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How Much of Christ Is in Your Christianity?

How Much of Christ Is in Your Christianity?

That's quite a compelling question, isn't it? It's kind of like asking how much of Christ is in Christmas. I think many of us would agree that Christmas has become so commercialized that among the general populace Christ is hardly noticed, much less celebrated and revered. Easter would be in the same category. How in the world a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ could have ever evolved into an affinity with Easter bunnies and Easter eggs I'll never know. Such is the tenuous nature of idolatry.

Is it possible for Jesus Christ to be lost in Christianity, the very religion whose Name it bears? We know that without a relationship with Christ, just another religion is all that remains. We also know from Scripture that someone can profess to know Christ but in works actually deny Him (Titus 1:16). But isn't it also true that in works many may profess to know Him, but in authentic heart knowledge they do not?

Alex Salmond's former policy chief launches blistering attack on the SNP's plan to keep the pound. Daily Mail

  Alex Bell said the Mr Salmond's currency plan is 'arguably not independence'

  He also claimed Trident nuclear weapons will remain in a separate Scotland 

  Weapons will be allowed to stay for a 'ticket into international community'

  Scotland will also have to implement deep spending cuts, Mr Bell said

Alex Salmond’s former policy chief has launched a blistering attack on the SNP’s currency plans as he lifts the lid on the confusion and deceit at the heart of the independence campaign.

In an explosive political diary, Alex Bell said the Nationalists’ currency proposal is ‘arguably not independence’ and has hinted at a power struggle at the top of the party.

The top adviser, who stood down from government last summer, also claims:

* Trident nuclear weapons will remain in a separate Scotland in return for a ‘priority ticket into the international community’ and a favourable deal with the rest of the UK.

* A Yes vote does not mean Scotland can avoid deep spending cuts and the state ‘cannot afford’ to keep paying pensions.

Deputy SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has championed a ‘re-design’ of the state, but others in the party favour a ‘mini-UK’ form of independence outlined in Mr Salmond’s White Paper manifesto.

Mr Bell was invited into government in 2010 and was in control of the process that led to the ‘Edinburgh Agreement’ – the historic deal signed by Mr Salmond and David Cameron that enabled a referendum to be staged.

But as work got underway on the SNP’s White Paper, the head of policy left his post because the document lacked a ‘big offer’.

In his new book, The People We Could Be, Mr Bell reveals: ‘SNP strategists think the mix of aspiration without perspiration allows room for everyone to join the Yes campaign.

‘As the referendum approaches, people are filling in the gaps to their own liking. In that sense, the Yes vote has escaped the control of either the

SNP, the Scottish Government or the official campaign.’

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Alan Jackson - Are You Washed In The Blood / I'll Fly Away

THE COLLINGSWORTH FAMILY SINGING ("AT CALVARY")

Words for the Wise, The Believer's Justification

Romans 5 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Results of Justification

5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and [b]we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but [c]we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; [d]though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified [e]by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved [f]by His life. 11 And not only this, [g]but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 for [h]until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a [i]type of Him who was to come.

15 But [j]the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression [k]resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions [l]resulting in justification. 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

18 So then as through one transgression [m]there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness [n]there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. 20 [o]The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Bible Panorama

Romans 5

V 1–5: RESULTS The immediate results of being justified by faith are peace with God through Christ, access by faith into His grace, and rejoicing in the hope of God’s glory. But even tribulations bring their character-shaping blessings for those who are justified. This is especially so because of God’s pouring His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

 V 6–8: REMARKABLE !The demonstration of God’s own love for us, in dying for us ‘while we were still sinners’, is remarkable. Very occasionally someone will give his life for a good man, but Christ gave His life for us while we were hopeless and weak rebel sinners.

 V 9–11: RECONCILED There is a double reconciliation to God. Because of our justification through His blood we shall be saved from wrath through Him: His death has reconciled us. But now, having been justified through that blood, we find that we are reconciled through His saving life in that, each day, we seek to live reconciled lives through His strength, presence and power. This causes us to rejoice because we have received this reconciliation.

 V 12–17: REIGN Death reigned over humanity since man’s fall in sin. But now the gift of righteousness reigns through God’s abundance of grace to those who are justified through Christ and freed from the condemnation deserved. Thus the sin that spread and led to death need no longer reign in the life of those who are justified and who have received His righteousness.

 V 18–21: RIGHTEOUSNESS The law shows sin abounding, but God’s grace has abounded much more producing eternal life through Christ our Lord. Through one man, Adam, sin and judgement came upon all. Through another Man, Jesus Christ, and His righteous act in dying on the cross for us, many are ‘made righteous’, which is what justification means. The Bible Panorama

Dictionary of Bible Themes

6679 justification, results of

Justification brings a changed relationship with God and a future hope. It will also bring a change in behaviour.

The results of justification

Peace with God, access to his presence and the hope of his glory Ro 5:1-2 See also Ro 8:30; Tit 3:7

Assurance of forgiveness Ro 5:9; Eph 1:13-14

Knowing Jesus Christ and participating in his resurrection Php 3:10-11 See also Ro 6:5

Freedom from condemnation Ro 8:31-34 See also Ro 8:1-4; Gal 3:13-14

Freedom from domination by sin Ro 6:14,17-18

Adoption into God’s family See also Ro 8:15-17; Gal 4:6-7

Righteousness in the sight of God Ro 5:17; Php 3:8-9 See also Ro 3:20-22; 1Co 1:30

Justification must lead to good works Jas 2:24 See also Ro 6:15-18; Gal 5:13-16; Jas 2:14-26