Embraced  by  Truth . . .
                                    reflections on theology and life

LIFE

The problem of man is death, and the need of man is life.

To experience the grace and love of God is to be quickened by the Spirit and made alive; one is raised from the kingdom of death and given a new spiritual life in Christ (Eph. 2:1, 4-6). No longer is the individual dead in "trespasses and sins" but is alive with Christ, raised up, and made to sit in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

When this spiritual resurrection is effected we become "His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). "Good works" are to characterize and define the new life, but ultimately it is God who works in the believer "both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). Therefore, the Christian life is to bring no glory to the believer, for all the glory is due Him, and Him alone.

This new life in Christ is instant and progressive; the believer is given a position of acceptance before the Father and then begins a continual struggle to conform conduct to the new position: the child of the King must behave like a kingdom child. This is neither automatic nor easy; it is a battle because the flesh is against the Spirit and the Spirit is against the flesh (Gal. 5:19-26). The works of the flesh are incompatible with the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:17); and in this conflict, the believer is admonished to put off the old and to put on the new (Col. 3:8-9, 10, 12, 14).

For the purpose of presentation four areas of this new life have been chosen to consider: Life in Christ; Life in the Family; Life in the Church; and Life in the World.

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For Quotes related to Life, see: Quotes - Life

For Books related to Life, see: Books - Life

For overview of LIFE, see: Site Map - Life

For overview of THEOLOGY, see: Site Map - Theology 

For overview of EXEGESIS, see: Site Map - Exegesis
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