One of my favorite Christian classic books is "Love Is Now" by Peter E.
Gillquist. Here's a good passage from a good book.
"GETTING IN FELLOWSHIP -- AND STAYING THERE"
"Way back in Ezekiel 36:26-27, God man an eternal agreement with all
who would wish to know Him and be numbered among His people. He
told us, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;
and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a
heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to
walk in My statutes". (KJV).
"This promise is also recorded in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and is echoed in
Hebrews 8:8-12. It is called the New Covenant. It guarantees that if
we are born into God's forever family through Jesus Christ, we will be
given new, soft hearts and the Holy Spirit will live within us. God will
cause us to do God's will. Whereas once our hearts were hardened
toward God, now they are pliable and obedient. Whereas once we
stood against the Lord, now we have come to stand with Him and
agree with Him. Whereas once we walked away from Him, now we
are walking with Him in the fullness of His grace and mercy.
"This is the contrast John is talking about as he opens his letter. Those
in error say they have fellowship with God, but we who believe are in
fellowship, in the light. False brethren deny their sins; we confess
ours. And we keep on walking and keep on agreeing because we know
Him and walk in fellowship with Him". [pp. 51-52: LOVE IS NOW:
by Peter E. Gillquist. (1978). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing
House.].
Gillquist. Here's a good passage from a good book.
"GETTING IN FELLOWSHIP -- AND STAYING THERE"
"Way back in Ezekiel 36:26-27, God man an eternal agreement with all
who would wish to know Him and be numbered among His people. He
told us, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;
and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a
heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to
walk in My statutes". (KJV).
"This promise is also recorded in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and is echoed in
Hebrews 8:8-12. It is called the New Covenant. It guarantees that if
we are born into God's forever family through Jesus Christ, we will be
given new, soft hearts and the Holy Spirit will live within us. God will
cause us to do God's will. Whereas once our hearts were hardened
toward God, now they are pliable and obedient. Whereas once we
stood against the Lord, now we have come to stand with Him and
agree with Him. Whereas once we walked away from Him, now we
are walking with Him in the fullness of His grace and mercy.
"This is the contrast John is talking about as he opens his letter. Those
in error say they have fellowship with God, but we who believe are in
fellowship, in the light. False brethren deny their sins; we confess
ours. And we keep on walking and keep on agreeing because we know
Him and walk in fellowship with Him". [pp. 51-52: LOVE IS NOW:
by Peter E. Gillquist. (1978). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing
House.].