That the human race is plagued with sin and imperfection is no longer news. What is, however, is the glad tiding that we can regain the image and likeness of God, which was our original nature before the fall of Adam and Eve.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27.
But no sooner had man fallen and lost his innocence and perfection than God set in motion the rhythm of grace that was to redeem and reconcile him back to his original estate. However, unless this work of grace is fully achieved in anyone’s life, so that Jesus Christ becomes the Lord of their life, they will still be estranged from God and be eternally damned in hell should they die without genuine repentance in that condition.
John 3:35-36: “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
Although there are three definite works of grace for the perfection of the sinner, which are, namely: salvation, sanctification, and Holy Ghost baptism, they are, however, maintained in the genuine Christian’s life by four divine resources, which have been made available to them by God. These divine resources are as outlined and discussed below:
1. THE BLOOD OF JESUS
John 1:29; Hebrews 9:11-28; Matthew 26:17-28; 1 John 1:1-7; Revelation 7:9-17.
“…But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” 1 John 1:7.
In this present dispensation of grace, the blood of Jesus Christ functions as the only cleansing agent for all manner of sins.
Unconfessed sins in the life of anyone strengthen the hand of Satan and his agents against them, but the blood-washed Christian overcomes them because they have nothing to accuse him of. See Revelation 12:10-11; Romans 8:1-2.
Revelation 12:11: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
The blood of Jesus, when constantly applied in one’s life by the prayer of faith, keeps the Christian pure and holy. However, let us be wary of the negative trend we see around these days, where people shout “the blood of Jesus!” at just anything that disgusts them or arouses their emotions. That is quite demeaning and disrespectful to our Lord Jesus Christ. Such people can be sure that they will not get answers by such frivolous use of the blood of Jesus Christ. Unless they repent and desist from such practices, they will more likely earn His wrath.
Hebrews 10:29: “…Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”
2. THE NAME OF JESUS
Mark 16:17,18; Luke 10:17-19; Acts 3:1-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Acts 4:29,30; John 14:14; Proverbs 18:10.
“…wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11
The name of Jesus Christ in the mouth of His faithful follower is the most potent weapon or resource, depending on whether you are dealing with Satan and his agents in spiritual warfare or advancing the cause of God’s kingdom and His righteousness through constructive, positive utterances sanctioned by the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” Luke 10:17.
Jesus Christ answers to His name whenever and wherever His faithful children call upon Him. This should give us the boldness to call upon His name whenever the need arises.
John 16:24: “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
The Holy Bible gives us assurance that our confidence in the name of the Lord can never be betrayed because it is a formidable name in all situations and circumstances standing against the true believer.
Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
3. THE WORD OF GOD.
Psalm 1:1-3; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:1-11; 37:29-31; 119:97-105; John 5:39; Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14-17; Deuteronomy 17:18-20; 6:1-25.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” Colossians 3:16.
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” Psalm 119:11.
God’s Word is given to us for two main reasons, namely: to give us knowledge of the truth which can save us (John 8:32) and to warn us of the things which could condemn us before God (Romans 1:18).
To lack the knowledge of God’s Word, therefore, leaves anyone bereft of the godly wisdom they would require to order their ways in righteousness and to refrain from doing evil each day of their life. Consistent study and meditation in the Word of God results in a consistent, victorious Christian life.
“I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word… Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:101,104
The devil knows how important the knowledge of God’s Word is to overcoming his wiles, so he endeavors to keep as many people as he can from reading the Holy Bible. It is imperative to note here that whoever wants to overcome Satan and the lure of this sinful world should make God’s Word their daily companion.
Some people fall into sin not because they actually planned on doing that, but because they overlooked certain red flags which only a good knowledge of God’s Holy Word could have alerted them to.
Psalms 119:9: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
Furthermore, reading the Word of God gives a massive boost to the believer’s faith in God’s promises. Each time we read the Holy Bible we are confronted with what is possible for God to do for us. Not reading it leaves us in the dark as to what is rightly ours according to God’s divine providence.
Psalms 19:8, 10-13: “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 14:15-17; 16:7-15; Acts 4:23-31; Micah 3:8; Romans 8:1-17; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13; Ephesians 4:30; Romans 8:26-27
The Holy Spirit of God is given to each truly saved believer for the fulfillment of two purposes, namely:
- To guide them throughout their Christian walk with Jesus Christ, and their service to God, on earth.
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26. - To be the divine seal of their redemption.
Eph. 1:13 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Eph. 1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (NKJV)
Having the Holy Spirit in our life, therefore, is a great asset. However, we must understand that He cannot be compelled to remain with anyone whose ways are not pleasing to God. As He is holy, so must all be holy who want to enjoy His continued presence in their life. They must abstain from sin and also be ready to reprove, not compromise with, anyone who practices it.
“But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.” Micah 3:8.
The Holy Spirit is the true companion of the true Christian. He never leaves nor forsakes us as long as we, too, are willing to submit to His instructions and obey when He leads us.
Where this harmony is achieved between the Holy Spirit and the faithful Christian, our labor for God’s Kingdom becomes joyful and the journey to Heaven easier because He will be with us all through the journey victoriously.
Finally, the Holy Spirit can help us to know God more intimately and to enable us to have a deeper understanding of the yet unseen riches and glories of His eternal Kingdom, if only we can yield completely to Him and give Him the chance to reveal them to us from His own divine perspective as one of the three persons of the Godhead.
1 Corinthians 2:10-12: “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
The Christian who embraces and diligently operates in all the four divine resources which God has made available to them will come to fully understand and appreciate God’s grand plan for the redemption and perfection of their soul. Conversely, anyone who falls short of the benefit of the use of even one of them would suffer the lack of the rest, unless they repent of and forsake whatever sin it was that has deprived them of that benefit.
Dear reader, I invite you to get more serious with reading the Word Of God, The Holy Bible, praying in the Name Of Jesus Christ, letting the Blood Of Jesus Christ continually wash your life, and practicing communion with the Holy Spirit all day long. If you can do this effectively, God helping you, you will never lack God’s divine guidance throughout the rest of your life.
“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21.