John 1:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share, and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
Notice that, "we have all been granted these by His fullness and we have all received them by His Grace and favor. Our walk with the Father isn't based on "only some," but we have all been supplied with these things. Some have come to the knowledge of what Jesus has done for us, while some have only understood the forgiveness of sin. Even those who've heard about the forgiveness of sin, hesitate to fully believe in this.
Many haven't renewed their minds by the Truth of God's Word and still see themselves as being "an old sinner saved by Grace." It is any wonder that we're still in the infant state of our Christianity and the world still sees us as immature? Paul writes about something that many dare to believe about our salvation in Romans 5:17 (Amplified) saying, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense), death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive God's overflowing Grace (unmerited favor) and the free Gift of righteousness (putting them in right standing with Himself), reign as kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
We see how this aligns with our base scripture from John 1:16-17. We see how God's Grace and His Gifts overlap. They bring righteousness to the believer and God's favor to reign with Jesus in this life. The Word doesn't say we will "Reign as kings after we arrive in Heaven," but says we reign with Him in life. It is His Life, by which we reign and that Life is in us now to reign here on earth. Romans 5:17 told us that, "Much more surely will those who receive God's overflowing Grace (unmerited favor) and the free Gift of righteousness." These Gifts, favors, Grace and the surety must be received. They've already been delegated to God's family through Jesus, but many have never received and accepted the things we've inherited.
When we see someone who is walking in God's Grace and righteousness, we say, "These things aren't for everyone," and we put ourselves in the category of never being the one who has favor and Gifts. The Spiritual Blessings found in John 1:16-17 are inherited through the Promise made to the Seed, Who is Jesus. God's Promise of the Holy Spirit would be given to Abraham's Seed, Who is Jesus, according to Galatians 3:29 (Amplified) which says, "And if you belong to Christ (are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed), then you are Abraham's offspring and Spiritual heirs according to the Promise." Galatians 4:6 (Amplified) tells us, "And because you really are His sons, God has sent the Holy Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father, Father."
So many things that were in the Promise to Abraham and his Seed, couldn't be fulfilled under the old covenant. When Jesus came and underwent our redemption through His Place of death, this Promise of the Spirit was fulfilled. Men under the Law, were still dead in his spirit and cut off from the Life of God. We're now in Jesus and born-again in the Spirit of God. We share in His Life through us. All the Spiritual Blessings that the Promise held through God's covenant to Abraham, can now be made sure, through Jesus.
In Genesis 17:4-7 (Amplified) God tells Abraham, "As for Me, behold, My covenant (solemn pledge) is with you, and you shall be the father of many nations. Nor shall your name be any longer Abram, high exalted father; but your name shall be Abraham, father of a multitude, for I have made you the father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful and I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you." Romans 5:17 (Amplified) told us that, "The free Gift of righteousness (putting the believer in right standing with God), reign as kings in life through Jesus."
God didn't only include such earthly kinds as David and Solomon in His Promise, but He extended it to include those who are in Christ Jesus. By His Spiritual Blessings, those who are in Christ Jesus reign as kings in life, through Him. We don't inherit the earthly Blessing of Abraham, but now through Jesus, we have both the earthly (natural) Promise of our well-being, but we also have the Promise of our Heavenly well-being and inheritance.
In Genesis 17:7 (Amplified), God continues speaking to Abraham about His Promise, saying, "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and to your descendants after you throughout their generations for an Everlasting, solemn pledge, to be a God to you and to your posterity after you." Galatians 3:16 (Amplified) says, "Now the Promises (covenants, agreements) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed (his Offspring, his Heir)." God, does not say, "And to seeds, descendants, or heirs," in reference to many persons, but He says, "Unto your Seed, your Descendant, your Heir," obviously referring to One Individual, Who is none other than Christ, the Messiah.
In Jesus, the Seed, we have all received, all had a share in and are all Blessed with the fullness of the Promise made to Abraham. The Promise made to Jesus through Abraham, both physically and now spiritually, is ours in Him. The Promise isn't lacking anything, but we haven't believed the Promise and actually walked in the sons-ship inheritance, as fellow heirs with Jesus. The Promises of God are ours already. 2Corinthians 1:19-20 (Amplified) tells us, "For the Son of God (Christ the Messiah), Who has been preached among you by us, (by myself and Silvanius and Timothy), was not Yes and no, but in Him it is always the Divine Yes. For as many as are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes answer in Him, Christ. For this reason we also after the Amen (so be it), to God through Him, in His Person and by His Agency, to the Glory of God." Did you know that it brings Glory to God, when we accept, believe His Promises and act on them?
Again, Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith, disclosed through the way of faith, that arouses to more faith. As it is written, the man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith."
This faith is a growing, continuing and revealing walk with the Father, through His Word. When we grow to believe His Promises more than we believe what others say about His Promises, then it brings Glory to Him and enhances the power of these Promises in our earthly lives, as well as when we go to Heaven. You must remember that even though all these Promises are yours in Him, you must believe them, in order for them to work in your life.
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