In the End, Love

"20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

 

"21The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." (Revelation 22: 20-21)

 

Let Jesus come into every area of your life.

 

Start by coming to Him:

 

"Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards." (Songs 4: 8)

 

and

 

"1Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

 

2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." (Isaiah 55: 1-2)

 

During His earthly ministry, Jesus said:

 

"28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11: 28-30)

 

We are invited to come to Him:

 

"And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." (John 6: 65)

 

This invitation speaks to God's grace, and His grace alone, as the qualification to come to Him. We bring nothing of ourselves, for God has cut a New Covenant (Hebrews 8: 10-12) through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ.

 

He then said:

 

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." (John 7: 37)

 

In the end, God, who is Love (1 John 4: 16) will invite us to come to Him:

 

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22: 17)

Jesus: The Lord Who Heals, Who Causes You to Let Go

"And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee." (Exodus 15: 26)

Jesus is "The LORD that healeth", for the LORD speaks of God who was, who is, and who is always:

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13: 8)

The same Jesus who came to this earth as the Perfect Man to give the Perfect Sacrifice for us and our sins went about healing and doing good (Acts 10: 38).

In the Book of Exodus, God manifested Himself as "The LORD that healeth thee" first, and this he proved by turning the bitter waters of Marah into sweet waters through the "Tree",  a picture of the Cross (Exodus 15: 22-27)

The Original name in Hebrew reads "Jehovah Rapha", which means "The Lord is Healing". Yet the root word for "Rapha" means "to let go" or "to relax".

The Lord heals us in many ways because He causes us to rest, to relax, to cast every care upon Him (1 Peter 5: 6-7)

In fact, Jesus is our rest:

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

Literally, Jesus "I will rest you." He has completed the work (John 17: 4; 19: 30) which sets us free from every sin, which sets Him to live within us (Galatians 2: 20-21; Colossians 1: 27), and by His life we live in this world, overcoming everything (John 16: 33; 1 John 4: 4)

The more that we see Him holding everything together in our lives, working behind the scenes to take care of all things, that in Him we can know and believe that we will receive all things (Romans 8: 31-32), then we are able to let go of more things, trusting that He is rewarding us as we choose to believe on Him (John 6: 29), and let not our hearts be troubled (John 14: 1).

Jesus, Our Beloved Door, Nailed for Us

"2If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. 3If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. 5And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: 6Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever." (Exodus 21: 2-6)

"I love my master" says the servant in this law. No servant every places his family ahead of his master, except for the one who came to serve all of us, Jesus (Mark 10: 45).

Jesus has made us all accepted in Himself, our Beloved (Ephesians 1: 6)

In Hebrews, the word for "Beloved" is "David" or "Dowd"

The word is spelled thus:

Dalet--ד
Vav-- וֹ
Dalet--ד 
In Hebrew, "Dalet" represents a door, and "Vav" represents a nail.

Jesus is our Door:

"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep." (John 10: 7)

Jesus is our Servant who was nailed to the Cross for all our sins, so that He could stay with us forever.

Jesus, our Door, was nailed to the door, that He could be with us forever. Otherwise, Jesus could have refused to take the Cup of Sorrows for us, not take our sins, and he could have returned to the right hand of the Father free, but He would not be able to take us with Him.

Jesus, our Beloved Servant and Door, was nailed to the Door, the Cross, for us!

Jesus' Glory Shines on You!

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee." (Isaiah 60: 1)

This glory is from God the Father, and we know that He is our Father because of what His Son has done for us:

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1: 14)

Jesus prayed for us to see and receive this glory

"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (John 17: 24)

How do I get to be where Jesus is?

God our Father has put us in Christ:

"4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 4-6)

We are in Christ, people, but more than that:

"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 4:1 7)

The glory which Jesus had from the beginning, which He received as the only begotten Son of God, we too receive through His Holy Spirit:

"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

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." (1 Corinthians 5: 10)

Let Jesus' glory shine on you today!

Walk in the Light of His Grace

"O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD." (Isaiah 2: 5)

Whenever Jacob is mentioned, we must understand that God is gracious, especially to the worst of us, as Jacob was a cheater and grabber, yet God continued to bless him.

We can rest in the truth that because of Jesus, who did no sin, who knew no sin, in whom there was no sin, became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5: 21), that we would receive Him as our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Jacob was a cheater and a liar, and in one verse, the prophets refer to him as "worm":

"Fear not, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel; I will help you, says the LORD, and your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 41: 14)

When we see ourselves as nothing, and stop standing in our own light:

"Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God." (Isaiah 50: 10)

But instead, receive His gifts of no condemnation:

"Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. . .Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8: 11-12)

In His light, we find His never-ending grace:

"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)

Notice that Jesus, the Light of the World, is the Light in whose blood our sins are cleansed, and keep being cleansed.

Walk in the light of His grace today!

What is Truth? -- Grace and Truth in Jesus!

"Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all." (John 18: 28)

Ironically enough (and the Gospel of John is filled with such great, and gracious, irony), Roman Praetor Pontius Pilate answered his own question.

The Truth is a person:

"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)

He is the Truth.

And the truth is also the Gospel:

"To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you." (Galatians 2: 5)

And the Truth sets us free:

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

We find this truth 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;" (John 8: 31)

Which before was defined for us:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1: 1)

And in Jesus we find:

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)

Grace and truth are one whole, for in grace, we receive full pardon and justification:

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:" (Act 13: 38)

So that we are blameless in Christ:

"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" (Ephesians 1: 3-4)

In other words:

"I find in him no fault at all."

What is truth, then? Pilate answered his own question, ultimately: that in Christ, we are graced and blessed with the gift of righteousness, justified from all sin, that when God the Father looks at us, He sees nothing wrong with us, because we are in Christ.

Then there's No one Else to Run To

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4: 8)

God has also revealed to me that there are many people who have done terrible things, yet they do not fall into the false bondage that some day, someone is going to get them.

Yet for so long, when I felt afraid, I was convinced that I had to do something about that fear, that I had to psych myself out of the fear.

Perfect love casts out fear, and this perfect love is found in God, who is love (1 John 4: 16-19)

Besides, the blood speaks better things than the blood of Abel, everyone, and it keeps speaking on our behalf!

But why did I have a hard time accepting this wonderful truth?

One person had thrust the AA cult onto me for so long, that I was convinced that I had to keep working steps to be A-OK with God.

The other person had a perception of God which was too small. Too small, as though God the Father has indeed died for our sins, but that we are on our own for everything else.

That is just not true. Both ideas about God are not true.

We do not need to do more, but rather we need to see more of Him, and how great He is!

And there is no one else to run to, because we cannot run from Him (Psalm 139) and He lives in us (Colossians 1: 27; Galatians 2: 20-12)

Do Not Frustrate His Grace -- with Your "I"

"20I 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. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)

One common statement among Christians goes something like this:

"The more that I learn to get out of the way, the more that God is able to do in my life."

Often, I never understood what that statement meant.

The reason why I failed to get what they meant, is that Jesus came to live in me, to give me life.

For so long, I had been taught that I give my life to Christ.

Wrong.

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10)

Jesus wants to give us life, which means that we have to acknowledge that we do not have life in and of ourselves.

Does this offend you? Remember that our status of dead in trespasses began with Adam (Genesis 3: 6-8), yet by believing on, by identifying with the Finished Work of the Second Adam, we can reign in life by His gifts of righteousness and abundance of grace (Romans 5:17).

Yet if we insist on living any kind of life in our own dead "I", we are frustrating His grace in our lives.

Because of ourselves we have no life to begin with. We need Himself, for He is our life (Colossians 3:1-4)

We do not need to get in the way because He is the Way, and the Truth, as well as the Life. Instead of trying harder in our own efforts, see more of His Grace in the Man and the Glory, Jesus Christ!

Let Him be your new "I", and reign in His Life!

Crucified with Him, Yet Alive in Him

"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) 


As long as we insist on living this life in our strength, we will find ourselves frustrating God's grace.

Why is that?

Because we are dead, and our life is hid in Christ today and forever (Colossians 3: 3-4).

He is alive in us right now, and so we need to see that He is taking care of all things.

Not once should we think that there are certain needs or demands in our path, as though He cannot handle them, or worse yet, that we can.

"13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)

and then

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

But also:

"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5: 5)

And above all:

"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: 5)

We have died with Christ, and through His resurrection we are alive in Him, through Him, and because of Him. Nothing else.

You were alive in Adam. Now you live in Christ, and Christ is in you, your hope of glory (Colossians 1: 27)

He Keeps us in Safety, Always and Everywhere

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4: 8)

The LORD keeps us in safety.

That word safety is "betach", or uttermost confidence, almost a state of complete carelessness

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

He keeps us in peace. It's not our job to hold onto Him. He holds onto us.

He keeps us in safety no matter what challenges may confront us:

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 17)

and

"A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee." (Psalm 91: 7)

Check out this, too:

"For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour." (Psalm 8: 5)

"Crowned" is compassed, or surrounded. We are protected by His glory, His honor. Powerful stuff.

He keeps us in safety from times and elements, too:

"The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night." (Psalm 121: 6)

and

"They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them." (Isaiah 49: 10)

Those springs of water are within everyone of us today, because of the Holy Spirit who lives in us (John 7: 36-38)

There is one other word: "only"

God does this, and He alone. We cannot find this safety in anything that we do. We cannot base this peace on our actions, or the opinion of others. What Jesus did at the Cross, the New Covenant (Hebrews 8: 10-12), that is the basis for our peace, and the certainty of His security in our lives!

We Trust Him, The Word, and Fear Not

"In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." (Psalm 56: 4)

For many of us, we have a fear problem.

But this fear has no business being in our lives.

"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)

This perfect love is based on our growing understanding that God loves us as much as He loves Jesus:

"This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus." (1 John 4: 17, NIV)

Returning to Psalm 58: the first part reads "I will praise His word."

His Word is Jesus:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1: 1)

And we can take God at his Word, since His Word is going nowhere:

"Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." (Mark 13: 31)

Because we trust in His Word, we do no have to fear any flesh:

"The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:" (Isaiah 40: 6)

but then

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." (Isaiah 40: 8)

The Word of God, made flesh, overcame the world (John 16: 33), and in the Word we are more than conquerors (Romans 8: 37)

And His Word heals us, too:

"He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." (Psalm 107: 20)

It's all about the Word made flesh (John 1: 14), and when you trust in the Word, then no flesh, no man can cause you any fear! (Hebrews 13: 6)

Jesus: Better than Esther

"14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 2: 14)

Mordecai exhorted (pressured!) Queen Esther to go before the Persian King Ahasuerus and plead on behalf of her people. If she chose not to, then someone else would step up and do it, but her household would be destroyed.

Esther is a type of Christ, yet we must remember -- only a type.

First of all, Jesus was the only one who could go in for us, for our sins:

"And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt." (Mark 14: 36)

There was no else, and the writer of Hebrews explains why:

"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." (Hebrews 10: 4)

and then

"12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. " (Hebrews 10: 12-14)

John magnifies the perfection of Jesus' blood on our behalf:

"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)

Now, Jesus had a choice. He did not have to die for us, but He did!:

"5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. " (Philippians 2: 5-8)

Because Jesus died for us, then rose again from the dead for us, He now ministers on our behalf:

"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8: 34)

While Esther fasted for three days, and asked her Jewish people to do the same, and she even feared that she would perish when she stood before King Ahasuerus, we have the Perfect Man as our representative at the right hand of God the Father:

"15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16)

We have a better standing before God our Father than Esther did before her king on the earth. We have this standing because Jesus, our only sacrifice, was willing to become sin, that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

Jesus Took on Your Frame (and Shame)

"For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham." (Hebrews 2: 16)

God became a man and shed His perfect blood of us, and He did this through His Son Jesus!

First of all, God has a greater appreciation of us human beings than His angels:

"For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour." (Psalm 8: 5)

The original Hebrew for angels reads "Elohim", or God. The Lord created us in His image, greater than the angels!

Not only that, but everyone in the Body of Christ will judge angels, too:

"Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?" (1 Corinthians 6: 3)

Yet there is so much more about Jesus, who took on our frame, that is our humanity:

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4: 15)

Never should we think that God does not know, nor let alone care, what we are going through:

"6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. " (1 Peter 5: 6-7)

We know and believe that He cares for us because He took all our sins on Himself:

"[Jesus] made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. " (Philippians 2: 7-8)

In His flesh, He died for our sins and the sin in our flesh:

"3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:" (Romans 8: 3)

Jesus took on our human frame and our shame, that we may receive His fame and acclaim:

"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

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." (2 Corinthians 2: 14)

The Lord Finds You Work

"And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." (Genesis 2: 15)

The LORD God, the Eternal God with whom we have an eternal covenant because of the blood of Jesus, started Adam on his job by creating the Garden of Eden, then creating man, then putting him the Garden, where he would watch over it and take care of it.

God provided the place and the work.

In the original Hebrew, "put" translates the word "yanach", which means leave, or let go.

In Christ,  we can trust that the same Lord who made all things, who has now redeemed us from all sin through His Son, will not only place us in the right job, but will grant to us greater things than Adam had before he sinned.

In Christ, we have the greater trust that Jesus Christ is holding us, and that He lives in us.

The Second Adam has provided us everlasting righteousness, a purged conscience, and a new identity in Himself.

Not only can we trust that God will bring us to the right place, but that He works within us both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2: 12-13)

We can trust that He is everywhere, and that He is with us, so that no matter what challenge we may face, Christ is working with us in every work we take on:

"29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11: 28-30)

No matter what job He leads us to take, we can trust that He is working, and we need merely to trust Him to take us where He is leading us, and know that He has nothing but good in store for us (Jeremiah 29: 11)

If you are struggling to find work, or you do not know what job He wants you to take, abide in Him (John 15: 5), grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18), and let His peace rule in your heart to lead you (Colossians 3: 15), for He wants you to prosper and be in health (3 John 2)

If God provided the place and the purpose to the first Adam, rest assured that since you are in the Second Adam, He has nothing but good in you future.

Let Jesus Embrace You With Both Hands

13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. . .

16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. (Proverbs 3: 13, 16)

 

Yet Jesus, our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9: 6) wants to hold us with both hands.

 

Jesus Christ is our Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1: 30)

 

In the Song of Solomon, the "Beloved" shares this intimate moment:

 

"His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me." (Songs 2: 6)

 

Later in "Song of Solomon", the Beloved says:

 

"His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me." (Songs 8: 3)

In the original Hebrew, both verses are the same.

As we keep seeing more of Jesus, His left hand of riches and honor will support our head, and we can receive the full of embrace of His life around us through His right hand.

When Solomon prayed for wisdom, the LORD granted his request, and more:

"13And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. 14And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days." (1 Kings 3: 13-14)

While Solomon did not walk in the LORD's statutes, as David had, we have the assurance of walking in righteousness because Jesus is not just our wisdom, but also our righteousness, along with our redemption and sanctification (1 Corinthians 1: 30)

Because the Holy Spirit lives in us, God has placed His laws in our hearts and minds, and He is our God, and He teaches us to know Him, all because of the New Covenant cut through Jesus' blood at the Cross (Colossians 2: 13-15; Hebrews 8: 10-12).

We can rest in Christ, who has made us accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1: 6), and we are in Christ, let us allow Him to embrace us fully with His left hand of riches and right hand of long life.

Let Jesus Embrace You -- He Is Not Angry

"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." (Psalm 2: 12)

Sounds like a threat, like force.

Yet because Jesus Christ has died on the Cross, God will never be angry again with us:

"9For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee." (Isaiah 54: 9)

and

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5: 19)

At the Cross, the following joined in a kiss:

"Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." (Psalm 85: 10)

The confirmation of this truth John reports in his gospel. Regarding mercy(grace) and truth:

"17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)

Regarding righteousness and peace:

"21For 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 Corinthian 5: 21)

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

Because we are now His beloved, we can now rejoice and sing:

"2Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine." (Songs 1: 2)

You no longer have to seek Jesus, but rather let Jesus kiss you, for God is no longer angry at you.

God Renews Us into New Wineskins to Receive New Wine

"Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles." (Job 32: 19)

Grace is the new wine, yet we are old wineskins, with the Old Man Adam that wants to do wrong, to do things our way, to do all things and not trust God for anything.

Job, like many Christians and all religious types, attempt to live a righteous life in their own efforts.

Yet everything that we have and do is based on God's grace in our lives, which means that we bring nothing in our efforts, and we receive everything because of all that Jesus has done.

We do not need more help with being good.

We need life -- and with this life we receive all things.

Jesus spoke about the Old and New Covenants in terms of old and new wineskins:

"22And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles." (Mark 2: 22)

There is no mixing the Old and New. Either we receive from God by grace through faith, or we work for it. There is no mixing.

For this reason, Paul would write to the Galatians:

"Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? (Galatians 4: 8-9)

Regarding the Old and New Covenants, typified by Abraham's wives Sarah and Hagar, Paul then writes:

"30Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free." (Galatians 4: 30-31)

 

There is no earning anything from God.

 

There is all receiving, because everything is in Christ, and there is nothing more that we can do but believe on Him! (John 6: 29)

 

When Job saw that he was nothing, and that God is everything, he not only heart about Him, but saw Him fully.

 

With that, he went from being and old wineskin trying to hold new wine, to a renewed man walking by faith, receiving God's grace in every way.

 

See yourself in the New Wine -- Christ Jesus -- who has transformed you into a new wineskin, one who can receive His gifts of righteousness and grace forever more.

We See Him, and Our Joy is Fulfilled

"Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full." (2 John 12)

John was not satisfied with writing gracious words to his fellow believers.

He wanted to see them face to face.

Gather this truth in your mind, about God's love for you and me:

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13: 12)

Now, we need to understand the context of 1 Corinthians 13: it's not about our love for God, but God's love for us.

And let us never forget, but a gain a greater understanding of this truth:

"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)

Our joy is made full, and our life is made rich, when we see more of Jesus and His love for us.

When we see Jesus in the Word, we are transformed from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3: 18), and as we see how much God the Father loves His Son, we begin to know who we are, and more importantly, that we are known by God:

"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

"6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?" (Galatians 4: 6-9)

We are not slaves or servants, but sons of God in Christ. See more of Jesus, and let this joy  be fulfilled in you!

No Mixing with Mixture

"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:" (2 John 10)

This verse may sound harsh, but there can be no compromise about the Gospel of grace (Galatians 1:6) 

"3But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you." (Galatians 2: 3-5)

There is no compromise when we accept that we are saved by all that Jesus did, and not by one thing that we can do:

"4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2: 4-8)

We are saved by grace, through faith, and not by any works of our own.

We cannot save ourselves. We were born dead in trespasses, and the life that we need, must come from outside of us:

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5: 8-9)

We were still sinners, we were not paying attention, we did not care one bit about God, and Paul even writes that we were alienated against God in our minds (Ephesians 2: 1)

Because this verse ties in with the prior verse, which speaks of abiding in the Doctrine of Christ, we must not permit anyone to dilute the fresh understanding of God's grace in our lives.

There is no room for mixture, and we should not mix with people who insist on doing the same:

"Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion." (Jude 11)

The way of Cain, by the way, is the path of self-righteousness, trying to earn God's approval through our actions rather than trusting in the perfect sacrificial lamb, which Abel demonstrated as a type:

"12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." (1 John 3: 12)

And why were Cain's works evil? Presenting your own efforts as righteousness is the height of arrogant pride. Period.

Do not associate with anyone who seeks to bring you into condemnation, who insists on bringing back the law, the bondage of the Ten Commandments, whose time had come, but has now been replaced by Christ and Him Crucified.

Abide in Christ -- That's It!

"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." (2 John 9)

Notice that we can still abide in Christ, even when we sin.

"Whoever transgresses and does not abide. . ."

Read these verses to let this wonderful truth of our perfect righteousness in Christ, apart from our works, and even when we sin:

"Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." (Psalm 32: 2)

Notice that the Lord would not be imputing any sin in the first place, if the person had not sinned in the first place!

Consider also these verses:

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" (Colossians 2: 13)

Having forgiven you ALL trespasses: not some, and not just the ones that you are aware of!

"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)

Such is the magnificent grace of God, that He blesses in spite of ourselves, not because of ourselves, or anything which we have done or said, or even thought or felt!

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 17)

We are established in His, not our, righteousness.

"Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face." (Psalm 5: 8)

He leads us in His righteousness, as well.

"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)

And His righteousness we receive and continue receiving as a gift, not something that we earn.

We abide in Christ, we identify with Christ, and anyone who claims otherwise, or who believes that when you sin, you lose your place in Christ, have nothing to do with such people!

One more thing: Doctrine is all about the Person of Jesus. Everything in the Bible is about Himself. Not you or me, and not precepts on how to live. But about Life, and Him in greater abundance!

Don't Lose what You Have in Christ

"Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward." (2 John 8)

Let us very clear about this passage. We have no fear of losing our salvation once we believe that Jesus died for our sins and was raised for our justification:

"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." (Daniel 9: 24)

and also

"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)

Furthermore:

"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5: 9)

and then

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9: 12)

So, what is John talking about?

He is talking about ignoring or missing out on the unsearchable riches of Christ Jesus:

"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)

Paul prayed that the Ephesians Christians, and by extension all believers, would have the following:

"Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, " (Ephesians 1: 17-19)

We need to have a greater knowledge, awareness, understanding of all that we have received because of Jesus!

We can lose sight of what we have in Christ if we forget who we are, that we are in Christ and that nothing can separate us from Him (Romans 8: 37-39), but also that apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15: 5)

Don't lose, or rather miss out on what you have in Christ Jesus, but grow in grace and knowledge of Him every day!(2 Peter 3: 18)

Christ in the Flesh: The Truth

"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."" (2 John 7)

Most people wonder why it is so important to understand that Jesus died for us in the flesh.

First, as God, he could not die. Yet He had to die, so that we could live:

"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)

and

"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)

More importantly, we need the incorruptible blood of an everlasting, perfect man that would cleanse us from all sin, not merely atone for our sins:

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." (Hebrews 9: 22)

and

"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)

There is real power in that blood, my friend! Wonder working power which keeps on cleansing us!

There are other important reasons for us to understand why Jesus came in the flesh, in the form of a man:

"1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:" (Romans 8: 1-3)

When Jesus died on the Cross, He not only died for all our sins, but also condemned sin in the flesh, in our flesh, that His Spirit may live fully and thrive in us!

But wait. . .there's more!

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4: 15)

Jesus knows, present tense, what you are going through! He understands your struggles, and as Your representative at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 1: 3), you can trust that He wants to aid you in every struggle that you face, as well!

His Love Creates Obedience

"And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it." (2 John 6)

We are called to walk in the truth of the Gospel (3 John 2-4).

Jesus did give commandments, too, but not the Ten Commandments, which is the Old Covenant set to vanish away (Hebrews 8: 13):

"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 then

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." (John 13: 34)

and also

"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." (John 15: 4)

The more that we understand what Jesus has done for us, that through His death we are set free from all our sins, and that His grace flows in our lives, the more that we love others:

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

Yet when I look at  John 6 more closely, I notice that part of God's love includes our walking after His commandments. Just as He has loved us from the beginning, so to His love enables us to love others, too, to be obedient.

The First Commandment: Grace

"And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another." (2 John 5)

When John writes to "the lady", we can believe that John is writing to the Church, the Bride of Christ.

"25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. " (Ephesians 5: 25-27)

The greatest commandment, which has been from the beginning is "Love on another."

Reading 1 John 4: 19, we learn that this love comes from God, who is love, and thus we love others, including God, because He first loved us.

What a great commandment, indeed!

This fifth verse speaks of God's magnificent and magnified grace, for the gift of God, His Son, brings to us all great things with Him (Romans 8: 32)

In his first epistle, John writes:

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (1 John 5: 3)

For today, I submit that not only does God love us, but He loves through us (1 John 4: 9), as it is the love of God to keep His commandment, or rather the love of God (not "for God") equates with our keeping His commandments.

It's all about God's love for us, not our love or Him.

This is grace in action, and this grace is enacted through us because of Jesus, grace personified (John 1: 17)

His Commandment -- Receive His Grace in Truth

"I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father." (2 John 4)

We are called to walk in the truth, the truth of the Gospel:

"5To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you." (Galatians 2: 5)

and then

"14But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" (Galatians 2: 14)

Keep in mind also that Jesus brought with Himself grace and truth (John 1: 17), one unified reality.

Also realize that walking in the truth is a commandment from the Father, not from a boss, or a slavemaster:

"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (Hebrews 2: 10)

and

"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: 18)

Now, if Jesus is the first born, there must be a second-born, third-born, etc.:

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For 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: 14-15)

He is our Father because He has adopted us as His children, and as our Father, His commandment is that we walk in His grace, the truth which sets us free (John 8: 32)

Perfect Peace is Based on Perfect Trust

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

This verse could just as well be translated

The mind at rest is kept in perfect peace because he trusts

Then the next verse gives more clarity:

"4Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:"

So

The mind at rest is kept in perfect peace because he trusts full in the Lord.

Because you trust in Him, you believe that He is your strength:

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him." (Psalm 28: 7)

and

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)

We see Christ Jesus as our full provision:

" 31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He 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)

and

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

When we trust in the Lord, we are able to do good, to dwell in the land, and live off His faithfulness:

"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." (Psalm 37: 3)

and

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him." (Psalm 28: 7)

Perfect Peace is based on Perfect Trust, and we can have this perfect truth in Him because He has perfected us by His death on the Cross (Hebrews 10: 14)

He First Loved Us, At the First

"19We love him, because he first loved us."

"First" causes us to think of the Cross, since Jesus died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8)

"First" speaks of the beginning, as well:

"Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last." (Isaiah 48: 12)

God is love (1 John 4: 16), and He is Love from the Beginning, from the First, and He loves Jesus from the first:

"24Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (John 17: 24)

Jesus is also "the first" in everything:

"[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For 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: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18And 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. 19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1: 15-20)

God has also loved us since the foundation of the World:
"4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: " (Ephesians 1: 4)

He planned from the beginning to bring us in as His children:

"5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians1: 5-6)

He loved us First, and in His First and Foremost Love, Jesus, He has brought us into His Love.

In The Beginning, Love

"16And 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)

God is Love.

"1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)

God is Love, and He has been from the Beginning. In the Beginning, there was love.

John defines love more specifically:

"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, that Jesus was sent to die for us, was also there "in the beginning":

"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (John 17: 24)

And His Death and Resurrection for us was planned from the Beginning:

"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13: 8)

Keep in mind that Jesus wants you and me to know that God loves us as much as He loves Jesus:

"23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (John 17: 23)

Peter affirms Jesus' special place:

"Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you," (1 Peter 1: 20)

Paul affirms this powerful truth of who we are in Christ:

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" (Ephesians 1: 4)

In the Beginning, God created the heaven and the earth, and with His Son He purposed to provide the propitiation for our sins, that we may receive the adoption of sons (Romans 8: 15).

In the Beginning, Love was, and is, and always will be (Hebrews 13: 8)