Plainer Words since 1968
August 12, 2015
Issue #399
PLAINER WORDS ONLINE … RUDIMENTS OF RECKONING
Having had the “eyes of our understanding enlightened” in order that we might know what is the “hope of our calling and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him [Christ] from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the presence of the heavenly angelic rulers” (Eph. 1:18-20).
The underlined phrase is that which completes the Figure of Speech, the Ellipsis that was created by the phrase, “in the heavenly places.”
It is to be pointed out that God exerted prodigious power by raising Christ out of the state of death and making Him alive. Not only that, but Christ was made to sit at God’s Own Right Hand. The placement of Christ speaks of the exalted position He has—at the Right Hand of God. Placed in this position speaks of Him ranking “FAR ABOVE ALL principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Eph. 1:21). In plainer words, the Lord Jesus Christ is, and will be the Preeminent Personage of the Universe.
The Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head is our Calling. We have been Called to be a member of His most prestigious Ecclesia that has ever been formed. The eyes of our understanding have been enlightened, not only to see and understand the Hope of the Mystery Calling, but to live as if the fullness of His Calling has become a reality.
In the Sixth Chapter of Paul’s “Epistle To The Romans,” he sets forth the rudiments of “Biblical-Reckoning.” I suggest our minds be refreshed by a look at this Sixth Chapter, again, because our Head would have us, here and now, be living-out the rest of our earthly lives on the Resurrection and Ascension ground. To do so cannot be done by an unfocused, slip-shod, or lackadaisical attitude, such as, “I am saved and I know it.” We are to be “reckoning” that we are already enjoying our positions as being “in the Day of Jesus Christ.”
NOTICE THE RUDIMENTS OF RECKONING IN ROMANS 6
Paul was writing to a very select group of believers during the Acts Period. This select group were those who believed Paul’s Gospel—the Gospel of Justification by Faith Alone (Rom. 3:28). The Justified ones were “the Body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12.27). During the Book of Acts, there were two groups of Christians; the “Born Again Ones,” and the “Justified Ones.” For a greater understanding of the two groups, see:
Click here: Plainer Words Background of Christianity
The “Born Again Ones” believed the Gospel of the Circumcision (Gal. 2:7). Whereas, the “Justified Ones” believed Paul’s Gospel—the Gospel of the Uncircumcision (Gal. 2:7).
The Justified believers were instructed by Paul as follows:
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 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” (Rom. 6:3-4).
They were to “reckon,” to wit, count it as being so that they were living on resurrection ground; therefore, they should “walk in newness of life.” Furthermore, Paul added:
“For if we have been planted together [united with Him] in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 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” (Rom. 6:5-6).
The saints who made-up the “Body of Christ” were to reckon it to be so; that they were buried with Christ, alas, knowing that their “old man” was crucified with Him; thereby, destroying their body of sin—enabling them not to “serve sin.” Dead men cannot be servants of sin. Their sin nature was crucified along with their old man.
“Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:9-12).
All of this was spelled out by Paul, and his conclusion was—reckon yourselves “alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The members of the “Body of Christ,” which is to say, the believers of Paul’s Acts Period Gospel of the Uncircumcision, were, then, “made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Rom. 6:18).
Some Jews who believed they had been Called to Paul’s Gospel set aside their Jewish Traditions and became incorporated into the Acts Period “Body of Christ.”
“Now ye [Gentiles and Jews] are the Body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Cor. 27).
These saints, when tempted, were to count themselves as living a new life on Resurrection Ground. Their old man had been crucified with Christ, buried with Him, and left in the grave when their new man arose from the dead with Him. Their new man was the servant of Jesus Christ. They were spiritually enabled to walk in newness of life by reckoning that these things were true for them.
RECKONING IS ALSO PRESENT TRUTH
The Church over which Christ Jesus is the Head is, also, called upon to “Reckon.” The platform upon which “we” are to reckon is that of Resurrection and Ascension. In Romans 6, we noted the rudiments of reckoning. Admittedly, the platform of Present Truth is more difficult to fathom than Romans 6. Consider the platform of items we are to reckon as being so in Truth that relates to the Mystery.
The Spirit of Truth states that we were quickened (made alive) together with Christ (Eph. 2:5).
The Spirit of Truth states that we are complete in Him (Col. 2:10).
The Spirit of Truth states that we were raised up (ascended) together with Christ (Eph. 2:6a).
The Spirit of Truth states that we were made to sit together among the heavenly angelic
rulers in Christ (Eph. 2:6b).
There are more Truths in Ephesians and Colossians that offer additional platforms for Reckoning.
Reckoning is not a form of make-believe. We are to reckon on what is a fact. The “Path of Faith” is always against reason, feelings, or appearances. The “Law of Faith” counts what God says as so. The Walk of Real Faith is to reckon ourselves to have been crucified with Christ, buried with Him, raised us up together with Christ, ascended together with Christ, and we were made to sit together with Christ in the presence of the Heavenly angelic rulers. On top of all of these magnificent facts that we are to reckon on, WE ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST; nothing is found wanting.
The “Rudiments of Reckoning in Romans 6” seems to be, as previously stated, considerably easier to reckon upon than to reckon upon the platforms of Resurrection, Ascension, and that of being in the presence of heaven’s principalities, powers, mights, and dominions as we see in Ephesians and Colossians. We are instructed to “walk worthy of our calling” (Eph. 4:1). Incorporated in the “worthy walk” is that of reckoning.
The worthy walk includes the member acting as though the promises are written in the Past Tense. The writers of Scriptures were in the habit of using the past tense to express the certainty of an action taking place, even though the action might not be really performed for some time. In plainer words, the Hebrew writers often express the certainty of a prophecy taking place by putting it in the past tense, though the actual fulfillment may not take place for ages. In reckoning, we count the promises as having come to pass.
RECKONING IS NOT A FORM OF MAKE-BELIEVE
Keep in mind that “reckoning is not a form of make-believe.” Nor, is it playing-like, or pretending a Promise has already come to pass. No, we are not to “play-like” we have been quickened together with Christ; we are not to make-believe that we are “complete in Christ,” nor, are we to pretend we have ascended together with Christ, neither, are we to fantasize that we are seated together with Christ in the presence of the heavenly angelic rulers. Inasmuch as the Lord Jesus Christ stated in Scripture that these things “are a done deal,” we are to count them as facts. The Path of Faith is always against reason, feelings, or appearances.
The “Law of Faith” counts what God says, “as so.” The Walk of Real Faith is to reckon ourselves dead to sin, while being conscious of sin in our members.
“Likewise RECKON ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, BUT ALIVE UNTO GOD through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:11).
This is strictly FAITH. We shared Christ’s Death unto sin; His Risen Life we have shared. Do you believe it? If so, Reckon it as being so.
~~THE END~~
Copyright@2015 by Thomas L. Ballinger
Tom L Ballinger
1031 Wilson Road
Lancaster, TX 75146
U.S.A.
PLAINER WORDS
No Subscription Price
We endeavor to put in print and in plainer words Bible Studies which we recommend to students and teachers alike. This is our 47th year of publishing Plainer Words. Plainer Words is emailed to anyone upon their personal request.
 |