TRANSFORMING LOVE (HE CHOSE YOU, PART 6)

CHAPTER 1
Part 6

YOU ARE Predestined and Chosen by God

To be His

“God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.” (Ephesians 1:4)

The book of Hebrews demonstrates that faith is always teamed up with works. Works in this chapter is visible through acts of service, acts of obedience, or acts of worship.

Read the entire chapter eleven of Hebrews to see how faith and works team up together. Here are some excerpts, from Hebrews, chapter 11, on faith and works:

BY FAITH ABEL OFFERED UP…..

BY FAITH ENOCH WAS TRANSLATED….

BY FAITH NOAH WAS MOVED WITH FEAR……

BY FAITH ABRAHAM OBEYED AND WENT OUT…

BY FAITH ABRAHAM OFFERED UP ISAAC ….

BY FAITH SARA RECEIVED STRENGTH TO CONCEIVE…

BY FAITH MOSES WAS HID FOR THREE MONTHS…

BY FAITH THEY PASSED THROUGH THE RED SEA...

BY FAITH THE WALLS OF JERICHO FELL DOWN...

BY FAITH KINGDOMS WERE SUBDUED, RIGHTEOUSNESS WAS WORKED, PEOPLE OBTAINED PROMISES, THEY STOPPED THE MOUTH OF LIONS, QUENCHED THE VIOLENCE OF FIRE, ESCAPED THE EDGE OF THE SWORD, OUT OF WEAKNESS WAS MADE STRONG, WAXED VALIENT IN FIGHT, TURNED TO FLIGHT THE ARMIES OF THE ALIENS, WOMEN RECEIVED THEIR DEAD RAISED TO LIFE AGAIN: AND OTHERS WERE TORTURED, NOT ACCEPTING DELIVERANCE, THAT THEY MIGHT OBTAIN A BETTER RESURRECTION.

NONE of these works would have happened if it wasn’t for faith. “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). Faith comes from hearing the gospel and the gospel is “…the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone that believes…” (Romans 1:16).

When your God-given faith hears the Word (Jesus) it comes, powerfully, on the scene to enable you to team up with works.

That is the point where Jesus (the Word) begins to powerfully work in you to will and do of God’s good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).

Jesus becomes, powerfully, both the author and finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2).

The “measure of faith” is gifted to YOU by God and is needed in order to experience and receive all God’s love, favor, and blessings.

It is important to know who God is and who you are NOW that you are a new creation “in” Christ.

The Christian journey is heavily linked to being “in” Christ through the covenant relationship.

Being “in” Christ will help you grow, progressively, into who you already are as a new creation.

If you don’t know who God is and who you are right NOW “in” Christ you won’t enjoy the Christian journey Christ died for you to have.

Too many believers live defeated lives based on their old identities and not the new identity “in” Christ that produces life-changing freedoms.

In order to truly experience the “in” Christ transformation … the exercise of your “measure of faith” is necessary to overcome the old sinful nature and identity.

The struggle with the old identity is from NOT using the “measure of faith.” The “measure of faith” is activated when you “hear” the word of God.

You can’t conjure faith up, force it, increase it through self-effort, or positive-think your way to it.

There is only one way that has been given to us to produce faith; “…faith comes by hearing….the word of God” (Romans10:17).

Many times faith doesn’t seem to work and too many believers are having problem after problem that sinks them further into the abyss of doubt.

The proper use of your “measure of faith” through repetitiously “hearing the Word of God” will enable you to truly experience the transforming love of God.

 Let God’s “measure of faith” work in you by “…[letting] the word of Christ dwell in you richly,…” (Philippians 2:13; Colossians 3:16).

God gives you simple instructions for enjoying all the benefits of being “in” Christ: Use your “measure of faith” by habitually “hearing the Word of God.”  

I can’t say it enough, daily hearing the word, like daily physical exercise, will exercise your God-given faith.

In order to restore the relationship with God and restore the “oneness” Christ died for you to experience; you first, discover who God is relationally to you and second, know who you are relationally to God.

We have established that God chose you. What happens during the progress of God choosing you?  You accept God’s choosing you by choosing him back.
        Once you choose God through Christ” you start learning about being: “IN” Christ”(2 Timothy 1:9)

You learn about being “chosen “in” Christ before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4); that nothing “separates [you]... from the love of God “in” Christ…” (Romans 8:38-39; that there is redemption and forgiveness “in” Christ (Ephesians 1:7); that you are justified before God “in” Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21); and that you’re the righteousness of God “in” Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

In addition, You are a new creation “in” Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17); you are sons and daughters of God through faith “in” Christ (Galatians 3:26); you are seated in heavenly places while on earth “in” Christ (Ephesians 2:6); God’s promises are yes and amen “in” Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20); you are sanctified and made holy “in” Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2); All your needs are supplied according to God’s riches in glory “in” Christ (Philippians 4:19); peace guards your heart and mind “in” Christ (Philippians 4:7); you have eternal life “in” Christ (Romans 6:23); and you are made alive “in” Christ (1 Corinthians 15:22).  The benefits go on and on “in” Christ.

A woman is put in a position of a wife once she is chosen and wedded by her future husband; with all the legal marital rights.

You are put in an “in” Christ position once God has chosen you with all the rights of the covenant relationship.

However, after the husband chose his wife and before he actually knew her, he had to find a way to draw her to himself or get her attention.

God has prepared a way to draw you to himself.

I WANT YOU!!!

In other words, God chooses you and then sets out to purposefully draw you to himself or get your attention.

 EXCERPT FROM THE CHAPTER 

"HE CHOOSE YOU" FROM THE

BOOK TRANSFORMING LOVE

BY PENSACOLA H JEFFERSON
BUY IT HERE!!