(06/19/2018) Changed And Made Christ-like?

A Depiction of Water Baptism

Today, the reply is on receiving a new identity from GOD through atonement, baptism and rebirth.  The permanent changes a Christian believer must undergo focuses on more than their attitudes, religious behavior, secular knowledge and opinions, or their hopes for heaven and a divine reward when they die.  Sinners are to become life companions to immortal, incorruptible divinity, and must receive spirit substance from the makeup of GOD that will allow communication, communion, exchange, and continuous interaction.  Included are faith, forgiveness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, meekness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and Spirituality forum using the ID “SD122” (Level 3 with 1,210 points, a member since April 22, 2011) posted the following:


How does God change our identity?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation:  and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.  O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.  For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it:  thou delightest not in burnt offering.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:  a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.  (Psalms 51:  9-17, King James Version, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  What Divine Salvation Requires (05/15/2018); Repentance A Lifestyle Event (02/09/2018); There Must Be Rebirth (01/21/2018); Heaven Temporal, GOD Eternal (12/12/2017); Accepting Christ, Accepting Change (10/20/2017); Transformation Not Obedience Alone (07/02/2017); Becoming A Full Person (02/12/2017); Many Are Called… (10/15/2015)


“SD122”, the operations of divine fullness (we say, the Creator; the Godhead; the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit) to change the character, personhood, and process within created beings and living creatures goes forward through multiple sacred operations that include judgment, sacrifice, death, resurrection, revelation, encounter, fellowship, rebirth, sanctification, suffering, and unselfish service.  The living must display the fresh endowment spirit content provided through the ministry of Jesus Christ and imparted from divinity (we say, breath; life essence; word; the image of GOD); and it is through the active presence that sinners become recognized as developing believers, divine offspring, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.

Men, women, and children all make conscious choices to submit their awareness and self-will to the operations of sin, or to the operations of the divine Spirit.  Water baptism provides a picture of the unseen divine works that must be completed whereby the inborn spirit dies, is buried, and is reborn having divine DNA, so to speak.  Those who are “born again” then are to “grow up again” living on the earth, and are to become mature/ripe for harvest by the Lord at his Advent (we say, his appearing; the Rapture; the Second Coming).  Developing believers are to meet the same life challenges and “growing pains” that have been faced by mankind since the time of Adam.  Even so, they exist as vessels of divine spirit, and will be edified (built up) through such elements as discovery, gradual growth, learning by tests and trials, praise, prayer, study of the holy writings, and regular worship.  Consider the following that uses language from the Bible:

(1.)  Romans 6:  3-6, King James Version (KJV):  3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

(2.)  Romans 6:  16-19, KJV:  16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.  19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh:  for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

(3.)  Ephesians 4:  21-27, KJV:  21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour:  for we are members one of another.  26 Be ye angry, and sin not:  let not the sun go down upon your wrath:  27 Neither give place to the devil.

(4.)  Philippians 4:  6-8, KJV:  6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC