Coming into Christ means that we begin to look like Christ. Let`s consider the context of this statement:
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. |
So, we see that by faith in Christ a person becomes a Child Of The Holy Spirit and takes on the look of Christ as a result of being one in Christ.
The image that we get from this passage is of a person being absorbed into the Holy Spirit.
But what does being absorbed into the Holy Spirit mean?
Jesus (the man) was absorbed into His Holy Spirit. As a result He said this about Himself:
I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that which you have seen with your father. Jesus has told them who He is. Now He begins to tell them who they are, He speaks of their father. |
The implication of Jesus being absorbed into the Holy Spirit is that He said what His Holy Spirit Father wanted Him to say and He did what His Holy Spirit Father wanted Him to do.
Jesus (the man) was the Father`s instrument for accomplishing His will in the earth.
Hence, when we Put On Christ we are to be the Father`s instrument for accomplishing His will in the earth.
Jesus put it this way:
Truly, truly, I say unto you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. |
The potential for each person who is born of God`s Spirit is unlimited except by their acceptance of and faith in what God`s Word says about them.
To Put On Christ is to receive your inheritance as a Son, a conqueror, and as a powerful servant and minister of the Grace of God.
What is 'holiness of life'? By definition our nature changes when we are born again.
But what is meant by 'holiness'? You see, it is the Righteousness Of God in Christ Jesus that is IMPUTED to us in the New Birth.
It is not something WE produce or even maintain. It is Christ living in and through us.
What does that look like?
➛ First and foremost is the change in our communication - what we think and so, what we say.
➛ Secondly, it is what we do.
➛ Thirdly, is how we worship.
When Christ is formed in us we think like Christ, we speak like Christ, we do like Christ. But Christ is NOT formed in us at the New Birth. We have a New Spirit that is part of His Spirit but our soul and body are still corrupt and corruptible.
So, there is a process by which we manifest Christ. That process is effected based on our attention to His Word and fellowship with His Spirit. This is reflective of our relationship with Him.
Those who desire Christ as He desires them, desire to be baptized with His Holy Spirit so that they become One with Him. It is in Spirit Baptism that we are FULLY oriented toward having Christ formed in us.
No desire to be Spirit Baptized indicates one does not desire to have Christ formed in them. So, our focus should not be on manifestation but rather heart orientation out of which comes the manifestation.
If a believer does not Put On Christ Jesus they will invariably manifest 'unholiness'.
This 'putting on' is the same concept as allowing Christ to 'be formed' in us.
It is a heart thing and the heart is what Christ is all about.