Ministers of the New Covenant

"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Corinthians 3: 6)

Because of Jesus, because of all that Jesus has done for us at the Cross, because of His ongoing, never-ending minister before our Father, we are no longer ministering death and condemnation under the Old Covenant, through the Ten Commandments.

We are called to inform all men that they can receive God's perfect protection and life because of Jesus:

"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 also

"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 3-6)

What Jesus did when He died on the Cross, we receive a record of in Hebrews:

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

We are perfected in our conscience, recognizing that all our sins have been paid for, forever at the Cross:

"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: 13-15)

and

"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)

When He comes again, He will not come to judge us for our sin, but to redeem us completely:

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9: 28)

We must understand that to be apart from sin is not through the law:

"But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead." (Romans 7: 8)

but rather through the grace of God:

"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)

Because of His grace, we live:

"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)

Let us look to the New Year, 2015, and let us be ministers of the New Covenant, setting forth what the Old Covenant was, and what it did, and revealing to all Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith (Hebrews 12: 2)

Because of the New Covenant, God Our Father has promised for us a Year of Heaven on Earth.

Happy New Year!

God Our Father Makes up for Bad Fathers

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

This verse, this promise, is hard for some people to accept.

We are perfected. How? In our actions.

No, because if that were the case, then we would not have to be transformed from glory to glory:

"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)

Also

"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. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3: 1-2)

We are born again in our spirit, and even if our outside is growing old, on the inside we are renewed from day to day:

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

So, we are made righteous by our position, because God the Father has seated us in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

He sees us, and He sees His Son, because we are in Him today.

So, even if we had a bad father growing up, we can trust that God our Father is so much better:

"21Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless." (Exodus 22: 21-23)

and

"For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: 18He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. " (Deuteronomy 10: 17-18)

and also

"A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation." (Psalm 68: 5)

So, if you had a bad father, it does not matter, because your Heavenly Father is waiting for your to receive and rest in His Spirit of Adoption for You:

"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 thus:

"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)

Jesus: Our Consuming Fire Who Purifies

"For our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12: 29)

When we read that God is a consuming fire, let us dread that we will be burned, charred, or incinerate.

We are being purified, to rely more on His grace, and less on our efforts:

"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)

Notice that through the grace of God, we are not only redeemed from all iniquity, but purified, and this purification does not happen right away:

"6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:" (1 Peter 1: 6-7)

The trying of our faith speaks rather to believing on Him whom the Father sent for us (John 6: 29) and not adding anything of ourselves:

"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. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2: 8-10)

also

"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)

Jesus is our refiner, and He purifies us. As Malachi prophesied":

"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:" (Malachi 3: 2)

Paul then explains:

"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: 18)

The Apostle John affirms:

"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. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3: 1-3)

Jesus is the fire who consumes away flesh, who renews us to reveal more of Himself in us. As our consuming fire, He is not bent on destroying us, but purifying us, that we may receive more of His grace into our lives.

By Grace, We Serve God

"28Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." (Hebrews 12: 28)

We do not serve God through our efforts, but through His favor, His grace in our lives:

"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

"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)

We cannot serve God in ourselves, through our efforts:

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64: 6)

and

"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," (Philippians 3: 8)

and

"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon." (1 Corinthians 3: 10)

We have to accept the following, that in ourselves, we are nothing, and have nothing to give to Him:

"27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And 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: 27-29)

Then

"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3: 3)

We are all citizens of a new kingdom (Philippians 1: 27; 3: 20), by His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5: 21). We receive the gift of grace, and then we are able to serve God.

Shake Away the Old, Receive the Wisdom in the New

"7And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain." (Hebrews 12: 27)

When the writer of Hebrews talks about the shaking of things made, both in heaven and in earth, he is referring to the things of men, the traditions which we have lived by, or the behaviors, patterns, and ideas which do not come from heaven:

"14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." (James 3:14-16)

We do not want this earthly intellect, but the wisdom of God:

"17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (James 3: 17-18)

Now, we have the best wisdom made available to us, through Christ Jesus:

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

We can know what He desires for us to do because He lives in us by the power of His Holy Spirit:

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14: 26)

"20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.. . .. 27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2: 20, 27)

What enacts the Spirit within us? 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)

 

So, in order to receive true Wisdom, Christ in us and leading us, let us get rid of the Old Covenant, the old traditions, the counsel of the ungodly (Psalm 1:1), and receive Jesus, grace made alive in us.

Don't Refuse: Believe the Good News

"25See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven." (Hebrews 12: 25-26)

When the writer of Hebrews talks about "refusing", this warning is not about doing something right or wrong.

It's about believing the truth of the Gospel:

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" (Isaiah 52: 7)

but

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?" (Isaiah 53:1)

The verse above starts out the chapter describing the sufferings of our Lord Jesus, who was crushed for our sins.

The Prophet Habakkuk revealed not just the Gospel, but the dangers of rejecting the truth of God's grace:

"Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you." (Habakkuk 1: 5)

and then

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

Paul later preached the Gospel:

"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 12: 38-39)

Folowed by:

. 40Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.:" (Acts 12: 40-41)

Because some of the Jews did not believe, Paul had no choice but to declare:

"46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." (Acts 12: 46)

Do not be unbelieving, but believe the Gospel (Good News) today!

Jesus: King at His Birth, to Make us Kings in Him

When people celebrate Christmas, they think of going to church and celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Yet why celebrate the birth of Jesus? The prophet Isaiah declares why:

"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)

This child was not born to be heir, but was King and Lord at His birth:

"1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him" (Matthew 2: 1-2)

This was a bold statement, because the kings of the East were asking another king about the King of Kings. They did not ask about Him who "would be king" but "He who is born king."

Isaiah described this new king's reign:

"7There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this." (Isaiah 9: 7)

His kingdom never ends, and His Kingdom will only expand.

And this King started out in a manger, just like all of us, so that we could be like Him:

"21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1: 21)

John the Baptist later declared:

"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)

What is the result of all our sins taken away in Christ Jesus?

"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)

What happens when we receive this gift of righteousness, accorded to us through our King?

"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)

What is the perfection in our lives as we receive and keep receiving this gift?

"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)

Today, we celebrate  the birth of our Lord Jesus, who was King at His birth. He was born to die, to rise again, that in Him we would be taken from death to reign in life with Him.

Merry Christmas!

We Have Come to Mount Zion

"22But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." (Hebrews 12: 22-24)

We are not at Mount Sinai, which speaks of the Old Covenant.

We are now at Mount Zion, which testifies of the New Covenant, the Covenant of the grace of God, in which Jesus has paid for all our sins for all time, and brought us to Himself:

Mount Zion features as the locale of God's grace in our lives:

"Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." (Psalm 2: 6)

Jesus is our King, and in Him we reign in life (Romans 5: 17; Ephesians 2: 4-6)

"Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come." (Psalm 102: 13)

Mercy and favor are found on Zion, not Sinai.

"For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee." (Jeremiah 30: 19)

Notice that in the above prophesy, the LORD is directly gracious to you and me!

Why can we rest assured of God's grace and favor in our lives? The New Covenant which God our Father cut for us at the Cross through His Son Jesus:

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)

 

and then

 

"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26: 28)

 

We have to come to Mount Zion, and we are  joined in Christ by the New Covenant. Amen!

 

No One Can Live at Mount Sinai

(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 21And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)  " (Hebrews 12: 20-21)

Even today, men and women in the Body of Christ believe that we must live by the Ten Commandments.

The writer of Hebrews could not have made it clearer: "they could not endured what was commanded."

The Ten Commandments is a ministration of death:

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Corinthians 3: 5-6)

In fact, the law was brought in to show that we cannot be self-sufficient, but that we need God for all things:

"20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5: 20-21)

We reign in life when we understand that we have no life of ourselves to live.

How to we live? By faith in Him!

"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)

and

"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 do not live by the law:

"And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them." (Galatians 3: 12)

No one can live at Mount Sinai, but praise Jesus we are not called to live there in the first place!

We are No Longer at Mount Sinai

"18For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:" (Hebrews 12: 18-19)

Whenever we read the Old Testament, we have to remember that even though the Israelites came to Mount Sinai, the LORD's ultimate goal was for them (and for us) to receive Himself and His Life:

"33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31: 33-34)

At the foot of Mount Sinai, God has originally invited His people to walk in perfect fellowship with Him, too:

"5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." (Exodus 19: 5-6)

When we read about commandments and statutes, we have to understand that God ministered directly by His Spirit to Abram, then Abraham. The LORD explained to Isaac:

"Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." (Genesis 26: 5)

How did Abraham obey? He believed on Him (Genesis 15: 6); Romans 4: 3, 17; Galatians 3: 6; James 2: 23).

Yet instead of trusting God, the Israelites trusted themselves:

"7And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. " (Exodus 19: 7-8)

That statement was untrue then, and to this day,  none of us can be obedient in what we do:

"Therefore 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: 20)

We need to recognize that we cannot come to God, but rather we must allow Him to come to us.

The Good News begins and ends on this revelation. God came to us, and therefore we can rest assured that we no longer have to come to Mount Sinai.

The Law of the Spirit of Life

The law of the spirit of life: what is that?

This is Christ Jesus living in us by His Holy Spirit, and His leading us by His peace, by God's grace:

"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6: 12-14)

The grace of God not only pays for all our sins (all of them, eternally), but allows us to receive eternal life, Christ in us, the  hope of glory (Colossians 1: 27)

Paul continues:

"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)

The blood of Jesus cleanses us of all sin (1 John 1: 7), and His Spirit now lives and flows in us:

"20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." (1 John 2: 20)

and then

"27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2: 27)

This direction operates based on His peace:

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." (Colossians 3: 15)

We no longer  meditate on the Ten Commandments, because Jesus fulfilled them at the Cross (Matthew 5: 17; Hebrews 8: 10-13). We meditate on the Gospel, that in Christ we are justified from all things that we could not receive through the law of Moses (Acts 13: 38-39)

We meditate on the grace of God, revealed to us in Jesus' death on the Cross, and manifested through His resurrection and ministry as our High Priest:

"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)


That is what the law of faith is all about today, under the New Covenant. We receive the grace of God and His gift of righteousness every day (Romans 5: 15-17), and He causes us to reign in life, His life.

What Law Do We Meditate on Today?

So, what law should be meditating on, then?

The first mention of "law" in the Bible will give us a clue:

"Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." (Genesis 26: 5)

Notice that this verse precedes the rollout of the Big Ten.

In what wayspecifically was Abram obedient to God?

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

God wants us to trust Him, and from Genesis 12 until his passing, Abram (then Abraham) followed God's lead. He trusted the LORD to take care of him in every way, and God never wavered in His promise.

So, the law which we need to be thinking about is. . .the law of faith?

Yes!

"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." (Romans 3: 27)

There is another law, one which rests on faith, which supercedes the law of Moses:

"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." (Romans 8: 1-2)

 

No Longer Meditating on Ten Commandments

"97O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." (Psalm 119: 97)

Looking over the entirety of Psalm 119, the writer refers to God's law in nearly every verse, or God's Word, commandments, or directions.

The immediate response we may offer to this statement is that God wants us to meditate on the Ten Commandments.

Yet sections of Psalm 119 suggest otherwise:

DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word." (Psalm 119: 25)

"Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness." (Psalm 119: 40)

Now, the Ten Commandments is a ministration of death and condemnation, not life and righteousness:

"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: 8How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious." (2 Corinthians 3: 7-11)

We cannot find life in the Ten Commandments, in the Old Covenant.

In fact, Jesus fulfilled the law, which was meant as a testimony our dead-in-trespasses state:

"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

"20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5: 20-21)

and also

"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: 13-15)

Notice that the verses in Colossians, Paul writes about "the ordinances against us, contrary to us". He's writing about the Ten Commandments. They do not give us life, they do not minister righteousness to anyone.

So, we no longer meditate on the Ten Commandments or the Old Covenant to have life, because the law has been fulfilled in Christ.
 

 

Jesus: The Answer to Every Problem

"8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?" (John 14: 8-9)

When we see Jesus, we find the answer to all our problems.

Yet like the disciples during Jesus' earthly ministry, many believers today look to someone or somewhere else for their answers.

In the fourteenth Chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus answers every concern and question, with Himself:

"1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." (John 14:1)

He is the answer to our troubled hearts. We do not rely on ourselves, nor look to our limited understanding, but see more of Him working in (Colossians 1: 29) us and through us (Philippians 2:12-13), as well as around us (Romans 8: 31-32).

"2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14: 2)

We do not have to worry about where we are going, because He has prepared the way, and now that Jesus has already died and is risen again, we know fully where we are today:

"But 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)

"3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14: 3)

We have to remember that Jesus came to us when we were still sinners, and did not know or care that we needed a savior (Romans 5: 8). Today, do not try to come to Him, but know that He has come to you and lives in you.

"5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 5-6)

Notice that Jesus did not shame Thomas, who would later doubt His resurrection. Jesus more than answered the question, signaling that He was not going away from them, but would actually come to them, and be with them forever:

"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)

When we don't know where to go or what to do, Jesus provides Himself as the answer. In fact, even before Philip asked, Jesus had already answered:

"7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." (John 14: 7)

What more can we draw from this revelation today? We do not need Jesus to show us more answers, but rather we need to be ready to see Him as the answer in every problem we face.

He Will Not Reject Us

"Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright, For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." (Hebrews 12: 16-17)

Because we are born again by the Spirit of God (Romans 8: 15), we no longer identify with our flesh, but His Spirit:

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

and then

"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5: 25)

So, when we read about Esau, the older brother of Jacob, we recognize a type of the flesh, whereas we are all descendants of Abraham,  Isaac, and Jacob because of Jesus:

"Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called." (Romans 9: 7)

and then

"As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." (Romans 9: 13)

Now, was God arbitrarily punishing Esau? Not at all. Paul explains the type of law and grace:

"(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)" (Romans 9: 11)

which connects with

"16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." (Romans 9: 16)

These passages make it clear -- we are not saved because of what we do or have done, but what Jesus did:

"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: 8-9)

Now, with these New Covenant revelations in mind, we can better understand what the writer of Hebrews is referencing above. Esau esteemed his flesh more than the grace of God. He tried to change his father Isaac's mind about granting the blessing to Jacob, yet Esau could have no say in reversing God's will.

Guess what? We cannot reverse what God has done in our lives, either! We are saved by grace, and God our Father invites us to keeping receiving this grace in our lives (Romans 5: 17). He will not reject us, because we are made accepted before Him in Christ (Ephesians 1: 6)

The Truth of Grace is All that Matters

 

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

Grace and truth are connected as one whole in the New Testament, and both are united in Christ:

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

Instead of fighting with the lies and frustrations we face with people who want to fight with us, our goal should be to know more about Jesus, to see Him who has been from the beginning (1 John 2: 14-15)

Instead of looking for points of division and conflict, we seek unity, but not in ourselves. We do not seek consensus based on what we believe, but rather who we believe in.

I used to get upset with preachers because of the people they were hanging out with, or the statements would make. I was so quick to reject people because they held views which were not in line with the Bible.

Today, I realize that I can rest in the truth of God's grace, and anything which is not of the truth diminishes God's goodness and in some way augments what we must do.

Maturity is based on unity in Christ, not conformity to any cause in order to avoid conflict:

"I 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: 1-5)

In the next part of Ephesians Four, Paul takes about growing in to the Head, which is Christ. It is all about Jesus, and seeing all that He is.

"4That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4: 14-16)

Grace and truth are met in Christ. We cannot understand grace without seeing the truth, and we know the truth when we see Jesus:

"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 also

"Herein is love perfected among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

Instead of looking for points of disagreement, we must seek to see more of Jesus. He is real, He is alive, and He is looking for as many ways to reach out and let us allow Him to care for us.

Anything which diminishes the grace of God, and expounds what we must do, we must reject. We are not called to trust in ourselves, but to walk in His Spirit. We are not called to understand ourselves, but receive more of Himself in our daily walk.

Bitterness: Falling from Grace

"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)

Why do people get bitter?

They fall from grace.

Now, how do we fall from grace? By sinning? Not at all.

By trying to keep the law, by trying to justify ourselves rather than resting in His justification for 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)

and then

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

The law brings out bitterness, as it awakens other sins in our lives.

Why does the law make us bitter, anyway?

"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)

People may try to keep the law, yet they find themselves unable to. Those who insist on trying, will themselves doing so in vain, accomplishing nothing. How frustrating!

"56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law" (1 Corinthians 15: 56)

The law brings out in the sin in our lives, rather than offering us a means for us to make ourselves righteous. All of that trying, and accomplishing nothing, would make anyone bitter.

Now, how do we get rid of bitterness in our lives? Receive more of God's grace!

"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)

The whole release from bitterness hangs on our understanding of "as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you."

The more that we understand how gracious He is to us, then we are freed from bitterness, as Christ grants us His "so much better".

We Have Peace With God, Then We Pursue Peace with Others

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" (Hebrews 12: 14)

Not just being at peace, but we are to seek peace with all men, according to this verse.

Before peace with others, we need to know that we have peace with God:

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

How do we receive this peace with God? Not by pursuing peace with others, but realizing that God wanted peace with us, with you and me, at all costs!

How did God the Father do it? By justifying us before Himself through His Son's death and resurrection, and ascension to :

"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

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

and thus

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1: 7)

Keeping in mind that this verse is written to unbelievers, first, we then understand the next verse in 1 John:

"My 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)

Jesus is our mercy seat forevermore. He is our peace (Ephesians 2: 10), and because of His Spirit in us, we bring forth fruit: love, joy, and peace, among others (Galatians 5: 22-23)

Peace is a fruit, and holiness is a work which Jesus accomplishes in us through His Spirit, too:

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

Because He is our peace, and we have peace with Him, we in turn can pursue peace with others.

Don't Resist: Let His Grace Transform You

"12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed." (Hebrews 12: 12-13)

In the previous verses of Hebrews chapter 12, the writer is exhorting his Hebrew Christian brethren to accept the discipline of walking by faith, looking not just to the example of Old Testament saints who believed but never saw the Messiah come, but to Jesus Himself, our High Priest forever, whom we do not see, but we rest in the truth of knowing that He has accomplished all things for us.

Like the early Christians, today believers have a hard time believing that the work has been fulfilled, and like sulking children who want things done their way, they still hanker after the old habits, the only means.

Consider the constant complaining of the Israelites when they fled Egypt:

"11And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness." (Exodus 14: 11-12)

Whenever the children of Israel faced trials of faith, immediately they wanted to go back.

Moses would exhort them:

"13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." (Exodus 14:13-14)

So, when we read in the verses of Hebrews to strengthen our hands and knees, we are invited to stop feeling sorry for ourselves, to stop dragging our feat, demanding that God take away our problems. Instead, let us ask to see more of Jesus, that the eyes of our full understanding would see who Jesus is, how much He loves us, and what He is doing for us (Ephesians 3: 16-19).

Rather than resisting the grace of God, and trusting our own efforts, let us permit the Spirit of God to inform us of who Jesus is, and let us be transformed to be more like Him (2 Corinthians 3: 18; 1 John 3: 1-3). The chastening to be more like Him will not please our flesh, but we should not seek to gratify that dead part of ourselves, because we are alive in Him (Colossians 3: 1-4).

Reject Shame: Know Who You Are in Christ

 Where does anyone get the idea that we break free of shameful habits by identifying with them?

What does Paul say to the Corinthians, who still were living in sin?

"15Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (1 Corinthians 6: 15-17)

Know you not? Know you not?

Don't you know who you are? You are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Why would you abuse your body?

Then:

"18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6: 18-20)


We are called to identify with the truth of Christ living in us, our hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)

We are no longer in dead Adam, but alive in Christ Jesus. We have received Himself, and because we live in Him, free from condemnation (Romans 8:1 )

Because there is no condemnation in Christ, we bring every thought into captivity to Christ Jesus, (2 Corinthians 10: 5), which indicates that we are free of the law of sin and death, and now living by the law of the Spirit of life!

Shame is a lie from Satan, and because Jesus has fulfilled the law for us, we are free from condemnation, and called to reign in life in His Son (Romans 5:15-17)

Chastened from Flesh to Walk By Faith

"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12: 11)

We are called to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5: 7)

We have to believe, because Jesus cannot die once again:

"Who 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 also

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

So, Jesus died once for all, and He cannot die again.

He cannot physically come down and be crucified again:

"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;" (Hebrews 10: 12)

He has sat down, and He will not be coming back until every enemy is brought low:

"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Psalm 110: 1)

So, how do we grow in faith? Through our efforts? No, since the promises are by faith, not works:

"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. 18For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise." (Galatians 3: 17-18)

We grow as we hear the Word of Truth:

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

So, we keep hearing the Word of Christ, which is Spirit and Life (John 6: 63), we are disciplined away from listening to ourselves, to other people's thoughts on the matter, or succumbing to our efforts:

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5: 16)

Stop trusting your efforts. By hearing the Word of Christ, you will walk in the Spirit, and have no need to control the flesh.

God is About Giving Us Something Better

"38And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. 39And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. 40So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof. 41But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot." (2 Kings 4: 38-41)

In this passage, we see Elisha, a picture of Jesus our Savior, providing something more to the sons of the prophets, men who were training to be like Elisha.

Notice that Elisha commanded them to prepare something to eat. Then they tried to improve on what the Master had already prepared, a picture of men and women adding something to the Good News.

How did Elisha fix the food which they had poisoned? He put something more into the pot. He added something better: meal, or flour.

This flour is picture of Jesus and His Finished Work, which he accomplished for us and we can rejoice in through the Holy Communion. The first mention of meal (Genesis 18: 6), plus the references to the fine flour in Leviticus (1-2), speak of all that Jesus has done for us.

So, what do we draw from this passage?

Growing in grace is not about avoiding bad things. Growing in grace is not about removing bad things from our lives.

Life is about receiving something better in Christ.

We are called to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18).

We are transformed from glory to glory by looking at Jesus, too (2 Corinthians 3: 18)

I just noticed again that the two verses above are based on 3 and 18.

For now, I want to focus on this revelation: God does not improve us by taking something away.

He causes us to grow by giving us more of Himself:

"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)

We are called to receive and keep receiving the gift of righteousness and abundance of grace.

The first thing I want to do is fix myself.

The first thing He asks us to do is. . .fix our eyes on Himself.

God is all about us giving us something better, which we receive through Him:

"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)

How shall He not freely give us all things with Him?

Now, I am also realizing this part, too. I have spent so much time fighting against what is not true. It is so tempting to fight with the lies. It is much easier to know the truth, for the truth shall make you and me free (John 8: 31-32)

I do not have to put out the lies, when I can just receive the truth.

God is all about giving us something better. He gave us the best in His Son, and there is so much we can receive from Him today.
 .

Sons of God, Disciplined to Partake

" 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? " (Hebrews 12: 8-9)

If we do not receive correction in our lives, then we are not sons, but bastards, which specifically means that we do not have fathers.

Yet that is not the case for us:

"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." (Jojn 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 also

"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4: 6)

Why would we not want our loving Father to see us grow and change for the better?

What exactly was the source of the disciple for the Hebrews? The writer shares:

"

1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (Hebrews 12: 1-3)

 

Many of the early Hebrew Christians were thinking about going back to Judaism, or still sacrificing animals, because they did not like the rejection and persecution they faced. As fallen men, we are also prone to doing more, rather than believing more.

 

But we are called to believe, to walk by faith, and to have no confidence in our flesh.

 

Still, we should not worry about growing in grace, nor fear the reproach of men:

 

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

Relief and Release from Shame

The Cross provides relief, and we are called to receive and keep receiving that relief:

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

Shame is a terrible teacher. Condemnation ensures that individuals will continue engaging in the same bad behavior.

Jesus preached grace to the woman caught in the act of adultery:

"10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John 8: 10-11)

I have to stress that Jesus did not arbitrarily forgive her. The same phrase "lifted up himself" is the same verb to describe what Moses did with the bronzed serpent, and what Jesus would become for all the world:

"Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto me. 33This he said, signifying what death he should die." (John 12: 31-33)

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1: 29). He took our sins away, and therefore He could preach to the woman in adultery, and Paul writes to us in Romans:

"1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8: 1)

Now, for the longest time, I would feel bad, and then I would automatically think - what did I do to feel bad? What did I do wrong?

The fact is, that question does not matter. What we did does not matter. What Jesus did, that is what matters. People need to stop looking at themselves, and start looking at Jesus, our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1: 30)

People will make you feel bad if you let them, and oftentimes we let people make us feel bad because we do not understand the fullness of all that Jesus has done for us. There is no shame at all, and we are not supposed to give it any credence or attention, just as Jesus did:

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

People cannot make us feel bad. We may think badly in response to how people treat us, or we can scorn the shame and keep receiving His grace. Today, I choose the latter.

We understand that He took all our sin, and His blood has eternal consequences, ever-cleansing us (1 John 1:7)

He Deals With You as a Son

"If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" (Hebrews 12: 7)

We need to recognize that when God chastens us, it is not with sickness, poverty, or shame:

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." (Acts 10: 38)

Jesus did not go about condemning, killing, and destroying people. That is Satan's attempt:

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

Jesus did not bring sickness, but life.

Jesus did not intend for us to be punished with poverty, either:

"5And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 7And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. 8Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? 9Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? (Matthrew 16: 5-10)

Jesus amply provided for His disciples, and the many people who followed Him as a curiosity and celebrity, even though they had not planned ahead and brought bread for themselves. He fed thousands with a few loaves of bread and small fishes, whether they were good or bad, regardless of their status. He helped Peter pay a temple tax, even when Peter had rashly promised before speaking to Jesus about it (Matthew 17: 24-27)

One of the last prayers in the Bible is about prospering, too:

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

Nor does God discipline us with shame:

"10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John 8: 10-11)

How does God deal with us? By the grace of God:

"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 Corinthian 15: 10)

and

"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)

As we see our need for Him in more areas of our life we grow in grace, and become mature sons, like Jesus in every way.

He Receives You, Therefore He Disciplines You

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." (Hebrews 12: 6)

Many of us grew up in homes where our parents disciplined us because they were angry, or they did not discipline us at all.

Because our Father loves us, and wants us to revel in His promises and full glory:

"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)

Go back one chapter, and John writes:

"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. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3: 1-3)

We are sons of God. Yet we will be like Him.

How is this possible? We are sons of God, yet we are not like Jesus yet.

We are called to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18)

The Spirit of the Lord transforms us from glory to glory as we Jesus in the Scriptures, (2 Corinthians 3: 18)

Just like the jawbone of a donkey which Sampson used to slay one thousand Philistines (Judges 15), so too we are refined like to walk by faith in Him, not in our flesh:

"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)

and

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:" (1 Peter 1: 7)

Our faith is based on a revelation of the grace of God and His gift of righteousness, accorded us through Jesus' death and resurrection at the Cross:

"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)

We have been received, we are already sons, we are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1: 6), therefore God our Father disciplines us away from relying our flesh, our efforts, and ourselves, to identifying with His Spirit (Galatians 5: 16), trusting in His righteousness (Isaiah 54: 14), living by His grace (1 Corinthians 15: 10)

Sons Disciplined to Be Like Jesus

"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:" (Hebrews 12: 5)

Before we can understand and receive correction, we have to know our identity in Christ, that we are his Beloved son or daughter:

"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)

Before Jesus did anything, God His Father acknowledged Him before all as His Beloved Son:

"And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3: 17)

Before Jesus died on the Cross, His Father declared again:

"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." (Matthew 17: 5)

The context here, Jesus transfigured about Moses and Elijah, affirms that Jesus receives the greatest glory and honor, the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.

Now, as a beloved Son, Jesus learned obedience through suffering:

"Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 5: 7-10)

Obedience in Hebrews, and throughout the New Testament, speaks of faith, believing in God the Father:

"1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12: 1-2)

Just as Jesus could trust that His Father would exalt Him and seat Him at His right hand, so too we trust that God our Father has seated us in Christ, seated us at His right hand, and is making us more like His Son:

"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. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3: 1-3)

Why would we not want to be disciplined? We have Jesus' glory and honor living in us. Why would settle for anything less?

"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: 18)

We can take the discipline of losing our flesh, and resting in His Spirit, because we are already in Christ, as God's sons, and through the training of growing in grace, we reveal more of Himself in our lives. Who would not want that?