"Nevertheless 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." (Galatians 4: 30)
The bondwoman is a picture of the law, of the Ten Commandments as well as the ceremonial law.
Critics will counter that we need the law to live godly lives.
The Bible tells us otherwise:
"19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3: 19-20)
and
"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" (Romans 5: 20)
Now, some people will contend that wit the New Covenant, God writes His laws in our hearts and minds.
Yet every man when he is born dead in trespasses already has the Ten Commandments written on their hearts:
"14For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) " (Roman 2: 14-15)
The law does not help us, but rather shows us that we are helpless. It does not give us assistance to live life, but rather exposes that we are dead and need life.
"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)
Notice that Jesus did not say "I have come to give you a betters standard or example for living" or "I have come to make your life better", but "I have come that you might have life, and that more abundantly".
Once the law shows us that we are dead, then we are ready to receive Himself, Jesus our way, truth, and life.
Then the law must go:
"24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3: 24-25)
and
"In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8: 13)
We are no longer under law, Beloved, but under grace (Romans 6: 11-14), and this grace is the salvation which teaches us to live godly (Titus 2: 11-14)
Cast out the law, and keep receiving God's grace.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Persecuted Because Blessed in Christ
"But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now." (Galatians 4: 29)
Now that you know who you are in Christ, that as He is, so are you in this world (1 John 4: 17), do you find that you are facing greater persecution in this world?
Rejoice!
Sounds crazy, doesn't it?
Yet Jesus counseled His disciples with the very statement:
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:10)
More importantly, though, you and I are not disciples. . .through Christ, we are sons of the living God!
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1: 12)
and then
"17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (JOhjn 20: 17)
and then
"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)
and finally:
"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3: 1)
This sonship will set us up for persecution:
"Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you." (1 John 3: 13)
We are kings and priests in Christ (1 Peter 2: 9), blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1: 3) more than conquerors (Romans 8: 37)
So, what happens if you are attacked? The Lord Jesus counseled Paul and all of us:
"9And 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. 10Therefore 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)
The reason why people of the flesh, who are under law persecute you -- because you are a child of the King, and your mother is above, in Jerusalem.
You are a child of grace, receiving all things because you rest in the grace of God and keep receiving the gift of righteousness:
"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)
Now that you know who you are in Christ, that as He is, so are you in this world (1 John 4: 17), do you find that you are facing greater persecution in this world?
Rejoice!
Sounds crazy, doesn't it?
Yet Jesus counseled His disciples with the very statement:
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:10)
More importantly, though, you and I are not disciples. . .through Christ, we are sons of the living God!
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1: 12)
and then
"17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (JOhjn 20: 17)
and then
"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)
and finally:
"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3: 1)
This sonship will set us up for persecution:
"Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you." (1 John 3: 13)
We are kings and priests in Christ (1 Peter 2: 9), blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1: 3) more than conquerors (Romans 8: 37)
So, what happens if you are attacked? The Lord Jesus counseled Paul and all of us:
"9And 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. 10Therefore 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)
The reason why people of the flesh, who are under law persecute you -- because you are a child of the King, and your mother is above, in Jerusalem.
You are a child of grace, receiving all things because you rest in the grace of God and keep receiving the gift of righteousness:
"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)
Monday, April 28, 2014
Trust in Man makes You Bitter
"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD." (Jeremiah 17: 5)
"Cursed" in this verse renders the Hebrew word "arar", which also means "embitter". One major cause of bitterness stems from our insistence, whether we are saved in Christ or not, to depend on other people (including ourselves) to accomplish something in our lives, as if their power, as if their influence is greater than God's.
God's love to us commends that He has done everything for us:
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5: 8)
Later, Paul writes:
"What 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? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who 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: 31-34)
Returning back to Jeremiah 17: 5, the first mention of the word "man" renders the word "gibber", or "mighty man", which often refers to people who are righteous, who walk by faith in Christ.
The second reference to "man" in the same verse is actually "adam", or the human race, or also our flesh, ourselves, our own efforts.
So, even a righteous man, one who has believed on Jesus Christ for His salvation, can labor under a curse to the degree that he trusts in another man, or in his own efforts. to accomplish anything.
In effect, to the degree that we still look to ourselves to accomplish anything, we are then declaring by our actions that whatever problem we want to control is somehow greater than God, that He does not have the strength to see us through.
Can any such act of unbelief be any more arrogant?
When we recognize that we are saved not just from being bad, but from being dead in our trespasses, then we can appreciate the glorious goodness of God's grace in sending His Son not just to die for us, but to give us Himself: His life, His standing, His everything:
"19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." (1 Corinthians 3: 19-23)
"Cursed" in this verse renders the Hebrew word "arar", which also means "embitter". One major cause of bitterness stems from our insistence, whether we are saved in Christ or not, to depend on other people (including ourselves) to accomplish something in our lives, as if their power, as if their influence is greater than God's.
God's love to us commends that He has done everything for us:
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5: 8)
Later, Paul writes:
"What 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? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who 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: 31-34)
Returning back to Jeremiah 17: 5, the first mention of the word "man" renders the word "gibber", or "mighty man", which often refers to people who are righteous, who walk by faith in Christ.
The second reference to "man" in the same verse is actually "adam", or the human race, or also our flesh, ourselves, our own efforts.
So, even a righteous man, one who has believed on Jesus Christ for His salvation, can labor under a curse to the degree that he trusts in another man, or in his own efforts. to accomplish anything.
In effect, to the degree that we still look to ourselves to accomplish anything, we are then declaring by our actions that whatever problem we want to control is somehow greater than God, that He does not have the strength to see us through.
Can any such act of unbelief be any more arrogant?
When we recognize that we are saved not just from being bad, but from being dead in our trespasses, then we can appreciate the glorious goodness of God's grace in sending His Son not just to die for us, but to give us Himself: His life, His standing, His everything:
"19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." (1 Corinthians 3: 19-23)
Trust instead in the perfect man at the Father's right hand:
"7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is." (Jeremiah 17: 7)
And who is the LORD, but our Lord Jesus:
"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)
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Position in Christ, then Purpose and Prosperity
"1And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God." (Deuteronomy 28: 1-2)
This prayer has been fulfilled in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
How?
When He died at the Cross, He put away all our sins, and through Him we continue to receive redemption through His blood:
"3Blessed 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)
We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Him!
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" (Ephesians 1: 7)
This redemption is not once, but forever!
So, our status in Christ Jesus will never change!
And where is He, and where are we in relation to Him?
Paul explains:
"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 seated in Christ, everyone!
And as a reminder, Christ is seated above all things, including all the nations of the earth:
"19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians 1: 19-23)
Also, we as believers are a holy nation, a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2: 9)
We need to see ourselves seated in Christ, that Jesus has paid for all things through His blood, which never ceases cleansing us from all sin!
This prayer has been fulfilled in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
How?
When He died at the Cross, He put away all our sins, and through Him we continue to receive redemption through His blood:
"3Blessed 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)
We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Him!
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" (Ephesians 1: 7)
This redemption is not once, but forever!
So, our status in Christ Jesus will never change!
And where is He, and where are we in relation to Him?
Paul explains:
"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 seated in Christ, everyone!
And as a reminder, Christ is seated above all things, including all the nations of the earth:
"19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians 1: 19-23)
Also, we as believers are a holy nation, a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2: 9)
We need to see ourselves seated in Christ, that Jesus has paid for all things through His blood, which never ceases cleansing us from all sin!
Saturday, April 26, 2014
God's Statutes And Laws in Your Heart
"4And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." (Genesis 26: 4-5)
Over the past few days, you have been reading about how Abraham was obedient to God.
He did not obey God by keeping the Ten Commandments, for they had not yet been given.
He also lied about his wife, twice, just to save himself. His wife was his half-sister, which God commanded as an abomination.
He also took his nephew Lot with him, when God had directed him to leave his kindred as well as his country.
He doubted God many times, yet God was good to Abraham not because Abraham was a good, but because he believed the Lord:
"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15: 6)
It's all about righteousness, which we receive by faith, not by works:
"For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4: 13)
This righteousness we receive and keep receiving as a gift, not something that we earn, but rest and receive:
"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)
This righteousness is defined as a gift, and cannot be received in any other fashion:
"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
"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)
This righteousness is not ours, but His. We must understand this, or we do not grow:
"For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe." (Hebrews 5: 13)
"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;" (Hebrews 12: 15)
With this righteousness comes God's capacity to write His statutes and laws in our hearts:
"
Over the past few days, you have been reading about how Abraham was obedient to God.
He did not obey God by keeping the Ten Commandments, for they had not yet been given.
He also lied about his wife, twice, just to save himself. His wife was his half-sister, which God commanded as an abomination.
He also took his nephew Lot with him, when God had directed him to leave his kindred as well as his country.
He doubted God many times, yet God was good to Abraham not because Abraham was a good, but because he believed the Lord:
"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15: 6)
It's all about righteousness, which we receive by faith, not by works:
"For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4: 13)
This righteousness we receive and keep receiving as a gift, not something that we earn, but rest and receive:
"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)
This righteousness is defined as a gift, and cannot be received in any other fashion:
"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
"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)
This righteousness is not ours, but His. We must understand this, or we do not grow:
"For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe." (Hebrews 5: 13)
"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;" (Hebrews 12: 15)
With this righteousness comes God's capacity to write His statutes and laws in our hearts:
"
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
Wonderful!
Friday, April 25, 2014
Command: Believe and Be Blessed
"4And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." (Genesis 26: 4-5)
His Commandments then were not the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments had not yet been given.
God lead Abraham more intimately, first telling him to follow His lead and enter a land, which not only his descendants would inherit, but through whom all the nations of the world would be blessed:
"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." (Galatians 3: 16)
Because of this one seed, we are blessed with Abraham:
"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)
The commandments which Abraham kept:
"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
His Commandments then were not the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments had not yet been given.
God lead Abraham more intimately, first telling him to follow His lead and enter a land, which not only his descendants would inherit, but through whom all the nations of the world would be blessed:
"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." (Galatians 3: 16)
Because of this one seed, we are blessed with Abraham:
"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)
The commandments which Abraham kept:
"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12: 1-3)
and
"14And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever." (Genesis 13:14-15)
and
"5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. " (Genesis 15: 5)
and
"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect." (Genesis 17: 1)
The commands which God gave to Abraham were all about blessing him, and Abraham believed.
Today, that is the same command which God gives to us through His Son:
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)
When we believe on Jesus, we receive all things with Him, particularly and primarily His righteousness and abundance of grace, that through Him we may reign in life (Romans 5: 17)
Heed God's command: Believe on His Son and be blessed!
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Keeping His Charge: The Finished Work
"And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." (Genesis 26: 4-5)
Abraham heard God's voice by faith, in that he did not feel condemned before God, but trusted him.
There are other great revelations we can draw from this verse, too.
Abraham kept God's charge, too.
What does that mean?
The second mention of "mishmereth" will help explain:
"And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening." (Exodus 12: 6)
This verse refers to the Passover, including the lamb to be offered.
This lamb is one of the most famous types of our Lord Jesus:
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1: 29)
The charge that God wants us to keep regards the death of His Son, which we receive every day through partaking of the bread and wine, the symbols of his body and blood broken and shed for us.
Keeping God's charge is not about the efforts we expend, but resting in the truth that His Son completed a perfect work at the Cross, and that we continyue to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord and all that He did for us (2 Peter 3: 18)
"16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3: 16-19)
Part of keeping this charge, of course, rests on our not trying to force God to do something, but rather rest and receive by grace through faith all the wonderful things which His Son has paid for us to receive (Romans 8: 31-32)
To keep the charge of the Lord, rest and receiving all that Jesus paid for at the Cross through His Finished Work.
Abraham heard God's voice by faith, in that he did not feel condemned before God, but trusted him.
There are other great revelations we can draw from this verse, too.
Abraham kept God's charge, too.
What does that mean?
The second mention of "mishmereth" will help explain:
"And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening." (Exodus 12: 6)
This verse refers to the Passover, including the lamb to be offered.
This lamb is one of the most famous types of our Lord Jesus:
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1: 29)
The charge that God wants us to keep regards the death of His Son, which we receive every day through partaking of the bread and wine, the symbols of his body and blood broken and shed for us.
Keeping God's charge is not about the efforts we expend, but resting in the truth that His Son completed a perfect work at the Cross, and that we continyue to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord and all that He did for us (2 Peter 3: 18)
"16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3: 16-19)
Part of keeping this charge, of course, rests on our not trying to force God to do something, but rather rest and receive by grace through faith all the wonderful things which His Son has paid for us to receive (Romans 8: 31-32)
To keep the charge of the Lord, rest and receiving all that Jesus paid for at the Cross through His Finished Work.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
We Hear His Voice Today
"And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." (Genesis 26: 4-5)
We are not blessed because of our obedience, but because of the obedience of someone else.
"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)
Another part of the above verse bears pondering.
Abraham obeyed God's voice.
The first mention of "voice" appears here:
"And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden." (Genesis 3: 8)
After Adam and Eve ate from the Forbidden Tree, they hid themselves when they heard the Voice of the Lord.
Abram responded differently:
"1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee. . .So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him." (Genesis 12: 1, 4)
Part of walking by faith is that we listen to God's promises, and trust Him to bring them to pass in our lives:
"For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." (2 Corinthians 1: 20)
and
"That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:" (Hebrews 6: 18)
These promises are assured, and we can heed God's voice, because we have peace with God (Romans 5: 1) and this peace rules in our hearts (Colossians 3: 15)
The key to hearing God's voice today rests on the gift of righteousness, so that we do not have to run from God because of condemnation, as there is none in Christ (Romans 8: 1)
We are not blessed because of our obedience, but because of the obedience of someone else.
"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)
Another part of the above verse bears pondering.
Abraham obeyed God's voice.
The first mention of "voice" appears here:
"And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden." (Genesis 3: 8)
After Adam and Eve ate from the Forbidden Tree, they hid themselves when they heard the Voice of the Lord.
Abram responded differently:
"1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee. . .So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him." (Genesis 12: 1, 4)
Part of walking by faith is that we listen to God's promises, and trust Him to bring them to pass in our lives:
"For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." (2 Corinthians 1: 20)
and
"That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:" (Hebrews 6: 18)
These promises are assured, and we can heed God's voice, because we have peace with God (Romans 5: 1) and this peace rules in our hearts (Colossians 3: 15)
The key to hearing God's voice today rests on the gift of righteousness, so that we do not have to run from God because of condemnation, as there is none in Christ (Romans 8: 1)
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Jesus Our Savior in All Things
"Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore." (Exodus 14: 30)
How big do you see God in your life?
Do you see Him as someone who sent His Son to die for your sins, but then you have to fight your own battles?
That is not the God of the Bible, who does not just save us from death and hell, but grants us the life of His Son, as well as His standing in victory too.
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)
The Israelites' crossing over through the Red Sea is a picture of our baptism in Christ from death to life:
"1Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; " (1 Corinthinas 10: 1-2)
Faith in all that Jesus did for us is portrayed for us in the Red Sea Crossing:
"By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned." (Hebrews 11: 29)
When the Israelites crossed over, the beheld not just the deliver which they received from the hand of the LORD, but also the defeat of their enemies:
"7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
How big do you see God in your life?
Do you see Him as someone who sent His Son to die for your sins, but then you have to fight your own battles?
That is not the God of the Bible, who does not just save us from death and hell, but grants us the life of His Son, as well as His standing in victory too.
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)
The Israelites' crossing over through the Red Sea is a picture of our baptism in Christ from death to life:
"1Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; " (1 Corinthinas 10: 1-2)
Faith in all that Jesus did for us is portrayed for us in the Red Sea Crossing:
"By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned." (Hebrews 11: 29)
When the Israelites crossed over, the beheld not just the deliver which they received from the hand of the LORD, but also the defeat of their enemies:
"7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked." (Psalm 91: 7-8)
And why?
"9Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;" (Psalm 91: 9)
Today, we live in God because of Christ Jesus:
"4Abide 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. 5I 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)
and then
"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3: 3)
We see ourselves in Christ, and thus resting in Him, we have a victory over sin and all our enemies, too.
Last of all, the word "saved" is "yasha" in Hebrew, from which the name "Jesus" is derived. Let Jesus be your savior, and watch him take care of your enemies.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Even Under Law, God Remembered His Covenant -- with Abraham
"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" (Romans 5: 20)
The Ten Commandments was never God's main agenda. The blessings of God on man, the Blessing to Abraham and all his seed, with Jesus as the first-born of many brethren, was God's main agenda, a life of rest and ease in which every human being would believe on Jesus for everything, since by His death and resurrection we receive all things (Romans 8: 31-32)
"The law entered". . .A better translation would read "The law came in through the side" or "the law entered by the way. . " as a parenthetical, not the main stay.
For this reason, Paul would write to the Galatians:
"23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3: 23-25)
In the next chapter, Paul refers to the tension in Abraham's household, between his bondmaid Hagar and his lawful, gracious wife Sarah, and through this allegory he vehemently emphasizes the end of the Old Covenant of Law to be replaced by the New Covenant of Grace:
"Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
The Ten Commandments was never God's main agenda. The blessings of God on man, the Blessing to Abraham and all his seed, with Jesus as the first-born of many brethren, was God's main agenda, a life of rest and ease in which every human being would believe on Jesus for everything, since by His death and resurrection we receive all things (Romans 8: 31-32)
"The law entered". . .A better translation would read "The law came in through the side" or "the law entered by the way. . " as a parenthetical, not the main stay.
For this reason, Paul would write to the Galatians:
"23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3: 23-25)
In the next chapter, Paul refers to the tension in Abraham's household, between his bondmaid Hagar and his lawful, gracious wife Sarah, and through this allegory he vehemently emphasizes the end of the Old Covenant of Law to be replaced by the New Covenant of Grace:
"Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
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: 28-31)
Now, in the Old Testament, God made a Covenant with Abram (before he was blessed with a new name), a covenant in which God established that through Abram's seed, all the nations would be blessed (Genesis 15). This covenant was not annulled with the introduction of the Ten Commandments.
Even in Leviticus, where Moses writes by inspiration of the Holy Spirit that God would visit the iniquity of the Israelites onto them if they did not continue in His covenant, there is a reminder of God's grace to come:
"Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land." (Leviticus 26: 42)
God the Father does not remember the Covenant with Moses, but with Abraham!
The notion that the Covenant begins and ends with the Ten Commandments is a modern invention, and a false one.
It's all about the covenant that God cut with Abraham, in which Abram believed on the Lord, and that was accounted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15: 6)
We have this righteousness and more because of Jesus, who fulfilled the New and Everlasting Covenant with His blood at Calvary, where today and forever more He reigns in greatest power and glory and represents you and me and all who believe on Him.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
The Depths of God's Forgiveness Part IV
"Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
"Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
"Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." (Philippians 3: 4-6)
Paul had the "audacity" to declare his blameless state before assemblies which he preached to throughout his ministry:
"And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." (Acts 23: 1)
and later
"And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men." (Acts 24:16)
In both verses, before significant assemblies, Paul declares his cleared conscience, his right standing before all.
How else could he do this, but in that he trusted fully in the resurrection power and atonement of Christ's death on the Cross? He declares this in one of his epistles:
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." (Philippians 3: 7-9)
He now has full confidence in the righteousness which comes by faith, Paul has now found himself "in Christ", a place of preeminent power and glory:
"And [God] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
"That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2: 6-7)
This same Jesus, glorified and forever honored at the right hand of the Father, is also the same place where each of us who believe on Him are located!
No matter what we have done, no matter how deep our sin, no matter how dirty or vile our past, we can declare boldly that we have no offense with any man, because we have been forgiven of all our sins, we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ, and we sit in glory and honor in Christ at the right hand of the Father:
"Because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)
Christ is under no condemnation; neither are we. Christ is neither despised for past wrongdoings, and neither are we.
And from this fullness, from this status of eternal forgiveness, we enjoy all other blessings!
"Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
"Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." (Philippians 3: 4-6)
Paul had the "audacity" to declare his blameless state before assemblies which he preached to throughout his ministry:
"And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." (Acts 23: 1)
and later
"And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men." (Acts 24:16)
In both verses, before significant assemblies, Paul declares his cleared conscience, his right standing before all.
How else could he do this, but in that he trusted fully in the resurrection power and atonement of Christ's death on the Cross? He declares this in one of his epistles:
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." (Philippians 3: 7-9)
He now has full confidence in the righteousness which comes by faith, Paul has now found himself "in Christ", a place of preeminent power and glory:
"And [God] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
"That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2: 6-7)
This same Jesus, glorified and forever honored at the right hand of the Father, is also the same place where each of us who believe on Him are located!
No matter what we have done, no matter how deep our sin, no matter how dirty or vile our past, we can declare boldly that we have no offense with any man, because we have been forgiven of all our sins, we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ, and we sit in glory and honor in Christ at the right hand of the Father:
"Because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)
Christ is under no condemnation; neither are we. Christ is neither despised for past wrongdoings, and neither are we.
And from this fullness, from this status of eternal forgiveness, we enjoy all other blessings!
Saturday, April 19, 2014
We Love Because He (Father and Son) Loved Us
"We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 19)
We love because He first loved us.
This verse does not contain "him" in the original.
What does the Message portray in this verse?
"We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first"
This translation assures that we will love as well as love others, but first things first: we have to know and believe in His love for us. There is no way that we can love others in our own strength.
What about the Amplified?
"We love Him, because He first loved us."
The italics recognize that the word is inferred, but in truth, His love allows us to love without bounds, to love everyone whom He brings us in contact with.
Notice that the Amplified version added nothing more in brackets. There is no topping, no adding to the truth that we love as we have been loved by God:
"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 then
"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." (John 15: 9)
Ponder that -- Jesus loves us as much as the Father loves Jesus.
Then you can love, because you will know and believe that the Father and the Son loved you.
We love because He first loved us.
This verse does not contain "him" in the original.
What does the Message portray in this verse?
"We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first"
This translation assures that we will love as well as love others, but first things first: we have to know and believe in His love for us. There is no way that we can love others in our own strength.
What about the Amplified?
"We love Him, because He first loved us."
The italics recognize that the word is inferred, but in truth, His love allows us to love without bounds, to love everyone whom He brings us in contact with.
Notice that the Amplified version added nothing more in brackets. There is no topping, no adding to the truth that we love as we have been loved by God:
"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 then
"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." (John 15: 9)
Ponder that -- Jesus loves us as much as the Father loves Jesus.
Then you can love, because you will know and believe that the Father and the Son loved you.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Perfect Love Casts out Fear of Failure and Future
"18There 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)
Man's greatest fear, whether he knows it or not, is punishment from God, a sense of reproach which we cannot remove from ourselves.
The same fear quickened Adam and Eve to cover themselves in fig leaves when they ate from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 3: 1-7).
The root of this fear: that they were naked, ashamed, and condemned for the wrong which they had done:
"And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." (Genesis 3: 10)
Today, we have the perfect love of Jesus Christ to cover us:
Isaiah first prophesied:
"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54: 14)
Jesus fulfilled this righteous exchange for us at the Cross:
"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)
He told us to make His righteousness the priority in our lives:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)
The Night of His Crucifixion, He set forth the New Covenant:
"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26: 28)
Paul proclaimed this Blessed Good News in all simplicity:
"38Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 38-39)
This Love, Jesus our Mercy Seat for all our sins (1 John 4: 10) casts out every fear, based on the fearful looking after of judgment from God (Hebrews 10: 26-27)
Man's greatest fear, whether he knows it or not, is punishment from God, a sense of reproach which we cannot remove from ourselves.
The same fear quickened Adam and Eve to cover themselves in fig leaves when they ate from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 3: 1-7).
The root of this fear: that they were naked, ashamed, and condemned for the wrong which they had done:
"And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." (Genesis 3: 10)
Today, we have the perfect love of Jesus Christ to cover us:
Isaiah first prophesied:
"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54: 14)
Jesus fulfilled this righteous exchange for us at the Cross:
"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)
He told us to make His righteousness the priority in our lives:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)
The Night of His Crucifixion, He set forth the New Covenant:
"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26: 28)
Paul proclaimed this Blessed Good News in all simplicity:
"38Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 38-39)
This Love, Jesus our Mercy Seat for all our sins (1 John 4: 10) casts out every fear, based on the fearful looking after of judgment from God (Hebrews 10: 26-27)
Thursday, April 17, 2014
As Jesus Is, So Are You in this World!
"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)
This verse is the theme of this ministry. The new identity, the royal standing, the priestly ministration of Jesus in our lives is so well presented to us in this verse.
Yet, the King James Translation "Our love made perfect" is not accurate, for we have no love that is perfect in and of ourselves.
Here is a more accurate rendering of this verse:
"By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world." (NASB)
Love is perfected: God's love, not ours.
Check out "The Message" Translation:
"This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day - our standing in the world is identical with Christ's."
Wow! This rendering brings out the fullness of love perfected among us, that God's love holds us, controls us, leads us, prospers us. This love lives in us, for God is love, and thus God fully dwells in us. I love how this translation brings out the new identity that we have in Christ: "identical with Christ's."
How many "Christ-ians" know and believe this? How may acts in accordance with this revelation?
Why do they fail to enjoy His hyper-victory (Romans 8: 37) and not reign in life (Romans 5: 17)
They do not believe in the full love of God shown to us at the Cross. They do not believe that all their sins have been paid for, both in what they do as well as think and feel. They are not aware, as I was not aware, that we were dead in our trespasses, and now we are alive. We are dead to sin, and alive in righteousness.
Check out the Amplified version of this powerful verse:
"In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world."
God's love for us is not some petty emotion of ineffective sympathy, but a powerful, dynamic union, and this perfection is revealed to us the more that we understand:
"As He is, So Are We" in this world.
This verse is the theme of this ministry. The new identity, the royal standing, the priestly ministration of Jesus in our lives is so well presented to us in this verse.
Yet, the King James Translation "Our love made perfect" is not accurate, for we have no love that is perfect in and of ourselves.
Here is a more accurate rendering of this verse:
"By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world." (NASB)
Love is perfected: God's love, not ours.
Check out "The Message" Translation:
"This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day - our standing in the world is identical with Christ's."
Wow! This rendering brings out the fullness of love perfected among us, that God's love holds us, controls us, leads us, prospers us. This love lives in us, for God is love, and thus God fully dwells in us. I love how this translation brings out the new identity that we have in Christ: "identical with Christ's."
How many "Christ-ians" know and believe this? How may acts in accordance with this revelation?
Why do they fail to enjoy His hyper-victory (Romans 8: 37) and not reign in life (Romans 5: 17)
They do not believe in the full love of God shown to us at the Cross. They do not believe that all their sins have been paid for, both in what they do as well as think and feel. They are not aware, as I was not aware, that we were dead in our trespasses, and now we are alive. We are dead to sin, and alive in righteousness.
Check out the Amplified version of this powerful verse:
"In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world."
God's love for us is not some petty emotion of ineffective sympathy, but a powerful, dynamic union, and this perfection is revealed to us the more that we understand:
"As He is, So Are We" in this world.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Come at Jesus Boldly
"Let 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: 16)
Jesus calls us to come at Him boldly
Why can we do this?
Because in Christ, all our sins have been forgiven:
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:" (Colossians 1: 14)
We have, present tense, this redemption, in Jesus' blood:
"And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." (Hebrews 12: 24)
Jesus' blood, present tense, speaks better things over us: not curses, but blessings; not vengeance, but forgiveness.
And this blood is still cleansing us:
"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)
We are in the Light, because God is Light (1 John 1: 5), and because of Jesus, we are also all Sons of Light (1 Thessalonians 5: 5).
We can come at Jesus boldly and receive, and keep receiving His favor, because we are forever cleansed from all sin, forever!
Jesus calls us to come at Him boldly
Why can we do this?
Because in Christ, all our sins have been forgiven:
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:" (Colossians 1: 14)
We have, present tense, this redemption, in Jesus' blood:
"And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." (Hebrews 12: 24)
Jesus' blood, present tense, speaks better things over us: not curses, but blessings; not vengeance, but forgiveness.
And this blood is still cleansing us:
"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)
We are in the Light, because God is Light (1 John 1: 5), and because of Jesus, we are also all Sons of Light (1 Thessalonians 5: 5).
We can come at Jesus boldly and receive, and keep receiving His favor, because we are forever cleansed from all sin, forever!
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
We Confess Jesus our Righteousness
"Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." (1 John 4: 15)
Jesus is, now and forever, the Son of God.
What is it about the Son of God that we need to know and believe?
That He is our righteousness:
"In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Jeremiah 23: 6)
He is our peace:
"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)
Notice that Isaiah prophesied about the child given to us, who is also the Mighty God, and is one with the everlasting Father.
When we confess Jesus is Lord, we are saved:
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10: 9)
What are we believing specifically, when we believe that God raised Him from the dead?
"Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4: 25)
When we confess that Jesus is the Son of God, we are confessing that He is our righteousness.
Because we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), then we can rest assured that He lives in us, because the perfect blood of Jesus has perfected us forever (Hebrews 10: 14), and His blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1: 7)
Jesus is, now and forever, the Son of God.
What is it about the Son of God that we need to know and believe?
That He is our righteousness:
"In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Jeremiah 23: 6)
He is our peace:
"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)
Notice that Isaiah prophesied about the child given to us, who is also the Mighty God, and is one with the everlasting Father.
When we confess Jesus is Lord, we are saved:
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10: 9)
What are we believing specifically, when we believe that God raised Him from the dead?
"Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4: 25)
When we confess that Jesus is the Son of God, we are confessing that He is our righteousness.
Because we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), then we can rest assured that He lives in us, because the perfect blood of Jesus has perfected us forever (Hebrews 10: 14), and His blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1: 7)
Monday, April 14, 2014
The Father -- Our Father -- Sent the Son
"And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." (1 John 4: 14)
God the Father did not send His Son, so that people would have to guess or wonder.
There were clear signs of Jesus' coming, preached in the Old Testament, fulfilled in the New Testament:
"10Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:" (1 Peter 1 : 10)
and
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:" (2 Peter 1: 19)
John emphasizes that our Father sent His Son. This salvation did not come to us from a distant God, or some deity who did not really care.
When Jesus rose from the dead, He announced the sonship which we can all receive:
"Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20: 17)
Paul then preached to the city of Athens:
"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device." (Acts 17: 28-29)
The Father sent His Son, so that we could be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5: 21), that we would have the same status as His Son (Ephesians 2: 4-6), and that in every wise would be in Jesus' stead (1 John 4: 17)
The last part, I fear, most people miss the most. Jesus is not just the Savior for those who believe on Him. He is a Savior for all the world.
"1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2: 1-2)
He has paid for all the sins of the world. In this life, we are all convicted of sin, the status of sin because of Adam (John 16: 8-9), but then the Holy Spirit convicts of His righteousness (John 16: 10)
Let us never forget that God loved the world, including you. This love, so great that He gave His Son even when the world did not care (Romans 5: 8), should magnify His love to us even more.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
We Abide in Christ Because of His Spirit
"Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." (1 John 4: 13)
Abiding in the Lord is not something that we do by our efforts, but something which happens to us when we believe on Jesus Christ.
When we believe in the grace of God through Christ Jesus, then we receive His Spirit.
"22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." (John 20: 22-23)
At the time that Jesus breathed on the disciples, thus receiving new life, they were hiding in an upper room, for fear of the religious authorities. Many of them were fearful, and one of them, who missed Jesus' appearance the first time, demanded to see the prints in his hands and side before believing.
The Holy Spirit did not enter into people who were perfect. The Holy Spirit did not wait for the disciples to confess their unbelief. They say Jesus, and the received His Spirit.
We do not struggle to abide in Christ, but we simply believe on Him (John 6: 29)
Consider what Paul writes to the Romans:
"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)
Notice that "ye have received" -- it's in the past tense.
We do not earn adoption, or sonship, by anything that we do. Sonship comes as a gift. We are reborn as sons. How can we every think that we earn it in some manner?
We do not struggle to get the Spirit, or to work up the Spirit in our lives, but rather rest and receive more of His grace and peace in our lives:
"22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5: 22-24)
The fruit of the Spirit is not created by our striving, but His living and thriving within us:
"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)
Jesus is our life, and His life lives through us by the power of His Holy Spirit.
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4: 6)
We are in Jesus, and Jesus lives in us, because He has given us His Spirit. Not a person whom we earn or strive for, but a person whom we receive by grace through faith.
Abiding in the Lord is not something that we do by our efforts, but something which happens to us when we believe on Jesus Christ.
When we believe in the grace of God through Christ Jesus, then we receive His Spirit.
"22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." (John 20: 22-23)
At the time that Jesus breathed on the disciples, thus receiving new life, they were hiding in an upper room, for fear of the religious authorities. Many of them were fearful, and one of them, who missed Jesus' appearance the first time, demanded to see the prints in his hands and side before believing.
The Holy Spirit did not enter into people who were perfect. The Holy Spirit did not wait for the disciples to confess their unbelief. They say Jesus, and the received His Spirit.
We do not struggle to abide in Christ, but we simply believe on Him (John 6: 29)
Consider what Paul writes to the Romans:
"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)
Notice that "ye have received" -- it's in the past tense.
We do not earn adoption, or sonship, by anything that we do. Sonship comes as a gift. We are reborn as sons. How can we every think that we earn it in some manner?
We do not struggle to get the Spirit, or to work up the Spirit in our lives, but rather rest and receive more of His grace and peace in our lives:
"22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5: 22-24)
The fruit of the Spirit is not created by our striving, but His living and thriving within us:
"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)
Jesus is our life, and His life lives through us by the power of His Holy Spirit.
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4: 6)
We are in Jesus, and Jesus lives in us, because He has given us His Spirit. Not a person whom we earn or strive for, but a person whom we receive by grace through faith.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Not Seeing Him but Christ Dwelling in You
"No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us." (1 John 4:12)
We have not see God at any time.
Does that frighten or frustrated you?
If we could see God, then H would not be God, because He would not be eternal:
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:" (Romans 1: 20)
and then
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1: 17)
and
"6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)" (2 Corinthians 5: 6-7)
Still, if you are sad because you do not see Him, then consider the deeper revelation. You cannot see Him because He dwells in you.
"1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide 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. 5I 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)
He is the vine. We cannot thrive apart from Jesus, who is our life (Colossians 3: 4). As branches, we can rest assured that if we are not strong in ourselves then he will not take us away, but rather lift us up, so that we are supported all the more in Himself.
As branches, we cannot begin to see everything about Jesus, for the vine is greater than us, beyond our own scope and field of understanding. Allow this revelation to give you peace about not "seeing" Him, as His greatness exceeds our physical capacity to see.
He dwells in you for your glory:
"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)
Don't worry that you have not seen God at any time. He knows you (Galatians 4: 9) and lives in you now and forever.
We have not see God at any time.
Does that frighten or frustrated you?
If we could see God, then H would not be God, because He would not be eternal:
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:" (Romans 1: 20)
and then
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1: 17)
and
"6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)" (2 Corinthians 5: 6-7)
Still, if you are sad because you do not see Him, then consider the deeper revelation. You cannot see Him because He dwells in you.
"1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide 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. 5I 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)
He is the vine. We cannot thrive apart from Jesus, who is our life (Colossians 3: 4). As branches, we can rest assured that if we are not strong in ourselves then he will not take us away, but rather lift us up, so that we are supported all the more in Himself.
As branches, we cannot begin to see everything about Jesus, for the vine is greater than us, beyond our own scope and field of understanding. Allow this revelation to give you peace about not "seeing" Him, as His greatness exceeds our physical capacity to see.
He dwells in you for your glory:
"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)
Don't worry that you have not seen God at any time. He knows you (Galatians 4: 9) and lives in you now and forever.
Friday, April 11, 2014
He So Loved Us
"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." (1 John 4: 11)
The word "so" makes all the difference.
God so loved us. The intensity cannot be calculated:
"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)
The first mention of "so" in the New Testament is found in this verse:
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise [so]: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 1: 18)
Here we find that Jesus, Lord at His birth, first blessed Mary, as she was highly favored among (not above) women:
"30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God." (Luke 1: 30)
We receive favor as a gift, and this favor is imparted to us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
What Mary received in order to conceived and bring forth the Son of God into the world, we have today because of the Holy Spirit, who causes us all to be born again, to become sons of the living God.
"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2: 33)
and then
"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)
and
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)
This Holy Spirit does not witness of Himself, by of the Son:
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:" (John 15: 26)
And
"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)
Which then reveals:
"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (1 John 3: 1)
And of course:
"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)
He so loved us, taking away our sins, the condemnation, the curse, fulfilling the law, granting us His life, His Son's standing before Him, and thus we love others.
The word "so" makes all the difference.
God so loved us. The intensity cannot be calculated:
"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)
The first mention of "so" in the New Testament is found in this verse:
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise [so]: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 1: 18)
Here we find that Jesus, Lord at His birth, first blessed Mary, as she was highly favored among (not above) women:
"30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God." (Luke 1: 30)
We receive favor as a gift, and this favor is imparted to us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
What Mary received in order to conceived and bring forth the Son of God into the world, we have today because of the Holy Spirit, who causes us all to be born again, to become sons of the living God.
"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2: 33)
and then
"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)
and
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)
This Holy Spirit does not witness of Himself, by of the Son:
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:" (John 15: 26)
And
"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)
Which then reveals:
"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (1 John 3: 1)
And of course:
"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)
He so loved us, taking away our sins, the condemnation, the curse, fulfilling the law, granting us His life, His Son's standing before Him, and thus we love others.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Our Resources Because of Jesus
"Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither." (2 Kings 4: 10)
The Shunammite woman blessed the prophet Elisha with a room and four key pieces of furniture.
Elisha is a picture of our Lord Jesus, for His name means "God saves" and contains that name "Yeshua" or "Jesus".
The furniture in Elisha's rooms speak of the resources which we receive through Christ Jesus:
First, there is the chamber. We live in Christ, for He is the builder:
"For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house." (Hebrews 3: 3)
Jesus is your new address, and in Him you dwell in hope (Acts 2: 26).
Now, onto the bed. 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 says "I will rest you." He is our rest.
Then there is the table. This table speaks of the Holy Communion, which speaks of His body and blood shed for us, given to us for life and prosperity.
Then the stool, a posture of sitting: unlike the priests of the Old Testament, and even unlike Elijah, the New Covenant of grace speaks of a new position of perfection 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)
and
"For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore." (Hebrews 7: 28)
and then
"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 14)
The stool represents our resting in God's grace, that we have a new position of perfection in Christ.
And now onto the candlestick, which represents the focus, the light of our lives: Jesus! Exodus 37 delivers instructions to every priest in the Tabernacle, to ensure that the candlestick always has light, and that every light faces the center light. In the same manner, our lives should recognize Jesus as the center, the light of our lives.
Our source and our resources, then, all rest in Jesus, who represents fully the truth that "God saves"!
The Shunammite woman blessed the prophet Elisha with a room and four key pieces of furniture.
Elisha is a picture of our Lord Jesus, for His name means "God saves" and contains that name "Yeshua" or "Jesus".
The furniture in Elisha's rooms speak of the resources which we receive through Christ Jesus:
First, there is the chamber. We live in Christ, for He is the builder:
"For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house." (Hebrews 3: 3)
Jesus is your new address, and in Him you dwell in hope (Acts 2: 26).
Now, onto the bed. 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 says "I will rest you." He is our rest.
Then there is the table. This table speaks of the Holy Communion, which speaks of His body and blood shed for us, given to us for life and prosperity.
Then the stool, a posture of sitting: unlike the priests of the Old Testament, and even unlike Elijah, the New Covenant of grace speaks of a new position of perfection 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)
and
"For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore." (Hebrews 7: 28)
and then
"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 14)
The stool represents our resting in God's grace, that we have a new position of perfection in Christ.
And now onto the candlestick, which represents the focus, the light of our lives: Jesus! Exodus 37 delivers instructions to every priest in the Tabernacle, to ensure that the candlestick always has light, and that every light faces the center light. In the same manner, our lives should recognize Jesus as the center, the light of our lives.
Our source and our resources, then, all rest in Jesus, who represents fully the truth that "God saves"!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
His Love and His Life in Us
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." (1 John 4: 9)
This lesson is likely very difficult for many people to accept.
Jesus did not just die for us, although He certainly did:
"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)
and also
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1: 15)
Jesus did not just die as us, although this revelation is crucial (based on the Cross, and an important understanding on which the Christian life hangs!):
"4Wherefore, 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. 5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7: 4-6)
Jesus rose from the dead, to demonstrate that we are fully justified:
"Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4: 25)
We cannot talk about our sins paid for unless we accept also the gift of righteousness which accompanies it. They are two redeeming sides of the same redemption coin.
He sits at the right hand of God the Father, not just because He is the Son of God, which has always been the case. but because all our sins were purged:
"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" (Hebrews 1: 3)
He then released His Spirit into us, that He would live in us, and working in us, we live because of Him:
"33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2: 33)
Part of the love that He has for us goes beyond the fact that He died, but that He rose again, that He lives after the power of an endless life, and this life we have received, that He may live in and through us, too!
"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
Christ is in us, our hope of glory (Colossians 1: 27), and He is working in us (Colossians 1: 29)
Jesus is our life (John 14: 6), and He invites us to live through Him.
This lesson is likely very difficult for many people to accept.
Jesus did not just die for us, although He certainly did:
"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)
and also
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1: 15)
Jesus did not just die as us, although this revelation is crucial (based on the Cross, and an important understanding on which the Christian life hangs!):
"4Wherefore, 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. 5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7: 4-6)
Jesus rose from the dead, to demonstrate that we are fully justified:
"Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4: 25)
We cannot talk about our sins paid for unless we accept also the gift of righteousness which accompanies it. They are two redeeming sides of the same redemption coin.
He sits at the right hand of God the Father, not just because He is the Son of God, which has always been the case. but because all our sins were purged:
"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" (Hebrews 1: 3)
He then released His Spirit into us, that He would live in us, and working in us, we live because of Him:
"33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2: 33)
Part of the love that He has for us goes beyond the fact that He died, but that He rose again, that He lives after the power of an endless life, and this life we have received, that He may live in and through us, too!
"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)
Christ is in us, our hope of glory (Colossians 1: 27), and He is working in us (Colossians 1: 29)
Jesus is our life (John 14: 6), and He invites us to live through Him.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Want to Know the Lord? Know Christ and Him Crucified
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
If you want to "know the Lord", you do so not through what you do, but by believing and receiving all that Jesus has done at the Cross.
In short, grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18).
"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2: 2)
Jesus Christ -- the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13: 8), has made us the righteousness of God in Christ because of all that He did for us, at the Cross (2 Corinthians 5: 21).
Through His death and resurrection, we now have a better high priest forever:
"But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." (Hebrews 8: 6)
These promises include:
"What 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)
Of course, who can forget this wonderful declaration?:
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)
If you want to know the Lord, know and believe Christ and Him Crucified.
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
If you want to "know the Lord", you do so not through what you do, but by believing and receiving all that Jesus has done at the Cross.
In short, grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18).
"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2: 2)
Jesus Christ -- the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13: 8), has made us the righteousness of God in Christ because of all that He did for us, at the Cross (2 Corinthians 5: 21).
Through His death and resurrection, we now have a better high priest forever:
"But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." (Hebrews 8: 6)
These promises include:
"What 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)
Of course, who can forget this wonderful declaration?:
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)
If you want to know the Lord, know and believe Christ and Him Crucified.
Monday, April 7, 2014
We Love Because We are of God
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." (1 John 4: 7)
We are of God already, as John established in the previous verse.
Because we are of God, let us love one another. We do not love in order to be of God.
Many times, people read the Bible looking for directions.
With a law mindset, we may find ourselves frustrated into despair, for if love is of God, there is a temptation to believe that we have to love in order to be born of God.
Just think through that statement one more time. How can anyone do anything in order to be born? Such a statement is impossible. We are born again (John 3), and thus as children of God (1 John 3: 1-3), we love.
We have to be established in the truth of who we are in Christ, before we do anything.
Not only that, but because you are born of God, you know Him!
In fact, you can know Him without your effort because of all that Jesus did for us at the Cross, cutting the New Covenant:
"10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
We are of God already, as John established in the previous verse.
Because we are of God, let us love one another. We do not love in order to be of God.
Many times, people read the Bible looking for directions.
With a law mindset, we may find ourselves frustrated into despair, for if love is of God, there is a temptation to believe that we have to love in order to be born of God.
Just think through that statement one more time. How can anyone do anything in order to be born? Such a statement is impossible. We are born again (John 3), and thus as children of God (1 John 3: 1-3), we love.
We have to be established in the truth of who we are in Christ, before we do anything.
Not only that, but because you are born of God, you know Him!
In fact, you can know Him without your effort because of all that Jesus did for us at the Cross, cutting the New Covenant:
"10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8:10-12)
"For all shall know me" - this knowledge is all about personal revelation of Him who has been from the beginning (1 John 2: 12-14)
We love because God first loved us, and by this love He makes us just like His Son, and this love casts out every fear in our lives.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Those Who Believe Will Understand the Truth
"We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." (1 John 4: 6)
Whenever we read the word "truth" in the Bible, we must think of the Gospel, not just statements about exists or what is real, versus what is not real or what is made up:
"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 then
"But 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)
If these statements have not renewed a person's mind, there is more:
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," (Ephesians 1: 13)
"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;" (Colossians 1: 5)
The Gospel is all about the grace of God, in that we are justified before God because of Jesus:
"37But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. 38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 37-39)
The law does not justify, but kills and condemns:
"But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:" (2 Corinthians 3: 7)
and then
"9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory" (2 Corinthians 3: 9)
In Christ, we are justified, made righteous in His righteousness.
This is the spirit of truth, and the same Holy Spirit which grants us sonship (Romans 8: 15) convicts us of righteousness (John 16: 11)
Truth is not about what you know, or even who you know, but He who has been from the beginning (1 John 2: 14), that He knows you (Galatians 4: 6) and sees you in His Son Jesus.
Anyone who does not walk by the faith of the Gospel, that we are saved by grace through faith, taken from dead in trespasses to alive in Christ: will not understand the grace of God, and will not understand what you say to them.
Whenever we read the word "truth" in the Bible, we must think of the Gospel, not just statements about exists or what is real, versus what is not real or what is made up:
"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 then
"But 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)
If these statements have not renewed a person's mind, there is more:
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," (Ephesians 1: 13)
"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;" (Colossians 1: 5)
The Gospel is all about the grace of God, in that we are justified before God because of Jesus:
"37But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. 38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 37-39)
The law does not justify, but kills and condemns:
"But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:" (2 Corinthians 3: 7)
and then
"9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory" (2 Corinthians 3: 9)
In Christ, we are justified, made righteous in His righteousness.
This is the spirit of truth, and the same Holy Spirit which grants us sonship (Romans 8: 15) convicts us of righteousness (John 16: 11)
Truth is not about what you know, or even who you know, but He who has been from the beginning (1 John 2: 14), that He knows you (Galatians 4: 6) and sees you in His Son Jesus.
Anyone who does not walk by the faith of the Gospel, that we are saved by grace through faith, taken from dead in trespasses to alive in Christ: will not understand the grace of God, and will not understand what you say to them.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
In Christ, No Longer of This World
"They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them." (1 John 4: 5)
We need to understand that one we receive Christ, we are no longer of this world:
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (1 Corinthians 2: 12)
If we are no longer of this world, then we should not expecting anything in this world to suffice for our spirit, soul, and body:
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2: 15)
Now, we are called not to love the world, since we have the love of the Father in our lives, because we have received the Holy Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8: 15)
John does not say that we should not love the world because the world is evil (even though we cannot ignore that this earth is fallen, and a new earth is coming):
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2: 16-17)
God wants us to enjoy Him richly and eternally, which we cannot find in this fallen, temporary, unsatisfying earth.
We are no longer of this world, and therefore we should fear nothing in this world, either:
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (1 John 5: 4)
In the previous chapter, John reminds us of our standing before 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)
If we are in Christ, and we are as He is (not was), then we have indeed overcome the world (1 John 4: 4), and thus we can have this confidence, too:
"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)
We need to understand that one we receive Christ, we are no longer of this world:
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (1 Corinthians 2: 12)
If we are no longer of this world, then we should not expecting anything in this world to suffice for our spirit, soul, and body:
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2: 15)
Now, we are called not to love the world, since we have the love of the Father in our lives, because we have received the Holy Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8: 15)
John does not say that we should not love the world because the world is evil (even though we cannot ignore that this earth is fallen, and a new earth is coming):
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2: 16-17)
God wants us to enjoy Him richly and eternally, which we cannot find in this fallen, temporary, unsatisfying earth.
We are no longer of this world, and therefore we should fear nothing in this world, either:
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (1 John 5: 4)
In the previous chapter, John reminds us of our standing before 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)
If we are in Christ, and we are as He is (not was), then we have indeed overcome the world (1 John 4: 4), and thus we can have this confidence, too:
"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)
Friday, April 4, 2014
Overcoming the World in Christ
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4: 4)
Every word of God is inspired.
Never should we gloss over the truth which the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to us in His Word.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3: 16)
"Scripture" in the verse is "graphe", which means "Scriptures" or "a thing written" more generally.
and
"Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4: 4)
So, let us look over this wonderful verse word for word.
"Ye are of God"
This has been the truth from the beginning:
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." (Genesis 1: 26)
We came from God, and in God that is where we belong. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection on the Cross, we are not just with God, but in the family, in His Son:
"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)
We are of God, dear children in Christ.
We have already overcome, or claimed victory. How? In Christ, of course?
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)
You cannot know victory in this world until you know that Christ has overcome all things (John 16: 3)
Look to the last part of the verse above:
"greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
Do not look at yourself for greatness. There is no glory in ourselves:
"And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence." (1 Corinthians 1: 28-29)
In Christ, there is all glory:
"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)
But who is this "he" who is in the world? Satan, and you have nothing to fear from him, either:
"Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out." (John 12: 31)
and then
"8And when he [The Holy Spirit] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8-11)
Satan is cast out, he is judged, and he is completely powerless, too!
"13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting 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; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:1 3-15)
That last part, "spoiled" means "disarmed", in that Jesus took away the one weapon that Satan, the Accuser of the Brethren, uses against us -- God's law, which has been fulfilled and put away because of Jesus' Finished Work at the Cross.
You have overcome the world in Christ, Beloved -- Rejoice and be exceeding glad!
Every word of God is inspired.
Never should we gloss over the truth which the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to us in His Word.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3: 16)
"Scripture" in the verse is "graphe", which means "Scriptures" or "a thing written" more generally.
and
"Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4: 4)
So, let us look over this wonderful verse word for word.
"Ye are of God"
This has been the truth from the beginning:
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." (Genesis 1: 26)
We came from God, and in God that is where we belong. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection on the Cross, we are not just with God, but in the family, in His Son:
"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)
We are of God, dear children in Christ.
We have already overcome, or claimed victory. How? In Christ, of course?
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 37)
You cannot know victory in this world until you know that Christ has overcome all things (John 16: 3)
Look to the last part of the verse above:
"greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
Do not look at yourself for greatness. There is no glory in ourselves:
"And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence." (1 Corinthians 1: 28-29)
In Christ, there is all glory:
"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)
But who is this "he" who is in the world? Satan, and you have nothing to fear from him, either:
"Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out." (John 12: 31)
and then
"8And when he [The Holy Spirit] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8-11)
Satan is cast out, he is judged, and he is completely powerless, too!
"13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting 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; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:1 3-15)
That last part, "spoiled" means "disarmed", in that Jesus took away the one weapon that Satan, the Accuser of the Brethren, uses against us -- God's law, which has been fulfilled and put away because of Jesus' Finished Work at the Cross.
You have overcome the world in Christ, Beloved -- Rejoice and be exceeding glad!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
What Hinders the New Covenant: Self-Righteousness
We have to get rid of all pretentions of self-righteous, which will come out of us as long as we see the law, the Ten Commandments or any other rudiments, or weak and beggarly elements as necessary for us to live the life which only Christ Himself lives in us.
Consider the parables outlined in Mark 11:
"20And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away." (Mark 11: 20-21)
The fig tree is a picture of man's righteousness, of self-righteousness, of works-righteousness, since the first man and woman dressed themselves in fig leaves to cover up their shame and nakedness after eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
When the tree of self-righteousness is completely removed in our lives, then watch what happens:
"22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11: 22-24)
While Kenneth Hagin and other preachers focus on what we say, the focus needs to be on Jesus and the new heart, the new spirit which we receive from Him, and with it the assurance of His faith, not ours, working in us:
"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)
We live by His faith, not ours!
Then Paul writes:
"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 21)
Righteousness cannot come from the law, from the "thou shalt nots" which no one can keep. When we accept the truth that the law is not the grace/truth which sets us free, when we see ourselves dead and hopeless in our trespasses, and that we need the Savior to save and redeem us, that we receive His life, passing from death to life, and His new power carries us through every day.
Then, we can have what we say, because what we say is a reflection of what is in our hearts, and we have a new heart, one with desires which He has set within us by His Holy Spirit!
What hinders the New Covenant in our lives is not that we do not speak forth what we want, or that we are not repeating our needs enough at length. Oftentimes men and women still themselves having to achieve something for God rather than receive all things from God.
When we understand the fullness of the Old Covenant, then receive the fullness of the New, we can walk in His grace and reign in this life because of His eternal life within us.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
What Hinders the New Covenant: The Old Covenant: The Law
More preachers are sharing the wonders of the New Covenant, in which we "Yes!" and believe Him for all things.
Still, some linger in the Word of Faith aspect of all things, convinced that if they say certain words enough times, or declare the blood over all things, then they will have what they say, want, etc.
The truth is that while we can say all the right things that we want to, if our heart is not established in righteousness, then whatever we say or think will not last long.
What we say, what we think, all manifest what we believe.
If we think that we still owe God something for all that we have done in our lives, then we cannot receive. We cannot have our hands open to God to receive all things if we still believe that there is part which we must play, that we can achieve, or work with God to achieve something.
The Bible is very clear about the promises in the New Covenant:
"0For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
Now, this New Covenant is based on the sure and unshakable truth that all my sins are forgiven, put away, paid for, and sent away.
There is another element which cannot be ignored:
"13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8: 13)
We have to get rid of the Old, we have to get ourselves out fro under an old system which will leave nothing but a "fearful looking after of judgment" (Hebrews 10: 26)
As long as we think that we still owe God something, or that we can and must contribute something more to what Jesus has done and is doing for us, then we end up frustrating the grace of God in our lives (Galatians 5: 4)
If you want to let His new heart rule in your life, and thus out of the abundance of this heart your mouth will speak, know and believe the love of God (not for God) (1 John 4: 16), and receive His fullness in your life through the New Covenant.
If you want to let His new heart rule in your life, and thus out of the abundance of this heart your mouth will speak, know and believe the love of God (not for God) (1 John 4: 16), and receive His fullness in your life through the New Covenant.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Fools to the World - Wise to God in Christ
"We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised." (1 Corinthians 4: 10)
No matter what the world may think of us, we must remember what God our Father thinks of us:
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 6)
Now, if we are fools, it is because the wisdom of the world is foolish:
"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)
Jesus praises us for being simple, as the world defines simple:
"At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." (Matthew 11: 25)
The world cannot understand the wisdom of God, either, because they are carnal, living in their flesh rather than walking by faith:
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2: 14)
Now, the wisest man on earth before Jesus was Solomon, and his request was wisdom, a hearing heart:
"Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" (1 Kings 3: 9)
It's all about Wisdom, which is found in Christ, not in the world, and certainly not in ourselves:
" James VersionBut 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)
Notice that the first thing Christ is made to us is wisdom, for then we see our need for righteousness, which He supplies in full measure, and He then sanctifies us and demonstrates our redemption in Himself.
While the world rejects the Wisdom which is Christ Jesus, let us remember the following:
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16: 33)
and
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4: 4)
and then
"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)
No matter what the world may think of us, we must remember what God our Father thinks of us:
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 6)
Now, if we are fools, it is because the wisdom of the world is foolish:
"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)
Jesus praises us for being simple, as the world defines simple:
"At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." (Matthew 11: 25)
The world cannot understand the wisdom of God, either, because they are carnal, living in their flesh rather than walking by faith:
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2: 14)
Now, the wisest man on earth before Jesus was Solomon, and his request was wisdom, a hearing heart:
"Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" (1 Kings 3: 9)
It's all about Wisdom, which is found in Christ, not in the world, and certainly not in ourselves:
" James VersionBut 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)
Notice that the first thing Christ is made to us is wisdom, for then we see our need for righteousness, which He supplies in full measure, and He then sanctifies us and demonstrates our redemption in Himself.
While the world rejects the Wisdom which is Christ Jesus, let us remember the following:
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16: 33)
and
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4: 4)
and then
"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)
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