Forgive me. This is a long article, but considering the subject matter, I think it's important.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the
host of them by the breath of his mouth......
....9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
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Hebrews 1:1 ¶ God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
John 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Ephesians 1:15 ¶ Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Ephesians 4:14 ¶ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness......
.....5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Romans 1:16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
From the above scriptures we may ascertain a number of points.
The same power that created all things is directed toward them that believe.
That power is made effective through God's word.
That word is both written, and personal in the form of our Saviour. It is thus a living Word.
It is the Word's purpose to re-create that which was lost through sin.
We can conclude therefore that the mighty creative power, that same power that established the universe with all its myriad of stars and unknown life-forms, and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; that same power that raised Jesus from the dead; it is that very same mighty power that enables men and women of God to be over-comers.
That power is inherent in the life of God's Son, Jesus, "for all power is given unto Me". As we abide in the vine, Jesus, that very power and life force flows through the branches and bears fruit. That same power makes us new creatures. Creatures fashioned and re-created in the image of our Creator. A creature of righteousness and true holiness.
So how do we, as mere mortal sinful fallen fleshly rebellious agents of the devil, attain to such an exulted status? By being born again by the Spirit of the Living God...by abiding in Christ...by believing in His word: His promises.
The righteousness of Christ is not a coat to cover our unconfessed and unforsaken sin; it is a principle of life that transforms the character and controls the conduct. Holiness is the same as sanctification. Sanctification is complete surrender, giving oneself wholly and without reservation body, soul, and spirit to God. It is to love God without regard to self or self-interest.
See Ephesians 1:4; 1 Thess 4:7; Levit. 20:7; Heb 12:14; Eph 5:25-27; Rom 6:17-19; 1 Thess 5:23, 24 2 Cor 7:1.
The gospel is not a dead theory used by those who 'can't handle life', like a crutch. It is not just forgiveness of sin. It is not just a "get out of jail free card" that one presents to God in order to avoid the consequences of sin. The gospel is a living vital mighty creative force that changes lives. God desires that the receivers of His grace shall be living testimonies to its power.
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Philipians 1:9 ¶ And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Hebrews 12:1 ¶ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
With all that mighty, creative transforming power of God promised and at our disposal, what excuse is there for any Christian to continue in sin? What excuse for not forsaking every known habit and defect of character not in harmony with the righteousness of Christ? What possible reason, in the face of all the evidence presented, is there for believing that sin cannot be completely overcome?
Only one. The mistaken belief that the power of sin is greater than the power of God. That the power of God, the power of the same Word that created all things, must bow and relent and pay homage to and admit defeat in the face of human lust and passion. Such a belief as this, although held to by many, is entirely untenable.
I believe I am saved because God's word says so. I believe I am loved because God's word says so. I believe I am of infinite worth, because God's word says so. I believe I was created and redeemed for a purpose, because God's word says so. I believe there are pitfalls, dangers, ever present threats and accusations, but the promises of God stand fast and true despite the opposition, because God's word says so. I believe the above, every single statement made, not because I have gained knowledge through reading the scriptures, (I have), but because those scriptures were written to me, inspired by the holy Spirit, and confirmed by the Spirit abiding within who said, "My son, these promises are for you. Believe them. Trust in them. They are My words to you."
They were also written to the contemporaries of the Apostles. And their churches. And every single Christian since then who believed and accepted them personally as God's word to them. They are God's words, and in them is innate power to recreate me in the image of Christ. They have worked in the past, and they are still working today, and will continue to work until God is finished with me. That was also a promise.
KJV Hebrews 12:2
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
KJV Philippians 1:6;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
