardness of our hearts (Eph 4:18). But the will of the Father is that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and the Father Himself will raise him up at the last day (John 6:40). Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes (John 5:21). Indeed, God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). The Father has given the Son authority over all flesh, that to all whom He has given to the Son, He may give eternal Life (John 17:2). He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36). Remember that we have discussed in the past few letters that all who truly believe in the Son will obey Him. For he who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal (John 12:25). As  God told Baruch, “But you, are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I am going to bring disaster on all flesh,’ declares the LORD, ‘but I will give your life to you as booty in all the places where you may go.’” (Jer 45:5)

      Many people associate eternal life with our entrance into heaven’s glory and the everlasting retention of our souls in the eternal Kingdom, but the Scriptures tell us that our free gift of eternal life can and surely will start at the time of regeneration for every person who has true saving faith. Eternal life has been promised long ages ago by the God who cannot lie (Tit 1:2). Being justified by His grace we are made heirs according to this hope of eternal Life (Tit 3:7). What exactly is eternal life? Jesus Himself is eternal Life. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Him (John 14:6). The night before Jesus was crucified He lifted up His eyes to heaven and prayed to His Father, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, ² even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. ³ This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17)”. Dear saints, eternal Life means knowing Jesus Christ. This is our only and all-sufficient inheritance as children of God. God has raised our Prince of Life from the dead (Acts 3:15). For the Bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to all the world (John 6:33). Christ’s life is the eternal life that is manifested to all of the children of God (1 John 1:2). God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son (1 John 5:11). If anyone eats of this Bread, he will live forever; and the Bread also which He gives for the life of the world is His Flesh (John 6:51). Jesus Himself is the Word of God. And remember that man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matt 4:4). We do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to us, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal (John 6:67). The Words which Christ speaks are spirit and life (John 6:63). The Jewish teachers of the Law searched the Scriptures because they thought that in them they have eternal Life, yet they refused to come to the very one whom the Scriptures testified about (John 5:39). Whoever drinks of the water that He gives shall never thirst; but the water that He gives us will become in us a well of water springing up to eternal life (John 4:14). All who eat His flesh and drink His blood have eternal life, and He will raise us up on the last day (John 6:54). He has given us eternal life and we will never perish, nor shall anyone snatch us out of His hand (John 10:28). The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; Christ came that we may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:20). For in Him is a fountain of Life and in His light we see light (Ps 36:9). He has made known to us the ways of life; He makes us full of gladness in His presence (Acts 2:28).

     Why do we need eternal life? We need eternal life because while we were helpless sinners, we were under the wrath of God. Just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is now law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. While we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, and much more, having been reconciled, we are saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Our free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of one man, death reigned through him, that is Adam, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.  Through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, and through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. Through one man’s disobedience many were made sinners and so through the obedience of Christ many will be made righteous. Just as sin reigned in death, even so grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 5:6-21)

     Now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, we derive our benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome is eternal life (Rom 6:22). In fact, God’s very commandment is eternal life (John 12:50) and by the Spirit’s regenerating work, we are able to fulfill the Law of love and experience eternal life therein. As we abide in the love, life, and Word of Christ, we are truly living. For everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and we know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3:15). The Biblical tests of assurance, loving, forgiving, and walking in the Light, given in the book of 1 John were written to those who believe in the Name of the Son of God, so that they may know that they have eternal life (1 John 5:13). Experiencing the eternal life of knowing Christ and obedience to Him always occur together; they are inseparable. We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20). For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life (Gal 6:8). The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace (Rom 8:6). We are to keep ourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life (Jude 1:21). The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us; He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in us (Rom 8:11). When we see our brothers committing sin not leading to death, we should ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death (1 John 5:16). As regenerated people, we experience ongoing eternal life, and when we sin, God continues to forgive us as we repent and grant us the ongoing knowledge of Christ. For He Himself has promised us eternal life (1 John 2:25). Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together (John 4:36). Even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the Image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as bond-servants of the saints for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the Face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2 Cor 4:3-11)

     Dear saints, now God calls us to fight the good fight of faith, to take hold of the eternal life to which we were called, and to make the good confession in the presence of many witnesses (1 Tim 6:12). God will render to each person according to his deeds. Remember, we are not saved by our deeds, but deeds are the evidence that we have been truly saved by grace through faith. To those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality, they will receive eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the Truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. (Rom 2:4-11) Jesus says to us, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. (Rev 21:6)”.

Please avoid the writings of Charles Finney which I recommended earlier. Anand informed me that he had some dangerous doctrinal errors.

Love in Christ,

Preethi