CONTINUE IN CHRIST - PART 2

TUESDAY 18 JUNE 2024

The purpose of the new birth is to continue in Christ. It is the evidence that you are born of the Spirit. That which is born of the flesh lives by human natural condition due to the circumstance of his natural birth. But that man who is born of the Spirit has received the grace to live for Christ and to continue in Him with full energetic manifestation. More below!

Reference: 1 John 2:28-29 English Standard Version (ESV)

"And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at his coming. If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him."

Out of the two verses in the above Scripture, I dealt with the first verse in part one of this topic, and today, we are looking at the second verse, which is: "If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him" (Verse 29).

Do you know that Christ is righteous? If yes, then let there be an awakened consciousness to follow His ways by doing what is right because anyone who does what is right is born of Him (spiritual birth). Everyone who practises righteousness is pure and blameless in their Christian lives, which is the evidence that they are born of the Spirit.

Did you notice a revelatory insight in the versified statement? Let us consider the rendering again: If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been BORN OF HIM. That means, being born of the Spirit empowers us to practise righteousness. Now this is the manifestation of a new life in Christ, and so, the spiritual life which qualifies or authorizes us to practise what is right - is a product of the new birth, just like the physical life itself is operative based on natural birth. Remember this: That which is born of the Spirit is spirit, which also implies that the person's spirit is attuned to the ways of the Spirit, but that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and is concerned with fulfilling the desires of the flesh.

Just like the human nature, in its material constitution, is subject to evil or sinful practices, you can rest assured that everyone who has been born of God can practise righteousness because he is a full partaker of divine nature. Therefore do not shut your eyes to this truth which sufficiently makes the possible contemplation of warning those who do not practise righteousness - of the sad doom of eternal damnation, when Christ appears. Such people will not have confidence on the last day, meaning that they would shrink from Christ in shame - at His coming. Now what does it mean for a Christian to practise righteousness? Stay tuned for part 3. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Psalm 45:7; Matthew 5:20; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 John 3:7.

Guided Prayer:

Gracious Father in heaven, I personally thank you for all you did for me on the cross through the Lord Jesus Christ, which also brought grace and salvation to all mankind. With a grateful heart and outstretched hands lifted heavenward, I testify that I live by the power of the Spirit, and in doing so, I establish an authoritative version of righteousness in my life and world through constant practice, in Jesus' Name, Amen.