What Restrained Their Eyes? The Law

Cleopas and wife, on the road to Emmaus, both had their eyes restrained when Jesus came to them.

"But their eyes were holden that they should not know him." (Luke 24: 16)

The text clearly indicates that it was a passive restriction, not something that Jesus did, even as He was walking with them.

The Word of God does not support the notion that God hides Himself willingly.

Some would counter with this verse:

"He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them." (John 12: 40)


So what was holding them back from seeing Jesus? The Law in the hands of the enemy:

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Corinthians 4: 4)

Paul wrote about this in the previous chapter:

"12Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 12-18)

And why specifically were they blinded? Like the Pharisees, they were holding on to traditions:

"For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do." (Mark 7: 8)

Specifically, Cleopas explained:

"But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done." (Luke 24: 21)

Cleopas and wife had subscribed to the teaching that Jesus the Messiah would wreak a political victory, one that would redeem Israel politically. What they needed to learn, what Jesus would teach them (v. 25-27), is that the Messiah came to suffer for the sins of man and redeem them from death to life.

No longer to see Moses, but  we need to see Christ in the Scriptures, who gives life and power and open eyes:

"But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ." (2 Corinthians 3: 14)

When we see Jesus in the Scriptures, then we see Him everywhere, giving us His righteousness and grace (Romans 5: 17) through His Holy Spirit (Romans 14: 17)

When Jesus broke the bread, their eyes were opened, because the breaking of bread speaks of healing and also the breaking of our Lord's Body for us, His redemption for us.

Then they saw who He was, and He then vanished before them, as Cleopas and wife were now walking by faith, no longer by sight (2 Corinthians 5: 7)

What restrained the eyes of Cleopas and wife was not Jesus, but their reading of the Old Testament without the Holy Spirit enlightening them to the truth, which makes us free (John 8: 31-32), which is Jesus Christ resurrected and in all glory ministering us His Holy Spirit. The redemption most important is for ourselves, that we no longer live dead in our trespasses.

When we are redeemed, receiving His Spirit, we prosper and are in health, as our soul now prospers in full awareness of the Truth.
The more that you see Jesus in your life, doing all things, you will no longer be restrained in your eyes, and you will be transformed from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3: 18)

He Chose Us - Let Him Choose You

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

Never should we believe that we found the Lord God.

He found us, and He loved us first, even when we were not paying attention, or even cared:

"I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name." (Isaiah 65: 1)

Paul references this scripture to affirm the blessed calling of God the Father for us:

"20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me." (Romans 10: 20)

Furthermore:

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

We did not even have the faith to come to God in ourselves. That faith is also the gift of God:

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

Then what is "our part"? To believe on Him:

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

Consider the three parables of grace in Luke 15:

"5And when he [the shepherd] hath found it [the lost sheep], he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing." (Luke 15: 5)

and then

"And when she hath found it [the lost coin], she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost." (Luke 15: 9)

and finally:

"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." (Luke 15: 20)

The shepherd found the sheep, the woman found the lost coin, and the father who had been waiting for the son came to him as soon as he consented to come back home.

God found us, He chose us, so let Him choose you today!

His Truth Is Always There For You

The truth of the Bible has always been in ourhands. The truth also remains that everyone of us is dead in Adam and needs to be made alive in Christ. We cannot blame our initial parents, but the blame starts with Adam, and even then we have no excuse for being bitter, because Jesus has brought us something much better which we do not have to work for at all:

"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For 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: 15-17)

If we are blaming someone else for our setbacks and problems, we are basing these arrogant assertions on two things:

1. They did something to prevent us from being saved.

2. We can do something to save ourselves.

Both assertions are completely wrong.

Bitterness comes from a lack of grace in our lives, and grace is not something that we can earn at all.

God warned his people Israel against worshipping other gods, which would breed bitterness:

"Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;" (Deuteronomy 29: 18)

and then

"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)

How do we fall from grace? Not when we sin, but when we try to justify ourselves:

"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Galatian 5: 4)

In other words -- dead works, and these dead works are put away in Christ.

Why should I be bitter? Christ Jesus makes all things better.

Believe me, though, this lesson has taken me longer than I would like to learn. The truth of the Gospel is there for us. Do not fear that anyone can take it away from you.

He Paid for All Sins, Not Just Yours

Now, part of recognizing the blessed wonder of His grace is that He covers not just my sins but the sins of the entire 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)
We may get angry at certain people, and sometimes the anger rises up from time to time.

If they had taught me the Truth who sets free, if they really believed in the Truth of the Gospel, then all of those terrible things would not have happened to me. . .

The fact is, that none of us come to God in our own efforts to begin with:

"I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name." (Isaiah 65:1)

and

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

and

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15: 16)

Now, in case you may think that this grace is only for some, and that God has figured out who would believe, and who would not (a faulty understanding of predestination), consider this verse:

"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)

Grace is for all of us, and whether other people receive it or not, we have no reason to begrudge anyone their sins, since they have been paid for already.

Repent From Dead Works, Not Sin

"For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins." (Hebrews 10: 2)

We cannot keep working steps or doing religious duties in order to purge from us a sense of guilt and shame.

Because of all that Jesus did at the Cross, we are called no longer to repent from sin, but rather from dead works:

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God" (Hebrews 6: 1)

and then

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9: 14)

Sin is not going away as long as we walk around in these bodies.

"21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." (Romans 7: 21-23)

We will get new bodies when we are resurrected, but in the mean time, we are called to rest in the grace of God, and recognize that Jesus died for all our sins and condemned sin in the flesh, as well:

"1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8: 1-4)

Take another look at Hebrews 10: 2.

Because of what Jesus did at the Cross, there is no more conscience of sins:

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

We have  a perfected standing in His righteousness before God the Father because of His Son, so repent from dead works, like confessing sins or improving your mood to make you right before God. He has taken care of all things in His Son.

Jesus: The Something Better

"But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." (Hebrews 11: 16)

There are many people in the Body of Christ, as well the vast majority of people in the world, who hold onto their traditions, perversions, and addictions for one reason: "Is there anything better?"

That is a good point, and the answer is Yes!

Yes: the Blood of Jesus Christ, Our High Priest, who enacts the New Covenant:

We have something better in Christ:

"How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119: 103)

and now

"But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak." (Hebrew 6: 9)

and

"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God." (Hebrews 7: 19)

and also

"By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament." (Hebrews 7: 22)

and next

 "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)

and finally

"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)

 There is a better way: through Christ and His Finished Work at the Cross.


"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21And having an high priest over the house of God; 22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10: 19-22)

The blood of Jesus has granted us a new and living way, the New Covenant (Hebrews 8: 10-12)

 

Nothing could be better than Christ Jesus, the "something better" that everyone of us is looking for.

Righteous -- Established, Even When You Fall

"For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief." (Proverbs 24: 16)

When I read this passage, I had to rest on this truth: righteous people fall.

Consider the example of Abraham:

"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15: 6)

Even though he had lied about his wife, twice, and fathered a child with a servant girl instead of trusting the grace of God to bless him with a son through his wife Sarah.

Consider the example of Lot:

"19Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: 20Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 21And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither." (Genesis 19: 19-22)

If Lot had understood that He was righteousness, he could have stayed in Sodom and Gomorrah.

The verse above from Proverbs states "rises again", yet the original Hebrew is better rendered:

"The righteous man falls seven times, yet is established; but the wicked stumble into mischief [even when trying to flee from it.

Righteousness is not about what we do, but what God has done.

Righteousness is about believing what Jesus has done, not believe in what we can do:

"16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1: 16-17)

and then

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2: 16)

How do we fall from grace, anyway? Not when we sin, as borne out in Proverbs 24: 16,  but through our efforts:

"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Galatians 5: 4)

You have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21) You cannot fall away, even when you fail (Romans 8: 37-39).

Let this grace establish your heart today (Hebrews 13: 9), and walk with God in confidence!

He Perfects Us

"The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands." (Psalm 138: 8)

Take another look at this verse.

We do not perfect ourselves.

We do not make ourselves better.

Yet man-centered cults and religion has taught people that they make themselves  better by keeping certain rules, by attending religious services, that we can improve our standing before God.

Excuse me?!

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

2The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

3They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Psalm 14:1-3)

 

and

 

"Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Psalm 53: 3)

 

Solomon, the wisest man in the world, had to acknowledge in his time:

 

"For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not." (Ecclesiastes 7: 20)

Let us not forget, however, that Solomon wrote these words before Jesus,  the righteousness of God, had become sin for us (2 Corinthians 5: 21).

Paul repeated this distressing reality about man (on his own, in himself):

"They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Romans 3: 12)

We cannot perfect ourselves, nor can we be received in ourselves, but only by the blood of Jesus are we accepted before the Father:

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2: 13)

and

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

He Has Perfected Us

God has perfected us in our conscience before God. Before explaining this perfect standing through Christ's blood, the writer of the Book of Hebrew elaborates on the imperfection of animal sacrifices:

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." (Hebrews 10: 1-4)

With the sacrifice of animals, there was a remembrance of sins. Ouch!

Then the writer of Hebrews continues:

"11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 11-14)

Look at that last verse again: "perfected forever."

As far as God is concerned, as we stand before Him in Christ, we are perfect. In our conscience, the deepest part of us, we need never have a sense of guilt or wrongdoing ever again.

I had to meditate on that part a second time. If we have been perfected forever in Christ, then there is no reason for us to feel guilty about anything ever again. 

We should have no sense of guilt, because He has Finished the work.

Now, if we still feel bad, if we still do bad things, we must recognize that we have been forgiven of all things, but most importantly justified from all things, too:

"Be 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: 38-39)

We have been justified forever, and now we can allow His Spirit to transform us, rather than our trying to fix ourselves:

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)44

He perfects us, not we ourselves.

Justified to Receive All Things by Grace

Yesterday, you read about the justification we have received in Christ -- from all things.

This justification spreads into our receiving all things too:

"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)

We will not be able to receive all things from Him until we believe that He has justified us from all things:

"Be 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: 38-39)

This announcement of the Gospel is crucial, because Paul makes it clear that we have been justified from all things -- all -- which the Law of Moses cannot grant to us.

When Jesus died on the Cross, He not only carried all our sins, but He fulfilled the law for us, too:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." (Matthew 5: 17)

Jesus declared on the Cross:

"It is Finished" (John 19: 30)

He wasn't just talking about all our sins, but the law which revealed our sin, too:

"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." (Romans 3: 31)

and then

"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)

What happens when we receive this grace, which has freed us from the law?

"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)

In the first letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes:

"4I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;" (1 Corinthians 1: 4-5)

When we accept that we have been justified from all things, we will not spend our time trying to make ourselves feel better or justify ourselves in what we do, but we can receive all things freely from Him as gifts, because every good and perfect gift comes from above by His grace (James 1: 17)

We Are Justified from All Things -- All!

"Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." (1 Corinthians 9: 14)

We live by the Gospel, because the Gospel is the gift of righteousness bought and paid for us because of what Jesus did at the Cross, and what He does for us at the right hand of God the Father:

"Be 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: 38-39)

Notice that the law is displaced by the grace of God, which justifies us from all things.

All things:

"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 then

"[Jesus] gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 14)

and also

"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)

All. All. All.

This total gift grants us His righteousness:

"15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For 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: 15-17)

and also

"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)

We are forgiven from all our sins -- all of them!

Inquire of the Lord to Receive More of His Grace

"22And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD.

23And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger." (Genesis 25: 22-23)

 

In this verse, we learn what we need to inquire of the Lord when we struggle in our lives.

 

The LORD explained to Rebekah that there were two manner of people.

 

Esau represents people who live in the flesh, who live under law:

 

Jacob represents those how live by the Spirit, under grace, under the New Covenant.

 

For this reason, we learn that the elder we serve the younger, just as Moses is the servant (Hebrews 3: 5), yet Jesus the Son abides forever (Hebrews 7: 3):

 

"(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." (Romans 9: 11-13)

 

Most people have read this passage, and assume that God arbitrarily calls certain people while others are certain to be damned.

 

That is not true. We are not saved by our efforts, but by His grace. We do not earn it, but rather we receive it as a gift:

 

"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: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2: 4-9)

 

With Ephesians (and the harmony of Scriptures) in mind, we then understand that election, grace, stands not on works (us) but on Him who calls (grace and truth in Christ -- John 1: 17)

 

When we struggle in our lives, there is still an element of the law, or ourselves, which remains. He invites us to come to Him boldly in time of need for His grace:

 

"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)

 

and then

 

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3: 18)

Everything We Need in the Cross

Why does God not remember our sins anymore? Because He remembered all of them in His Son at the Cross:

 

"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: 38-39)

 

And also

 

"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

 

"1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. " (Romans 8: 1-4)

 

God condemned sin in the flesh, and thus the righteousness of the law was fulfilled for us and in us.

 

All through the Cross!

 

Noah constructed the ark, a picture of Jesus our Savior, from the tree:

 

"Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch." (Genesis 6: 14)

 

When the Israelites complained about the bitter waters, Moses threw in the tree, which healed the waters:

 

"24And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 26And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee." (Exodus 15: 24-26)

 

When the Israelites were bitten by the snakes, they looked to a bronze serpent on a tree:

 

"And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." (Numbers 21: 9)

 

When David's son rebelled against him, a tree stopped him and made him an easy target:

 

"9And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. 10And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak." (2 Samuel 18: 9-10)

 

The Cross is the answer to every problem you face, the signal, the standard under which you can rest, just as Abraham did when he ate with the Holy Trinity in his tent. (Genesis 18)

 

The Cross speaks of full justification before God, and for that reason we are more than conquerors (Romans 8: 37)!

Righteousness is the Key

Many times in our lives, there is great frustration and hurt in our lives.

The periods of pain and suffering, much of the time, flowed from a lack of understanding about the righteousness of God.

Fear was a big problem in my life:

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41: 10)

The key element for overcoming fear, or anything else, is righteousness.

That one word escaped my attention time and again.

Yet Jesus made His righteousness the preeminent element for all other gifts:

"33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

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

 

The Cross is God's forever signal to us, the testimony that He is our God and sees us through all our hurts and upsets:

 

"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)

 

"I am a God to You." Wow!

 

"All shall know me" - instead of us trying to know Him, He will cause us to know Him. Wow!

 

Why?

 

"Because I will be merciful (i.e. will pay for) their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more."

 

 

Weight Loss Through the Gospel

I was surprised when I heard Richard Simmons talk about the most important thing that people have to do before they lose weight:

"You have to love yourself. You have to be OK with yourself before you start losing weight."

In other words:

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 2)

If men and women try to lose weight in their own efforts, then in their own efforts they will have to maintain this weight loss, and such efforts are a crap-shoot at best.

How many people out there have lost weight, only to gain it back, or worse to gain more than they had to begin with? Most people end up weighing more because on top of having failed to keep the weight off, they feel more shame because they could not in their own effort keep off what they had put off in their own efforts.

Man has to deal with the inside first. Forget about focusing on what you are eating. What's eating you? A man's soul cannot prosper if within himself he has no peace.

Man can do nothing in his own effort:

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26: 41)

God has not left us without power, though:

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

We do not need strength for any endeavor in or life, We need life, and that more abundantly:

"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)

then

"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 4)

In any thing that we struggle, let us rather rest in the righteousness which Christ has made us to be (2 Corinthians 5: 21). Righteousness is the status of "perfected", "justified", "fully accepted" in Christ. Because He first loved us, then we can love ourselves (1 John 4: 19), and this love has been perfected for us as follows:
"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)

"Weight gain" or "Overweight" are some of many judgments which we face in this world, yet we can face even these minuscule problems by resting in the righteousness that we are. Then God's grace flows in our lives, and the Holy Spirit leads us in what we are to do, to eat, and how to walk in Him.

Let Him bear the weight of all your cares, even your weight, and His peace will rule in you as to what do, first by convicting you of your righteous standing in Him.

The Perfect Love of God is the Answer

"I know that God loves me."

Do you? If that is the case then there should be no trace of fear in your life.

"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)

His perfect love casts out fear.

Fear is not something that we outgrow with our efforts, but something which His (not our) perfect love casts out.

Now, why are we afraid? Because we cannot rely on ourselves?

No, John gives us the answer:

"Because fear has torment"

Or rather: "punishment."

If we are afraid, it is that we fear punishment from God.

We should not fear any punishment, however, because Jesus took all the punishment for our sins and every other wrong thing that we have done:

"Be 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 13:38-39)

and then

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8: 1, NIV)

None at all.

And also:

"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)

Jesus' blood cleanses us -- the key element in the definition of God's love for us:

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

We have not yet begun to understand God's love for us. That's why Paul prayed:

"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)

More Than Creator, but our Redeemer

More than a  Creator, all of us need a redeemer.

"1But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." (Isaiah 43: 1)

This prophesy is fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Paul explains this redemption to the Galatians:

"3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." (Galatians 4: 3-7)

Jesus has taken everyone who believes on Him out from under the law and under His grace..

If we do not believe that we have been fully justified from all our sins (Acts 13:38-39), then we will live in fear:

"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)

Fear has torment, because fear means that we are afraid of punishment from God.

The answer to fear is not trusting in some god of our understanding, but resting in the truth that in Christ all our sins are put away forever, that He has redeemed us from our sins and from the law:

"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: 5-6)

God our Father has not only forgiven us our sins, but Has granted us a new standing in His Son:

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

When we understand that this love perfected has made us one with Jesus, then that perfect love casts out all fear in our lives.

Keep Receiving His Righteousness

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

What is faith? The writer of the book of Hebrews writes:

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

What was the thing hoped for? The Gospel:

"For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." (Matthew 13: 17)

and then

"Be 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: 38-39)

To John the Baptist, when he doubted that Jesus is the Messiah:

"2Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." (Matthew 11: 2-6)

Luke's Gospels is more emphatic about Jesus' demonstration of His divinity:

"18And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. 19And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 20When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 21And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. 22Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 23And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." (Luke 7: 18-23)

Just as we keep reading and seeing more of Jesus and all that He is, so too we grow in grace and knowledge of Him  (2 Peter 3: 18) from faith to faith.

Now, Jesus invites us to keep receiving His gifts of righteousness and grace, too:

"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)

Keep receiving His righteousness and abundance of grace today!

What Does the Scripture Say?

Twice in the New Testament Paul writes "What does the Scripture say?" or "What saith the Scripture?"

The first mention has to do with the source of righteousness:

"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Romans 4:3)

Righteousness is all about believing on the God of Abraham, the same God who declared that through Abraham's seed, Jesus, all the nations of the world would be blessed:

"Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 16Now 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. 17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect." (Galatians 3: 15-17)

We are made righteousness by faith, not by works.

The other mention regards what to do with the law:

"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 and her son represent the law, not just the ceremonial law, but the whole moral law.

"For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." (Galatians 4: 22-26)

What does the Scripture say? Believe the Lord Jesus (John 6:29) and cast out the law (Hebrews 8: 13)

Grace is The Whole Story for Us

"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast." (Psalm 57: 1)

The better translation reads:

"Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me."

Grant me favor.

Do not read this verse from the perspective of "I trust you, therefore He is gracious to me."

Grace is unearned, unmerited, undeserved favor.

We trust Him because He is gracious to us.

Where is the proof of this? In the Cross:

"31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)

He did not hold back His Son, and we can then trust that He is freely giving us all things with Him, too.

God granted us His favor before we could say anything, let alone refuse:

"For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield." (Psalm 5: 12)

and also

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

We are defined by His grace:

"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2: 5)

and also

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (1 Corinthians 15: 10)

and also

"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)

Grace is the whole story for us, because grace and truth together are found in Christ (John 1: 17), who is the head of all creation (Ephesians 1: 10) and redemption (Colossians 1: 14).

Justified By Our Neighbor, Jesus

"But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?" (Luke 10: 29)

The lawyer asked Jesus this question after the Savior of the world had answered his first question.

Here is the prior exchange:

25And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live." (Luke 10: 25-28)

The question itself was leading and misleading.

If you need eternal life, what can you or anyone else do to get this life? Crazy!

Yet that kind of question is inevitable if you live under law, if you are defined by the law rather than by grace.

"How do you read the law?" Jesus answered.

The lawyer listed the ultimate resume of the law, from the Shema (Deuteronomy 6: 4)

No one can love God with his heart, for man needs a new heart:

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36: 26)

Even though the lawyer was self-righteous from the outset, Jesus still praised him, then leveled him with its impossible demands:

"This do, and you shall live."

Yet if you are not alive, how can you do anything?

Instead of getting caught up in that revelation, the lawyer attempted to justify himself:

"Who is my neighbor?"

Jesus then relates the parable of the Samaritan, who was not under law, therefore did not fear defiling himself to help the man beaten and robbed along the road to Jericho (Luke 10:30-36)

After relating this parable, the lawyer defines who was neighbor, and Jesus then exhorts the lawyer:

"37And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise." (Luke 10: 37)

Yet even with all of this, the lawyer missed the fact that Jesus was being a neighbor to the lawyer, demonstrating that grace is greater than the law:

"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6: 6)

Furthermore, because of God's grace, we are saved (Ephesians 2: 4-9), and we are made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21).

Because Jesus took us from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2: 1-6), Jesus our neighbor has justified us, and forever (Romans 5: 17, Acts 13: 38-39)

Today, we are justified by our Heavenly Neighbor Jesus.

Justified, Not Justifying Ourselves

As long as we believe that the work is not done, that we have justify ourselves, rather than rest in the truth that we are justified, then we will wander throughout our lives having nothing to rest on.

There is no mixing the grace of God with the former covenant of the wisdom of the world, or the rudimentary elements of the ungodly:

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." (Psalm 1:1)

and then

"20Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21(Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh." (Colossians 2: 20-23)

Such ordinances including the Twelve Steps of AA.

What is the Gospel, anyway?

"Be 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: 38-39)

The law of Moses, or of any man, does not justify us. Period.

We accept righteousness as a gift, one which keeps on giving:

"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)

We are justified in Christ through His blood, not through our sweat and tears, and any attempts to justify ourselves will cause us to fall from grace:

"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Galatians 5: 4)

Could it be any simpler? Stop trying to justify yourself, and accept that in Christ you are fully justified.

Freely Receive, Freely Give

"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (Matthew 10: 8)

Anything that we have, we have received from God:

"John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." (John 3: 27)

Jesus could not have made it clearer about our need for Himself:

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

and then

"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)

Because of Jesus, we can freely receive all things:

"31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? " (Romans 8: 31-32)

Because of Jesus, we are made complete:

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Colossians 2: 10)

Also:

"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: 21-23)

We are invited to keep receiving from Him:

"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)

So, when we realize that we have all things because of Christ Jesus, that we are justified from all things because of Him (Acts 13: 38-39), that through Him we are cleared from all trespasses, and because of Him we are blessed with all spiritual blessings, then we find that we can freely give to others.

In fact, Paul exhorts us to be gracious, just as God through Christ has been gracious to us:

"31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4: 31-32)

Freely you have received and keep receiving, Beloved, so thus you can freely give and keep on giving.

We Give Because He Gives to Us

"12Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 13Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

14But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee." (1 Chronicles 29: 23-25)

 

From God we give back to God.

 

Where did we come from? From God Himself:

"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)

While the fishes came out of the water, and the animals came out of the ground, mankind came from God.

The idea that we can do anything of ourselves makes no sense whatsoever. Can a plant grow outside of the very ground where its seed was first laid?

"31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof." (Matthew 13: 31-32)

The seed of itself is nothing, and so are we in and of ourselves.

We give only because He has given to us:

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

We have no life of ourselves. We need life. Jesus reproached the religious leaders during His earthly ministry:

"And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." (John 5: 40)

Yet still, Jesus offered Himself to Israel:

"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)

When we receive Him, we receive all things with Him, too:

"31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)

When we realize that we have nothing of ourselves and that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15: 5), then we can receive this exhortation:

"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (Matthew 10: 8)

Raised From the Dead to Bear Fruit

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

Trees do not bear fruit by striving in their own effort.

They bear fruit because they are sprouted from the tree, or the vine:

"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: 1-5)

Notice that Jesus did not say "try to be a branch." There can be no branch without the vine.

"Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also." (John 14: 19)

Jesus did not come to make us better people. He came to give us life, to give us Himself:

"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)

and then

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

We have died with Christ, and now we live because of Him, too:

"20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)

and also

"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: 3-4)

We have this life because of His righteousness:

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

This righteousness enables us to bear fruit:

"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1: 9-11)

Peter writes about our transfer from death to life, and the fruit that we bear because of it:

We receive the life of Christ because we have received His righteousness, no longer dead in our trespasses, but alive and seated in heavenly places with Him (Ephesians 2: 1-6)

Raised form the dead, we bear the fruit of the Spirit who lives and dwells in us today (Galatians 5: 22-23)

Jesus: Not Giving, But Taking

The Bible provides the better way from the man-centered religions of this life:


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

He provides us all things.

How about this?

"31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)

and

"12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 12-13)

and

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

and then

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

Once again, "my conception" of God cannot compare or begin to approach the goodness we receive through Christ Jesus.

Not even close.

I need someone who is providing all things for me.

He is the Blesser, for He must take the better place in our lives.

God is not taking  but giving us all things:

"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)

When we prize how much God loves us in giving us His Son, then we can freely receive all other things with Him.

Not Our Trying, But His Supplying

We have life, and that more abundantly, through Jesus, who ministers on our behalf by the power of an endless life:

" [Jesus] only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." (1 Timothy 6: 16)

and then

"[Jesus] is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." (Hebrews 7: 16)

Jesus is all supply in our need for all things:

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

and also

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

and even this

"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: 21-23)

Everything is ours because of Jesus!

Here is one more reason, among many, while all the talk about "choosing your own conception of God" is not only wrong, but deceptive and dangerous.

He is constantly supplying to us all the time.

That is what eternal  life is all about.

This is such a new and novel truth to me. It is not a new or novel revelation in itself.

He is constantly supplying all my needs, and He is working within me both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2: 12-13)

Not based on my thoughts or feelings, but the Cross and His blood.

Not based on us, but based on Him who has been from the beginning.

Spirit of Liberty in Christ

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3: 17)

The Spirit of God speaks of Jesus all the time:

"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)

The Spirit of Truth which testifies of Jesus:

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

Grace and truth are one, and they are one in Jesus.

This truth grants us liberty:

"31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8: 31-32)

You shall know that truth, and the truth will set you free. The Holy Spirit delivers to us this Truth, the Man and the Glory Jesus Christ:

Without Jesus, there is no liberty:


"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8: 36)

There is no liberty without Christ Jesus.

Finally, what is the Spirit of Liberty for:

"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." (Galatians 5: 13)

On this Fourth of July, rest in the Truth who sets You free.

Forget the Flesh (Self-Effort): Walk in the Spirit

"1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?" (1 Corinthians 3: 1-4)

Carnality, or being in the flesh, causes divisions to arise among us.

Paul wrote about unity in Christ as a key element in spiritual growth:

"1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4: 1-6)

Carnality also speaks to trying in our efforts to achieve what God so freely gives:

"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: 5-6)

When we strive in our efforts, we produce sin!

Cults like AA teach people to trust in their efforts and strive according to a set of rules rather than allowing the grace of God to work in them:

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)

and then

"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)

Now, when we understand law and grace, then we can understand "walking in the Spirit":

"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. " (Galatians 5: 4-5)

and then

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5: 16-18)

To walk in the Spirit is to live under grace, to receive all things from Him:

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

and also

"31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give [lit. grace] us all things? " (Romans 8: 31-32)

Walk in the Spirit, receive from Him all things. and you won't have to worry about being carnal.

Forget the Rules of the Law; Let Grace Rule

I am justified in Christ.I often believed that how I felt determined whether God was moving in my life or not.

Very carnal.

God did not call us to walk in the flesh, but in the Spirit.

I did not understand what much of this meant, until I realized that "the flesh" speaks of our self-effort.

I never realized that God is committed to working in me and for me in all things.

Such is the essence of the New Covenant which He has cut for all of us:

"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 a long time, I thought that God was with me and working in me depending on how I felt.

 

All of it was due to a misunderstanding of the Old and New Covenants:

 

"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)

 

The Old is out and the New takes its place.

 

Yet for so long, I had these stupid rules in place, like I had to see some demonstrable evidence that I was safe. That lie started with Satan, yet I pressed on myself the necessity of answering that concern.

 

He is a God to me not because of how I feel or what I think, but because of who Jesus is today!

 

The rules have to go, the Ten Commandments, which did their job convicting us of sin. Now we must receive and keep receiving the abundance of grace:

 

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

 

and then

 

"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)

 

Grace is a teacher, and keeps teaching -- Not the law, but grace.

 

Get rid of the rules, and let grace rule in your life today!

Full-Grown Children in Christ

"26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3: 26)

When we read "children" in this verse, we need to understand that Paul is not referring to toddlers, but full grown sons.

Paul writes to the Ephesians:

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

Paul then writes to the Galatians:

"6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." (Galatians 4: 6-7)

Now, Paul explains to them that the Law brings men back to an infantile stage:

"8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." (Galatians 4: 8-10)

"Weak and beggarly" describes the Law, and the word "elements" suggests ABCs or the building blocks, like the toys which little children play with.

What does Paul write about toys:

"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13: 11)

In Chapter 13 of First Corinthians, Paul is talking about God's love for us, not our love for God, since we have no love to give of ourselves.

We are full-grown sons in Christ, sons of God because of His great love for us (1 John 3: 1)

No longer under law but under grace, we allow Him to lead us from within:

"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)

Full-grown children do not need rules on the outside, because they are ruled from within by God's Holy Spirit.