An onion is an onion is an onion...One at a time, each layer of a sincere Christian's self effort to live for God will always be found wanting; to the naked core. Are you aware of this?
To those who genuinely want to walk in conscious fellowship with God, the familiar peeling away the skin of "another unsuccessful try" with repentant tears, will at times seem futile. It may even appear that God seems indifferent to your struggles as he teaches in silence. Attempts to harness or change the flesh, again and again and again, will eventually find their way on top of the same dung heap as the apostle Paul's, Philippians 3:8,9. Salvation was never intended to enable your flesh to finally be able to please God. The flesh remains the flesh...John 3:6. Your flesh is no less despicable, no more desirable, and not the slightest bit more capable of pleasing God after getting saved as before!!! Well intentioned as one may be, "self" righteous acts are merely parading "performances" of me/myself/and I, Romans 7:18b. Have you learned this?
Christianity IS NOT a lifestyle, Christianity IS a life!!! God's life! The life of Christ! The indwelling life of the Holy Spirit joined to our life. God extending his life, expressing his life, manifesting his life, and living his life with us and through us. Quite predictably, repeated disastrous results await the believer who hasn't learned this thoroughly. What is the use then? Whether you realize it or not, the revolving door of failure/repentance/failure...is actually the road to your heart's desire, Proverbs 24:16/Romans 7. There is no escaping what is known as the wilderness journey 1Corinthians 10:5,6,11. It has been predetermined by the LORD himself. It is by his design, "I AM THAT I AM" has destined this path Exodus 3:14,18 for all believers. Paul eloquently expounds upon this as it pertains to a Christian. He exposes his own experience of consistent failure in Romans 7:18-24. It is absolutely critical to grasp Paul's conclusion of the natural dilemma he found himself in after being born again. Romans 7:24 is NOT the solemn surrender of defeat. Paul is NOT in denial over his wretchedness. He is NOT speaking out of frustration, discouragement, or despair. He is speaking from the vantage of victory. Make no mistake about this, Paul is proclaiming triumph, Romans 7:25! Do you hunger for this?
Galatians 2:20 summarizes the concept simply. Every epistle of Paul to the Church contains this life from death paradox as a necessary premise in understanding how to successfully live the Christian life. It is our hope that the small amount of light this website offers can be utilized by the Holy Spirit to edify you. Beware of any mystical exaggeration that often accompanies this subject. Overemphasizing the spiritual will bring you to the borderline of superstitious practices. Finally, the crucified life will never make you better!!! It will simply make you aware that he is better than you were ever aware. Our humble fellowship encourages you by all means to "walk" with God, then to go deeper and walk "in" the Spirit.
Lord help us to be ever more consistent with what we most certainly know to be true, yet still shamefully resist in unbelief, Philippians 3:12-14.
