Daily Bread - Jan 3 2007

Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God foreordained that we should walk in them."

God’s work was to bring about a means by which mankind could be spiritually recreated. The twisted nature of sin had produced its destructive ruin in Adam instantaneously. Adam was left trembling in fear and shame unable to endure the presence of God. Every generation following Adam only grew deeper into the spiritual darkness of this corrupt nature. God provided the means by which anyone who is willing can escape the corruption of sin and be made a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Peter 1:4; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Hebrews 8:10; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Peter 2:20).

The unspeakable gift of salvation is entirely the work of God and can only be accomplished in Christ Jesus. Neither the works of the law or of human discipline can erase the sins of the past nor change the nature of man. There was no reconditioning of the heart that could bring about the necessary change in the fundamental nature of man. Therefore, through the work of Jesus Christ, every claim of the satanic dominion was broken.

Through the miracle of the new birth, God made it possible for everyone to receive a new heart and a new spirit in which only righteousness dwells. The new creation possesses the nature of God’s own Holiness and Purity so that we may enjoy and fulfill God’s intended purposes for our life to “be holy and without blemish before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:4; Luke 1:74-75; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 4:24; 5:27; Philippians 2:15; Colossians 1:22; 2 Peter 3:14; Colossians 3:10). All that Jesus has in His nature and glory He has freely given to those who will believe (John 17:22; 1:16). When the seed of His life was sown at Calvary; it brought forth much fruit after His own image and likeness (John 12:24).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org