Single on Earth --- Married to Christ

"Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman." ( 1 Corinthians 7: 1)

The English does not do this verse justice. Paul wrote that is is "beautiful" for a man not to touch a woman, and the same can be said for a woman who chooses not to marry a man.

Why did Paul share this opinion and esteem the single life?:

"I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I." (1 Corinthians 7: 8)

"Abide" is the key word. Jesus called for us to abide in Him:

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 4-5)

We are first and foremost married to Christ, we are one with Him, and in Him we have our new identity.

Paul says that we have been betrothed:

"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Romans 7: 4)

As a married person loses himself and becomes part of someone else, so we are one with Jesus:

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. " (John 17: 21)

But this is more than a mere marriage made in heaven. Christ lives in us (Colossians 1: 27), and we are hid in Christ (Colossians 3: 3).

He is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and by His faith we live (Galatians 2: 20)

Whether we are single or married on earth, we are married to Christ in heaven, and in heaven we find our true, full, and final citizenship (Philippians 3: 20)

Remember Where You Now Live

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 3: 20)

Men and women today take great pride in their national origin. Immigration status can create or undo a man's peace in any land.

For the believer, we are called to rest and remember that our citizenship is in heaven, not here on earth. " Conservation" here renders to Greek word πολίτευμα politeuma, or "citizenship."

We are children of the living God, made heirs of God through Christ:

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8: 17)

and

"That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" (Ephesians 3: 6)

Earlier in his Epistle to the Ephesians, Paul writes that we have been adopted:

"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will," (Ephesians 1: 5)

If that were not enough, Paul later writes:

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 4-6)

We are seated above the heavens, in Christ -- that is your new citizenship, that is your new home, and on earth we are called to live out this heaven life which Christ has given us through His Holy Spirit:

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)

Rest and Remember where you live now -- you are a child of the King and you live in His Kingdom!

Christ is Your Perfect Peace

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26: 3)

This verse has seen me through many hard times, yet when we rightly divide the Word of God, we find that this perfect peace is not something that we have to strain or strive for, but rather something that we rest in, an integral part of God's Finished Work.

I used to think that this verse meant that I had to be thinking about God all the time.

But that makes His peace conditional on what we do. That is not what Scripture teaches:

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (Romans 5: 1)

Because Jesus Christ has died on the Cross for our sins, and by His death we are granted His life:

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5: 19)

and

"Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:" (Romans 6: 8)

In fact, Christ Himself is our peace:

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;" (Ephesians 2: 14)

Jesus Christ is prophesied as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9: 6), and God the Father has us in His hands:

"My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10: 29)

When I look at Isaiah 26: 3, I no longer see myself holding onto perfect peace, but I see Perfect Peace personified in Christ, and He is holding on to me.

Another rendering of this verse would go like this:

"Anything formed you keep -- uphold in your hand -- in perfect peace because I trust in you"

And to trust God means to cast all our cares on Him ("1 Peter 5: -7), that we can take Him at His Word, because He gave His own Son for us!

We are called to believe on Him whom God the Father hath sent (John 6: 29). Trust in Him, and let Perfect Peace uphold you in all that you do!

Hold Onto God? He's Holding Onto You!

One teaching I heard struck me as puzzling, if unsettling.

"We ask God to hold onto us. He is telling us to hold onto Him."

That seemed to run complete counter to Jesus' final words to His disciples:

"Without me, ye can do nothing. "(John 15:5)

What gives?

First of all, believers must never fear that they can be lost. God is crystal clear about His love, with which he clasps us to him forever:

"Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?" (Isaiah 43:13)

"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." (Isaiah 49:16)

And in the New Testament:

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

"My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:28-29)

It's pretty clear, from the fact that our names are engraved on God's own hands, to Jesus' clear promise that no one can pluck (literally: ἁρπάζω to seize, snatch, obtain by robbery) No stealth, no cunning, no trickery catching us unawares can take away our right standing from God. Even if you lost your mind, even if you are deluded into think that you have lost your faith (which is not even yours, but a gift freely given from God), God will "never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 11:6)

Imagine such intense security, such intense rest! He takes us, he holds us, he never lets us go. We are engraved in the hands of God Almighty. No one can take you away, not even God Himself, for He has etched you forever in His hands. He really has a hold on you and me, a hold that no one, no thing can break!:

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)

Just believe, accept by faith through His word, that He has you in His love-grip; and ye need not ever fall from grace! Hallelujah!!

At Peace With God, Wherever We Are!

When I was attending meetings many years ago, I really appreciated what one woman had shared in a meeting.

"When I come to a meeting," she shared. "I fell safe. It's as if when I walk into this room, I know that for the next hour and a half, I am OK."

That was a sentiment I could agree with. Many times, if I went to a meeting, I felt as if the world and all of its problems would melt away, or at least they were put aside for the moment.

Since then, I have learned that I have peace with God the Father:

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (Romans 5: 1)

I have since learned that Christ lives in me:

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1: 27)

Regardless of how I feel or what I think, Paul wants every believer to receive this truth by faith:

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love," (Ephesians 3: 17)

In fact, Christ Himself is our peace!

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;" (Ephesians 2: 14)

Christ is our peace, He lives in us, and God Himself has sworn that He will never leave us nor forsake us! (Hebrews 13: 5)

So, the peace that that lady claimed to feel in the meeting, that is a peace that a believer can receive and rest in, no matter where we are!

All the more, the Holy Spirit who lives in us, who sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts, also bears forth the fruit of peace in our lives:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace. . ." (Galatians 5: 22)

We have peace with God the Father through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. By
His Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we receive the gift of His peace all the more!

And this peace is the surest of internal guidance systems, one which presides in us, indicating to us the wisdom or the folly of any course of action that we wish to take:

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (Colossians 3: 15, NIV)

We can be at peace wherever we are, no matter what the circumstances! Peace is not just in an AA meeting, not just in a church service, but you can rest at ease in the Peace of God anywhere!

Being Smart is Not Enough: Be Wise in Christ

"I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." (Ecclesiastes 9: 11)

To this day, modern intellects trust in their wisdom. Powerful men worship the state, or they revere the esteem of men at the expense of the eternal truth.

Being smart is not enough. To be well-versed and advised in the ways of the world invites failure and folly:

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." (Psalm 1: 1-2)

"The counsel of the ungodly" is the wit and "wisdom" of the world. The traditions of the elders, the suggestions from co-workers which are not based in Scripture.

"Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" (1 Corinthians 1: 20)

and

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." (1 Corinthians 3: 19)

In fact, anything from the world is a sure bet to fail:

"And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away." (1 Corinthians 7:31)

and

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (2 John 2: 17)

The will of God is that we grow in grace and knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3: 18)

The more that we know Jesus, the more wisdom we receive, among other wonderful gifts:

"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1: 30)

Being smart is not enough. Being in Christ grants us wisdom, along with the gifts of righteousness and grace for all that we need.

Humble Yourself -- Rest in Him

Most people have a shaky or unscriptural understanding of humility.

To some people, humility means thinking less of yourself. To others, it means thinking of yourself less. To still others, humility means doing what other people, or what God, tells you to do.

The Bible gives many examples of what humility really is: Resting in full trust in God and His Word:

"And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:" (Numbers 29: 7)

"Afflict your souls" would be better rendered "humble yourselves"

God then explains to the Israelites how He humbled them in the wilderness for forty years:

"And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live." (Deuteronomy 8:3)

Notice how humility has nothing to do with self-regard or works to earn God's favor, but rather has everything to do with depending on God, believing on His Word, and receiving His provision.

In another verse, God is speaking of Sabbath rest:

"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:" (Isaiah 58: 13)

If we delight ourselves in resting in Him, God will bless us:

"Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." (Isaiah 58: 14)

Micah  confirms that we delight in God's Mercy:

"Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy." (Micah 7: 18)

We are also called to trust in Him:

"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." (Psalm 37: 3-4)

The writer of Hebrews confirms that rest and belief in God's Word are one:

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 9-11)

And of course:

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5: 6-7)

We humble ourselves by trusting God and taking Him at His Word -- that He loves us, that He cares for us, that He is watching out for us!

Faith is Resting in God's Word

We are saved by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2: 4-8

What is faith?:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11: 1)

In the old testament, faith is אֱמוּנָה, which speaks of firmness, steadfastness, stability, fidelity -- that you are standing on God's Word, no matter what other circumstances may be unfolding around you.

The grace is already out there for us to receive, to take in by faith in His Word:

"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8: 31-32)

This grace has been extended to the whole world , but we accept it be faith, meaning that we take God at his Word that the grace is there:

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." (Titus 2: 11)

Faith means resting in the truth of God’s word, that we do not have to do anything else.

The writer of Hebrews connects faith, rest, and God's Word altogether:

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 9-11)

In this passage, the writer sums up the rest that God the Father wanted for the Israelites, entering the Promised Land, which they refused to do because of unbelief. Faith rest in God's Word, unbelief will not take God at His Word and try to find another to accomplish God's purposes.

We trust in Him, who has paid for all or our sins, that our sin nature is something that we cannot escape on our own!

Rest is not at end in itself – rest leads us to receive the gift of righteousness, something that we are called to keep receiving (Romans 5: 17)

It is this very righteousness that we are called to wrap, or rather renew our minds to accept (Romans 12: 2).

Even if you have fearful thoughts, lustful thinking, angry or bitter thoughts, remember that it is God’s unconditional love which has perfected you and has made you in the same standing as His own beloved Son!:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

And acceptance, resting in his acceptance, means that we cease from our own works (Hebrews 4:9-11), including the fallen idea  that we must think or say or do certain things in order to be accepted in Him.

Give Thanks for What He Has Done -- and For What He Does

"And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed." (Exodus 17: 11)

Moses is a picture of the Law, as he was the medium through which God gave the law to the Israelites.

Yet the law on its own is weak and beggarly elements (Galatians 4: 9), and just as those who try live by the law will never be justified, but will be brought to end of themselves, so Moses grew tired. The law was given to bring us to a life of faith (Galatians 3: 24-25) in Jesus Christ.

As Moses grew tired,  Aaron (who represents the Light of the Lord) and Hur ( which means "freedom" and "nobility") brought a stone for Moses to sit, and as Moses rested in the support of the priests and the rock, Joshua prevailed over the Amalekites (v. 13)

When we rest in the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit and stand fast in the liberty that we have received in Christ (Galatians 5: 1), we reign in life over every problem.

Moses with his arms upraised is also a picture of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who with his arms outstretched, took all of God's wrath for our sins, giving us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

And of course, arms raised is a picture of worship. As Moses' arms were raised, Joshua  (which means "Savior") prevailed over the Amalekites. Today, the more that we worship what the Lord has done for us, granting us Himself as our Rock, on whom we can stand in steady faith (Psalm 18: 2), that we are cleansed from all our sins, then we live by faith, resting in His Finished Work, our Joshua prevails over the Amalekites of fear, worry, and strife in your life.

Give thanks to the Lord God, for through His Son His mercy endures forever in our lives, and in Him you will be more than a conqueror over every hardship!

The Righteous Live By His Faith

"The just shall live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2: 4)

When I have read this verse in the past, I was always stirred up from within.

Yet when I read this verse, I always assumed that "his faith" refers to us. In fact, it refers to God's faith working in us!

A life of faith is tremendous ease, in which we rest in God's Promises, which are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1: 20)

Our righteousness is not from us, not from our works, not from anything that we do. We are made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), and this righteousness we are called to receive as an ongoing gift. The King James Version declares fully that righteousness is a gift:

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)" (Romans 5: 17)

Yet another translation brings out the ongoing nature of receiving this gift:

"For if by the offence of the one the death did reign through the one, much more those, who the abundance of the grace and of the free gift of the righteousness are receiving, in life shall reign through the one -- Jesus Christ" (Romans 5: 17, Youngs Literal Translation).

Just as our righteousness is a gift from God, so is the faith by which we live:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2: 8)

This faith is imparted to us directly through the Word of God, or specifically through Christ:

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10: 17)

Another translation more accurately conveys this passage:

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10: 17 NASB)

Paul also established to the Galatians that he lives by the faith of the Son of God (Galatians2: 20)
Beloved, do not try to work up faith for specific needs in your life. Trust in the Lord, the one who was sent by God the Father to die for us and give us His life (John 6: 29), and by His faith you will live and reign in life!

Faith Means Remain Steady in His Word

"Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2: 4)

To some people, faith can seem like a work, one which causes us to become introspective.

"Do I have enough faith?" Some people ask.

Yet Jesus trumped such nonsense very simply:

"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matthew 17: 20)

If you have faith of a mustard seed, you could say to that mountain --- it's not the size of our faith. but the object of our faith: God and His promises.

We do not presume to do things that we want to, in large part because God does for us beyond what we can ask or think (Ephesians 3: 20-21)

So, what does it mean to live by faith?

We stand on God’s Word, and move in accordance with His promises to live out what He is working into us:

"And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:" (Acts 26: 6)

and

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1: 3-4)

We live by God's Word:

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4: 4)

We do not budge from God's Word when times get tough, or when we get afraid, but rather we stand on God's Word:

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24: 35)

As Christ is the Word made flesh (John 1: 1, 5), and He now dwells in us (Colossians 1: 27), we are called to let him settle completely within us, a life-process of unfolding victory:

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
 (Colossians 3: 16)

and

"Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said." (1 Chronicles 17: 23)

His Faith is Everywhere

"Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds." (Psalm 36: 5)

We live by the faith of the Son of God, that cannot be repeated enough:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2: 20)

His faith helped heal a man in the Book of Acts:

"And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." (Acts 3: 16)

The same faith that animates us is also everywhere around us, according the Psalmist.

This faith is working in because God's mercy, in sending His Son to die for us and live through us, connects us with the vast, incalculable reservoir of His faith all around us, which holds the universe together:

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him." (Colossians 1: 16)

Do not fall for the limitation that his faith only works in you, but outside of  you His faith is void and barren. Because everything is yours through Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 3: 23), and through through Him we can do all things (Philippians 4: 13), draw on the Lord Jesus Christ who lives in you and works outside of you.

Trust that he is all around and working in you – and that His faith is working for you on the outside, too!

Rest in His Acceptance

In Christ, our Sabbath, we are called to rest.
In the Fourth Commandment (Exodus 20: 8), the Aleph-Tav את the signature of Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, appears:
זכור את יום השבת לקדשו׃

His signature in the commandment bears witness to Christ as our Sabbath rest.

Jesus confirms this for us in Matthew's Gospel:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11: 28)

In Hebrews, the writer further outlines the importance of entering into the rest of Jesus Christ:

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword" (Hebrews 4: 11-12)

Rest can turn into a work if we are not informed of who we are in Christ, regardless of our thoughts, words, and deed.

We rest from our own works because Christ has Finished the Work at the Cross, making us righteous and accepted before God the Father:

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

and

"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. " (Ephesians 1: 6)

As we rest in the acceptance, the full justification that we have received in Christ, we then can accept others:

"Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God." (Romans 15: 7)

We are called not merely to stop striving for ourselves, but rather to keep receiving the gift of righteousness (Romans 5: 17).

Rest in the full acceptance that God has given you, for God the Father sees you in His own Son! (1 John 4: 17)

Christ is the Answer -- The Questions are Answered

A long time ago, a friend of mine wrote a powerful message on a whiteboard in a mechanic's shop:

"God is the answer. What was the question?"

The person who wrote the note still struggles with immense challenges, not yielding his life to God.

The mechanic still struggles with condemnation.

The message is at fault, not for its distortion of the truth, but rather its limitation:

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)

Everyone believes in God. Even atheists have a witness within themselves that there is a God, no matter how much they may protest (Romans 1: 19-21)

Even the demons believe in one God, but they tremble rather than rejoice. It is not the name of God that saves, but the name of Jesus:

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4: 12)

This name-- Jesus --  translates us from death to life (1 John 3: 14) and makes us sons of the living God ( John 1:12; 1 John 4: 17)

It is believing on Him whom God has sent -- Jesus -- that is the one work we are called to do (John 6: 29).

In Christ, there is no condemnation (Romans 8: 1)

In Christ, there is no confusion (1 Corinthians 1: 30)

In Christ, we have life and that more abundantly (John 10: 10)

When we believe that "Christ is the answer", we will see all questions and doubts vanish!

Let Every Fear Spring Forth More Grace

Fear is something that we do not fight, for all sin has been punished at the Cross, and Satan defeated once and for all (Colossians 2: 13-15)

In fact, it is God's perfect love that casts out all fear (1 John 4: 18) -- this is not our love, but God's love.

If we are tempted to fear, let us rest in the knowledge that our sin leads God's grace to abound all the more in our lives:

"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

"That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5: 20-21)

Now, as we are filled with God's grace by the power of the Holy Spirit, we have received His life in us, and therefore sin no longer reigns over us:

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6: 14)

Grace is the best teacher on living out what Christ is living in us:

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

"Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" (Titus 2: 11-13)

The last verse tells us what we are called to do in this live. We do not fight with our sin, which has no dominion over our lives, but instead we are called to focus on our Savior, living and working in us:

"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)

and

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12: 2)

If we have fear in our bodies and minds, let us rest in Christ and His Work, our hearts established in His grace (Hebrews 13: 9)

As He Is, So Are You

"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

"And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16: 15-16)

How you see Jesus will determine how great His faith operates in your life (Galatians 2: 20)

When Peter, kept His eyes on Jesus, he walked above the storm and every trial (Matthew 14: 29-30).


How do you see Jesus today? Let Isaiah's prophesy inspire you to see Jesus as everything for you:

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9: 6)

He is wonderful, one who goes about and does miracles in your life (Acts 10: 38).

He is our Counselor, guiding us in the way to go through His Holy Spirit within us (John 16: 13).

He is mighty God, able to work effectively in your life to care for any need:

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 19)

and

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5: 6-7)

He is your everlasting Father:

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)

Above all, Christ is the Prince of Peace, our peace (Ephesians 2: 14)

The more that you see Christ as He is, so you will see Him more in you and witness His power in your life!

His Love is Set on You

"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name." (Psalm 91: 14)

In Christ, God has delivered us, and therefore He has set His love on us:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. " (John 3: 16)

John defines this love once again in his first epistle:

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4: 10)

This love transforms us from dead to alive (1 John 3: 14), into sons of God (John 1: 12):

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

God's love is so set upon us (1 John 4: 11), that He has not only delivered us, but He has made us in the place of His own Son!

Because we have received this love, we in turn love others:

"We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 19)

So, we can rest assured that God who supplies us His love, who in turn infuses us with the power to love others, will deliver us and set us on high, high above every hurt and challenge!

God Does Not Lead Us Into Temptation -- or Condemnation

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (Matthew 6: 13)

This verse, at first glance, may bring more bondage than freedom, even confusion.

James writes:

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." (James 1: 13)

God does not tempt us, certainly. Then why would Jesus pray that God the Father would not lead any of us into temptation?

"Lead us" can be more properly rendered "Bring us", and "temptation" is originally " πειρασμός peirasmos: an experiment, a trial, temptation, or judgment. A better translation would read, "And do not bring us into judgment."

Today, we are no longer under judgment, because Jesus Christ was judged in our place:

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" (1 Peter 3: 18)

By rightly dividing the Word (2 Timothy 2: 15), we recognize that Jesus offered up a prayer which He has answered for us by dying on the Cross.

By His death, we also receive the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 33, 39), and in Him we receive the Kingdom of Heaven:

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)

In Christ, we are no longer in temptation or under condemnation, but received in highest honor as a child of God!

The Righteous Have Everything in Christ

"A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

"For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous." (Psalm 37: 16-17)

At first, this verse may seem like a small consolation for the believer. "A little that a righteous man hath" seems like a pittance compared to the wealth of the wicked.

Let us read every scripture through the Finished Work of the Cross (2 Timothy 2: 15).

 Jesus first warned of the esteem that we should give to our souls above all else:

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16: 26)

We are saved, body, soul, and spirit, through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:

"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." (1 John 3: 14)

In fact, the righteousness that we have is infused with who we are in Christ:

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. " (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

And as righteous in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit living in us, which transforms us into the same standing as Jesus Christ:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

We are heirs of God through Christ, as well (Romans 8: 17).

In Christ, therefore, our "little" can become much, just as Jesus multiplied scraps into loaves and fishes to feed thousands (Mark 6: 41-44)

In Christ, everything is ours (1 Corinthians 3: 21-22).

As Soldiers in Christ, We Stand

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." (2 Timothy 2: 3-4)

We bear evil treatment -- suffer hardships, because we are righteous (Matthew 5: 10) and children of light (1 Thessalonians 5: 5))

Jesus even related to his disciples that they would receive eternal life, great riches, but with persecution (Mark 10: 30)

Now, as soldiers with Christ, we are not striving with people:

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" (2 Corinthians 10: 3-5)

In two places, Paul exhorts his readers to stand:

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5: 1)

and

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."" (Ephesians 6: 13)

Why do we stand? Because our enemies have already been defeated:

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)

We are called to rest in the place of authority, seated in high places in Christ (Ephesians 2: 6), and seated in Christ, we receive the same guarantee:

"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

"From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 12-14)

We reign in life through Christ (Romans 5: 19), and so like Christ, as soldiers of faith, we rest in Him and witness are enemies fall!

Poor in Ourselves, Rich in Christ

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 3)

What does it mean to be "poor in spirit", according to what Jesus preached on the Sermon on the Mount?

When we realize that we are guilty before God (Romans 3: 19) and dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2: 1) because we have sinned, fallen short of God's glory (Romans 3: 23), then we realize that we are poor in Spirit.

We then receive His life by believing in His death on our behalf for our sins:

"That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5: 21)

and

"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. " (Romans 6: 10-11)

Now, we have this life through the Holy Spirit, through whom we receive the Kingdom of Heaven:

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)

We are also heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8: 17). Paul outlines at length the great inheritance which we have received in Christ:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" (Ephesians 1: 3)

and

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

"Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;" (Ephesians 1: 7-8)

When we see ourselves as poor in our own efforts, in our strength (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10), then indeed we can abound in the riches of Christ without fail!

As a Child of Light, Darkness Will Abhor You

Just as believers will be persecuted for righteousness' sake, having received by grace through the faith the complete remission of sins and eternal life -- what a deal! -- we are translated into God's light:

"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." (1 Thessalonians 5: 5)

and

"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." (Ephesians 5: 8)

Because we walk in the light, we have the assurance of abiding in God:

"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1: 5)

In Him, we receive continuous remission of sins:

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1: 7)

It is the Father of Lights in whom we can trust and receive all things:

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1: 17)

Now, we will face opposition in this world, a dark place, but we are called to shine in the darkness:

"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;" (Philippians 2: 15)

Now, people who walk in darkness will not understand you:

"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. " (John 1: 5)

In fact, those in darkness will hate your because of your light:

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3: 19)

Do not be dismayed that you receive persecution as a child of light:

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;" (2 Corinthians 4: 17)

This glory is for now as well as eternity, for Christ is in you, beloved, the hope of glory.

Persecuted? It's About and Who and Whose You Are!

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 10)

When I first read this scripture, I thought that Jesus was referring to people who were preaching the gospel, or those who were doing charity work or ministering to people in the Body of Christ.

But righteousness has nothing to do with what we do, and everything to do with what Jesus Christ has done:

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

God also characterizes righteousness as a gift which we keep receiving by faith:

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." (Romans 5: 17-18)

This gift is manifested in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit:

"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just [lit. the righteous] shall live by faith." (Romans 1: 17)

and

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. " (Romans14: 17)

In fact, the Holy Spirit is expressly invested in us to convict us of righteousness (John 16: 10):

So, this righteousness has nothing to do with what we do, but rather what we have become and whose we are in Christ.

So, we can rejoice with the hardships that come our way (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10), knowing that we receive persecution for our reign in the Kingdom of Heaven!

Take Him at His Word -- You are Worth More than Birds

The Sermon on the Mount may seem like a tall order to many:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matthew 6: 33-34)

Why should we take Jesus' word. In the same sermon, Jesus reasons thus:

"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" (v. 26)

and

"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" (v. 30)

Perhaps you do not think that you are of any value, perhaps you do not think that you are worthy. Yet consider the following witness in the Word of God:

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." (Revelation 5: 12)

Peter explains to his readers why the Lamb is worthy

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Consider the glory and reign of our blessed Lord and Savior:

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1: 14-18)

God Himself became our forever jusifier!

God esteems His Own Son above all other things:

"The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand." (John 3: 35)

and

"For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel." (John 5: 20)

Yet God loves us as much as His own Son (John 17: 23), enough to give Him for us (Romans 8: 31-32)

Beloved, because God the Father prizes you enough to give His own Son for you (John 3: 16), you can rest assured in Jesus' "extravagant" promises, for you are without a doubt worth more than the birds of the air and the lilies of the field!

The Lord is With You

"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;

"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: . . .

"Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth." (Psalm 124: 1-2, 6)

Indeed, the Lord has not given us to a prey, but rather delivered us His Son to take our place:

"And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2: 2)

and

"[The Holy Spirit will convict you] of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 11)

Indeed, the Lord is on your side, because He turned His back on His SOn:

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

Now we can shout with joy:

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Hebrews 13: 5-6)

Do not be of doubtful mind on this truth (Luke 12: 29), but allow the word of God to renew your mind (Romans 12: 2) to the truth that the Lord is with you, even when you fear, fail, or fall!

Jesus' Perfect Peace Has Us

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26: 3)

This verse has seen me through many challenges. If I just kept the Lord in mind, then I had nothing to worry about.

Of course, because I did not rightly divide the Word of God (2 Timonthy 2: 15), I used to struggle to keep my mind on God, always thinking of Him, and getting afraid and discouraged if I lost focus on Him, even for one minute!

Hardly created perfect peace, I ended up under complete bondage.

The second part of the verse makes all the difference. Why do we trust in the Lord? Because He sent His own Son to die for me, to cleanse me of all my sins:

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)

In fact, we are not called merely to keep our mind on God, but  a God who is serving us:

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" (2 Corinthians 10: 5)

The reason why I faced so much bondage, in truth, is that my understanding of God was too small, too static. God has already promised to give us all things with His Son (Romans 8: 32).

We can also trust that He is in us, our hope of glory (Colossians 1: 27), a hope that will never let us down:

"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5: 5)

This love testifies that we are God's children, with the same standing as God's own Son:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

In fact, Christ is our peace (Ephesians), and as our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9: 6), we can rest assured that He has us:

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10: 28)

Let us trust in God, resting in His promise to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13: 5), because in Him we receive eternal life and all other things pertaining (John 10: 10).

In closing, the word "trust" in Hebrew indicates a carefree confidence, knowing full well that we have God for certain on our side (Psalm 124: 1-2)

Under Attack? His Grace Protects You!

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. " (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

"Persecution" does not refer just to what people say to you. Satan is the accuser of the brethren:

"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."" (Revelation 12: 10)

Yet this enemy has been judged already:

"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

"Of sin, because they believe not on me;

"Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

"Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8-11)

He is a defeated foe, and we do not even  have to wrestle with him:


"For we wrestle [ li. the wrestling is] not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6: 12)

The bad thoughts -- fearful, angry, lustful, stressful -- are extinguished by His grace which flows in us:

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." (Ephesians 6: 16)

Whose faith is fighting this battle? Not ours!

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2: 20)

Our part is to believe on Him! (John 6: 29)

If you are under attack, just rest in His grace, for you are seated in Christ, at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 2: 6) -- and God made a monumentous promise to His Son, and thus to us:

"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

"From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 12-14)

Rest in Him, and watch all of your extinguished enemies fall at your feet!

Feeling Weak? Be Strong in His Grace

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

Jesus' grace abounds in us, even when we sin:

"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" (Romans 5: 20)

Have you been reproached, or insulted? Rejoice!

Are you in need? Rejoice again, because my God will supply all your need according to His riches (Philippians 4: 19)

Are you being persecuted?  Hear what Jesus says to that:

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 10)

Are you in distress? Paul speaks to that concern, as well:

"But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses," (2 Corinthianss 6: 4)

Paul could look at all of his troubles and rejoice, because he received them as signs of his approved standing as a minister of God!

God is glorified in the midst of our troubles, as even David recounted:

"The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.

"Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins." (Psalm 25: 17-18)

We have an assurance that God will come through for us, because He has removed all our sins through the death of His Son!

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)

When you are down, rest assured in His grace that He will lift you up and more!

Fear Does Not Block God's Love

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4: 18)

Some believers struggle with the lie that if they feel fear, it means that God has left them, or that they are out of step with God.

Nothing could be further from the truth, and knowing the Truth (Jesus! John 14:8) set us free!

Paul could not have been clearer in his epistle to the Romans:

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 38-39)

"Nor any creature" -- that includes you and me, beloved!

Yet what do we make of "he that feareth?"

The Young's Literal Translation can shed some light on this matter:

"Fear is not in the love, but the perfect love doth cast out the fear, because the fear hath punishment, and he who is fearing hath not been made perfect in the love."

Those who live in a chronic state of fear, who are always looking over their shoulder, have not been made perfect in love.

How do we "Get made perfect" in love? We rest in that fact that God's love has already been perfected in us. First, establish for yourself what love is:

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4: 10)

Jesus dying on the Cross, cancelling once and for all the judgment and the law which were against us (Colossians 2: 15), that is Love -- a Love that never stops cleansing us (1 John 1: 7)

Now God's love is perfected -- read, completed -- in us by transforming us from dead in our trespassess (Ephesians 2: 1) to children of God (John 1: 12):

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 18)

"Our love is made perfect" in our new identity, our new standing in Christ!

Then why do believers still feel fear? Our new identity is all but certain in our spirit, or inner man:

"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4: 16)

Yet our minds need to be renewed to this truth:

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12: 2)

How does this occur? By the Word of God:

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. " (2 Corinthians 3: 18)

And His Word is Spirit and Truth (John 6: 63)

So, beloved, we do not have to live in fear because all of our sins have been punished at the Cross! Renew your  mind to this blessed truth every day! Fear does not block God's love, but rather signals that we need to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord and His love for us!

God is Love -- the Inseparable, Essential Element

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4: 16)

These three words "God is love" separate the Gospel of Jesus Christ from every other religion, every other system of belief, thought, and philosophy. The original text reads:

θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν When rendered literally, it reads "God love is." God is so essentially, indivisibly love, that the Holy Spirit instructed the Apostle John to write the two words right next to each other. When you think of God, the God who made the Universe, the God who sent His own Son to die for us, to save us from sin, death, hell, and to make us one with God, you can only think of Love. This is the love that makes us love others. Do not think, do not assume, that your love on your own can be, do, or have anything better than the love of God. "We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 19) Let us not boast in our love at all, for anything. Let us boast, rather, in His love for us.