Re: POWER of PRAYER- No Matter Which Faith You Follow=GOD is With You
Christ's Holy Standard
Our total trust in Christ means confidence in his saving and keeping power. We must trust his Spirit to make our lives conform to his and to keep us in Christ.
At one time, you were alienated, cut off from God by wicked works. What good work did you do to make things right with him? None! No one has ever been able to make himself holy. Rather, we are brought into Christ's holiness by faith alone, by accepting what God's Word says, "Because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:16, NKJV).
Yes, he wants your practical, daily walk to measure up to your faith walk. However, we have to believe him even for that. We must trust in his promise to give us the Holy Spirit and conform us to Christ's likeness in our daily walk.
"And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in his sight, if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister" (Colossians 1:21-23).
Please note that Paul was saying, "Just continue trusting in Jesus, living by faith, and he will present you as clean and faultless, holy before the Father." That is the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost.
No one Christian is holier than another because there are no degrees of holiness, only degrees of maturity in Christ. You can be a baby Christian and still be absolutely holy in Jesus. We are all measured by one standard: the holiness of Christ. If we are in Christ, his holiness is ours in equal measure.
You must never again look at another Christian leader or layperson and say, "Oh, I wish I were as holy as he is." You may not have that person's prayer life; you may make more mistakes than he does, but he is no more accepted by the Father than you are. Beloved, don't compare yourself to others because no one is more loved in the eyes of the Father than you!
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I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
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