Our covenant of faith is one that will bring us into a full knowledge of Jesus in His present day ministry. Only by faith can we ever hope to know Him as He is now. We read in 1John 4:17 (Amplified) that, "In this (union and communion with Him) love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment (with assurance and boldness to face Him) because as He is so are we in this world."
Only by faith can we ever hope to come to the realization of this scripture. 2Corinthians 3:16-18 (Amplified) says, "Whenever a person turns (in repentance) to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away." Verse 17 says, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom)." Verse 18 goes on, "And all of us, as with unveiled face, (because we) continue to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very Own Image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; (for this comes) from the Lord (Who is) the Spirit."
This is a degree of faith that few Christians have ever sought after in our walk. For most of us, we never have been taught about becoming as He is. Romans 9:31-32 (Amplified) says, "Whereas Israel, though ever in pursuit of a law (for the security) of righteousness (right standing with God) actually did not succeed in fulfilling the Law." Verse 32 goes on, "For what reason? Because (they pursued it) not through faith, relying (instead) on the merit of their works (they did not depend on faith but on what they could do) they have stumbled over the stumbling stone."
Only by faith and not by the works of man-made creeds can we ever hope to be changed from glory to glory in His Image. How can we ever hope to be great enough in what we do to become like Him without the Spirit of the Lord to show us Who He really is? For most of us, His Image is limited to the Man we see in the gospels. We've had very limited insight into Who He is now. According to 1John 4:17 , "As He is, so are we now, in this world." If we can't see Him in faith through the Word and by the Holy Spirit, then we can never be changed (now) into that Image?
For most of our lives, we've had or been taught that it would an act of pride to ever say or try to be "as He is." And, that only pride could ever say that we're actually righteous or pure. Only faith can take us into this realm of the face of Jesus. If we're ever to step into this place with the Father, then it has to be by faith. Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified) says that, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God." Any other way of approaching this transfiguration would come by the good works and merits of men.
Every Christian has hopefully read the Word and knows what the scriptures have to say who we are now. But, unless the Holy Spirit reveals the whole truth of the scriptures, they are just pretty words. In most Christian circles, it would be almost blasphemous to say that you're like Jesus as it was for Jesus to say that He was like God in His day.
In Colossians 3:1-2 (Amplified) we read, "If then you have been raised with Christ (to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead) aim at and seek the (rich, eternal treasures) that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." Verse 2 goes on, "And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things) not on the things that are on the earth." This scripture doesn't mean we're to only think about going to heaven when we leave here or be limited to only what power we have in ourselves. Your new ability and authority and resources are now unlimited in Him and where He now is now at the right hand of God.
If we keep our minds on Him and where He is now, then we are unlimited in whatever we need to do. Once we put these truths in proper perspective we can understand what Jesus meant when He gave us the "power of attorney" to use His name. Mathew 28:18 (Amplified) says, "Jesus approached and breaking the silence, said to them (and unto us), All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me." In Mark 16:15-18 (Amplified) we read where, "He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the gospel) to every creature (of the whole human race)." Verse 16 says, "He who believes (who adheres to and trusts in, and relies on the gospel and Him who it set forth) and is baptized will be saved (from the penalty of eternal death) but he who does not believe (who does not adhere to, and trust in, and rely on the gospel and Him who it sets forth) will be condemned." Verse 17-18 say, "And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; they will speak in new languages; they will pick up serpents; and (even) if they drink anything deadly; it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well."
Only by faith can these things be accomplished in the life of the believer. Only by faith can we be transfigured into this new image of the resurrected Lord we serve. Only by keeping our minds set on the things above can we see Him as He is now. This is the image that we're to be changed into. We're to go from glory to glory by faith into the freedom of the Holy Spirit. The doctrines and creeds of man will never dare to step into this arena. Only having faith in what God's Word tells us will transport us into this realm.
The only way we'll ever come into this place with the Father is with the "God kind of faith." When we begin to approach this new life in Christ and to be changed into His Image by faith, the old things of the world will fall away to the new Image of Christ in you.
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