Hello Everyone,
Salvation is described in God’s Word as having three phases: Phase 1: Justification - I am saved immediately in my spirit (Romans 8:16); and I have been saved from the penalty of sin (John 3:16).
Phase 2: Sanctification - I am saved progressively in my soul (mind, will, and emotions) (James 1:21); and I am being saved from the power of sin (Galatians 5:16).Phase 3: Glorification - I will be saved eventually in my body (Romans 8:23); and I will be saved from the presence of sin (Revelation 21:27).What we are talking about this week has to do with Phase 2.
When I am born again (Phase 1), I am made spiritually alive and am enabled to discern spiritual truth and as a result be able to live according to spiritual realities, instead of earthly realities; and the spiritual realities by which I can now live are summed up and embodied in Christ. What is true of Christ is now true of me.“But God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).” - Ephesians 2:4-6 (Amplified)Now, the way we translate this spiritual realities into daily experience is Phase 2. The key to Phase 2 is renewing my mind.“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.”- Romans 12:2 (NIV)When I adjust my life to the Word of God, I adjust to the person of Truth - Jesus Christ. That adjustment begins with my thinking, which impacts my feelings, which impacts my choices, which impacts my actions, which impacts my world!

God has made all this available just for us.
Oh How HE Loves Us!Pastor Phil