Bible Studies: Victorious Christian Living, Chapter 1

Joshua Chapter 1,

(Joshua and Jesus have the same Hebrew Name - http://christianity.about.com/od/faqhelpdesk/f/jesusoryeshua.htm)

p18

for many, Jordan is an illustration of death and Canaan of Heaven. But actually, Canaan is a place of warfare. Heaven speaks rest, warfare is not rest. For Christians, while we are on earth we will battle the enemy.

p19

Hebrews 3 and 4 - Land of Canaan is a picture of the spiritual rest and victory which may be enjoyed here on earth by every believer, a rest of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

Ephesians - speaks of life "in the heavenly places" -- not in heaven

the author: think of the analogy between the land of Canaan and the land of full salvation which is the portion of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

When God appeared to Moses, HE promised to bring them out of Slavery and into a land flowing with Milk and honey. (Ex 3:7,8).

p20

good points here to remember:

Deliverance was only a prep for enjoyment of Canaan
all events regarding this deliverance meant nothing without the place of rest
the promise could only be fulfilled once possession was taken of the land

Gen 14:13-17 - After Lot separated, God restated his promise about the land and instructed him to walk through it in its entirety.

"The foundations of our faith - regeneration and justification - are deeply laid in order that they may carry the superstructure of sanctification and holiness."

Romans 8:30 - we are

Predestined
called
justified
glorified

p21

Most Christians are content to say in the wilderness, merely justified but not taking possession of their inheritance in Christ. The wilderness is yet a place of defeat, not victory.

The Law could not go into the Land, Moses was dead. He is representative of the Law.

Romans 7 - Paul says that God's law is just and holy, but the law of flesh inside us wars against the law of God. This law of flesh inside us "make it impossible to fulfill God's law and to enter into HIS blessing."

To receive the blessing, we merely need to "receive it with open and empty hands of faith."

p22

The entrance to the Land was entrusted to a representative. Joshua in the OT when entering the Land of Promise. Jesus in the NT when receiving HIS promise, all spiritual blessing. Notice, they are one in the same name.

The people of the OT merely needed to claim what was already given to them, and they had to go to Joshua to claim it.

Christian merely need to claim the promises through Jesus, by faith.

in Joshua 1:3-4, it says that they shall inherit every place that they walk. They had to claim it. It was theirs, but if they did not claim it, they did not get it.

"We must not only know our title, but make claim to every blessing"

Let us believe that we receive, reckon on it, and live in the power of it, and so act on faith.

All of the Lord Jesus Christ is mine at the moment of conversion, but I possess only as much of Him as by faith I claim.

p23

Why do christians not press on? Canaan was inhabited by strong enemies... the battlefield.

The land of salvation is not free of conflict. Spiritual warfare of the saints can be intense.

Ephesians 6 speaks of wrestling against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, spiritual wickedness... not the flesh and blood. We must put on the full armor of God.