tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74972695594837694662024-03-16T13:00:29.096-05:00ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!A Hyper Grace, based, encouraging, never discouraging, blog proclaiming His all the time goodness, and Faithulness. Come discover The Father's lavish love for you today! This site is dedicated to proclaiming the Hyper Grace Gospel of Jesus Christ, His unconditional love and everlasting mercy!
Caution, this blog may make you rethink your traditional religious understanding of the Bible. It will help you fall more radically in love with a loving and gracious Father! John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.comBlogger488125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-25776748683910238552024-03-13T06:28:00.000-05:002024-03-13T06:28:39.792-05:00Answering Objections to the Gospel of Grace: God is angry with and will punish believers who sins. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNj9HM4lZuXg5ftOFCSmqYy-QV6ho5rrCYc0XEq4Wbv6nrqkhYJo-PsryU5hn0uYJ8UidkKR5r90kFDZtijnKM3Jzng6lAiBBfEVBBRt8jym7uMAEZmZ5ATKUFclYoacayAbT7_d7_Zv2TqTUxjtQUOPM4MVF757g9GPHvfNbUSNzmX72-i4TZRDw2dg/s320/ID-100262508.jpg" width="320" /></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: times; font-weight: bold;">For the Law was given through Moses, but grace [the unearned, undeserved favor of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ. </i><b style="font-family: times;">John 1:17 AMP</b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> Throughout the last one hundred years God has been restoring truth to the Body of Christ. These truths are verifiable by examining the Word of God. Even though truth is restored certain traditional religious-minded ones will reject the truth if it contradicts their tradition.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> Recently I came across a concise list of objections to the Gospel of Grace. With such a detailed list, a detailed response seemed the best way to address these objections. I have already responded to the objections concerning 1 John 1 and confessions of sins to receive forgiveness. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> In the last study, I responded to the objection that all Grace teaching does is focus on Paul. That Radical Grace teaching simply ignores the rest of the Bible, as if the rest of the Bible contradicts and disagrees with Paul. Today I want to respond to the objection of the Grace message that we miss it because we teach that God isn't angry with believers when they mess up. That God won't punish believers who sin too much.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> This concept of the angry God who punishes His own is a deeply rooted stronghold in the minds of tradition-ruled believers. Why? Guilt over their own transgressions and sins. Guilt means they are guilty and recompense must be made in some way or fashion for their wrongs. It's either their own guilt or condemnation they project on others whom they deem guilty of too much sinning. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> Does God get angry with believers? Does God punish us when we sin? These are valid questions that beg an answer. Many believers have lived with guilt and shame over their sins and transgressions. Many look at the circumstances of their life and conclude God must be punishing them for some sin they have committed.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> Let's address this objection to the Gospel of Grace. Does God get angry with us and even punish us when we sin? In addressing this objection, let's examine facts about our Father in Heaven. </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> Let's look at the character of our Father in Heaven. Let's look at what was accomplished on the Cross. Let's respond using the light of the New Covenant.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> The first fact we must consider is that God our Father has accepted the final sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Father has fully <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+7%3A27&version=MEV">accepted Christ's sacrifice and no other is needed</a>. Jesus was enough.</span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="-webkit-standard" style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">whereas Christ, having offered the one sacrifice [the all-sufficient sacrifice of Himself] for sins for all time, </span><span class="small-caps" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">sat down</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"> [signifying the completion of atonement for sin] </span><span class="small-caps" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">at the right hand of God</span><span style="background-color: white;"><i> [the position of honor], </i>Hebrews 10:12 AMP</span></b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b>God the Father has fully accepted the perfect once-for-all sacrifice of Christ Jesus for sins. He isn't unsatisfied with Jesus' sacrifice. He isn't looking for our sacrifices for our sins. Where there is a once for all sacrifice for sins offered there will be no other sacrifice accepted. The Father is satisfied with Jesus! </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> The next fact about our Father is that He isn't counting our sins against us. In other words, the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+32%3A1-2&version=MEV">Father isn't charging our sins to our accounts</a>. Thanks to the shed blood we are free!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="text Rom-4-6" id="en-MEV-28029" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">6 </span>Even David describes the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness without works: </span><i>7 “Blessed are those </i><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Rom-4-7" style="font-style: italic; position: relative;">whose iniquities are forgiven, </span><i>and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man </i><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Rom-4-8" style="position: relative;"><i>to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” </i>Romans 4:6-8 MEV</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Rom-4-8" style="position: relative;"><b> </b>The next fact about the Father is that in the New Covenant, the Father isn't remembering our sins. He declared under the New, our sins and iniquities He remembers no more. He said He doesn't remember them and neither should we.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="text Rom-4-8" style="font-style: italic; position: relative;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>then he says, · “Their sins and · their lawless acts I will never again remember.” </i>Hebrews 10:17 MOUNCE</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b>God declared He would never again remember our sins. If He doesn't remember them who are we to bring them up? If He said He will never remember them who then can bring a charge to God's Righteous and forgiven children?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> The last fact about our Father is that He said He would never be angry with us again. Grace teachers didn't say it He did. He cannot lie.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i>“For this is like the days of Noah to Me, When I swore that the waters of Noah Would not flood the earth again; So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you Nor rebuke you.</i> Isaiah 54:9 NASB</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times;"> We have looked at several truths concerning redemption and the facts about our Father concerning sins. God is a Good Father. He is not an </span><span style="font-family: times;">angry harsh taskmaster. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> For God to be angry with us because of our sins, would mean He has not fully accepted the once-for-all all sacrifice for sins. He is still counting believer's sins against them. He still remembers our sins. In essence, He would be nullifying the New Covenant. The Good News of Grace is that He is fully pleased with Jesus and will never do that.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Jesus took the full punishment of all our sins in His body when He suffered on the cross. The wages of sin is death, and Jesus died for our sins. He bore all our sins. He didn't bear just the sins we committed before we got saved, He bore them all. Therefore God isn't holding them against us ever again.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> God is angry with and punishes believers who sin? What about Jesus? Why is God punishing us when Jesus took all the punishment for us? This concept is so absurd and reveals a clear misunderstanding and ignorance concerning the New Covenant. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> To some religious-minded ones, the New Covenant simply means we don't sacrifice sheep or goats any longer. God still judges, condemns, and is angry with His people for their failures. The cross didn't change anything, especially how God addresses our sins and shortcomings. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Thanks be to God Jesus paid the highest price. God is satisfied with Jesus' once for all sacrifice and is not remembering our sins. He is not counting them against us any longer. In fact, because of Jesus, we can always have boldness concerning the day of judgment. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i> And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">18 </span>Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. </i>1 John 4:17-18 NLT</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b> </b>In summation, is God angry with Christians? Is God punishing them? Based upon the precepts of the New Covenant, Jesus' once-for sacrifice, the perfect Blood of Jesus shed, and the Word of promise from God Himself the answer is clearly no! God is not remembering your sins or mine. We can run to our Father whenever we miss it because His love is always there for us. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: times;"><br /></b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><em style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;">Image courtesy of iosphere at FreeDigitalPhotos.net</span></em></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-78720933940113531192024-03-03T08:12:00.001-06:002024-03-05T20:42:00.205-06:00Answering Objections to the Gospel of Grace: Too much of what Paul preached?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9-b_MPXr8nnV8wkIyo9ohZ_gmuv0BRimfR6vM15tqtd3HjcQukVo_74CJwk4Rk9j_KRNItpz1yjh8xY1z6sSerl03UyPyLtNbpJfnyly11iAeQcnv2DP4O49cJV_NF6J_6_8USnuWn_GS2T5xLjYbYe9maXjpFZG3E5ZL4udYhBkSVE3JZ5EEI_gDiU/s1280/bible-504785_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9-b_MPXr8nnV8wkIyo9ohZ_gmuv0BRimfR6vM15tqtd3HjcQukVo_74CJwk4Rk9j_KRNItpz1yjh8xY1z6sSerl03UyPyLtNbpJfnyly11iAeQcnv2DP4O49cJV_NF6J_6_8USnuWn_GS2T5xLjYbYe9maXjpFZG3E5ZL4udYhBkSVE3JZ5EEI_gDiU/s320/bible-504785_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i style="font-family: times; font-weight: bold;">For the Law was given through Moses, but grace [the unearned, undeserved favor of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ. </i><b style="font-family: times;">John 1:17 AMP</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> Whenever God restores truth to the Church oftentimes it is met with critical skepticism. Certainly, it is not wrong to confirm what is brought forth to ensure it aligns with God's Word. This is seeking to confirm the truth, not resist the truth. That said, when truth is being restored sometimes objections are raised.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> Sometimes these objections come about because it cuts cross-grain to how things have been done for so long. Sometimes these objections come about because religious leaders feel like they are losing the control they have over their congregants. Sometimes these objections come about because of misunderstandings and minds rooted in the tradition of men. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> In light of this, this is why it is good in a spirit of love to answer such objections. Recently I came across a concise list of objections concerning the Radical Grace of God. It seemed good to me that with such a concise list of objections, a detailed response was warranted.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> So far in addressing this list of objections I have addressed in detail this issue of 1 John 1:9 and confessions of sins to be forgiven. Today, I want to address this objection that the Gospel of Grace only focuses on Paul's Epistles. That Grace teaching disregards the Gospels and the Old Testament and ignores the other Epistles. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: times;"> </b><span style="font-family: times;">This may seem like nothing concerning to some believers, but to our mainline, denominational brethren it is a serious issue. It seems as if we are saying only Paul is inspired by God and everything else is false. Is it Paul's Gospel or is it THE Gospel?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> The answer to this objection is very simple. Look at what <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+1%3A11-21&version=MEV">Paul himself said about the Gospel he preaches</a>. Paul said it was Jesus Himself who taught him the Gospel. Jesus taught Paul. Paul's teachings are Jesus' teachings. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> The true issue is that believers are not rightly dividing the Word. When we present the Gospel are we to teach the Old Testament? When we minister the Word do we need to present all the teachings of Jesus as what is required of New Covenant believers?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> If so what portions are active for believers today? Not eating our steaks medium rare or wearing clothing with mix fabrics? Are we to present ourselves to the priest when we are cleansed? </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> I am not being critical or "snarky." The issue is these objections are raised by angry believers who have simply taken the Bible and never rightly divided it and therefore don't even understand it all and presume it all pertains to all people forever. They can't distinguish between Jesus' preaching of the Old Covenant requirements and Jesus' teaching of the coming New Covenant. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Those who object to Grace preaching claim we have dismissed Jesus' teachings. They argue that we are to follow all of what Jesus taught. What do we do then with this word from Jesus?</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="text Matt-15-24" id="en-MEV-23658"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">24 </span><i>But He answered, </i><span class="woj"><i>“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” </i>Matthew 15:24 MEV</span></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="text Matt-15-24"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="woj"><b> </b>For those who object to Grace teaching, and claim we should follow Jesus' words to the letter where does this statement leave us? If we are not literal Jews then we are lost without God and still in our sins. Jesus was only sent to Israel, His own words. Unless of course we are to rightly divide Jesus' words and apply what is New Covenant to our lives and leave the rest in the Covenant they pertained to. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> When we rightly divide the Word, we get a clear picture of God's great love and all the time Goodness. Though we see wrath and judgment under the Old, we still see a Father longing for the day of Redemption. We see a Father who said He delights in mercy and not judgment. We see a Savior, God incarnate who revealed the full weight of the Law, revealing the need for a Savior. We see a Savior who said it is Finished ending the Old and ushering in a New Covenant based on His Grace, not our works. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> Jesus' words are not disregarded just rightly divided under Grace. The Old Covenant is not thrown out. It is clearly seen as fulfilled and now obsolete. The other Epistles are not ignored. Peter and James did not disagree with Paul. In Acts 15, James and Peter agreed with Paul that the Old Covenant and Law are fulfilled and no longer in effect. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> Look at Peter's own words;</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="text Acts-15-10" id="en-AMP-27453" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span>Now then, why are you testing God by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to endure? </span><i><span style="background-color: white;"></span></i><span class="text Acts-15-11" id="en-AMP-27454"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">11 </span><i>But we believe that we are saved through the [precious, undeserved] grace of the Lord Jesus [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life], in just the same way as they are.” </i>Acts 15:10-11 AMP</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Acts-15-11"><b> </b>This objection is simply a result of tradition-ruled men not rightly dividing the Word. This objection is a result of those who still desire to mix Law and Grace. This objection is a </span>result of those who simply want to blend the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The Gospel of Grace is the Gospel Paul preached. This Gospel is the Gospel that Jesus taught Paul directly. Jesus purchased the free gift of Righteousness apart from man's work, performance, and behavior. He purposefully entrusted Paul with the task of proclaiming this Good News to all. The Lord also thought it best to have Paul pen 2/3rds of the New Covenant. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> In summation, there is not too much Paul preaching. Paul's message is the Gospel. Jesus taught it to him. Jesus called and appointed him to proclaim it. When we rightly divide the Word we see Paul and Jesus and the other writers of the New are in harmony, not disagreement. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: times;"><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Image by </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/benjaminnelan-268798/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=504785" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Benjamin Nelan</a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;"> from </span><a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=504785" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Pixabay</a></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-18179511748692525022024-02-25T17:26:00.003-06:002024-02-25T17:26:45.892-06:00Answering Objections to the Gospel of Grace: Confession of sins, is it for the Church?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="1280" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkjowizQze9PUZc6XvLIFCeIbWNhCEiFUbvRMgJjrGN2bLSYs0WdWaEeZ6o21PQxi01pA0b8qdcy7O4C_djwNwtw_X7s2sf7PkTtTCZmJcoXBdZShRk8-gG5i632RHyHxxmBagoe0DkjPmyzefatDO6uaOHWuWpvWaVeQZ8W0km_KJBoyGD3YUjYT6WY/s320/i-741507_1280.jpg" width="320" /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> <b style="font-family: times;"><i>For the Law was given through Moses, but grace [the unearned, undeserved favor of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ. </i>John 1:17 AMP</b><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"> On this site, I have addressed many concerns and objections concerning the message of Grace. I have even allayed some myths about grace teaching. Recently I came across a concise list of objections to the message of Grace. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> With such a concise list of objections, I felt compelled to give a detailed response. So far I began addressing the issue of who 1 John was addressed to and answered if it was to Christians or not. Today, I would like to address this issue of confessions of sins so we may be forgiven of our sins. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> On this site, we have addressed this issue several times. Each time, addressing different perspectives on the issue of confession. I will proceed with fresh insight on this matter of confession but want to allow you to study the issue further. You can find further study <a href="https://www.allthetimegod.com/2023/06/discover-grace-forgiveness-and.html">here</a>, <a href="https://www.allthetimegod.com/2017/06/great-grace-what-about-confession-of-sin.html">here</a>, and <a href="https://www.allthetimegod.com/2015/05/understanding-grace-confession-of-sin.html">here</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Are confessions of sins so we may be forgiven of our sins the system God designed in the New Covenant? Think of how this reflects on Jesus' once for all sacrifice for all of our sins. If we no longer have to offer lambs as a sacrifice for our sins to be covered but still must offer the "sacrifice" of apologizing, acknowledging, and admitting that we sinned to receive forgiveness for that sin, what does that say of Jesus' sacrifice? It says His sacrifice, His shed Blood, is insufficient and we must add our apologies and admission in order to be forgiven.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Let's use the Word as the final authority on this subject. If we wish to believe in a "doctrine" that says after conversion, acceptance of Jesus' and being born again, each and every time we sin thereafter we must confess it or acknowledge it so we can be cleansed from unrighteousness and receive forgiveness for it, we must consider some important truths. What truths? Let's look closer at the Word as a whole.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> For one to believe the premise of confessing to be forgiven, one has to overlook, disregard, and ignore some important Bible facts. First fact, we are only forgiven of sins by the shedding of blood not our apologies or admissions of guilt. Look at the Word;</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><i>In </i>fact<i> we can say that under the old agreement almost everything was </i>cleansed<i> by sprinkling it with blood, and without the shedding of </i>blood<i> there is no forgiveness of sins. </i>Hebrews 9:22 TLB</span></b> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Let's look at the second Bible fact. We as believers are forgiven of all our sins once and for all time. This is Jesus' sacrifice alone not His plus ours equaling forgiveness. </span></p><p><b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">but He, having offered one sacrifice </span><i><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30146A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30146A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">for </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">sins </span><i><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30146B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30146B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">for all time, </span><i><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30146C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30146C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></i><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">sat down at the right hand of God</span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>, </i>Hebrews 10:12 NASB</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Let's look at the third Bible fact. We are forgiven of all our sins. Not just forgiven of our past sins. Not forgiven only up towards the time of conversion. No, we are forgiven of all our sins past and present and future. </span></p><p><b style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>who bought our freedom with his blood and forgave us all our sins </i>Colossians 1:14 TLB</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span></b></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. </i>Colossians 2:13 NLT</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span><b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>I am writing to you, little children (believers, dear ones), because your sins have been forgiven for His name’s sake [you have been pardoned and released from spiritual debt through His name because you have confessed His name, believing in Him as Savior]. </i>1 John 2:12 AMP</span></span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b>Let's look at yet another Bible fact. Truth is established in the mouth of two or three witnesses. 1 John 1:9 is the only place that tells us to confess our sins so we can receive forgiveness. If we must admit it before we are forgiven, this concept should be repeated throughout the entire New Covenant. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white;">This </span>will be<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">the third </span>time<span style="background-color: white;"> I am coming to you. </span></i><span class="oblique"><i>“By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”</i> 2 Corinthians 13:1 NKJV</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When we allow the Word to be the complete truth and final authority we can see how some ideas can't hold up to scrutiny. Another truth we must look at is the context of the Epistle. John is not contradictory as an Apostle.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Look at his words in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+john+2%3A1-2&version=NLT">second chapter of 1 John</a>. John specifically addresses Christians who have sinned. Why didn't he tell them to admit it? Why didn't he tell them to acknowledge it? Why didn't he tell them to apologize? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Doesn't John know if they don't apologize they won't be forgiven? Doesn't John know if they don't admit it their sin will go on being unforgiven? What is John thinking?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> The Apostle John is not contradicting himself. In 1 John 1:9, he points sinners to their admission of sins, so they will see the need for a savior. He points to the acknowledgment of sins so they will receive the Grace of once for all forgiveness. In 1 John 2, John points believers to Jesus and not themselves. He points those who have sinned to Jesus and reminds them of His sacrifice, not theirs. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> In summation, the facts are clear. 1 John is not teaching believers we must confess in order to receive forgiveness. The second chapter of John proves this. John reminds us of Jesus' sacrifice. He reminds us of our forgiveness in Jesus. We don't confess to be forgiven under the New. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> When we sin, we confess what Jesus did about our sins. We confess who we are because of Jesus despite our sins. We confess our Righteousness and redemption in Christ when we sin. Because we are forgiven we can freely admit when we have failed and know we are not condemned. This is the Good News of Grace. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Image by </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/geralt-9301/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=741507" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Gerd Altmann</a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;"> from </span><a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=741507" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Pixabay</a></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-33951864410300970302024-02-19T12:36:00.001-06:002024-02-25T12:58:42.919-06:00Objection?! Answering objections to the Gospel of Grace<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="1280" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Mq4uOSkk4aXl3_J6FSB6W35wPsLQlqi_PrM4n-2VxqHHn-g8vXXgacORFZ1MEZdxU4M8aoZftfporRxPnaCBF4J4RlK2mW8GWV004Xk1b7PF18-LNg7HdAOCunCfqIdj-TlXe2_lVGEKYeoi7GdOhRyEgqhWyr9R2EMVCiKObxt8t5OUKF1_a89mojQ/s320/ethics-2991600_1280.jpg" width="320" /></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i>For the Law was given through Moses, but grace [the unearned, undeserved favor of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ. </i>John 1:17 AMP</b></span></span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b> </b>Grace and truth came through Christ. Take note that Grace and Truth are listed together. They are on the same side if you will.</span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Some religious minded say preach Grace but we also need truth. As if Grace isn't speaking the truth. As if Grace opposes truth. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> If Grace and truth are together, which John 1 clearly demonstrates, then Grace and truth are not opposites. It means that Grace is the truth. That truth is also Grace. They go hand in hand. With this understanding, I want to look at some serious objections some Christian leaders have concerning Grace.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> There may be many objections you have heard previously. On this site, I have spent considerable time answering concerns about the Gospel of Grace. That said I recently came across a concise list of objections to the message of Radical Grace. It was so detailed I felt a detailed response to each objection was warranted. With that let's begin.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The biggest objection to Radical Grace is the concept of confession of our sins and 1 John 1:9 being written to believers. The Gospel of Grace has revealed that 1 John 1:9 is not to believers but rather to unbelievers. This is a strongly controversial point to some. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> This objection must be responded to by tackling two questions. Is 1 John 1 written to Christians or sinners? Is confession of sins (in order to be forgiven of sins) for the believer? Let's answer objection one part one, who is 1 John chapter 1 addressing? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Let's look at the first chapter in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+john+1&version=MEV">full context here</a>. Take note of how John the Apostle begins the Epistle. Look how there is no greeting. Every Epistle in the New Covenant begins with a greeting. Even in the Epistle to the Hebrews though it begins with a statement, this statement is clearly addressing those in the Faith. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> In John's other two Epistles, he specifically addresses the believer with a greeting. Looking at <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+john+2%3A1&version=MEV">1 John 2:1</a>, we can see the standard greeting begins here. So why no greeting in the first verse or two of this Epistle? This should make us pause, and ask why there is a deviation from every Epistle in the New Testament. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Next, let's look at some of the passages in the first chapter. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="text 1John-1-3" id="en-MEV-30544" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> 3. </span>we declare to you that which we have seen and heard, that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. </span><i><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"></span></i><span class="text 1John-1-4" id="en-MEV-30545" style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">4 </span><i>We are writing these things to you so that our joy may be complete. </i>1 John 1:3-4 MEV</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 1John-1-4" style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"><b> </b>Now let me take this passage and highlight some words that indicate who John is addressing. </span></span></p><p><span class="text 1John-1-3" id="en-MEV-30544" style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">3. </span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">we declare to <b><i>you</i></b> that which <b><u>we</u></b> have seen and heard, that <b><i>you</i></b> also may have fellowship with <b><u>us</u></b>. And <b><u>our</u></b> fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. </span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"></span><span class="text 1John-1-4" id="en-MEV-30545" style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">4 </span><b><u>We</u></b> are writing these things to <b><i>you</i></b> so that <b><u>our</u></b> joy may be complete.</span> 1 John 1:3-4 (emphasis mine).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Have you noted the pronouns being used? We (those in Christ) are addressing you (those not in Christ yet), and telling you (those without Christ) about Jesus. If this first chapter is to believers why is John distinguishing himself from the audience? Who are the "we" and who is the "you?"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> I trust you are tracking with me. Tradition is such a powerful force. It creates a stronghold in the minds of believers that can be a struggle to pull down. This stronghold of tradition is so strong it makes the Word of no effect. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The Word being of no effect means that even when reading and seeing clear passages presented from God's Word, the clouded mind of tradition cannot see the light of it. Tradition won't allow the person to grasp the truth of the Word. In fact often times it causes them not only to reject it but to aggressively fight against it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> If not written to believers who is John addressing? John is addressing the Gnostics who have infiltrated the Church. Understand the Church is in its infancy growth stage when the Scriptures were given. The Scripture must address certain mindsets attitudes and issues that pose a threat and hindrance to the development of the Church. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> This is exactly what John was doing in writing the Epistle of 1 John. The Gnostics believed flesh was evil and therefore rejected Jesus being a flesh and blood man. This is why John went to great lengths to describe Jesus in the first two verses of this Epistle. John describes perfectly both the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> When we understand that this first chapter is written to the Gnostic lost, the rest of the chapter makes more sense. Verses 5-10 have been a source of condemnation and shame to the Church for generations. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+john+1%3A5-10&version=MEV">Look at them</a> again. The passages seem to suggest we can walk in and out of fellowship with God when we sin.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> This is not what this passage is saying. Think of it this way. Replace the word light with the word morality. If we walk in morality as He is morality we have fellowship with God and the blood cleanses us from sin. Wait, if we are walking morally then why would we need cleansing from sin? We would only need cleansing when we are immoral.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Yet tradition creates a doctrine from this one passage that says if we sin we have no fellowship with God until we say I am sorry. Is this right? Again, who is this addressing? It is talking to lost Gnostics who think they are in the light because of knowledge. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> If we think we are in the light because of our doing, and our thinking, then we are deceiving ourselves and actually walking in darkness. This passage is an invitation to accept Christ, to walk in true fellowship with Him, and to receive continual cleansing from the blood. This is not addressing the saints who have sinned.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> In Christ, we are forgiven once for all time. He declared we will never be forsaken or abandoned. He didn't say oh wait, let me add a clause here. You're only unforsaken if you don't commit sin. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> No, we don't lose fellowship with our Father when we sin. Whenever we do sin, our Good Father draws us closer. He doesn't run from us. He doesn't distance Himself from us. He doesn't disown us. He runs to us and reminds us of who we are in Him. We are the Righteousness of God in Christ. We are forgiven of all our sins. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> With this truth established of who the audience is, we can know that 1 John 1:9 does not address Christians but unbelievers. If we rightly divide the Word apart from tradition we can clearly see it. If we allow the Scriptures themselves to establish precedence, we can see how this Epistle is distinct. 1 John 1 is not addressing believers it is speaking to the Gnostic lost. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> In summation, relinquish tradition and embrace truth. If we embrace Grace we embrace truth. Let's not man's understanding lead us astray from this Gospel of Grace. Next time we will address part two of this objection. Must we confess our sins? </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span face=""Open Sans", system-ui" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Image by </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/tumisu-148124/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2991600" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui;">Tumisu</a><span face=""Open Sans", system-ui" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;"> from </span><a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2991600" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui;">Pixabay</a></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-80909733760301386362024-01-06T12:19:00.000-06:002024-01-10T07:39:04.544-06:00Radical Grace or Radical works? <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD761S1bka6-BTC-AarTVuJAIlw4tJ-Axu-SE5JQ5fc90RJOr4vWnuRgr6Eh8eD17SRUBsjRMiiFlyu3fCis3wGmhn4hbc8alE8SIZLsWM_e-OH4eOLComO2jm4f7d6bfBe9EL5Ar6fR8o7QX-sC2Op2eUY207qmZgId-PUUb8JokUGWU-HF85bzPuiDk/s320/ID-100265471.jpg" width="320" /></div> <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i>We have all received from His fullness grace upon grace. </i>John 1:16 MEV</b></span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i>For from · his fulness we have all received · one gracious gift after another.</i> John 1:16 MOUNCE</b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b> </b>The </span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">announcement of salvation found in Christ alone is glad tidings. The proclamation of the Good News of the Gospel of Christ brings fullness of Joy. The Gospel is the Good News of the Grace of God pledged through Jesus Christ. In short, it's supposed to be the most amazing news you've ever heard.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> As of this writing, we just came out of the Christmas season. This is the season of glad tidings, peace, and goodwill toward men. This is the season of giving gifts freely to the ones we love and care for. It's gift-giving season, did you then have to earn the gift you received?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> If you did, then you really didn't receive a gift but wages earned by your doing. When you go to a job and put in a work week, you aren't receiving a gift from the employer when you get your paycheck. It is a culmination of the wages earned by your efforts, your performance, and your doing. It is therefore not a gift.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> God our Father is not an employer. He is not a taskmaster. He is not a manager. He is not the chief executive. He is not assigning tasks to complete and then rewarding us based on the success or failure of our assigned tasks. If He is then He is not a God of Grace but of performance. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> If God is not a God of Grace, then His standard is performance. If it's all about performance with God, then that means He is focused on our performance. If He is focused on our performance, then Jesus' performance isn't paramount. Jesus' performance wouldn't be enough and it would mean we are dependent on Jesus plus our works. This would also mean in one sense, Jesus' performance in the Finished Work, is pointless and meaningless because God still requires our good performance.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b> <span style="background-color: white;"><i>Now to the one who works, his wages are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. </i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>But to the one who does not work, but entrusts himself to the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited · as righteousness </i>Romans 4:4-5 MOUNCE</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">This is so clear it is by Grace, a gift, not of works. Look at this same passage in another translation;</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i>4 </i></b></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="text Rom-4-4" id="en-NOG-28009" style="font-style: italic;">When people work, their pay is not regarded as a gift but something they have earned. </span><span class="text Rom-4-5" id="en-NOG-28010"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">5 </span><i>However, when people don’t work but believe God, the one who approves ungodly people, their faith is regarded as the basis of God’s approval. </i>Romans 4:4-5 NOG</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Rom-4-5"><b> </b>The Word of God, the </span>will of God clearly revealed to us, is quite clear on this matter. It is either all work or it is all Grace. There is no mixture or middle ground. This is the essential Gospel message. Paul declared anyone preaching another message than this is not of God and said let them be accursed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Now to be merciful, some well-meaning ministries and churches do not preach the message of Grace but a mixture of works and Grace. Am I declaring these are all cursed and going to hell when they die? No of course not. It's just that there is no blessing or goodness associated with this "mixture messaging."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> I said all of this, affirming and reaffirming the Gospel, to kick over a sacred cow if you will. I said all this to establish the true Gospel and to expose the perversion of man. We can't contaminate, corrupt, or cast aside the pure message of the Grace Gospel to make way for man's performance or make way for a place for good works.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> This week, I came across a message from an internationally known mega-church. The speaker there was quoting and thus also affirming, the words of a very well-known minister and missionary who has long since passed away. This quote was so astounding to me. It was the words of a man, and even good men can miss it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> In essence, this is what the minister quoted;</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"If you want to go to Heaven then just do these three things. Read your Bible daily, pray every day, and go to church."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The speaker of course affirmed this same message to the people present and those watching online. In fairness, this was done as an appeal for people to come to church. That said, the words are still problematic. The reason is they cut cross-grain to the Gospel. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> What happens if we don't go to church one Sunday? What happens if we forget to pray? How much of the Bible are we to read daily? One verse? Three verses? A chapter? This is the problem with the works and performance-centered gospel of man. How much is enough? How do we know if we've done enough?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The most concerning point about this quote is it diminishes the Cross and Finished Work in favor of man's performance. It says it's not by Grace alone through Faith alone we are saved and eternally secure it's our doing that saves us. Jesus once for all sacrifice and trusting in that alone isn't enough. We must add to it by our spiritual disciplines. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Now is reading the Word daily, praying every day, and consistent church attendance bad? No, it is highly beneficial and will result in spiritual growth and a better understanding of who God is and is part of a fruitful relationship with our Father. It is a fruit, not a root of our salvation and relationship with our Father above.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Radical Grace or radical works? I believe the Gospel message is simple. I believe the Word is clear. It is all by Grace and never of our works. If anything from God is received by works, then it is not actually <i>received</i> it is <i>achieved</i>! If it's achieved it's not a gift received it's wages earned. That's not Grace.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> If it's wages earned it is not a free gift. If it's not a free gift then it's Jesus plus something else. The truth is God deals with us based on Grace not works. He has accepted Jesus' works and not ours. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> We don't want God to relate to us based on our works or doings. For His standard is absolute perfection. If we come to God trusting in our performance then we are coming to an employer expecting a wage. We aren't coming to our Father to freely receive from His loving hands. It's Grace from beginning to eternity. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> In summation, let's affirm the true Gospel. Let's receive from God based solely on what Jesus has done, what He has Finished, what He has procured and purchased for us. Remember it's from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A16&version=AMPC">His fullness we receive one good thing after another after another</a>, endless Grace. </span></p><span style="font-family: times;"><a class="full-chap-link" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%204&version=NOG" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #517e90; min-width: 0px;" title="View Full Chapter"></a></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><p><br /></p><p><em style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;">Image courtesy of iosphere at FreeDigitalPhotos.net</span></em></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-28122487752149047252024-01-02T11:24:00.274-06:002024-01-04T09:16:18.907-06:00The Spirit of life in Christ has made you free! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1280" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2esTa8LOK7cgIBuf_EkIq7V7PweT8PqcL_2sBUUCuUaUk67gKYe2ejdFn9Z95T4RjYEvmgxDGcBO59tRHy4VhSb5aQST5Yk9Zqm3XCCRgUvX6xo9SJ-g40L24b8RYztfdc7CK3El-9bjWFUtCoN7rVITqTZUJDWo5nUmB1KiN5sO2P3gvU0OP2SIaik/w320-h245/freedom-945300_1280.jpg" width="320" /></u></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i> </i><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. F</span><span style="background-color: white; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><i>or the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. </i>Romans 8:2 MOUNCE</span></b></span><p></p><p style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b></span></span></p><p style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b>Did you </span>know that you have freedom in Christ? This is not a mere Christian cliche or hyperbolic rhetoric designed to garner an emotional response. The spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed those who simply believed. </span></p><p style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The question then is what exactly are we freed from? Many only scratch the surface of this freedom we have in Christ. Many only see this freedom as no longer a requirement to observe the ceremonial and sacrificial aspects of the Mosaic Law. </span></p><p style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Yet, some still believe we must observe the Saturday sabbath and that much of the Old Covenant is still applicable to the Church. Then others will agree we aren't under the Old Covenant any longer and this is the freedom Paul speaks of. So what is this freedom Paul speaks of?</span></p><p style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> In answering this, let me elaborate briefly. This portion of Scripture had been coming up in my spirit and I found myself periodically meditating on what Paul said in verse 2. The more this passage rose up within me, I finally decided to really examine this passage using the original Greek text, as well as various translations and lexicons I was quite astonished at this amazing freedom we have in Christ.</span></p><p style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">F</span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>or the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.</i></span></b><span style="font-family: times;"><b> Romans 8:2 MOUNCE</b></span></span></p><p style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b> </b>This powerful passage unlocks for us who believe, the </span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">staggering, and extraordinarily phenomenal freedom the life in Christ has procured for us. The depth of this triumphant freedom has been scarcely understood and fathomed in the Body of Christ. The implications of this freedom will rock the religious boat of man's traditions and shake the foundation of faulty theology. </span></p><p style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b>When we simply define the terms of this freedom the light of His Radical Grace will enlighten the darkened caverns and crevices of our thinking left unexplored because of man-made tradition. We are made free from the Law of sin and death. What is sin?</span></span></p><p style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> The word sin here means to miss the mark. To miss or wander from the path. Going deeper, it also means the propensity to sin, guilt, and the imputation of sin. Think of it the spirit of life in Christ Jesus frees us from sin! It gets better.</span></span></p><p style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> The word death here is the Greek word Thanatos. Comic book fans don't lose focus because you recognize that name. Now in defining this word death, the depths of God's Grace became even more clearer and also reveal the immeasurable depths of His Love, Grace, and all the time Goodness! </span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"> </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: large; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;">The word death is not merely defined as the cessation of life. This word is defined as the separation of the spirit from the body with the implication of future misery in hell. Now this is only the tip of the full definition of this word.</span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: large; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"> This word also includes all the miseries associated with sin, that is the fall, the lost state of the sinner apart from Christ, this would include all the effects of the fall. Shame, guilt, unrighteousness, as well as the curse. This has to include death, disaster, depression, desolation, disease, and despair. All the attributes associated with the full effects of spiritual death, that is separation from God. </span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: large; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"> Lastly and most powerfully, the word death means the forfeiture of salvation. Can you now see and understand just how triumphant this freedom we have in Christ actually is? It is truly astounding and astonishing when we grasp the full magnitude of this perfect Redemption we have through Jesus.</span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: large; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"> The Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the Law of sin and death! This truth is so powerful and so comforting. Through the life we have in Christ Jesus, there is no longer any guilt or shame. Not even if we sin! Through Jesus, our sins are no longer imputed to us! Instead, we have the life of Christ and we are made perfectly Righteous and therefore we are free! </span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: large; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"> Through the life we have in Christ, we are freed from sin and death. This life in Christ frees us from the effects of sin and death. The despair and misery associated with sin and separation cannot exist in our lives. The fall, the curse, and the fractured creation are around us but we can have victory and peace in their midst. In other words, they are on the outside but not on the inside. </span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: large; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"> The spirit of life in Christ Jesus frees us from eternal insecurity! We have hope and full assurance through Christ. He is our anchor in this fallen world. Fear, anxiety, and insecurity need not burden our thinking and emotions. We have full freedom from them in Christ. We are fully accepted and approved in Christ. We have hope, we are loved, we are cherished by our Father because of Jesus.</span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: large; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"> This life in Christ Jesus means we are unconditionally and eternally secure! We are free from death, that is freedom from forfeiture of salvation. We are prisoners of hope and Righteousness. Nothing can cause us to fall away, be found wanting and unaccepted, and be lost again. This life in Christ makes us His forever and nothing can change that.</span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: large; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"> In summation, this powerful passage reveals a redemption that only Grace could procure and provide for all. Apart from Christ, the way of life is if we sin just once we die. Hence what we are freed from, is the law of sin and death. That is if you sin, you die. In Christ, even if you sin you will not die or be separated. This is Radical Grace, this is the life we have in Christ Jesus! </span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Image by </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/nadinedoerle-1421566/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=945300" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Nadine Doerlé</a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;"> from </span><a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=945300" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Pixabay</a></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-36020773106408844722023-11-22T17:24:00.006-06:002023-11-24T08:46:40.590-06:00Unfailing Love?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVrsnYvkgR7OWgtpY9MPhUu76J85wX7sx5u8OQ9VwbuBnVoICEnRFLuQkygsc0q-LZ012RpeiE6Dp5kXff6FrYtKo60Ebl38jGW3fZZmsouZl9lB7D-fTGyHGxt0YveLU_2cf-5xrTXND3FCFvxFBNzJ8CRa-94orqwSVFFqB3Zkc2zlmqT0h9RX_kS0/s320/cross-792539_1280.jpg" width="320" /></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"><span class="text 2Cor-13-14" id="en-PHILLIPS-2217"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i>The grace that comes through our Lord Jesus Christ, the love that is of God the Father, and the fellowship that is ours in the Holy Spirit be with you all! </i>2 Corinthians 13:14 PHILLIPS</b></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial;">But God, with the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial;">unfathomable</span><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial;"><i> richness of His love and mercy focused on us,</i></span></b></span><span class="versenum" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="display: inline; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; text-decoration-thickness: initial; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>united us with the Anointed One and infused our lifeless souls with life—even though we were buried under mountains of sin—and saved us by His grace. </i></b></span></span><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial;">Ephesians 2:4-5 VOICE </span></b></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial;">How great is the Love of God? How wonderful is His great Love? If you've been a Christian for any length of time it's more than likely you've heard that God loves you. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial;">Hearing how much God loves us is wonderful and good. Singing worship songs proclaiming His great Love is amazing. All this emphasis on His Love leads me to ask some questions in light of what most churches teach and proclaim after they tell us God loves us.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial;">Most ministries will readily affirm God's Love. They even declare His Love is unfailing. Yet shortly after proclaiming His great Love, the message begins to shift, and the focus becomes about our faithfulness, our obedience, and our performance, and less and less about the unfailing love of God.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial;">The questions I have concern the apparent disconnect between a Love that never fails and a teaching that says mercy runs out. That God's forgiveness has limits. That we can sin away Grace. That in spite of unfailing Love, we as Christians can lose our salvation. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Let's ask some questions in light of this disconnect, this contrast, this possible contradiction;</span></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> <i>Will God ever come to a place where He is done with us?</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i> Will God ever say to us enough I am through with you?</i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i> Will God ever say to us concerning our salvation, His relationship with us, it's over, we're done? </i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i> </i>Is this Love really unfailing and unceasing? Can a Christian deplete God's Love and mercy and Grace? Will God's Love diminish the more a Christian fails and falters? </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Traditional religion will declare His Love is unfailing. Yet they also say a believer can fail God so much that they can forfeit or suffer the loss of their salvation. In essence, a believer's failure can cause unfailing love to actually fail and result in forever losing the object of the unfailing love. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The Love that never fails means that it will never fail no matter what someone else does or doesn't do. There is nothing we can do to cause God to Love us more. There is nothing we can do to make God cease loving us. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">All that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never turn away. </span>For I have come down from · heaven, not to do · my own will · but to do the will of him who sent me. </i><span style="background-color: white; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><i>And this is the will of the one who sent me: that of all that he has given me I should lose none but raise them up on the last day.</i> John 6:37-39 MOUNCE</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><b> </b>God's Love is everlasting and eternal. God's Love is unceasing and unfailing. God's opinion of you has never changed and it will never will change. God's Love will never falter or fade from day to day based on our actions or words. In fact, His unconditional Love received within is the power of God that renews our thoughts and thinking which produces the change in attitude and behavior effortlessly. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> So let's answer those questions. Will God ever say it's over? Will God ever tell you I'm through with you? Will God ever inform you that you're done? In light of the unfailing Love of God, a thousand times no! A trillion times never, no way, not ever. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> God's Love is unfailing and unending. When the voice of the condemnation preaching of legalism speaks, God's Love speaks louder. When the voice of the accusation of the enemy speaks, God's Love speaks louder and silences these lies! God's Love is for us! </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> God's unfailing Love proves our relationship with our Father is unshakeable and completely secure. In Christ, we have the hope and reassurance that we are eternally secure and rest firmly, safely, in His hands forever. His Love surrounds us and shields us from the lies of condemnation, accusation, and a performance-driven relationship. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> In summation, we are forever His. His unfailing cascades over us bringing hope, healing, and wholeness in every area of our life and relationship with God. Is His Love unfailing? Yes, we can boldly declare in light of Redemption, the Cross, the Resurrection, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and Grace, that God's Love never fails! </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> </span></span></p><div class="singleverse-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-bottom: 15px; min-width: 0px;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Image by </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/geralt-9301/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=792539" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Gerd Altmann</a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;"> from </span><a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=792539" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Pixabay</a></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-1669023839344771502023-10-22T11:21:00.024-05:002023-10-23T15:09:37.547-05:00The Vitalness of continually feeding on the Gospel of Grace and the Word of Faith!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="1280" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oC12bC5KU02qqiFzdZsX8aPRljsYIqdqzWteoTRBS2HkUm-YYV8rAfepe9_HUTXaqJppJH65saJQvDFObcGx4U5Fud6WDu7xxxOCt7KJwfTt2njTy5yEZ7SReKdxDwOBukglMKZbYAPGKeYn4mZW3L8znGgjuAXbW_oKjuTIpOev93LVfdqlqrEWCvk/s320/bible-276067_1280.jpg" width="320" /></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i> </i><span class="text Rom-10-8" id="en-MEV-28197" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">8 </span>But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” This is the word of faith that we preach: </span><i><span style="background-color: white;"></span></i><span class="text Rom-10-9" id="en-MEV-28198"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span><i>that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, </i>Romans 10:8-9 MEV</span></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="text Col-1-5" id="en-MEV-29471"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">5 </span>because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of the truth of the gospel, </span><span style="background-color: white;"></span></i><span class="text Col-1-6" id="en-MEV-29472"><i><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">6 </span>which has come to you, as it has in all the world, and brings forth fruit, as it has also in you, since the day you heard it and knew the grace of God in truth.</i> Colossians 1:5-6 MEV</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Col-1-6"><b> </b>As New Covenant believers in Jesus Christ, two of the most vital truths we must know and understand are Faith and Grace. The truth of Grace and Faith are two primary factors in living victoriously in this world. We will never grow up into maturity, walk successfully, and overcome if we lack understanding of these two vital truths.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Col-1-6"> Someone may say, I think you may be overstating it just a little. I am only agreeing with Paul and John;</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Col-1-6"> </span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">For if by the offense of the one, death reigned </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness </span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. </i>Romans 5:17 NASB</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>because everyone who has been born of · God conquers the world. And this is the victorious power that has conquered the world—· our faith. </i>1 John 5:4 MOUNCE</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b>Okay, there be something to Grace and Faith, you may be saying. Glad to have your attention. The Word is not a list of rituals and rules to follow. It's a love letter from Heaven to us. The Word lets us in on the blueprint for an overcoming life in this fallen world.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> God is our Good Father. He is for us and never against us. He is not withholding anything from His children. He wants us to walk in blessing and victory even more than we desire. He has given us all the things needed to do just that. He is Love, and love gives. We could sum it up, Grace makes, Love gives and Faith takes!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> What is the Gospel of Grace? It is the Good news of God's Grace pledged through Jesus and His complete work of Redemption. It is God Almighty Himself stooping down to become one of us, living among us, and laying upon Himself the sins and iniquities of us all. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> In His Redemptive work, Jesus became something He never was; sin, separated, and spiritually dead, so we could become something we never were. He exchanged our sins and poverty, and sickness and brokenness, for His forgiveness, His healing, His abundance, and His wholeness. None of this was done because we earned it merited it or worked enough for it. In truth, there is nothing we could ever do to merit this blessing of new life.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> What is the Word of Faith? This is the heart that is fully persuaded in what God has accomplished in and through Christ, and what His Word declared confirming it, is the truth. Faith is being fully persuaded that what God says is the final authority. Faith agrees with God no matter what it looks like, feels like, seems like, or appears like. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> We could say Faith is having a good opinion of God. Faith is fully persuaded that He is a Good Father. Faith is found in two places. It is in our hearts and in our mouths. The Word of Faith is believing with our hearts and speaking in agreement with God with our mouths.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Why is it vital then to continually feed on these two important truths? The reason is because one, we live in a fallen and fractured creation and it is not mending itself. Second, in this world, and in the Church there are tradition-rooted mindsets that bombard our minds frequently. They come through messages, conversations with family and fellow Christians, and various media platforms. Lastly, because the enemy is at work still on this planet, and he has not taken a vacation.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Faith and Grace are not fad messages, or just the in thing in some churches but it's time to move on to the next "thing" or "message." Understanding Faith and Grace are just as vital as it always has been. We still have believers pushing concepts that God looks more at our performance than He is satisfied with Jesus' work. We still have believers wanting the Church to operate from the Old versus living out of the New Covenant exclusively. We still have churches that use condemnation as a tool to guide Christians into "living right."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> We also live in a fallen world where the works of the enemy and the effects of the fall are evident. We see pandemics, plagues, and poverty. We see rising inflation and inept leaders worldwide not making things any easier. Now more than ever our trust needs to be fully in God and nothing else. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> We will not know how to successfully overcome these obstacles if we are not steadily and consistently feeding on God's Word concerning His Grace and the principles of Faith. In this age of technology, we have more than enough sources to help us in this endeavor. We have media and messages that are still proclaiming Grace and Faith.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> I just don't have time is not a real truth. It is the enemy deceiving. We all take the time to shower. We all take the time to cook. We all take the time to drive to work. In traffic, tune into messages preached on Faith and Grace. Joseph Prince has many of his messages for free on YouTube, as well Bro Kenneth E Hagin's messages are there as well. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> When you shower, or prepare a meal in your kitchen, pop in a CD or MP3 message and listen while you get ready for work. While you sip on your morning coffee read a devotional or blog post proclaiming Grace and Faith. Bro Hagin has a devotional called Faith Food, and Joseph Prince also has several devotions that will uplift you. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> In summation don't neglect the hearing and reading the Word. It is not works or performance to feed on God's Word. It is life-giving and life-sustaining not self-effort. Build yourself up on the Word and watch your Faith grow exceedingly as well as your understanding of Grace. </span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Image by </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/peachknee-162861/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=276067" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">peachknee</a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;"> from </span><a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=276067" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Pixabay</a></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-49502701525315976842023-08-28T19:50:00.000-05:002023-08-28T19:50:56.473-05:00Discover Grace: Nothing more to add <p><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9" style="font-style: italic;"><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9"></span></span></b></span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9" style="font-style: italic;"><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="1280" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Dbz-2tkfdkwwtk9kfgX1DooaZMLEbLigCweecvqEbvLHbGmNr1nmu8MGIzTsZt08pVLT65MhfzcA_XMbjDxb-W-NdA1d3Hwtrpq8MtHXFKmprYBFHKfrs6TTI8tT23dfgaP2VgjECSubKUG2pkf5KxZ4yWmhzqRfP-8rnzxchtTFrRB8yOdqgsPBDac/s320/law-753482_1280.png" width="320" /></span></span></b></span></span></b></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9" style="font-style: italic;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9" id="en-NTE-6657"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>God saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace in King Jesus before all time and ages, </span><span class="text 2Tim-1-10" id="en-NTE-6658"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span><i>but has now made it visible through the appearing of our saviour King Jesus, who abolished death and, through the gospel, shone a bright light on life and immortality. </i>2 Timothy 1:9-10 NTE </span></span></b></span></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: times;"><i><span class="text Col-2-16" id="en-TLB-26530" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span></span></i></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"><b><i> </i></b>Grace. Grace is not just another doctrine of the Christian Faith. Grace is not just a topical study of God's Word. Grace is not just for the sinner to receive Christ and His free gift. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> Grace is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is the person of Jesus manifest on earth demonstrating to us the Father and His great Love, mercy, Goodness, and kindness. Grace is the unearned, undeserved, unmerited favor of Almighty God. Once received, this unearned favor produces a divine influence upon the heart and empowers the believer. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> There is therefore nothing we can add to Grace. We can't add our works to His Grace. It's a Finished Work. It's not an incomplete work waiting on our good behavior to be added in order to fully complete it. No human effort, spiritual discipline, or spiritual observance can add to His perfect sacrifice and gift of Grace. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> It's not Grace plus something. It is Grace alone from the beginning to eternity. It's not Grace plus Law keeping. It's not Grace plus observing the Sabbath days. It's not Grace plus celebration and observance of Old Covenant feast days. It's Grace alone, through Faith in Jesus' Finished work alone. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> With such amazing Good News of the Gospel, we still see leaders and ministers encourage, teach, proclaim, and demand that New Covenant believers keep the Law, observe the Sabbath, and celebrate the feast days. It's as if some have completely ignored Romans, Galatians, Colossians, and the Book Of Acts to proclaim this. It's as if the meeting in Acts 15 never occurred. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Some are claiming there is some special spiritual significance for Christians to observe Jewish customs today, post-cross and resurrection. Some claim that Christians, in order to have a better understanding of their Faith, need to get back to the Jewish roots of the Faith. Some teach that the Sabbath and the festivals and feasts are to be celebrated forever, therefore they are required to be observed by both Jews and believers in Christ alike. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> This is nothing new. We saw this clearly addressed in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+15%3A1-30&version=MEV">Acts 15</a>. This issue was settled back there. Why are we still discussing and having to address this today? Understand the New Covenant is rooted in Grace and Faith, whereas the Old is rooted in outward acts of obedience to the Law and observing all its ordinances. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Those looking to keep Sabbath days and Celebrate the feast days are walking by sight and not faith. They are saying the shadow is more real and relevant than the substance which is Christ and His Finished Work. That the shadow offers more Revelation and in-depth intimacy than the substance who is Jesus. </span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> They say they are just honoring Israel and the Old Covenant words. If they want to show honor then honor God's New Covenant, which is a Covenant of faith, not sight. To embrace shadows and not the substance is to walk in unbelief. </span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> Under the Old, you could "see" your righteousness by how you kept the holy days, honored the Sabbath, and abstained from forbidden foods.</span><span style="font-family: times;"> It is not a light thing to God to try to mix the Covenants and to teach the Saints that keeping or honoring or observing holy days, feasts, manners, and customs is honoring God and His Word when the substance has already appeared and fulfilled all the shadows by His redemptive Work. We are to honor the Finished Work and His New Covenant and keep it free from mixture and error. </span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Now what does the New Covenant declare about keeping the Sabbath and observing and celebrating the holy days and feast days?</span></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="text Gal-4-10" id="en-NLT-29102" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days months or seasons or years. </i>Galatians 4:10 NLT</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(42, 34, 26); color: #2a221a;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="text Col-2-16" id="en-TLB-26530" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span>So don’t let anyone criticize you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating Jewish holidays and feasts or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></i><span class="text Col-2-17" id="en-TLB-26531" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">17 </span>For these were only temporary rules that ended when Christ came. They were only shadows of the real thing—of Christ himself.</i> Colossians 2:16-17 TLB</span></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Grace is unearned favor. Outward acts such as keeping the Sabbath observing special days, and celebrating the Israeli feasts are a fleshly attempt to earn favor with God. It is telling God we are righteous by our doing and not by Faith alone in Christ's final sacrifice for sin. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> If we are celebrating the feasts, we have fallen from Grace. The feasts were instituted by the Father to illustrate the perfect work of our Savior Jesus Christ. Those feasts revealed the coming Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Those feasts illustrate the life, death, perfect sacrifice, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His triumphant return. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> If we still celebrate these feasts, then we are still looking for a Jewish Messiah to come. We are saying He has yet to come, we are also saying He has never come. Therefore in actively celebrating the feasts, we are denying Jesus as the Messiah. If one is observing and celebrating these feasts today, they are denying Jesus and saying they do not believe in Him as being the Anointed One, the Son of God and Son of Man. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;">Look clearly at </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+23&version=NKJV" style="font-family: times;">Leviticus 23</a><span style="font-family: times;">. We can see Jesus in these feasts. Because Jesus fulfilled these types and shadows why do we need to go backward and celebrate them? These Feasts were but shadows of He who was to come. Now that He has come, we have the substance and no longer need the shadows and types. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> Again to observe and celebrate the feasts and keep the Sabbath today, we are saying the shadows are greater than the substance, Jesus. We are also saying we are still waiting on divine rest and the completion of the Work. We are saying the Messiah has never come yet and we are still looking for our substitutionary sacrifice to be made. We are denying Jesus and embracing an obsolete ordinance and Covenant. </span></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(42, 34, 26); color: #2a221a; text-align: left;"><div class="version-NLT result-text-style-normal text-html" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now some of these who push for the Church to go back to Judaism try to misapply some New Covenant passages to justify their error. These Judaizers want to put the Church back under the yoke of the Law and blend the Old and New Covenant. For further study and a detailed response to the objections raised by these Judaizers and legalists <a href="https://www.allthetimegod.com/2017/04/great-grace-greater-liberty.html">see this post here</a>. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In summation, let's celebrate Jesus. Let's give honor to the New Covenant. Let's give high praise and honor to the Finished Work of Christ. Let's not embrace dead works and deny Jesus as Savior and Lord. Let's discover Grace more and more. </span></p></div></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Image by </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/gamerio-875139/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=753482" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Alessandro Macis</a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;"> from </span><a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=753482" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Pixabay</a></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-977981036967244552023-08-15T12:08:00.000-05:002023-08-15T12:08:46.613-05:00Discover Grace: No More Sacrifices Needed<p><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9" style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9" style="font-style: italic;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsW2qc1hdW1vsO_dAqIWq9oMbSomtmgc36n4Tpcmk3It5O8yLCDXnmw2jESoq-H6fn-49mG-cZXcnolt7OKBVgGuNOgOuG8LiHI4Jv2LUQqE0vrJ2lBSE7VG7sqPoyXcU-hPztpWv9FUHWl-PFSkvj5EwEs8cYyCpn3LX-qQfs0iekjkPH30PMQUmveXk/s320/smartphone-570507_1280.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9" style="font-style: italic;"><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9" id="en-NTE-6657"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>God saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace in King Jesus before all time and ages, </span><span class="text 2Tim-1-10" id="en-NTE-6658"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span><i>but has now made it visible through the appearing of our saviour King Jesus, who abolished death and, through the gospel, shone a bright light on life and immortality. </i>2 Timothy 1:9-10 NTE </span></span></b></span></span></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> God is such a Good Father. The more we see the Father and look at the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, we discover Grace more and more. Grace isn't just a message of hope and healing and happiness. Grace is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> Grace reveals a Savior greater than our sins. Grace reveals forgiveness that is eternal and isn't obtained through apologies or our words, but rather only through the shed Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace reveals how forgiven we are.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> Grace is what our focus should be. Our focus shouldn't be on our flaws and faults and failures. The only way to overcome failure and walk in victory over sins and habits is to realize and understand and comprehend the depth of His Love, His Grace, and how cleansed and forgiven we are through the Blood of Jesus, His death on the Cross and Him bearing all the judgment for our sins forever.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> When we mention sin, apparently in the thinking of believers and ministers it appears to be some majestic mountain that not even God can climb or remove. To many, sins can halt, hinder and hold back our Father's Love for us. That the moment we sin we are dead to God and alive to satan and destined to eternity in hell. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> Why is this? We can see how the New Covenant speaks of sin. Look at <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6&version=MEV">Romans 6</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A17-32&version=MEV">Ephesians 4</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5&version=MEV">5</a>. Sin is not something we celebrate. We don't make light of its effects on our lives and on those around us. We can see where there is a loss of heavenly rewards for perpetuating sinful lifestyles. We can see that sin can put us in bondage to bad habits and such. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> Yet nowhere did it state a loss of God's Love, mercy, favor, or Grace in and on our lives. One quick point. Much of what people focus on when it comes to "sinning" is the "R-rated" stuff. Sex outside marriage, pornography, adultery, cussing, R-rated movies, and TV shows, and secular music. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> What I see little of is the way we treat others. The bitterness we hold inwardly toward others. The way we behave in traffic, the way we work at our jobs. Such as coming in late and leaving early, which can be stealing time from the company. My point is, if sins hinder all of God's Goodness in our life, what about the "little things?"</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> Grace, the Gospel isn't saying sin all you like it's cool. Grace isn't winking, saying boys will be boys it's not that serious. Grace isn't saying let's pursue sin because there are no lasting consequences. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> That said, we must not also go to the other side of the road and believe and teach that sin is greater than His Grace and Love. That sin is some great barrier between the believer and Christ. That sin makes God turn away from us. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> Often we as believers as soon as we sin feel a need or urge to make up for our sins. Why is this? Because we are not fully persuaded and deeply convinced that all our sins are completely forgiven and the price totally paid in full. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><b><i>And after everything is forgiven, there is no more need for a sacrifice to pay for sins.</i></b></span> <b>Hebrews 10:18 ERV</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> This is a powerful clause of the New Covenant. Everything is already paid for. Therefore since it is paid in full what else is there to pay? What is it you can offer as payment?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> This powerful, awe-inspiring, majestic merciful loving sacrifice of Jesus' shed Blood is enough. Jesus is enough. His Blood is enough. God has accepted this final once for all payment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> There is nothing we can do to make up for our sins. There is no price we can pay to cover our failures or mistakes. There is no sacrifice we can make that will pay for our sinful habits or deeds. We must fully accept and receive this absolutely free gift of God's Grace.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"><b> </b>As the Body of Christ, we need to fully honor and embrace the perfect sacrifice of Jesus as being enough. We as believers need to cease from our own works trying to make up for our failures and freely accept Jesus' payment for our faults and failures. Jesus is more than enough.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> Honor the Finished Work. Exalt the mighty name of Jesus. Give thanks for His final sacrifice. Be thankful His shed Blood is enough. Uplift the once for all payment for all the sins we have committed or will commit. Stand in awe of this lavish gift of forever forgiveness and complete cleansing from all sins. It's all because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> In summation, discover His Grace more and more. Discover this Loving Father and amazing Savior. See the work of Jesus as final and finished. See all the sins of all of us cleansed and forgiven forever. Discover Grace, the Lord Jesus Christ.</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Image by </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/bohed-86046/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=570507" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">bohed</a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;"> from </span><a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=570507" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Pixabay</a></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-34296726834136098572023-08-02T05:41:00.001-05:002023-08-02T15:51:20.361-05:00Discover Grace: Focusing on Grace <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6a7NowZh6cle2fG8odCt0pa448AhTgEaH7n3wBp-FAiv5_rH6rH5WpRf8xZwUIrwAIp92BORiCESyuZOfXkIIQ53h6esWb1-pMKYHMYQph5CXlTqdmTwyRNIVq51Ad7osPetqlldzH6M0pW9Lrb-07aCNeUVQ_Gr04R7VQ9NYvtIm54g54PEd8Gmnj4/s320/sin-gea1870c27_1280.jpg" width="320" /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> <b style="font-family: times;"><span><span class="text 2Tim-1-9" id="en-NTE-6657" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>God saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace in King Jesus before all time and ages, </span><span class="text 2Tim-1-10" id="en-NTE-6658"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span><i>but has now made it visible through the appearing of our saviour King Jesus, who abolished death and, through the gospel, shone a bright light on life and immortality. </i>2 Timothy 1:9-10 NTE </span></span></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Grace, God's Grace, is not just a doctrine or a minor aspect of the Faith. Grace is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is the person of Christ manifest on earth. Grace is never earned, merited, or deserved. It's all about Jesus.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Grace reveals Jesus and keeps Him as the central theme and figure for all we do in God's name. Grace reveals that we need not confess our flaws and failures in order to receive forgiveness for our sins. Grace reveals our sins are completely forgiven.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> What are we focusing on in light of this perfect redemption and the price wholly paid for our total forgiveness? Are we still focusing on our failures and flaws and sins? Or are we focusing on the Grace of Christ?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Do we still have a sin consciousness or a Righteousness consciousness? Do we have a Grace awareness? Or are we more mindful of our sins and misdeeds? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> In light of the perfectly purchased redemption Christ died and rose again for, and the Grace of God revealed in Jesus, are our sins actually hindering and creating a barrier between us and God? Does our sin cause the blessing of God not to flow in our lives? Does sin stop the rain of God's Goodness and favor and abundance?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The truthful answer according to the New Covenant is no. We must agree with what Jesus actually accomplished. We must honor His Finished Work. We must align with the revealed Word of God.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Sin is not a barrier between the believer and the Father. Sin is not blocking the blessing from manifesting in our lives. Sin is not hindering our prayers nor is it stopping the rain of the free favors of God. Why? Because Jesus' offered a perfect sacrifice for our sins. Why? Because Jesus perfectly procured and purchased our eternal redemption and forgiveness through His sinless, spotless Blood.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Look at the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+2%3A13%2C+Hebrews+10%3A10-20%2C+Romans+4%3A6-9&version=MEV">New Covenant in its fullness</a>. In light of all Jesus has done and the Father's acceptance of Jesus' once for all sacrifice for all time, how can we now claim our sins are greater than Jesus' Finished Work? Our sins and shortcoming hinder the flow of what only the Blood could pay for? In essence, Jesus' Blood could provide salvation regardless of our sins, but anything else; joy, peace, answered prayer, healing, provision, and protection all are only procured by our good behavior. This is wrong believing and thinking, the Blood is greater than our sins. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i><span> </span><span class="text Heb-3-13" id="en-MEV-30009">But exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13 MEV</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Heb-3-13"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>Now this passage seems to indicate everything I just said is incorrect. Let's take a closer look. Look at the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+3%3A11-19&version=MEV">context fully</a>.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Heb-3-13"> This passage is dealing with the hardness that comes from rejecting God which produces even more unbelief. This passage is not instructing us that our personal sins cause the promises of God to be kept from us. This passage is dealing with stubborn, hard-hearted, unbelief in those who hear the Gospel of Grace, the Good News of Jesus but reject it for their own sense of goodness and what's right and wrong. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Heb-3-13"> Jesus and His perfect redemptive work have fully procured every promise, every blessing, and every good thing the Father has for us by His Blood. Let's honor the New Covenant. Our sins are forgiven forever. He said He would never remember our sins again. He said our sins are no longer imputed, or charged to our account. Jesus is enough.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Heb-3-13"> Now we don't rejoice in sin. Sin is not God's best for us. Sin can put us back into bondage, or service to habits or thoughts, or addictions. Like the master ringing a bell, and the servant dutifully reporting, sin can become a "master" if we allow it to dictate our thinking and believing.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Heb-3-13"> In summation, Jesus is more than enough. His Blood is more than enough. Grace is an ocean and we are overcome with His kindness and free favors. The blessings are ours, always through Jesus alone. Let's focus on Grace and not our works. </span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Image by </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/geralt-9301/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=7144803" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Gerd Altmann</a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;"> from </span><a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=7144803" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Pixabay</a></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-79332099310976832112023-07-26T10:33:00.000-05:002023-07-26T10:33:48.937-05:00Discover Grace: Forgiven of all our sins <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="960" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7liMC4qBiRVG7TuAqKmFrw5jWd-JYCi0hqU19LXLfYnqsrdP3zlAbp9AbdyMMV7RFLr0zbR8fMkW0Ly4hbKwrmd4fClbCN000DXFjNmGFknzudwgwU96RGK0bweBlZLQdkLlE1ETr9h6KT-eLxLrPvPtr_bHD3IAr5ERf--cGZ93xR_FuPouia1NtXo/w400-h209/11256600_10205026195428117_6715705411868829723_n.jpg" width="400" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> <b><span><span class="text 2Tim-1-9" id="en-NTE-6657" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>God saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace in King Jesus before all time and ages, </span><span class="text 2Tim-1-10" id="en-NTE-6658"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span><i>but has now made it visible through the appearing of our saviour King Jesus, who abolished death and, through the gospel, shone a bright light on life and immortality. </i>2 Timothy 1:9-10 NTE </span></span></b></span><div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> We are on a continued journey of discovering Grace. Looking at the Grace of God and its effects on our lives. We are examining all aspects of the Father's extravagant Love and Grace. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Grace is the person of Jesus manifest on earth. Grace is the unearned, undeserved, and unmerited favor of Father God. Grace reveals our forgiveness in Christ. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Today, I want to continue examining further our complete forgiveness in Christ. We had asked some questions concerning sin in our last study. We answered what must we do if we sin. We asked and answered if it was required to confess our sins in order to receive forgiveness. You can find this <a href="https://www.allthetimegod.com/2023/06/discover-grace-forgiveness-and.html">study here</a>.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> We also asked how much are we forgiven of and do we lose fellowship with our Father if we sin. Let me briefly answer the loss of fellowship question. If we stay with Scripture we will see this notion of lost fellowship is not substantiated by the Word.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> We have already seen how 1 John chapter 1 was addressing the lost gnostics and not believers in Jesus. The notion of confession of sins finds its roots in this chapter. What you won’t find is this confess your sins and be forgiven repeated anywhere else in the New. So it also is with this concept of broken fellowship when we sin.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Now if we sin we may see natural consequences as a direct response. Tell a lie to someone and the truth may come back and reveal your lie. That's a consequence, that's not God punishing you. Remember Jesus said He is always with us. He didn't add a clause saying the only exception is if you sin. </span></p><div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b> </b>The idea we break fellowship with our Father when we sin is simply a misunderstood and misapplied scripture turning into a tradition and thus into some new doctrine. Grace is greater than our failures. God isn't turning His back on us. Here are some more detailed studies answering this question about broken fellowship, <a href="https://www.allthetimegod.com/2018/01/good-news-vs-fake-news-christian-can-be.html">here</a> and <a href="https://www.allthetimegod.com/2017/06/great-grace-broken-fellowship.html">here</a>. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Just how forgiven are we in Christ? Maybe you've heard only to the point of conversion. That your sins were forgiven only up to the point of conversion, of accepting Christ as Savior. Is this true?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The issue this raises is what happens when you sin after receiving Christ? What must you do to receive forgiveness? The same ones saying this would claim you must confess it in order to be forgiven. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> We have already addressed this issue about confession. Only the shedding of blood forgives sin. Does Jesus need to shed His Blood over and over and over to bring us forgiveness? This is of course an unreasonable idea. Jesus' once for all sacrifice for sins was enough.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> In light of Jesus' perfect work of Redemption, His once for all sacrifice for sin, and the Father's acceptance of this final offering for sin, we are forgiven of all our sins. Not just the sins we have committed up to the point of conversion, but all our sins. We are forgiven of all our sins. We are forgiven past and present and future.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> One may say that can't be possible. That's saying we are forgiven of sins we haven't even committed yet. Let's look at what the Bible actually says;</span></p><div><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>who bought our freedom with his blood and forgave us all our sins </i>Colossians 1:14 TLB</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><b><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span></b></span><span><b><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. </i>Colossians 2:13 NLT</span></b></span><br /><span><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span><b><span><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>I am writing to you, little children (believers, dear ones), because your sins have been forgiven for His name’s sake [you have been pardoned and released from spiritual debt through His name because you have confessed His name, believing in Him as Savior]. </i>1 John 2:12 AMP</span></span></b><br /><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span><span><b><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">He is the one who took God’s wrath against our sins upon himself and brought us into fellowship with God; and he is the forgiveness for our sins, </span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>and not only ours but all the world’s. </i>1 John 2:2 TLB </span></b></span><br /><br /><b><i><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span><br /></span></span></i></b><b><span><i><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">32 </span>Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. </i>Ephesians 4:32 NLT</span></b><br /></span><div class="version-NLT result-text-style-normal text-html" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: times; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span></b></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span><span style="background-color: white;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive. </i><b>Colossians 3:13 AMP</b> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The Scripture is clear. We are forgiven. We are forgiven forever. Take note of how often the word all is used in conjunction with our sins. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> All means all. All our sins past and present and future are forgiven in Jesus. Rejoice this is the Good News of Grace. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> What about that passage in 2 Peter that mentions only past sins forgiven? What about James 5 saying sins will be forgiven us? Glad this concern was raised. Let's answer with the Word.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> We can see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%201:8-10&version=MEV">2 Peter 1 here</a>. The wording here from the Greek word some translated past is actually better stated as former. This is Peter simply reminding the believer they are a New Creation in Christ. The old has passed away and the New has come. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Not considering your new nature is what Peter was warning about. He was not claiming we are only forgiven for our sins up to conversion. Peter wasn't contradicting the Scripture. What about James?</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%205:14-16&version=MEV">James 5</a>, deals with an order of gathering and offering prayers one for another. While a surface reading of the passage could give credence that we aren't forgiven of all sins, we know Scripture cannot and does not contradict other Scripture. Whatever God was conveying in this passage we know what it can't mean. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The forgiveness of sins is in relation to prayers offered for healing the sick. Based on the context it can be simply seen as a sin that may have the consequence of sickness, (not claiming sickness is the result of sin), such as smoking or some poor choice, because the next passage refers to confessing our faults to other believers to find wholeness. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Whatever the purpose the passage isn't offering a doctrinal stance that forgiveness isn't once for all time. We can't take obscure passages and create doctrines all the while ignoring clear, plain Scripture.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> In summation, we have discovered the Good News of Grace. We are forgiven of all our sins in Christ. Christ's perfect redemptive work, the Father's acceptance of the final offering for sin by Jesus, and the Word of God make it clear, we are forgiven of all our sins, past present, and future.</span></span></span></p></div></div></div></div>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-45702339375775242332023-06-20T15:30:00.004-05:002023-06-21T14:59:09.203-05:00Discover Grace: Forgiveness and Confession <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6IlmQY7RNvwLeETVO66OMAGPyLd61jcCJYDr1EGoqOQiHhNO3SvIeIzw7z7zpLbK5n_y1DfqZkF4q7K2721a-adlt84rJy7y576aNcYl0jVwdwK_2Kst4taYuz3DJ0mx_yOEH28uXphZ6dURRpMZCL8B04XQoVuHywbc04svVNRmjhB2udAKrN9m/s320/ID-100593540.jpg" width="320" /></div> <b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-9" id="en-NTE-6657" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>God saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace in King Jesus before all time and ages, </span><span class="text 2Tim-1-10" id="en-NTE-6658"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span><i>but has now made it visible through the appearing of our saviour King Jesus, who abolished death and, through the gospel, shone a bright light on life and immortality. </i>2 Timothy 1:9-10 NTE </span></span></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> God is calling. He is heralding the Good News of Jesus Christ. He is shouting it from the mountaintops and the highways and byways. Jesus has paid it all. He is proclaiming I am satisfied with Jesus' work. It is all paid in full, and the work is complete. God is saying discover Grace!</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> The amazing Grace of God is limitless in scope and eternal and unchanging. The Grace of God reveals how loving our Father is and also the entirety of Jesus' redemptive work on our behalf. Grace invites us on a journey to enter and grow up in an eternal relationship with a Good God. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> One of the most amazing works of Grace is the revelation of the complete and total payment for all sins once and for all time. This means once we receive Jesus as Savior we receive the free gift of the forgiveness of our sins that He paid for. Our sins are forgiven forever.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> So what if we sin after we receive Jesus? Are our sins just forgiven up to the point of conversion? Is our fellowship broken with the Father because of our sins? </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> Grace is so amazing, God has the answer to all these questions and more. Let's answer these questions one at a time to receive a greater understanding of what Jesus' Finished Work accomplished. Let's not be in a hurry and simply skim the surface of all that Jesus has done on our behalf.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> Through Jesus' work of redemption, all our sins were paid for. In other words, there is nothing left for us to do concerning our sins. Think of it, if sins can only be forgiven by the shedding of blood, what else could we possibly do to contribute to ensuring our sins are forgiven? </span></span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Do we need to confess our sins? </span></h4><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Perhaps we may still be thinking there must be something we must do whenever we sin in order to receive forgiveness for that sin. That may sound rational and reasonable. We must, however, yield to the final authority of Scripture and see what it says. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">then he says, · “Their sins and · their lawless acts I will never again remember.” </span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. </i>Hebrews 10:17-18 MOUNCE </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b>God has declared something to be true. He has declared something to be finished. He has stated truly and eternally that forgiveness is a completed work. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Take note that He said, not man, not denominational creed, not the "Grace Message", not a Grace preacher, He said that nothing can be added to His completed work. Once there is forgiveness for all these sins and lawless deeds, there is nothing to be added. That means our sacrifices are adding to the work of Jesus.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> We may think when we sin we must therefore offer a confession of our sins in order to receive forgiveness for the sins we have committed. We may feel compelled to offer some form of sacrifice for our unlawful deeds. We may feel the need to apologize or confess, because of a sense of guilt and shame on our part.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Some of this compulsion stems from a misapplied and misunderstood interpretation of 1 John 1:9. We can see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+john+1%3A4-10&version=NKJV">1 John in context here</a>. Look at the famous verse. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">If we </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">confess our sins, He is </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">faithful and just to forgive us </span><i>our</i><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"> sins and to </span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>cleanse us from all unrighteousness. </i>1 John 1:9 NKJV</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b>These few isolated passages in 1 John may appear to be teaching that we break fellowship with God whenever we sin. It appears that it is telling believers whenever they sin they must offer a sacrifice of confession in order to be forgiven of all sin. It also may appear to reveal we are forgiven judicially but not familial. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Rest assured when seen in the full context of the entire Epistle these concerns are readily cleared up. Again stay with the final authority of the Word</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i>In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. </i>Hebrews 9:22 NLT</b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b> </b>I believe God knows what He was saying. Grace was revealed in and through the work of Jesus. Why do we think we can improve on it? </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> God's Word isn't contradictory. He declared in Hebrews 10, where there is forgiveness of sins, the work is complete and there is no more offering for sin. He then declared that only through the shedding of blood is forgiveness received. So why would we add a separate or private interpretation to 1 John 1:9?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Believing that we must confess our sins in order to receive forgiveness, would counter what God already declared about our sins. John wrote his Epistle years after Hebrews was written. John would have known what was written in the Word before he penned his Epistle.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> What then is John talking about? John was addressing a segment of unbelievers that were corrupting the Gospel message. They were of a sect called Gnostics. They were a mind science type of religion. They concluded all things natural are evil.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> They, therefore, rejected the notion Jesus came to earth as a physical man. They also thus concluded that sin isn't a reality because life is more realized on the spiritual plane not the natural. Therefore they would say they are without sin. If one is without sin why does he need a Savior?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> With that understanding, look at the passages again. Look at the first chapter and you will see John dismantling the heresy of Gnosticism. When he mention confession of sin, he was telling them by acknowledging their sin they could receive the once for all forgiveness of sins and the gift of Righteousness as the believers had. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> John is not instructing us to confess or speak out to God each and every time we sin in order to receive forgiveness. How can we get more forgiven? We need to cease finding ways to add to Jesus' work and trust in Christ alone.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> What must we do when we sin? Thank God for Jesus. Thank God for having paid the price in full. Agree with God that our sins are already forgiven because of Jesus' shed blood. Confess our Righteousness in Christ. The price is paid in full.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> In summation, as we discover Grace we see just how amazing God is. We are discovering how forgiven we are. We are discovering we can't add to His work, we can't add to His blood. We need not confess or say we sinned aloud every time we blow it. We can rest in His work that we are forgiven. Keep discovering Grace, and we will find the answers to the other questions soon enough. </span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><em style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;">Image courtesy of Sira Anamwong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net</span></em></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-5700226997758873942023-06-10T11:42:00.000-05:002023-06-10T11:42:49.090-05:00Discover Grace<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TxUSn012wCyYJJYdeEmAL1uTuwJJnmVM4V-80xPfDtR6OvNjC3Ji9CT2ULHZxFfu1Q5lTukcnoGTMMj1LGo1QYjRSRr7jPKvMHD7yuQ6eMtVQKJzqm8bzeCw_zOUMiG_X8M0eaX0qwyuEQRf-Q8rvDq3_lKs80PZZzTNFPlyKb0MrVNCZnV-rZmu/w400-h225/jesus-g45bbc95c6_1280.png" width="400" /></div> <br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="text 2Tim-1-9" id="en-NTE-6657" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>God saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace in King Jesus before all time and ages, </span><span class="text 2Tim-1-10" id="en-NTE-6658"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span><i>but has now made it visible through the appearing of our saviour King Jesus, who abolished death and, through the gospel, shone a bright light on life and immortality. </i>2 Timothy 1:9-10 NTE </span></b></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"><b> </b>God has always sought a Family. So He sent His only Son to take man's place. His Son took the judgment, wrath, and punishment all sin incurs in His own body. No God wasn't punishing Jesus. Sin and all that it produces was being punished in the body of our Savior. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-10"> Jesus bore it all. Once He took it all, He cried out "It is Finished! Jesus then died for all humanity's sins. With</span></span><span style="font-family: times;"> the price paid in full, He triumphantly arose, defeating sin, satan, and death itself. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Finally, the Father could have His Family. Law couldn't create a family. Mankind couldn't keep the standards, we failed too often. Covenant couldn't produce it. Again, the Old Covenant was kept on God's part, but mankind failed once and again and couldn't keep Covenant. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> God decided then to cut Covenant with Himself. The New Covenant is cut between the Father and the Son. Jesus kept the Covenant. Jesus paid for all mankind's sins. God the Father introduced Grace into this lost world and fallen and fractured creation through His Son Jesus.</span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Discover Grace</span></h4><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Now that all the work is finished, God has sent forth a heralding cry to all the earth. Calling whosoever will come and freely receive. The Covenant is kept by Jesus. Sin is no longer a barrier. All one must do is simply accept this free gift. Discover the Grace of God, Jesus has done the work.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> God's Grace is manifest in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the exact image of His Father in Heaven. Jesus is the will of God in action. Jesus is the power to save and make whole. Jesus is the Grace of God. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Grace expressed in the person of Jesus and demonstrated in the Finished work is God stooping down to meet us where we are. Grace is God's unearned, undeserved, unmerited favor. When received fully, Grace divinely influences our hearts and produces empowerment.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Grace is unmerited favor. That is Grace is not merited favor. It is not entitled favor. It is not liable favor. Grace is undeserved favor. It is not warranted favor. It is not due favor. Grace is unearned favor. It is not a favor that one is duly worthy of or suited to. This means it's not something bestowed because of our actions and level of good performance.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Now God is inviting us to discover His Grace. Notice I stated His Grace. We don't want anything but what God offers. We can accept no substitutes. There are two forms of "grace" that we need to not discover but actively avoid.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The first is foolish or pseudo-grace. This is a man-centered concept of grace that excuses any and all negative choices. This "grace" promotes erroneous ideas and concepts. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> This "grace" makes claims that all humanity is already saved and righteous apart from Faith, they just don't know it yet. This "grace" says all creation is God's children apart from Faith. This "grace" says no one was ever separated from God by sin. This "grace" denies the sin nature passed on from Adam to all humanity. This "grace" denies the inerrancy of Scripture, God's Word, and declares there is no place called Hell. That eternal separation in Hell is a false concept. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> When one simply stays with actual authentic Grace and simply reads the Word of God in context, this pseudo, foolish "grace" is easily debunked. Just as wrong is the man-made works and performance rooted "religious grace". We need to not get caught up in works.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Grace is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, man cannot do away with their own denominational rules and traditional regulations. They agree we are saved by Grace but we must also keep the rules to be acceptable to the Father. True you couldn't save yourself but afterward you're expected to perform perfectly.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Religious grace is like the lifeguard coming to the aid of the drowning victim. Upon grabbing hold of the one drowning they then expect them to start swimming now. What's wrong you have the lifeguard there why can't you swim now? This is religion, you have Jesus now keep the Law. Religious grace is easily spotted, just listen to their words.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> <span style="caret-color: rgb(42, 34, 26); color: #2a221a;">"Yes we're righteous, but more importantly we must be living righteously."<br /></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(42, 34, 26); color: #2a221a; font-family: times;">"Righteousness is what He did, holiness is what we do."<br /></span><span style="font-family: times;">"We're saved by grace but sanctified by the Law."<br /></span><span style="font-family: times;">"Grace needs balance and boundaries."</span></span></i></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i> </i>Another way religious grace is spotted is in how they define Grace.</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(42, 34, 26); color: #2a221a;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> I've heard preachers discount and downright deny Grace is the unmerited favor of God. They try to define Grace as an ability gift, as divine enablement. What are they really doing?</span></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(42, 34, 26); color: #2a221a;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Religious Grace simply alters the definition and impact of Grace in favor of keeping their standards. Religion accepts a watered-down version of Grace. They formulate a grace wherein all the rules, regulations, creeds, and traditions of their particular church group are still intact and in effect. </span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(42, 34, 26); color: #2a221a;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(42, 34, 26); color: #2a221a;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Religion expresses Grace this way; grace is great, we concede, but you need to still be observing this or practicing that. To them, Grace is merely an empowerment to observe and keep all the rules. It's not Grace that produces change and growth. It is your effort, your striving, your determination, and your discipline. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Grace is the antithesis of foolishness and religious works and a performance-based faith. Man driven by works sees God as the taskmaster. Man wants to earn what only Jesus' work could provide and procure.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Grace is unearned. The New Covenant is not about a transactional faith. It is not wages for services rendered or for work performed. We aren't receiving from God a return for our efforts or work completed. Religion is about doing, but Grace reveals it's already done. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> In summation, let's discover God's real Grace. Let's look to Jesus alone. Let's relinquish works and performance. Let's leave pseudo, foolish grace and embrace the truth. God is a loving and Good Father. His Grace is expressed through Jesus. Let's discover more and more of Jesus.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Image by </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/jeffjacobs1990-7438739/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3315362" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Jeff Jacobs</a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;"> from </span><a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3315362" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26;">Pixabay</a></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-59520774541459494602023-05-24T16:43:00.001-05:002023-05-28T10:06:31.746-05:00Developing the Faith that takes <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmf1r-h59zAX4oeox8pPijpHD-umyv7rzvrBj1QBIVeMRX-K-rilei3INyB_v_yXiZUYDj9HE7Jayf38m3I-A7z8lCGRR3CD5j5Tz7XTLSnKYCKun_wMe_87Ali5Yi32ZjkZHqOhYbiANXSSpqp5ecYy5phbiXj8dSKLZSm8vwS_LQ6vgreRR7-Y4X/s320/ID-10067112.jpg" width="320" /></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i> </i><span class="text Mark-11-23" id="en-WEB-24664" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">23 </span><span class="woj">For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says.</span> </span><i><span style="background-color: white;"></span></i><span class="text Mark-11-24" id="en-WEB-24665"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">24 </span><span class="woj"><i>Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. </i>Mark 11:23-24 WEB</span></span></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: times;">God is always for us and never against us. God has purchased and provided all things we as believers in Christ need for life and Godliness. His Grace has made all these things available for all His children to reach out and take them.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Grace has made and Faith lays hold of it. Said it more plainly, Grace makes and Faith takes. Grace therefore isn't a passive way of living. Living the life of Grace and Faith is not a non-participative, inactive, uninvolved kind of life. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Christianity is not for couch potatoes. For instance, if you as a believer are seeking gainful employment, certainly spend some time in God's Word and remind yourself of who you are in Him. Of course take the time to declare His favor over you, but if you spend all your hours in a day playing video games and never actively pursuing work chances are high you will never get a job. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Believers, speaking to the brothers and sisters who are single, if you desire a spouse, sitting on your couch eating ice cream all day, or just hanging out with the guys all the time can be a distraction to your goal. Brothers and sisters, you are going to have invest in yourself first. Find ways to improve social skills, develop personal hygiene, and yes ladies, eventually you're going to have to say yes to a Christian man when they ask you out. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Simple point is we have a Father who loves us and a Savior that died for us, purchasing and providing all things we need to succeed in the life that now is and the one to come. Grace made it, but Faith reaches out and takes it. In light of this truth, we can learn how to develop this Faith that takes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> I want to point to two occurrences in the New Testament perfectly illustrating this Faith that takes. Two perfect examples of this Faith that just absolutely will not quit. Let's examine the healing of the paralytic man and the woman with the issue of blood.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> In the Gospel of Mark chapter 2, we can see the account of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+2%3A1-12&version=NLT">the healing of the paralytic</a>. If we flip over to Mark 5 we can see the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+5%3A21-34&version=NKJV">healing of the woman with the issue of blood</a>. These two events are powerful illustrations of the Faith that doesn't sit around just wishing and hoping, but instead reaches out and takes what belongs to them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Religious traditions of man have done such a disservice to the Church. They have mixed Law and Grace so much they have convinced so many that Righteousness is rooted in our performance and doing. They leave the impression that we are working for something. That we are to strive to arrive, achieve to receive, essentially our behavior is our savior.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So when encouraging believers to not be passive but to lay hold of what Grace has freely provided, some mistakenly think what is being said is the same as the mixture preachers. There is a night and day difference between actively receiving and exerting effort in order to qualify to receive. Avoiding passivity is not an encouragement to a striving, self-efforts rooted, performance based faith.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> If you look at these two events in Scripture you can see a pattern. Looking at this pattern, you can see why these people had the Faith that takes. This is not about a formula or set of steps to follow, it's simply common characteristics of a Faith that reaches out and takes what has been promised and provided.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The four men who carried their paralytic friend heard about Jesus, and brought him to where Jesus was. They crowd size was so overwhelming there was no room. So they tore off a part of the roof and lowered him down. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> They heard about Jesus. What did they hear? They had heard about a man of God who healed even so called hopeless cases. They heard about a man of God who turned impossible situations around.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Another pattern seen here is that they didn't take no for answer. They refused to be refused and denied to be denied. They were so passionate about seeing their friend made well they were willing to do the unconventional to receive an unconventional miracle.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Lastly, they brought him to Jesus. In other words, they brought their situation to Jesus. They didn't resign this situation as life in a fallen world. They didn't accept the situation as is and try to learn to live with it. They took it to Jesus and He brought about a turn around.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The woman with the issue of blood heard about Jesus. What did she hear? She heard about a man of God who touches the unclean and instead of becoming unclean, He actually cleanses and heals the unclean. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> She pushed through the crowd. She wouldn't be denied. She didn't give up because of the multitude thronging Him. She didn't quit when she saw Him walking away with Jairus. She reached out and touched His garment and received her healing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> She brought herself to Jesus instead of looking for more of man's resources. She didn't just accept her condition as God's will for her life. She didn't just concede that her best life is in heaven not earth so just accept this condition. She wouldn't be denied, and reached out and took her healing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> How do you develop the Faith that takes? Hear Jesus. Listen to Him and not tradition, not symptoms and not experience. Jesus is the person of Grace, He is the expressed will of God in action.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> How do you develop the Faith that takes? Don't take no for an answer. Whatever God has clearly promised and provided for in Scripture and the Finished Work take hold of and don't let go until you manifest it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> How do you develop the Faith that takes? Come to Jesus. Take your concerns, circumstances, and condition to Jesus alone. Don't accept the traditions of man. Come to Jesus and freely receive all He purchased for you. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"> Some have the faith that waits. Some have the faith that speculates. Some have the faith that just wishes and hopes but isn't fully persuaded.</span><span style="font-family: times;"> To walk in triumphant victory we need to walk in the Faith that takes. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In summation, come to Jesus. Jesus is our all and all. He is our source. He is our loving Savior. He imparts His Faith to us as we feed on Jesus. Reach out and receive all God has in, through and because of Jesus. </span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><em style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;">Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net</span></em></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-21878948092668420512023-05-18T05:39:00.000-05:002023-05-18T05:39:06.563-05:00Pre-qualified and Approved! <p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZz2u6VRtrHyWNlVLgpaVr-b28GAV-ni8TzamH6hDCCeaHgfkzbxxhgUjqKXNdaOe9DytVmyGwZdrt72YgqPvND7Q7YP4RJoTtBTJefflqeKMbrq1e_4hgE3Gi1_ZtCCNespA5Bco5d-LMED0dLbEI9LcOGFobb5ejdbzt9bbmSFW0uKcO-Tvf9IP/s320/gold-g541cb70ba_1280.png" width="320" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Col-1-12" id="en-NASB1995-29478" style="font-style: italic;">12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. </span><span class="text Col-1-13" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">13 </span>For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,</span><i> </i><span class="text Col-1-14" id="en-NASB1995-29480"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">14 </span><i>in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.</i> Colossian 1:12-14 NASB </span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Col-1-14"> </span></span></b></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> How often have you received offers in your mailbox, or other phone informing you that you are pre-qualified for a line of credit or pre-approved for a lower rate? Usually, we throw these letters out with the other junk mail. Did you know God has an even better offer than any "savings and loan" type business can offer? </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> Man's offer of loans and better interest rates are based on achievement, personal assets, and credit ratings. In other words, based on the performance and proven ability to earn on the part of the client the preapproved offers are made. If you have a missed payment, if you have a </span><span>blemish on your credit rating then no such offers will be made available. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> When it comes to God He is not looking at man's performance before He offers them anything. If He did, none of us would personally qualify. No matter how disciplined, how self-controlled, or how much one has trained their human spirit, there is no one who can truly qualify to receive what only God can provide. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Even if we are seeing manifest blessings in our life, we must know and understand that is God's Love and great mercy being bestowed upon us. Am I saying we can't lay hold of God's promises by Faith? No, of course not. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I am saying that none of us in and of ourselves can earn or deserve what God provides. This is why an understanding of Grace is an essential aspect of the successful Christian life. Grace brings us all to an end of ourselves. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Grace brings an end to our efforts, our doings, our strivings, our disciplines, and our attempts to earn and achieve what God has promised and provided through Redemption. Grace reminds us that nothing we have achieved or attained is because of ourselves. It was all God's favor, His mercy, and His Love working for us, through us, and sometimes in spite of us. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This doesn't mean we live a passive life. This doesn't mean we lead a shiftless, lazy, lethargic, and idle life. This doesn't translate into a "do-nothing" life. What it does mean is we lead a "do-nothing-in order to-to receive-to inherit" all God has provided through Christ kind of life.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> When we accept Christ's free gift of new life and Righteousness we now have free access to all God's stuff. He has made available all things that pertain to life and godliness through Christ. What does through Christ or by Christ or in Christ even mean?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> It means whenever you need something or desire something, or ask for something it's as if Christ is asking. Therefore we are assured we have what we need or desire. We are in Him and When we pray in Jesus' name we are declaring that it is by Jesus we are coming and not in our own strength or performance.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -16px;">Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ.</span> </i>Romans 16:10a MEV</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">In Christ, we have been approved. We have free access to all God has provided for us. In fact, because of Christ we are actually pre-qualified and approved.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><i>to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He did make us accepted in the beloved, </i>Ephesians 1:6 YLT</span> </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white;">To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherewith he hath made us freely accepted in </span><span>his</span><span style="background-color: white;"> beloved.</span></i><span> Ephesians 1:6 GNV</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times;"><i>to the praise of his glorious grace with which he has highly favored us in the Beloved. </i>Ephesians 1:6 MOUNCE</span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>We are pre-qualified and approved to receive all God has promised and provided in this New Covenant. Because of the Finished Work of Redemption, all the qualifications to receive have already been met in Christ Jesus. All because of Jesus' work we are fully qualified to receive.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The tradition of man declares we have to do something to earn or deserve or achieve the blessings and goodness of God. If you do enough good works, then God will bless you. If you abstain from sin and live uprightly at all times then you will qualify. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">If we could attain God's love and blessings through our works why did we need Jesus to die for us? If we can qualify for the blessings of the Lord based on our behavior and actions why do we need to ask in Jesus' name or even pray and believe? </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> When we realize we are already qualified and approved of God then we will lose all sense of the fear of punishment. We will lose all sense of fear and inferiority. We won't allow the enemy or religion to hold our faults and failures over our heads disqualifying ourselves from receiving from our Good Father.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">In summation knowing we are prequalified and approved of God means we can come boldly to the throne of Grace and freely receive all God has procured and provided. It means we no longer need to feel like our misdeeds automatically disqualify us from receiving. It means we will be bolder in His presence and rejoice in His Finished work and celebrate perfect redemption. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/openclipart-vectors-30363/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=154893" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; outline: currentcolor;">OpenClipart-Vectors</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=154893" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; outline: currentcolor;">Pixabay</a></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;"> </span></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-37585323291579573102023-04-30T17:37:00.000-05:002023-04-30T17:37:48.260-05:00Are you Qualified to be Blessed?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEpAwunL9l0Y0z5LsdWFIA9H0_CUjPyRgmNgTffUSuJ4wK1338-5A-gO44iUoz0ZBuGtIz-V4LZYjYhUc86XxnlNPwHkLFwXHAkXEFXcf2cQoR5Bormj7VyQjeMFdVPKAgSw1U_lH6dTYNClsv6Px4oH14L8zjYZnohVbNtvXheXkbK8oWVSph_NG/s1920/stamp-ga75cff1b8_1920.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="1920" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEpAwunL9l0Y0z5LsdWFIA9H0_CUjPyRgmNgTffUSuJ4wK1338-5A-gO44iUoz0ZBuGtIz-V4LZYjYhUc86XxnlNPwHkLFwXHAkXEFXcf2cQoR5Bormj7VyQjeMFdVPKAgSw1U_lH6dTYNClsv6Px4oH14L8zjYZnohVbNtvXheXkbK8oWVSph_NG/w400-h136/stamp-ga75cff1b8_1920.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="text Eph-1-3" style="font-style: italic;">All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Ephesians 1:3 NLT</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> In this life, whenever we are applying for a new position at work, applying for a loan, or inquiring about admissions into a trade school or university, what is one of the first things we look for? We look to see what the qualifications are. We then assess ourselves, our achievements, and our skill sets and see if we meet the qualifications.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> When it comes to life in the Kingdom, we must understand how this Kingdom functions and operates. In the world system, achievements, accomplishments, attainments, and acquirements are what matter most. Is this the way God's system operates?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> According to most ministries, and churches, it appears the answer is yes. The religious tradition of man is always looking to "score points" with God. Whenever we see a promise in the Scripture, people generally look for some condition that must be first met in order to receive said promise. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Many do not rightly divide the Word of God, they look to the Old Covenant, mix the Old and New, and add stipulations and conditions to all God's promises. They see what God told Israel and try to place those same demands on the Church. </span><span style="background-color: white;">The truth needs to be heralded for all the saints to hear. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Jesus has fulfilled the Old and all the promises of God are now yes and amen because of Him. There are no conditions to be met. We don't have to earn or achieve anything before we can lay hold of the promises of God. All God asks is that we simply believe and receive. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Belief is not a work. Believing is a response to information presented. God presents us with the Good News of Grace and all He purchased and provided for us and we simply respond with believing and readily accepting it. </span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Are you qualified to receive the blessing?</span></span></h4><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is Good News, not bad news. If we look and find any stipulations or works needed to receive take note that Jesus has already met those demands. Jesus paid the price in full. He has forever qualified those who believe to receive all God has provided.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="text Col-1-12" id="en-NASB1995-29478" style="font-style: italic;">12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. </span><span class="text Col-1-13" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">13 </span>For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,</span><i> </i><span class="text Col-1-14" id="en-NASB1995-29480"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">14 </span><i>in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.</i> Colossian 1:12-14 NASB </span></b></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Word is clear. The Word cannot lie. The Spirit and the Word agree. God has already qualified us in Christ Jesus to receive all the blessings and goodness of God.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Tradition will argue and say no, only the faithful abound with blessings. So you need to be found faithful in order to be blessed. Still others would claim the Word said we must first hearken unto God, observe and do all He commands and then we will be blessed. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> These are all Old Covenant stipulations and conditions in order to be blessed. Did the Cross not change anything? Was Jesus' perfect Redemptive work insufficient to fulfill all the obligations the Law and Old Covenant demanded? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Look at what God declared about <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1%3A26-28&version=MEV">Adam and Eve in Genesis 1</a>. Really ponder and reflect on the dynamic of their relationship with God. What task did they need to complete before God blessed them? What exactly did they need to do enough of before they were qualified to be blessed? What action, spiritual disciplines, and good work did they need to be engaging in before they received God's blessing? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Tradition would respond, well that was in the Garden of Eden, that was when there was no sin, and they were in perfect standing with God, completely holy. Exactly right. The amazingly good news is because of Jesus, the Grace of God, we are in even better standing with God. How so? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Not only are we made holy once for all time, made the Righteousness of God in Christ, forgiven forever, but God Himself dwells within us. If we are in an even better relationship with God than Adam and Eve then how much more are we already qualified for all the blessings of God? What more can we do to add to Jesus' perfect work?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are qualified to receive all the Goodness and Love of God because of Jesus. There is nothing else we need to do. We can't give enough, abstain from sin enough, and love others enough to qualify more for His love and blessings. Jesus' work was enough.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> In summation, we need to stop disqualifying ourselves from receiving all Jesus purchased and procured for us in His victorious work of Redemption. Jesus has paid the price in full. He paid our way totally and completely. Rejoice in that and freely receive it. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/tayebmezahdia-4194100/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2114882" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; outline: none;">Tayeb MEZAHDIA</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2114882" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; outline: none;">Pixabay</a></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;"> </span></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-42736136947980362592023-04-10T15:32:00.002-05:002023-04-10T15:32:13.684-05:00Does God desire to bless and prosper us in this life?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio058Y2tAmXWb86Bz3u3h0dujap5W_UEML8PRZaE1WBc54mz9V9oiT1ZleSEY7WBytsxaJx4moBEcMyXc_kgWTAiY9FRYOuRtTkvZc9FjbUrtS9UrXZDRPF9saW18ycTOhCLWuJM1nxxKxDwOlU4m930EPkSabNIWpCBQFdL2ivkb6u6Mna1rJ-QDK/s320/money-g302e5f707_1920.jpg" width="320" /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i>And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus </i>Philippians 4:19 MOUNCE</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and are in good health, just as your whole life is going well</span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;">.</span><i> </i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">3 John 2 CSB</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b> </b>God is a Good Father. God is a loving Father. God is a Father who cares about us. He loved us so much that He gave us His Son to procure our perfect once for all Redemption. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> This perfect Love bestowed upon us reveals to us we have a heavenly Father. In light of this perfect love, the question then can be asked, does this love have an effect on the life that now is or just the one to come? Does God's love mean we can expect actual tangible blessings in this life?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> There are two extreme responses on this topic. The "prosperity gospel" extreme is one response. I wrote a whole <a href="https://www.allthetimegod.com/2017/12/understanding-gospel-what-is-prosperity.html">article expounding this viewpoint</a>. The prosperity gospel is in essence a karma-like view of life. Its end goal is extracting money from people to give to an organization or a person. Its claim is God tells us we can all be millionaires if we just give enough and live perfectly. This is not the Gospel.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The other extreme view is that God is the cruel taskmaster and tyrannical despot in Heaven who puts sickness and suffering and poverty on people, especially His own children. Many churches and ministries teach this view. I have observed that some of the loudest proponents of this view are Calvinists.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> One thing about this view that is astounding to me is the utter hypocrisy of the loudest voices on this topic. One such minister has held a whole seminar against believers who believe in the Gifts of the Spirit for today. This minister speaks strongly against prosperity.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Yet in all his railings against the idea that God prospers His people, he seems oblivious to his own net worth of $15 million and ownership of more than one home. I researched two other loud voices against prosperity and saw their net worth is above $500,000. It seems the rule of thumb for some is prosperity for me, but not for thee.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> We need to stick with the Word of God and stay centered on what He actually said and put our trust, hope, and Faith in that. We need to find out what God actually said and hold fast to that. We must avoid the religious traditions of man who paint the Father as harsh and uncaring. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> So based upon the nature and character of God revealed in and through Christ Jesus, and the final authority of the Word of God the answer to the question I presented is yes. God does desire to bless and prosper and provide for His children in this life. Grace supplies, Love gives and Faith takes.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white;">He who did not spare · his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us · all things?</span> </i>Romans 8:32 MOUNCE</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b> <i><span style="background-color: white;">Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?</span> </i>Romans 8:32 NLT</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b> </b>If God has given us eternal life, forgiveness forever, Righteousness, and Eternal Security, all things that pertain to spiritual life and all things concerning eternity, why would He hold back on giving all things pertaining to life in the here and now? If He gave us the best, His Son, He will surely give us the rest. There is nothing God is withholding from His children, He is a Good and loving Father.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> You may look at the lack surrounding you and disagree. Just as when it comes to your Righteousness. you don't focus on your many failures or foul-ups. You focus on what Jesus accomplished and receive your Righteousness. So it is with provision. Look at what Grace supplies and make that your focus. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Focusing on Jesus brings unearned favor and wisdom and provision. He is for us and not against us. We need to really examine our thinking, our beliefs, and our understanding when it comes to blessings and provision and the Goodness of God.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> What do we as Christians truly believe our Father is like? Do we really believe He is a Good Father? It seems we can believe He can save our spirits and grant us assurance Heaven is our home but for everything else, it's either up to our performance, or we can have no assurance or confidence in Him intervening or answering prayers because He is uninterested in the needs/desires of this life.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Think of it, God promised to Israel, under a covenant that is lesser than the New that He would prosper and heal and provide for them because He loved them and they kept His commandments. He declared He had pleasure in the prosperity of His servants. How much more would He have in His own children prospering?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> What so many are really saying is God's love will only provide salvation from sin and Hell. His Love doesn't cover, provide for, or give promise to any form of wholeness this side of Heaven. He is a God who only cares about you keeping the rules and going to Heaven. He is not interested in your bills being paid, savings, having shelter, clothing, sustenance, healthy bodies, access to transportation, protection from the elements and peace of mind.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Just what kind of a God is our Father in Heaven? Does He withold provision and blessings to better us? Would He rather see us starving and suffering than blessed and overflowing? What kind of God did Jesus demonstrate?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Jesus fed literal thousands. He didn't first ask the multitude if they kept all the commandments. He didn't first ask if they had any hidden resentment, bitterness, or unforgiveness. He didn't first ask them if they had sin in their lives, or if they needed to repent. He just loved them and provided for them.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> He provided for Peter's tax debt by means of a miracle. He found the money in the mouth of a fish. The first miracle of Jesus was a miracle of provision. This provision was merely a want not a neccessity or need. The wedding feast simply ran out wine. Jesus turned water to wine and satisfied the desire for more wine at a feast. No one turned to God because of this. He just met a physical want.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Jesus supplied both needs and wants. He revealed a Good Father who cares for us. He demonstrated to a lost and hopeless world, a Father who so loves them He even takes care of the little things as well as major things in this life.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> In summation, we can boldly proclaim God our Father is a Good Father. He wants our absolute best. He desires to bless and provide for us. Not because we are good, or earned it, or achieved it, but simply because He loves us. We can trust in the Lord no matter the situations and circumstance. He is a Good Father and Loving Savior. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/peggy_marco-1553824/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1816354" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; outline: none;">Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1816354" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; outline: none;">Pixabay</a></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;"> </span></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-58465799034276584322023-04-03T19:56:00.001-05:002023-04-04T14:25:19.918-05:00Does God crush His children? (How Good is God?)<p><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQw2CydXSFtOaVTpKnugoCBUZbLClV9L0DqqvMZ1BbUGyc70ZJO1VEJrCypXn5rrbix8HURnHO8aKBJeVnKrXVJk1ump-8WFzIw1tzugl4gZA5p7nE1yxdtuLyG_13C3DioZ7D5h-C1C6Ny4W4c9Qa_t-zpUmeG23e4Gj73fJAMXmTTrMaXYnVFbN/s320/ID-100267716.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"><i><span class="text Ps-34-8" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Ps-34-8" id="en-NKJV-14397" style="font-style: italic; position: relative;">Oh, taste and see that the <span class="small-caps divine-name" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span> is good; </span><span class="text Ps-34-8" style="position: relative;"><i>Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! </i>Psalm 34:8 NKJV </span></span></b></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Ps-34-8" style="position: relative;"><b> </b>This website is dedicated to proclaiming the unabridged Gospel of Grace and the uncompromising truth of God's Goodness at all times. That in all times and in all situations God is Good.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"><span class="text Ps-34-8" style="position: relative;"> When we speak of God's Grace, the understood premise is the knowledge of the true nature and character of God. </span></span><span style="font-family: times;">God had to first make </span><span style="font-family: times;">clear His true nature and character before revealing the Gospel is the Grace of God revealed in Christ. That's why Jesus went about doing Good and healing all when He walked upon the earth, perfectly demonstrating the Father's all the time Goodness to all.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> With this understanding, it seems good to tackle yet another religious tradition of man. Now before we go further, let me answer why it is so important to dismantle and destroy these religious traditions. We live in a fallen world and people are lost without Christ.</span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"> How can fallen men reach out a trusting hand to God if they are told God is in fact the one responsible for their misery? </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"> If God is ordaining their destruction how then can they trust Him for salvation? If God is so angry at them, how could they even dare approach Him? The proclamation of the Gospel suffers when religion paints a portrait of God on the canvas of men's minds as that of an angry tyrant sending plagues and pestilences and punishments upon them.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Is God crushing His children?</span></h4><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEEtsgmKTSGCfOTaC76JtvAUP-iHN013R2aB7Jag93XkQcWgm6CP165K3YSVJVGTYcYYaPgHS0ci_KUK4Emtm7oZ7ZEjJWYsXy5Prbhhh-5ePl8yS5DF9N9QcZ2OyOGOmYKUWMUY9kEHplN2Ts5ua4eDZzQaa9PZig5MmNBtDOxUmvAn6V_-KrPul/s320/ID-100262407.jpg" width="320" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I recently came across a video that made my heart "sink." In this video clip, a "minister", a rather well-known "minister" made the stunning statement;</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"<i>oh by the way if God would crush and kill His perfect, spotless, sinless Son, who do you think you are</i>?" </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Now of all the things we can say about God, is this something Jesus would have spoken concerning His Father? With such a shocking charge lodged against my Father in Heaven, I did a little search concerning this insidious religious concept and found other ministers also making these same accusations about the Father;</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> "<span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(1, 53, 55);"><i>Sometimes He crushes you because He’s going to bless you so much he doesn’t want you to get arrogant. He wants to humble you</i>."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(1, 53, 55);"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"<i>God knows exactly where to crush you to bring you to the place you need to be</i>."</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(1, 53, 55);"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Some even teach the notion just like a rose is crushed to make perfume God will also crush us to create a sweet-smelling aroma. These are the strongholds in the mind of the religious Christian. We must topple these sacred cows with the Scriptures so we can set the captives free.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(1, 53, 55);"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> The only time we see the Father "crushing" someone is in the substitutionary aspect of the redemptive work of Christ. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah+53&version=NLT">Isaiah 53 speaks of this</a>. This was God's love in action. That is God the Father put the judgment for all the sin of mankind upon the body of His Son so that you and I would never experience judgment. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(1, 53, 55);"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> We must boldly declare that God is a Good Father. That He is not the one "crushing" people. He isn't the author of anguish, affliction, agony, misery, and heartbreak. The Father is the author of life, wholeness, and peace. The Father takes pleasure in the prosperity of His people. God is for you and not against you. This is all because He loves you eternally and unconditionally.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(1, 53, 55);"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> What does the Word declare about our Father?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(1, 53, 55);"> </span><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">8 </span>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span> is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. <span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span> is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.</i> Psalm 145:8-9 KJV</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">1 Bless the </span><span class="small-caps" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: start;">Lord</span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">, O my soul, </span><span class="indent-1" style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-103-1" style="position: relative;">and all that is within me, bless His holy name. </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">2 </span><span class="text Ps-103-2" id="en-MEV-15552" style="font-style: italic; position: relative; text-align: start;">Bless the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span>, O my soul, </span><span class="indent-1" style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-103-2" style="position: relative;">and forget not all His benefits, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">3 </span><span class="text Ps-103-3" id="en-MEV-15553" style="font-style: italic; position: relative; text-align: start;">who forgives all your iniquities, </span><span class="indent-1" style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-103-3" style="position: relative;">who heals all your diseases, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">4 </span><span class="text Ps-103-4" id="en-MEV-15554" style="font-style: italic; position: relative; text-align: start;">who redeems your life from the pit </span><span class="indent-1" style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-103-4" style="position: relative;">who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">5 </span><span class="text Ps-103-5" id="en-MEV-15555" style="font-style: italic; position: relative; text-align: start;">who satisfies your mouth with good things, </span><span class="indent-1" style="text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-103-5" style="position: relative;"><i>so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. </i>Psalm 103:1-5 MEV</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: times; text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-103-5" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-103-5" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;">(for the</span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: start;">Lord</span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;"><i>your God is a merciful God), He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. </i>Deuteronomy 4:31 MEV</span></b></span></p><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; text-align: start; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-weight: 700; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">13 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">No one who is tempted should </span><i>ever be confused and</i><span style="background-color: white;"><i> say that God is testing him. The One who created us is free from evil and can’t be tempted, so He doesn’t tempt anyone </i>James 1:13 Voice</span></span></div><div style="font-weight: 700; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; text-align: start;">Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; text-align: start;">He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span class="text Ps-34-8" style="position: relative;"><i> </i>James 1:17 NLT</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"><span class="text Ps-34-8" style="position: relative;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"><span class="text Ps-34-8" style="position: relative;"><b> </b>The Word is clear. God is a Good God and not the author of evil. God is not crushing you, no matter what circumstances you may be facing. You can come to God trusting Him to help you through the tough times because you know He isn't the author of it. </span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"> </b><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left;">God is for you not against you. The Father isn't orchestrating evil situations, calamities, catastrophes, or cataclysmic events to crush you to better you. He gave us His Spirit within to lead us and guide us. He gave us His Word to lighten our path and to instruct us. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left;"> In summation, lose the religious traditions and embrace Grace. Cling fast to the truth of the Word and not man's traditions. God loves you and is for you. Hold fast to His Goodness.</span></p></span></span></div><p></p><p><em style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></em></p><p><br /></p><p><em style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></em></p><p><em style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;">Images courtesy of iosphere at FreeDigitalPhotos.net</span></em></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-15492774111998578552023-03-14T19:53:00.002-05:002023-03-14T19:53:57.304-05:00Dare to take your place<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1920" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiholMnIbCCR6kFx5-oqz0ZdiPXhqinFAb183NEWppkINy31sg8HilYGIwi6JuY_H10e6gwozvArKh0Qqdy6TsFvhzD-FGTJpv5UDsBKI9w0tgWKNVhZ-6ugYX4iOiABwQQRfdtozURfD2bjyjdpNuMgeKj5SQb6T1ZH-p2-FKMMQT2BhW4F4OE7_W9/s320/table-g695b52a91_1920.jpg" width="320" /></div> <br /><p></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(42, 34, 26); color: #2a221a;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and authority over all the power of the enemy; nothing may hurt you at all. </i>Luke 10:19 Mounce </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> <span>We've been in a brief study taking a closer look at the believer's authority. This is a deep, yet simple, study of who we are, what we have, and what we can do in and through Jesus and His triumphant Finished Work. Everything we are is all because of Jesus.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> When it comes to identity, so often believers only identify as Christians. That is, simply one who has put their trust in Christ alone. While this is vital, there is so much more to the Christian experience.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> I am not referring to any new demands or prerequisites to being saved or staying saved or in right standing with God. I am speaking of our life once we are in Christ. Our identity is not just Christian, but also the beloved, a child of God, the Righteous, the victorious overcoming blood-bought redeemed. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> We are also made kings and priests. It's time we dared to take our place and reign in this life. It's time we take our place identifying with the victory Christ won and walk in the position of dominion and authority that's been bestowed upon us by virtue of the new creation, and the Gift of Righteousness.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Let's look again at how we can reign in this life because of His love;</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><i>5 </i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.</i> Romans 5:5 NLT</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b>Our hearts are filled with His love. We can rule and reign over loneliness, depression, and feelings of isolation. We can rest in this overwhelming love for us that is cascading from the Father's heart into ours. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians+5%3A6&version=MEV">Word declared Faith works by love</a>. For so long many taught that this passage meant your Faith only worked successfully when you loved others and weren't in strife and division with them. Is this right?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> While it is good and right to walk in love with others that's not the lesson Paul is conveying here. He is giving us a secret to reigning. Faith works when we know how much God loves us. Faith is a Law and it always works regardless if we are walking in love or not. This passage is revealing just how powerful knowing our Father's love for us is. Faith is having a good opinion of God, so Faith works by knowing His love.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> We can rule and reign because of the Love of God that has filled our hearts to overflow. Whenever challenges arise, we can face them boldly knowing because our Father loves us He will see us through them and deliver us and bring us a complete victory.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> We can rule and reign in this life because we are <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians+3%3A26&version=TLB">the children of God</a>. We can dare to take our place as sons and daughters of God. The king's son is always welcome at his table. He doesn't need permission to sit with his father. So it is with you and me child of God. We need to take our place at our Father's table and freely receive all He has purchased and provided for us through Jesus.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Because we are the children of God by Faith, we are also <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+peter++1%3A3-4&version=MOUNCE">partakers of the divine nature</a>. As new creations, we have the very life and nature of God Almighty within us in the person of the Holy Spirit. We are His kids, and this answers the mystery as to what Jesus meant in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+10%3A33-36&version=MOUNCE">John 10</a>. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="text John-10-34" id="en-MEV-26516" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">34 </span>Jesus answered them, <span class="woj">“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”</span><span class="woj">’?</span> </span><span class="text John-10-35" id="en-MEV-26517" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">35 </span><span class="woj">If He called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken,</span> </span><span class="text John-10-36" id="en-MEV-26518"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">36 </span><span class="woj"><i>do you say of Him, whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? </i>John 10:34-36 MEV </span></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text John-10-36"><span class="woj"><b> </b>Did Jesus just endorse strange new age philosophies/messageless Mormonism here by saying you are gods? No, He was quoting <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+82&version=NKJV">Psalm 82</a>. There is where we find the answer to this comment.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="text John-10-36" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="woj"> </span></span><i>I said, “You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High.</i><span class="text John-10-36"><span class="woj"><i> </i>Psalm 82:6 NKJV</span></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text John-10-36"><span class="woj"><b> </b>The principle found in this passage is not that humans are somehow going to become God. What it reveals is that as children of God, we have been given a position of dominion and authority. This position is not a position of deity, but a position of authority. God is telling us to take our place and exercise this dominion in a corrupted, fallen world.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text John-10-36"><span class="woj"> When God made man, He gave him a vertical and horizontal relationship. Man first had a trust relationship with God (vertical) and then man had a dominion relationship with the earth (horizontal). Man turned this dominion over to the enemy, but Jesus took the authority back and turned it over to His Church when He defeated death, Hell, and the grave. It's time we took our place.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text John-10-36"><span class="woj"> The word gods here is referring to a magistrate's position. As the children of God we are now "gods", that is we as God's children have a position of dominion and authority. We can judge righteously concerning who we are and we can take a stand against the lies of the enemy. Don't just blame God's sovereignty as to why things are the way they are, take your place as a magistrate and judge righteously.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text John-10-36"><span class="woj"> Take your place and judge God's Word to always be true. Judge righteously that you are forgiven and not condemned. Judge righteously that Jesus bore your sickness and disease and command your healing to manifest. Judge righteously that the enemy is defeated, God is the Almighty and Jesus is Lord in your life. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text John-10-36"><span class="woj"> The Church has a position of dominion and authority on earth. We can speak against the curse and take authority over the work of the enemy, and the fallen creation. We can pray for lost minds to be opened to see the light of the Gospel. We can even pray and take authority over weather conditions, crisis situations, and afflictions and intercede for the safety and protection, and preservation of people and places, and things. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text John-10-36"><span class="woj"> As for John 10, Jesus was simply telling religious ones because the children of God were called gods, why is he blaspheming for claiming His true identity as the Son of God. In this passage, Jesus affirmed our authority as sons and daughters. We have all of heaven's backing, let's dare to take our place.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text John-10-36"><span class="woj"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text John-10-36"><span class="woj"> <b><i>3 </i></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i>When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—</i><span class="indent-1" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="text Ps-8-3" style="position: relative;">the moon and the stars you set in place </span></span><i>4 </i><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="text Ps-8-4" id="en-NLT-13993" style="position: relative;">what are mere mortals that you should think about them, </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-8-4" style="position: relative;">human beings that you should care for them? </span></span></span><i>5 </i><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="text Ps-8-5" id="en-NLT-13994" style="position: relative;">Yet you made them only a little lower than God </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-8-5" style="position: relative;">and crowned them with glory and honor. </span></span></span><i>6 </i><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="text Ps-8-6" id="en-NLT-13995" style="position: relative;">You gave them charge of everything you made, </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-8-6" style="position: relative;">putting all things under their authority—</span></span></span><i>7 </i><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="text Ps-8-7" id="en-NLT-13996" style="position: relative;">the flocks and the herds </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-8-7" style="position: relative;">and all the wild animals, </span></span></span><i>8 </i><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="text Ps-8-8" id="en-NLT-13997" style="position: relative;">the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-8-8" style="position: relative;">and everything that swims the ocean currents. </span></span></span><i>9 </i><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">O</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"> </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! </i>Psalm 8:3-9 NLT </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span> </span>In summation, we have authority in Christ. We have restored dominion. It's time we walked in it and stop believing we are victims of circumstances, pawns in God's sovereignty (the twisted religious idea of sovereignty), helpless and defenseless in a fallen world, easy prey for the curse, or the work of the enemy. Dare to take your place!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/titusstaunton-12827749/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4512086" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; outline: none;">TitusStaunton</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4512086" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; outline: none;">Pixabay</a></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;"> </span></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-90563332750365339752023-03-07T10:21:00.002-06:002023-03-12T18:54:13.352-05:00The Authority of the Righteous in Christ<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1266" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-RkTsMcd4Mu3BBd4SNRgZCCwidUuS3Q5-WM8GP3YiOXsedq7l9o0H1viDotFE3KaawdnrajNFL4RL22mUZ_hX-pAEAsqIFiIJX28ebcsUKHbpt_Oja8wSUXVW9QBeAexY-tLBlUsFHB9gWXZSP1dnMDF8LcRzVoHAcGtPltoFmIilGAMNmGUvobA/s320/sheriff-g5e0929c2e_1280.png" width="317" /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i>I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and authority over all the power of the enemy; nothing may hurt you at all. </i>Luke 10:19 Mounce </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b> </b>Our previous study showed that Grace works in three areas of our life. First, He loves us, second He completely forgives us and thirdly He makes us kings and priests. When believers know how much they are loved and just how forgiven they are, they will reign as kings in this life. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> This truth leads us to an important study that is instrumental in gaining insight into the fullness of our identity in Christ. The subject is the Authority Christ has given to the Righteous. The believer's Authority is something most churches don't seem to teach about.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Because many churches attribute every incident unfolding on earth as God's doing, that God's sovereignty means He chooses all the outcomes of every event on the planet, they can't see how man has any authority. The concept of hyper sovereignty and God controlling everything gives no place for the believer to possess any authority. In the mind of the religious, claiming man has any authority takes away from God's supremacy and sovereignty.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> This of course is untrue. God is God, the Most High. Nothing can change that. What is true, in His sovereignty, He chose to give mankind authority. Man rebelled, committed high treason, and bowed their knee to satan. Jesus came and defeated satan, and now Jesus has all authority and He has given it back to the Righteous.</span></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i> </i><b><i><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">17 </span><span style="background-color: white;">For if because of one man’s trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).</span> </i>Romans 5:17 AMPC </b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b> </b>Through receiving abundant Grace and of the Gift of Righteousness we reign as kings in life. We reign through Righteousness. No longer can guilt and shame dominate the believer in Christ. We reign over guilt, shame, and condemnation knowing we are Righteous and forgiven. Condemnation has no hold on us or our thinking. We rule over it not giving it a place in our thinking or in our self-image. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> We have perfect union with Christ Jesus. He became something He never was so we could become something we've never been. We reign in this life through our union with Christ. Jesus exchanged our sins, shame, and unrighteousness, with His Righteousness and holiness, acceptance, and approval, and gave us total forgiveness, complete redemption, and eternal life in Him. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> We rule and reign in this life through <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+5%3A1&version=AMPC">the peace we have in Christ</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="text Rom-5-1" style="font-style: italic;">Since we have been acquitted and made right through faith, we are able to experience true and lasting peace with God through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King.</span><i><span style="background-color: white;"></span></i><span class="text Rom-5-2" id="en-VOICE-27195"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">2 </span><i>Jesus leads us into a place of radical grace where we are able to celebrate the hope of experiencing God’s glory. </i>Romans 5:1-2 VOICE</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Rom-5-2"><b> </b>We can rule and reign over depression and down days. Depression has no power over the Righteous. His peace surpasses all understanding. We have to take our place as the Righteous. We have to lay hold of our identity fully and take dominion over anxiety, fear, and depression. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Rom-5-2"> We don't have to put up with "the blues." We don't have to bemoan any day of the week. Every day of the week is the day the Lord has made and we rejoice in it. </span> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Am I saying dark days don't come? Having Faith doesn't mean mountains aren't going to be there. What Faith does is gives us the assurance that we already have victory over every mountain that is before us. Therefore we speak to the mountain and command it to be moved. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Jesus has given us beauty for ashes. He has given us joy in the midst of turmoil. He has given us the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. We are triumphant overcomers through the revelation of His great Love and the abundant Grace He has poured out upon us. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">What is the point of God continually reminding us of our Righteousness, total forgiveness, divine acceptance, and complete redemption, if it isn't supposed to affect our daily life practically? We rule and reign in this life through all Christ has completed on our behalf. We aren't lacking in Him, we are complete in Christ.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> We rule and reign in this life <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A5&version=VOICE">through the Love of God shed abroad in our heart</a>. This is a powerful truth;</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><i>5 </i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.</i> Romans 5:5 NLT</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b>For so long I only saw this passage as how I can now walk in love. So in essence, I was seeing it as something else I need to do. I was demand-conscious and not supply-conscious. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> This passage reveals to us how much our Father loves us. His love is overflowing in our hearts. Wow, such an amazing truth! As I write this I am getting overwhelmed with His great love for me. Equipped with the full understanding and knowledge of our Father's great love for us means we can face any challenge or difficulty or circumstance with bold confidence and authority to rule and reign over it. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> We as the Righteous are authorized to rule and reign in this life. We have been given a position of dominion and authority through Christ. Have you dared to take your place? </span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/clker-free-vector-images-3736/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=48642" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; outline: none;">Clker-Free-Vector-Images</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=48642" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; outline: none;">Pixabay</a></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;"> </span></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-21798722181047482372023-02-20T14:51:00.000-06:002023-02-20T14:51:23.476-06:00Grace Life: Made a King <p><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="1280" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBzANJpUhIdFmbBj-u13RLw6rGpXIP_HXS7BKjA-JWQXrv7Lz_6erSUM5Xm9pzAUnh_XPHnBBdFsWvMfP0ZOav93nj0DBLkZZ2R1M_BBTEY2F16L56JcHkaSNifQm_qRKQlStUyffdWdtoVMOgYPjd-5miw38rbbKczaU8vCGjkPfWInKyC8Zjxqs/s320/crown-ga3c4c8016_1280.png" width="320" /></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; font-size: large; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="text Rev-1-4" id="en-MEV-30702" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">4 </span>John, </span><i>To the seven churches which are in Asia: </i><span class="text Rev-1-4" style="font-style: italic;">Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, </span><span class="text Rev-1-5" id="en-MEV-30703" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">5 </span>and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. </span><span class="text Rev-1-5" style="font-style: italic;">To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, </span><span class="text Rev-1-6" id="en-MEV-30704"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">6 </span><i>and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. </i>Revelation 1:4-6 MEV</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b> </b>We have begun a new study examining the work of Grace in our life. We have noted a progression seen so clearly detailed in our text. First, our Good Father loved us. Secondly, He through the Finished Work of the Son thoroughly cleansed us and forgave us of all sins. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> What Grace did next is what we want to spend some time examining more closely. This last work listed here will transform your life in a great way when you fully receive of this work of Grace. He has made us kings and priests to our God. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> This is such a powerful truth. In Christ, we are kings and priests. We are priests because we have been cleansed and are always welcome in the Lord's presence. Because we are cleansed we can boldly enter the presence of the Lord.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> When He said we were made kings, God was showing us the power of our new identity. We are made kings. This speaks of the authority of the Believer in Christ. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> When we look at the word kings in the literal Greek we gain insight into just how far-reaching this authority in Christ is. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10);">Thayers; βασιλεύς</span> basileus leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Mounce: </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10);">βασιλεύς basileus a king, monarch, one possessing regal authority.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10);"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> This word in some cases refers to a physical monarch such as a literal king. However, pay close attention to Mounce's definition. One possessing regal authority. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10);"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> In Christ, we possess regal authority. We are made a king. We have been given a new nature. We have been made Righteous. We have been forgiven and forever cleansed from all sin. Therefore condemnation, guilt, shame and fear have no place in our thinking, nor in how we see ourselves. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(10, 10, 10);"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Let's look at another aspect of a king seen in Scripture;</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(1, 16, 58); color: #01103a; font-style: italic;">Where the word of a king </span><span id="yui-gen48" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(1, 16, 58); color: #01103a; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">is, there is</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(1, 16, 58); color: #01103a; font-style: italic;"> power; </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(1, 16, 58); color: #01103a;"><i>And who may say to him, “What are you doing?” </i>Ecclesiastes 8:4 NKJV</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; font-size: large; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"> Where the word of a king is there is power. When we recognize our authority our words will also reflect this dominion and authority that has been given us in Christ. When a king speaks no one says who do you think you are? What do you think you are doing?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> When you know who you are in Christ, you can boldly speak and declare what you want to see come to pass. The enemy and religious tradition can't ask what are you doing! When you know what Jesus accomplished in the Finished Work, and what He purchased and provided in His triumphant work of Redemption you can speak out and lay hold of what is yours in Him!</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> That's the problem with religious tradition. They spend all their time asking what are you doing. They don't know who they are, so they settle for a life of defeat and failure and missing out on the promises of God. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We are kings and we boldly decree what God has already declared over us. We don't speak how the situation appears. We speak out what we want the situation to become. We speak what we want to see not how it feels like or seems like.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Kings don't fear or tremble, they walk in authority, they decree a thing and it is established for them. Religious tradition has exalted the theology of God controlling all aspects of life on earth that they unwittingly accept all the affects of the fall and the curse to overtake them in this life. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> When situations, circumstances, conditions are contrary to what Christ purchased for us in the Finished Work don't lay down and merely accept it. Rise up in your kingly authority and command the darkness to flee. Command the situation to align with God's decreed will. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"> When I was a young Christian, I had found out about who I was in Christ. I heard of our new identity. At this time I was serving as a Sailor in the United States Navy. My position was that of a cook. I was stationed on a ship over seas. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;">I used to work the night time shift by myself. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> We had what we in a set of chillers or "reefers" as they are known on ships, (basically a type of refridgerator.) Inside the cooking area. One night these chill boxes began losing refridgeration temp. This would cause all the food items to spoil and create a problem for the work we did, and I didn't want to go on report for them going out on my shift. I knew something needed to be done, but this was in the middle of the night.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Now remember I began hearing about who I was in Christ. I didn't fear, or allow doubt to creep in. So I right then and there decided to exercise my Godly authority in Christ. Honestly, I didn't have "sense" enough to think what if this doesn't work. I wasn't using natural reasoning. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> I simply laid hands on these chillers and commanded them to work. As God as my witness, over the course of the rest of the shift, the temp began to drop and stayed in the proper range. A Christian brother of mine who worked the day shift commented to me a few days later after he heard my story, tell me that the produce in these chillers all had frost on them. That's how low the temp dropped in them.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> That is what happens when we walk in our authority in Christ. We have been made a king and it's time we walk in who He made us. Don't allow the naysayers, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, or the couldn't-sees or the wouldn't-sees to move you away from walking in all God has provided and embracing your identity in Christ. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/clker-free-vector-images-3736/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=312086" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: none;">Clker-Free-Vector-Images</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=312086" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: none;">Pixabay</a></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;"> </span></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-92068658292607734502023-02-15T14:58:00.001-06:002023-02-15T14:58:59.789-06:00Grace Life: Loved and Forgiven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1920" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPSpvcEGJyl5aB_yrAAYfCBSMKz1IXhvIlj_qfAcwwlVY1LG2wZUlzuD9tSkMJ8yut11wKgECxy2822UxX8dsnGELcG6ErWI6aH_8fpjgKyM4UmgaFphqHPhorkknkrMK8tMnbQz4oAhM-J0ltWpVAwXbSLsv1E37oiAHMIOI0N2EMxh4Rzi-H4F6/s320/cross-g623dcf740_1920.jpg" width="320" /></div><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span class="text Rev-1-4" id="en-MEV-30702" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">4 </span>John, </span><i>To the seven churches which are in Asia: </i><span class="text Rev-1-4" style="font-style: italic;">Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, </span><span class="text Rev-1-5" id="en-MEV-30703" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">5 </span>and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. </span><span class="text Rev-1-5" style="font-style: italic;">To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, </span><span class="text Rev-1-6" id="en-MEV-30704"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">6 </span><i>and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. </i>Revelation 1:4-6 MEV</span></b></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"><b> </b>As Christians, those who've trusted in Christ alone, who've believed in Jesus and received His free gift of salvation, how do we live our lives? Are we to live our lives in the same manner as we did before Christ? Are there any differences or distinctions in how we live now that we are in Christ?</span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> I am not speaking so much about no longer cussing or engaging in other sins without remorse or care as I am about how we think and believe. I am speaking about our outlook on life. How do we now see God? How do we see ourselves?</span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> When we heard the Good News Gospel of Jesus and His Grace and freely received Him, something happened inwardly. Yes we received the New Birth, yes we partook of His Redemptive work, and yes we became children of God and joint heirs with Christ. What also happened is we received a new way of thinking and seeing. </span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> This is the Grace of God working in our lives. The text I chose reveals this progression of Grace working in our life. First, He loved us;</span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-5"><span style="font-size: large;"> ...</span></span><span class="text Rev-1-5" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>To Him who loved us...</i>Revelation 1:5b MEV</span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-5"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i> </i></b>Secondly, He forgave us of all our sins;</span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><b style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-5"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>and washed us from our sins in His own blood </i>Revelation 1:5b MEV</span></span></b></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-5"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>Lastly, He made us Kings and Priests;</span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-5"> </span></span><b style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6" id="en-MEV-30704"><i>and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father </i>Revelation 1:6a MEV</span></b></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"><b> </b>This is how God's Grace worked in our lives. He first loved us and then He forgave us and made us Kings and Priests. This is such a powerful truth. In light of this truth, we are beginning a new study focusing on these works of Grace in our life.</span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> In Christ, we have a new way of living. Our thinking and speaking change because of the Grace of God we have received. We now walk by Faith, not by sight. Life's circumstances and lies of the enemy are not what moves us but only what God has promised provided and purchased for us in the Finished Work. </span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> We now walk in Love. We walk in the Love God has poured out upon us. We walk in His Love living life loved by the Shepherd and Savior. This supply of love cascading from Heaven unto us overflows so we can now love others.</span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> We now abide in and live under Grace. We aren't under man's tradition or religious rules and regulations. We are no longer under the Old Covenant Law. We live under Grace and not works. We rest in Jesus' work and not our own.</span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> We have confident hope and Faith because we know God loves us eternally and unconditionally. His Love is eternal and unchanging. He is for us and never against us.</span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> We also have peace with God knowing that all our sins have been cleansed and washed away. Our sins weren't merely covered but actually cleansed. When something is cleansed and washed away there exists no trace or evidence of it ever again. </span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> The believer's sins are completely cleansed and washed away. we are forgiven of all our sins. All means all. All our past and present and future sins are forever forgiven. </span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> For those who've been hearing the Grace Gospel for some time, this seems elementary. However, this is such a vital truth and some believers reject the notion all sins are forgiven. They feel they must do something to gain forgiveness for the sins they commit after they received Jesus as their Savior.</span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> The forgiveness of sins is the Gospel that the Apostles proclaimed in the Book of Acts. When <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+10%3A38-48&version=MEV">Peter preached to the Gentiles</a>, he spoke of the forgiveness of sins. What was the immediate result? The Holy Spirit fell in His fullness and Cornielus' house was saved and Baptized in the Spirit evidenced by praying in the Holy Ghost. </span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> Grace works a mighty work in our lives. He loves us and forgives us of all our sins. What happens to believers who become fully aware of this work? Their thinking changes, and their perception changes. </span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> Believers who know they are Loved by the Savior unconditionally and know they are forgiven are infused with a confident boldness. They see God as always for them and never working against them. They quickly recognize God as their Father and not the harsh taskmaster. They experience victory in life no matter the circumstances.</span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> This leads us to the third work of Grace in our lives. These recipients of His Love and forever forgiveness are then made Kings and priests. This is an important work of Grace concerning our position in Christ, who we are in Christ, and what He made us.</span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> When we know we are loved and forgiven we can walk in the fullness of Grace in our everyday life. We can then own our identity in Christ. We can walk in the power and authority He procured for us. He made us kings and priests. </span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> We are going to study further our authority in Christ. In order to do this we first had to establish how loved we are and how forgiven we are. We must not allow the tradition and religious ideas of men to hinder our understanding of what we have in Christ. </span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> In summation, Grace works a mighty work in our life. Grace first loved us eternally. Grace then forgave us of all our sins. There isn't any sin consciousness because we are forever forgiven and cleansed from them for all time. In Christ we can rejoice in this work of Grace in our lives, we are Loved and forgiven! </span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="text Rev-1-6"> </span></span></span></p><p class="top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px;"><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/congerdesign-509903/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3983483" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: none;">congerdesign</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3983483" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: none;">Pixabay</a></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;"> </span></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-16052938785277451122023-02-05T16:44:00.003-06:002023-02-05T16:44:31.191-06:00Grace Reveals: A Redemption that is Eternal<p><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1920" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrAWOCN091Fyav46dboF04JEMIwhFY21uGDB1Hf-Uvlk3wz6FnvGeNjkQ5utG9UnYlHrB1ygH2phszS2gGX97cPIBDEDlmcymX6Mg6XhgtSA6oNs5Bt4EA3PxVgvvb6QAbCOJlKPTZ30JmfjIUlCpkzosoUIN5GDsKmHHSm8hfBa7WL9kyy3v8VxW/s320/network-g161e94e22_1920.jpg" width="320" /></span></b></div><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Now, brothers, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. </i>Acts 20:32 MEV</span></b></span></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>Grace, the magnificent and majestic Grace of God has appeared to all mankind offering hope, help, and wholeness. His Grace reveals so much about our Father in Heaven and His plans and purpose for our lives. On the other hand, religious tradition unveils to a lost world, a god who is a tyrant, who gets easily angered, is quick to condemn, and eagerly awaits to pour out wrath and judgment on people and nations whenever they sin too much. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Grace reveals our true Father God. Grace reveals to us a Father who loves us always and forever. Grace reveals a Savior greater than all our sins. Grace reveals a Righteousness that is a gift to be received and not something achieved by any works or performance. Grace reveals a Father who is always pleased with His children. Five is the number of Grace, and therefore Grace reveals one more aspect of God, His perfect redemptive work, and our identity in Him.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Grace reveals to us a Redemption that is eternal, unconditional, unending, irrevocable, and unchanging. Redemption is not based on our doing but on His doing. We didn't pay the wages due to buy us back from sin, satan, and spiritual death. Jesus alone paid the complete price for our Redemption through His substitutionary sacrificial suffering, death, burial, and triumphant resurrection. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> If it was Jesus alone who paid for our Redemption, how can any believer reason we have the ability to undo this perfect purchased Redemption? How can we "unpay" the price? Traditional religious understanding reasons that we can in fact "unpay" for what has been forever purchased by our sinful thoughts, words, and repeated actions. That we have the power by our free will to "unpurchase" our redemption. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> If we could "unpay" for Redemption by our actions and free will, then how is this Redemption eternal in nature and duration? </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-style: italic;"><span> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">Not </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">with the blood of goats and calves, but </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">once for all, </span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>having obtained eternal redemption. </i>Hebrews 9:12 NKJV</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"> In another translation it reads;</span></span></p><p><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.</span> </i>Hebrews 9:12 NLT</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>Take note of the language used to describe our Redemption. Eternal, secure, and forever. We can't change or alter the meaning of these words to affirm some man-made tradition or reasoning. What does eternal mean? Without end, never to cease, everlasting. Secure means successfully obtained, without fear or anxiety of loss, fixed or attached. Forever means lasting or permanent. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> With these words, we can see the Father gave us full assurance of our Redemption. Think of this analogy. If a father paid the full price for say a vehicle or a computer and gave it to his son, could the son go back to the store and demand that the item be unpaid for? No, the item has already been purchased. It can't be "unpurchased."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Religious-minded ones will be quick to claim yes but you could return the item to the store claiming you no longer want it. This analogy is perfect because many stores now have all sales are final policies. No returns or refunds are allowed. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> God has a zero return policy on His perfectly purchased Redemption. Jesus purchased this Redemption and His purchase was for eternity. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1%3A18-19&version=NKJV">Our Redemption wasn't paid for with corruptible silver and gold but the precious blood of Jesus</a>. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Corruptible speaks of something that will fail or fade or fall away. Gold and silver speaks of man's efforts and abilities. God declared our Redemption was purchased by Jesus' Blood.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Seeing such great proofs from Scripture, I am baffled and bewildered as to why so many reject eternal security. I am truly baffled how Word of Faith Charismatic Christians also reject once saved always saved salvation. As much as they understand what Christ went through to purchase Redemption, and what He actually procured for us, I can't understand why they see healing and prosperity as ours forever but salvation is only secured by our behavior or free will choice.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> One reason that I know of is that one of the leading pioneers of Faith teaching once claimed to have seen a vision where it was revealed a Christian was lost eternally. As much as I love this minister and honor his life and legacy of Faith I cannot accept a vision or dream or word that contradicts Scripture. The Word is the source of truth not visions or dreams.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">23 </span><span style="background-color: white;">having been born again, not of </span><span style="background-color: white;">corruptible seed but </span><span style="background-color: white;">incorruptible, </span><span style="background-color: white;">through the word of God which lives and abides </span><span style="background-color: white;">forever,</span> <span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">24 </span>because</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="oblique">“All flesh</span> is <span class="oblique">as grass, </span><span class="oblique">And all</span> <span class="oblique">the glory of man as the flower of the grass. </span>The grass withers, And its flower falls away,</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="oblique"> 25. </span><span class="oblique">But the</span> <span class="oblique">word of the</span> <span class="small-caps divine-name" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span> <span class="oblique">endures forever.”</span></i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. </i>1 Peter 1:23-25 NKJV</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our Redemption as well as our New Creation identity is incorruptible. If the vision was true, then that would mean we were born again of corruptible seed, and our Redemption is in fact corruptible. This passage clearly rejects this and proves beyond doubt that Redemption is eternal and incorruptible. There is nothing we can do to change or alter it. We can't be "unpurchased." </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In summation, Grace has revealed five things to us; a Father who loves us eternally and unconditionally, a Savior that is greater than all our sins, Righteousness as a Gift that is apart from works and a Father who is pleased with His children. Grace has lastly revealed a Redemption that is eternal and incorruptible. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> When you first trusted in Christ alone, you received this perfect Redemption. This Redemption is eternal and forever. You never need fear loss of Redemption or salvation. No place in the New Covenant records a man losing this Redemption, because this Redemption is incorruptible and everlasting. Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></p><p><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; font-size: xx-small; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/thedigitalartist-202249/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3472956" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: none;">Pete Linforth</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3472956" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: none;">Pixabay</a></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;"> </span></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7497269559483769466.post-39856773674203632912023-01-29T20:49:00.000-06:002023-01-29T20:49:25.374-06:00Grace Reveals: A Father who is always pleased with His children<p><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1920" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuVAKDok_qbIc8Okao_c3wvLNphWvcsTEc5G8IGYdTyHk1UQpwMMRTppX5ds8enezIWkB_t7iZpPOh-TeHunmW9Do9r1EINIph_GdA1-1tR7z-4IMa3oIkHyjGbuNYw0zroxw97H_fDjOjFnHFxV2Qai83j0xemIp6AqQqeoVgQWAoAkhjD-z-tyv/s320/rubber-stamp-g1d9aaa3fa_1920.jpg" width="320" /></span></b></div><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Now, brothers, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. </i>Acts 20:32 MEV</span></b></span></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>God's Grace is so amazing and sometimes too wonderful to even put into words. Grace reveals so much about our Father God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Traditional religion teaches that God is harsh and unbending and austere and demanding we get it together or else. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Grace reveals a Father who always loves us. Grace reveals a Savior greater than any and all our sins. Grace reveals a Righteousness by Faith that is ours in Christ. As much as Grace reveals the nature and character of God and His Gift of Righteousness it also reveals our new identity in Christ. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Today, I want to unveil another truth Grace reveals. Grace reveals a Father who is always pleased with His children. Beloved being a child of God is part of our true identity in Christ. We are not just a follower of Jesus. We are not just a believer in Jesus. We are also the children of God. We are sons and daughters of the Living God!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We are children of God only by Faith in Christ Jesus. Trusting in Christ alone is what makes this a reality for any person. We are not made the children of God by any works or performance on our part. If our actions, our performance, our good works, and our promises to God, didn't make us a child of God, then no amount of bad deeds, or works, or actions on our part can cause us to be unadopted or cease being a child of God. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Brethren, our Father loves us with an everlasting Love. Our Savior Jesus is so much greater than all our sins. The Gift of Righteousness is a permanent irrevocable gift. Therefore Grace also reveals that God is always pleased with us. God is never disappointed in us. Father God in Heaven is not up there with arms folded in disappointing disapproval when we err, miss it, blow it, and just plain sin. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Think for a moment. Does God want us to run to Him when we miss it or does He want us to run and hide from Him? Well if He is disappointed with us, or displeased with us, why would we run to Him? Anyone with any sense would steer clear and become scarce from His presence until time passed, He cooled down, and we perhaps brought some kind of peace offering to appease Him. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Yet religious tradition, with its inconsistent thinking patterns, preach the concept that God is in fact displeased with you when you do wrong or miss it. That He desires to rebuke you for your misdeeds and sins. That He is so displeased and disappointed in you that He won't even hear you when you pray unless you're confessing and apologizing for your foul-ups.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> It's really no wonder that in the circles where Grace is not given preeminence but our performance is, the people there really don't fully draw near to God for themselves. They usually ask the minister to pray for their “big” needs. They usually won't go to God for themselves in some situations. God might still be displeased with them for something they've done.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Religion shows God as someone who is pleased and happy with us when we are doing good and fulfilling all the spiritual disciplines and obligations. If we do bad we’ve let God down and He is unhappy and displeased with us. He also withholds blessings and healing and miracles and provision until we get it right.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> This is not the God Jesus revealed to us. Jesus is the person of Grace. Peter denied Jesus three times. Yet we never see Jesus confront Peter and tell him how displeased He was by his lack of faithfulness. Look at how <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+16%3A1-7&version=MEV">God used an Angel to reveal His thoughts about Peter at Jesus' resurrection</a>. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>God knew Peter didn't much feel like or see himself as one of Jesus' disciples. Yet He specifically named him as one of His own. God wasn't displeased with Peter. The Good News is God is not displeased with us when we screw up and fail either.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Harboring bitterness, being angry with fellow drivers in traffic, not forgiving others, drunkenness, and sexual immorality in all its forms, are all actions that are indeed sinful. Am I saying these are good things? Have some sense, any reasonably minded believer knows these are actions we aren't proud of and know they are wrong. God isn't honored by any sinful actions. Again that's why we have a Savior greater than our sins.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In summation, know and rejoice that God is always pleased with us. Know God takes pleasure in His sons and daughters always. You and I are the son and daughter with whom He is well pleased!</span></span></p><p><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/geralt-9301/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=5382729" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; outline: none;">Gerd Altmann</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=5382729" style="color: #191b26; cursor: pointer; outline: none;">Pixabay</a></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(25, 27, 38); color: #191b26; text-align: center;"> </span></span></p>John W Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12531116927554358073noreply@blogger.com0