"Planted Together in," Jesus Christ

"For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.... (Romans 6:5)

Earlier the Apostle says that we, "were baptized into Christ Jesus," that we, "were baptized into His death."  The word for "baptize" means more than just "to dip."  Vine says that the Greeks used the word "to signify the dyeing of a garment, or drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another."  When I was, "baptized into Christ Jesus," I was not just "dipped" into Christ Jesus.  I took on the same "color" as Jesus, "dipped" into Jesus to draw from Jesus' very Life. 

The KJV translates our text, "If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection...."  The word translated, "planted,"  means that we are "born together with, of joint origin, congenital (present from birth), innate, implanted by birth" in Jesus Christ.  "Born together" in Jesus, "of joint origin," present from birth, and since there is no "origin" or "birth" of Jesus, the reality is that I am from eternity in Jesus, "of joint origin;" hence, no beginning, no ending.

The cross has been described as "the great pivotal point of history."  Everything before the Cross pointed to the Cross, and everything after the Cross points back to the Cross.  Without the Cross of Jesus Christ, we have nothing, the human race, the planet would be headed toward the Pit.  The Cross of Jesus is not "done and over with."  This is behind Paul's statement, "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."  It is obvious that Paul did not just keep repeating "the Cross, the Cross."  The Holy Spirit through Paul was saying that the Cross is central, foundational.  All the grace, mercy, faithfulness, provision, deliverance, joy, peace, etc., which we have in Jesus Christ came "at the Cross."  

"Planted," in Christ's Death, "Planted," in Christ's Resurrection."  What wondrous glory, mercy, and love!

Father, in Jesus' Name, "keep me near the cross, there a precious fountain."  Amen.
************************
Prophetic Video:               www.antipasprayerforce2.blogspot.com
News:                              www.apf327.blogspot.com
Devotional Archive:          www.apfdevotionals.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"My Heart is Fixed"-- on Jesus Christ, His Cross, His Blood, His Resurrection;

"They set a net for my steps; my very life was bowed down.  They dug a pit in my way....My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident!  I will sing and make melody."
(Psalm. 57:6,7- Amplified Bible)

This is victorious living in Jesus Christ.  David is a prime example for any Follower of Jesus Christ.  You know by now that people will indeed, "set a net for my steps," that rejection, even persecution, is the life of a soul absolutely surrendered to Jesus Christ.  The evil of this present world system will dig, "a pit in my way."  The greatest response?--- "My heart is fixed....Sing and make melody."  Whistling in the dark?-- For many people it is, because they do not walk in Jesus Christ, but in their own concept of religion.  But not so for the one "in whom Jesus Christ lives."  This is resurrection victory.  This is the victory of the Cross, the empty tomb, The Ascended Christus Victor!  "It is finished!"   My dear friend, what is left to do?--- "sing and make melody"!

David was indeed a warrior, and we are called to, "fight the good fight of faith."  But, "though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh."  So much warring today is nervous flesh energy.  We war in the "God-Breathed" Word, in the Holy Spirit in our spirits, in the Cross of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, the death of Jesus, His resurrection, ascension and soon return to do battle with those who did not, "seek first the Kingdom," but who were just pit diggers.

I am currently reading a biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and took great encouragement this morning when I read an observation which he made of American preaching while studying at Union Seminary. "In New York they preach about virtually everything, only one thing is not addressed, or is addressed so rarely that I have as yet been unable to hear it, namely, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross, sin and forgiveness, death and life."  Bonhoeffer affirmed the Biblical truth that victory in life comes only in Jesus Christ, the cross, forgiveness of sin, and, "He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me...shall not come into judgment but has passed from death into life."  For me, it is only because of this I can, "sing and make melody."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for, "so great a cloud of witnesses."  My I continue the tradition.  Amen.
***********************************
Kingdom News at:     www.apf327.blogspot.com
 
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Conceived in Sin-Delivered in Christ

"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me."  (Psalm 51:5)

David was not saying, of course, that his mother conceived him out of wedlock.  David was simply affirming the Biblical truth that all who ever lived, now live, and will ever live are sinners, born in sin, born in the genetic line of the first, "of these...who sinned against their own souls" (Numbers 16:38).  This passage always looms before me when I confess and repent of sin.  David says in Psalm 51 that it was, "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight...."  According to Biblical Theology, however, I destroy myself in the process.  Maybe I should ask forgiveness also from myself.

Sin is disobedience, not just smoking, drinking, swearing, the outer stuff which others see, and so many in their own strength can "quit." Many who stop the aforementioned, never stop disobeying.  Religious life can be a sort of pick-and-choose of what we believe is acceptable behavior.  This is the reason for the prayer which I can never pray too often, "Search me, O God."  For many people, searching themselves does not bring up much.  When God searches, He gets it all.  Praise Him!

The reason so many Muslims are coming to Jesus Christ is that Islam teaches that you can never be assured of the forgiveness of sin.  In Jesus Christ, you can.  "....The blood of Jesus Christ...cleanses us from all sin....And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins." Richard C. Trench, in his Synonyms of the New Testament, says that "Chrysostom, drawing attention to [the Greek word], observes that by [it] the Apostle would express the completeness of our redemption in Christ Jesus, a redemption which no later bondage should follow...." 

There you have it, my friend, "no later bondage should follow."  As David, "in sin my mother conceived me."  But no one on the planet has to stay a sinner.  "For if we have become united with [Jesus] in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with [Jesus], in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin...." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I can never add anything to what You say.  I just accept and receive it.  Amen.
**********************************
Somehow world events are dwarfed by this, but you can still go to:
www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"He Found [Us]-Encircled [Us]-Instructed [Us]-Kept [Us]"

"He found him in a desert land, and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye."  (Deuteronomy 32:10)

Our text is a description of Israel when the Living Triune God found him------------------ and perfect description of me when Jesus found me, "in a desert land, and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness...."  Yes, I was very young, but there was nothing but, "a desert land, and... wasteland, a howling wilderness," all around me, just waiting to destroy me.  No debate, this is the human race.  No debate, this is Grace unequaled, Grace unparalleled.  Of course, when you surrender your life to Jesus Christ at an early age you don't know all that is in you or all that awaits you.  But Jesus does.  So, whether a person comes to Christ at a young age, "before the difficult days come," or as an adult, when, "the difficult days," have overtaken you, the need is the same, and the deliverance is the same.

The "completion" of our salvation is in the Blessed Trinity, Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit, and in Him alone.  We could not have, nor can we ever earn anything with God.  Pray, fast 'til you weigh ten pounds, work your head off in your church, give to the poor, pet the stray dog, nothing can earn anything with God.  Any works we do which are, "holy, acceptable to God," are merely results of His Grace; they don't bring His Grace.

Not long before God took Moses, he gave the Jews a great promise, which is for all who obey Jesus Christ.  "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds.  The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and will say, 'Destroy!'  Then Israel shall dwell in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone, in a land of grain and new wine; His heavens shall also drop dew."  Glorious.

Father, in Jesus' Name, if this does not "make my day," nothing will.  Amen.
********************************
More than you can keep up with @:     www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

The Jonah Principle: Go-No-Blow-Woe

"Now the word of the LORD (Who is Jesus Christ, 'The Word of God') came to Jonah.., saying, 'Arise, go....But Jonah arose to flee...from the presence of the LORD." (From Jonah 1:1-3)

 

Nice try, Jonah, but it never works, does it?!?  I once heard a Dallas Seminary professor sum up the Book of Jonah thus: "God said to Jonah, 'Go.'  Jonah said, 'No.'  God said to the wind, 'Blow.'  Jonah said, 'Woe.'"  About sums up life, doesn't it?  "Obedience is better than sacrifice," is a Bible passage which is written into the very fabric of life.  It is a reality which is not just true from God's perspective.  It is life altering from man's perspective.  This is true with all Scripture.  "And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statues, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.  Then it will be righteousness for us...." 

 

Too much jargon and preaching today decries the Old Testament, the Law, the Statues.  Too many live as though the commands of God are just to appease God.  How very immature!  The Words of God are not only, "righteousness for us," in our relationship with the Blessed Trinity, they are, "for our good always," right now, in the home, the office, the market place-------------- the Church.  If this reality dominated us, what a difference it would make in our personal lives and in the life of the Church. 

 

Jonah only obeyed after, "....The LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah.  And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."  Have you ever been "swallowed" by a "great fish?!?"  If so, it was, "for our good always"--------------- "and that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD."   

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You, Your Words, and everything You do is a great seal of, "for our good always."  Amen.

********************************

Quite a few great new articles at:    www.apf327.blogspot.com

New Posting at:                                   www.apfjw.blogspot.com

 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2