Friday, March 3, 2023

A Crucified Life - - We Speak Jesus

 

2 Corinthians 4:13-14
And in keeping with what is written: " “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak, knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2980
Speak: talk, talkative
From the Greek word 'laleĆ³' (pronounced (lal-eh'-o): I make myself heard.
THE SAME FAITH
    Paul was quoting David who wrote in Psalm 116:10 "I believed, therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted." Thereby acknowledging that the faith of they who believed without having seen God's Christ is the same faith we now hold within us. 
    Hebrews 11 is the chapter commonly referred to as The Hall of Faith, wherein is detailed to some extent who believed and that it was 'counted unto them for righteousness'. It begins with the definition of faith: "Now faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders (the ancients) obtained a good report."
    Our first example in this chapter is Abel. Hebrews 11:4 "By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead."
LEAD BY EXAMPLE
    As we have been given, and still continue to give each other, the Word of encouragement, we also should lead by example and encourage one another even now with our faith in God. 
    Hebrews 11:6 tells us faith in God is necessary. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
    Faith in God produces action; we believe Him, therefore we obey Him. We believe His Words are Faithful and True, therefore we give voice to what and Whom we believe. And we cannot stop ourselves from proclaiming the nature of God and the Love of God in Christ. We want you to have this same faith, too.  
    Faith is knowing. See 2 Corinthians 4:14 "knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence." We have this Hope of Resurrection.
     Christ IN us cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Christ ON us is our righteousness. Christ on the cross FORGIVES and SAVES us. Christ resurrected from the grave CHANGES us. Though we have not yet obtained the glorious bodies we will be given, we determine to live as though we have. 
     We live by faith: Galatians 2:20. We walk by faith: 2 Corinthians 5:7. We overcome the world with faith: 1 John 5:4. The word of faith is what we proclaim/declare, make known to all will hear us speak: Romans 10:8. 
    We speak Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). 

I Speak Jesus
Same God
I Know Whom I Have Believed
King of Glory