Discover: Forgiven

 

13 You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins. Colossians 2:13 CEV

And although you were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our transgressions, Colossians 2:13 MOUNCE

13 God took us out of a life of darkness. He has put us in the holy nation of His much-loved Son. 14 We have been bought by His blood and made free. Our sins are forgiven through Him. Colossians 1:13-14 NLV

 When a discovery is made, it is often heralded and celebrated. We have begun a new series on discovering who we are and what we have in Christ. Let this be a reminder of who you already are and rediscover what it means to be in Christ. 

 We have seen that we are deeply loved by the Father. Our Father in Heaven looks upon us with loving kindness and mercy. He isn't looking upon us with disappointing eyes. He saw all our mistakes and still chose us.

 It's like when we were young, attending school or some activity, and they were choosing teams to compete in a game or activity. Sometimes we weren't the best players, and we were the last picked. I know it may not be the best illustration if you are a star athlete; however, even the best don't get drafted by every team. 

 God, however, is not like man. He saw all our flaws and failures and still readily chose us. In fact, God chose us first to be on "His team". He didn't choose us last. He chose us first! That's God's Love! This Love expressed itself in Jesus' perfect work of Redemption.

 Perhaps you think sure He loves us but I have sinned, or I have too much sin for Him to use me or choose me. The Good News is that Jesus paid the price. You may say, I am not a Christian, that's not for me. No, my friend, Jesus paid for all the sins of all mankind;

2 He paid for our sins with His own blood. He did not pay for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2 NLV

 Jesus paid it all. He has paid this sin debt in full. Now all one must do is RECEIVE the forgiveness of sins. Although the price has been paid, God won't force you to respond and receive it. He will allow you to attempt to pay for your transgressions with your own goodness. This is why people end up eternally separated; they chose their own works and goodness to save them. 

 Jesus has paid the price in full. In Christ, we are fully forgiven of our sins. Our sins are completely forgiven. From now to eternity, our sins are washed, cleansed, and removed from us. We are forgiven past, present, and future. There is not one sin we have committed that has not been forgiven, nor is there one we have yet to commit that God's not already forgiven.

 I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus. 1 John 2:12 NLT

 You may be struggling to accept that our future sins are already forgiven. This is an area where many believers struggle to accept. It seems like it is reckless, making light of poor choices or rewarding bad behavior. If this feels unsettling, it’s not because grace is reckless—it’s because grace is bigger than we were ever taught.  The reality is we are making much of Jesus' Finished Work, His once-for-all sacrifice. 

  Let the Word of God be the final authority; 

17 I will erase their sins and wicked acts out of My memory as though they had never existed. 18 When there is forgiveness such as this, there is no longer any need to make an offering for sin. Hebrews 10:17-18 Voice

 God has confirmed through His Word that He has forgiven all our sins. All means all. If it were so that our future sins aren't forgiven, then what sacrifice is needed to pay for them? This is the arrogance of man and his self-righteous thinking that they can "pay" for their sins.

  God gave me this beautiful illustration of total forgiveness. When I was a young man, my mother and I went to see a Veterans' Day parade. We are on the street level, looking at the parade floats as they pass by. Someone had advised that there was a better view on one of the open rooftops. From this view, we saw the entire parade. 

 When I was on that rooftop, I saw the parade from the first float up to the very last one. Likewise, when we come to Christ, He sees our entire life. He saw us from the first breath we took up till the very last breath we take. He saw our whole entire life and declared forgiven! 

We are forgiven of all our sins. We are free from all our sins and transgressions. God is not accounting our sins against us. He has forgiven us. In Christ, we are forever forgiven. This is not something we strive to become. This is who we already are in Christ.

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Trust Fund

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT

And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. But if it is by works, then is it no longer by grace; otherwise work would no longer be work. Romans 11:6 MEV

God is a Good and Gracious Father. The gifts He freely gives—eternal life, perfect Righteousness, and total forgiveness—are not wages earned, but unearned, undeserved, and unrepayable. This is the heartbeat of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: not what we do for God, but what He has already done for us. And yet, so much of modern Christian teaching has drifted from this truth, placing the spotlight back on us—our efforts, our sacrifices, our performance. But Grace flips the script. Grace reminds us: it's not about what we do, it's about what He did.

 Christianity is rooted in the once-for-all perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus. It is not rooted or built upon the foundation of our sacrifices, pledges, or promises to God. It's about the finality of the Cross and the glorious, triumphant resurrection of Christ. It's never been about our work, performance, or striving to earn God's favor, acceptance, and approval.

 Think of this. Sometimes a parent lays up an inheritance for their children. When they reach a certain age, those funds are made available to them. We call this a trust fund. This is a fund in the natural realm. 

 I want to use a play on words and see what kind of trust fund we have. Do we have a "trust fund" deposited with God's gifts readily available for us to withdraw from? Or do we have a "trust fund" that has deposits of our own works, performance, and perfect behavior?

 In other words, where is your trust? So often we claim we trust in God alone, but the moment we go through a challenge, we shift to the default setting of looking at our behavior or performance to see if we have messed up. We default back to thinking we're being punished by God for messing it up again.

 Certainly, there can be negative circumstances directly attributed to specific choices we have made, but that is not much of a mystery. If you were speeding, it should be clear why you got a speeding ticket. That wasn't divine judgment; that was traffic officers enforcing the speed laws. 

 I am speaking more so of those times when we are praying and standing on the Word and don't see answers manifest. When the circumstances don't seem to be changing, or perhaps they are getting worse. The default religious setting is to critique our performance and behavior and adjust accordingly so we can be good enough to receive from God.

 It may sound elementary or far-fetched, but this is the focus of much modern Christian teaching. Our behavior becomes our savior and source of blessing. This religious default reveals to us where our trust is. 

 Our trust is not in Jesus' faithfulness but in our own. Jesus paid the price. He finished the work. He completed the task. His victorious death, burial, and resurrection are what procured everything we need to live in life and godliness. 

 So many place the majority of their trust in their church attendance, financial giving, devotional time, and abstinence from sin. Jesus and His perfect redemptive work take a backseat to man's effort. Christ's perfect work tends to pale in comparison to our own work. 

 Brothers and sisters, this is not the Gospel. This is not the Christian life we are called to lead. God wants us to behold Jesus in the beauty of His holiness, to look to His perfect redemptive work rather than our own, and to put our trust in Jesus' faithfulness rather than our own. 

 It has never been about our work, good behavior, or performance. It's all about Jesus. Grace is about putting Jesus back in the center of it all. It is remembering Jesus in His splendor and glory for the perfect sacrifice He made. 

This is the Good News—the best news! The work is finished. It is completely done. It is all about a free gift. Focus on Him, and trust in His work and faithfulness alone. 

 

 

Father of Lights: Cruel God and cruel men.

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 is a Good Father. He has revealed Himself as the Father of Lights. In Him, there exists no darkness at all. He is not the author or orchestrator of death, disaster, or destruction. He is the author of Abundant Life. 

 Does it matter whether we receive and understand this truth? Absolutely. If we want our faith to grow strong and steadfast, we must know the character of the One who makes the promise. Trust is built on knowing the heart behind the words. If we are to confidently trust a Savior who offers eternal life through simple belief, we must be fully convinced of the goodness and integrity of the One who offered it.

 As important as those things are, there is another reason we must know the character of God. We are told to emulate, to be like God throughout the Word. We have sayings like;

 What would Jesus do?

 If we think of Jesus and the Father and the Spirit as harsh taskmasters who are quick to punish, point out our sins and shortcomings, and separate themselves from us, how will we treat others? 

 When men believe they serve a cruel God, they themselves will become cruel. If they see God as angry, obsessed with rules, and determined to make them do what they dread simply to prove His power, it will shape their hearts into the same harsh image. A distorted view of God always produces a distorted life.

 The Lens of the Heart

The way we perceive God becomes the lens through which we see everything else.
If we believe God is unpredictable, harsh, and ready to lash out, we will approach life with fear, suspicion, and anxiety.
We will struggle to rest, to trust, or to live with joy — because deep down, we will always be bracing ourselves for the next blow.

But if we see Him as the Father of Lights, the One who is pure goodness with no shadow of turning, our hearts can finally exhale.
We can live freely, joyfully, and fearlessly, rooted in the unwavering love of a perfect Father.

"God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5)

Religious Fear Produces Religious Cruelty

Many believers today, though sincere, have been taught to fear God in the wrong way.
Not with a holy awe for His majesty and grace, but with a terror of punishment and rejection.
This false fear hardens hearts. It produces believers who are more judgmental than joyful, more condemning than compassionate.

The truth is, a cruel view of God creates cruel men.
If you believe God is constantly displeased with you, you will live displeased with yourself and others.
You will feel justified in being critical, harsh, and unkind because you think that's how God is.

This isn't holiness. It's hurt wearing a religious mask.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment." (1 John 4:18)

The Father of Lights

Our God is not two-faced. He is not sometimes good and sometimes cruel.
He is the same yesterday, today, and forever — good, faithful, merciful, and kind.

He corrects His children, yes — but He corrects by reminding us who we are in Christ, not by crushing us with calamity.
He leads by love, not by fear. He builds up — He doesn’t tear down.

Beloved, reject every image of God that is less beautiful than Jesus.
Reject the religious lie that portrays the Father as cruel, calculating, and condemning.
Embrace the radiant truth that your Father is the Father of Lights — and in Him, there is no darkness at all.

You were created to reflect the One you behold.
Behold His goodness — and you will shine.

 Religious traditions' distortion of God has created the image of a cruel God. This cruel image causes the thinking of the religious mind to be programmed to condemnation, shame, and guilt. We direct this first toward ourselves, and afterwards to others around us.  

 This makes us forget who the Father is. We forget that we cannot come to God based on our merits. We forget that it was only the shed blood of Jesus that makes us worthy. 

Summarizing, why must we know and understand how good God truly is? Because everything in the Christian life rests upon this truth. His goodness and His grace are not side notes—they are the very foundation! The entire Christian life rises or falls on this revelation. His goodness is the anchor of our faith, and His grace is the melody of the Gospel—without them, there is no true Christianity, only cold religion.

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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: Not of Yourselves

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 God's unearned and undeserved favor. In essence, it is God's free gift, something that cannot be earned. Grace is God stooping down to our level because of His Goodness, not our goodness or merit.

 The cross of Christ demonstrated the majestic mercy and grand goodness of the Father. It revealed a love that is matchless and unparalleled. It also showed us that grace is a gift that must be received and something that can't be achieved. 

 Paul was granted the privilege to receive the revelation of God's Grace. He dedicated many chapters and verses in his Epistles to the Grace of God. Look at a key statement he made under the direction of the Spirit concerning Grace; 

 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV

 Look at this in Weymouth Translation;

For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is God's gift, and is not on the ground of merit—Ephesians 2:8 WEY

 This passage plainly defines the true nature of God's Grace, it is unearned, unmerited, and undeserved. It is free of any boasting or claims of earned favor. It is all about Him and has nothing to do with us.

 Yet even with passages like this given by the inspiration of God, we still find ourselves clinging to works and performance-rooted traditions. We think and feel we must contribute something. It can't really be that free, that sounds irresponsible.

Why is this? Because we are conditioned to the natural realm more than the spiritual realm. Paul tells us this natural realm is temporal and subject to change.

Yes, in the practical, natural world, merit can be a good thing. 

 All things being equal, we award the promotion to the one who is the best-suited and qualified candidate. In the athletic realm, we award the trophy to the one who endured and scored the most points. This is okay in the natural, it is a way to be fair and equal. 

 Guess what, though, the athlete who scored the most scored their best that day. That doesn't mean they will score that well tomorrow or the next day. Merit has a place in the natural, but even then, it is fallible and rooted in personal strength alone. 

 This is why God cut the New Covenant with Jesus and not with fallible man. Jesus is perfect and flawless, but we aren't. 

 We may score the best one day but could also score the worst a few days later. This is why personal merit, performance, and performance are faulty grounds to base our relationship with God. 

 God, in His wisdom, knew this. 

 Consider three words that can revolutionize your relationship with God: not of yourselves. Paul, under the Spirit’s inspiration, captured the heart of grace in these simple yet profound words. They sum up the Gospel: it’s all about Jesus, not us.

On the Cross, we saw the great exchange. Jesus took and bore all our sins and the death sentence and exchanged it with His forgiveness, Righteousness, and new life.  This exchange was not of ourselves, but only through Jesus and His perfection. He was the spotless Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.

 Grace is completely about Jesus alone. Grace is not of ourselves; it is of God, not any achievements, deeds, or abstinence from sinning we could accomplish. 

 If it is not of ourselves, then on whose shoulders does it bear to get it perfectly right? Is it us or Jesus? If it is not of ourselves then it can only be Christ alone. Isn't that the Gospel message summed up? Christ alone bore the penalty and paid the price in full.

 If it is not of ourselves, then what are we doing attempting to enter God's presence based on our merits? 

 If it is not of ourselves, why are we petitioning God for answered prayers based on our behavior, our good deeds, or our performance? 

 If it's not of ourselves, We come to the Father based on Jesus, and nothing we have done or could do.

 It is not of ourselves, it is totally and completely based on Jesus alone. We pray in Jesus' name. That means we are coming to the Father based on Jesus' goodness, Jesus' Righteousness, and His acceptance. 

 In summation, Abundance of Grace means embracing the truth that it’s entirely about Jesus, not us. To receive Grace is to receive more of Him—His righteousness, His goodness, His sufficiency. Jesus is more than enough, covering every shortcoming and meeting every need.

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Abundance of Grace

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, what is Grace? Is Grace just a doctrine or a topic we study? Is Grace merely an abstract or fleeting concept we don't consider much? Grace is not a doctrine or a topic. Grace is the unearned, undeserved, unmerited favor of God lavished upon us.

 Grace is the very heartbeat of God’s love, expressed through Jesus Christ.  Grace is the heartbeat of divine Love demonstrated in and through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's Jesus' victorious work of redemption, a free gift fully and freely received into our lives, never earned. 

 Paul tells us through the direct inspiration of the Spirit that when we receive the abundance of Grace, we will reign in this life. We reign in life, not fear, inferiority, shame, guilt, condemnation, or sin. We will not be timid but bold. All of this is based on Jesus' work and not our own.

 Grace is an inexhaustible truth. Biblical truths such as Faith, Love, hope, and Grace are truths we continue studying and growing in deeper understanding. God dedicated whole Epistles to teach us Faith and Grace and reveal His Love. 

 Grace is also something we must continually feed on because the default setting of humanity is earning and achieving. No matter how often we hear about the Cross, some still come away believing there is a part they must play in redemption and eternal salvation. The Cross reveals the Grace of God.

 The Cross of Christ stands as the ultimate revelation of God’s grace. It declares that no human effort could pay the price. It was the only work that could bring right standing with God and redeem us from the curse of the Law. 

 Yet, with the witness of the Cross, we still have ministries and churches proclaiming that it is the work of the Cross, plus our own works. Apparently, the Cross alone is insufficient to bring about healing, deliverance, receiving provision, and answered prayer. Their teaching is if we want to receive, we must live completely upright and engage in much spiritual discipline. This undermines the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice, supplementing Christ's work with our own.

  I have actually heard ministers teach that our behavior is the measure God used to bless us. That if our act isn't just right, God won't heal us. If healing, blessings, provision, and answered prayer are contingent upon the believer's behavior then what is the purpose of the Cross?

 The Old Covenant functioned in this way. The children of Israel did offer sacrifice for their sins annually, but they had to obey the Law to be blessed and healed. They had their work to do and Moses told them if they weren't following the Law then they wouldn't be healed and blessed. 

 The Cross of Jesus reveals the new and living way to receive from God. The Old Covenant was following Moses, sacrificial offerings, and our behavior as the means to receive from God. The New Covenant is Jesus plus nothing. 

I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain Galatians 2:21 NKJV

 Do we really believe it's Jesus plus nothing? When I pray for healing, in whose name am I asking to receive healing? Jesus' name or my own?

 Most would say well, Jesus, of course. Yet, when religious mixture of Law and Grace lists rules and precepts we must do so we can receive, we are not actually asking in Jesus' name any longer. We may be verbally saying in Jesus' name, but in reality, we are actually asking in our own name. 

 We are, in essence, saying to the Father, see God, I have done this and that and kept these rules here, now can I be healed? When we do this, we are unwittingly demanding the Father to base our answers to prayer, receiving healing and provision on our personal achievements, work, performance, and behavior. This is perhaps why some fail to receive.

 We want to reign in life not live defeated and not receiving from God. To reign in life means walking in Christ's victory for us—victory over sin, sickness, lack, and every form of bondage. It is living boldly, knowing we are deeply loved, fully forgiven, and richly provided for through Jesus. We can only reign when we receive the abundant Grace of God. 

So, let us stop striving and start receiving. Let us boldly lay hold of the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, knowing that Jesus has already accomplished everything for us. His victory is our victory; His life is our life. We don’t reign by earning or achieving—we reign by believing and receiving. 

 Grace invites us to step out of fear and failure into the fullness of God’s favor, provision, healing, and love. The Cross is proof that it’s never about what we do but about what Jesus has already done. Through Him, we reign—not as slaves burdened by the weight of performance, but as kings walking in the light of His finished work. Grace is the key to reigning in life—receive it, walk in it, and reign boldly today!

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Living the Victorious Christian Life: Established in the Gift of Righteousness

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

 Winning, who gets tired of winning? Seeing your team or favorite athlete win stirs excitement and jubilation. I have some good news. In Christ, we have already won the victory.

 We have been delving into the truths we must know to walk in victory this side of Heaven. We have seen how wisdom, hope, Faith, and understanding the creative power of words assures us victory. Today, I want to continue and look at a vital truth for believers to walk in continuous victory.

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

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). Romans 5:17 AMPC

 When we receive of the Gift of Righteousness, we will reign in this life as a King. What does a king do? He rules and reigns. He stands upright and fearless not shrinking back with fear or timidity.

 What is Righteousness? Righteousness is God's beautiful and perfect gift that gives permanent right standing with the Father. It is that gift where one can stand in the presence of the Father without any sense, feeling, or impression of fear, guilt, shame, or inferiority. It is that gift where we have been accepted and approved by the Father. It is that gift David himself spoke of, where sin is never again imputed to us. 

 That is, no sin we commit is charged to our account. This gift brings non-imputation of sin. This is why Paul tells us in Romans 5:17 that those who receive abundant Grace and receive OF the Gift of Righteousness reign as Kings in this life. We must receive of this Gift of Righteousness to benefit from it.  

 When we receive of this gift we walk in peace. Romans 5:1 tells us we have peace with God because we are declared Righteous. The work of Righteousness is peace. Peace brings us to a place of certainty and surety.

 Peace brings rest to our souls. We have the confident assurance we are loved by our Father. It brings security, anchoring us in the ever-present reality of abiding in Him, and He will never let us go or forsake us.

 Receiving Righteousness reminds us that we are accepted and approved by God. This is all because of His Righteousness, not our performance. Often, we engage in all kinds of activity to gain a sense of acceptance or approval. 

 When we receive of the Gift of Righteousness we begin to understand we don't have to do something to become approved. We begin to come to God based on Christ's work, not our own. We can come to our Father knowing He is always pleased with us.

When we receive of this Gift of Righteousness, we will not cower under the pressure of condemnation, accusation, and guilt. We will walk free from the lies of the enemy. The enemy accuses us of never measuring up and says we need to do more to gain God's approval.

 The beauty of receiving of the Gift of Righteousness is that we hold on to the truth that we are already accepted, approved, and pleasing to the Father, all because of Jesus. We can't become more loved, more approved, or more accepted. Our actions, deeds, and performance don't make us more approved or loved by our Father. The Father is already pleased with Jesus' Finished Work; what more can we add to a finished work? 

 How do we then receive of this gift? We receive of this Gift of Righteousness by Faith alone. We can't earn it, we can't work for it, and we can't eventually achieve it. It is a gift, a free gift, and a gift can only be received. 

 If we can earn it, achieve it, or work for it, then it is no longer a gift but a wage earned. Righteousness is a free gift—a gift we can't work for; it is only received by Faith. To take full advantage of the gift, we must fully understand what it is, meditate on its truths, and actively lay hold of what is already ours because of Jesus. 

 Beloved, remember righteousness is not something you earn, but a gift you receive. It’s a divine exchange—Christ took your sin and gave you His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). Imagine standing before God, completely unashamed, fully confident in His love for you. That’s the reality of righteousness in Christ.

Today, make this truth your anchor. Declare boldly, 'I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus! I reign in life because of His abundant grace and righteousness!' Watch as this revelation transforms your walk with God, bringing peace, joy, and victory every day

  In summation, receiving wisdom, His wisdom, clinging to hope, walking by Faith, speaking in agreement only with Christ's redemptive work, all that He provided for us through Grace, and receiving of the Gift of Righteousness is how to walk in victory. This is the victorious life in Christ. 

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Living the Victorious Christian Life: Faith

 

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 

 What comes to mind when you hear the word "victory"? Maybe it’s when your favorite sports team wins or a long-standing problem finally gets resolved. Victory brings a sense of relief, joy, and fulfillment when challenges are overcome.

 The Good News of Jesus Christ is that in Him, we have victory—not just occasionally, but as an ongoing part of our lives. Through His work on the cross, He has equipped us with everything we need to live victoriously. As we delve into living the victorious Christian life, we’ve seen how wisdom and hope empower us. Today, we’ll explore another vital key: Faith.

 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 1 John 5:4 NKJV

 Faith is the foundation for walking triumphantly. Now, Faith is not merely what denomination you belong to or the religious belief system you hold to. Let's define Faith so we are on the same page.

 A simple definition and understanding of faith is being fully persuaded. Persuaded of what? That God is a Good Father and is for us, not against us. In essence, it's having a good opinion of God. 

 More precisely defined Faith is the assurance, the conviction, the "title deed" of the things we hope for (positively expect for), being the proof of things we do not see, the conviction of their reality, Faith perceiving, fully assured, as real fact what is not yet revealed to the senses. This is a detailed definition and understanding of Faith.

  I believe this definition beautifully captures the essence of Faith as described in Hebrews 11:1—Faith is "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." The perspective that Faith is a "title deed" is powerful because it emphasizes that Faith is our legal, spiritual claim to what grace has already provided. When we have Faith, we’re holding the title deed to promises and realities that may not yet be visible in the physical realm but are assured in the spiritual realm.

Building on this, Faith is our confident trust in God’s character, promises, and His Finished Work through Jesus. Faith is a fully persuaded heart that embraces what God has already done by grace, even when our senses or circumstances don’t yet align with it. It’s a stance of inner certainty, holding onto God’s truth as more real than any other reality.

 In practice, Faith operates from a place of rest and expectation, not striving or uncertainty. It is the active assurance that what God has promised is not just possible but certain, and we live in accordance with that conviction. When we "speak in Faith," we're not trying to manifest something new; we're simply releasing into our lives what has already been accomplished in the spiritual realm through grace.

 Faith is not about earning or striving. Yes, there is an effort in Faith, but the effort is not about earning or attempting to gain something from God as payment for our doing, our performing, or our works. The fight of Faith is to rest in what He has already accomplished.

 Walking by Faith is key to living victoriously in this life. We have a positive expectation of good because of Jesus' Finished Work. His triumphant work of redemption brings us hope. Faith is what gives substance to that which we hope for. Without hope there is nothing for Faith to give substance to. Without Faith, what we hope for is merely wishful thinking because we have nothing to give substance to our expectations. 

 Faith is not moved by time, by circumstance, or how we feel. Faith declares God's Word is true. God's Word isn't true because I feel it or experience it. God's Word is true because God said it. Faith having a good opinion of God, is fully persuaded that His Word is true regardless of experience, and because it is true, we will experience it in our personal lives. 

 Faith is not "blind faith." Faith is not a fantasy or fairy tale. Faith is rooted in what Jesus has done, what He has procured, purchased, and provided for in the Finished Work of redemption. 

 Faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ Jesus. The more we hear about Jesus, the more Faith comes. The more we continue to hear and act like what He said and has done for us is true and actively believe for His provision to manifest, the more our Faith grows and develops.    

 Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. That is whatever is contrary to Grace, to redemption, to the Finished Work, to His Love, His Goodness, Faith is what overcomes that. Faith is the victory! 

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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!

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Goodness: Now and Later!

8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 1 Timothy 4:8-9 NKJV 

 Our God is a Good Father. Christians serve a Good God. Serve doesn't mean earning, or striving for, but in service of the King, we are ambassadors for Christ. God is such a Good God, He always has our best in mind.

 When we think of prosperity, healing, and goodness in this life, many conjure images and examples of excess and abuse in their thinking. When we mention wholeness and goodness for the here and now, many say no, the good life is for the future, in Heaven. Yet the Father made these promises and provided for them in Redemption. He did this to demonstrate His Goodness and lovingkindness to a lost and hurting world.

 Prosperity, healing, and wholeness are God's ideas. It is His way to visibly demonstrate His all the time Goodness. God wants to show His people off and let all the world know He is a good God. 

 Paul spoke of this idea of blessing in this life and the one to come. He wrote under the inspiration of the Spirit the text for this study. He states truly Godliness is profitable for this life and the one to come. He also wrote about this in 1 Corinthians 15;

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 1 Corinthians 15:19 NKJV

 In context Paul was preaching the Gospel of Jesus and addressing those who claim there is no future fulfillment, the resurrection has passed, and those claiming there is no resurrection. Therefore claiming Jesus didn't rise from the dead. Paul was not saying there is no promise for this life but only the next.

 Paul was not contradicting himself. The Spirit doesn't lead to contradictions. The problem with relegating everything to the afterlife and discounting healing and prosperity as excess and abuse is twofold. 

 The first problem is we take away from God's Goodness. We make God out to be a terrible Father. What would someone think if they saw a wealthy father have a child who had holes in his shoes, malnourished, and dirty, old tattered clothes? They would say that is a terrible unkind and neglectful father. 

 Secondly, we diminish what Christ suffered and died for. We take away from the fullness of what He procured and purchased and provided for in His work of Redemption. This limits God and causes people not to awaken to the fullness of their inheritance in Christ. 

Now in a fallen world suffering is a reality. While suffering exists, it doesn’t negate God’s compassionate desire for His children to experience blessings now. Misinterpreting suffering as God’s will can prevent believers from standing in faith for healing, prosperity, and breakthrough It's of vital importance to differentiate between the trials of living in a fallen world and God's will. God is always for us, never against us, and wants His children to walk in His promises.

Matthew 6:19-21 teaches about storing up treasures in heaven, emphasizing eternal rewards. However, this does not mean earthly blessings are excluded. It’s about prioritizing God’s kingdom while also recognizing that God cares for our needs in this life (Philippians 4:19).

And it is he who will supply all your needs from his riches in glory because of what Christ Jesus has done for us. Philippians 4:19 TLB

 In summation, The belief that all blessings are stored up in heaven often stems from a misunderstanding of God's character and the fullness of His promises. God's goodness includes a desire for us to experience healing, provision, and a blessed life here on earth, as well as eternal life with Him. Godliness is profitable for this life as well as the life to come, we have a Good God we can trust and rely on. 

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net