While we are born again (we become sinless, pure in soul and spirit, and eternal), we didn’t get to shed these mortal, sinful bodies.  Also, (and this is a BIG ALSO), people fail to understand, that these old Adamic natures are NOT repaired in the new birth.  Rather, the spirit of God and eternal life are placed beside it.

That’s why we continue to struggle with sin, good and evil, and the constant battle Paul teaches us about.

The rapid change has made us reconciled to God, implanted the seed of Christ, that is, eternal life and given us the  ability to hear, see, understand and perceive spiritual things because we now have a spiritual mind and circumcised eyes and ears.  Jhn 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

So while the eternal portion is secure, sealed, complete, we still have a part of us that strives to learn, grow in grace and knowledge of the truth.  Paul said we’re like children or new born babes and need a soft and liquid diet for awhile.  I’ve always likened this to the law of fruit in the Old Testament.  Lev. 19-23-25.  If you look at this as the first few years of our new birth, where we have no knowledge of it happening (like our natural memories) it makes sense that we can’t be expected to put forth acceptable fruit before the Lord immediately after being born again.  How many years did you have life before the first memory you can recall?

So the work is finished, yet continues.  We know the Spirit will lead and guide us into all truth.  We know that the effectiveness and results of our prayers increase with our gained wisdom and knowledge about the Lord.  We can see that as we strive to put down sin and temper these mortal bodies, we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Saviour and our faith increases and more fruit is manifest.  Sixty fold.  One hundred fold.

Jhn 4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.  Jhn 4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?                         Jhn 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Water is necessary daily.  We can’t live without it.  By partaking of natural water, we continual our natural lives.  So it is with the living water that refreshes us from the dryness of our sinful, daily life.

When will we no longer need rivers of living water?  When this work ends, on the day your soul and spirit meet the redeemer, whether that’s at the day of your departing from this world or in the morning of the resurrection.

But in the meantime, He’s working in us.   We are His worksmanship.

Phl 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in

my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  Phl 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you

both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Workmanship

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:    

:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.  :10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

It should go without saying that ordained and predestinated are different words with different meanings.  God can ordain something, as in Eph 2:10, but the verb “should” makes it something that is our choice, something we can avoid, therefore, we conclude that in this instance, God gave the order, but it is up to us to decide whether to follow it.

Eph 2:11 gives us a “wherefore” that details how we’ve been brought into that covenant.

Eph 2:11 Wherefore (remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;   :12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: :13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;  :15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man,so making peace;

Our growing knowledge of the height and breadth and depth of that covenant, and our inclusion, our new birth, and the sacrifice which God has made on our behalf, because He has done this work in us and for us, being his workmanship, we SHOULD take advantage of the blessings to be found in the obedience of walking in good works.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath

before ordained that we should walk in them.

Brother Royce Ellis