Walking in Spiritual Reality by Seeing the Values of Reformation in the Lord through the Lord’s Atonement

TRUTH AND PURPOSE

God originally appointed the Day of Atonement as a day to look inward and atone for sins. However, the Lord Messiah Yeshua-Jesus is our atonement! His obedient death on the cross reconciled man back to God. So He restored the fullness of the covenant relationship lost in the Garden of Eden due to sin, disobedience and assertion of independence from God. His ultimate love and sacrifice satisfied God’s wrath.

RELEVANCE

As we have been united together in the likeness of His death, we have, likewise, been united with Him in the likeness of His resurrection. We, therefore, have new capacities to resist the tendencies to sin and walk in God’s higher ways to bear greater fruit and experience greater outcomes. Truly, we are empowered to walk in God’s overcoming new life through the indwelling active presence of the Holy Spirit.

As a result, sin no longer has to have dominion over the believer. We are under the law of grace. Therefore, it is up to us to walk in the newness of this new life in the Lord. If we stumble, we repent. We turn to God’s way and receive God’s forgiveness without guilt, shame and condemnation.

Such freedom, however, does not give us license to keep walking in self-indulgence. In fact, in the Lord we have been raised to a higher standard of moral excellence and accountability. God refers to this as righteousness. It is found in and expressed through Christ by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, we “submit to God” and “resist the devil” by drawing near to God, purifying our heart, and apprehending the Lord’s thoughts by the Holy Spirit.  (James 4:7 and Philippians 2:5) By this we allow the Holy Spirit to transform and “re-form” us by His grace. This is how God the potter forms the clay.

So this was also the concept behind Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12:2– “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

In addition, by reckoning to be dead to sin and alive to God, we can redirect our thoughts and actions, and serve our fellow man in the “newness of the Spirit.” (Romans 6:5-6 and 7:6)

Peter also provided more encouragement and instruction. He taught believers how to express gratefulness to God for His love and precious promises. Thus Peter encouraged believers to cultivate the Lord’s divine nature—character traits above and beyond basic faith: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

In addition, Peter spoke more on the value of allowing the Holy Spirit to keep you diligent and disciplined in order to grow in the knowledge of God and live a fruitful life. He encourages us to, “prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.”  (2 Peter 1:10)

So receive the pour of God’s love through the strengthening power of the Holy Spirit. Be prepared to walk through new doors through which the Lord has made a way for you to go.

REFLECT AND RELATE

Having received the Lord’s atonement, in what ways do you think you can diligently pursue advancing your walk with Him to be a partaker of His divine nature?

What fruits of the Spirit’s character traits do you regularly bear?

Which of these character traits will you ask God to manifest in your life to a greater extent?

In what ways can you see yourself growing further?

Ask the Lord to show you new doors through which He has made a way for you to go.

REFERENCES

Romans 5-7; 2 Peter; Philippians 2:5-15; 2 Corinthians 4; 1 John

NEXT STEPS

Vertical movement: As you experience the work of the Holy Spirit conforming you to the image of Messiah-Christ, the Holy Spirit also draws you deeper so you come to more appreciate the values of the Lord’s compassion and conviction of heart.

Horizonal movement: The more you yield to the reforming and redemptive work of the Holy Spirit inside, the more you position yourself to experience greater transformation, fruitfulness, and recover things lost.

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