In Second Corinthians 1:19,20 we find what I believe to be the “ultimate statement” relative to receiving what God has promised to those who believe in Him. Here the Apostle Paul reminds us that, relative to receiving the promises given to believers as written in the Holy Bible: “Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is not yea (yes) and nay (no), but “IN HIM” is (only) yea. “For all the promises of God IN HIM are yea, and IN HIM AMEN” (Gk.-epangelomai–able to lay claim to something). In American vernacular we would say that if it is a promise from God, “It’s a done deal,” IF, that is, the believer is truly IN HIM. If the believer is a typical Law-beaker (a “sinner saved by grace”) it is “no deal” except in those rare cases when God sends His rain and sunshine on both the justified and the unjustified (Mat. 5:45). Read Does God Bless Sinners? Key Word–Bless . Biblical, Christ-level faith is knowing that a prayer has been answered in the spiritual realm before it is manifested in the physical realm. Those who are truly justified and converted (IN HIM), live by such faith (Rom. 1:17).

Those who have been justified by faith in God’s grace will remain just(tified) IF they obey God’s Law. In Romans 2:13 Paul tells us that it is not those who are HEARING the Law who are justified, but those who are doing (obeying) the Law will retain their justification IF they continue to obey the Law. In James 1:22 the apostle tells us that if we are merely hearers of the Law and ARE NOT DOERS OF THE LAW, WE ARE DECEIVING OURSELVES. WE ARE ALSO PROVING TO JESUS THAT WE DO NOT LOVE HIM (Jn. 14:15) and in fact DESPISE BOTH HIM AND HIS FATHER (Lk. 10:16). And not only that, being their brother’s keepers, they are setting a bad example for their brother to follow in their religious footsteps even though they are told in the Scriptures that living the way they live qualifies them (and their brother) for death (Rom. 1:32). In Matthew 19:17 Jesus tells us that in order to have eternal life we must obey His commandments (the Law). In First John 2:3-5 the apostle tells us that we know that we know Jesus only IF we obey His commandments, and that if we say we know Him but do not obey His commandments, then we are liars and the Truth (God’s Word–Jn. 17:17) is not in us. We are told Scripturally that the love of God is perfected in us IF WE OBEY HIS WORD, and that only by obeying His Word (Law, commandments) do we know that we are IN HIM. You can’t make it any more clear than that. And yet, billions of professing Christians refuse to obey the WORDS/LAW/ GOSPEL/ LIGHT/TRUTH/COMMANDMENTS of the God they “KNOW” has saved them. This is the church’s counterfeit faith provided to her by its inventor–Satan.

For those who are truly IN CHRIST JESUS, BIBLICAL FAITH IS TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD. Only those IN CHRIST live on this level of faith. For them, “… ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD IN HIM (CHRIST) ARE YEA, AND IN HIM AMEN.” This means that they can LAY CLAIM to a Biblical promise and know that they have it spiritually. Their faith tells them that the promised blessing is on its way. God’s Word is the “receipt,” the written guarantee that the promise is sure to arrive. The saint does not know when the promise will materialize. Being students of the Holy Scriptures, they know God’s will for them on a general level so the question involves “when” it will arrive. However, personal things, like knowing what job to take, etc., involves a “which” question.

In the previous postings of this series we have searched the Holy Scriptures and have been told by the Lord through His prophets and apostles what it means to be IN CHRIST where “there is no darkness (sin) at all” (1 Jn. 1:5). We have also learned that the continuous study of the water that is His Word “washes” out any error that might have slipped in without the saint’s knowing it (Eph. 5:26). As that “water” (Word) remains in us we become the Word of God in human form as we reflect the God it represents whose righteousness is manifested in our “walk” through this life (Rom. 1:17). That righteousness qualifies us to receive eternal life upon the return of Jesus Christ at the end of this world (Mat. 10:22). Read The Process of Salvation. Key word–Process. L.J.