The idea all through the apostle Paul’s writings is that after the decision to be identified with Jesus in His death has been made, the resurrection life of Jesus penetrates every bit of my human nature. It takes the omnipotence of God— His complete and effective divinity— to live the life of the Son of God in human flesh. The Holy Spirit cannot be accepted as a guest in merely one room of the house— He invades all of it. And once I decide that my “old man” (that is, my heredity of sin) should be identified with the death of Jesus, the Holy Spirit invades me. He takes charge of everything. My part is to walk in the light and to obey all that He reveals to me. Once I have made that important decision about sin, it is easy to “reckon” that I am actually “dead indeed to sin,” because I find the life of Jesus in me all the time (Romans 6:11). Just as there is only one kind of humanity, there is only one kind of holiness— the holiness of Jesus. And it is His holiness that has been given to me. God puts the holiness of His Son into me, and I belong to a new spiritual order.

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Journal Entry for Today-JDV

April 11, 2016

Good morning God and thank you for this day, and devotional. Chambers writes about how the Holy Spirit must occupy our entire being, not just one area…..”The Holy Spirit cannot be accepted as a guest in merely one room of the house— He invades all of it. And once I decide that my “old man” (that is, my heredity of sin) should be identified with the death of Jesus, the Holy Spirit invades me. He takes charge of everything. My part is to walk in the light and to obey all that He reveals to me.” I understand this concept and agree, however the last sentence where he writes about “My part” does not ring true in my own experience. Historically, I have never been able to “live up to my part”. Whenever I try to grit my teeth and try to be a better Christian, more obedient, more compliant, it never seems to work out. The only thing that has worked out is my complete surrender; giving up all my rights to myself, allowing You to live through me. My only ability is the ability to surrender. It seems that my only role is one of surrender, letting You then live out the Christian life through me. Is this right?

And God says…” Paul wrote about this in Romans (7:21-25). Trying to do the right thing, he found a war going on inside of himself. And he concluded that the battle was already fought and won by Jesus; your requirement is simply to surrender and acknowledge this fact. Your only part is surrender. A one-time “born again” surrender and a daily, hour by hour, minute by minute living surrender. Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways, do not rely on your own understanding, and I will make your paths straight. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will provide everything else you require, including the Holy Spirit to guide you in your daily living. When you let go of the notion that you have any good thing to add to the cross of Christ, I can then begin to work it all out for your good. Delight yourself in the Lord, and I will give you the desires of your heart.”