I want to look into Divine Excellencies today to hear what GOD has to say about those who are Saints in the standing. But first what does Pastor Hoekstra has to say about Grace and our living by Grace daily. Then with the use of the ESV I will look into the targeted subject area and as always should the LORD given me utterance I will edited there and then.
"In Christ, a New Creation"
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a New Creation." (Galatians 6:15)
"In the relationship we have with the LORD through the New Covenant of Grace, there is Intimacy, fullness of Life, spiritual victory, and so much more. These blessings (that are not available to those who are related still to Adam) are aspects of the New Life that comes to New Creatures "in Christ."
"In Christ," everything is so different from how it was "in Adam." The family of man, having only natural life from Adam, puts great significance in human heritage or personal inclinations. Whether a person is a Hebrew or a Gentile can be of enormous consequence to many among the unredeemed community. Whether a person is religiously inclined or secularly motivated avails much with many unsaved people. On the other hand, those who have been brought into spiritual union with Christ can learn that GOD's perspective on such matters is vastly different. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything."
In the kingdom of heaven, these distinctions among the sons of Adam mean nothing. Human differences do not cause the work of GOD or the Will of GOD to be advanced or prevented. They avail nothing. What matters for all who are "in Christ Jesus" is not a "human category," "but a New Creation."
When we come to know Christ by Grace through faith, He gives us the promised new birth. "Blessed be the GOD and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, Who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again" (1Peter 1:3). We are created anew. We become a new spiritual being before the LORD. We have "put on the new man" (Colossians 3:10). In this heavenly kingdom of new men and women, "there is neither Greek nor Hebrew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is All and in all" (Colossians 3:11). All that ultimately matters is that the LORD Jesus Christ dwells in all of His people, and He is wants to be all that they will ever need. All that matters is the Spirit of Christ is the living water that we have begun to partake of and that He makes us One. "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into One Body — whether Hebrews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into One Spirit" (1Corinthians 12:13). Any person in any human category who will cry out to the LORD in faith can experience this richness. "For there is no distinction between Hebrew and Greek, for the same LORD over all is rich to all who call upon Him" (Romans 10:12).
Divine Excellencies Characteristics of the New Creation:
Job 37:21-24 "And now no one looks on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them. Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with awesome majesty. The Almighty—we cannot find Him; HE is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness HE will not violate. Therefore men fear (reverence and revere) Him; HE does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit."
Psalm 8:1 "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, You have established strength because of Your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger."
Isaiah 12:1-6 "You will say in that day: "I will give thanks to You, O LORD, for though You were angry with me, Your anger turned away, that You might comfort me. "Behold, GOD is my salvation; I will trust Him, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and HE has become my Salvation." With joy you (I) will draw water from the wells of Salvation. And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the peoples, proclaim that His name is exalted. "Sing praises to the LORD, for HE has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."
Isaiah 28:23-29 "Give ear, and hear my voice; give attention, and hear my speech. Does he who plows for sowing plow continually? Does he continually open and harrow his ground? When he has leveled its surface, does he not scatter dill, sow cumin, and put in wheat in rows and barley in its proper place, and emmer as the border? For he is rightly instructed; his God teaches him. Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin, but dill is beaten out with a stick, and cumin with a rod. Does one crush grain for bread? No, he does not thresh it forever; when he drives his cart wheel over it with his horses, he does not crush it. This also comes from the LORD of Hosts; HE is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom."
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