AFTER WE ARE BAPTIZED WE GO ON TO PERFECTION

At baptism, we “laid aside” the old way of life, the old self, like an old shirt that we throw away, and we “put on” a new shirt, i.e. enter into newness of life, as new creations in the Messiah Jesus.

God who knows us perfectly who knows our weakness and frailties, remembering that we are dust, begins His work in us from that point [baptism] on. His Spirit continually works tirelessly in us, to bring us to a Messiah-like perfection. He works in us so that we “may grow up in all things into him (the Messiah)” (Ephesians.4:15)

Perfection means that we become more like the lord Jesus in all we think, say, and do!

Isaiah 61:10: I will greatly rejoice in Yehovah, and my soul shall be joyful in my God: for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, and covered me with the robe of righteousness: he has decked me like a bridegroom and as a bride her jewels.

Romans 13:12,14: The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us, therefore, cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light……. put on the lord Jesus the Messiah, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

Ephesians 4:21-24: If so be that you have heard him [Jesus], and have been instructed by him, as the truth is in Jesus, you cast off, concerning the conduct of time past, that old man, which is corrupt through deceivable lusts, and are renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, which from God is created unto righteousness, and true holiness.

Colossians 3:8-17: But now put away even all these things, wrath, anger, maliciousness, cursed speaking, filthy speaking, out of your mouth. Do not lie to one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his works, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him, where is neither Grecian nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond, free:

For, the Messiah is all, and in all [those that are his]. Now therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved, put on the bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering: Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man has a quarrel to another: even as the Messiah forgave, even so you should do also.

And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, because you have been called into one body, therefore be thankful. Let the word of Messiah dwell in you plentifully in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing yourselves, in Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord [Yehovah].

And whatsoever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

What we are and what we do cannot be separated in the Messiah. I behave like a son of God because I am a son of God. By God’s grace, we have a position in the Messiah as slaves, bought and paid for by his shed blood, which position is inseparable from functioning spiritually. In fact, our position in the Messiah; requires us to function spiritually.

1 John 4:12-15: If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.

Matthew 12: 46-50: While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, your mother and your brothers stand without, desiring to speak with you. But he answered and said unto him that told him, who is my mother? And who are my brothers? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, behold my mother and my brothers! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Brothers and sisters, we are living in the last days before the end of this age. Now for all men is the day of salvation, now is the time to live according to our calling in the Messiah Jesus. Remember that whatever our God and Father Yehovah calls upon us to do, He will always provide to us the means, the enabling power of His Spirit, and strength and courage to obey Him!

Notice: Zechariah 4:6: Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of Jehovah unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says Yehovah of hosts.

These words apply to all those who are in the Messiah Jesus today. Whatever we do we know that it is not by our power or might, but by the enabling power of the Spirit of Yehovah our God and Father! Let us always rely on Him for everything in our lives!