How does life change ~ now that Christ is in me?

How does life change ~ now that Christ is in me?

or to ask it another way; are the changes only related to my inner being, or are there outworkings into my physical circumstances?

This is such an important question because is goes straight to the heart of the matter ~ it distinguishes between our motivations for surrendering ourselves completely to the work of Christ on the cross. On the one hand the object of our faith is “earth-bound issues”, and on the other hand the object of our faith is “Christ”.

Prosperity teachers would tell us that the work of the cross is all about removing the obstacle that was blocking the flow of the blessings of God to us… but is that primarily the work of the cross? was there something far more fundamental taking place on the cross ~ and if so, does that mean that the flow of blessings is simply an outcome of something much greater?

The thing that we “fix our eyes on” is essentially the thing that is our motivation. If our motivation is wrapped up in getting our earthly issues resolved (finance, relationships, health, troubles), then we may be fixing our eyes on the outcome, rather than on Christ Himself.

Let me make a statement at this point; I firmly believe that every ill and trouble known to mankind which is a result of the presence of sin in the world, was fully resolved and defeated on the cross. There is no problem known to the believer that has not been answered in Christ ~ but does the physical resolution of these issues take place because we make them the focus of our faith, or are they resolved as the overflow of making Christ the focus of our faith.

When Christ declared in John 10:10 “that He came to give us life” ~ was He saying that He came to resolve our circumstances, or that He came to resolve us? If He came to resolve our circumstances, then we must fix our eyes on that task. If He came to resolve us, then we begin to fix our eyes on “Christ in me”… this results in the vitality of heaven, the very life-substance of Christ achieving the impossible – simply as we rest in Him… our circumstances must ultimately yield to that powerful life.

In effect the original instruction by God to Adam “subdue the earth” has been re-empowered in us by this “life of Christ” ~ and it’s up to us to place faith in Christ and watch these circumstances slowly bow to His life.

Funny thing is that the more we fix our eyes on Christ, the less overwhelming our circumstances become ~ the ultimate result being that we don’t pay them as much attention as we used to, and the power that sustains them shrivels up for lack of air.

It’s not surprising that we want our circumstances sorted out – nobody wants pain, trouble, lack and poverty. These matters are extremely compelling, even life threatening ~ they inhibit our ability to function effectively in life. I guess that’s the whole point of this discussion “do we function effectively in life because our circumstances are in order, or because we have discovered the revelation that Christ has made His home in me?”

In practical terms, I see it working like this… Initially my circumstances continue unabated, if I allow myself to see them as greater than Christ, then by my focusing on them I provide fuel for their continued rampage ~ if on the other hand I discount them as inferior to the power of the life of Christ, then I remove the source of their energy and ultimately they run out of puff.

I am very conscious of not being trite or super-spiritual as I say this, I do not wish to diminish the difficulty of the lives of many who follow Christ ~ the fact remains though, that Christ’s work on the cross was sufficient to destroy every ill known to man, and our part is to rest in that sufficiency.

The difference between my life prior to this revelation and now, can be summed-up in one word – ‘Faith’. My previous life was defined by the word – ‘Hope’… I hoped God would come through, I hoped He would fix up my circumstances, I hoped that He would release me from fear and anxiety ~ now I rest in Christ (Faith) ~ the key to this rest is that I had to decide once and for all that “God is good, that He loves me, and that He can be trusted”.

Sure I have my wobbly days, at those times I go back to my decision and remind myself; “God is good, He loves me, He can be trusted” ~ and then I live in that decision, instead of fear and anxiety about my circumstances. My circumstances bow; sometimes quickly, sometimes more slowly ~ but it’s ok because I’m learning that I don’t live in my circumstances, I live in Christ.

cheers Graeme

Why do I do the thing I don’t want to do ?

Another post borrowed from Hardwired to Christ - 

http://hardwiredtochrist.wordpress.com/

P.S. finally signed off on the book draft today…phew

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Why do I do the thing I don’t want to do ?

Short answer first; because you can’t live right ~ same as you can’t save yourself.

Long answer; This tension, as expressed by Paul in Romans 7, is highlighting a dilemma that has caused Christians to chase their tails for generations ~ yet today, as in Pauls day, it remains as perplexing as ever… “why cant I do better?”  The solution hasn’t changed in 2000 years either, Christ is still the only way out of this fix…. ‘He has rescued us from this body of death’.

So why is it still so hard to live right?

We must venture all the way back to the roots of our faith to get this ~ the layers of religion have changed Christianity from the original. It was never Christ’s intention to save us, and then leave us to live a life worthy of that salvation ~ it was always His plan to save us, and then to continue to live out that salvation through us, by His own presence in us. We are unworthy recepients of His salvation, and we are equally unworthy recipients of His indwelling Spirit. But it was not His plan for us to receive salvation, and then to spend the rest of our days trying to be worthy of it…. that would be like receiving only half of the gospel.

Most Christians I know believe that Christ came and saved them, and then left them to live a life of love and service in honour of His sacrifice! What if that is our big mistake? What if Christ came and saved us and then moved in with us and said; “give me the steering wheel, I am going to drive from now on, your part is to trust me” - ” from now on your right-living will be an overflow from within you, as you rest in me”.

So that means; we depend on Christ not only for our salvation, but also for our right-living… and that is why the gospel is too good to be true ~ because Christ does it all, if we let Him. How does this work? It can only work if we dare place our confidence in the crazy notion that Christ can (and wants to) do it all.

This takes us all the way back to the start ~ it is impossible to do the thing that we want to do, only Christ can, the adventure is learning how to rest in His ability in us.

It’s the old problem of mixing the covenants all over again ~ the old covenant is all about our efforts to please God by satisfying commandments and rules ~ the new covenant is about trusting in Christs satifaction of the rules on our behalf. The trick for us is to resist the temptation of slipping back into the old covenant once we are saved, but instead to continue trusting in Christ for the whole deal.

To do this we must fight back the old covenant each time it rears it’s head and accuses us of wrong doing, this sin-consciousness leads us back into the circular conversation of Rom. 7 ~ ‘I want to, but I can’t’. The more we fix our eyes on our failings, the more we remain on the treadmill of failure.

The only way forward is to hold tight to the new covenant, this righteousness-consciousness breaks the cycle ~ ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’. The more we fix our eyes on Christ, the more we rest in His ability, the more we live spontaneously good lives.

The old covenant is like an echo that keeps bouncing back at us reminding us of who we were ~ but we are not that person anymore, now we are IN CHRIST, now we are listening to a new voice as the Holy Spirit testifies all day long of the wonders of the work of Christ. It’s not that we don’t mess up and fail at times ~ it’s just that (in the scheme of things) it’s not about us – it’s about Christ in us. And besides; all this excessive self-analysis is not actually causing us to live any better, it’s just making us feel bad about ourselves ~ when all along God is not even looking at our failings, He is looking a whether we are resting in Christ.

Here’s my suggestion; do not judge yourself more harshly than God judges you ~ instead trust that Christ is as good as His word, learn of Him, rest in the stunning work of the cross ~ and watch as He spontaneously produces in you the good works He prepared for you before time began.

I for one; do not plan to get to heaven only to have the Father say to me; “why didn’t you rest in my goodness in you? why did you put yourself through such anguish trying to please me, when I was already completely pleased with you because of Christ?”

cheers Graeme

What happens next ?

Books… eventually they will be printed ~ in the mean-time we have blogs. http://hardwiredtochrist.wordpress.com

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What Happens Next ?  (following on from; what happened in the garden, on the cross, and now).

One of the greatest cons perpetrated upon the church by satan is the ‘twisting of the doctrine of sanctification’. It goes something like this; Christ completed His work on the cross and saved me from my sins, and now the Holy Spirit is working in me to form my life into one that reflects Christ’s nature. Now some may be saying ‘that sounds right to me’… fact is; this is the most subtle, dis-empowering, despicable & harmful con imaginable.

Here’s the truth; Christ completed His work on the cross which included; saving me from my sins, killing my sinful nature, transferring His perfect nature into me in its place, with the result that I am now a perfect reflection of Christ… job done ~ (the natural realm may still see me with all my failings, but the spiritual realm sees me in Christ).

The first option (the con), has convinced us that we are a work in progress, that sanctification is an improvement program that finally ends when we die.

The second one (the truth), is that we are perfected in the instant we place faith in Christ; that sanctification ended when we died in Christ, there is no further potential for improvement as far as God is concerned because we have been transformed into the perfection of Christ.

The meaning of the word sanctification is; “separated or set apart for God” ~ in the old testament it was applied to tables, vessels used in worship, etc. In effect it means; ‘made holy for God’… there was no lifetime process involved in making a table set apart, it just happened there and then.

The importance of this cannot be over-stated, it is the most fundamental of drivers of our engagement in Christian living.

By and large the Christian community is involved in trying to gain God’s favour by right living… so that we can receive from Him His blessing and assistance. We have been conned into thinking that God responds to; ‘how well we are progressing along the sanctification scale’. The reality is that; we know deep down that there is no chance of us reaching the high mark required, and so we never truly step into a life of bold faith or confidence in God.

In contrast the truth is this; we receive Gods blessing and assistance because we are already fully sanctified into the righteousness of Christ ~ there is no scale. We have attained the high mark expected by God by the simple act of placing faith in Christ ~ His death and resurrection. Now we step boldly into a life of faith, knowing that Christ has completed both justification and sanctification, we have been made worthy by the sheer power of His blood, (see Heb. 10: 19-22).

This faith and confidence in the work of Christ is also described in God’s word as; “Life in the Spirit”. Living in the Spirit is the term God uses to describe a life that soars above the limitations of ‘life in the flesh’ ~ however, if we are constantly monitoring our performance (sanctification) then our eyes are fixed on ourselves and not on Christ. The result is that our wings are clipped ~ instead of soaring in the Spirit we begin to spiral into self-doubt and low confidence in God.

As soon as self-effort and consciousness of human weakness gain traction, then our confidence in such truths as; ’we are seated in heavenly places’ and, ‘we are joint heirs with Christ’ begins to slip away. Life in the Spirit is just that ~ it is a disregard for the deeds of the flesh as a means of attracting God’s attention, and resting in the work of Christ as the source of God’s favour.

What happens next?  LIFE IN THE SPIRIT…. (also known as ‘the divine adventure’ ~ my definition).

It is a bold life.  Yet it is a life of poise and rest in the confidence that the blood of Christ has already completed the task of forming ‘Christ in me’. It is a life that has its eyes firmly fixed on the capacity of the blood of Christ to accomplish any task, with scant regard for my own poor performance. It is a life that slowly replaces fear with assurance, and it’s all because we stepped over a line… on one side of the line my humanity impacted upon God’s favour and blessing / on the other side of the line is my union with Christ’s work, in attracting God’s favour and blessing.

The con of satan is the notion that can we have one foot on each side of the line, that we can mix Christ’s performance with our own. The adventure begins on the day when we declare to ourselves; “From this day forward, my life is sustained by Christ alone ~ my faith in His goodness not my own”.

cheers Graeme.

Whats happening now?

Waiting for a book to be printed is like waiting for a baby to be born ~ ya just want it to happen! So while I’m waiting I thought I would copy over one of my posts from my new blog “Hardwired to Christ”…. http://hardwiredtochrist.wordpress.com

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Whats happening now ? -following on from; ‘What happened in the garden, & on the cross’.

Ever hear the saying; “if something is said to be ‘too good to be true’, then it probably is?” ~ good news usually comes with a catch, there is no such thing as “a free lunch”, and so on.

“Christ in me” is a bit like that… it’s just too darn good to be true. Fact is; the majority of believers sideline it to the theoretical or figurative basket, they relegate it to a doctrinal matter with little practical application. As a result; the most potentially-powerful truth of all, lays gathering dust on the top shelf of our seldom visited theology.

Imagine being handed a million dollars… and spending the rest of your days restricting your spending to a thousand dollars. It wouldn’t happen! It would be like putting $1,000 on your middle shelf, and $999,000 on your top shelf… and forgetting it’s up there, never making use of it.

Thats pretty much what is happening with Christianity the world over. We are living on small change ~ and we don’t even know it. We think that the thing we have constructed around Christianity is the real-thing, the whole shebang… but it’s little more than a cardboard cutout. We have grown so used to all of the things going on in the Christian culture that we have mis-placed the actual object of our faith Himself. We have put Christ on the top shelf and forgotten about Him, busying ourselves with the small change of all the stuff we do in His name.

You know why? because we think He is too good to be true, so He probably isn’t. I don’t mean that we think He isn’t true, I mean that we think the outcomes of His work on the cross aren’t true. We can come to terms with His death on the cross as a means of dealing with our sins, but we can’t come to terms with His subsequent re-creation of us as people who are filled with the divine nature. We cannot resolve it intellectually and so it sits gathering dust on the top shelf.

What if all the stuff we Christians do week-in week-out was of no particular importance to God ~ would we still keep doing it?… probably, because we don’t know what else to do!

What if all the activities we are involved in are little more than the clutter left behind when my grandkids visit… that clutter just isn’t the point of it all! Yet we have made our myriad activities, duties, good habits, principles, the stuff of our faith… they aren’t, Christ is ~ and we hardly know Him.

The work of the cross is this; At the moment Christ died a line was drawn across history. From that instant we ceased to exist as a people who satisfy God by our faithful and sacrificial living, we were instantly transformed into a people who are in sublime union with the holy one Himself ~ simply by believing in His faithfulness and sacrifice. We became His holiness, by doing nothing.

Christ went into the grave destitute, loaded up with the sins of all humanity ~ but when He arose, He looked upon His bride (you and me) now gloriously clothed in His perfection ~ and He took us into Himself ~ perfection had married perfection, we became those who are lost in the stunning beauty of His goodness. The perfect one of heaven placed us into Himself, so that we would never again have to look to ourselves to find our worth. IT’S JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

But it is true. It is the greatest truth in history ~ Christ and I have become one.

Even as this post is read I know many are thinking; nah, that’s not right ~ look at my life, it’s anything but perfect, in fact it’s an outright disaster. That is the wonder of Christ; HE DOESN’T CARE! He didn’t let our imperfections keep Him from dying for us, and He wont let our imperfections keep us from living in Him… only we can do that, only we can chose to build our faith on our good works instead of His history defining work. Only we can say to Christ; “your blood wasn’t enough for me, I’m not worthy, better to live as a cardboard cutout than to accept that I am the perfection of God ~ anyway, I wouldn’t even know how to do it”.

But, imagine a life that never again questions our value to God… imagine living in the boldness of one in whom the very person of God dwells… the possibilities are staggering ~ the alternative is such a waste.

How do we do it? WE LET OURSELVES BELIEVE – HE IS TOO GOOD TO BE UN-TRUE.

cheers Graeme

Can I tell you about my book and new blog?

Those of you who dropped in to Mybroom over the course of 2012 will be aware that I posted everyday on the subject of ‘Renewing the Mind’. I asked a question everyday that attempted to identify a characteristic of an un-renewed mind, or a way of thinking that has grown out of the culture we call Christianity ~ (rather than the actual work of Christ itself) ~ and renew that thinking in-line with the work of Christ.

Over the course of the year I enjoyed many conversations with fellow bloggers from around the world, your names have become very familiar and for many of you I can put a face to your name through your Gravatar image. You have been very encouraging and generous with your comments over the year for which I am truly thankful. Some of you went so far as to suggest ‘Mybroom’ should be formatted into a book. That seemed a bit of a stretch at first, but as the year drew to a close it seemed to gain some traction in my own thinking, and also my wife Angela’s.

On finishing the final post and signing off I indicated my intention to see if it could be made to happen. I then set about the long process of editing and re-editing 366 posts each about 500 words long. It turned out to be a task that involved over 160,000 words (about the same number of words as the New Testament) ~ at the same time I began pitching the manuscript to various publishers.

It is so pleasing to say that Arkhouse Press, a Christian publisher out of Sydney Australia will be publishing the book under the title “Hardwired to Christ” in both softback and e-book format. The cover design is complete, sub-editing almost done and first draft due any day, then after final tweeking its off to the printer, and to Amazon for e-book publishing ~ I will keep you posted when it’s available.

I chose the title “Hardwired to Christ” as it seemed to best describe the golden thread of ‘Christ in me’ that passed through my posts.

I’m ready to re-join the blogosphere again now that all this is almost wrapped up. I chose the name “Hardwired to Christ” for my new blog also, it can be found at www.hardwiredtochrist.wordpress.com I hope you will drop by and say hello (maybe even stay for a coffee Kenny). I wont post daily this time, but will post at least weekly in an attempt to de-mystify the greatest mystery of all ~ ”Christ in me”. I have also joined the world of facebook under the name “Hardwired to Christ”  feel free to visit … one new form of technology per year is about my limit (blogging last year, facebook this year).

cheers, Graeme

hardwired-to-christ_cover_final1.jpg

 (click on the above link to get a peek at the book cover)

“Can I thank you?”

How quickly 2012 has passed ~ Mybroom seems to have just begun and now it is over. My Year Bout Renewing Of Our Minds is up, it has blessed me so much to find words on a daily basis because of the clarity it has brought to my own faith ~ if it has blessed others I am glad.

I have especially enjoyed the fellowship of this weird community we call the blogosphere, many of you have become friends who I love but dont really know all that well. Over the year some of you have visited and commented often, this has meant a lot to me as it has shaped my thoughts going forward.

I would like to acknowledge your kindness, thoughtfulness and candor by listing those of you who have become my blogging friends through your comments over the year, not in order of importance but alphabetically:-

Alecia ~ Alex  ~ Amanda ~ Annedesa ~ April ~ Arcelia ~ Art ~ A.W. Marks ~ Ben N.  ~ Birtie B. ~ Brian M. ~ Caddo ~ Cara ~ Carol ~ Chantell ~ Charis ~ Chris ~ Chuck ~ Cindy L. ~ Confex ~ Craig ~ Dan ~ Dan R. ~ David N. ~ Diana S. ~ Diane ~ Don ~ Doreen ~ Elissa ~ Ellie ~ Gabriel ~ Gracie ~ Greisy ~ Jack ~ James ~ James P. ~ Jeff ~ Joe ~ Judy A. ~ J. Harcourt ~ John A. ~ Jonard ~ Juan ~ Julia ~ Kaaina ~ Katharine ~ Kaye ~ Kaye H. ~ Keith ~ Kenny T. ~ Kent ~ Keri ~ Kimberly ~ Kirsten ~ Lily ~ Lisa ~ Lorraine ~ Lubby ~ Marc ~ Mathew ~ Mark ~ Mark N. ~ Mark W. ~  Marva ~ Megs T. ~ Mike S. ~ Mrs. Mooney ~ N. Moran ~ Noel ~ Patty ~ Peter W. ~ Phil ~ Robin C. ~ Robin L.  ~ Rozzy ~ Roweeee ~ Sebastion ~ Shirley C. ~ Shirl ~ Shola ~ Sophia ~ Stefan ~ Stephen ~ Susie ~ Tersia ~ Terri ~ Terry ~ Tina L. ~ Tony L. ~ Tony P. ~ Victoria ~ Wayne

I know I have missed some,  I dont even know some of your names just your blog sites – my apologies.

I have wondered whether to comment on any of your blogs, but I would be sure to miss  something important so I have decided to draw your attention to one blog only; Alex (aram2255) gracerevelation.wordpress.com is a brilliant bible teacher, he writes a much longer post than me but it’s worth the read ~ the message of grace is so well articulated.

I will spend the next few months reflecting, writing and possibly compiling Mybroom into an e-book (if I can cope with all that editing)…

So for now my good friends I’m signing-off, you know where to find me if you need me. Over-and-out from Mybroom (for now).

“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” – 1 Cor. 2:2

cheers, Graeme

P.S.    Adrian; I wish you well and hope that one day you learn to rest in the grace of God.

Q366 “what if God gave me one more day?”

An extra day… a leap year… gives me an extra post… but, what to say?

What would you do if you were given an extra day in your life? what would you do if you died and Jesus said; “you can have one more day if you like?”

If you said; “Yes, I’ll take it”, it would mean leaving paradise for 24 hours, it would mean leaving the presence of the greatest love in the universe for 24 hours, it would mean pulling yourself away from the most wonderful union of hearts ever conceived ~ you and Jesus.

In my view; when we die we enter into full understanding. The astounding love of God is fully known to us, the magnificence of the sacrifice of Christ is fully known to us, the bliss of our marriage to Jesus is fully known to us ~ what does one do on earth for 24 hours after that?

Imagine being in a state of utter joy, our union with Christ now our moment-by-moment reality, all of the effects of a fallen world left behind, now lost in the righteousness… nay – the perfection of Jesus himself.

Imagine saying to Jesus; “this is too wonderful to express, this is beyond my wildest dreams – yet your offer of one more day is so tempting, I’m gonna take it – but I don’t know how I can exist without this joy, now that I have found it, (even for 24 hours)”.

Imagine Jesus response; “what do you mean, ‘exist without this’ – I am always with you in exactly this same way, whether you are in your body or not, the only difference is that when you died and the natural realm fell away, your spiritual eyes were fully opened to see it… The bliss of our union became a reality when I died on the cross and when you died at your re-birth, the substance of all that you now see has been yours all along, it’s just that you didn’t fully know it… there is nothing new here - but for your ability to see it“.

John 17:3; “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent”… as soon as we know God at our re-birth, all that belongs to eternal life is ours. The only difference between eternal life - ’before we die, and after we die’ - is our sight. Before we die we live in eternity by faith, but it is ours just as literally as if we had passed away ~ after we die our natural sight ends and we see clearly with the eyes of the heart.

But imagine that 24 hours of living on earth without the limitation of our natural vision, imagine living with complete awareness of the presence of God, and the gift of righteousness Christ gave us, and His complete defeat of satan, sin & death ~ I think I would spend the whole day with a big grin on my face, I would probably laugh out loud for no reason, maybe I would dance a little jig just because I could ~ and if anyone wanted to know why, I would shout His name – JESUS.

… I want to live like that now !

cheers Graeme