2 Corinthians 5:6-8, “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
Hey, Folks!
We learn to “walk by faith, not by sight” in real fashion because we truly believe in the Lord and in His word. One definition of the word faith is “constancy in such profession” … it is in direct line with the practical application of faith in our lifestyle.
So many in the Church world profess they have faith in God …and… are saved, but their lifestyle proves differently. They live NOT up to the standard set by what God prescribed in scriptures.
Either we will walk by faith OR we will walk by sight … we can not do both AND please the Lord!
Check this out if you will….
In the natural, marriage for instance — do you realize that women who keep their maiden name with their married name dishonor their husband? Yep! It makes her bound by two laws: 1) her father, and 2) her husband. The vows of marriage only include the husband and the wife … not the father of the bride (Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:34).
This type of lifestyle is accepted by men!
In the Spirit, and in the same light — do you also realize that many who try to live their old man lifestyle along with their new man (i.e., new nature/new creature) dishonor the Lord Jesus Christ Who bought them? (1 Corinthians 7:23).
This type of lifestyle WILL NOT EVER CO-EXIST!!!
Consider the old and new natures contrasted:
- (Romans 6:5-7) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.
- (Ephesians 4:20-24) But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
- (Colossians 3:8-11) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
The Challenge—
Our salvation is no cake walk but a constant press in one direction … toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. In a nutshell, the ultimate goal of the truly saved is the rapture (to be a partaker of the first resurrection) and to stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Philippians 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:6).
We strive through the challenge to walk by faith daily as we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and literally follow behind the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 9:23).
Are you up for the challenge?!
- We cannot live haphazard lives … and take up our cross, daily.
- We cannot live haphazard lives … and walk by faith.
- We cannot live haphazard lives … and put off the old man.
- We cannot live haphazard lives … and put on the new man.
- We cannot live haphazard lives … and be renewed in the spirit of our mind.
- We cannot live haphazard lives … and be renewed in knowledge after God’s image….
We must strive to die to sin (and stay dead); strive to be alive unto God (and stay alive); and strive to hate the very existence of sin (constantly) … 24/7 (Psalm 45:7; Hebrews 1:9; Romans 6:7-11).
If you are truly born of God, you can not practice sin with a good conscience. Why? His seed (word) is in you (even in your heart) … and you can not live both lifestyles (1 John 3:9-10; Deuteronomy 30:14; Romans 10:8). Besides, if you are truly born again of the water and of the Spirit, you will in due course have, keep, understand, and love the precepts (i.e., the order, commands, and mandates) of God AND hate every false way (Psalm 119:104; John 3:5; 14:21).
God has established order in His Church by the leadership He gave to present us perfect in Him. Our salvation is not a casual, nor chaotic, disorganized, hit-and-miss temporary walk … but it is a sure, confident, constant, perfect, godly journey in (and through) this strange land unto the commonwealth and covenant promise of the kingdom of God….
Consider the effects of our new nature:
- (Ephesians 2:11-13) Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
- (Galatians 6:15-16) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
We Exercise Good Courage—
How many times have you heard the word across the pulpit to be of good courage? I know, you’ll probably run out of numbers. The point of the matter is that we must strive to exercise good courage in every area of our lives because the Lord is our strength, and our strong confidence … so we have no excuse not to be very courageous in Him. We have no reason to be without good courage since we know that the Lord be for us … then we also know that no one can stand against us!
Who is on the Lord’s side?!
- It takes courage … to be strong, and very courageous.
- It takes courage … to walk by faith, not by sight.
- It takes courage … to take up our cross, daily.
- It takes courage … to die to sin, and stay dead to sin.
- It takes courage … to be alive unto God, and stay alive.
- It takes courage … to be renewed in the spirit of our mind, constantly.
- It takes courage … to be renewed in knowledge, after God’s image.
- It takes courage … to obey God through the leadership, He gave us.
- It takes courage … to submit to God’s leadership, with little to no resistance.
- It takes courage … to love our neighbor, and our enemies.
- It takes courage … not to hold a grudge, nor unforgiveness against anyone.
…and the list goes on and on….
What are you doing with the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ in you?
Use it or abuse it?
Those who truly love the Lord rather be with Him than here in the midst of this untoward generation. Nevertheless, we look unto Jesus Who is the Author and Finisher of our faith while we lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and … we run with patience the race that is set before us — we look at the joy that is set before us as Jesus did while He endured the cross and despised the shame (Acts 2:40; Hebrews 12:1-2).
We strive to have eternal life with the Lord Jesus Christ in His kingdom — that’s why we walk by faith, not by sight!
Believe what God said in His word … and live!
In Christ We Do Remain
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