© 21 Colin Melbourne
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Phil 4:8-9 KJV
Clean Inside
Almighty God came from the Glory and showed us what He’s like in His Only Begotten Son: The LORD Jesus Christ.
Every born again believer has been made perfectly righteous on the inside, in their spirit; it is God’s Love Gift to whosoever believes on His Son.
It’s the foundation of the Gospel that usurped The Mosaic Law, Rom. 3:21-22 KJV;
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
That’s why Jesus taught us, Jn. 3:14-21 KJV;
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Righteousness by Faith
Eternal life in the core of our beings is God’s Life, the Holy Ghost, breathed into the new believer by the breath of God (His Holy Spirit), and making them perfectly righteous in His sight. They become brand new creatures on the inside, and run around doing good stuff.
He Is
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Cor. 5:17 KJV
Clothed by God with His Righteousness
It’s an instantaneous transformation wrought by God to the repentant sinner the moment they whole-heartedly turn from unbelief, and believe on Christ as their LORD.
It is His Gift, bestowed on the basis of faith in what Christ has done, by Sacrificing Himself to atone for the; sin, guilt, and rebellion of the world.
It then becomes the duty of the Christian to honour God’s words, and fulfil them. We express our love for God by obeying the Holy Ghost, following the Word of God: The LORD Jesus Christ, who taught us, Jn. 15:3-10 KJV;
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
New Heart: Same Body & Soul
Notice the Christian’s heart is the new creation, his spirit, not his flesh, nor his soul. (The human soul consist of the mind, will, and emotions.)
He still has the same body, and whatever is broken or infirm in that body can then be put right by acting on God’s word of promise, and be made perfectly healthy and whole. If the new believer is not taught the fulness of Christ’s redemption, they will not be aware of their healing in Christ, and continue to bear their sickness and infirmities. They have neglected to take hold of what Christ has won for them. This is where many preachers fall short causing their flocks to suffer illness and die prematurely.
The soul of the new believer must also be made new in attitude, desire, and thinking, in line with the Spirit, and written word of God. That is the Christian’s responsibility, not God’s, Rom. 12:1-2 KJV;
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The Bible Comes Alive
That’s why the Holy Ghost gives every new believer an appetite for the written word of God, the Bread of Heaven. He imparts power to enable believers to take captive their thoughts, and make them subject to the Spirit of God, and inline with God’s thinking. This is a process of pure joy to witness yourself transforming from the inside-out, tutored by the LORD.
Captivating Thoughts
When we were in our sins our minds were captivated by selfish pleasures, vanity, greed, rebellion, unbelief, and resentfulness, but as we follow Christ our thinking and attitudes become attuned to His, we subject ourselves to the Lordship of God’s written word, and thereby honour Christ. 2 Cor. 10:3-6 KJV;
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
This is the individual believer’s task, God won’t force anyone to change their minds. That is never His way. Discipleship is for volunteers: There are no conscripts in Heaven’s Army.
Self-Discipline
It’s our part to discipline our; behaviour, attitudes, compassion, and thinking, by aligning them with God’s written word, as the Holy Ghost commands in Phil. 4:8-9KJV;
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
What’s on your Mind?
Father’s Eight Point Checklist: If what you are thinking about is not;
-
-
- True
- Honest
- Just
- Pure
- Lovely
- Of good report
- Virtuous
- Praiseworthy
-
… then quit it, and think on what the Holy Ghost and Father wants His children to think about.
That’s Normal Christianity: Not Difficult
This word applies when you are on the mountain-top full of praise, and when your situation looks bleak and perilous: Think like God, rejoice in Him, and He will put you over.
Christian Cat Food
For example: Imagine you were one of the Christian martyrs shackled in the Roman Colosseum, about to face starved lions, and be trampled by wild elephants. With bloodthirsty crowds cheering at gladiators fighting for their lives.
What are you to think about?
It would be natural to fret over the cruel and unjust situation, to consider the pain and terror you are about to encounter, worry about your beloved left behind to suffer, wonder if God will intervene so you can resume your life. Is that what to ponder?
No, none of those thoughts pass God’s test.
Instead, you ignore the; gore, filth, sweat, and blood, the screams of tortured believers, the roar of ravenous beasts, and you focus on God’s word of promise to believers, Psalms 23:4 KJV:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
You walk by faith, trusting God’s written word. He brings it to life, His rod and staff (words and Spirit) minister comfort to you. You are aware of His Presence within, and upon you.
You begin to praise Him for the truth of His word, His peace floods your being.
The Fellowship of His Sufferings
The Spirit whispers to your heart…
This is what He felt, what Christ knew in Gethsemane hours before Roman nails pierced His wrists and ankles. Soon you will be with Him in Glory, out of this cess-pit world into His Everlasting Arms.
And that comes from contemplating just one verse in one situation.
Get the idea?
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
© 21 Colin Melbourne
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