After forgiveness, you can be "preserved" in Christ...by the keeping power of His Grace.

As a servant for the Lord I often find myself thinking about God and matters that concern the people around my life. I find myself often thanking God for the miracle He performed in my heart, life, and ministry. I have a deep appreciation for God and His miracles that I'm believing Him to perform on others... as He did this preacher.

As for my personal miracle, I'm thankful for "knowing who I am and what I am in Christ". This writer's miracle goes further into God's "keeping power" and how Christ "preserves" us by the power His Saving Grace! I'm a child of the King with a servants heart! I have the privilege an honor to carry His Gospel into an unbelieving world! Glory! I am a joyful and happy man because of the miracle of conversion to Christianity... where I am now preserved by His Saving Grace! Christ pulled me out of the world and His preservation keeps me from going back into it! Christ has made me glad! Christ makes me happy! I rejoice that I am a child of God kept by the power of God through faith! I find pleasure in being a Christian! The miracle of Christianity showed me that I was through with the old life 23 years ago! Living out the new life has blessed this man, this preacher, this preacher's marriage, and fortifies this preacher's daily walk with Christ in everyday life.

In this preservation I've found in Christ, I've learned to never compromise with the unbelieving world. In this preservation I've found with Christ I've learned that I never have to apologize for living a holy life in an unbelieving world! In this preservation I've found with Christ the Bible is my life experience manual (not the opinions of man); and the Holy Spirit is my guide in all practical matters of everyday living! I'm sold out to Christ and His Word of truth. I love righteous living, and I hate sin. Hallelujah, I'm preserved in the God of my Salvation!

I woke this morning (thinking about the so many people around my life) who cannot share the joy of being preserved by the Grace of God the Bible teaches. This preservation I speak of is "only" found through belief and trust in the person of Christ. Some do not "know" what it actually means to be morally changed; delivered by the power of God that's found in the Christ; and preserved by the power of God through faith! Hear me for a moment!

Your personal forgiveness from the cross brings preservation found in Christ! Your personal forgiveness from the cross brings joy to the heart...but, your personal forgiveness is not found in "sinning religion" or "part time belief" or "wavering in and out of Christ". Personal forgiveness only comes when you accept, believe, and trust Christ to be your Saviour and Redeemer everyday and every moment of your life. Personal forgiveness is enlightenment from the cross that brings you a holy and right life in the eyes of God. Personal forgiveness from the cross brings the life of peace and contentment that cannot be found outside of Christ. Personal forgiveness allows you to become a miracle "made" and "created" by the Christ of your personal Salvation. Personal forgiveness allows you to walk and live in the Spirit. Every day, all day, without sin and without disobedience to God! Personal forgiveness brings in a clear conscience...but your trust must always remain in Christ and His "keeping power".

Christ will keep you...and Christ will preserve you. You can live your life with Christ... for the rest of your life! Without sin and without struggle! How? You can be preserved in Christ! Christ has "keeping power". The power of Divine Grace (found in Christ) not only saves you...but also "keeps you" in this unbelieving world!

Here's what the Bible says about this teaching...

1 Peter 1:5...Who are "kept by the power of God"through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

2 Thess 3:3...But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and "keep you from evil"

Jude 24...Now unto him that is able to "keep you from falling", and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

1 Thess 5:23...And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be "preserved blameless" unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude... 1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, "to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved" in Jesus Christ, and called:

The "Thread of Hope"...when Christ becomes "real"... in your heart and life.

Christ became real to Rick Roehm back in... 11/11/1987. Christ came into this writers heart and life and became reality and hope all these years. Christ's substance and existence in my life has formed my peace, my joy, and my hope for a future with Him in Heaven. My personal life, my marriage, my livelihood, my children, and everything that I am... are in Christ's hands. My eyes are on Him everyday. Christ got my attention through belief and trust... and I never lose it! Regardless of the obstacles in life!

My ministry at the Upper Room and the call Christ has placed in my life has been treasured above all things, far above anything this world has ever had to offer. To be honest, "Christ threw this writer a lifeline... I call it my Thread of Hope". When I say, "Thread" I mean a tiny thread. Christ didn't throw me a rope of hope...only a thread! Why do I say this? The Bible says...If the righteous scarcely be saved where does that leave the ungodly and the sinner? I am scarcely saved but the thread Christ has given me but it is more that enough to keep me connected to Christ! Glory!

Yes, my brother's and sister's, I'm very much satisfied with the Salvation that Christ has given this writer the past 25 years. I love God with all my heart. I love people! I love my wife and children. I love my Church! I enjoy doing service for Christ! Glory! The economical situation I encounter in my everyday life is the worst I've seen in 13 years, but I'm still satisfied with the reality of Christ in my life! The riches of Christ have vast substance to this writer. His riches far outweigh the riches of the world! The eyes of this writer's heart stay focused on Christ everyday of my life...through the good times and the bad times! Since Christ became "reality"... His presence keeps me satisfied!

I'm so satisfied with the Upper Room... that God has blessed us with to bless others with! My desire is to continue carrying the truth and teaching others this reality about Christ I speak of in this Blog. The reality of Christ is made known to all who come to our fountain at the Upper Room to drink of His Spirit. How blessed this writer is to be able to testify to the reality of Christ's Grace in my personal heart and life; at Church; in the workplace; and on this Blog!

Christ must become "real" to you, every minute, every hour, and every day! Christ must become real to your thinking, real in your actions, and real in your obedience to God! Christ's reality in your personal heart and life allows the truth of the Bible to be confirmed in your heart and life. This truth I speak of is the changed moral character that is the "fruit" of the Spirit in your lives and in your actions. This fruit is that fact that Christ is real in your heart and in your life. You mind the Spirit because Christ is real to you. You live the Word because Christ is real in your life. The New Testament only proves that other men before you likewise experienced the reality of Christ in their hearts and personal lives!

The truth of this matter is that the presence of Christ is real in 2013. The power of Christ is real as we speak! Christ's very personality and character is what can changes the way you think, changes the way you act, and changes the way you behave. Please note...this change is not a process! It is an actual experience when Christ becomes "real" in your heart and life.

Don't be deceived into thinking that Christianity is a process. It's not! It's a blessing! It's experienced! It's lived out! It's confirmed in Acts -Revelation! Glory! Has Christ became real to you? If so you have this same "Thread of Hope" I speak of. Glory to Christ! He's real! He's alive! By His grace you are saved! Because of Him you are changed! You are blessed by the reality of Christ! Tell others about Him! I'm glad Tuesday's are the Lord's Day at the Upper Room. Every Tuesday and Sunday! With joy! Hallelujah! Glossed over and slightly re-written 9-1-2013

Justification by faith...the believer's path to Sanctification "empowered" by the Baptism with the Holy Ghost

Justification by faith makes the believer in Christ..."eligible" to receive Sanctification from the Adamic life (that still exists in a justified man's life). Justification only deals with the "acts" of sin that man commits. Sanctification deals with the "root" of sin that man is born with. Justification is the believer's path to God's Sanctification... that comes through the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire.

Justification by Grace "the down payment of a believer" is God's spoken pardon and declaration of righteousness... given to the believer in Christ. A just man is a man "made right in the eyes of God ...by Divine Grace". A just man is "freed" from the guilt of sin upon the human conscience! A just man is morally changed by the effectual power of the Grace of God! A just man is given a "divine nature" which is the believer's God given power to do and to live right!

"The believers "divine nature" is greater than the carnal nature because the divine nature is given and supported by the power of God's Grace in Salvation. The Bible says,"Where sin abounded...Grace now "abounds" much, much more." RR

God's Justification by Grace only deals with sins that man committed in the past life..."before salvation". After Justification takes place...God's pardon and forgiveness is granted to the believing soul as recognition of the person of Christ becomes prevalent by belief and trust! In a sinful man's first glimpse of Christ's redemptive work...the effectual power of Calvary is revealed to the heart of man by the Spirit of Holiness. The cleansed conscience and removal of the guilt of sin is known by man because of the "broken will"; and the very trust of that believer in the death of Christ for personal forgiveness from sin! Belief and trust in Christ's suffering and shed blood becomes the source of man's personal forgiveness and removal of the guilt of sin from the conscience. The Spirit of Holiness "comes upon" the heart... of the believer in Christ.

God's Justification and pardon "does not deal" with still existing fallen nature of man that tries to rule and rise in the life of a Justified man. Only God's Sanctification can remove the still existing Adamic life! Justification by Grace is therefore is the believer's path to God's Sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit! A just man still has an "inner struggle" with the Old Adam; and an "outer struggle" that gets easily consumed with the everyday problems of life. Justification by Grace allows the believer to experience initial harmony with the Spirit of God. The Spirit's witness reveals the person of Christ and the redemptive power of Christ from Calvary to that beleiving heart.

A just man knows God! A just man trusts God! A just man realizes he needs more of God through Christ! The Spirit of God reveals to just man that he must "die" to self. In another glimpse of Calvary (experienced by the justified man) Christ's crucifixion is revealed! Christ's crucifixion reveals to this believer...the crucifixion of the Old Adam (self). The Spirit of God shows the believer what he really is... in light of the personal effect of Calvary on thatbelieving soul. A just man sees himself (in light of Christ) as a man in need of more of God's Grace. A just man is a man in need of death to the Old Man that still conflicts with the new man! When this justified believer comes to a place of "nothingness" at the Saviours feet...Sanctification or a severing from the old life can take place. The Spirit of God can totally possess the heart and life of a believer in Christ! Justification's down payment makes the believer in Christ...eligible for the Indwelling Spirit to totally possess the heart and life of a believer.

In relation to the lost world...Conviction of the Spirit of God...is the sinful man's path to Justification.

In relation to the believer in Christ...Justification by Grace is the believers path to Sanctification by the Baptism with the Holy Ghost.

In relation to the full possession of the Indwelling Spirit that rids man of the "inner and outer conflicts of life"...Sanctification is the removal the Old Adam from the Justified man's heart.

Sanctification is the "final work" of the Holy Spirit in this life. Sanctification takes place when the spirit's of just men are made... perfect. This Biblical perfection is the "completed work" of the the Holy Spirit in this present life! Not to be taken as a future tense work beyond the grave! Present tense perfection is the final work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a justified man.

Heb 12:23-24...To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the "spirits of just men made perfect", And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

EXAMPLES OF JUST MEN IN THE BIBLE...Gen.6:9, Proverbs 9:9, 20:7, 24:16, Eccles. 7:15,20, Matt. 1:19; 27:19, Mark 6:20, Acts 10:22

"Justification by faith" ... God's spoken pardon to the human soul

Rom 3:23-26...For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Verse 23... Says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God..."PAST TENSE". All "have sinned"...

Verse 24...Being justified freely by his grace we see...Man's trust in the shed blood of Christ for personal remission (forgiveness) of past sins that enables God's Justification to be "spoken" to the human soul. "PRESENT TENSE"..."NOW!"

Verse 25... We note that God "declares" or "speaks" righteousness to the heart of the believer in Christ after man's past sins are forgiven. "STILL, PRESENT TENSE". When God speaks pardon to the heart of man for past sins...the guilt of sin is lifted from the human conscience. Justification for the penitent sinner is performed through the forbearance of God. Simply put God puts up with sinners (forbears them) until man decides to turn from sin and personally accept the work of Christ on the cross for personal forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness from God brings moral righteousness to the make-up of man...

Verse 26...To declare, I say, "at this time" his righteousness: that "he might be" just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. God's declaration of pardon is righteousness spoken to the heart of a believer in Christ. God enlightens the believer to a realization and knowledge of a God-given righteousness that comes from the person of Christ. This believer in Christ realizes a sense of freedom from the guilt of sin (a pardon). God let's man know that faith and trust in Christ's redemptive work allows him to stand in the presence of an Almighty God "right"... without guilt or shame. The believer's conscience is clear as this believing soul finds peace with God that is found nowhere else in life.

Rom 5:1...Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Yes, my brothers and sisters Christ's blood "speaks pardon" to the human soul (PRESENT TENSE) through your faith and your personal trust in Him! God's pardon brings personal forgiveness and righteousness of conduct! Christ's blood speaketh greater things than the blood of Abel! Abel's blood spoke, "Guilt, guilt, guilt". Christ's redemptive blood speaks , "Pardon, pardon, pardon".

Heb 12:24-25...And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Heb 9:11-12...But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.