What does it mean to believe that Jesus rose from the dead? It means that by faith in Him, the same power by which He overcame death is given to us. By this power, death is no longer the last word of our life - the barrier of death is transformed into a gateway. This power comes from God the Father and it is revealed every time we act in our faith in Jesus. To act in our faith, our abiding in the presence of Christ, is to express the love that has overflowed from Him through his wounds onto us. To act in faith is to be bathed in the blood of Christ.
For me, all the disputes about faith and works are resolved when we see that the works of faith come from the inexhaustible depths of God's own heart. Since they are gifts from Him who loves us, since they were bought at the price of his Only Begotten Son, since they manifest the glory of the resurrection and anticipate the life in the world to come - how can we not share these works with the world? In light of the Fire with which God loves us, how can we let the lonely go unloved or the hungry unfed or the naked unclothed, or the homeless unsheltered?
Shalom Anthony,
ReplyDeleteI was beginning to wonder where you was.
I agree with you that by beholding Yahshua (Jesus) by faith; with the purpose of becoming like Him in every way; we are transformed to His image, to His likeness, to His character. If we fail in renewing our faith in Him we lose the vital power needed to reflect His character of love. Sometimes we tend to look to our defects of character and become discouraged. But if we continual renew our faith in Him; he will grant us the power to become His children. He has promised to make us like Him in character. Inside each of His commands is the power to obey them. All we need to do is ask, believe, and receive.
I believe also that from His wounds flows the transforming power to live the sanctified Life. For therein is the hiding of His power.
Shalom Anthony. I trust that all is well with you and your family.