Hi Laz,

I saw the "Lion King" and I do remember who I am! I am a sinner saved by grace! God sees me now, only through Christ's cleansing blood, He does not see me as I am now, a sinner waiting to be sanctified and glorified. He sees me, perfected in Christ because He cannot look at me as I am, in sin, and I do well to remember that!

We are In Christ and He is in us, but we still at this time, also have our sin natures. The sin nature still leads us to a greater or lesser degree, depending on our growth in Christ. Paul tells us in
Philippians 3:12-15 " Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."
This doesn't sound as if he views himself already at the top with Christ!

The article by Bridges was good, in that he was right that we must keep going back to the gospel to remind ourselves that Christ has already earned everything for us, what we do is done in gratitude. I do not see that he agrees with your pastor altogether. Paul also tells us not to "think of himself more highly than he ought to think", and Peter tells us that though we have been given "exceedingly great and precious promises" we are to "be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure". Doesn't sound like we, right now, can rest on Christ's laurels for our sanctification.

In His Hands,

Ruth

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