When some people hear about the New Covenant and the grace of God, they respond: "Observance and obedience to God's word does not mean you won't backslide or make mistakes, but does that mean don't put forth any effort all?"
We cannot put forth any effort in the first place! We are dead in need of life! Let us consider not just the Ten Commandments listed in Exodus 20:
24An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. 25And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. 26Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon." (Exodus 20: 24-26)
Why an altar? for the sacrifice of animals to take on the death we all deserve because we cannot keep God's law. The law was a mirror to show us our sin and death. Once we receive the Savior and His Salvation, we do not go back to keeping the law, but let the Redeemer keep us. Under the New Covenant, there is now a new obedience, one of faith in Christ:
"26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 26-29)
With the grace of God, not only are men no longer empowered to sin, but now grow in grace and allow His life to flow in them:
"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)
We leave a life of works and efforts in our flesh, which produce nothing, to entering the rest of God through His Son Jesus, in which He produces life in us, and we bear fruit:
"1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 5)
This life is not something that we produce through our efforts, but through His!
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Friday, February 27, 2015
A New Life, Freed From the Law
"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" (Romans 5: 20)
The law "entered" should be "came in along side", meaning it was never God's main agenda for man. His grace and goodness were.
The law "entered" should be "came in along side", meaning it was never God's main agenda for man. His grace and goodness were.
If you look over Abraham and Isaac, you find that they never had Ten Commandments and in many cases, they actually broke a number of those laws. Yet God kept on blessing them:
"Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Romans 2: 4)
The really upsetting revelation for many is that the law was never meant to make man holy but rather, show him as unable to be holy, and thus his need for holiness from God through His SON:
"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6: 6)
and
" Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."
"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6: 6)
and
" Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."
"Through the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3: 19)
Paul then laments at the end of Romans 7 that no matter how hard he tried to keep the law, it would only get worse.
Today, we can rest assure that the law is not removed, but fulfilled. For those who believe on Jesus, He provides not only forgiveness of sins eternally but takes us through His death into a new life:
"Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man." (Romans 7: 1-3)
We were all married to the law, in a way, if we believed that what we did would make us righteousness and holy. The truth of God's grace sets us free, so that we are freed from the law through the death of Jesus, and through His life we receive a new and living way:
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)
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Not We Ourselves, But Jesus Supplies All Our Needs,
"24When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.
"25When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn." (Deuteronomy 23: 24-25)
Why do we find this passage in Deuteronomy, and what does it reveal to us about Jesus and the New Covenant?
In the Old Testament, we learn that God instructed farmers and vine-dressers to leave gleanings for widows, orphans, and foreigners.
One of those widowed, orphaned strangers was Ruth the Moabitess, who later met her kinsman-redeemer Boaz:
"3And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech." (Ruth 2: 3)
then
"8Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: 9Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn." (Ruth 2: 8-9)
Today, we have a Kindsman-Redeemer who is not just interested in meeting our daily needs, but He wants us to see Him as the source of all our needs and every other desire in our lives:
"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)
and
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12: 32)
and then
"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 also
"20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."" (Ephesians 3: 20-21)
Everything we have, every blessings we receive, is tied to our new life and standing in Christ Jesus. In no way does God our Father want us to begin by receiving His favor, then rely on our own efforts to supply and care for ourselves.
His blessings lead us to believe on Him for all things, just as God had commanded the Israelites to glean enough for themselves from day to day, not attempting to store up and rely on themselves for the future.
Today, see Jesus supplying all your needs for all time. Grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus, and allow Him to supply every need.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Not Lambs to the Slaughter, But More than Conquerors in Christ
"36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
"37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8: 36-37)
In the Old Testament, man was in sin and death reigned in him.
The hard times of this life welled up against him, as well, and routinely he found himself wondering how he was going to make it:
"
7For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.
8Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
9For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
10The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." (Psalm 90:7-10)
This Psalm comes from the pen of Moses, who represents the Law and the Old Covenant, the set of standards which no one can keep, which ministers condemnation and death:
"7But 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)
Now, God found fault with the Old Covenant, in that we cannot keep it, and therefore promised a New Covenant:
"31Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 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: 31-34)
We have a New Covenant with God our Father because of Jesus, who died for all our sins (Colossians 2: 13) and thus we can rest assured that He will remember our sins no more (Hebrews 8:12).
In fact, Jesus was led to death at the Cross, like a lamb to the slaughter:
"6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
"7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." (Isaiah 53: 6-7)
Peter relates that this Lamb is Jesus:
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." (1 Peter 1: 18-21)
Jesus was the Lamb of God led to the Slaughter, so that today, we are more than conquerors in Him who loved us!
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
More Than a Day, Rest is a Person: Jesus!
"1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." (Genesis 2: 1-3)
God completed a perfect work on the Seventh Day. He rested not because He was tired, but because the work was finished, perfected, done:
"22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
God completed a perfect work on the Seventh Day. He rested not because He was tired, but because the work was finished, perfected, done:
"22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
"23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was." (Proverbs 8: 22-23)
and also
"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding." (Isaiah 40: 28)
So, God completed a perfect work and invited Man to enjoy this work:
"15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2: 15-17)
In addition to giving Man a job, He also invited him to eat freely, except for one tree, so that Adam would acknowledge that God was fully in charge, taking care of everything for him.
If you notice in the above passage, there is the mention of the seventh day, but there is no mention of the seventh evening.
The Day of Rest was never supposed to end, but would endure.
Yet because man disobeyed God, and at from the forbidden tree, men left the rest of God, and became subject to troubles and tremors (Genesis 3: 14-17)
"3For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4: 3)
Yet God still wanted man to have this rest.
Today, we have it in Christ Jesus:
"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)
When we understand that He fulfills all things, then we can receive the rest which He is:
"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)
The last mention of this rest occurs in Revelation:
"And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." (Revelation 14: 13)
We rest from our own works, and allow the Spirit of the Lord to work in us.
"9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 9-11)
Today, our rest is not limited to a day, but a Person: Jesus!
"3For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4: 3)
Yet God still wanted man to have this rest.
Today, we have it in Christ Jesus:
"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)
When we understand that He fulfills all things, then we can receive the rest which He is:
"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)
The last mention of this rest occurs in Revelation:
"And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." (Revelation 14: 13)
We rest from our own works, and allow the Spirit of the Lord to work in us.
"9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 9-11)
Today, our rest is not limited to a day, but a Person: Jesus!
Monday, February 23, 2015
Established in Righteousness, Receiving it Evermore
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)
This commandment was never given to the Gentiles, and therefore it does not belong to you and me today, whether Jew or Gentile, living under the New Covenant.
Jesus was teaching his disciples the perfection of God's law, which is totally beyond any one of us to keep:
"1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying," (Matthew 5:1-2)
Notice that even though there were multitudes who went up the mountain, the disciples came to him, and he taught them, i.e. the disciples.
Then:
"20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 20)
and then
"48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5: 48)
Isaiah was crystal clear about our righteousness works:
"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)
No one can be perfect, for no one is good, no not one (Psalm 14: 3)
So, how do we get His righteousness? It is a gift which is given to us:
"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54: 14)
and
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 17)
We are established in righteousness; it is not something we establish in ourselves. This righteousness comes from God our Father, not from anything that we do.
How did God accomplish this work? Through His Son, 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)
and thus
"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)
Because of Jesus and His Work at the Cross, we are established in righteousness, destined to reign in life as we receive and keep receiving this wonderful gift.
Under law, Jesus had to instruct self-righteousness disciples to seek something which our efforts can never attain. Because of the grace of God, we recognize the full revelation, that righteousness is the gift of God, apart from works, fulfilled for us in the Finished Work of Jesus!
This commandment was never given to the Gentiles, and therefore it does not belong to you and me today, whether Jew or Gentile, living under the New Covenant.
Jesus was teaching his disciples the perfection of God's law, which is totally beyond any one of us to keep:
"1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying," (Matthew 5:1-2)
Notice that even though there were multitudes who went up the mountain, the disciples came to him, and he taught them, i.e. the disciples.
Then:
"20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 20)
and then
"48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5: 48)
Isaiah was crystal clear about our righteousness works:
"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)
No one can be perfect, for no one is good, no not one (Psalm 14: 3)
So, how do we get His righteousness? It is a gift which is given to us:
"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54: 14)
and
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 17)
We are established in righteousness; it is not something we establish in ourselves. This righteousness comes from God our Father, not from anything that we do.
How did God accomplish this work? Through His Son, 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)
and thus
"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)
Because of Jesus and His Work at the Cross, we are established in righteousness, destined to reign in life as we receive and keep receiving this wonderful gift.
Under law, Jesus had to instruct self-righteousness disciples to seek something which our efforts can never attain. Because of the grace of God, we recognize the full revelation, that righteousness is the gift of God, apart from works, fulfilled for us in the Finished Work of Jesus!
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Jesus Our Perfect High Priest
16And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 17Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God."(Leviticus 21: 16-17)
While Moses instructed the priests of his day, and then to the people of Israel, about the required physical perfection of their priests, today we can come to God regardless of our perfections because of our perfect Great High Priest, Jesus:
"26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. " (Hebrews 7: 26-27)
This High Priest offered Himself:
"18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" (1 Peter 1: 18-19)
and also
"
While Moses instructed the priests of his day, and then to the people of Israel, about the required physical perfection of their priests, today we can come to God regardless of our perfections because of our perfect Great High Priest, Jesus:
"26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. " (Hebrews 7: 26-27)
This High Priest offered Himself:
"18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" (1 Peter 1: 18-19)
and also
"
5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure." (Hebrews 10: 5-6)
Jesus was offered for all our sins, and declared without defect before:
"Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man." (Luke 23: 4)
Today, this same Perfect Sacrifice is our Perfect High Priest, in whom we are also perfected:
"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)
and
"And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." (Acts 3: 16)
and also
"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Colossians 2: 10)
and thus
"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 Corithians 5: 21)
So now we are all members of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2: 9) and we can come boldly to the throne of grace in time of need (Hebrews 4:16)
All of this we receive because of our Perfect High Priest, Jesus!
Saturday, February 21, 2015
In Christ, From the Prison to the Palace
"27And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; 28And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon; 29And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life. 30And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life." (2 Kings 25: 27-30)
Throughout the Bible, we will find types and shadows of the Gospel.
When Jesus died on the Cross, He took us from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly places in Himself:
"4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2: 4-6)
This wonderful transformation from death to life is presented to us in the Old Testament:
"7He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
Throughout the Bible, we will find types and shadows of the Gospel.
When Jesus died on the Cross, He took us from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly places in Himself:
"4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2: 4-6)
This wonderful transformation from death to life is presented to us in the Old Testament:
"7He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
"8That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people." (Psalm 113: 7-8)
Now consider the scene above, in the last chapter of Second Kings. The Israelites have been driven out of the Promised Land because they exchanged gods, and they had refused to rest and let God work:
"27But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched." (Jeremiah 17: 27)
Then:
""For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place." (Jeremiah 29: 10)
And finally:
"To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years." (2 Chronicles 36: 21)
During Israel's sabbath, God moved the heart of Babylon's King Evilmerodach (Marduk's fool) and he repositioned Jehoikim (whose name means "the Lord appoints") as king above kings.
We see here the perfect pattern of what God our Father does for us through His Son Jesus:
"
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." (Psalm 23: 5-6)
and of course:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Friday, February 20, 2015
God Rejoices in Grace, Not Sacrifice
"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6: 6)
Hosea, whose name means "God Saves", revealed the true heart of God.
He is not interested in us going through the motions of devotion. He wants us to know that He is devoted to us.
He is not interested in what we can do for Him, but rather He is interested in our knowing what He can do for us.
Remember that the one major commandment given to the first man was to enjoy all that He created:
"15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:" (Genesis 2: 15-16)
Today, this command has been made even easier:
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)
We need to understand that God is about favoring our, and not interested in our fervor for him.
"5Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
"12What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
Hosea, whose name means "God Saves", revealed the true heart of God.
He is not interested in us going through the motions of devotion. He wants us to know that He is devoted to us.
He is not interested in what we can do for Him, but rather He is interested in our knowing what He can do for us.
Remember that the one major commandment given to the first man was to enjoy all that He created:
"15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:" (Genesis 2: 15-16)
Today, this command has been made even easier:
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)
We need to understand that God is about favoring our, and not interested in our fervor for him.
"5Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
"6The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me." (Psalm 116: 5-6)
and then
"13I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD." (Psalm 116: 12-13)
We have to accept that we bring Him nothing:
"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6: 7)
and
"But 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: 14)
Throughout the Old Testament, Israelites push past the law and appeal to the grace of God, and God hears those pleas.
The five daughters of Zelophehad would have lost their father's inheritance, just because they were women, but that did not stop them from asking the LORD for the inheritance.
"The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them." (Numbers 27: 7)
David prayed to God based on His grace, not the law:
"
5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities." (Psalm 51: 5-9)
God is all about grace, He is all about forgiveness, and He is all about providing all things for us.
How is He able to do this? Because of His Son Jesus!
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:17)
Thursday, February 19, 2015
God our Father Wants to Bless, not Curse
"5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." (Malachi 4: 5-6)
Malachi ("my messenger" in Hebrew), the last prophet of the Old Testament preached about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
When we read about the "great and dreadful" day, many of us are inclined to think that God is angry or looking to judge and condemn us.
First of all, God our Father is slow to anger and does not want to condemn anyone:
"And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth," (Exodus 34: 6)
"The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet." (Nahum 1: 3)
Even from the most severe of prophets, we learn:
"Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?" (Ezekiel 18: 23)
Then
"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33: 11)
God is not interested in cursing us, but rather blessing us.
"I will turn the hearts. . .lest I smite the earth with a curse."
Jesus, God's Son, fulfilled every part of Malachi's, and the Old Testament's, last prophecy:
"16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1: 16-17)
We all have received the Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8: 15), a new heart (1 Peter 3: 4) which cries out "Daddy!"
We are also redeemed from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13) and we can rest assured that God will never be angry with us again:
"
Malachi ("my messenger" in Hebrew), the last prophet of the Old Testament preached about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
When we read about the "great and dreadful" day, many of us are inclined to think that God is angry or looking to judge and condemn us.
First of all, God our Father is slow to anger and does not want to condemn anyone:
"And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth," (Exodus 34: 6)
"The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet." (Nahum 1: 3)
Even from the most severe of prophets, we learn:
"Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?" (Ezekiel 18: 23)
Then
"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33: 11)
God is not interested in cursing us, but rather blessing us.
"I will turn the hearts. . .lest I smite the earth with a curse."
Jesus, God's Son, fulfilled every part of Malachi's, and the Old Testament's, last prophecy:
"16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1: 16-17)
We all have received the Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8: 15), a new heart (1 Peter 3: 4) which cries out "Daddy!"
We are also redeemed from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13) and we can rest assured that God will never be angry with us again:
"
9For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
10For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee." (Isaiah 54: 9-10)
Today, because of Jesus, our heart is turned toward God our Father, as we know that His heart has always been turned to us, and we will never be under a curse.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
He Holds All Our Times in His Hands
"My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me." (Psalm 31: 15)
The world, including the modern impulses of our times, loves to repeat: "One Day at a Time".
What does the Bible, the Word of God, tell us about time?
"Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" (Isaiah 46: 10)
God our Father tells all things, and he continues to do so.
He is not bound by time, but rather time is bound by Him:
"Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them." (Isaiah 48: 6)
This prophesy is fulfilled for us in Revelation:
"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21: 5)
Jesus prepared for us all things when He died on the Cross:
"In 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. 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. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." (John 14: 2-4)
Followed by:
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19: 30)
He made all things and holds all things which he has made:
"[He]is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1: 15-20)
His death on the Cross paid for all our sins, beyond time and space.
"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)
There is no temporal dimension to Jesus' perfect sacrifice for our sins:
"Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 6: 20)
then
"For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore." (Hebrews 7: 28)
and then
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;" (Hebrews 10: 12)
God our Father is the Lord of Time, and no matter what may be slated to happen, He is the final word. We do not fear time, because His blood, which speaks better things than Abel (Hebrews 12: 24) and cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1: 7).
The world, including the modern impulses of our times, loves to repeat: "One Day at a Time".
What does the Bible, the Word of God, tell us about time?
"Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" (Isaiah 46: 10)
God our Father tells all things, and he continues to do so.
He is not bound by time, but rather time is bound by Him:
"Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them." (Isaiah 48: 6)
This prophesy is fulfilled for us in Revelation:
"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21: 5)
Jesus prepared for us all things when He died on the Cross:
"In 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. 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. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." (John 14: 2-4)
Followed by:
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19: 30)
He made all things and holds all things which he has made:
"[He]is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1: 15-20)
His death on the Cross paid for all our sins, beyond time and space.
"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)
There is no temporal dimension to Jesus' perfect sacrifice for our sins:
"Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 6: 20)
then
"For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore." (Hebrews 7: 28)
and then
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;" (Hebrews 10: 12)
God our Father is the Lord of Time, and no matter what may be slated to happen, He is the final word. We do not fear time, because His blood, which speaks better things than Abel (Hebrews 12: 24) and cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1: 7).
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
We Need Knowledge of Jesus, not Good and Evil
God invited man into a relationship of total grace, peace, and dependence on God.
"For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield." (Psalm 5: 12)
Then
"He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever." (Psalm 21: 4)
and
"The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace." (Psalm 29: 11)
God is all about blessings us:
"The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men." (Psalm 115: 16)
God is all about giving us good things, and all He asked of man at the first was not to eat from one tree:
"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2: 17)
Every day, our biggest decision is not "What do I do?" but "Do I believe in Him?"
That is the one work which Jesus "imposed" on the people of His day.
Do we believe that He is giving us all things, or do we still think that we have to figure everything out, and know on our own what needs to be done?
Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15: 5), and apart from Him we are dead (Colossians 3: 4).
When Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, they died, they were separated from God, their Source and Life.
Today, because of Jesus, who gave His life that we may have His Life, and that more abundantly (John 10: 10), we have all things (Romans 8: 32)
Today, we do not need knowledge of good and evil, for through the law, we produce nothing but sin.
"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)
Once we see ourselves as dead and in need of a Savior, then we no longer need the law:
"23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3: 23-25)
Today, we are not called to look at the law, to look at ourselves, but rather to see more of Jesus:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
and
"In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8: 13)
and
"18But 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)
Not the knowledge of good and evil, but the knowledge of Jesus is what matters, who is our sanctification and wisdom as well as righteousness and redemption (1 Corinthians 1: 30)
"For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield." (Psalm 5: 12)
Then
"He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever." (Psalm 21: 4)
and
"The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace." (Psalm 29: 11)
God is all about blessings us:
"The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men." (Psalm 115: 16)
God is all about giving us good things, and all He asked of man at the first was not to eat from one tree:
"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2: 17)
Every day, our biggest decision is not "What do I do?" but "Do I believe in Him?"
That is the one work which Jesus "imposed" on the people of His day.
Do we believe that He is giving us all things, or do we still think that we have to figure everything out, and know on our own what needs to be done?
Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15: 5), and apart from Him we are dead (Colossians 3: 4).
When Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, they died, they were separated from God, their Source and Life.
Today, because of Jesus, who gave His life that we may have His Life, and that more abundantly (John 10: 10), we have all things (Romans 8: 32)
Today, we do not need knowledge of good and evil, for through the law, we produce nothing but sin.
"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)
Once we see ourselves as dead and in need of a Savior, then we no longer need the law:
"23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3: 23-25)
Today, we are not called to look at the law, to look at ourselves, but rather to see more of Jesus:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
and
"In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8: 13)
and
"18But 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)
Not the knowledge of good and evil, but the knowledge of Jesus is what matters, who is our sanctification and wisdom as well as righteousness and redemption (1 Corinthians 1: 30)
Monday, February 16, 2015
God''s Command to Man: Enjoy!
"And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:" (Genesis 2: 16)
God invites us to take freely from Him all things.
Contrary to what the religion of man teaches, the grace of God is all about man enjoying all things from Him:
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (1 Corinthians 2:12)
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 us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)
While the world tells us we must work for everything we have in our strength, God wants us to understand that through His Son Jesus, we have all things in Him:
"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)
We must also remember that obedience is all about faith, drawing on the grace of truth of our Lord Jesus:
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)
and then
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)
Faith at its core means that we draw on Him, on Jesus, for all things. Faith is not a mental idea, but a robust trust in Jesus, who has done all things for us:
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 5)
and
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)
and
"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)
We are blessed with all things in Christ Jesus, and God our Father invites us to understand more fully how much He loves us:
"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)
He wants us to receive more of Himself, to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18)
God's first command to Adam was "Eat Freely!" Today, God's command is "Believe on Me!" and "Enjoy!"
God invites us to take freely from Him all things.
Contrary to what the religion of man teaches, the grace of God is all about man enjoying all things from Him:
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (1 Corinthians 2:12)
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 us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)
While the world tells us we must work for everything we have in our strength, God wants us to understand that through His Son Jesus, we have all things in Him:
"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)
We must also remember that obedience is all about faith, drawing on the grace of truth of our Lord Jesus:
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)
and then
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)
Faith at its core means that we draw on Him, on Jesus, for all things. Faith is not a mental idea, but a robust trust in Jesus, who has done all things for us:
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 5)
and
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)
and
"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)
We are blessed with all things in Christ Jesus, and God our Father invites us to understand more fully how much He loves us:
"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)
He wants us to receive more of Himself, to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18)
God's first command to Adam was "Eat Freely!" Today, God's command is "Believe on Me!" and "Enjoy!"
Sunday, February 15, 2015
We Serve God by Resting in His Service to us
"And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." (Genesis 2: 15)
This verse may strike some readers as strange, if not contradictory.
God made every thing in six days:
"And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." (Genesis 1: 31)
and then
"And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made." (Genesis 2: 2)
If God created everything, and it was a perfect work, why did God make man to dress and to keep it?
God wanted man to enjoy the land which He had created:
"And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground." (Genesis 2: 5)
The first word "to serve", but Young's Literal Translation may help us understand further what Genesis 2: 15 states:
"And Jehovah God taketh the man, and causeth him to rest in the garden of Eden, to serve it, and to keep it."
God wanted him to be at rest and to enjoy everything placed in the Garden. That is the work which we offer to God: recognizing all the good which He is, and has done, and receiving it.
"Keep" is the word "Shamar" which means to listen, or also to guard, to receive.
In order for us to serve God, we need to let Him serve us:
"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10: 45)
and
"'I am the vine, ye the branches; he who is remaining in me, and I in him, this one doth bear much fruit, because apart from me ye are not able to do anything;" (John 15: 5)
We do nothing of ourselves, and in Adam's case, there was nothing around him which he had created or brought about.
Today, we need to see that we have no life in and of ourselves. Just as God our Creator made all things ready for us, God our Redeemer, our Father wants us to enter into His Son and accept one job, resting in the Perfect Work of His Son:
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19: 30)
and
"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 also
"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21: 5)
This verse may strike some readers as strange, if not contradictory.
God made every thing in six days:
"And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." (Genesis 1: 31)
and then
"And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made." (Genesis 2: 2)
If God created everything, and it was a perfect work, why did God make man to dress and to keep it?
God wanted man to enjoy the land which He had created:
"And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground." (Genesis 2: 5)
The first word "to serve", but Young's Literal Translation may help us understand further what Genesis 2: 15 states:
"And Jehovah God taketh the man, and causeth him to rest in the garden of Eden, to serve it, and to keep it."
God wanted him to be at rest and to enjoy everything placed in the Garden. That is the work which we offer to God: recognizing all the good which He is, and has done, and receiving it.
"Keep" is the word "Shamar" which means to listen, or also to guard, to receive.
In order for us to serve God, we need to let Him serve us:
"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10: 45)
and
"'I am the vine, ye the branches; he who is remaining in me, and I in him, this one doth bear much fruit, because apart from me ye are not able to do anything;" (John 15: 5)
We do nothing of ourselves, and in Adam's case, there was nothing around him which he had created or brought about.
Today, we need to see that we have no life in and of ourselves. Just as God our Creator made all things ready for us, God our Redeemer, our Father wants us to enter into His Son and accept one job, resting in the Perfect Work of His Son:
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19: 30)
and
"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 also
"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21: 5)
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Jesus Loves Me
"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." (Jeremiah 31: 3)
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15: 13)
We are all friends of God because of what Jesus did for us at the Cross.
Yet when He died for us, and rose again to live for us, we were not friends at the time:
"6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5: 6-8)
"While we were still sinners. . ." We have to remember that today, we are not sinners., but saints. We are no longer dead, but we are alive:
"9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6: 9-11)
Notice in verse eleven that everything is done to us. We did not wash, sanctify, or justify ourselves.
He did that for us:
"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)
The most important thing that we need to understand, however, is that He loves us!
"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)
God our Father loves us as much as His own Son:
"22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (John 17: 22-23)
and
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
We are the sons of God today (1 John 3: 1-3), and so instead of trying to be good, we need to allow God to be good to us, and receive more of His love!
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15: 13)
We are all friends of God because of what Jesus did for us at the Cross.
Yet when He died for us, and rose again to live for us, we were not friends at the time:
"6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5: 6-8)
"While we were still sinners. . ." We have to remember that today, we are not sinners., but saints. We are no longer dead, but we are alive:
"9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6: 9-11)
Notice in verse eleven that everything is done to us. We did not wash, sanctify, or justify ourselves.
He did that for us:
"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)
The most important thing that we need to understand, however, is that He loves us!
"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)
God our Father loves us as much as His own Son:
"22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (John 17: 22-23)
and
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
We are the sons of God today (1 John 3: 1-3), and so instead of trying to be good, we need to allow God to be good to us, and receive more of His love!
Friday, February 13, 2015
He Has Taken Care of Everything: Believe Him!
As always, the Bible is way ahead of us on the truth: He has taken care of everything:
"2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
"2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways." (Psalm 139:2-3)
He has taken care of everything. He has been taking care of everything.
In fact, He promises to take care of us in every way:
"
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 will be a God to you. . ."
He has taken care of everything.
This promise does not come into effect based on the mindset we carry. Something is not true because we believe it long enough and hard enough. We believe what He has said because what He has said is true:
"Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: " (Hebrews 6: 17-18)
God cannot lie, but we need to put aside our unbelief:
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)
and
"Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." (John 20: 27)
Also
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11: 6)
We are invited to believe the following:
"And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat." (Joshua 24: 13)
This promise is a shadow of the substance we have received through Christ Jesus:
"1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:1-2)
As a reminder, here is the Gospel, or the Good News:
"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
"2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 2-4)
He has taken care of everything. All that our Father asks us to do is. . . believe Him!
and
"2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 2-4)
He has taken care of everything. All that our Father asks us to do is. . . believe Him!
Thursday, February 12, 2015
You are a Friend of God, not the World
"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4: 4)
To be the friend of the world, to play by the rules world's rules, to fit in with the world's system, that is to be the enemy of God, for those of us who are as He is, we are called to be in the world, but not of the world:
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12: 2)
and
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2: 15-17)
To be the friend of the world, to play by the rules world's rules, to fit in with the world's system, that is to be the enemy of God, for those of us who are as He is, we are called to be in the world, but not of the world:
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12: 2)
and
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2: 15-17)
There are two types of people in the world; those who trust in God, and those who trust in the world, the state, the people.
Abraham was the friend of God (2 Chronicles 20: 7; James 2: 23), and therefore the enemy of the world, but it made no difference, for God blessed him in all things (Genesis 13: 2; 14: 23)
Besides, everything belongs to God anyway:
"And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him." (Mark 12: 27)
Abraham was the friend of God (2 Chronicles 20: 7; James 2: 23), and therefore the enemy of the world, but it made no difference, for God blessed him in all things (Genesis 13: 2; 14: 23)
Besides, everything belongs to God anyway:
"And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him." (Mark 12: 27)
Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s – render unto God what is God’s – that is everything! Why would we short-stop anyone from seeking God's Kingdom, which is over and above everything else on this earth?
Today, know that you are a friend of Jesus!
"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." (John 15: 15)
This Friend has overcome the world:
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16: 33)
Why settle for being friends with the world, when we already have a friend in Jesus, and He has overcome the world!
You are a friend of God, so why settle for less? He takes care of all who are in His care (1 Peter 5: 6-7)!
Today, know that you are a friend of Jesus!
"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." (John 15: 15)
This Friend has overcome the world:
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16: 33)
Why settle for being friends with the world, when we already have a friend in Jesus, and He has overcome the world!
You are a friend of God, so why settle for less? He takes care of all who are in His care (1 Peter 5: 6-7)!
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
He is Not Going Anywhere
Someone had tried to comfort me with the truth:
"5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13: 5)
Today, I was meditating on this verse, and behold, the preacher on TV was talking about this verse, too.
The next question finally came to me: why have I not believed this?
Because I was going by my feelings. I was going by my thoughts, and determining that what I felt or believed determined whether he was with me or not.
I was not believing the truth.
We cannot accommodate these frauds in our lives.
You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
This was the truth which I had not known as true.
The physical pain because of the thoughts and feelings that I was trying to block, had created so much pain.
When we rest on truth, though, it will not matter what we feel, because the perfect love of God casts out the fears, and puts away all frauds.
Where did this lie come from, by the way?. . .
It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worth while. But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die. (AA, pg 66)
That statement is a flat out lie. How we feel is a manifestation of what we are thinking.
If we believe that how we feel is going to block us from God our Loving Father, then we are not walking in the truth. (3 John 2-4)
It could not be any simpler.
It does not matter how we feel, at all:
"37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)
So, I was once again asking myself today -- why did I not believe this?
Because of the garbage which I had been taught as a youth.
Now more than ever, I have begun to understand. What I needed was not a greater revelation of Jesus only, but also to get rid of the lies and frauds which I had been taught as a kid.
It's not the things you don't know that hurt you. It's the things you know that ain't so.
And that is the way it is:
"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." (Galatisn 4: 30)
Notice "what says the Scripture?", not "what does your mother say?" or "what does the preacher say?" or "what do you say?" (and certainly not "How does Bill see it?"
What does the Bible say, and what does the Gospel reveal:
"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)
For the longest time, I was so frightened and worried about how I felt. I was guided by the stupid feelings, rather than resting in the truth of what Jesus says (not just "said" but says!- about me and you!)
That is a lie, and that lie is defeated in the truth of God's Word!
For so long, I was reading the Bible just to feel better. Now I know better, and I read the Bible to know Him better and keep receiving His favor.
I also realize that he is not going anywhere, and the lie that how I feel determines whether He is there or not, well, it's just not there anymore!
"5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13: 5)
Today, I was meditating on this verse, and behold, the preacher on TV was talking about this verse, too.
The next question finally came to me: why have I not believed this?
Because I was going by my feelings. I was going by my thoughts, and determining that what I felt or believed determined whether he was with me or not.
I was not believing the truth.
We cannot accommodate these frauds in our lives.
You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
This was the truth which I had not known as true.
The physical pain because of the thoughts and feelings that I was trying to block, had created so much pain.
When we rest on truth, though, it will not matter what we feel, because the perfect love of God casts out the fears, and puts away all frauds.
Where did this lie come from, by the way?. . .
It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worth while. But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die. (AA, pg 66)
That statement is a flat out lie. How we feel is a manifestation of what we are thinking.
If we believe that how we feel is going to block us from God our Loving Father, then we are not walking in the truth. (3 John 2-4)
It could not be any simpler.
It does not matter how we feel, at all:
"37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)
So, I was once again asking myself today -- why did I not believe this?
Because of the garbage which I had been taught as a youth.
Now more than ever, I have begun to understand. What I needed was not a greater revelation of Jesus only, but also to get rid of the lies and frauds which I had been taught as a kid.
It's not the things you don't know that hurt you. It's the things you know that ain't so.
And that is the way it is:
"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." (Galatisn 4: 30)
Notice "what says the Scripture?", not "what does your mother say?" or "what does the preacher say?" or "what do you say?" (and certainly not "How does Bill see it?"
What does the Bible say, and what does the Gospel reveal:
"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)
For the longest time, I was so frightened and worried about how I felt. I was guided by the stupid feelings, rather than resting in the truth of what Jesus says (not just "said" but says!- about me and you!)
That is a lie, and that lie is defeated in the truth of God's Word!
For so long, I was reading the Bible just to feel better. Now I know better, and I read the Bible to know Him better and keep receiving His favor.
I also realize that he is not going anywhere, and the lie that how I feel determines whether He is there or not, well, it's just not there anymore!
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
To Serve God, We Must Believe that We are Eternally Forgiven
"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)
There is too much in this verse which cannot be ignored.
We cannot serve God if we feel that our sins have not been eternally put away. We have to believe that He did a perfect work, or we are calling God a liar:
"God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Romans 3: 4)
and then
"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)
God is not a liar. Jesus His Son paid for all our sins:
"That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:" (Hebrews 6:1 8)
and
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1: 7)
For this reason, Jesus would declare:
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)
The writer of Hebrews records:
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11: 6)
Faith is all about what Jesus did at the Cross, the promise of the New Covenant fulfilled:
"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:
There is too much in this verse which cannot be ignored.
We cannot serve God if we feel that our sins have not been eternally put away. We have to believe that He did a perfect work, or we are calling God a liar:
"God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Romans 3: 4)
and then
"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)
God is not a liar. Jesus His Son paid for all our sins:
"That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:" (Hebrews 6:1 8)
and
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1: 7)
For this reason, Jesus would declare:
"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)
The writer of Hebrews records:
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11: 6)
Faith is all about what Jesus did at the Cross, the promise of the New Covenant fulfilled:
"10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
If we want to serve the living God, we must understand that He has eternally put away all our sins.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Jesus, More Than Our Friend and Brother
The highest proof of God's love is that He sent His Son to die for all our sins, and to grant us His life through His Son:
"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."(Job 18: 24)
This verse is about Jesus!
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15: 13)
Yet we are more than just friends with God, even though Jesus did extend this new standing to us:
"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." (John 15: 15)
Yet God's love through His Beloved Son is much greater than any ordinary man's love:
"6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5: 6-9)
Jesus died for us when we were not even His friends, but His enemies, because of sin, because of Adam:
"The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men." (Joel 1: 12)
Then
"12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Romans 5: 12)
We bring nothing to our salvation. He brought everything, and all we can respond with is: "Thank You!"
"21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;" (Colossians 1: 21-23)
This passage could not be clearer, or more manifest about this truth: He has given us proof of His love for us, and we had nothing to do with it.
We do not become friends of God because of what we did, but because of what He did.
Yet we are more than friends. We are made brothers with Christ:
"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1: 18)
and also
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8: 29)
Yet notice that the verse in Proverbs speaks about One who is close than a brother. . .
"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17: 21)
And of course:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:1 7)
"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."(Job 18: 24)
This verse is about Jesus!
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15: 13)
Yet we are more than just friends with God, even though Jesus did extend this new standing to us:
"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." (John 15: 15)
Yet God's love through His Beloved Son is much greater than any ordinary man's love:
"6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5: 6-9)
Jesus died for us when we were not even His friends, but His enemies, because of sin, because of Adam:
"The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men." (Joel 1: 12)
Then
"12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Romans 5: 12)
We bring nothing to our salvation. He brought everything, and all we can respond with is: "Thank You!"
"21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;" (Colossians 1: 21-23)
This passage could not be clearer, or more manifest about this truth: He has given us proof of His love for us, and we had nothing to do with it.
We do not become friends of God because of what we did, but because of what He did.
Yet we are more than friends. We are made brothers with Christ:
"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1: 18)
and also
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8: 29)
Yet notice that the verse in Proverbs speaks about One who is close than a brother. . .
"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17: 21)
And of course:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:1 7)
Sunday, February 8, 2015
His Part, Not Yours
The Bible is very clear about what "our part" really is:
"26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 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 1:26-29)
We have no part, because we could bring no part to bear in redeeming ourselves:
"1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 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. 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: 1-10)
Paul could not repeat it enough: By grace, you are saved. By His favor, not our fervor, are we taken from death to life. God our Father has seated us; we do not seat our selves. We are saved by what He did, not what we did or do, or will do. "Not by works", "gift of faith".
This is something that we all have a problem with as human beings, convinced that the world will not turn without us. Last time I check, God has the world taken care of:
"He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing." (John 26: 7)
He does that, not us. He hangs the world on nothing, yet He holds us with both hands:
"28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10: 28-29)
He has taken care of everything. Our job is to believe it.
"26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 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 1:26-29)
We have no part, because we could bring no part to bear in redeeming ourselves:
"1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 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. 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: 1-10)
Paul could not repeat it enough: By grace, you are saved. By His favor, not our fervor, are we taken from death to life. God our Father has seated us; we do not seat our selves. We are saved by what He did, not what we did or do, or will do. "Not by works", "gift of faith".
This is something that we all have a problem with as human beings, convinced that the world will not turn without us. Last time I check, God has the world taken care of:
"He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing." (John 26: 7)
He does that, not us. He hangs the world on nothing, yet He holds us with both hands:
"28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." (John 10: 28-29)
He has taken care of everything. Our job is to believe it.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Faith is About Jesus
"1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good report." (Hebrews 11: 1-2)
Faith is based on One Person, Jesus, and One Work: The Cross.
Faith is not about seeing ourselves in a new car, or a new house.
Faith is about accepting as true that Jesus completed a perfect work on our part at the Cross:
"50Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God." (Matthew 27: 50-54)
What else can we draw from this account than the perfect Work of Jesus' death on the Cross?
"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)
The blood of Abel spoke judgment and condemnation:
"And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;" (Genesis 4: 10-11)
But what about Jesus?
"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)
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" (Galatians 3: 13)
Faith is believing that He did a perfect work, and has therefore given us His life:
"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)
Faith rests in a perfect work finished at the Cross:
"12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 12-14)
Faith is based on One Person, Jesus, and One Work: The Cross.
Faith is not about seeing ourselves in a new car, or a new house.
Faith is about accepting as true that Jesus completed a perfect work on our part at the Cross:
"50Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God." (Matthew 27: 50-54)
What else can we draw from this account than the perfect Work of Jesus' death on the Cross?
"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)
The blood of Abel spoke judgment and condemnation:
"And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;" (Genesis 4: 10-11)
But what about Jesus?
"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)
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" (Galatians 3: 13)
Faith is believing that He did a perfect work, and has therefore given us His life:
"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)
Faith rests in a perfect work finished at the Cross:
"12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 12-14)
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