Philippians 2:5-16a “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.”
One thing about darkness is that you cannot see. Though the evidence of God surrounds us in Creation’s complexity, beauty and stability, in our fallen nature we walk blindly through the majestic works of the Lord without thought. Existential secular living for this day, based upon our personal preferences, desires and inclinations, tends to narrow the focus down to prideful pleasures, satisfying hungers and selfish gain ... looking out for Number One. We do not realize just how great the “Fall of Man” in “original sin” really was and what was lost. But God restore our original intent of “made in His image” life in light by Christ. You have to see and understand the sinfulness of our sins and the just punishment for unbelief and willful disobedience of our Creator. To know the depth of God’s grace in His plan of Salvation through the incarnate Son of God’s redemption and reconciliation through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for each of us who were truly dead in our sins. We are sorry in our soul for our many sins and grievous in the deepest part of our hearts.
Ephesians 1:17-2:3 “The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”
Working out in our minds this gift of salvation in Christ for the forgiveness of sins naturally produces love and joy in sincere gratitude and genuine praise and obedience to our heavenly Father in heaven and His holy Word. The born-again Believer receives a regenerated spirit and transformed heart the rejoices to walk in the Light, as the Lord is in the light. We are Christ-minded and proudly follow Him!
Colossians 1:13-16 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us
into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”
In Christ, Brian
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