Adaptation
Adaptation, we are always looking to adapt; compensate for an area of weakness. The more we adapt, the weaker we get in that area. For example, concerning our Christian walk, Jesus said, "a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another." - "I can't love, but I can look like I love."
We can create external acceptability.
Consider another New Testament command - "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
Your work is to believe His work - Jn.5:17 "My Father is working until now, and I am working." What does that mean? Since Gen.3 God's rest was interrupted by our sin. Since that time God has been working on our redemption, a work now complete in Christ on the cross, "it is finished". I rest on the work of Christ who paid the penalty for my sin.
Sabbath rest is no longer a day, but 'a way'. It's a way of life. It's a daily death to self. Because I am prone to live a life of acceptability, I yield my life to the Spirit by which I put to death the deeds of the body (Rom.8:13).
Gods redeeming work is still at work in me until my body is glorified. My work is now yielding to what God is doing, "that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.", (Phil.1:6). Who began the work and who will bring it to completion?
What is the completed work?
In Christ God sees me perfect, righteous, holy. In my glorified state, I am perfect, righteous, holy.
Because I presently see as through a glass dimly I am prone to work. I am prone to not fully embrace God's grace. Therefore, I'm prone to living a life of outward acceptability, adapting to situations keeping me in the best light.
Your work is not to maintain an image, but to yield to what God is doing in you.
My Christian walk is conforming me into the image of Christ. I grow and mature as I embrace the truth of God's word, in this case, it's living within the truth of Romans 8 - by the Spirit, I put to death the deeds of the body and are led by the Spirit of God as a son of God. There is no adaptation, only the embrace of regeneration! So walk in Him.
We can create external acceptability.
Consider another New Testament command - "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
Your work is to believe His work - Jn.5:17 "My Father is working until now, and I am working." What does that mean? Since Gen.3 God's rest was interrupted by our sin. Since that time God has been working on our redemption, a work now complete in Christ on the cross, "it is finished". I rest on the work of Christ who paid the penalty for my sin.
Sabbath rest is no longer a day, but 'a way'. It's a way of life. It's a daily death to self. Because I am prone to live a life of acceptability, I yield my life to the Spirit by which I put to death the deeds of the body (Rom.8:13).
Gods redeeming work is still at work in me until my body is glorified. My work is now yielding to what God is doing, "that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.", (Phil.1:6). Who began the work and who will bring it to completion?
What is the completed work?
In Christ God sees me perfect, righteous, holy. In my glorified state, I am perfect, righteous, holy.
Because I presently see as through a glass dimly I am prone to work. I am prone to not fully embrace God's grace. Therefore, I'm prone to living a life of outward acceptability, adapting to situations keeping me in the best light.
Your work is not to maintain an image, but to yield to what God is doing in you.
My Christian walk is conforming me into the image of Christ. I grow and mature as I embrace the truth of God's word, in this case, it's living within the truth of Romans 8 - by the Spirit, I put to death the deeds of the body and are led by the Spirit of God as a son of God. There is no adaptation, only the embrace of regeneration! So walk in Him.
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