2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ has reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
Romans 4:16,20 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, (inheriting) the Promise is the outcome of faith and depends (entirely) on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor) to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants-not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is (thus) the father of faith." Verse 20 continues, "No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the Promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God."
In our new creation relationship with God through Jesus, we not only have the covenant made between the Father and Jesus, but we have actually been born into the family of God by our new creation birth. The Promises made to Abraham, were the beginning of this covenant of Grace that was established by Jesus and are now ours by faith in Christ Jesus. The covenant of Promise is carried forward in Galatians 3:16 ,29(Amplified) which says, "Now the Promises (covenants, agreements) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed (his Offspring, his Heir)." God does not say, "Now the Promises were decreed and made to Abraham and his seeds (descendants, heirs,)," as if referring to "many persons." God says, "Now the Promises were decreed unto Abraham and his Seed (his Offspring, his Heir)," obviously referring to One Individual, Who is none other than Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Verse 29 continues, "And if you belong to Christ (are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed) then are you Abraham's offspring and (spiritual) heirs according to Promise." 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) says, "For as many are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes (answer) in Him (Christ). For this reason we also utter the Amen (So be it) to God through Him (in His Person and by His Agency) to the glory of God."
Romans 4:13 (Amplified) expands on God's Promise to Abraham (that is now ours through our union with Jesus), to a place that will challenge your faith and my faith, saying, "For the Promise to Abraham or to his posterity, that he should inherit the world, did not come through (observing the commands of) the Law, but through the righteousness of faith." This gives us a new understanding about what "faith" holds in the Promise of things we "hope for," in Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified) which says, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things (we) hope for, being the proof of things (we) do not see and the conviction of their reality (faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses)."
Many things have been taught, preached, said and written about faith. Much of these were done by those whose faith failed them, so they determined, "If it didn't work for me, then it's not for us today." Many taught from their own experience, instead of Abraham's experience. The awesome thing about faith is, it will work for "whosoever will." We've tried to work formulas and laws, in order to make faith work for us, but Romans 10:17 (Amplified) says, "So faith comes by hearing (what is told), and what is heard comes by the preaching (of the Message that came from the lips of Christ, the Messiah Himself)."
Much of what we've "heard," hasn't come from "the lips of Christ, but were man's interpretation of what he believed Christ said. A lot of our faith is based on merely human experience, instead of on God's Word. This isn't an indictment against men and women over the years, but it's a challenge to those who believe Jesus is more than "just going to Heaven when we die." All of God's Promises are "Yes and Amen, to the glory of God," according to 2Corinthians 1:20. We haven't received the Promises by faith, like the Word instructs. We continue trying to "make the Word work," instead of allowing Grace to flow into the Promises, by faith in God's Word alone. If God said it, then He will do what He said. We only need believe that God's Word will create what He said, as in the beginning.
This is the so-called "problem," we've had with the new creation people we've become. We've been trying to form our own creation image, instead of just being what God already created us to be in Christ. An apple tree doesn't need to "try" being an apple tree. It is an apple tree, because that is what the seed made it to be. We are what the Seed has made us to be and must allow the Seed to mature us into what God's Image of the new creation family is supposed to be.
We often quote Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified) without understanding it. Thus, it says, "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him For whoever would come near to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him (out)." We are still depending upon our works for the Promises, instead of our faith. This isn't an act of Grace, but is a debt that God is now obligated to pay. This will not work in our family relationship of faith and that's why "its impossible to please God without faith." When we try doing works to please Him, we have denied His Gift of Grace through Jesus and have decided we can gain acceptance again by works.
The Father wants to bring all His Promises to pass and fulfillment in our lives. This was His intent from the beginning. He only needs for us to believe Him, by faith in His Promises.
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