"LIVING STONES" - 3

In case you did not catch my meaning, the main point I was trying to make, is that Believing is Everything! Do you believe that? But what about the rest, like repenting and being holy? Well, yes, those things are Truly important also; but, before you can Truly perform any of those other things which we are called to do, we must Fully Believe. Okay, so maybe you don't see it that way, that's okay; some people don't think you are really saved until you are baptized either. But this is how I see it: First and Foremost, we must Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all of our heart; then the rest will follow Naturally, but Supernaturally. Because once we Believe, several things will take place, the first of which, is that we will become a New Creation in Christ Jesus, and all the former things will pass away, "Behold, All things will be New". The things that we use to live for, will now be replaced with a New desire to Live for Jesus. Then, almost simultaneously, we will receive the Holy Spirit, which will take up residence within us, as a Helper; to instruct us, guide us, and strengthen our New Walk in Jesus Christ. And then, and this one is a little more complex, but as long as we continue to Believe on Jesus, then He will fulfill the rest. 'He is our portion!' He is our Deliverer!' 'He is our Salvation!' 'He is the Rock upon which we stand!' It really comes down to us Believing on Him; and if we fail, it is because we have stopped Fully Believing on Him, and that He is the Lord of All. What am I saying? Without Christ, we can co nothing, that's what! Oh, we might think we can do this or that, as if to say, "I got this"; but when we do that, it is a receipt for failure. When we enter into His Kingdom, which is what happens when we first believe, then He must be accepted as Lord of All, because that is what He is! And because He is Lord of All, when He is the Lord of our lives, then He replaces our unrighteousness with His Righteousness. Does that mean that we can keep on sinning? NO!!! Like Paul said, just because Grace abounds, does not mean we are at liberty to sin; but what it does mean, is that we have an Advocate in Jesus Christ, who will intercede for us on our behalf, to place His Righteousness between us and the Father; which means, that our unrighteousness is replace by His Righteousness. So pretty much, all that is required of us, is to Believe, and then the rest will follow! However, we must abstain from the things which war against our soul, for they will cause our hearts to faint; and you remember what happens when we faint: Doubt!!! "Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a Chief Cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the Head of the Corner. And a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a Chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a Peculiar People; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His Marvellous Light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the People of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;" (1 Peter 2:6-11)