For the believing sinner, Salvation is not made without the proper atonement for sin. Jesus Christ came to die to pay the penalty of sin for the believing sinner. At Calvary, He and He alone atoned for our sin. Knowing Who Jesus is and what He did, there is no doubt as to His Resurrection. At Salvation we are Born Again and made a new creature, not a rehabilitated creature. There is a witness to our spirit that we are a Child of God. The lost do not understand this witness for they cannot discern the things of the Spirit no matter their intellect.
“11 But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you.
12 Therefore, Brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself (Himself) bears witness with our spirit, that we are the Children of God:” Romans 8:11-16
For the believing Saint, Sanctification is not afforded without the proper atonement for sin. At Calvary, Jesus Christ broke the power of sin for whosoever will believe. This is where many Christians stumble and remain in the wilderness far too long. They are Saved but never made into the image of God from glory to glory by the Spirit of God by Grace through faith. Religion has swept them away into a world of superstition, mysticism and witchcraft…all in the Name of Jesus. Their faith is incantations and many wonderful works as they set about doing community service…all in the Name of Jesus.
“22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name? and in Your Name have cast out devils? and in Your Name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22-23
It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to isolate the sin nature which dwells in all of us due to the fall of Adam. When our faith is redirected into our good works, even those things which are Scriptural (aka Bible reading, prayer, etc.) for victory over our sin nature, we do not give the Holy Spirit the latitude He needs and desires to remove those things in our heart which are not pleasing unto the Lord. The Holy Spirit is jealous over those things that we do for victorious Christian living; those things that we believe we can do on our own but continue striving in our flesh to overcome. In a moments time the Spirit of God can lay waste every sin that so easily besets us if we will simply look unto the proper Atonement given mankind for this victory…Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
At Calvary, there is dominion over sin for the believing Saint. Look to Jesus and He will author and finish your faith just like the Bible says. Old things will pass away and all things become new when we look to the ONLY Atonement made for sin; otherwise we are producing fruit unto death and remain in the wilderness.
“O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the Truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” Galatians 3:1
Galatianism is alive and well in the church today and has left many of God’s Children in bondage. Come out from among them. Jesus Christ stands at the door knocking…He’s not on the inside. There is still a work to be done in ALL of us who believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Keep knocking. Keep seeking. To him who much is given, much is required. Don’t look back but forward. Time is short and the harvest is great.
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 