The Robe and the Spirit - Justification and Sanctification...

[Twilight]

Now some Christians are all about claiming the Robe of Christ.

And some Christians are all about claiming the gift of the Spirit.

But both of these positions can be wrong.

Some will claim the Robe to cover their sins and not receive the gift of the Spirit in their hearts to change them.

Some will claim the gift of the Spirit and think that when they have co-operated with the leading of the Spirit, they will one day receive the robe.

But both of these are incorrect.

When we accept BOTH the Robe and the Spirit, through Jesus' blood, through His Merits, then we are standing on the right ground.

God covers us with Jesus' robe and we stand perfect before God.

Then He sends the Holy Spirit into our hearts, who starts to transform the inside to match the outside.

This is what it means to have our "lives hid with Christ in God".

This is how some can be accepted because of the robe, but saved without all character flaws having been dealt with.

True there are those that will go through the time of Trouble and both sets of work will be completed in them.

But there are those, like the thief on the cross, that will be accepted because of the robe and only received a partial cleansing in this life.

(I am not talking about someone practicing known sin - rather someone who has not had all of their flaws and defects dealt with).

I would welcome your thoughts on this?

Mark

[oldsailor29]

I think you are correct here. Where so many well meaning people go wrong is thinking that overcoming our character flaws and besetting sins has some soteriological merit. This is false. All of our salvation is given to us on the merits of Jesus. We earn none of it through the work of the spirit. The indwelling Holy Spirit helps us to express our love for God through our obedience. All who accept Jesus as their personal saviour will have this Spirit, and will obey.

People who accept Jesus will not be murderers and thieves. But just because someone obeys, does not mean they have accepted Jesus. Without the genuine love for God as the motivating factor for obedience, to obey is an empty gesture. Still, obedience is an indication that the love is there. Sometimes other factors may indicate otherwise. To these people, obedience is the pinnacle of righteousness, and thought to be impossible by many. These people sometimes stress and extrapolate many fine points of law to prove it is impossible to keep. To people who have accepted Jesus and Love God, obedience is where we start. Our loving attitude and spirit toward God's creation naturally flows from our love of God. Our obedience is merely a part of our love. May the love of God flow through us to the world.

[Twilight]

I think you are correct here. Where so many well meaning people go wrong is thinking that overcoming our character flaws and besetting sins has some soteriological merit. This is false. All of our salvation is given to us on the merits of Jesus. We earn none of it through the work of the spirit. The indwelling Holy Spirit helps us to express our love for God through our obedience. All who accept Jesus as their personal saviour will have this Spirit, and will obey.

People who accept Jesus will not be murderers and thieves. But just because someone obeys, does not mean they have accepted Jesus. Without the genuine love for God as the motivating factor for obedience, to obey is an empty gesture. Still, obedience is an indication that the love is there. Sometimes other factors may indicate otherwise. To these people, obedience is the pinnacle of righteousness, and thought to be impossible by many. These people sometimes stress and extrapolate many fine points of law to prove it is impossible to keep. To people who have accepted Jesus and Love God, obedience is where we start. Our loving attitude and spirit toward God's creation naturally flows from our love of God. Our obedience is merely a part of our love. May the love of God flow through us to the world.

I agree. :-)

[skyblue888]

Mark, I agree and appreciate your introductory post and I also agree and appreciate what oldsailor said. Excellent.

Only that one phrase I would like to ask you about. "Then He sends the Holy Spirit into our hearts, who starts to transform the inside to match the outside."

Could you re-phrase it for me, if u don't mind?

thanks

sky

[Twilight]

Mark, I agree and appreciate your introductory post and I also agree and appreciate what oldsailor said. Excellent.

Only that one phrase I would like to ask you about. "Then He sends the Holy Spirit into our hearts, who starts to transform the inside to match the outside."

Could you re-phrase it for me, if u don't mind?

thanks

sky

Rephrase it to what my friend?

Is it the heart thing you are reffering to?

Here is my basis for including that:

Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

2Cr 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

2Cr 3:3 [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

[skyblue888]

Thanks for the quotes but what I wanted you to elaborate a little on is what you said about the inside matching the outside. I was thinking in terms of the outside matching the inside!

sky

[pnattmbtc]

Here's my favorite quote from the SOP on the subject of Christ's robe of righteousness:

Quote:

When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah. (COL 312)

[Twilight]

Thanks for the quotes but what I wanted you to elaborate a little on is what you said about the inside matching the outside. I was thinking in terms of the outside matching the inside!

sky

My friend, apologies if there has been any roughness in my posts lately, still being polished...

The outward standard of Righteousness in Christ, is met by a perfectly formed Character on the inside.

So they both "match".

Those that go through the time of trouble with be matching inside and out.

Hope that makes sense.

Mark

[skyblue888]

Oh, was there any roughness on your part?!! hehe

If you think you were rough with me, well, apology accepted.

I guess I asked because I am used to hear the expression "inside and out" The righteousness within will be shown or be manifest by righteousness without.

sky