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Hello

Believers, not only is the Christian life hard to live by human effort, it is impossible to live. Only Christ can, so we have nothing to boast about. This is why we sing “‘tis no longer I that liveth, but Christ that liveth in me.” Here’s an illustration:

I'd been doing my best to resolve the mosquito issues we'd been experiencing at my home for some months. This breed of mosquitoes seemed to laugh off regular insecticides when I used it on them. I'd use Baygon on them and see their dead bodies strewn all over the floor afterwards but our relief was always short-lived; they'd be humming all over the place again within hours! They tormented me day and night.

But one day, I remembered Integrated Science or was it Home Economics from secondary school: mosquitoes need stagnant water to breed! I rushed outside: close to our living room windows were two buckets, both of them half-filled with rain/tap water, and with all sorts floating thereon. Mosquitoes everywhere!

My point is no matter how often I sprayed the house with insecticide, our respite from mosquitoes would always be temporary unless their breeding places got destroyed. Plus insecticides have their own harmful effects on humans and the mosquitoes would eventually become resistant to them too. Getting rid of them would only become more difficult. How does this relate to living the Christian life? Romans 5:19 says-

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous."

From the above verse, we see that committing acts of sin is not what makes people sinners. People are made sinners by Adam's sin. Everyone descended from Adam is born with this sin/old nature. The stagnant water in the buckets represents man having the old nature inherited from Adam. The mosquitoes that bothered me represent acts of sin as well as sickness, lack, stress and everything that came to be as a result of Adam's fall. Having this root of sin (stagnant water) is what causes the mosquitoes (acts of sin, sickness, lack, etc) to proliferate. We see this in Romans 7:5-

"When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death."

Unfortunately in the church today, the focus is on preaching the killing of mosquitoes (acts of sin) by using insecticides (law-keeping) as the path to attaining righteousness, when what is needful is ridding the flock of the old/sin nature that was inherited from Adam (getting rid of the stagnant water.) Christ died to rid us of this old/sin nature. See Colossians 2:11–

“When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.”

In Him, we are a new creation. God made Him to be sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, as it is written in 2 Cor. 5:21-

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

When you receive the abundance of grace and believe that you are saved and made righteous by the obedience of Christ (Romans 5:19) and not your own obedience or your self-discipline and law-keeping prowess, you no longer have the old/sin nature. You are dead to the law. Old things have passed away. No more curse. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus, made righteous not by your own obedience to the law but by Christ’s obedience (Romans 5:19.) And this is the result according to Romans 7:4-

"So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the One who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God."

Understand what it means to have "died with Christ" and to be "united with the One who was raised from the dead." God did not raise the Lord Jesus from the dead just because He could. Christ's death and resurrection is the divine receipt showing that we who believe have been forgiven of all of our sins and made righteous by His one sacrifice for sins. See this in Romans 4:23-

“Who was betrayed and put to death because of our misdeeds and was raised to secure our justification (our acquittal), [making our account balance and absolving us from all guilt before God]." See the TPT version: “Jesus was handed over to be crucified for the forgiveness of our sins and was raised back to life to prove that He had made us right with God!”


Christ would not have risen from the dead if our lifetime of sins had not been forgiven and we had not been declared righteous (justified,) all apart from works. His resurrection is akin to seeing someone who went to serve a death sentence in an impregnable prison for the crimes of another alive and walking free. As believers, we have everlasting righteousness apart from works because Christ is risen. When we believe that He is risen (that we are made righteous by His obedience and not our puny efforts at doing good things and obeying the letter that kills,) we get to "produce a harvest of good deeds for God," aka works of faith, yet not us but Christ in us.

Instead of stagnant water (sin nature) in vessels that can only produce acts of sin and such that lead to death, in Christ, we have His righteousness, so we get to live right! Just as the sin nature produces acts of sin, as a new creation with Christ as our righteousness, we bear fruit to righteousness, yet not us but Christ in us.

In essence, no matter how many canisters of insecticide one expends in a bid to kill the mosquitoes (trying hard by one's power to be sin-free through obedience to the letter that kills,) without getting rid of the stagnant water (rejecting the old nature that was inherited from Adam and receiving our Lord Jesus' blood-bought righteousness which is given as a gift to all who believe Him according to 2 Corinthians 5:21,) he can never be free from mosquitoes (acts of sin.) He has the old (sinner) nature. Sin will multiply and the result is death.

Remember Romans 6:14- “For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under grace.” Sin has dominion over those who are trying to obey the law in order to be godly (be like God.)

This is why many in the church today are trapped in an endless cycle of committing acts of sin and attending deliverance/curse-breaking sessions all in a bid to be free from one bondage or the other that Christ hung on the cross and died to free us from. Like my insecticide and mosquitoes experience, any results will be short-lived. The old nature is still intact so no matter how much such do to be free from their "mosquitoes" of acts of sin, sickness, lack, depression, etc, more will come.

The one with the old nature rejects the gift of righteousness that Christ died that we might have and strives to attain righteousness/godliness (be like God) by human effort, just like Eve did. He does not believe Romans 5:19– "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous."

But Romans 3:20 says :"For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are."

Also, Galatians 5:4 says "For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace."

Yet in many places of worship, people are being subtly taught to reject the gift of righteousness that Christ died that we might have and depend on their own "menstrual rag" righteousness from works of the law. Isaiah 64:6 shows us God's view of the "good things" we do in order to be righteous: "We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight."

Only the blood-bought righteousness that proceeds from the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ will suffice for God the Righteous and He freely gives it to all who believe.

Grace is undeserved, unmerited favour. If one iota of our strength is in it, it is no longer Grace (Romans 11:6,) and only by grace through faith are we saved, so we have nothing to boast of in ourselves (Ephesians 2:8-9,) not our own self-discipline, giving, morality, evangelism, tithe payment, dedication or right-living prowess. Wonderful as these things are, they cannot save anybody. Doing them in order to gain God's favour and acceptance is rejecting the gift of righteousness that Christ died that we might have; it is akin to killing mosquitoes inside your house but ignoring their breeding ground. Only in the Beloved are we accepted. Ephesians 1:6.

With the Lord as our righteousness, the old nature is no more; "all these things shall be added unto you." We get to be transformed to the image of the glory of the Lord, from glory to glory, through no effort of ours but by His Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18.) We get to live in triumph over sin, stress, sickness and every ill. We get to love proclaiming Jesus. We get to live a life of moral excellence even beyond that which the law demands, yet not us but Christ in us.

Romans 5:17 says: "For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ."

This death that is as a result of Adam’s offence is not necessarily immediate. It is a process. Fear, stress, worry, silly mistakes, working so hard only to lose it all, sickness, lack, depression, fast-tracked ageing are all death begun. God said to Adam "for in the day of thine eating of it -- dying thou dost die." Psalms 90:4 says of God "A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by,"; Moses wrote this concerning God's view of the life of man (v.3.) Adam did not give up the ghost immediately after his death sentence came into effect; he lived for almost 1,000 years aka one day gone by in the sight of God.

Not only is the Christian life hard to live by human effort, it is impossible to live. Only Christ can. This is why we sing “‘tis no longer I that liveth, but Christ that liveth in me.” Only with the abundance of grace and having Christ as our righteousness do we get to live in triumph over sin and death.

Sinners are made righteous by "one Man's obedience": Christ's; when we believe that God "made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor. 5:21. Here, we are a new creation in Christ. When you believe that your right-standing with God and His blessings upon you have got nothing to do with what you did or did not do but have ALL to do with what Christ has done, the old (sinner) nature is no more. The stagnant water is gone.

There might still be some mosquitoes (acts of sin, sickness, etc) inside your house after the stagnant water (old nature) is removed but they will all die off and there will be none to replace them. Remember, “The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.” Proverbs 4:18. Things will only get better and you will no longer continue to live in sin because you have the only brand of righteousness that counts before God: Christ’s.

In place of the root of sin (stagnant water) that produces acts of sin (death-bearing mosquitoes,) we have Christ's righteousness so we bear fruit to God. We get to produce "a harvest of good deeds for God." No more mosquitoes (acts of sin) but abundant life, right living and every blessing of God in Christ! This is the Good News.

Believe Right and you will Live Right.

http://rightbelieving101..com.ng/2018/02/why-is-christian-life-so-hard.html?m=1

Huuuuuu

Hai

Hi

Hello

Coooooo

Booom

jiggaz:
Morning

haai

Yeah

Hello

sujexy:
Thanks much sir! do not be demoralized by the comments u HV seen here...like what someone above quoted earlier, they are just sincerely wrong....MORE GRACE TO U SIR!!

Thanx alot dear... No am not demoralized.. Am just amazed they couldn't see the truth... The Gospel is all about Christ and His finished work at the cross.. Thank u once again...

bloodofthelamb:
Brother, I thank the Lord Jesus for knowledge and understand for without Him we know nothing.

Yes bro.... That's true.

bloodofthelamb:
Show me a believer who deliberately practise sin and I will show you a man who is not a believer.

A believer cannot make sinning a habit for the Spirit of righteousness now dwells in him and leads him.

Beautiful comment...

oddysey:
If you have been travelling on a road for 50 years and you found out that you may not have been travelling on the right road, the correct thing to do would be to turn and start on the right road. It doesn't matter how far you have travelled. You will NEVER get to your destination!

I appreciate the opposition to the message of the eternal security of the believer. It's what we have been taught all our lives and we sincerely believe it. But then, we can be sincerely wrong! It's not about sincerity. Question is, does the Bible teach it?

I would implore us to just open our hearts, discard all our pre-suppositions and study the Bible on this subject.

In closing, even the most popular verse in the Bible talks about eternal security........"that whosoever BELIEVES on Him should NOT PERISH but have ETERNAL LIFE......NOT PERISH...NOT PERISH....NOT PERISH....NOT PERISH...NOT PERISH...NOT PERISH...

Thank you my brother... Am always happy when i see someone that understands Grace... God bless...

Morning

bloodofthelamb:
Bro Jiggaz fire on for the Lord Jesus got your back and front.

The gate of hell will not prevail against the truth of God.

Amen!! Thank you my dear brother... I will..

Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation…

When the phone rings at odd times, most people think, “Oh dear, it must be bad news.” They don’t think, “I wonder what the good news is that it cannot wait till morning!”When we hear, “The boss wants to see you,” instinctively, we think, “Oh dear, this is not good.” But how do we know that it is not going to be about a promotion?

Our minds are inclined toward the negative. So to guard our minds against negative thoughts, we are to put on “the helmet of salvation”, which is “the hope of salvation”. (1 Thessalonians 5:

If you are going through a trial right now, putting on as a helmet the hope of salvation means that you have a confident expectation of good coming your way. It means that you choose to believe that this trial that you are going through is only temporary because God will see you through it. It means that you believe that this difficult period will end with your salvation—your preservation, wholeness, wellness and health!

You may not know what is going to happen this week. But one thing you can do is to put on the helmet of the hope of salvation and tell yourself that you are going to have a fantastic week!

“Well, you know, Pastor Prince, you never know what to expect. We hear so much bad news these days—another flu outbreak, another company retrenching its workers…I really hope that I will not be retrenched next. But I cannot be sure. I am keeping my fingers crossed.”

No, my friend, biblical hope is not “I hope so” but “I know so”! You can have a confident expectation of good happening to you because you are not like the people of the world. You are a child of the living God. You have a Savior watching over you. There are more angels given charge over you than there are demons against you. And greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4) There is every reason for you to have a confident expectation of good happening to you!

https://www.josephprince.org/blog/daily-grace-inspirations/expect-good-things-to-happen-to-you

sujexy:
if we can get to understand what sin is really, then we wouldn't be fighting with op...
our reactions are logical based on what we have always heard and believed!
Open your mind to the truth of the scripture and dig out the unadulterated message d bible z passing to us...
remember, Paul was antagonised when he preached d same...
According to the scripture "believing the lord and acknowledging Jesus as your lord" is the only criteria for partaking in Gods divine nature.. Sentiments cannot change that!!
Your human struggles will never make u a better person, rather ur total believe in the work of Christ and his ability to change ur spirit man which subsequently changes your physical self
shalom!!!

Thank you my dear... You have said it all. Am happy that you know the truth about the Gospel...

chybosaint:
I think you are wrong. You remember where the Bible not all that call me Lord will enter the kingdom of God, for some will come and say we healed in your name, and He will get out of my face you workers of iniquity. (paraphrased). Think on these words with the light of what you said

alright.. In answer to your post, plz read this ---->>> https://www.nairaland.com/3316252/religious-gangsters-matthew-7-21-23

MistadeRegal:
But have you not read the Bible where John said JESUS CHRIST spoke to him thus: And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Revelation:21:6-8

Do you think all those who call themselves Men Of GOD are all for real men of GOD?
JESUS CHRIST also spoke: Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew:7:19-23

What do you have to answer to these?

Ok.

Also: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans:6:1-4

What you have to do is make people know that once in CHRIST JESUS, they must live a holy life.

Alright.. In answer to your post, plz read this... https://www.nairaland.com/3316252/religious-gangsters-matthew-7-21-23

Plz read this too --->>> https://www.nairaland.com/2910442/overcomers-jack-kelley

Read this too --->>> https://www.nairaland.com/4232021/overcomers-ralph-yankee-arnold


Read this too --->> https://www.nairaland.com/3644585/he-overcomes-no-part-second


Read this too... ---->> https://www.nairaland.com/3688758/shall-continue-sin-grace-may

linearity:
Heb 10:26-29.....

“26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

....enuff said!

Alright... To answer your question, plz read this.... https://www.nairaland.com/3468906/hebrews-10-26-paul-ellis

Wow!! I just read all the comments!! The Nigerian Pharisees are all raining on my thread....

This is the same message that Apostle Paul preached during his days and they wanted to stone him!!

I am not discouraged.... The Gospel must be preached in its purest form... Nigerian Christians sha... Soo ignorant of the Scripture.. Always depending on what their Pastor tells them... It's a pity though.....

I thank the mod of this section for moving this post to the front page... And am glad that most people that read it were liberated ( so many views).... All glory to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!!

fecta:
You be Abel Damina pikin abi ? The man preaching make sense die

No, i no be Abel Damina pikin. I be Jesus pikin... Yes Pastor Abel Damina is the real MVP... He unveils Christ in his sermons... His preaching make lots of sense!!

Hooooi

Naaaaa

Hai

Morning

bloodofthelamb:
Dont be perturb brother, remember our Big Brother told us that we will face persecution from the world.

Insult is also a form of persecution.

Cheers!

Thanks bro you are correct... Am not perturbed...

bloodofthelamb:

Na so oo my brother...

Haaaaaiiiii