" CHRISTlikeness, a Lifetime of Learning "

     There are many people, Christians and non-Christians alike that have a problem with our current crop of so-called Believers. Even I am guilty of being hard on those who state that they are True Born Again Believers, because their lives do not live up to what seems to be expected of them. When CHRIST went back into heaven HE gave the " Great Commission " that Christians were to go out into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature or every nation and to make disciples of them. But how do you do that, how do you give out the Gospel ? One way is obvious, verbally give your testimony of what CHRIST has done for you and how HE saved you from a life of sin. But the other way is not so easy and it is where the rub is as far as living the Christian Life before others. This is where the rubber meets the road, walking the walk and not just talking the talk.

     Before CHRIST went back up into heaven HE said to HIS disciples in Acts Chapter 1 verse 8 - "But you shall receive power when the HOLY SPIRIT has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses to ME in Jerusalem (your home and neighborhood), and in Judea (your city or state) and Samaria (the nation) and to the end of the earth (to the whole world)."  The power HE was talking about was the giving of the HOLY SPIRIT at Pentecost.  When someone comes to JESUS by faith and believes that HE died for their own personal sins and asks JESUS to come into their heart and save them, HE does just that but HE also seals the new Believer with the GUARANTEE or GOD the HOLY SPIRIT. From this moment on the life of the new Believer is either slowly transformed or vigorously transformed into the image of CHRIST, it is all up to the new Believer and how much he is committed to his new way of life.

     GOD's WORD calls the new Believer " a Babe in CHRIST " in many places. As a new Believer we need to grow in GOD's WORD but many new Believers seem to stop there, as Babes, only occasionally feeding on the WORD or going to a good Bible believing or Bible preaching church, when they feel like it. Discipling these new Believers is crucial and needful for them or Satan will pull them away to stay Babes in CHRIST and not allow them to grow and mature in their new faith. The LORD gives gifts to HIS children and these gifts need to be exercised so that they can be used fully for the glory of GOD and to fulfill their place in the body of Believers in the local godly church.
     In the book of Romans Chapter 8:1 thru 17 the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of GOD, gives Believers insight into what the HOLY SPIRIT does in the life of a Believer.......

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in CHRIST JESUS, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the SPIRIT. For the law of the SPIRIT of life in CHRIST JESUS has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak, through the flesh, GOD did by sending HIS own SON in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin; HE condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the SPIRIT. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the SPIRIT, the things of the SPIRIT. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is at enmity against GOD; for it is not subject to the law of GOD, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please GOD. BUT you are not in the flesh but in the SPIRIT, if indeed the SPIRIT of GOD dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the SPIRIT of CHRIST, he is not HIS. And if CHRIST is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the SPIRIT is life because of righteousness (HIS not ours). But if the SPIRIT of HIM who raised JESUS from the dead dwells in you, HE who raised CHRIST from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through HIS SPIRIT who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the SPIRIT you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the SPIRIT of GOD these are sons of GOD. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the SPIRIT of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, FATHER."  The SPIRIT HIMSELF bears witness with our spirit that we are children of GOD, and if children, then heirs-heirs of GOD and joint heirs with CHRIST, if indeed we suffer with HIM, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:1 thru 17

     Also in 2nd Corinthians 3:18 Paul states - But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the LORD, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the SPIRIT of the LORD.  And in 2nd Cor.5:15 Paul states -  And HE died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for HIM who died for them and rose again.  The book of Galatians Chapter 5 talks of Christian Liberty and the conflict between walking in the SPIRIT and walking in the flesh, pay special attention to verses 16,17,24 & 25  -  I say then, "Walk in the SPIRIT, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the SPIRIT, and the SPIRIT against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish." And those who are CHRIST's (True Believers, Christians) have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the SPIRIT, let us walk in the SPIRIT.
     In the book of 1st.John 2:28 thru 3:3 John, through the inspiration of GOD writes - And now, little children, abide in HIM, that when HE appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before HIM at HIS coming. If you know that HE is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of HIM. Behold what manner of love the FATHER has bestowed on us that we should be called children of GOD. Therefore the world does not know us because it did not know HIM. Beloved, now we are children of GOD: and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be but we know that when HE is revealed, we shall be like HIM for we shall see HIM as HE is. And everyone who has this hope in HIM purifies himself, just as HE is pure.

     So what does all this mean ? Basically, boiled down - STAY IN GOD'S WORD, PRAY THAT THE SPIRIT WILL TEACH YOU AND BE OPEN TO WHAT THE SPIRIT IS TEACHING YOU, FIND A GOOD BIBLE BELIEVING, BIBLE PREACHING CHURCH AND GO FAITHFULLY, LEARN WHAT GIFTS YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN AND USE THEM FOR GOD'S GLORY, FIND YOUR PLACE OF SERVICE IN THE CHURCH AND DO THE WORK GOD GAVE YOU TO DO.  As a Believer/Christian we must not stay Babes but we need to mature in the Faith of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST to the glory of GOD the FATHER.
     We will never be perfect on this side of heaven, but with the SPIRIT's teaching and a teachable spirit, we can learn to be more like JESUS each day til HE comes.
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie