Surrender

I've brought this word up quite a few times, but this time it's the real meaning of surrender.  Let's take it to heart!

There are some who are seeking, always seeking, for the goodly pearl.  But the do not make an entire surrender of their wrong habits.  They do not ie to self that Christ may live in them.  Therefore they do not find the precious pearl.

Implicit belief in Christ's word is true humility, true self-surrender.

When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart.  A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself.  It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature.  The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own.  A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan.
The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness.  Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, an temptation to sin.  We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be over come.  Surrender and death to self equal the same thing.

This is victory over sin, written in simple language for me and I hope that you get it too.  Ask God to help you with understanding any of these posts that seen cloudy to you, He knows your heart and will assist you in your understanding and give you the victories that your need.  Grandma Joan

Death to Self

This is a major event in our life, so read carefully!!

When self is crucified and Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, we shall reveal, in thought, word, and deed, the reality of our belief in the truth.

Words cannot describe the peace and joy possessed by him who takes God at His word.  Trials do not disturb him, slights do not vex him.  Self is crucified.

Romans 6:6  "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

2 Corinthians 4:10-12  "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus; sake, that the live also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.  So then death works in us, but life in you."  (speaking of death to self)

Surrender of self to die in Christ, sounds easy, but some of us who are older have a lifetime of ingrained habits and thoughts that are not easy to give up, but if we truly love the Lord with all our hearts and want to please Him and be ready to live with Him forever, it is important that we learn this lesson and persevere in our surrender to Him and as Paul tells us, 'He dies daily', so it is a daily matter and a daily surrender.  May God help all of us to put this death to self in our daily routine.  Grandma Joan

Imparted

Dictionary Definition - 'to give, convey, or grant from or as if from  store.'

Christ imparts His righteousness to those who consent to let Him take away their sins.  We are indebted to Christ for the grace (His character) which makes us complete in Him.

The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted.  The first is our title to heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven.

In sanctification Christ's character is imparted (or conveyed to the believer and becomes a part of his person).  Thus his personality is changed.

This is so real for me, as soon as I surrendered up my sin or shortcomings, Christ changed me into a lovable, loving Christian, this doesn't mean I'm perfect or anything like it but He is changing me day by day into what He will be able to take into His kingdom when He comes.  It's not a one time thing and we are made whole, it happens over the length of our lifetime and I am anxious to see what He will do next for me.  It is a wonderful experience to go from a gossip, critical, faultfinding individual into someone whom most people love, I'm still working on the others.  Have won a few but there is still more.  I just flat love people now, it's amazing even to me.  I just praise the Lord for His forgiveness, and making me as if I had never done those things.  If satan brings them to your mind after God has changed your heart, just tell him you have been forgiven and resist the thoughts.  Grandma Joan

Imputed

Webster's dictionary defines 'impute' as 'to credit to a person or a cause.'

Among the great mass of professed Christians, the grievous character of the transgression of the law of God is not understood.  They do not realize that salvation can be obtained only through the blood of Christ, through His imputed righteousness, but this alone will avail to make fallen man what he should be, and exalt him to become a member of the Royal Family of heaven.

In justification, Christ's character is imputed (credited to the believer's account).  Thus his standing before God is changed.

I think this is explained pretty plain, don't you?  I am sure you want your standing before God to be 'just as if you had never sinned'.  I can't think of anything better than that, can you?  Grandma Joan

Sanctification

Sanctification is nothing less than a daily dying to self, and daily conformity to the will of God.  Paul's sanctification was a constant conflict with self.  Said he, 'I die daily'.  His will and his desires every day conflicted with duty and the will of God.  Instead of following inclination, he did the will of God, however unpleasant and crucifying to his nature.

Sanctification means habitual communion with God.

We should consider the words of the apostle Paul in which he appeals to his brethren, by the mercies of God, to present their bodies, 'a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.'  Romans 12:1.  This is true sanctification. It is not merely a theory, an emotion, or a form of words, but a living, active principle, entering into the everyday life.

'Learn of Me', says Jesus; 'for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest.' Matthew 11:29.  We are to enter the school of Christ, to learn from Him meekness and lowliness.  Redemption is that process by which the soul is trained for heaven.  This training means a knowledge of Christ.  It means emancipation from ideas, habits, and practices that have been gained in the school of the prince of darkness.  The soul must be delivered from all that is opposed to loyalty to God.

Sanctification is the work of a lifetime.  We are to spend our entire life from the time we are justified by Christ's blood till the time we rest in the grave or if we live until Christ comes, living for Him and the only way we can do that is to surrender our lives to Him and let Him live out His life in us.  Grandma Joan

Justification

If you give yourself to Him and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous.  Christ's character stands in the place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.

While the sinner cannot save himself, he still has something to do to secure salvation.  'Him that cometh to Me, says Christ, 'I will in no wise cast out.'  But we must come to Him; and when we repent of our sins, we must believe that He accepts and pardons us.  Faith is the gift of God, but the power to exercise it is ours.  Jesus died for us because we were helpless to do this.  In Him is our hope, our justification, our righteousness.

The only way which the sinner can attain to righteousness is through faith.  By faith, he can bring to God the merits of Christ, and God places the obedience of His Son to the sinner's account.  Christ's righteousness is accepted in place of man's failure, and God receives, pardons, justifies, the repentant,  believing soul, treats him as though he were righteous, and loves him as He loves His Son.

Pray for faith to trust your Saviour that He died for you so that you could accept His righteousness for your sinful life.  Otherwise, you will have to die for your own sins.  Isn't our God wonderful to send His Son down to this wicked world to make atonement for us.  He took our death on the cross if we accept His sacrifice to cover our sins.  What an expensive sacrifice for God to give up His Son to save us.  Grandma Joan

Character

The character is revealed, not by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds, but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts.

Actions make habits, and habits, character.

Thus actions repeated form habits, habits form character, and by the character, our destiny for time and for eternity is decided.

Now we know how to form good spiritual habits.  Time daily spent with God in His word and also in Prayer are good habits to form and will last throughout eternity providing we make Him a priority.