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The Daily Word of Righteousness
One in Christ in God, #17
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)
The change in personality of which we have been speaking to this point might be termed the maturing of the born-again experience. We have referred also to the dwelling in us of the fullness of God; but our main point of emphasis has been the change in us in preparation for the coming of the Lord to abide in us.
We have spoken of the power of the blood of Christ to make an atonement, the initial spiritual resurrection of the believer, the planting of the Word of God in our heart, bringing our daily conduct under the discipline of the Holy Spirit, the growth of the Word of God in us, putting to death the deeds of our body, and the maturing of the Word of God in us. Through the processes of God in redemption we are becoming a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17).
But all the above are changes in us—our personal transformation of spirit, soul, and body. The coming of the Persons of the Godhead to abide in us is yet another matter. God comes into us at the moment of our receiving Christ. But He desires to come to us in a much greater way as soon as we have been made ready for such glory.
The new covenant is the creating of the image of Christ in the mind and heart of the believer (Hebrews 8:10). It is an inner work. Christ in us is the hope of glory. As the likeness of Christ begins to appear in our personality, the Glory of God can take up residence in us to an increasingly greater extent. Peter admonishes us to take heed to the Scripture until the Day of the Lord dawns in us.
We have also a more sure word of prophecy [the Scriptures]; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (II Peter 1:19)
The Lord Jesus told us the same thing:
Jesus answered and said to him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23)
After we receive Christ and are baptized in water we are to study the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments. As the Holy Spirit makes clear to us the directives and the promises, we are to look to the Spirit for the wisdom and strength to do the will of God.
We are to make use of every resource the Lord has provided for us, including studying and meditating in the Scriptures, prayer, assembling with fervent believers as possible, and the Communion service. We must practice diligently the good works set before us, such as giving, working in the local church, receiving and operating the gifts of the Spirit, and assisting the work of Christ wherever possible. We do the will of God, by His help, "building our house on the rock."
To be continued.