Father of Lights: Mercy not wrath!

The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 NKJV

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17 NLT

God our Father is a Good Father and in Him is no darkness within Him. He is Good and only does Good. Yet when we see this world around us, filled with famine, disasters, and desolation, we begin doubting His Goodness.

 In these times, we must focus on who God said He was and look to the Son, Jesus who perfectly demonstrated the nature and character of God. Circumstances and situations don't determine who God is. His Word and the work of Jesus do! 

 As we continue studying more about the Father of Lights and examining God's Goodness at all times, let's address this notion of God's wrath and judgment on cities, nations, and continents. God is Good, but is He sending judgment today? Are disasters and destruction the handiwork of God?

 In 2011, the Fukushima disaster occurred in the nation of Japan. It was a terrible tragedy. An earthquake struck the island nation. Subsequently, a tsunami was triggered as a result of this quake. This destruction also caused a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. 

 The Christian response to this tragedy? In some circles, they claimed this tragedy was the judgment of God on this Godless nation. For hundreds of years they have rejected Jesus as a nation therefore God sent this devastating disaster to get their attention and to cause them to repent and turn to God. 

 These sentiments are not what brings about a change of mind. Instead, these teachings and proclamations are one of the reasons the Japanese people refuse to accept Jesus or have anything to do With the Father! Is this the message that God endorses and confirms?

 Absolutely not! Look at what He has said already. 

Do you despise the riches of His goodness, tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Romans 2:4 MEV

 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, being now justified by His blood, shall we be saved from wrath through Him.10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, how much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. Romans 5:8-10 MEV

 Look at what God declared and revealed to us in the person of Jesus. If God gave up His only Son for us while we were enemies, what would He do after this perfect final sacrifice was offered up and He accepted it fully? 

 If we were enemies and He gave us His Son why do we think under this New Covenant God is sending destructive judgment and wrath on nations? Enemies are adversaries. They are actively opposing and standing against their foe. If God expressed His love for humanity when we were actively resistant and opposing God by giving His Son how much more loving, kind, and merciful is the Father under Grace? 

 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 TLB

 In this 2011 disaster over 19,000 people lost their lives. These are people with families and loved ones. How do we tell these precious people who lost their loved ones that God killed them to get their attention? How do we tell them God killed their babies so they will repent, and then afterward ask, now don't you want to receive Him and serve Him?

 God is a Good Father. How dare we as the Church misrepresent the Father to a lost and fallen people? These who are lost, are sheep scattered with no Shepherd. God's heart is for them to know how much He loves them and how precious they are to Him.

 In a fallen and fractured creation, tectonic plates shift, causing increased damage and devastating destruction. This has nothing to do with God's wrath and judgment. I saw God's hand in the rescue, relief, and rebuilding efforts, not in the destruction.

God loves the Japanese people. God wants them saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, healed, made whole, and at rest in Him. We must not misrepresent the Father to a lost and dying world. God is Good and only does Good! 

 God is not the author of disasters. He is not sending destruction to any nation. He is sending the power of the Spirit to the nations. He is revealing His Love and Goodness to the world. He is not sending destruction in wrathful judgment today. 

 Jesus took all the punishment for the sins of all humanity. He bore in His body the wrath and judgment of God. God is satisfied with the sacrifice of His Son. If He is sending wrath and judgment with tsunamis, tornados, and typhoons that could only mean He is not satisfied with the work of His Son on the Cross, and that is not the truth. Let’s represent the Father rightly. Jesus revealed a God who saves, not destroys. When tragedy strikes, let our message be mercy, not wrath. God isn’t sending disasters—He sent Jesus. And Jesus is enough.

 Let’s be a generation that represents the Father accurately. Let’s proclaim what Jesus came to reveal: a God who rescues, not ruins—who saves, not strikes—who loves, not lashes out. When disaster strikes, the Church should not echo wrath but embody rescue. Let the message we carry be clear—God is not mad at the world; He gave His Son for it. And that Son, Jesus, fully satisfied the justice of God. All that remains is mercy, grace, and the invitation to come home to a Father who is always Good.

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Abundance of Grace: More Grace less religious traditions!

 

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Romans 5:17 NKJV

 For if, through the transgression of the one individual, Death made use of the one individual to seize the sovereignty, all the more shall those who receive God's overflowing grace and gift of righteousness reign as kings in Life through the one individual, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 WEY

 Grace is the Gospel of Jesus Christ pledged, promised, and made available through His victorious Redemptive work at Calvary. Grace is the unearned, undeserved, unmerited favor of Almighty God. Paul tells us that receiving an abundance of this grace will cause us to reign, rule, and dominate as kings in this life. 

 We have been in an ongoing series studying this abundance of Grace so we can receive it more and more in our own lives and live triumphantly. We have seen that this Grace is NOT of ourselves, but all of Jesus. We have seen how forgiven we are and what repentance truly means. It seemed good to me to keep pursuing more of this Grace and relinquishing religious traditions and ideas.

 Grace is all of Jesus, and never anything we have added or contributed. 

Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace. Romans 11:6 HCSB

 Yet, with all the truths revealed from God's Word, so many traditions arise from men attempting to add to the work of Christ to gain more acceptance and approval from God. Not only that we add more rules and regulations for believers to follow so that they will receive more goodness from God. 

 For many leaders, sin seems to be the kryptonite or the barrier to God stopping Him from hearing us, fellowshipping with us, and communing with us. As if sin was not dealt with completely at the Cross of Christ. Jesus died for the sins of mankind, yet religion teaches that He still sees sin upon us and steps away until we change our behavior.

 This is not an encouragement to engage in sin, sin has its own consequences apart from God punishing someone. Drunkenness produces hangovers-nausea, dizziness, headache, sluggishness and fatigue. Steal, lie, or commit fraud, and the consequences will follow, some include prison time. This is not divine retribution. 

 God cannot punish you when you sin, if He did, then He would be unfaithful, unjust, and untrue. He cannot justly punish sin in the body of Jesus on the Cross and turn around and punish you as well. For God to hold your sin against you after you have trusted in Christ is to declare that Jesus' work of Redemption was not enough. That Jesus' shed blood was insufficient to pay for your sin. That He has not fully accepted the Finished Work of Christ. The ledger on the accounts of Heaven would have to read insufficient funds, Jesus was not enough.

 Thank God, though Jesus' blood was enough, and God is completely satisfied with the Redemptive work of Christ. The Father has gladly accepted Jesus' payment for sin and separation. The price is paid in full, and for the believer, God is never again imputing sins to your account ever again 

 Religious traditional-minded leaders still preach and teach that your sin blocks the blessings, breaks fellowship, and renders Faith and prayers ineffective. They have the people living in a schizophrenic, fearful state of forgiven/unforgiven of their sins. They are more sin-conscious and less Grace and righteous-conscious.  

 Traditional religion errs because they don't know the Scriptures. They tend to read passages with a preconceived bias from their upbringing. They read into passages rather than reading the actual passage. 

 The first act of tradition we see is in Genesis 3. Eve added to what God actually said. That is what tradition does. It adds to what God actually said. Religion has built a stronghold concerning sin and the believer and the Holy Spirit, which leaves so many with a sin-consciousness rather than a grace-righteousness consciousness.   

 Adding to Jesus' words or rather reading into Jesus' words, they create a doctrine that the Holy Spirit convicts the believer, the child of God, of their sins. In John 16, Jesus speaks of the work of the Spirit. He does not teach or state the Spirit will convict believers of their sins. That is nowhere in this text. 

 When He comes, He will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; John 16:8-9 MEV

 Who is the Spirit convicting? He is convicting the world, the lost. What is He convicting them of? Their sin of homosexuality, transgenderism, fornication, lust, greed, murder, hate, lying, or stealing? No! He is convicting them of one sin, the sin of unbelief. 

 The World's sin is unbelief, which manifests in the fruit of self-righteousness. They reject God's Righteousness, opting instead for their own righteousness. They create their own standards of what is good and right. Often, it is at odds with God. This is what repentance is all about. It is changing the thinking of man. It is about renewing the mind to God's truth.

  As for the saints, the only thing the Spirit convicts the believer of is their Righteousness in Christ, their true identity in Christ. The Spirit is not tallying up your sins, and convicting you for them. Conviction is a legal term for guilt. We are not guilty because of Jesus.

 Religious tradition tells believers they remain guilty before God and must make sacrifices and atonement for their shortcomings and failures. This flies in the face of the redeeming work of Christ. In Christ, you are not guilty. God is not requiring you to pay for the sins that Jesus has already perfectly paid for!

Christ Jesus paid the highest price for our Redemption. He fully paid the price for our forgiveness. He took the just recompense for our transgressions. He is not holding them against us as well. We stand faultless, guiltless, and blameless before the throne of an Almighty Holy God. This is all because of Jesus and His Finished Work!

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Abundance of Grace: Abundantly pardoned

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Romans 5:17 NKJV

 For if, through the transgression of the one individual, Death made use of the one individual to seize the sovereignty, all the more shall those who receive God's overflowing grace and gift of righteousness reign as kings in Life through the one individual, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 WEY

 How much Grace is too much? Is there a specific point where we can confidently declare we have over-emphasized Grace? Is there such a thing as hyper-Grace? That is an out-of-balance overfocus on Grace?

 Grace is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ is the tangible embodiment of the Grace of God. Grace is the Gospel, the good news of permanent salvation and reconciliation, restoration, eternal life, and complete forgiveness of sins. We can never overemphasize all Christ has done for us in the Finished Work of Redemption.

 Grace is the truth revealed in Christ that apart from His work, we are incapable of pleasing God and being found acceptable and approved of Him. If we could attain and achieve a level of favor, acceptance, and good standing with God by some kind of good work or charitable deed, why would we even need Jesus? 

 One of the most amazing and powerful truths of the Gospel of Jesus is the complete and total forgiveness of all our sins. We are forgiven of all our sins not by our good works but by Jesus' shed blood. This blood was more than enough.

 God through Christ has revealed a plenteous Redemption! He has more than enough love. He has more than enough mercy. He has more than enough goodness. He has more than enough forgiveness and pardon for all our sins and transgressions. 

 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. Micah 7:18 NKJV

 He is the God who pardons our sins and iniquities. Look at this same passage in the Aramaic;

There is no God like you who forgives evil and passes over the sin of the remainder of his inheritance, and you do not hold a grudge to eternity because you have chosen grace Micah 7:18 HPBT

 God prefers mercy over judgment. He has chosen Grace as the way to purchase our salvation, redeem us from the enemy, and save us from spiritual death. Yet to so many this concept seems to be foreign to their thinking. They are quick to say His ways are not our ways, meaning He is high and lofty and looks down upon us with disdain, disgust, and disappointment. 

 Yet if we were look to the Word where the words are found my ways are not your ways, we would see a radical shift towards mercy and Grace and not wrath and judgment.

Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts Isaiah 55:7-9 NKJV

 In context, it is clear what the higher ways are and what the thoughts are. He is saying man's ways are to hold on to grudges. Man's ways are to not forgive and not pardon. But the Father says, my ways are the ways of Grace. God's ways and God's thoughts are on the complete forgiveness of sins. God's ways are forgiveness and full remission of all sins. 

 Some of our Christian brothers and sisters who have a more religious traditional understanding would concur that God forgives. Yet traditional religious Christianity limits God's forgiveness to the believer's past sins only. 

 They will celebrate the total forgiveness of the sinner's past transgressions and evil deeds. They will readily proclaim that the sinner is a new creation with a "clean slate." After initial saving Faith, though, the "slate" is easily stained, blemished, and needs a new cleansing whenever it falters, fails, and fouls up. As a result of this teaching, a sense of shame, guilt, and condemnation weighs heavy on believers

 The Good news is that this is not the truth of the Gospel. When Jesus laid His life down for us, becoming the once for all sacrifice for our sins, His sacrifice was more than enough. We must not allow religious tradition to weaken the work of the Savior and limit the scope of this plenteous Redemption.

 Jesus Didn’t Die in Installments!

Jesus did not die one sacrifice at a time every time you sin! He died once for all sins—past, present, and future! If your future sins weren’t forgiven, Jesus would have to keep going back to the cross every time you messed up. But Hebrews 10:10 says He made us holy ONCE FOR ALL!

Religion wants you stuck in a cycle of guilt, confession, and fear. But Jesus came to set you free!

🔥 Hebrews 8:12 (NKJV) – “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember NO MORE.”

No more means NO MORE! God is not keeping a record of your sins. The only one who wants you focused on sin is the enemy. Why? Because if you’re constantly focused on sin, you won’t be focused on Jesus! 

 Stop Trying to Earn What’s Already Yours!

Let me be blunt: If you think you have to confess every sin to be forgiven, you’re saying Jesus’ sacrifice wasn’t enough. You’re saying His work is incomplete. That’s not faith—that’s religion.

🔥 Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV) – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

You don’t lose fellowship with God when you sin. You don’t go in and out of salvation. You are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). If future sins were not forgiven, Jesus would have to die again and again. But Hebrews 10:14 settles it:

"For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.."

 Jesus did not purchase a partial salvation, a temporary redemption, or a forgiveness that expires with our next mistake. His work on the cross was final, complete, and eternal. The blood of bulls and goats in the Old Covenant could only cover sins temporarily, requiring repeated sacrifices—but Jesus, our perfect High Priest, offered one sacrifice for sins forever. If all our sins were in the future when He died, then all were fully dealt with by His blood.

 To say that future sins are not forgiven is to say that Jesus’ work was incomplete, that His sacrifice was insufficient, and that we must somehow finish what only He could do. But the Gospel is good news precisely because He finished it all! This is the abundance of grace!

Let religious tradition say what it will, but God’s Word is clear: “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin” (Romans 4:8). Our sins are not only forgiven; they are removed, forgotten,, and never counted against us again! This is the extravagant grace of God, the abundant pardon He freely gives. Stand firm in it. Declare it boldly. Walk in it fully—because you are forever forgiven!

Here is more Scriptural proof of complete and total forgiveness of all sins to ponder and meditate on.

14 who bought our freedom with his blood and forgave us all our sins Colossians 1:14 TLB

13 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. Colossians 2:13 NLT

32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 NLT

13 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. Colossians 3:13 AMP

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Living the Victorious Christian Life: Hope

But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 corinthians 15:57 AMPC

But thanks be to God, who is always leading us in triumph in · Christ, and through us is making known the fragrance of the knowledge of him in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14 MOUNCE 

 Victory, who doesn't enjoy winning? In this life, our sports team, our hand at cards, or our bowling league, or our company softball team may not always win. The good news is Jesus has won the complete and total victory for us in His work of Redemption.  

 We are starting a new study, examining truths we must know to practically walk out the Christian life victoriously. We must renew our minds to the spiritual realities and truths that are ours in Him to walk in victory. In the first study, we saw how receiving wisdom is key to walking victoriously.

 Today, let's talk about hope, an essential ingredient for living victoriously. Hope isn’t just a “maybe” or a “wishful thinking” mindset; it’s a positive expectation of God’s goodness. Hope is like a goal-setter or the target Faith aims for.  Faith gives substance to hope. If there is no hope, there is nothing for Faith to give substance to.  Without hope, there’s nothing for faith to bring into reality!

   3 And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5 NASB

 Hope keeps us strong and resilient in adversity, reminding us that no trial is forever and that God’s victory will manifest. Victory is ours in this life and the one to come, regardless of what we’re going through. Hope is that steady anchor that keeps us grounded. 

 Without hope, what do we hold onto? Many people who don’t know Christ try to anchor themselves in their own abilities, wealth, or connections. But even these can fail. Friends and connections can let us down; worldly possessions and influences can be lost in a fallen world. True hope—the kind that’s sure and unwavering—is found in Christ alone.

 Our hope in Jesus is the assurance that God is unfailingly good and that He will never forget or abandon us. Scripture calls hope our “anchor”: 

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, Hebrews 6:19 NASB

  Hope anchors us during life’s storms, holding us steady when waves of adversity and opposition try to knock us off course. With this hope, we can fully trust in the Lord—our Helper and our Refuge in every season.

 Hope anchors our souls. That is our mind, will, and emotions. When we face adversity or the storms of life, we can remain steady in our thinking and emotions. No matter what it feels like, hope brings steadiness.

 So often, religious traditions have conditioned us to have a “reverse hope,” a negative expectation programming us to expect loss, struggle, or disappointment. But true hope, found in Jesus, says that despite living in a fallen world, we can have a confident expectation of good. Because of Jesus, we can expect blessings, not because we deserve them, but because of His grace. 

This confidence springs from what He accomplished for us; it’s the beauty of the Gospel of Grace. The Cross and Jesus’ finished work gives us an everlasting, unshakeable hope that cannot be swayed or eroded by life’s trials.

 In summation, Let’s embrace this victorious life Jesus has given us, firmly anchored in the unwavering hope of His goodness and faithfulness. As we hold onto this hope, we’re continually reminded that no matter what comes, He is with us, working on our behalf, guiding us, and bringing us into His perfect victory!

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Living the Victorious Christian Life

 

But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 corinthians 15:57 AMPC

But thanks be to God, who is always leading us in triumph in · Christ, and through us is making known the fragrance of the knowledge of him in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14 MOUNCE

"Victory! Who doesn’t love the thrill of winning, the joy of a hard-fought triumph? Whether in sports, life, or faith, we all want to experience the elation of victory. When our team wins, we erupt with joy, shouting, high-fiving, and savoring the victory. But when we lose, even though we may be good sports, the sting of defeat lingers. We all crave that feeling of winning—whether in sports or in life.

  But here’s the best part: as Christians, we don’t have to wonder whether we’ll win or lose. In Christ, the victory has already been secured. Every day, no matter the challenges we face, we can walk in triumph because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. 

Victory in Christ!

 Jesus has already won the ultimate victory through His finished work on the cross. He became the curse for us, fully redeeming us from the curse of the Law. His triumph over sin, death, and the enemy is final—and that victory is ours to live in every day.

 Through Christ, we are more than a conqueror. We are not victims but victors in Him. Throughout the New Covenant, we see the keys and the truths we must know to live a victorious Christian life.  

 As always, we must be clear, we are in the New Covenant. I am not inferring there are rules we must keep or tasks we must complete to receive something from God. I’m talking about the principles and truths of the New Creation. When we walk in these, we experience the fullness of our new identity in Christ, leading to a life of victory. Let's begin looking at the victorious overcoming Christian life. 

 As believers, we're called to live a victorious, overcoming life, Jesus and New Covenant writers like Paul, and Peter offer us profound insights into how to walk in triumph while we’re still here on Earth. One foundational truth for living victoriously is wisdom—knowing how to navigate life with godly discernment and making choices that align with God’s plan.

 The Good News is Jesus is our wisdom;

Instead, credit God with your new situation: you are united with Jesus the Anointed. He is God’s wisdom for us and more. He is our righteousness and holiness and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30 VOICE

  The amazing truth is that Jesus is our wisdom! Through our union with Him, we have access to the boundless wisdom of God, the Creator of all things. And this wisdom isn’t just for spiritual insights—it’s practical. It applies to every decision, every challenge, and every moment of our daily lives.

 Walk in His Wisdom

 Wisdom gives us the ability to apply knowledge. It is God's knowledge and the know-how to apply it to whatever we face. James tells us we can ask God for wisdom, and He will hear and answer our prayers for wisdom.

 Take note that James didn't teach us to strive for wisdom. He didn't teach that we must earn wisdom. He didn't teach if we perform well enough, God will give us wisdom. No, he said all we must do is believe and not waver. 

 We all need wisdom to manage our possessions and finances better. We all need wisdom when it comes to our health and longevity, not falling prey to fad diets and pills or schemes that supposedly will make us lose fat and be healthier. We all need wisdom to follow God's plan and purpose for our lives and not follow bad counsel or unsound advice. 

 Again, this wisdom has been made available to us through our union with Christ. We can ask and receive wisdom. We can walk wisely in this world knowing as we trust in Him, bring our concerns to Him, and follow His leading, He will direct us toward the right paths.      

  In Christ, we are called to live as overcomers—victorious, triumphant, and filled with the abundant life Jesus promised. But what does this look like practically? It’s easy to say we are overcomers, but when the storms of life hit—when finances are tight, when relationships strain, or when sickness arises—it can be challenging to see ourselves as victorious. 

 Yet, this is precisely when we must lean on the truth of who we are in Christ. We are not defined by our circumstances but by our union with Jesus. Growing in Grace and the knowledge of Jesus is key to walking this victorious overcoming life in our daily life. 

 As we deepen our understanding of Christ’s victory, our faith strengthens, enabling us to stand firm in trials. Through Christ, we are empowered to overcome, not by our strength, but by His grace working through us. The victorious life is one of continual growth in faith, grace, and the assurance of His love and promises.

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The Acts of Grace

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be proficient, fully equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 MOUNCE

 God's Word is truth. It is our supreme source for discerning truth from error, lies, falsehoods, and untruths born from the spirit of deception, and the religious tradition of men. God's Word is our source of truth, doctrine, and instruction. 

 It is not a rule book to follow dogmatically. It is a divine love letter revealing the heart of a loving Father and a gracious Savior who gave all, laying down His life to redeem lost and rebellious souls from sin, and satan's hold and spiritual death. It's called the "good book" for good reason. 

 This "good book" reveals to us the Grace of Almighty God. Grace is spelled out to us from Genesis to Revelation. Grace is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Salvation, newness of life, life eternal, and total and complete forgiveness and Righteousness are found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. 

 Now traditional religion and the deception of the enemy rob believers of all the Goodness God offers them. Jesus spoke of this. Look at His words here in Mark;

making void the word of God by your traditional teaching which ye have delivered; and many such like things ye do. Mark 7:13 Darby

 Tradition and religion make the Word of no effect. It renders the Word useless, invalidating it, thus negating it in the life of the hearer of religion. Religion is the enemy of growth and Christian victory.

 In sharing the Good News of the Spirit's power made available as a gift to all, religious tradition objected and based this objection on an absurd claim. The justification they gave for this objection was that the entire book of Acts was not a book of the Bible one could teach from. The claim is that Acts is not a book of doctrine. 

 I discovered a religious tradition that should be allayed and dismissed as utter foolishness. Religion claims Acts is a mere descriptive book and not a "prescriptive" book. They claim there is no doctrinal truth in Acts.

 Religion if followed would make the Word of Grace missing and lacking in the life of the believer. The cessationists, those clinging to religious tradition are so against the power of the Spirit for today that they are willing to disregard an entire book of the Bible. They are leaving behind some amazing truths of the Gospel in doing so.

 Some Christians have such a Religious bias and prejudice against Tongues, the active Gifts of the Spirit, the infilling of the Spirit, and Charismatic (supernatural) ministry that they can only see Acts as a Charismatic/Pentecostal book. I want to show that Acts is so much more than that. The Gospel of Grace is introduced in Acts and it is for us today!

 The Acts of Grace are seen throughout this wonderful book. This book describes the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the lives of early believers in the Church. It is also prescribed because it reveals a ministry that turned the world upside down.  

 The world was transformed not just through signs and wonders, but also through preaching the radical message of God's Grace. All of the faiths, (religions) in the world were based on the actions, performances, and behavior of their followers up until this point. Here is a message being preached, that the God being proclaimed through preaching, being revealed through teaching, is the same God that already did all the work required. All one needs to do is simply believe.

 Throughout this book, we see Grace demonstrated and see Grace proclaimed to all. We have a full sermon of the Apostle Paul, the Apostle of Grace, given in this book. Acts not prescriptive? Not a book of doctrine? Foolishness! 

  The Word declared that great power was on the Church, the Spirit's power yes. We also see that great Grace was upon the Church. Grace is on the Church, Grace is the Gospel message we preach. Lost, rebellious, dead in sin, humanity can freely come to a Holy God and receive forgiveness of all sins, Righteousness, and eternal life. Not because they deserve it, not because they worked hard enough, but simply because of His Love and Goodness.

 This is the message that turned the world upside down.  

Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. Acts 13:43 NKJV

 Grace is proclaimed throughout the entire book of Acts. We see it first here that we as the Church are no longer under Law but His Grace. We see that we have been freed from the Old Covenant and the new has come. We see the opposition from religion and tradition to the message of Jesus and His Grace.  

 We can't allow religious bias to rob us of the fullness of God. Religious bias formed, creating further wrong thinking, and producing unbelief in the hearts and minds of some Christians is what's behind ideas like these. The book of Acts is a book about the power of the Spirit yes but even more about it's a book proclaiming the word of His Grace.

 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. Acts 14:3 NKJV

This passage says it all. Grace and the Spirit's power are inseparable. They are the effective ministry that turned the world upside down then and it's still the same today. Proclaim Grace with power and demonstration and see God confirm His Grace with signs following. 

 In summation, Acts is a book of doctrine. It reveals the availability of the Spirit today. It reveals the supernatural ministry the Church should be walking in. It also reveals the message we should still be proclaiming. The Grace of God! 

Image by Arnie Bragg from Pixabay

Will the Real Radical Grace Gospel please stand up!

  For the Law was given through Moses, but grace [the unearned, undeserved favor of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 AMP 

 Who doesn't like to hear good news? The Word even declares a good report refreshes and strengthens our bones. What is the Good News? It is the glad tidings of salvation through Christ. The proclamation of the Grace of God manifest and pledged in Christ. This is the good news Gospel. It's glad tidings of total salvation in and through Christ.

 Grace is the Good News. We don't need the enemy's deception or errors distorting Grace. We don't need the traditions and misunderstandings from men to detract from it. Grace is amazing enough just as Paul first proclaimed it. 

 In the previous study, we addressed the enemy's counterfeit to Grace. We detailed the depths of the enemy's hijacking of the Grace message and exposed its full error. Dr. Brown sadly lumped Grace preachers in the same category as those proclaiming the error of inclusion/universalism in his book that attacks the Grace message. 

It is imperative to hear the Good News of the Grace of God. Grace is not just a new message or some fading fad. It is the Gospel of Jesus. Grace and the Gospel are simple. Mankind seems to always make the simple complex and hard to understand. 

We should know and fully understand the message of Grace. When we hear it we grow and have a more fruitful relationship with our Father and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Understanding the importance of hearing, we must also understand what the real Grace message is.

 Too often through our traditions, our various backgrounds, and our denominational experience we add to the message of Grace. Understand that the message of Grace is amazing just as it is. We don't need to help it out.

 What is the real message of Grace? It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the Good News that Jesus has fully completed the Work. It is the happy Gospel that Jesus paid the price in full and the Father has accepted the completed payment and is fully satisfied with Jesus' sacrifice. It is the wonderful realization that if Jesus' sacrifice is enough we can't add to it.

 This is the foundation of the Radical Grace Gospel. How do we know we are hearing the message of Grace unashamedly preached? It is simple, look at the sermon Paul preached. Look at the New Covenant described in Hebrews. 

8 For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; 9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. Ephesians 2:8-9 AMP

  To be more specific, the Grace messages preaches the main clause of the New Covenant. What is the main clause? The complete forgiveness of all sin, past and present and future. This forgiveness is not dependent on our apology or acknowledgment of our sins. It is because of Jesus' sacrifice we are forgiven.

 The Grace messages preaches that the Blood of Jesus alone is what forgives. No other sacrifice is acceptable. We can't apologize enough, or promise God we won't mess up for sin to be forgiven. No amount of abstinence from sin or good works brings forgiveness. Only the Blood of Jesus forgives, cleanses, and removes all sin, all guilt, and all shame.

 The Grace message is not a condemning message to those who fail or those who are continually failing. Condemnation kills and is not what motivates the believer to overcome sin. God our Father is merciful and long-suffering. Jesus has already paid the price in full and our Father will not impute our sins to our account nor does He remember them. 

 The message of Grace magnifies the wonderful work of Jesus. Grace honors God's New Covenant. Grace understands the New Covenant begins with Christ's once for all sacrifice. Jesus' death, not His birth ushered in the New Covenant. The majority of the four Gospels take place under the Old Covenant. 

 The Grace message is not a mixture of Law and Grace. It is not a blend of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. The prerequisites to receive from God under the Old are not the same as the New Covenant. Under the Old, the faithful, obedient ones to the Law were blessed. Under the New, Jesus has already procured the blessing. 

 The Grace message understands our standing before God is Christ's standing. We don't come to God based on anything we do or don't do. We come to God based on Jesus' faithfulness and perfect obedience and receive the blessings and Goodness of God.

  The Grace message teaches that the believer is fully secure in Christ. The one who has trusted in Christ is completely forgiven and forever secure in their Father's hands. The Grace of God affirms the unconditional eternal security of the believer. 

 Grace reveals a Good Father who loves us. The Grace message proclaims a loving and merciful Father. God isn't sending judgment or tragedy today. Jesus paid the price and the Father has accepted the payment, He is not punishing us, nations, or cities because of sin.

 This is the beautiful message of Grace. This is what we who have experienced Grace should fellowship around. This is the common ground of Grace. 

 We shouldn't be divided on other doctrines that have nothing to do with Grace. Our fellowship is about Grace, not our views on tithing,  or the type of church services we have.

 We who have received Grace don't have to argue about end-time views. There is not a set "hyper-Grace" view of the end times. Some churches and ministries are Grace-based but don't agree with the charismatic gifts for today. It doesn't matter because we are fellowshipping around the Grace of God not our views about the Holy Spirit moving today.

 I have presented the clear message of Grace. This is something Charismatic, Word of Faith, mainline denominational, cessationist Christians who have had their heart ambushed by Grace can fully celebrate and fellowship with. We have this much in common let's celebrate Grace. Let's come together and advance this Gospel truth.

 In summation, we have already exposed the false, the counterfeit. We have revealed what Grace is not, works or performance. We have also seen what the Grace Gospel is. I would like to share a powerful resource a brother in Christ has put together. This is an excellent minister of the New Covenant and Grace and yes I am practicing my message, we disagree on the end times, but that's not important, and not what we fellowship around. 

 Here is this resource here, locate Grace Ministries. Looking for a Grace church? Looking for Grace teaching online? Looking for Grace resources? This is the place. Let's come together under the banner of Grace, the real Gospel of Grace.

  

Image by Azeddine Behlouli from Pixabay

Redeemed from the…Blessing?

  But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises...In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8:6, 13 NKJV

God speaks of these new promises, of this new agreement, as taking the place of the old one; for the old one is out of date now and has been put aside forever. Hebrews 8:13 TLB

 I have good news to share. The New Covenant has come. God has instituted a new and better Covenant. The Old Covenant has been fulfilled and now is done away. We have a new and living way to God.

 The Gospel of Grace is the Good News of Grace pledged in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Work is Finished and the Father has fully accepted the redemptive work of Christ. There is nothing we can add or do to complete the work in our lives. All He asks is that we believe. 

 This is the Good News of Grace. Grace has been revealed with the revelation Paul proclaimed in the Scriptures. Some still can't see the message of Grace. This is why God restores the truth from generation to generation whenever it gets lost through man's tradition. 

 Whenever God restores truth, He raises up teachers to explain the truth. When the truth is proclaimed and explained, it falls upon hearers in different stages of spiritual growth: new, older, and mature believers. Now spiritual immaturity is not necessarily a bad thing, we are still growing.

 Spiritual immaturity can be detrimental however when the immature hear the truth but don't fully understand the truth. Some only hear a portion of the truth and end up in a proverbial ditch. We need to hear the truth but also need to understand it for it to benefit our lives.

 When a spiritually immature person hears just a portion of the truth of Faith or divine healing or Faith's confession, and don't understand it, they make foolish decisions such as quitting their job, refusing medical care, or denying their circumstances mistakenly believing they're acting in Faith. Grace is no different. When the immature hear a portion of Grace they begin to misunderstand Redemption and how to rightly divide the Word of God.

  How does the spiritually immature misunderstand redemption? How do they wrongly divide the Word? They misunderstand what it is we have been redeemed from. They don't understand how to rightly divide the Word, distinguishing between the Old Covenant and New Covenant. 

 We are redeemed from the curse of the Law. We are not under Law but Grace. We are not under the statutes and precepts of the Mosaic Law. We don't approach God the same way they did under the Old. Now religious tradition likes to cite Old Covenant passages about how to receive the blessing of God. The problem is that's the Old Covenant's standard of how to receive. 

 That's not how we receive in the New. Under Grace, we receive from God by Grace through Faith. Under Grace, we rest in Jesus' perfect obedience. We come to the Father based on Christ's perfection, not our own. Our hope and Faith to receive is Faith in His Faith and Finished Work not our own. 

 Understanding Christ met all the requirements on our behalf then we know we are now prequalified for all the blessings and benefits God has promised and provided for us. This begs the question which blessings are we prequalified to receive? Are we only promised what God declared in Acts through Revelation? 

 What about all the promises of provision, peace, protection, and prosperity found in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation? Are we limited to what Peter and Paul and James and John wrote? That is if a promise of provision or blessing is found in the Psalms or Isaiah does that mean it's not for us? Some who misunderstand Grace are teaching that yes they are not for us.

 Has Grace then redeemed us from the curse of the Law and the blessings? Some spiritually immature ones claim that looking at the promises and provisions found in the Old Testament means you are putting yourself back under the Law. This is simply not true. 

 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, not the blessings. Look at David's words in Psalm 35. God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. God derives pleasure when His servants experience nothing missing or lacking in their lives. If God takes pleasure in His servant's prosperity how much more in His beloved sons? Christ's Redemptive work didn't "redeem" us from this blessing! In fact, His work purchased it for us!

 Look at Psalm 91. We see promises of protection and long life. Does this passage mean this is only for those under the Law? Of course not. Under Grace, this provision of protection and long life is more sure because it's purchased by Christ. 

 Look at Isaiah 49. If God our Father won't forget His servants and has them engraved in His palm how much more His children? There are many many promises and provisions and blessings found in the Old Testament. They are not solely for "the Jews." 

 The provisions and blessings of the Old are for us in Christ today. We are not redeemed from them. We aren't placing ourselves under the Mosaic Law by claiming these provisions and promises. We are simply receiving the full salvation package.

 All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correcting, for training · in righteousness, so that the man of God may be proficient, fully equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 MOUNCE

  All the blessings, benefits, provisions, and profits from the Old are now ours through Christ. We are in a better Covenant established on better promises. If the New does not include at least the same level of prosperity, peace and provision as the Old how then is it better? 

 The New has better promises than the Old. One of the better aspects of the New versus the Old is how these promises are made available to us. Under the Old, we had to do, we had to obey perfectly, we had to perform to receive. In the New, Christ has already done enough. Christ has already obeyed flawlessly. He has performed perfectly on our behalf. Our basis for receiving all these blessings is Christ never our behavior, our performance, our good deeds, or charity. 

  In summation, when Christ freed us from the Law, He didn't redeem us from the blessings found in every book of the Bible. Provisions of peace, long life, healing, protection, favor, fullness of joy, and strength are ours in Christ. We have the fullness of life, prosperity, and wholeness, in Christ Jesus. We are not just blessed, we are the commanded blessed because of Jesus!

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Holy Communion:truth vs. tradition

 24 When He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take and eat. This is My body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He took the cup after He had supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 1 Corinthians 11:24-26 MEV

 Holy Communion, this is the one sacrament or ordinance all Christians observe and regularly practice. With any common practice, some traditions and differences may arise. Some differ on whether actual wine is used or if it's just grape juice. Some like wafers others prefer actual bread. 

 These are more preferences and minor differences if we stay with Scripture alone as our source. What we must address however is not preferences surrounding the Lord's Supper, but the traditions of men that arise concerning it. We need to discern truth from tradition.

 Paul the Apostle of Grace addresses the issue of Holy Communion in the Epistle to the Corinthians. The first issue we must focus on is discussing the Holy Communion in the full context of Paul's words. Within these passages, we see words and concepts like self-examination, and judgment and even see some who got sick and some who died prematurely. 

 Traditions arise when we isolate statements and words and then take these words and concepts out of their complete setting and context. This gives place for new concepts and attitudes about God and His character how He sees us and how He corrects us. This gives birth to new ideas about how the Christian life must be lived.

 What helps in understanding passages in the New Covenant is to remember the three basic facts of the New Covenant. God alone saves. Salvation is found in God alone. He saves us we don't save ourselves. We didn't earn it therefore it is a gift we receive by Grace through Faith. Secondly, eternal life is just that eternal. Eternal life cannot be lost if so it wouldn't be eternal. Lastly, when we receive salvation, eternal life, we receive the free Gift of Righteousness and the complete forgiveness of our sins.

 Let's look at the passages that taken out of their full and complete context tend to form this idea that God is judging believers for their sins and other troublesome ideas;

 27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:27-32 NLT

 These are some heavy-handed and harsh-sounding passages. It seems to convey the idea that if we partake of communion wrong God is going to kill us. It seems to teach believers that they need to examine their lives before they receive communion. That if there are sins in their life they will be judged for their sins if they partake of the bread and wine. It creates a sin consciousness rather than a Christ and Righteousness consciousness.

 Some translations even render this passage that if your heart isn't right with God, if you are in sin, that you are taking judgment on yourself. The phrase examine yourself tends to make people think God is saying to examine your life and see how you measure up. Tradition therefore says to examine yourself and see how wicked and sinful you are. Acknowledge how much you have failed, who you have offended, who you need to forgive, and how far you've fallen from God's standards.

 Is this what God was really speaking through Paul? Recall the three basic facts of the New Covenant? They still apply here. Using our Bible facts we can see this interpretation of Paul's words doesn't agree with those facts. Therefore, we can know confidently that Paul was not teaching what tradition claims. 

  Stay within the context. Look at what was going on. The one word that can summarize the Corinthian church at this time is excess. They were excessive in finding division among themselves. They sinned excessively. They utilized the gifts in excess, that is, they would disrupt the meeting, and they would shout in other tongues to each other to show off. They also observed communion in the excess.

 They were actually having a full feast meal with the elements. Some would eat so much and leave nothing for others. Some would even get intoxicated on the wine. Paul addressed this because they weren't observing the Lord's Supper properly by this behavior. The gluttony and drunkenness are what prompted Paul to give us New Covenant instruction on Holy Communion.

 Whenever the words correction and instruction are brought up people immediately conjure up images of God's anger, wrath, and fiery indignation and punishment. Brethren this isn't what the New Covenant is about. Jesus paid the price in full, therefore God is not punishing His children. 

 Let's address this first misunderstood verse and the subsequent tradition of man. This idea of examining ourselves has created much confusion and brought about much condemnation surrounding the Lord's Supper. What then did Paul mean when he said to let a man examine himself?

 Looking again at the full context we can clearly see what Paul is saying. The Corinthians were receiving the Holy Communion as a mere meal. They were not looking at the price Jesus paid. They were not honoring the Finished Work. In fact, they were taking it for granted and only focusing on filling their bellies. 

 This is why Paul said don't partake of Communion in an unworthy manner. He was instructing us to honor Grace, the work of the Cross, and redemption. He was telling us to put Christ and His Grace in remembrance. 

 Yet people take Paul's words to mean we need to examine ourselves and our flaws and sins. If we partake of communion with sin in our lives, we are partaking of the cup and the bread in an unworthy state and manner. So before we receive the elements we must examine our life and see if we qualify to partake.

 Concerning Holy Communion, Jesus said as often as you partake of communion do this in remembrance of Me. Jesus said do this in remembrance of Me, not thee! We are not to put into remembrance our sins or shortcomings. We are to remember Jesus and all He did for us in His perfect redemptive work of Grace. Communion is a time to reflect on Grace, not on our failures or flaws.

 What did Paul mean when he said examine ourselves? He was saying to examine yourself and ensure you are receiving the elements and partaking worthily. Again how do we partake worthily? We do it by remembering all Jesus did for us and adding our agreement to His perfect work of redemption in our lives. 

 Examining ourselves isn't the act of introspection and acknowledging how flawed and fallen we are. I heard a mixture preacher once say examining ourselves would reveal to ourselves how flawed we were and where we were actively disobeying God. This concept completely disagrees and dishonors the Gift of Righteousness and total forgiveness that Christ's shed blood and great exchange procured for us. 

There are several of these traditions surrounding communion. We will examine them in light of the New Covenant and full context. In summation, we need to come in agreement with Grace. We need to put Jesus and His Finished Work in remembrance whenever we are taking communion. The focus is on the Finished Work, not our sins. 

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