Daily Bread - 06/02/07

Philemon 1: 6 - So that the communication of your faith may be effectual by acknowledging of every good thing in you by Christ Jesus

Today there are some who would say that there is no good thing in us. They misunderstand a single point made about the inadequacy of the law to produce the righteousness and life of God in man (Romans 7). Yet the statement made by the same preacher in Philemon should help to turn us to the acknowledgment of the truth which is after godliness (Titus 1:1).

When we consider the fact that Christ Jesus now lives and dwells in us by the Spirit then we may understand what Paul was referring to by "every good thing" that is in us (1 John 3:24). One of Paul's main subjects was that we are made the righteousness of God. However, if we do not believe and confess this to be true then we will never reap the many blessings and benefits of this glorious salvation. God has made us one with himself so that we may say that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 1:17; 3:21, 22; 10:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9).

If we do not accept the word of God and the identity that God has given us in Christ Jesus then the miracle of faith will not work in our life. If the centurion had refused to believe that Jesus had the authority to heal his son then there would have been no display of great faith (Matthew 8:10). If Jairus had been unwilling to believe that Jesus could heal his daughter then she would have never been raised from the dead (Mark 5:36). If any mountains are going to be moved and the realms of the impossible shown to be possible through faith then some one must agree with God's word and then speak and act accordingly (Mark 11:23-24).

Paul equates the miracles of faith working through our life with first acknowledging and then communicating that "good thing" that is in us. Some of the descriptions of the "good thing" that is in us are: Christ in us the hope of glory (John 14:20, 23; Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 11:10; 1 John 4:4; Colossians 3:16; Galatians 2:20); The Spirit of God in His fullness as we are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:17; 6:19); The new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10); A heart made pure (Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 1:22; Hebrews 10:22; Matthew 5:8); Purified soul (1 Peter 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Peter 2:25) Sins removed (Acts 22:66; Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:6; 1 John 1:9; Acts 11:9; Revelation 1:5; Matthew 26:28; Acts 2:38; 10:43; Romans 3:25); Baptized in the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Acts 1:5; Acts 2:38; Acts 11:16); A good and pure conscience (1 Timothy 1:5; 3:9; 2 Timothy 1:3; Hebrews 9:14; 10:2,22; 1 Peter 3:16).

Our responsibility to speak out faith by a declaration of the word is fundamental to salvation. The instructions that Paul gave in Romans 10:6-10 underscores the necessity to speak out those things which God has spoken. The word of faith that produces the miracle of salvation is the same word of faith that produces all of the other blessings and promises of God. Confession according to Paul is made unto salvation. Equally, believing with the heart that one is made righteous is also essential. The spirit of faith that is in us speaks out the word of God according as we have believed (2 Corinthians 4:13). Paul made it clear to Philemon that if faith was going to work (Gr- energia/effectual) in his life then there must be an acknowledgement of what God had made him. (Titus 1:11; Colossians 2:2).

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org