SEVEN Circles of Faith, 34 Things, 107 Westminster Shorter Catechism questions, and I could continue on enumerating teaching tools similarly titled that are insightful and helpful, vitally important in laying a solid foundation, instructing us for our life in Christ. For example, 34 Things is a short work listing out and explaining 34 things that simultaneously occur the moment we receive Christ as savior. It is a fascinating and instructive review. I’m thinking we may just take a quick look at it when we finish here with our current study.
But, we are not finished yet as we work though the last chapter of The Realization of Spiritual Growth, Part 4 of The Complete Green Letters, Foundations of Reckoning. As we have already seen,
Reckoning upon our life-union with the Lord Jesus Christ establishes us in the full assurance of salvation. On this foundation we are able to reckon upon our eternal, unconditional security in Him. Until we are grounded in the truths of substitution and union, we are not prepared for the more demanding reckoning of our identification with Him in His death and resurrection—and on to ascension.
“And if you rest in Him in self-surrender for fellowship, relying with confidence on Him alone for deliverance from the guilt and penalty of your sins and from the power of indwelling sin:
“Then there are twelve proofs that you can never be lost:
WE looked at the first two of the twelve proofs last time, and will look at a few more now.
In the inexorable riches of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10; Isa 30:15; Job 2:10; Jas. 1:2; Prov. 21:30
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Foundation of Reckoning – Part 2
The Twelve Proofs continued:
3. Because God’s love for you, supremely expressed at Calvary, can now be manifested ‘much more’ and so accomplish His every desire for you. ‘God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being justified by His Blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life’ (Rom. 5:8–10).
4. Because of His delight in the Son, God can never reject the prayer of the Son asking Him to keep ‘them which Thou hast given Me.’ ‘I pray for them … for they are Thine.’ ‘Holy Father, keep through Thine own Name those whom Thou hast given Me’ (John 17:9, 11).
5. Because the death of the Son, having a value equivalent to the punishment demanded for all your sins, has paid also for sins you now commit. ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us’ (Rom. 8:1, 34).
6. Because by the resurrection of Christ God has broken your connection with Adam and joined you to Christ for acceptance and life. ‘You, being dead in your sins … hath He quickened [enlivened] together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.” Yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead’ (Col. 2:13; Rom. 6:13).
7. Because, although your sin could hurl you into hell, Christ as your Advocate defends you. ‘Christ is … entered … into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.’ ‘Now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself’ (Heb. 9:24, 26).
…..to be continued
