The Gospel of Jesus Christ

by Jannie

                     The gospel – of Jesus Christ

                                   As an introduction to Acts 20:32 (Eph 1:3-12)

 

 

Many people claiming to be Christians do not [yet] believe [follow] the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Many Christians say they are Christians because they are going to heaven and not hell. This then, is what they are primarily hoping for, thinking “saved” means “safe” – for them as a self-centred human being. But this would be like asking a lifesaver on a beach what his purpose is and hear him reply, “So that people can see my muscles as a bodybuilder and my certificate against the wall and admire my swimming skills.” True Christians are not self-centred and will show usefulness to others in God’s Kingdom on earth as led by His Holy Spirit (Rom 8:14). True Christians are neither religiously legalistic, driven by fear, guilt, shame or even religious duty on one extreme, nor total libertines who have no sense or understanding of what is worldly (Jm 4:1-5). True disciples of our beloved Jesus Christ is compelled by His indescribable beauty and unparalleled glory and loves Him unconditionally because he first loved us (1 Jn 4:19).

Ask any self-proclaimed Christian why God the Creator had to come in the flesh (Jn 1:1-4,14; Col 1:15-17… and 1 Jn 4:1-3!) – for this is an immensely powerful concept – and you’ll probably find someone groping for a straight-forward answer.  If they say, “To take sin away”; then you’re likely to stun them (momentarily at least) by asking them, if they look at the world today, if it looks as if sin was removed?  Let’s think this through and read through this meditation on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall we?

Is there an allowance from God for one big melting pot of belief systems with justifiable tolerance for serious differences in hermeneutics? Apparently not, if you consider scriptures such as just Mt 7:21-23; Jn 14:6; Gal 1:6-9; Eph 4:4-7; 1 Jn 2:4; even 2 Tim 2:19-26 and 2 Tim 3:16,17. We should thus be careful with concepts such as “ecumenical efforts”. The statement of Jesus in Mk 9:40 and Lk 9:50, in context, probably simply means that if someone can genuinely work a miracle in God’s name (Mk 16:17-20; Jn 14:10-15;15:5), it might be sufficient proof of attachment to God (Jesus Christ and His teachings/precepts), and such person should not be prevented.

To test our perception(s) on what is true, we have to look at what Jesus Christ and His first disciples taught rather than modern preachers and institutions that produce teachers of their doctrines, wanting to look good by making their followers believe they need them (Gal 1:6-9; 4:16-17, Ampl; discarding 1 Tim 2:5; Jn 14:6? Jn 4:23-24; 1 Jn 2:4) You will, most likely, make the shocking discovery that you were taught [told] wrongly that the NT begins at Mt 1:1 and not fully grasp Heb 9:16-18!  Specifically, what was “Finished” on the cross of Jesus Christ? And then at the end of the world (Heb 9:26, KJV) or in the Amplified Bible, “… for once and all at the consummation and close of the ages appeared to put it away and abolish sin by His sacrifice [of Himself]”.  Remember now that John first received the revelation of Jesus Christ on Patmos (Rev 16:17), and then John penned Jn 19:30. We read that John was the only disciple there (Jn 19:26-27). On page 1 of the meditation “The four Gospels”, an explanation is given why it could have been the “right/appointed time” (Heb 9:26). The point we’re getting to is the self-declared weakness, the ineffectiveness and incapacity and hence the inability of so many professing Christians that give the devil more credit than Jesus Christ! One often hears statements such as the devil that steals their time, bring all kinds of misery, and so on. If you say that they make him sound omnipresent (which he is not), they quickly retort with, “Yes, but he has many demons doing his work”. So, let’s consider this, shall we?

In an effort to better understand this and have it make sense is the aim of this Bible study in all the meditations combined in www.gospel-truth.co.za. The terrible error in thinking that the devil also has a coming in the flesh, for example, is addressed in the meditation “Rapture raptured”. If you’ve bought into the idea of a rapture, be valiant and read it?

 

Are “Christians” abdicating their authority? What are the limitations of this authority?

Refer to the meditations on this website entitled “Healing” and “Prayer” that examines the fact that we cannot do what God does, despite some popular interpretations of Mk 11:23 and Jn 14:13. We cannot speak things into existence, and we cannot control the elements on earth at our will. Please read “Healing” and “Prayer” for a brief exegesis of this idea.

We easily recite Phil 4:13 but the truth is that the painful reality often paints a different picture (Heb 2:8). Note the past tense in Jesus’ statement is Jn 19:30 (Rev 16:17) and the Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Cor 1:18-30; 1 Cor 2:2; Eph 1:3; Col 1:11-20 (note also, Col 1:23); and Col 2:13-15; for that matter, Peter in 1 Pet 2:24 as well.  This requires our focused attention. And yes, Paul obviously grasped the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 26, notably Acts 26:14,15,18; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 15:12-22); but hear Paul in 1 Cor 15:45; Rom 12:5 and Rom 8:1-2. We have to admit we can more often than not, not reconcile our haplessness with the authority God has provided to us (Mt 10:8; Jn 14:12; 17:15,20), and this is a catastrophic failure on our side. On this point, consider the context of Hos 4:6, namely that God’s contention is with the [false] priest (Hos 4:4,9) … Be therefore careful in your choice of teacher…

So now we’re getting to Eph 6:12. By the way, Bible schools teach a five-fold ministry of Eph 4:11 for us today. This author humbly offers a different take on the popularity of self-proclaimed prophets and apostles.  This is expanded on in the meditation “Church part 1”. In essence, Scripture reveal those two offices to be past tense!  Heb 1:1-3 and Acts 1:21-22 alone should hint that prophets mainly had to warn/announce the coming of God in the flesh [in Jesus Christ, Jn 1:14]; while the Apostles had to be the eyewitnesses that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Messiah, performing those miracles and that He was resurrected from the dead. That was the foundation (1 Cor 3:11). Once a foundation is laid, the walls are built (1 Pet 2:1,5; 1 Cor 6:19). Both these foundational tasks (prophets and apostles) have been fulfilled and cannot possibly be available where they have an office with these titles as apostles and prophets, today. Observe that John the Baptist was still in the OT! (Heb 9:16-18). Observe, as well, the past tense in Jn 16:8 (Jn 14:23-26; 16:1; Rom 10:1-3); that makes Jn 16:11, read with Col 2:15, crucial for our understanding thereof.

Eph 6:12 uses a word “principalities” in the KJV (G746 ἀρχή, ar-khay’ implying various applications of order, time, place or rank). It is derived from G756, ἄρχομαι (archomai) that points to the implication of precedence; to commence (in order of time). A principal is a chief, the most important, consequential, or influential. A principle is a rule or belief governing one’s behaviour. Playing around with semantics, we can come to a conclusion that these principalities is a combination of these ideas that in practice imply the chief thoughts in our [own] minds that can rule us at a particular time, such as Paul probably had in mind in 2 Cor 10:5; even Rom 8:6-8! Reading Eph 6:10-18, we find that Eph 6:14 gives us the proposal to just stand (hold our ground) for Jesus has already disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and make a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross of Jesus Christ] – Col 2:15 (Ampl). So does Col 2:14 re-iterate that. In other words, we should be more attend to not be giving the devil so much credit, for stealing this and that, and doing this and that… we must take responsibility and wake up (Jm 4:7).

Some will probably defend their understanding [belief] by saying that it doesn’t matter that much because you [think you] have a “simple faith” and just believe the most important thing, namely that Jesus is Lord.  Well, it seems that the Bible – and most importantly Jesus Christ – disagrees because of exactly this point:  The faith of many is too simple!  The devil also has a simple faith; the devil also believes Jesus is Lord and was resurrected!  Likewise, you might believe in Jesus Christ [or preach Jesus Christ] but might unknowingly quote Him as if we – and Jesus Christ – are still prior to His cross in an OT!  In other words, you talk after all the millions of “Christians” who are waiting for crucial things to happen but ignore Christ crucified and resurrected (1 Cor 1:18-2:2) and what He already provided for on His cross.  For example, 1 Pet 2:24 and so you pray “…  if it be Your will, will you please heal…” and really ignore Jesus (Mt 10:8; Mk 16:16-20; Jn 14:10-15; 17:15-20)!  What an utter catastrophe and de-empowerment of the “church” of Christ!  This revelation will reveal the shocking nonsense of doctrines such as “infant Baptism”, “The City in space somewhere”, “The kingdom of God” still to materialize only when Jesus returns, and so buy into unscriptural “rapture” ideas and so on.  If not reborn with Holy Spirit inside, revelation knowledge will be a foreign idea.

And let’s please get the lame opinions and clichés about religion out of the way. First, faith is indeed not equal to [external] religion. This is qualified further on in this meditation. Second, religion [a mere show] does not impress God the Father (Mt 15:6-9; Rom 10:1-4; 1 Sam 15:22-23) Jm 1:27 states that the only form of external religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts], that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father, is namely to visit and help and care for orphans and widows in their affliction and need and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world – not rituals, ceremonies or traditions (Mk 7:13; 12:24; Mt 15:6-9; even Heb 4:2). This is probably to more accurately represent God as a perfect Father and Jesus Christ as our Bridegroom – Ps 68:5; Mt 6:9 (Refer to 5.41 in “Apparent controversies in The Bible”). This by a changed life that is a useful result of a changed mind reborn in Christ (1 Col 1:13,14). Third, we must note 1 Cor 1:18-23; 2:2 in that we cannot  disparage the fully accomplished work of Jesus Christ on His cross and that Jesus Christ never [not for an instant] ceased to be God and His redemptive work on His cross was once for all and with His physical body – His Spirit never died for God (Jn 4:23,24) cannot die (Rom 5:9; Eph 1:7; Col 1:19-20; 1 Thess 5:9; Heb 10:14; 1 Pet 3:18). There is a magnificent discovery awaiting the sceptic about the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ (Jn 14:6; 1 Tim 2:4-5; 2 Pet 3:9; Acts 4:12; Heb 10:14; and so on); but there are of course much more to discover so let’s continue to ponder this Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Christianity is not about you going to heaven to live on your lonesome in a mansion built by God for you in space. It is not about what you get but rather what you can give to others consistently when empowered by Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ – on earth.  It is about you being spiritually re-positioned in Jesus Christ by His Blood on His cross, to His righteousness before God.  Someone who can, like Paul, say “…Thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us as trophies of Christ’s victory and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere.  For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ unto God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing…  we are not, like so many, like hucksters making a trade of [peddling God’s Word; short-changing and adulterating the divine message]…”  (2 Cor 2:14-17)!

Consider Jn 3:3 (1 Jn 5:1); 2 Cor 5:15-21; 10:2-11; Eph 4:23-31; Col 1:13-23; 3:1-17.  Have you contemplated these scriptures?  If not, why not?  This is not being rude, arrogant or mean; it is a sincere warning to not fall in a religious trap.

Even the modern KJV gives us the following statement in the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Galatians:

I marvel that you so soon are being moved away from Him who called you into the grace of Christ, to another gospel, which is not another, but some are troubling you, and desiring to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from Heaven preach a gospel to you beside what we preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches a gospel to you beside what you have received, let him be accursed.” – Gal 1:6-9.

The same passage in the Amplified Bible read as follows (contemplate it extremely carefully):

“I am surprised and astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade and deserting Him Whom invited and called you by the grace (unmerited favor) of Christ (the Messiah) [and that you are transferring your allegiance] to a different [even opposition] gospel.  Not that there is [or could be] any other [genuine gospel], but there are [obviously] some who are troubling and disturbing and bewildering you [with a different kind of teaching which they offer as the gospel] and want to pervert and distort the Gospel of Christ (the Messiah) into something which it is absolutely not.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to and different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)!  As we said before, so I now say again:  if anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from or contrary to that which you received [from us], let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)!” 

It seems vitally important to know what exactly this Gospel is that Paul preached, not to be cursed!  Bear in mind that this Paul was in the same dispensation as we are today – post Jesus’ resurrection.  While Jesus was serving His ministry for 3 ½ years, this same Paul was still Saul, a Pharisee; and only later after Jesus’ ascension, on the road to Damascus, was Saul re-born when Jesus appeared to him personally.  This is the Paul that gave us about ¾ the New Testament in doctrine.  If you, therefore, are under the impression you need to follow the ten commandments to be saved, or to remain saved, you are not following the gospel that Paul was preaching (Rom 3:20,23,28; Gal 5:4,18)!  Shocked?  Be, but don’t be afraid to read on if you want to discover the genuine Gospel of Jesus Christ, and then with what we contemplate on this website as merely the starting point…

A friendly warning for some reading this – before claiming outright to fully grasp what Acts 4:12 is saying, consider, for example, also Jn 1:17; 9:28 and Rom 7:4,6,9-10 with Gal 5:4,18?  Let’s examine this calmly and prayerfully and more closely.  Please read on and let us all hopefully get hold of Col 1:12-28 (1 Thess 5:23?).

Serving God.

Repentance is more than sorrow for sin. It is a whole-hearted change of mind that will manifest in everyday life. No high office is required as if a hierarchy in Christianity is the case, this is not so – Dt 10:17; 2 Chron 19:7; Acts 10:34,35; 15:9; Rom 2:11; 3:22; 1 Cor 12:13; Gal 2:6; Col 3:25; the most ordinary and humble duty has its temptations. That is to say, everyone has its opportunities to serve God by example, by resisting the devil (Jm 4:7-8).

God’s Grace.

First, earnestly ponder even just Phil 3:9; Rom 3:20-23,28; 7:4,6,10 and Gal 5:4,18.  This is expanded on in the meditation “The Covenant and the Law”. Then, should the reader erroneously deduct from this that God’s grace implies [continued] ungodliness, urgently take note of Rom 2:6-7 (2 Pet 3:9); Rom 8:14; Gal 6:7-8 (Expanded on in the meditation “The Testimony”); and then of course Heb 10:26-29 and Jude 1:4-5.

If you are wondering whether you can frustrate [misuse, exasperate] the grace of God, and Jn 9:31 gets our attention, the following scriptures require our careful consideration as well: Mt 12:43-45; Lk 11:24-26; Jn 5:14; 2 Tim 3:13; 2 Pet 2:20; Heb 10:26-29… The meditation “ABC myths, legends, lies” examines this in a paragraph with the heading “God hates sin but loves the sinner” (that is a huge error in reasoning. God loves a repentive sinner, not a perpetual [rebellious] sinner).

As far as the grace and mercy of God is concerned, the issue is rather God’s righteousness. God the Creator is the source of righteousness and as such perfectly holy. God cannot be unjust and therefore can we expect His wrath (perfect judgment) as rebellious and unholy humans. It is ridiculous to think God needs authority from man to act. As we get to know God more accurately, we begin to see God’s extraordinary patience with us (2 Pet 3:9) but be sure that we cannot escape God’s judgement if we remain rebellious and reprobate (Rom 2:4-8; 12:9). If God would have no wrath and judgement of sin, He would be an idol so we can be sure that there is a limit to God’s grace for the unrepentive offender. Examples of people crossing that line [limit] of God’s judgements are the flood (Gen 6:6-8,11-13,21-24); seven nations wiped out (Dt 7:1-2); Uzzah (1 Chron 13:9,10), Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:1-29), Nadab and Abihu (Num 3:4); Ananias and his wife Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10). What we, amazingly, quickly forget is that even our existence, life, is a privilege not a right; also, that we in our sinful nature in reality hates the wrath of God which implies hating the holiness of God (Rom 8:6-8) which means we really by nature hate God! And this is our problem with being afraid to get closer to God that ironically is Love (1 Jn 4:8). We could impossibly on merit become liable to live before we existed, so life is a magnificent gift of God and makes us ultimately stand under God’s authority. (Contemplate Jer 17:9-10Mt 15:6-9Rom 3:23).  So, choosing rebellion, disobedience to His expectancies, carnality and immorality is to be expected to induce God’s judgement on it because He is just and cannot be unjust. God does not always act with justice. Sometimes He acts with mercy (non-justice). Non-justice is not injustice but mercy. Mercy manifests kindness and grace. But end it will for there is a final judgement awaiting all of us (Rom 14:10Rev 21:6-8)

Religion vs a relationship.  This virtually all people quote, especially Christians.  Objective observation, however, reveal the misconception and false comprehension thereof by most people. Religions and even “spirituality” (expanded on in the meditation “Worldly philosophies vs the Word of God), abound for religion needs no god! Religion consists of monologues for prayer [with no genuine result]; and a set of rituals, ceremony and traditions all basically to win favour with the god they thought out and defined.  This god, often, is in fact, the self.  Religion has been utilized for ages already for extortion and to capitalize on the ignorant (Refer to the meditations “Church”). Even the scholars that examined ruins and remains of ancient temples found evidence of trickery in, for example, the Parthenon where people were given a “supernatural” show of impossible items “floating” through the air and a vase that automatically (“supernaturally”) poured “holy water” when a coin [offering] was dropped into it [in fact mere clever mechanics similar to slot machines today].  Religion is a twisted [wicked] mindset, a mentality, a philosophy, a set of principles that manifests in many aspects and spheres of people’s everyday lives. Religion has at its core a self-centered “taker” that do things to gain [in whatever way, shape or form], while play-acting the very pious “good deeds” of a “good person” [but not to the God of The Bible’s standard – Jer 17:9-10; Mt 5:27-28; Rom 3:23].  This all apposes a true Godly relationship (Phil 3:9) that has at its core a giver, someone who unselfishly and generously gives with absolutely no expectation of profiting by this deed in any way at all.  Note here, that Love does not seek its own interest (1 Cor 13:5). Also, that God wants us to have an unfeigned love that hates what He hates (do read Rom 12:9 with at least Jer 23:10-23; Jn 14:6,23-26; 1Jn 2:4; Prov 8:13; 11:20-21; 12:17; 16:5… and, if you want to be shocked to the core, read Prov 12:28 with Is 5:18-20 and the meditation “The Testimony” on www.gospel-truth.co.za).  A real Christian’s relationship with God will be based on the righteousness provided by only Jesus Christ (Jn 1:12-13,17; 3:3,17-21; Eph 1:3-12; even Heb 9:8-15 and 1 Jn 3:20-24), and with other people by the authority only in Jesus Christ (Jn 15:1-5).  Powerful and supernatural results will show in our lives due to our thought-processes and deep-rooted and accurate knowledge that is a real acquaintance with Jesus Christ.  Hear Paul in Rom 9:7-11, 25-27; 10:1-4 and you should better understand Jesus in Mt 6:33-34; 7:5, 15-23; 15:6-9; 19:30; 20:16, 25-28. All the very busy modern Christians (that superficially scan over Scriptures given as above?); of course, realize that we have to make time for God! Not the religious “quiet time” or “church service” or “cell group” gathering where we think we are visiting Him when it suits us, but the open and continuous dialogue through every waking moment of our lives, when He resides inside of us (1 Cor 6:15-20; Jn 14:17,23-26; Rev 21:3), whatever we are busy with [concurrently]…  this only is when statements such as 1 Cor 10:31 (Mt 6:33) really makes sense.  Selah?

Perceptibly Mt 25:2-3,8 shows that the religious will also ceremoniously wait for the Bridegroom but really lazy and foolish [unprepared] and so will not have sufficient anointment (oil, fuel, will not be known by Christ as in Mt 7:21-23) when suddenly adversity strikes, or ultimately, with Jesus’ advent when many will realize with a shock they have neglected Jesus’ observation (warning) in Jn 6:26, for the religious do to gain for themselves (just aim for heaven?), while those who really loves and follow Jesus (God as a Spirit in them) go for the results through the instruction [faith, trust] in Jesus’ words, amongst other, in Mt 10:8 and Mk 16:17-20 (Jn 17:20); hence the religious [still hesitant to trust and follow, i.e. believe, Jn 16:9] with their lame request for signs (Mt 12:38,39; 16:1-4; Mk 8:12; Lk 11:29,30 read with Jn 6:32,33,35,47-50, and then at Jn 6:51 remembering Jn 1:14,17!… In other words, the religious will always be found hesitant to drop their self-righteous attempts to follow Law and find it very hard to just trust God (Jn 4:23,24; 14:26; 16:23-28; Rom 8:14)! They fail to grasp the New Testament and clings desperately to the old (Heb 8:13) and so is doomed (Heb 9:8; Jn 3:17-21). The religious put their hope for their salvation in what they do in ceremony, rituals, tradition and not in what God had done in Jesus Christ. They find it very difficult to kill the self and trust Holy Spirit for guidance (Jn 1:14,17; 4:23,24 that is what Jesus referred to in Jn 6:51! This is evident in the typical reply when Scriptures like Gal 5:4,18 is pointed out.  They typically exclaim, “What? Are you telling me I can murder or steal?” but failed to say why they would think that God will prompt them to murder or steal?… Think about it carefully.

False hope. Amazingly, some people have bought into the idea that they [all humans] were [born] “inherently good”, apparently with the idea that this gives mankind hope. The obvious error here is that this would make Jesus and His redemptive work on His cross unnecessary and a blunder on God’s side! It screams against just Rom 7:18 (Rom 3:23; 8:6-8); Jer 17:9-11; Ps 39:7-8; 42:5; 51:5; Prov 20:9; but more importantly, against Jesus as God’s Word in John 3:3,6; 14:6; then also, Acts 4:12; 15:9-11; 1 Jn 1:8; 1 Jn 3:1; 1 Cor 15:34,45-50; Rom 5:12-13; 6:6,17; even Rom 10:16-21 (Jer 10:14-15); and so on. Note for instance, therefore, Rom 12:1-3 and Jm 4:4 or Mt 7:15-23; 15:6-9.  Our hope is not found in ourselves like the world propagates in self-righteousness, but only in Jesus Christ (Gal 6:14; Phil 3:9). “But”, they say, “What then about Jesus, born a man?  If man [us] was not inherently good, then neither would Jesus have been inherently good”.  Their typical error therein is reasoning oblivious to their own ignorant, self-righteous mind.  First, none of us is Jesus.  We were conceived.  Jesus is God and was sent (The meditation “Who is Jesus Christ” on www.gospel-truth.co.za. expand on this).  Second, the fact that God designed us well (Ps 139, even verse 14), does not automatically make us righteous [good] even at birth (Rom 3:23) – even if we were to try to follow the ten commandments (Rom 3:20,28; Gal 2:16; 5:1,4-5,18; 6:14)!  Contemplate just Rom 3:22; Phil 3:9; Rom 8:2-3. Carefully ponder Rom 10:1-2 again.  Paul said he longed and prayed that Israel may be saved!  That they had a certain zeal and enthusiasm for God, but not enlightened and not according to correct and vital knowledge!  Any parent can testify that an “innocent” babe, left unchecked, will manifest into a delinquent minor quite soon, thus the need for good parenthood and a Godly father figure.  Those arguing against this should seriously and prayerfully rethink Jn 3:3; 2 Cor 5:17-21; Col 1:10-23… and perhaps rethink the whole gospel [good news] of Jesus Christ!  Jer 23:36 teaches that every man’s burden is his own response and word, perhaps even that of Prov 18:21 and Is 5:18; so, please read on.

Note on faith. Rom 12:3 states that we have all been given “the” degree of faith, not “a” degree [individually varying fractional amount] of faith. The implication is that God gave all humans the same mechanism with the same capacity along with our free will as a type of gift (refer to the meditation “The will of man, the will of God”); how, and in what measure we return this, is then our “gift” [thanks] to God and forms the degree in which we believe and follow God’s salvation plan: Jesus Christ, and His precepts and then calls it faith ( 1 Jn 2:4).  Ponder then, Heb 4:2 (Mt 15:6-9); Heb 11:6,9; Rom 12:9; Jn 16:9; even 1 Sam 16:7; Jer 17:9; 29:13 (Dt 6:5-7); Prov 23:7 (The KJV and Ampl reads “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he”); Mt 5:8; 6:21; 12:35; 1 Cor 13:11; 2 Cor 10:5; and then Jn 1:17; 5:45; 9:28 with Jn 5:39 and Gal 6:7-8 (the meditation “The Testimony” examines a shocking possibility). Note, as well, that the interpretation that “the degree of faith apportioned by God” (Rom 12:3) could mean varying individual abilities to believe as if so differently equipped [in effect as an impairment] for each person individually by God, would seem unfair; for the shortcoming is not with what God equipped us with, but what and how we apply this, i.e. in what measure (as in endurance) we reciprocate God’s gifts, in particular, our free will (choices). It is possible that such erroneous interpretation might have been caused by a false enforcement of the “… of your unbelief” (Mt 17:20, KJV) or “your littleness of faith” (Mt 17:20, Ampl.) The context of the text seems to rather favour the idea that “littleness” here points to a short duration, i.e., a lack or shortcoming of continuous firm relying trust (refer to the idea of “overcome” through endurance in Rev 3:5,12,21) and not too little in ability (that would be used as our excuse). Refer here to Peter’s diminishing trust in Mt 14:29-30; and how he began to sink… surely implying that Peter started off walking on the water but then his trust regressively faded. A sobering observation is also that Jesus calls our astonishment at His miracles “callousness” and “a hardened heart” (Mk 6:51-52).  Hence perhaps the warning in Rom 12:3 to not have an exaggerated opinion of ourselves and that [mere] knowledge causes [learned] people to be puffed up (1 Cor 8:1).

When a human chooses to reject God’s Holy Spirit, the situation is dire. Consider Heb 10:26-31; Rom 1:24; Mt 12:31-32; Mk 3:28-29; Lk 12:10; Eph 4:17-20,30; Eph 5:5-14.  Still, this is from our side, God seems to offer us 2 Pet 3:9 and 2 Tim 4:1-5… so, let’s read on, shall we?

Just [merely] saved and you are fine?

Not according to Jesus in Mt 7:15-23; 10:32,33,38; 25:12, 30; or the explicit Jn 15:1-6; neither according to John the Baptist (Mt 3:1-3,6-10); or Jesus [to John on Patmos] in Rev 3:15-16!  And yes, we can certainly extend this to Jm 1:27; Mt 15:6-9; and even pious “Law-followers” [mere church-goers in self-righteousness, ignoring Rom 3:20,24,28; 7:6; Gal 5:4,18; Phil 3:9] as Jesus stated in Lk 9:62 (Jn 1:17; 9:28); and this includes many preachers (Mt 23:15; 1 Jn 2:4; Jm 3:1; Hos 4:4; Acts 10:34; Rom 8:18; Mt 18:6; Gal 1:6-9)…. Note Jesus’ words to the Jews who believed He was the Messiah (Jn 8:31), in Jn 8:41-45! Though they heard His Voice and could accept He was the prophesied Messiah, were their ears shut to His teaching (Jn 8:43).  The intention of Jesus (God, Jn 8:47; 10:30; 14:23-24; 15:23) is perfecting and equipping His consecrated people to be useful in His Kingdom (Eph 4:12-16; Heb 6:1-8); but as with those Jews in Jn 8, do the majority of “Christians” seem to be fast asleep in a false sense of security because they have once recited “The Sinner’s Prayer” (Rom 10:9-10).  To be truly reborn (Jn 3:3) implies a real change must have taken place (2 Cor 5:17; Rom 12:2; Col 3:1-7).

But, as mentioned in the meditation “The Testimony” (p.13) as well, is the stern warning here to us all to guard against Spiritual decay and indolence (Mt 25:2,8-12,26,30 with Mt 11:25; 13:12; 25:29; even Jm 2:19 with Rom 10:9-10 and note Mt 25:26,30 and Lk 17:10). Note that it is not reckless and brutal greed, or outright evil, but simple apathy, neglect or sloth [of followers] that is the fault noted for condemnation in these parables about laziness!! We should clearly use our talents, our gifts of learning, our wit, riches, spiritual gifts, or whatever, to honour and glorify God and then to the advantage of others; otherwise, we are really useless, good for nothing and eventually by our own desertion, condemned!! We know Rom 1:16-17 and Mk 8:38; but is this indolence and invisibility part of the “cowardice” in Rev 21:8 that appears first on the list of the condemned?  Contemplate therefore, carefully again, Mt 25 and see why we are summoned to be vigilant and ready (Mt 25:13 and hence 1 Cor 10:31).

Note also that the “linger” in Mt 25:5 may ultimately refer to the time between Christ’s ascension and final advent, but equally so to any period we (including preachers or teachers, Acts 10:34; Rom 3:23; Heb 6:1-8) grow complacent and fall into a slumber of tolerating falsity and laziness. We may also note that the “delay” in this case is followed by a less glaring form of evil than that in Mt 24:48, as mentioned above; so that the benign-looking laziness (inactivity as in Jm 1:27; even Eph 4:11-16) is in fact uselessness from God’s perspective that is condemnable.

Note at Lk 10:29. The typical obstacle that comes to mind here is whether an evil person is my neighbor as well? The surprise awaiting us is in fact an enlightenment from Scriptures such as Col 1:5,6,8,10-14; 3:1-17. Note that fleshly reasoning reveals its ugly head here when we, offended, sometimes want to cry out for God to avenge (Ps 94:1,2), forgetting Dt 32:35; Heb 10:30 and Rom 12:2,3,19, even 1 Thess 5:9,10 and Mt 6:12,14,15; which means we don’t exhibit real trust in God [Love] and by implication His Word (Jn 1:14,17; 10:30; 14:23,24; 15:17-23)! Fleshly reasoning (Rom 8:6-10,31-39) has a problem with Lk 10:29 (Rom 5:3-10; 12:2,3,19; Prov 16:7; 25:21,22; Dt 32:35; Heb 10:30; Mt 22:44; so let’s think about this again, shall we? Realistically speaking not every single human on earth is your neighbor – while you have enemies (and there will be enemies: Mt 10:22,33-38; Jn 15:19-21; Jm 4:4; Rom 9:13-15; 12:9. Note at Rom 12:9-11 that “brethren” here and mostly everywhere in the Bible refer for us today only to those re-born in Christ); so while not all in the world are our friends by any means, does the statement require some clarifying similar to the specious statement that all humans are children of God, that is incorrect (Rom 8:14; Mt 23:15; Jn 1:12;14:6; 1 Tim 2:5; 1 Jn 2:4). We all are part of His creation [design], yes, but that does not automatically make all humans God’s children [followers, 1 Jn 2:4], (even Rom 9:6-8,25-26, expanded on in the meditation “Israel racism”). If “neighbor” equaled “everyone” or “anyone” we might argue that the wording in Lk 10:27 (Lev 19:18; Dt 6:5) would probably have stipulated this fact as “… and everyone like yourself…” unless of course the sobering prospect could be that it implies “anyone specifically within your reach”, that would place an obligation [expectation] on anyone in the position and with an opportunity and the means to be useful and then as God’s followers, from God’s perspective, even extended to “support” [assistance, other help] (Heb 13:5; Josh 1:5).  This means turning a “blind eye” or circumnavigating such opportunity to be useful and humane like the priest and Levi did in Lk 10:31,32 is simply selfish apathy and shunning responsibility – while revealing the maliciousness of this by looking for an excuse in language.  Observe from Jesus’ parable in Lk 10 that the point, the lesson, with this parable seems to be that malignant prejudices that confine charity to only those that satisfies your own prejudice can only contain reasons to palliate inhumanity and is not His agape love, nor His commission to us (Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-20; Jn 3:16; 17:20). Not only proselytes are neighbors and not only relatives are brethren in His Kingdom (Lk 17:20-21 but note the Pharisees Jesus was addressing in Lk 17:21 did not have Christ in them but Jesus, the righteousness of God, was in their midst, available (Mk 10:15); Jn 4:23-24; Rom 9:6-8,25-26). So then, what is the real question? Are we also asking, like this lawyer did, as a hypocrite in an attempt to exempt the self (Lk 10:29 KJV and Ampl) by subterfuges from obligations of the law, even more so in the NT (Mt 5:8; 2 Cor 3:3; Jer 31:331-34; Heb 10:16,17, even Heb 10:23-39) still held like the Pharisees that only one of their own nation or religion can be regarded as a neighbor with no obligation extended to gentiles or heathens, thereby lowering the law to a man’s standard while ignoring [at best missing] what “it” requires? (The meditations “The Covenant and The Law” and “Mixing Old and New” expand on this). Jesus pointed out in a most brilliant way by means of this parable that this love (Mt 22:39; 5:43-48; Rom 12:14-19; 1 Pet 2:23) is not mere worldly affection and merit-based but from the highest moral consideration completely without self-interest (1 Cor 13:5; Mt 25:34-39) and so not corrupt self-love [seeking praise or advantage] but genuine concern for the well-being of another, even denying the self for the good of others that materializes dignity and usefulness. (Note what Jesus continued to say about those “on His left hand”, on the other hand, in Mt 25: 41-46). Scriptures such as Mt 5:38,39,43-48 therefore enforces Mt 7:12. This is expanded on in the meditation “The Covenant and The Law”.

So, we must please stop the senseless and syrupy “I don’t need knowledge [learning such as this], I just love Jesus”; and repent of acting that is probably plain apathy, and hear Jesus in Jn 14:15; Hos 4:6; Jn 16:9; 11:26; 1 Jn 2:4; Titus 2:14; 2 Tim 1:10-12; 3:16-17… Note also, that all sinners (Jn 16:9) look at God as a hard master, unreasonable and tyrannical (Mt 25:24), while Jesus gave with this teaching Mt 11:28-30 (Jn 1:17)…

There is prone to be a fuller meaning in being saved in a “wholeness” of Rom 10:9-10; Jm 5:15; and 1 Thess 5:23. How do we know what is installed for us in an eternity (Mt 25:23; Heb 11:6)?…

Note at Ps 51:5. David makes no excuse here but admits an aggravation of transgressions. The mystery and origin of David’s mother represent David as born in adultery but further reveals a statement of truth of experience so constantly affirmed in Scripture of all of mankind’s hereditary corruption (Rom 5:12) and innate proneness to sin. In Ps 51:6-12 the prayer advances. It started with the first step in justification – confessing and then the wiping out of past transgressions that only Jesus’ Blood on His cross could pay for. It is now for restoration, for a renewal of spiritual life, for a return to God’s favour, and to the spiritual joy involved in it. First, however, an additional confession is made (Ps 51:5-6) that he not only has committed acts of sin (Ps 51:1-4), but that sin is thoroughly ingrained into his nature and that only the strongest remedies can cleanse me from it (v. 7). But cleansing alone is not enough. We need renewal (v.10); we need Holy Spirit (v.11); we must crave, above all, the sense of a restoration to God’s favour – and this is found only in The Gospel of Jesus Christ (Jn 3:16-21). The OT might contain no theory [no formulated doctrine on the subject of the origin of sin per se] but the fact of congenital depravity is stated also in Job 14:4; Ps 58:3; and implied in Is 43:27 and Hosea 6:7.

Note on Heb 10:13. Consider (i) why Jesus has not returned yet and (ii) more crucially, who these “enemies” (plural) of Jesus Christ are?  These enemies are not Satan (Col 2:15; Jn 16:11), neither atheists!  Specifically in this context, you’ll discover these enemies of Jesus Christ [God Himself, and the only salvation plan of God] to probably be all the splinter groups [“denominations”] in the “churches” today; and more specifically, will you discover to your horror, are these enemies probably the preachers (priests) spreading false dogma – even today!!!  How could the very first church already has deserted Jesus Christ (“left their first love”, Rev 2:4)?  First, ponder the obvious from Ps 110:1 with scriptures such as Mt 26:64; Col 3:1 and Heb 12:2.  Then, 1 Cor 15:26 with the meditation “The Testimony” for a complete wholeness in Jesus Christ that the Church is apparently missing completely! For now, however, concerning God’s enemies mentioned here, consider Eph 1:17-22 with Eph 4:4-5.  Then, very carefully contemplate Jer 23:29-40; Hos 4:4-11; Jn 10:10 with Jn 8:43-45; Mt 3:7-11; 23:8-39; Gal 1:6-9; 5:18-20; 1 Jn 2:4 with Jn 3:3; 14:6; Heb 1:3; 2:8; Col 1:22.  1 Cor 1:30-31 and 2 Cor 5:17 has more to offer than what we think!  The meditation “The Testimony” expands on this.

A Christian is someone who is reborn, not someone who self-proclaims to be a “Christian” because they belong to a certain “denomination” or attend – or even lead – ceremonies on certain days (Jn 3:3; Mt 7:21-24).  A re-born Christian will live out a constant thought-life filled with Love (1 Jn 4:8), and then as in 1 Cor 13! Such a person will not be offended and be emotionally scarred – and will not be needy.  Love gives freely without being boastful, is patient, kind, never envious nor vainglorious, is not conceited and never insist on their own rights or their own way, it is not self-seeking, not touchy or fretful or resentful, and takes no account of evil done and pays no attention to a suffered wrong (1 Cor 13:5)!  If anyone says he loves God and hates someone, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  And if you’re wondering who to hate, try Jesus’ words in Mt 5:43-48, or Rom 13:14-20.

We have to first get the revelation that Law deals with self-righteousness, and Jesus Christ [Love, Life] with God’s mercy and His grace (Jn 1:17) – His blood on His cross at Golgotha with ALL our sin – we can only have righteousness with God through our following Jesus Christ, having accepted His payment for us – Jn 1:17; Acts 4:12; Phil 3:9.  The meditation “The Covenant and the Law” and “Mixing Old and New” expand on this great revealing truth.  Read it, if you will.  Only faith in the accomplished work of Jesus Christ can make us know God more accurately and so receive the blessings what He intended for us, it is by His mercy and grace alone – nothing, however holy we might think a deed is – can make us righteous before God, other than His payment and provision for us in His Son Jesus Christ.  Rom 3:20,23, but with Rom 3:24-27; Phil 3:9.

When reading further, remember Mk 4:23-25 and Gal 1:6-12 [Ampl] – we have to look out for spiritual blindness[1].  Consider reading the meditation entitled “Mixing of old and new” by the author, as well.

How far we have drifted from the teaching/precepts of Jesus Christ, can perhaps be better illustrated by using a table to show on the left what we were told by our “denominational” doctrines, and on the right what Jesus Christ [in Person] has said about the same subject (in red in the KJV).  Reading, contemplating, and studying such a comparison will probably shock you out of your [current] belief! Due to spacing limitations, we’ll do it in paragraphs, so here goes…

 

Typical “Christian” or “church” ideas

 

  • You must do good works to earn God’s favor (go to church, follow the ten commandments)
  • Heaven, as a place in distant space, is your final destination (aim)
  • When it is God’s time for you, you must die (God wants you to lose your body at some point)
  • Baptism is a promise someone made on your behalf [as a baby] to include you in a covenant
  • God’s sovereignty means He controls everything, including calamity (as “acts of God”). For an exegesis of this doctrine, consider the meditation entitled “The will” by the same author.
  • That, when “doors close”, you immediately retreat and accept it as something God wills for you. You accept [embrace] adversity/calamity as “the will of God”, “working for better…”, developing you.

What Scripture says

 

  • Digest even just Rom 3:20,24,28. The obvious meaning in Mt 6:1-4 aside (Phil 3:9), does this also hints that God [Love] will not embarrass the receiver by exposing his [temporal] material shortcomings; therefore, would we neither, if we follow Him (Jn 4:23,24; Rom 8:14; Mt 7:12; 1 Jn 2:4) … Read the meditation “God is Love” on www.gospel-truth.co.za.
  • Jesus has once for all, made peace between God and man (Lk 2:14; Heb 10:9-14; Rom 3:22-28)
  • Jesus’ blood on His cross was an exchange, a successfully finished work (Jn 4:34;19:30; Rev 16:17; Is 53; Rom 8:29-39; Heb 10:14)
  • Heaven is not your destination (1 Thess 4:13-18; 5:23-24; Heb 12:1; Acts 1:11). If God wants you to lose your body, why give it back when Jesus returns; and why wants it whole and healed (Mt 10:8); does God offer mere afterlife or everlasting Life (Jn 11:25-26; Ez 18:31,32; Dt 30:11-19; Hos 4:6-11)?…  Note how the NT is supposed to offer a lasting glory with Christ inside of us permanently.
  • Baptism is not a covenant, but a decision by you as a believer (Mk 16:16; Gal 5:4; Heb 8:7,13)
  • God’s grace and mercy is unconditional, you can not earn it (Rom 11:6; also Rom 8; Gal 3)
  • You are supposed to demonstrate Phil 4:13. See how many times you should overcome (Rev 2-3).  Everlasting life is in knowing God [more accurately], not merely being content with “being saved”.  Avoiding hell is not the goal of a true Christian!!  Paul wrote ¾ of the NT, yet – as an extremely accomplished man – pressed on to know God more accurately!  (Phil 3:8; Eph 3:19; 2 Pet 1:3,4…)
  • There is no mention in God’s Word that you must die, or about an “after-life” with Christ inside of you [permanently] (Jn 3:16; 10:10; 11:26)! Read “The Testimony” by the author with your Bible. It is entirely possible that we completely and miserably misunderstand [in ignorance] our authority we are supposed to exercise in [Jesus] Christ – Gal 4:1, with “the date fixed” by Father (v.2) pointing very possibly to Jn 19:30; Rev 16:17 and Heb 9:16,17,26-28 (A shock awaits those who lightly accepts the customary hermeneutic of Heb 9:27 to mean all of mankind must die. The meditation “The Testimony” explains this on p.10 with a note at Heb 9:27.  Read it?); and then the “fixed date” very possibly rather leads to Heb 2:8; Eph 4:12-20; Heb 10:13,14 with 1 Cor 15:26; Jn 11:26!!!…
  • A Christian is destined to be conformed to the image of Christ right here on earth (Eph 4:12-25; even Heb 10:12-14 with 1 Jn 3:1-3; but certainly Jn 14:12-15; 17:15-26; Eph 2:5-8; Col 3:1-4).
  • No works or merit of your own can save yourself from the lost state of mankind since Adam fell (Rom 5:12; Rom 3:20). There is only One Who’s right it is (Ez 21:27) – our last Adam (1 Cor 15:45).  Our human value-systems only lead to complacency and pride.  Only in Christ we reflect Him from inside.

There is self-righteousness, and then there is a God-righteousness.  Contemplate Phil 3:9 (Is 64:6).  In Luke 18:13 the tax collector put his trust [faith] in God’s grace and mercy, not his own attempts at righteousness.  God’s righteousness does not come from man (you), it has come to man.  Jesus is your [God’s] righteousness.  Try Rom 8:1-4,29-38; 10:1-4; 2 Cor 5:21; and carefully consider Jn 1:12,13; 4:24.  Are you powerlessly waiting for the sweet by and by; or are you pushing to enjoy the here and now in victory… and remain (1 Thess 5:23)?

Why do “Christians” fail to see that self-righteousness is apposed to God-righteousness [Jesus Christ, Rom 13:14]?  Because the Law (self-righteousness, 1 Cor 2:12-16; 2 Cor 3) blinds!  Consider Phil 3:9 with Rom 10:15-17 again.  Self-righteousness makes people in ignorance buy readily into a system of (a) Merit, where they seek praise through Law and religion; and (b) blame God for sickness and calamity and seek pity.  Self-pity that gives the message that God is dealing too harshly with them and ignore Scripture such as Is 5:18; 54:13-17; 59:12-15; Jer 29:11; Mal 2:17; Jn 10:10; Jm 1:13,17.  Compassion is different – that gets you to the Healer Jesus Christ.  Compassion makes you see what [as] He sees.  This is what a pupil [disciple] does – it lets Light in so the eye can see what it previously could not (in darkness, Col 1:13-17).  Try Jm 5:14,15 again.  This “wholeness” is spirit, and soul, and body as in 1 Thess 5:23.  Like Father, Son, Holy Spirit…

Another thing, God will not give you a vision [dream, command] and then “close that door”, so that you cannot achieve it [in that time].  Remember that Rev 3:7; 4:1 (Is 22:22) is talking about Jesus Christ the Savior, the Redeemer and His work He has done on His cross (Jn 10:7-10).  Again, consider Jm 1:17.

Note at Jm 1:13. Observe who temps, inflicts, aggravates and destroys (Lk 8:12; 1 Tim 3:6,7) by considering the following scriptures: – Gen 3:1; 1 Chron 21:1; Job 2:7; Mt 4:1,3; 9:33; 13:39; 15:22; 16:23; Mk 8:33; Lk 4:2,8,13; 13:16; 22:3; Jn 8:44; 13:2; Acts 5:3; 1 Cor 7:5; 2 Cor 2:11; 11:14; 12:7; Eph 4:27; 6:1; 1 Thess 2:18; 2 Thess 2:9; 1 Tim 1:20; 5:15; 3:6-7; 2 Tim 2:26; 3:1-7; Heb 2:14; Jm 4:7; 1 Pet 5:8; Rev 2:9,10,13,24; 3:9; 12:9.  Then on the other hand, note that God delivers and help [those who seek and accept His help] in at least the following scriptures: –  Ps 107:6; Acts 26:18; Rom 16:20; 1 Cor 5:5; Mt 12:22; 17:18; 25:41; Mk 2:26-30; Lk 4:35; 8:29; 9:42; 11:14; Jn 10:10; Acts 10:38; 13:10; 1 Jn 3:8,10; hence Col 1:13-23 and Rom 8:29-39.

Other gospels

Yes, according to Paul there are gospels other than that of Jesus Christ (Gal 1:7,8; 2:14,16; 2 Jn 1:9-11).  Many are about Jesus, but there is only one True gospel package of [by] Jesus Christ.  Rethink 1 Cor 4:20; 1 Tim 1:6-7.

May Holy Spirit find you receptive to see deeper into Acts 20:24; 26:15-18 (Ampl); Rev 3:9 and Rom 1:16 with Phil 3:10-16; Rom 2:7; and so on – In Jesus’ Name.  Perhaps soon understanding more of Paul’s frustration with the law-followers (Gal 3), after his own rebirth revelation, that is, his revelation of what Jesus Himself revealed to Paul.  Paul was then still kicking against the cross of Jesus Christ[2] with attempts of self-righteousness[3] thinking he had to do something in order to deserve something from God [the Perfect, fit, able and willing Father and un-manipulative Source?].  This system actually thinks God then owes you.  This overlooks Jesus Christ (Gal 5:4,18).

Paul, as a previous religious law expert, calls the law of Moses the god of this world that blinds people to Spiritual truths (2 Cor 4 follows 2 Cor 3).  Check Rom 7:6; 10:4,9-13; Gal 2:15-21; 3:8-12,16,29; 4:21-31 (even 2 Kings 23:27); 5:4,18; Phil 2:9-11; 1 Tim 2:7; Heb 4:2; and it started with Eve[4] in the beginning…  Paul, as a doctor of the Mosaic law (Acts 22:3), referred to himself, admitting that while under the law, he was still yet a [spiritual] child (1 Cor 13:11; Gal 4).  Consider Lk 9:62; Heb 5:11-6:3; 1 Pet 2:2; Jn 16:12; and so on.  Paul was warning Timothy in 1 Tim 1:5-7.  In v 7-9 he said in Christ you will know Rom 10:4.  The law was given unto them [the Jews] to shut their self-righteousness up (Neh 9:12-17; Rom 9:4-7). Paul, as an ex- Pharisee and Jew, doctor in law, referred to “them”! …

Meaning

The word euaggelion (gospel) is used at least 74 times in the N.T. and is apparently only found twice in other manuscripts outside Scripture of that time.  It literally means news so exceedingly good that it might be thought to be “too good to be true”.  Please don’t rush over this.  Think what would be such magnificent, good news… it is unlikely to be the Law of Moses [you apparently having to save yourself or keeping yourself saved by following Law]?  If you think so, carefully contemplate Jn 1:17; 9:28; Rom 3:20; 7:4,6,10; Gal 5:4,18… (This is expanded on in the meditation “The Covenant and the Law”).

Compare the following original words from which “gospel” are translated in Gal 1:6:

(G2098) εὐαγγέλιον (euaggelion), is from the same as εὐαγγελίζω (G2097)

(G2097) εὐαγγελίζω (euaggelizō), meaning a good message, that is, the gospel; from εὖ (G2095)

(G2095) εὖ (eu) is the neuter of a primary word εὖς (eus) meaning (good); (adverbially) well: – good, well (done) and ἄγγελος (G32)

(G32) ἄγγελος (aggelos), to announce good news (“evangelize”) especially the gospel: – declare, bring (show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel), to bring tidings; a messenger; especially an “angel”; by implication a pastor: – angel, messenger; which is from ἀγγέλλω (aggellō) that is probably derived from ἄγω (G71) and ἀγέλη (G34, agelē)

(G71) ἄγω (agō) is a primary verb; properly to lead; by implication to bring, drive, (reflexively) go, (specifically) pass (time), or (figuratively) induce: – be, bring (forth), carry, (let) go, keep, lead away, be open.

(G34) ἀγέλη (agelē), a drove: – herd.

Overall, then, we deduce nothing secretive (as in the mysteries from Babylon and the world with its secretive Free masonry and other evil drives), but to bring into the open (reveal, as in a revelation) and to lead (by executable example, to follow Jesus Christ and to show good results.  Seriously contemplate Col 1:12-23 and 1 Cor 4:20.

Messages like the typical “church” view, “if you do not repent, you will end up in hell” is a fact [result], but actually bad news and a far cry from the “too-good-to-be-true” news of Jesus Christ!  God is Love, and Love does not manipulate or threaten you*.  It is not hellfire and condemnation and fear that God uses to save people, but His Love (Rom 2:4; Zech 4:6; Jn 1:1-4; 4:24).  Only religious leaders that apply witchcraft – in church – uses scare tactics.  Jesus never did, neither should His followers.  And Jesus Christ is the Head of His church.  Many “church leaders”, when facing an imminent “desertion” of a member, ask their congregation members the question, “and from where will you be buried “or “married” or “baptized”, or scare them with hell.  This is such nonsense, and witchcraft!  Try The Message version of Gal 4:16-17, 21 for a start – does it ring a bell?

Does Heb 8:13; 9:8,12,15; 10:10,14 speak to you about God’s grace, or do you still think you have to do something to be holy – or remain holy?  Yes, we certainly must make the right choices (be holy), and heed, for example, Eph 5:1-11 and Heb 10:26-31 and check our thought-life (Mt 27,28; 1 Cor 6:18-20; 2 Cor 10:5,6); but consider Rom 8:29-30; Heb 10:14 and so on. This is expanded on in the meditation “The Covenant and The Law”.  Do you fully believe God that Jesus Christ is sufficient to totally save you?  Or do you still feel guilty and baffled when adversity happens?  If you are still battling with law and Rom 10:4-10 – just open your heart to HIM in true humility (Zech 4:6; Jn 4:24; 1 Pet 5:5b-7).  Humility before God is to ask Him for His mercy and to say, “thank You Jesus!”.  Haughtiness is also to try and impress Him with obedience to the law, even just attending concerts filled with emotional (self-pleasing) hypes and nothing more than motivational speeches (1 Cor 4:20)!

Saved

Jm 5:14,15 remarkably says that a sick person that is prayed for in Jesus’ name (not Moses’ name), will be saved.

This word “saved” is sozo in Greek, is to be whole, meaning a package deal [that you either accept in totality or reject in totality, like the law.  But this is God’s higher law:  grace, unmerited favor and mercy].  Sozo means all of “deliverance + saved + healing + prosperity”.  Sounds very much like Is 53:5 and 1 Pet 2:24,25, does it not?  Now read Rom 2:4*; 4:5; 5:8; Mk 2:17; Gal 3:8; 5:18.  Shaken (Heb 12)?  Then hear the really good news! God is Love and wanted from the beginning for us to be like Him, and experience and exude love!

God is Love and wanted from the beginning for us to be like Him, and experience and exude love!  There has never been a bigger display [proof] of love than Jesus on His cross for us when we were sinners yet!  There has never been a more unselfish deed than Jesus that made Himself of no reputation to re-position us in Righteousness before God!  Ponder Rom 8:29-39 again.  Reading just 1 Jn 4 and 1 Cor 13:1-3, it is abundantly clear that if we fail to radiate this love [God inside of us], that we do not know God [does not have Him inside of us] – no matter who you call yourself!  There is no way around this!

Redemption is more than theology.  Sin is no longer an issue with God!  This is a radical statement that will leave you either rejoicing, shocked, or confused.  Now see what the Word of God says about this subject.

The following are typical “church” views on sin:

  • It breaks your relationship with God, until you confess it
  • You lose your salvation (“backslide”) every time you sin, until this particular sin is confessed
  • Some say your eternal salvation is secure, but you lose your fellowship and can’t get your prayers answered or can’t get used by God until this particular sin is confessed.
  • Most think the forgiveness of sins is what God can do, and continues to do, but is not something He has completed. Even that God still has to decide each case on its own merit after confession and begging for forgiveness of our sins [daily].  Do you know Rom 3:23 goes on to verses 24 – 28?
  • That Christians try to cope by trying to keep every sin confessed. (This is impossible! Rom 14:23 and Jm 4:17 and Jn 16:9 reveals that sin is not only what you do wrong, but also by not doing what is right.  Hence Mt 7:15-24).

Ask yourself, what produced the forgiveness of sins and when did it happen?  Or are you your own savior?  If you think you following law (knowledge between good and evil, blessing and calamity, eating from that tree), or your own confession, is what is saving you [or keeping yourself saved] – why did Jesus [have to] die on a cross?  Yes, only by [believing that only by] the blood of Jesus Christ on His cross comes eternal salvation, and it has happened and will [can] not happen again!  Contemplate Heb 10 (note v 1-2,5-14,17-21,38,39); Heb 9:14,15,25-28; Jn 1:29Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Rom 3:20,24-27; 6:9-10; 8:29-39; Gal 5:4,18;3.

Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins is already an accomplished work – once for all [yes, all – Jn 3:15-17].  Sin is no longer an issue with God, and you do not have to ask Jesus to forgive your sins!  He has already done it!

Paul did not tell the Philippian jailor to ask Jesus to forgive him; Paul told him to believe on what Jesus had already done and then he would be saved (Acts 16:31). We confess the Lord Jesus, not our sins, to receive His free gift of salvation (Rom 10:9).  It is by His grace alone [unmerited favor], we cannot earn it.  Selah!

Does this mean all souls are automatically saved? Certainly not[5].  We have to [can only] receive this forgiveness by faith (Acts 26:18), and then faith in Jesus Christ not our “denominational” doctrines!  Consider 1 Jn 2:2 with Eph 2:8. Remember that God is [agape] Love that never manipulates and then read Rom. 12:9!

Therefore, it’s not a person’s many sins that send them to hell; sin has already been paid for and forgiven.  It is the singular sin of not believing on Jesus Christ that souls end up destroyed (Jn 16:9).  It is their failure to accept [all, fully] what Jesus did for them that makes them not receive His grace.  Remember God is Love, and [His] Love never manipulates.  So, if you really love Him, you will follow His teachings (1 Jn 3) and hate what He hates (Rom 12:9; 1:18; 1 Cor 3:16-17; 6:19-20; Jer 20:6; 22:15-16; 23).  You will hate falsity and self-righteousness and play-acting religion.  Stop using “I just love Jesus” [in ignorance?] and “I believe Him unconditionally” while distrusting Him (Jn 14:10-14; Mk 11:24)!  Be real and believe His Words (Jn 11:26)!

Note at Rom 12:9. Refer to Mt 7:15-23; and then13:41-43. Persons by whom others are drawn into error or sin (Jn 16:9; 1 Jn 2:4), and do iniquity (Is 5:18-21) and act wickedly (twisted; Prov 6:17; 11:20; 12:22; Heb 6:18 [with Heb 11:6 and Jn 16:9]; Rev 21:8; 22:15), “… will be cast into the furnace of fire…”  It should therefore be at the very least prudent to be extremely careful with what we teach and propagate…  Selah

What difference does it make in our lives if we accept forgiveness as something that has already been accomplished?  It changes your life for good!  It gives security and peace knowing God is not mad at us and won’t be mad at us, our sins are already forgiven – and not only past sins, but future ones too.  If this was not so, we could not be saved, for Jesus paid on His cross about 2 000 years ago.  Selah.

Again, consider Heb 9:12,14,15; 10:10-12,14; 12:23.  If you accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for your sins by faith, then your spirit is perfect, and will be so in all eternity (1 Cor 6:17; 1 Jn 4:17).  One third of your redemption is complete.  You still have a soul and a body that you must deal with (1 Cor 6:16-20; 2 Cor 10:4-6; Heb 10:26-29,35-39).  You have that hidden treasure inside of you, but needs accurate knowledge of Jesus Christ to realize what He has provided and where He positioned you, if you believe [trust] Him. (1 Jn 3:20-21; Phil 3:9)

What about 1 Jn 1:9? This is very important to understand [correctly].  We do not have to confess sin in order to remain saved, but to come back into agreement with God and out of agreement with the devil.  The confession per se, then, is aimed at killing all double-mindedness (Jm 1:5-8; Jn 10:27), not to pay for that sin.  Jesus paid – once for all – for all sin confessed and subsequently laid down of all mankind on His cross at Calvary – it is done (Heb 9:12-15; 10:10-14; 12:23; even 1 Thess 5:9)! In other words, Jesus Christ paid for sin done, not for us to continue in sin. Note, however, the principle in Is Jn 9:31; Heb 10:26-29.  By the way, take also special note that God’s statement “The vengeance is Mine” (Heb 10:30; Dt 32:35-36), does not mean you “curse” someone with it that treats you bad, it rather points to Jn 3:16 (Rom 5:9; 13:14-19)!

The meditation “The grace of God” refers as well. Note that it is our confessed sin that is laid down [repented of] that is paid for by Jesus Christ, not what we stubbornly choose to perpetuate in rebellion to God’s will (Rom 6:2,11; 1 Pet 2:24). Jesus did pay for us to continue in sin, He paid for what we identified as sin and repented of!

Confessing [admitting] sin stops Satan [a defeated foe, Col 2:15!] from dominating us via our own choices [thought life] through that sin (Jn 16:9) and we admit [submit to God’s grace] that we draw the forgiveness as a done deal at Calvary, and thus the purity of Jesus Christ, that is already in our born-again spirits.  We get out of our flesh [unrenewed way of thinking, Rom 8:6-15; 10:1-4; 12:1-3,21; Jm 4:6-7].  We so stop giving the devil access and inroad to our soul [thought-life – Rom 6:16; Is 5:18-20], and rather get in Christ when He is in us. If we genuinely love Jesus, we will hate what He hates (Rom 12:9, and especially falsity – Jer 23:10-14; Prov 8:13; 11:20-21; 12:17,22,28; hence Jn 8:32,36; 14:6), and follow Him [His teaching, Spirit-Words that is Life continually and habitually with joy because we see results on prayer and prophecy]. We clothe ourselves again with the Righteousness of God – Rom 13:14; Phil 3:9.

Unfortunately, most Christians are not taking advantage of [believing!] these provisions, and merely exist with unrenewed minds, and they still don’t understand that we are also redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13).  The average N.T. believer (?) is still trying to get God to respond to them based on their own performance and try to pay their own way [out of sin] by inflicting their own “suffering” through guilt if they fail to comply with rules, laws, steps, or ceremonial rituals [to impress Him].  This ignores what Jesus Christ has over-paid.  Why?  Because they do not know [believe] the performance covenant of the O.T. law is over.  We are – if we believe unto Jesus – under the N.T. ministry of grace and faith (2 Cor 3:6-8; Rom 6:1-11; 5:17-21; 10:4; 11:6; Heb 7:12,18; 8:13).  Those who were outside the commonwealth, is now in Christ part of it (1 Pet 2:1-10).  A shocking fresh meaning now is revealed in 2 Cor 6:14-16.  Unbelievers are also those who still try to follow law [Moses, attempts at self-righteousness], ignoring that Jesus instituted a N.T. of grace!

The shocking realization is how many unbelievers heat the pews Sunday after Sunday, with “but’s”!

Remember that 1 Jn 1:9,10 is followed by 1 Jn 2:1 (it is one continuous, flowing letter written by John, the chapter and verse references were added much later for referencing purposes)!  It says that, if you have made a mistake (sinned), Jesus is your Advocate – free of charge – and He successfully handles your case with Father because of His price He has paid for all of our sins [past and future] with His Blood!  It is a done deal!

It is not the confession of sin that saves you, but your faith in the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ with His blood on His cross.  The confession is (i) an open statement that shows you believe [trust] Jn 3:16-20 to be true; and (ii) show your intent to stop doing what is wrong (Lk 15:10; 12:8-12; Heb 10:26-28).

Remember also, that [Holy Spirit] conviction [guidance, counseling] is not condemnation.

Rom 8:14-17!

Does all this mean you cannot go lost (Heb 13:5)? No, you still retain your choice, but backsliding can only occur while you still [only] have religion [as opposed to a genuine relationship] – 2 Cor 5:17; 1 Jn 2:15-21,29; 1 Jn 3; Rom 8:29-31.  The moment all notions of self-righteousness go, you live [stay] in His grace [Love].  You cannot lose salvation like car-keys, you have a choice.

The Greek word for “…  “hath” blessed us with all spiritual blessings…” (Eph 1:3-5; 2 Pet 1:3), is an aoristic tense, which means it is a done deal [an accomplished fact].  How blessed is all spiritual blessings?  See Eph 1:6 – we are accepted in the beloved (Jn 1:12-13; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom 5:5; 8:29-39; Heb 13:5).  This “accepted” is only used twice in the N.T. (in the Greek text).  The other place is Lk 1:28 when Gabriel appeared unto Mary.  Yes, beloved, you are highly favored [in Christ Jesus]!  As a matter of fact, Mary has nothing on you if you are a N.T. believer (Lk 11:27- 28)!  Remember that all before Jesus’ cross was Old Testament (covenant).  God made a covenant that He would send the Messiah, Jesus Christ; and He did!

Understanding [believing] redemption – the complete forgiveness of your sins – is foundational to understanding the N.T. and how God deals with you today as a Father, calling you son [like Jesus].

Note at Jn 20:23. Note very carefully that (a) man does not remove sin of others for only Jesus could pay for the sin of all [other] as can be gathered from Jn 1:29; Heb 9:28; 10:5,10-14-19 (consider the whole Heb 10 and 1 Thess 5:9; refer to Jn 14:6 and 1 Tim 2:5 as well); and (b) that a prerequisite to be able to forgive someone is receiving of the Holy Spirit (Jn 20:22) for in ourselves we fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). The love we read of in 1 Cor 13:5 makes man pay no attention to a suffered wrong and God is this Love (1 Jn 4:8). It is thus apparently more a teaching to not hold a grudge than to remove sin of someone else on their behalf. And all of us are equal before God (Acts 10:33-34; 15:9; Rom 3:22,23; Gal 2:6; 1 Cor 4:6,7; 12:13; Col 3:25; even Lk 7:28), so as we forgive so can we expect forgiveness (Mt 5:23-24; 6:12,14,15; Mk 11:26; Lk 11:4). We read that the keys to the Kingdom of God are given are to those who have received the Holy Spirit of God (Mt 16:19), be therefore careful here to take note of Rev 1:18 and even Mt 11:27. Mt 16:19 states that whatever we declare improper or unlawful on earth must be what is already bound in heaven and what we bound or loose on earth must be what have already been loosed and bound in heaven!  We have enough scripture that points to the fact that remission of sins and the discharge thereof can only be done by the Creditor to whom the debt is owing, not the debtor by whom the debt is owing (Mt 9:2-3,6,8; Mk 2:7,10,12; Lk 5:21,24,26). Mt 18:18 is authoritative. None can forgive sin but God and if we had no Scripture to prove it, yet reason will tell us so. Only Jesus paid for all sin that is repented of [laid down and ceased]. The forgiveness in Jn 20:23 is perhaps then better understood as horizontal (peace between us in love, obeying Jesus in Jn 15:17) and not vertical (peace between man and God – Jn 14:6) with reference to Jn 1:29. Mt 10:34 correlates to the fact that peace between humans is up to us while Jesus did His part by reconciling those who repent to God the Father (Jn 3:16; 19:30). Note, by the way, that John the Baptist was born six months prior to Jesus yet stated that Jesus existed before he did – Mt 1:30 (Jn 1:1-4,14,17; Col 1:17).

A connection between sin and adversity, and blessings and righteousness

Phil 3:9 (Ampl). Many people are of the opinion that the prospering people (rich, healthy, successful and fortunate) are so blessed by God; and that those who find themselves in some form of adversity, are being punished by God.  Even calamities in nature are attributed to God punishing or “guiding” people [back] to Him.  Is this correct?  Where does this idea come from and is it scripturally correct?  Does God really need bad to show His Goodness? Not even humans can rightly say this is logical and morally acceptable yet accuse God of it!

For an examination of Is 45:7 please refer to paragraph 5.33 in the meditation “Apparent controversies in The Bible”. Many religious [Calvinistic] people, along with atheists and agnostics like to argue that if God made everything and seeing that evil exists, God must have made evil. A little more food for thought to these people as well as those disputing that God even exist (Heb 11:6?) is that darkness in itself is not a substance; it is the absence of [white] light. Similarly, is cold the absence of heat (cold is measured as an amount of heat) and likewise is evil the absence of God [Love, refer to the meditation entitled “Love”] in a heart. That absence of God is due to a self-righteous, hardened heart that resists the Holy Spirit of God to guide and comfort the mind. What is then lost is the everlasting life Jesus Christ paid for and only He could pay for as our representative.

There are many atheists, people from other religions and ungodly people alike who seem to enjoy great success, health and wealth – often more so than the very pious “Christians” who think they are doing what God wants them to.  We have numerous examples in the Bible that support the suspicion that the theology of a God-father is flawed.  We have a Father-God Who is good only (Jn 10:10)!  One example is the comparison between two kings, one seemingly good and one bad, in Amaziah and Jehoash (2 Ki 14). We read that their lots were opposite to what many would expect because the good guy had it bad and was slain by the bad one while the bad guy got the riches and won the battle.  Likewise, Job seemed to have thought – and was told so by his friends – that his sin was the cause of the terrible things that happened to him. However, we note Job’s idea in 1:21; God’s word in 35:16, and Job’s subsequent realization/admission in 42:3.  At most Job had unbelief in 3:25, if we refer to Is 5:18-21.  The sobering fact that emerges is that the calamities were not caused by God.  In the NT, we find that all God’s wrath was poured out on Jesus Christ at Golgotha when He paid with His Blood at His cross for all sin of all mankind once for all – Heb 10:14; 1 Thess 5:9.  Jn 3:17-21, even Jm 5:11, also clearly states that man should take responsibility (response+ability) for his own actions; and, when things happen outside our control, that we should be able to overcome if we are in the right place spiritually (Phil 4:13).  This will come only from inside (1 Jn 4:4) and not from outside.  Hence does God not have any need for calamities and adversities to herd us [back] to Him.  There is only One Way, and that is Jesus Christ (Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12), Who alone can set us free (Jn 8:32,36).  Even in the OT they had to believe that God would send our Saviour Joshua Messiah to pay on our behalf.  This is rather God’s will [plan], not what religious theologians have come up with and their followers stubbornly clinging to – Mk 7:13; 12:24.  It is foolish to combine good and evil, blessing and calamity, and think the two are connected with a manipulating god behind all – Mt 5:45; 7:9-11,15-27; the same principle is found in Mt 12:25.

Christians sing, “Draw me close to You, never let me go…” with a tear in the eye.  Is this scripturally correct?  So, must God act on your request otherwise you stay afar? And then, Heb 13:5 is ignored?  Have we read what Jesus said in Mt 6:33; 12:28-30?  Did the lost son ask his father to reel him in with a long rope and then tie him at home second time around?  Not according to Jesus (Lk 15:17-20).  Perhaps we should be careful with our emotional (self-centered) religious piety and stop being so blinded by self-righteousness.  Contemplate Phil 3:9 (Ampl) and study the meditations “The Covenant and the Law”, “Mixing Old and New”, and so on, as well.  It is entirely possible that we have had even the basics completely wrong.  Selah.

Note at Heb 11:6. First, it is illogical to think you can impress [an] omniscient God.  The analogy would be to attempt punching your initials into a metal [impress the metal] using a punch softer than the metal on the receiving end.  None of our goodness can take God by surprise, i.e. impress Him.  Because God is Love though, may we please Him [be satisfactory to Him], but never as anything else than what He provided.  Heb 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God. It is due to a more accurate knowledge of Him (Rom 10:1-4) that leads to absolute trust and a continuous and habitual following of God Triune.  Also, that whoever would come near God must necessarily believe God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him out. This then, second, would rather offer us the ultimate reward as in Mt 10:8; Mk 11:22-24; 16:17-20; Jn 14:10-14,15; Rom 8:2-4,11,17 (Hence Paul’s statement in 1 Cor 1:18-2:2; 4;20; also, Heb 2:8-18.  Also, reading Mk 11:24, consider Mt 6:12,14,15; 1 Cor 2:5-16; 2 Cor 5:17-21. Bear in mind as well, Jesus’ definition of sin in Jn 16:9.  Furthermore, are these rewards (Heb 11:6) then not to be thought of as a type of payments as if God owes us anything (Rom 3:20,23), as these rewards are more likely to be gifts [empowerment] by God’s grace [Love] alone!  Consider here Jn 4:24; Rom 8:14; 12:6-8; Eph 4:11-25; 1 Cor 12:4-12.  The meditations “Gifts”, “The Will of God” and “The Testimony” expand on this.  Then, crucially, take note of Eph 5:5-7 to see God’s standard, measurement or application [of spirit, gifts, rewards] is in the soul [thought-life] – Mt 5:27-28; 6:33.  To seek God out diligently requires consistent and habitual pure thought and this genuine right relationship with Him in Christ then manifest awards [gifts of the spirit] as a result, even peace (Phil 4:6-9,19).

Fresh meaning

Rom 1:16,17…18,19 now should reveal more to you about the gospel (nearly-too-good-to-be-true-news) of Jesus Christ.  This gospel of Jesus far exceeds the other about Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is your righteousness and holiness forever.  His grace is for believers not achievers.  Only in trust in JESUS [HIS teaching] can you get what HE gave on HIS cross. Not yours.  HIS death offers you eternal LIFE.  You do not earn or get eternal life through your death!  Are you preparing for death (afterlife) or everlasting Life[6]?…

So, what is the gospel of Jesus Christ?

The short answer is: LIFE [everlasting], and then in victory (1 Cor 15:26; Heb 10:12-13; 2:5,8-17; Rom 8:2)!  A real and genuine victory as Jesus implied (Mt 10:8; Jn 5:39,40; 8:28,32,36,51; 10:10; 11:26;12:47-50… to remain until Jesus Christ returns and to really Live forever)!  To consider this seriously, contemplate the meditation “The Testimony” seriously!  Also, again consider Scriptures like Romans chapters 5;8;10; Galatians chapters 3-5; Phil 2:16; 2 Tim 1:9-11; Heb 7; 9.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the nearly-too-good-to-be-true-news that we get – not what we deserve – but what Jesus Christ deserved [earned] and paid for on our behalf as an outrageous gift – for free!  Christians follow Jesus Christ, not Moses, or any man – especially not the self [Adam].  Christians should be the Light [stars] to the world, demonstrating God-consciousness, not self-righteousness.  Christians should be sons [like Jesus, Eph 4:12-15; Jn 14:13-15; 17:15-20] of God and must groan [in power], not moan like the world. Christians can actually demonstrate Holy Spirit [Christ] operative inside of us, not mere talk about Him.  Christians [can] demonstrate Rom 8:14-17; Mk 16:16-18.

All religions have rules, steps, rituals, laws how to win favor with their gods.  Only one can be true.

Only one has this message:  you cannot save yourself or keep yourself saved through religion. You need a Savior.  So amazingly, only one faith has a Savior – Jesus Christ.

Those who follow Him, actually do…

God Almighty is above the natural (Jn 4:24) and if you understand He is your [genuine] Father, then you will understand that His will for you is to be above the natural as well (1 Thess 5:18-23; Eph 1; Rom 8:19)!  Do you believe Heb 8:13?

God as Spirit materialized in a human body as Jesus Christ (Joshua Messiah), for at least these reasons:

  • To undo the work the devil had done in the beginning (1 Jn 3:8). See the meditation by the author entitled “Genesis to Revelation” and “Mixing Old and New” for a better exegesis of “self” vs “Jesus Christ”.
  • Jesus had to legitimately [truly] represented mankind and so had to be born of a woman (1 Cor 15:45). Note that He was sent, not created (Jn 1:1-3; Col 1:12-20) as a Seed [Word of God] – Jn 1:14.
  • Jesus had to pay for all sin of all mankind (Jn 1:29; 3:15-16; 1 Tim 2:5; and so on)
  • Jesus had to be buried (Heb 9:16-18; Jn 8:17 with Rom 8:17; Heb 2:8-18; 9:11-14,10:7-14…)
  • Jesus had to rise from the dead to show (a) our sins are forgiven (Mt 6:12,14-15; Jn 20:23; Rom 6 with 12:19); and (b) that Jesus Christ is everlasting Life (Jn 1:4; 5:37-47; 14:6; Rev 2:7; 22:2,14); and (c) that He is our Advocate/Intercessor/Friend (1 Jn 2:1-2; Heb 7:25; 9:24; Jn 3:17-21; Rom 8:2…)

Qualification

Do we really fathom the love and grace of God? Carefully ontemplate again even just Jn 1:17; 1 Thess 5:9 and look out for God’s (1 Jn 4:8) immense mercy and compassion.

 His grace is that He was obedient to His death so that you can benefit from that exchange on His cross:  you inherit [not work for, not earn] His Life and obedience because He paid for your death and disobedience.  If you believe this, you trust Him enough to quit trying to help Jesus save you, even worse, help Him keep you saved, or give up on LIFE [living].  God’s power is not determined by your understanding, but manifested by your faith [trust in the words of Life and glory and light of Jesus Christ]! He is your righteousness and holiness!  If you take [trust, believe] Him that this is His gospel, sin [unbelief] will loose its appeal for you.  Sin [wicked deeds] will stop being an option, it will not “do it” for you anymore, because your mind [your inside desire has changed].  You now have Him, the mind of Christ, living [pro-actively], permanently dwelling, ruling, inside of you.  This is all that can be inside of you that can be greater than that [law] in the law-world [self-righteousness].  It is ridiculous and blasphemous to think you can use the law to “check on God” (if you are indeed following Him, if He is indeed leading you correctly and effectively).  It is one or the other, they can never co-exist in one person.  This is why Phil 4:6-8 is real for those who show trust in Him.

You can never earn eternal Life through your death.  Jesus – as Son of Man and God [both representative] – has laid down His Life so you can inherit His eternal Life by being resurrected with Him into a new everlasting, never-ending, eternal Life so that He can rule through you on this earth where He paid for it!  Your body dying, is not a requirement for your eternal life [you get through believing Christ died for you].  All is waiting for us to believe (Rom 8:11-19)!  Medical/biological evidence shows your body is fighting against sickness and death… and your mind?  Exercise your body, and exercise (renew) your mind and see…

This is the place He prepared for you, the Triune God prepared your heart so that He can live inside of you, here on earth where the increase of His kingdom will never end. We fill the earth, He fills all of us individually and collectively, and call us His Temple, His Bride, His Church, His heavenly [not heaven] city set on a hill [Golgotha, earth] whose Light can not be hidden, His true Israel… get it?  His glory fills you, who fills the earth, and so His glory fills all the earth and have dominion in all the earth that belongs to Him, but needs you to start acting like it so He can return to hand this kingdom back to His Father[7], so He can be all in all, not having to intercede for us anymore because we will be in Him and He in us in glorified, immortal, incorruptible bodies here on earth and so have fellowship with Him for ever here in this air that we breathe.  We will be taken up [overwhelmed] with Him in this air that we breathe forever!  What eternal bliss!  Don’t allow your sonship to be stolen by thieves due to your own ignorance and distrust in the Words and teachings of Jesus Christ.  There is only one true option:  He is the Cornerstone in the very same building that you are also a living stone( Eph 2:18-22; 1 Pet 2:4-10) in [the heavenly city that you are already a citizen of – if in Christ- build not by human hands but by those – bearing the holes – of Christ Jesus]; or if you do not believe this, then Jesus Christ is not your Rock, but a Stumbling Stone [and you trip over the law given on stone, taking offense in His teaching by swallowing man-reasoned dogma and limited reasoning instead].

Jesus repeatedly said that He would lay down His Life so that we may LIVE… not die!  Not to have this nearly-too-good-to-be-true-news stolen from us by false messengers who are thieves and robbers and get us killed by preaching the law as the way to be saved and remain saved, or earn pieces of grace!  This NT grace and light and glory and power – LIFE – is supposed to be a lasting one!

God’s kingdom is on earth (Lk 12:32,34; 17:20-21 with Mt 23:13)!  Remember Ps 24:1; 50:12; 103:19; 1 Cor 10:26?  Now read it with Jn 4:24 and then Mt 13:41-43 (Prov 6:17; 11:20; 12:22; Rev 21:8; 22:15).  The kingdom of God is not limited to a mere small geographical location on earth (in the Middle East), but is a spiritual realm [territory] everywhere and anywhere on earth where re-born Christians should manifest what we read about in Gen 1:28 and Heb 2:8 (Rom 8:14-17,19-23).

The gospel of Jesus Christ is this:  God is Love, will not manipulate, and gives grace, mercy and goodness because it is His nature – not because we [can ever] earn it [after Adam’s unclothing, after removing Jesus the Christ].  We must clothe ourselves with Jesus Christ, not Moses.  If in Christ, then we get what we do not deserve, we get what Jesus Christ deserved for us, namely everlasting Life and all that is His, is now also ours as our inheritance [through Jesus Christ].  Yes, 1 Cor 15:24-26,45-51; Rom 8:1-3,11-17 is for us…

The law was given to a certain people for a specific time only (Rom 9; Gal 3:19) to reveal [prove] to man that God owes you nothing, it is all by His grace and mercy alone!  The Jews are unsaved and needs a Savior too.  You have no blessing in them as an ethnic group any more than through Zulus, Xhosas, Chinese…  get it?  The promise in Gen 12:3 and Gen 22:17 was made to Abraham, not Moses or Judah.  The Seed of Abraham is Jesus Christ, not the Jews (Gal 3:16).  In Christ, you – the Church [Body] of Christ, inherit the promise made to Jesus Christ [Abraham’s Seed].  So God Blesses those who bless His Body [the followers of Jesus Christ as the Head of His Church, His Body, His heavenly city], and those who curse or uses insolent language against His Body [His church], is in trouble by their own doing [placing, ignorance], whether they are Jews or not.  Read your Bible.

If preachers of the law (Jn 10:1-10; Gal 4:15-31 Ampl) got you to believe their doctrines, it is best to read your Bible carefully again and to let Holy Spirit explain and counsel you (Jn 10:26-28.  See v.31).  If you were told that Rom 11 is a “codicil” to get the unbelieving Jews that crucified and still reject Jesus Christ as Savior, “off the hook”, you do not believe the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mt 21:42-25; Jn 14:6;3:15-16; Acts 2:40,4:12; Eph 1:21). Note that Rom 11 seems to hinge around one tiny word: “if” in v. 23.  This hints not at self-merit work, but faith [trust, a following] in the Word of God that became flesh.  Rom 11 is not a “codicil”, but the same message, the same nearly-too-good-to-be-true-news of Jesus Christ that it is not through yourself or your own bloodline, but only through Jesus Christ that you can inherit a package including everlasting Life (Jn 8:31-45,51-52; 9:28!).  Rom 11 is basically saying that no man [saved] may look down upon another [unsaved, Jew, or not], our salvation is a gift of God for those who believe [follow] Jesus Christ [His gospel], and even the ability to believe we all received equally, is a gift from Him (Rom 12:3; Heb 11:6) by His grace!  It then says that if the Jews as a nation want to be saved, they too must believe Jesus Christ, and then that He already came as the Messiah, the anointed, the Savior they rejected.  This will be impossible for them to do without Holy Spirit and the Blood of Jesus Christ[8]. And “So will they all be saved…”

We all will do well at this point to really carefully contemplate Heb 9:26; Gal 1:4; 4:4,5; Col 1:20.

Our singing, our good works (miracles, signs, wonders following), our fruit (His Words from our lips), are all a result, and not a means of obtaining [earning] blessings [favour] from God.  Nothing you do can make God owe you anything.  Jesus Christ was buried to leave us a legit testament.  What is His is ours.  Now we are risen with Him to rule this Kingdom on earth so we can bring Him glory – on earth. Not die, but LIVE!

Likewise, if you fail to do works, God is not accusing you.  You get because of His goodness, not yours, and so all our lack is because of our distrusting His ability and proven willingness to be an outrageous Giver.  He already paid on the cross at Golgotha – once for all.  He will not, and is not going to do it again because He cannot!  He has successfully and completely done it already – once for all!  This guilt is calling God a liar and makes us hide from Him.  He does not hide, He is the Light to all the world and we are supposed to reflect His Light to all (Mt 5:14).  Neither did God hide, He openly declared His Love on that cross for all sins of all men for all times.  He transfers man from darkness into His marvellous Light (Col 1:13; Jn 1:1-5,9-17).  If you think God is cross with you because of something you did or failed to do, ask yourself if Jesus’ Blood was insufficient to pay for you [also] and if you think you have to move God to be good to you because of what you do, and if adversity happens, it is because you failed to move God?  No, Jesus Christ did not fail – you are saved if you believe He is the Savior!  Once for all, for all sin of all…  Jn 5:37-47; Heb 10:10,14; Jm 1:6-8…  read past Rom 3:23, on to v. 24-26 (which is one long sentence anyway!); Rom 5:8 and so on, says it is not threats of hellfire and condemnation that save sinners, but Love – Rom 2:4; Mk 2:17; Zech 4:6.  Don’t think your own “guilt feeling” is paying for redemption!  The “Rewarder” (Heb 11:6) gives you the reward Jesus Christ earned for those who diligently seek Him out, not what you earn.  Even the ability to believe that He did it, is a free gift from God, called faith (Rom 12:3; Heb 11:6; Eph 2:8)! What a perfect heavenly Father!!  What amazing grace!! The reward is fulfilled prayer + joy [fruit] when we say what HE has said all along (Is 55:9-11; Jn 15:1-8).

Through giving the rules of this tabernacle-system [of an outer- and inner court and most holy of holies where you could not enter but only the high priest once a year], via angels[9] to Moses to pass onto those stiff-necked people, God proved beyond doubt that you will kill yourself with guilt by trying to be your own righteousness [by following a law how to please God].  You will either destroy yourself or backslide in despondency.  All because of your own self-accusation, called guilt (try Jn 5:37-47 in the Amplified Bible, again).  Accusation that calls Jesus [God] a liar because He is not an accuser, the devil is[10]!  This was the purpose of the law, to reveal the guilt in self-righteousness.  You must be God-conscious [Spiritual], not self-centered [fleshly, dust[11], carnal].  This self-centeredness is enmity towards God[12].  The only way you can please God, is to believe Him [show your trust in Him] alone.  No other gods.  Not Moses (Jn 9:28), not your own efforts, and not the dogma of confused man, but Jesus (Jn 14:6)!!  Your guilt will make you flee from God (Ps 139) and make you fall from grace [unmerited favor] by trying to pay for your own redemption by “feeling bad”.

And conviction [Holy Spirit prompting] is not condemnation!  Jesus Christ is your righteousness completely and eternally, not what you achieve in doing [thinking God now owes you blessings because of what you did], not by following Moses and the law.  You can only please God by believing Jesus Christ, the only way to Him is through Jesus Christ. That’s it.

Again, stop postponing [put in future out of unbelief] what He has paid for and ordained to happen here on earth!  Prophecy, preach His gospel to all the world.  This is the gospel not to be ashamed of that saves those who believes [this gospel].  This gospel that Jesus Christ has finished it, succeeded and is able to sustain it.  He did and He does.  All the other messages, preaches, doctrines, will be burned like chaff and only one will remain. Not the gospels about Jesus Christ, but the one and only True gospel of Jesus Christ.  The one with His signs, miracles following to show that His Words are the ones being preached (Mt 28:17-20; Mk 16:14-20; Jn 17:17-20).  Because His gospel cannot just be talk alone (1 Cor 4:20).  He is in it, and He will prove it with His signs, miracles and wonders following you (Mk 16:16-20; Jn 17:20; Heb 13:8).  God nominated His church in Jesus Christ.  We are anti-Christ if we de-nominate [what He nominated]!  Selah.

There can be no “denominations” in the Body of Christ – Eph 4:5[13].  Note 1 Cor 3; 1 Jn 3; 1; Jn 2:4-6!

Lk 9:25,26 suddenly becomes a sobering revelation of what Jesus was really saying, especially if you read it together with the version Matthew gave of the same account in Mt 17:3-6.  See that Moses represents the law and Elijah the prophets, but God the Father said we must listen to Jesus His Son[14]!

Praise and LIVE to God!  Now take Acts 20:32.  Hear Rom (Ampl) 3:19-28; 4:8-10,21-25; 5:1-2,7-10 (Heb 8:12) – 21; 8:1-3,31-37, 18…; Eph 1:1-18; 2:1-22…  Do you hear Holy Spirit with the gospel of Jesus the Christ of God, or do you still choose to remain trapped by the work the devil has done through his thieves?  Remember, Law makes you fall from grace, this is what – for one – Gal 5 is about.  It is self-righteous [law] to think your failures get God to “crucify” you!

You can only put all your trust in God.  And Jesus Christ is the only way, not an ethnic group or anyone else, or any other dogma or gospel than that of Jesus the Christ of God.  But then stay in Him so He can stay in you (Rom 6 with Jude and 2 Pet 1:1-4 and Hos 4:6)…  But, if you are still perplexed that the gospel of Jesus Christ actually means what Rom 10:4 is saying, you have to see the context [of Rom 10].  You see, you are probably exactly at the same point as the hearers of this gospel [of Jesus Christ] in Rom 6:1-2.  Consider the following paragraph with Rom 8; 10, Col 2…  and, if you are still in the flesh, remember 1 Cor 6:16-20; Rom 12:9…

Grace is unconditional, otherwise it can not be grace anymore (Rom 11:6)!  However, Grace is not ungodly [profane]!! Meditate on 2 Pet 1:1-4; Jude v. 2-4,20; Phil 4:8; Hos 4:6; and Rom 6 (8:14,15) becomes clear! This is the position:  Of course Lev 11:45 holds true for the N.T. believer of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is confirmed in 1 Pet 1:14-16 and Rev 4:8.  But here is how to reconcile the seeming contradictory propagation of self-effort in Phil 2:15 (for example) with the gospel of Jesus: Prov 23:7 now reveals that the holiness – the consecration and dedication, the set apart for our Lord’s use – is a case of total habitual faithfulness and commitment that starts with the permanently renewed mind.  A revelation of the depth in 2 Cor 5:21 makes you grasp what virtue means as a reflection of your new “Anno Domini nature”.  It is therefore not out of self-righteousness that my mind determines who I am, but the fact that Christ now lives in me.  And if He be inside of me permanently and ceaselessly, then my temple [body] can only be clean (1 Cor 6:18-20) because of my thought-life[15].  This realization of who I am in HIM, is a joy unspeakable and the power of God in me.  Holy results will now follow me.  Of course I can live with Christ – the full Godhead – inside of me!…

 Note at Lk 7:41-43 The principle of more grace for more apostasy sounds perhaps a little baffling but is a perfect illustration of God’s infinite Love (2 Pet 3:9).  However, it does not insinuate that God is partial by granting some more than He would other (Rom 2:11; Acts 10:34,35; Lk 7:48; Mt 11:11)! The plain deduction is rather that someone who realise that they received [more] would be [more] appreciative.  This implies that those who perceive to have received less would merely be surfacing a poor understanding in jealousy [in ignorance and self-righteousness]; just like the elder son in Lk 15:25-32.  Note how few seem to have noticed that both sons even got their [equal] fair share in Lk 15:12 according to Dt 21:15-17]!  The error in such reasoning, to in effect wish for more grace also, can be illustrated by the following analogy: Suppose that you slightly damage your car by bumping a rubber trash can in your driveway and while submitting your claim with the insurer, learns of someone else who totalled their car and narrowly escaped death. Suddenly an irrational jealousy gets hold of you and you wish that you too could claim such a big sum of money. We have to agree that this would be ludicrous and unwise, yet is exactly what corrupt reasoning is displayed if we hope to also receive “more grace” as those who were “more lost” when they got saved – by the same price paid by the same Jesus on the same cross!  Now, apply this knowledge to get a better understanding of Mt 6:13!!! (Jm 1:13-18).

 It is at any rate disgraceful to imagine that some of us needed less grace (over time) than others just because some seemed “further away”.  Further away from what – God’s Truth? If you think so, contemplate very cautiously even just what Jesus indicated God’s standard is [to our thought-life] in Mt 5:27-28; or what Paul reiterated in Rom 3:20,28 and Eph 2:8-10.  Note also Jude 1:4; and that God’s grace is multiplied through knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord (2 Pet 1:2; Rom 10:1-4); also that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Pet 5:5).  The pride that blinds us to our own ignorance is what this website hopes to address in its meditations.

  

Further comment on the grace of God.

 Χάρις (5485), charis, meaning grace, divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in life, benefit, favor, gift; from χαίρω (5463), chairŏ, meaning to be cheerful, calmly happy, well-off, swell, God speed, joy.

 Two erroneous teachings related to God’s grace, are the following:

  • Antinomianism. From the Greek άντί (473), anti, meaning against; and νόμος (3551), nŏmŏs, meaning law [of Moses], prescriptive regulation. This teaching claims that man cannot be held accountable to any moral law, and that it is only required to believe [with intellectual cognizance] and then can continue doing as he pleases. (Try Rom 6:16-23; with 12:9…). Remember that Jesus Christ paid for us to be free of sin, not to continue in sin. Carefully ponder Heb 10:26-31; Jude 1:4-5; 1 Jn 3:6-10; even Mt 12:31-32 again!
  • Perfectionism. This propagates the idea that the sin nature in man is eradicated as if it was surgically removed from man’s capacity [to sin].  These heretical teachers even claims that Jesus keeps on removing your continual sin as if it does not exist [by your habitual choice].  No, you retain your will [as an ability to freely choose] as it was given by God.  (2 Cor 10:3-6…) Remember that God is love and will not manipulate [God will not remove your will/choice]!

To repeat the paragraph in the introduction to www.gospel-truth.co.za: Some twists the gospel so far as to assert that that all people will be saved despite their deeds and/or unbelief and lack of repentance and then devises a false system that is easier for them to accept by avoiding – or even deleting – words such as sin, redefining repentance [metanoia, G3341, μετάνοια] in Mk 1:4; 2:17; Lk 3:3,8; 5:32; 24:47; 2 Pet 3:9 and then avoid judgement [hell] by not believing that God’s righteousness must have judgement on [continued] sin (2 Tim 4:3,4). Well, Jesus said He reject those who falsely claim to be His followers (Mt 7:21-23; 1 Jn 2:4) and Paul said of even the Israelites that only a small remnant of them will be saved (Rom 9:26; 10:1-2); yet some preachers advocate that each and every human are/will be saved? Note that 1 Thess 5:9 should be read with Jn 3:16-21 and observe the “provided that you continue to stay with and in the faith of Christ” in Col 1:23 (Heb 10:26-27,38; Rev 14:10; 15:4). They then ignore a stern warning by Paul in Gal 1:6-9. Paul, in his letter to Timothy, charged Timothy to herald and preach the Word (Mt 28:19-20). This would make no sense if all were automatically saved and that this is a secret that must be discovered! The secret in Eph 1:3-23 starts with Eph 1:1 and Paul saying to who this revealed secret applies – “the faithful in Christ Jesus”. The mystery of the good news (Eph 6:19) was that all could be included in God’s kingdom on earth, not just one nation (Acts 10:34-35). But ideas of “universalism” are grossly heretical. It suggests that child molesters, baby rapists, Satanists and the like are all saved but they just don’t know it yet! This is absurd. It does not refer to the possibility that, when they truly repent, they may be saved by becoming reborn Christians, but insinuates that they are saved while they are wilfully remaining in sin and rebellion towards God. It ignores God’s holiness (Lev 11:45; Mt 15:8,9; 1 Pet 1:14-15); and note that 1 Pet 2:18 speaks of a useless, fruitless way of living inherited by ascendants. There is a definite requirement to be saved as stated in even just Jn 3:16 and Rom 10:9-10. It further ignores clear scriptures such as Rom 8:14; 9:27-29; 10:1-2; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Heb 10:26-31, and for that matter Jm 2:20-26 (discussed in “Apparent controversies in the Bible para 5.17); to name but a few; and disregards the many examples and message of the whole Bible (Even the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, Rev 21:8 and Rev 22:18-19). The hope of this author is to take all these meditations in www.gospel-truth.co.za together as one true consideration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Note at Mt 28:19. Ponder the following scriptures to see why it is unscriptural to think/claim that all people will be saved when reading Mt 28:19: The most obvious that immediately spring to mind are Mt 7:21-23; 23:24-30,36-40; Jn 15:1-6; Rom 9:27; 11:5; 2 Tim 3:11-13; Rev 3:15-16; 19:21. (Hab 2:14 and Is 11:9 have no reference to the present dispensation but rather to the millennium that will begin when our beloved Lord Jesus Christ returns). Jesus was therefore not saying that all will be saved but whosoever… (Jn 3:16-21; Rom 9:8,24-27. Refer to the meditation called “Israel racism”)

Note that the Gospel and glory of God’s Kingdom on earth liberates us from defiling acts of flesh (1 Cor 6:9-10; 2 Tim 2:21-22) as well as from self-righteousness of flesh (Rom 8:6-8). Selfishness is sin and benefits the self at the expense of others while the love of God leads us to live selfless lives that benefit others at our expense. Libertines live as if there is no God and legalists lives as if they are God to everyone else.

 No, what John (in 1Jn 1:9-2:2) is talking about, is a particular action [slip, mistake].  John was using the aorist tense, mentioning one specific point in the past when an unintended error slipped in.  Pre-meditated, habitual, and continuous actions against God’s will [intent] is none less than animosity mocking [challenging] God!  John is clear that merely acting good can impossibly make anyone righteous – hence the corruption in the world and the hiding behind religion(s).  Other references are Scriptures such as 1 Jn 3:6-9; Rom 6:1-4; 11:6.

Spirituality is therefore not achieved by any self-centered efforts to control lust and greed, but by clothing yourself with Jesus Christ (Rom 13:14), and so get in Him.  He is the perfect garment, armor, image…  When you do this, you will remove what is contrary to His will [teaching, Word].  True wisdom is to follow His Spirit inside of you (Jn 14:26), not man-made philosophies and dead religious preaching’s of empire-builders.

γνώσις (1108), gnosis, means knowledge. Paul was countering Gnosticism amongst the Colossians.  Gnostics spread tenets that separated matter from thought with the idea that intellectual knowledge is the only requirement for salvation.  This results in them not attributing any humanity to Jesus Christ, or refusing life everlasting to so meet Him [in flesh, 1 Thess 4:13-18; 5:23]; because to them all material things are evil, and because of this ignored or diminishes the historic facts about Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection by saying it was not real but simply apparent.  To Gnostics, all secrets of God is merely in the mind.  This belief also leads to immorality because they separate the body from responsibility.  Hear John in Jn 1:14; and Paul in 1 Cor 6:19-20; Col 2:8-23; 3:1-17.  The result of Gnosticism is also a complete denial of sexual and other bodily appetites.  Lust and greed are the signs of a beast [animal, no spirit but only selfish soul and body].

So with senseless over-indulgence on the one side, some went to the other extreme – asceticism.  Here they hold in front a false holiness by their own efforts of harsh abstinence, a self-denial claiming to be Puritanism.  Well, consider Phil 3:9 again.  Even Phil 4:6-9; but remember and grasp Rom 3:20-27,29-38; Gal 5:4,18…

Mt 7:21-28 revolves around v 17, and goes with Jm 2:19-26.  It is saying that we do nothing to move God to give to us as if He could not do good out of His initiative.  He took the initiative before the foundation of the earth and lay down His Life for us while we were yet His enemies [in our thought-lives].  So it is ridiculously dull to have a mindset –that the law clearly points out – that we arrive on the scene and now earn things through our efforts from God Who designed and made us to LIVE with Him inside of us…  think about it.  He wants us to live, we prepare to die.  The reality is therefore that we are now obedient [to His will and purpose for our lives to be true children of God – like Jesus was[16].  This is what Jesus was saying in Jn 14:10-15; 15:14 (see v 7 and remember Jesus’ prayer of Jn 17:5,10,15-20).  Jesus demonstrated how a Son is obedient because of true sonship [Love, trust, faithfulness, oneness, commitment], not how to become a son through being obedient.

 

See how Jesus demonstrated Rom 8:14 in Mt 3:15-17.  Reading Mt 3:17 again, then Heb 5:13 (6:1-3); understand that Jesus submitted Himself unto Holy Spirit (The river of Rev 22:1 that flows through us all that are part of the same building[17] as a street of Living water – Jn 7:38; Is 60:14; Mt 5:14; Rev 22:1-2) and so declared Himself dead to the law (idea of self-righteousness), and then became the Son of God.  He was the Son of Man born through Mary [but Fathered by Holy Spirit[18]], then was the Son of the law at twelve.  There is nowhere on record that He produced fruit until 18 years later when we get to Mt 3:15-17.  Did you see John’s statement to the religious play-actors[19] in Mt 3: 7-12… then Jesus came (v13)… Footnote 13 might show to you that Jesus’ Words in Mt 7:9 (Jn 6:32-68) is also saying:  what child in his right mind will choose law [a stone] when he is offered Bread [Life everlasting by grace]?  Read Rev 2:17.  Amazing!  Carefully study the Amplified version of Eph 1:4-12 with Eph 4:12-16.

Note at Mt 12:6-8. (Hos 6:6)! Observe that God’s mercy and grace have always existed since the beginning! This has always been the same one Triune God [the Father also] – 1 Tim 1:2; 2 Tim 1:2; Tit 1:4; 2 Jn 1:3… even Heb 4:16 since Jn 19:30 because there was a difference before Jn 3:16 – see Josh 24:19 [for those under the Law in self-righteousness; Rom 3:20,24-28; Phil 3:9; Jn 14:6!]. Observe grace in the OT in even just Gen 19:19; Ps 86:5; Jer 31:33-34 (Rom 9:6-8,15-16,25-27) and 2 Chron 7:14.  Also, note that all this forgiveness is ultimately in Jesus Christ only! (Lk 23:34; Mt 9:6; Mk 2:7-12; even Mt 6:12,14,15; 18:35; Lk 6:37-38; Mk 11:25-27 and Mt 7:12).

Now be a child of God like Jn 1:12,13 says you should be (read up to v.17).  Now you know that any works and obedience is as a result of a love returned to God and not a self-righteous effort to try and move a Perfect Father into action as if He is not the Source of Righteousness and Goodness.  He has been good before the thought ever dawned on us that we need His blessings to survive, never mind have an abundant everlasting Life!  He is Love that never manipulates.  He chose to have and love us – believe [trust] Him!  If you trust [believe] God that He likes you, loves you and wants you (1 Pet 3:9), then stop entertaining thoughts of depression, despair and low self-worth or guilt.  God does not accuse you of anything[20] – in Christ!  Stop being your own enemy!  Jesus loves you this I know, for the Bible tells me so…

Come on, church, if you were told you only one day in heaven will live in that city, repent and be that city set on a hill [Golgotha, Zion] right here right now.  Consider very carefully Jerusalem (Gal 4:21-31; Is 60:14b; Mt 5:14), the true Israel (Amos 8:2; Mt 21:43-45; Acts 10:35; Rom 2:28-29; 3:19-28; 8:25,26; 9:7-9, 25,26; Eph 1:22-3:6,18-21; Rev 21; 1 Cor 3:9,16; and so on). You are already a citizen of heaven if you are in Christ – Eph 2:19; Heb 12:23; 1 Cor 2:13-16; 2 Cor 10:5; 1 Jn 4:17; 5:4-5; Jn 16:33!  Now, digest Gen 11:4-7; acts 2:1-6; Rev 21:1,2,24 with Heb 11:10,13,16; 12:1,22; 11:39,40; 12:1,22 (Is 60:14; Mt 5:14;  1 Pet 2:4-10).

Observe how many Christians keep referring everyone to their [human] teacher, presenting him with his [academic] credentials and the size of the crowds he draws…  unto himself…  Compare this to the individuals who say what Jesus says [said, teaches] and because it clashes with these mainstream teachings, are ridiculed and shunned by using the false measure of a democratic system…  Have you noticed how many Christians talk about the place they worship and how they enjoy that worship [as self-stimulating sessions] but fail to say [show] anything substantial about the One the worship is supposed to be for?…  what are we doing?

Go for Eph 1:22,23; 3:19-21; 4:12-15; Col 1:19,20; 2:8-10; Rom 12:1-2… Heb 12:2…

Note on the joy of the Lord (Eccl 7:14).  Carefully refer to Is 64:5; Ps 35:9; 63:1-11. The crucial, vitally important distinction must be made between good and bad (even the mixing of the two, Gen 2:9; Rev 2:7; 22:14,19).  God alone is the Source of Life and all good; and the devil (even the self) is behind death and all things bad. Do not confuse the two (Is 5:18-21)!  A fatal error in reasoning is to connect these two extremes by thinking that, because you ended up closer to God after an ordeal, that God must have caused [orchestrated] the dread in order to get you closer to Him – this is wrong (Jm 1:13; 4:4-8; 1 Jn 4:4)!!!  The fact that bad had happened, and that you could [always] have turned to God for help, does not make Him the culprit!!!  He is just always there for us.  He is not an insecure, underhanded manipulator!  Rather think how you got where you were [by yourself].  Of course you’ll be closer to Him after dropping the false guides and self-righteousness and going to Him; but this does not mean He needed anything bad or evil for you to go to Him!  You could [should] have been that close – even in Him and Him in you – as He invited us to do from the beginning!  Consider the “roadmap” in the meditation “The Will” as well as the note on Jm 1:3 in the meditation “Christian Suffering” on www.gospel-truth.co.za, if you will.  No, the joy that is of the Lord, is when you realize that – despite any trial and difficulty – you can always rest assure in the fact that God did not cause it and is always available as your Saviour, Guide, Teacher, Intercessor, Comforter, and so on (Jn 14:26,27).  Only once we know Him to be above reproach, we’ll have that joy… and peace, not between men but between us and God (Mt 10:34-40; Heb 1:8; 4:12-16; Is 9:6-7) – always. (Rom 10:1-3; and rejoice in Rom 8:29-39; Phil 3:9-10; 4:6-9,13,19).

Note on Mal 3:3; Tit 2:14. It is a catastrophe to buy into the misconception [lie] that God will bring calamity over you in order for you to be “purified” in increasingly more demanding steps!  It became popular to preach that, to be purged as gold or silver, means to be heated by (God’s) fire to scoop off the impurities as it boils to the surface until you have been purified – step by painful step.  This might sound good but is not true.  When we contemplate Scriptures such as Num 19:12,19,20; 31:19,20; Job 41:25; is 66:17; Ez 43:26; Jn 11:5; and Acts 21:24, we see that it is the self [our own thought-life, “heart” of Rom 10:9] that must be purified such as read in Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 10:5; Jm 4:8 with Jm 1:6-8; Col 3:1-10 and 2 Pet 1:2-11. This is why a coward is such a disaster and disgrace to God’s Kingdom (Rev 3:15-22; 21:8; Rom 1:16-22; 12:9).  What, in fact, therefore, should happen to the real re-born Christian is that your Source inside (1 Jn 4:4; Phil 4:13) will show to be real when misfortune strikes for whatever reason; but never the reason that God caused any misfortune in any way, shape or form (1 Jn 3:18-24; Jm 1:13). God does not need any mishaps, tragedy, disaster, etc. for any human to [be able to] go to Him! There is no other way than via Jesus Christ crucified (Jn 14:6; 3:15-21; Acts 4:12); hence 1 Cor 1:21-2:2!  There is no requisite anywhere in God’s Word, and it is illogical (screams against Who God is and is not), to think you have to be “tested” and then found good on your own merit to be able to go to God as if God’s salvation plan in Jesus Christ failed and needs God to manipulate us in addition to what is said in Heb 10:14 (and the rest of the Bible, in context, as expanded on in the other meditations in www.gospel-truth.co.za)!

Jesus is our Savior, not our accuser!  Know His Voice!  And follow Him constantly!  Selah!

So, carefully study Rom 8 and contemplate v 31.  And 2 Tim 1:7 with Jer 17:7-8 while at it.  Also, have a look at the meditation “The will of man, the will of God” on this website – if you will!

And so faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Jn 4:8).  If He then abides in us, we should constantly – eternally – radiate this very love to all around us everywhere just like Jesus did [does].

God’s peace, glory, joy and grace to you in Jesus’ name.

1 Thess 5:23.

Amen.

[1] Jn 9 [also] deals with Spiritual blindness.  Take careful note of the following:

  • God’s character is not known through religion, but only through a personal relationship and trust in Him and His teachings, not that of man placing them in positions of power (Jn 9:2-5,16-22; 10:1-14,25-32; 18:7/1:12)
  • God wants to heal all, especially from self-righteous attempts (Mk 8:21-24,33-38; Mt 3:7-10; 12:33-35)
  • Even religious people [law-followers], distinguished between Jesus and Moses (Jn 1:17; 9:28,39-41)
  • The religious leaders kicked believers in Jesus out of their synagogues (Rev 2:9; 3:9; Acts 7:48; 2 Cor 6:16)
  • While claiming to be wise and enlightened, they are blind to His Spirit (Jn 8:31-59; 9:40-41; 1 Cor 2:7-16)
  • Attempts at self-righteousness [by following law, rules, steps], denies Jesus Christ as only Savior (Gal 3; 5:4)

[2] Acts 9:5; 26:14.  “Goads”, or “stakes”, or “splints”…  all referring to the two “stakes” of Jesus’ cross.  This connects to Lk 9:55; Mt 16:15; Is 8:11-15.  1 Cor 1:17-18,23; 2:2.  And Jews need it most [“first”] because they trust in the law (Moses and self) to save them and are so totally lost (Jn 5:37-47; 14:6; Mk 12:24 is grace is Love of God) – Rom 1:16!

[3] Beware of the religious “praises go up and blessings come down”…  that is Old Covenant, God owes you nothing and you will not sing God into action (Jn 1:17; 14:6; 1 Jn 4:19).  His blessings is a gift, a promise to His Seed = Jesus Christ (Gal 3:29 refers not to Dt 28 – that was about Moses and the law – it refers to Abraham in Gen 12:3; 22:17).  Read 2 Cor 3 again, and you have to confess that the law blinded you also – read above again.  God needs no emotion to be moved into action.  Ps 100:4 does therefore not say you must praise God in order to buy any blessings; it says that if you truly know God, you will not but praise Him – Rom 11:6! Refer to Lk 17:12-19.  All ten lepers were healed without them first praising God.  After they had received their healing out of God’s grace, one returned and then praised God [Jesus]. (v 15)

[4] 1 Jn 3:8; Gen 3:1…  Paul warns 2 Cor 11:3; 3:14-16; Gal 3:19; Rom 8:1-3… Jn 11:26; Rom 2:7; Phil 3:11 (Ampl)

[5] Jn 17:9 does not contradict Jn 3:15,16.  God [Love eternal, Jn 17:3], does not manipulate.  See 1 Jn 2:4; Eph 3:14-21.  Remember that the “world” Jesus repeatedly referred to in His 3 ½ years ministry, was [is] the Jewish “law-world” of self-righteous attempts to justify themselves and hiding from Him in guilt.  Consider here Jn 18:36 [Ps 24:1; Jn 18:37 says He is the one and only Lord-King, but only of those following Him], and see the connection with Jn 17:16 (we stay “in”  – exposed to – the religious system to show them the Truth , v 17-18,20; Mt 28:17-20, but is not partaking of it.  We are not baptized unto Moses, but Jesus the Christ of God.  Remember Jn 9:28; 18:7; 19:14-18?); 1 Jn 4:4,5; and so on.  Gal 4:4,5 (Rom 8:14-17) says Jesus entered through Mary, that Mary was under the law, then saved us from that law [if we follow Jesus Christ and His Truth about His Spirit in us that are re-born into His kingdom on earth].

[6] Jn 11:26 with prophecies “for an appointed time” like Hab 1:12; Is 28:18; Ps 102:16-28; 118:17,18; and so on…

[7] Jn 3:16 is saying Jesus is the only begotten son [sent, unique, not created, Jn 1:1-4,12-14; 1 Jn 4:9] of God (Heb 2), God is our Father; we can be like sons [children] but we are adopted in Jesus Christ (Rom 8:16-17; note by the way, that this “suffering” is persecution) and so the mysterious “us” [“our Father”] in Mt 6:9; Jn 14:10-14.  Note that in Jn 14:15 “commands” actually reads “precepts”, “teachings”].  He brings many sons to glory (Heb 2:10, 8) but we can never equal Jesus Christ as God.  Jesus was the only begotten [special] Son Who is God that became Man (Heb 1:5) and was God and Man simultaneously. We were not, are not, and never can be gods. We are the pinnacle in God’s creation, but that is for the privilege to know God Triune. No other creature on earth has this privilege (Gen 1:26-28). We can be born-again as sons [followers] of God.  Jesus became Son of Man that we may become sons of God as His children [followers redeemed in Christ by His Grace alone].  He is a real God, we must be real [obedient] sons – like Jesus was [is]. When we all start believing this – and stop stumbling after false preachers in parrot like fashion – we will do what the whole creation is waiting for with labour pains [not “work”, but “birth-labour” pains!]:  to see the sons of God manifest themselves (Ps 102:16; 1 Pet 2:4-10)!  Family in Christ, we better wake up and start showing our belief in Jesus Christ!  Not powerless talking and manipulating, and witchcraft-fear-driven dogma of self-glorified man.

This is a Kingdom.  He is a King over all of us as royal priests on earth (Rev 1:5-6; 5:9-10).  Rule in His Name!! Stop postponing [put in future out of unbelief] what He has paid for and ordained to happen here on earth!  Prophecy, preach His gospel to all the world.  This is the gospel not to be ashamed of that saves those who believes [this gospel].  This gospel that Jesus Christ has finished it, succeeded and is able to sustain it.  He did succeed and holds all together.  All the other messages, preaches, doctrines, will be burned like chaff and only one will remain. Not the gospels about Jesus Christ, but the one and only True gospel of Jesus Christ.  The one with His signs, miracles following to show that His Words are the ones being preached (Mt 28:17-20; Mk 16:14-20; Jn 17:17-20).  Selah.  Amen!

[8] See the “Rapture raptured” meditation by the author.

[9] Heb 2:2; Acts 7:38,53; Gal 3:19…

[10] 1 Jn 4:17 (…in this world…); 5:5,9-15;

[11] Gen 3:14; Job 4:19; Is 52:2; Mt 10:13,14; Lk 10:8-12;  Acts 13:50,51; 1 Cor 2:2,5-9; Ps 102:14. The devil eats the carnal-minded that rejects Spiritual Truth.

[12] Rom 8:6-10

[13] Many times we will hear people ask the question, “What faith are you?” And the reply will come, “I’m of the Catholic faith” or “I’m of the Baptist faith” or any one of the other “denominational” groups. This implies that there are different faiths or different ways of believing which will all get us into the kingdom of God on earth – that’s not true  (Jn 3:3,12; Mt 18:3; Mk 12:34; Lk 12:32; 17:20,21).  You can go to heaven, yet totally miss His kingdom here.  Those in heaven, will be brought back here – by Jesus – to earth (1 Thess 4:13-15).  There is only one saving faith that offers the package [sozo] Jesus and His followers preached.  It is true that there are many different “systems” within Christianity which can all be distinguished by different beliefs. But if the foundational faith in the true gospel is not adhered to, then whatever belief system a person has, it will not save [sozo] him. There is only one saving faith (Rom 10:9,10; Jn 16:9;14:6).  God has not initiated nor condoned all the different beliefs in the body of Christ. He delivered just one faith to His followers and any deviation from His Word is not according to the faith spoken of here (1 Jn 2:4).  This is abundantly clear in 1 Cor 3 and 1 Jn 3, and we will do well to carefully contemplate these chapters again.

[14]  Stop trying to “deserve” God [following Moses/law], instead have a continuous relationship with your able and Loving heavenly Father!  “Self” [ability to get or maintain your own righteousness by attempting to follow the law, and to feel guilty in failure] is absolute pride and haughtiness towards God.  Contemplate Jn 15:13-16; Jm 2:23; 4:4-10.

[15] Is 55:13-17 shows that demons enter as thoughts and we are to choose in that sphere – Eph 6:12-13; Rom 13:14; Gal 6:7-9; Jm 4:5-10.  Principalities are principal principles [thoughts] that rule.  Read 2 Cor 5:10 again with this in mind…

[16] Jesus still lives, but here the emphasis is on the Son of Man – Heb 2:8-10; Jn 14:1-3,23-26 (Ampl).

[17] Mt 21:42 (Lk 20:17; Mk 12:10); Heb 11:10; 1 Pet 2:4,7; 1 Cor 3:10; Rom 9:32-33.  Remembering Ps 118:22; Is 8:14; 28:16; Dan 2:34; Hab 2:11; Zech 3:9; we see the depth in Jesus’ Words in Mt 7:9.

[18] Jn 4:24; 6:46-50

[19] Jesus called the fig tree, the religious Jewish leaders, hypocrites [play-actors].  Yes, they are the fig tree. The fig tree also features in Lk 13:6-10 and then again later in Mt 21:18-29.  Did you see it?  So that fig tree “blossomed” when Jesus was crucified (Mt 24:32-34), oblivious of 1 Cor 2:5-8!  The warning in Mt 3:7-10 fell on the deaf ears of the religious leaders.  Jn 12:31 was for them following Satan (Jn 8:31-59; Acts 26:17,18; 7:51-60; 9:23; 12:11; and so on.  The religious Jews was that wicked generation Jesus Christ was referring to over and over again, and that generation would still live when all the prophecies Jesus referred to in Mt 24, came to pass.  They were all fulfilled in 70 A.D. when Jerusalem was destroyed and their temple broke down by them – the Jews – to try and save the melting gold), but Jn 3:17-21; 1:12 is for us following Jesus’ teaching.  This is why Mt 10:34-37 does not contradict Is 9:6; Lk 2:14; or Jn 14:27; or 16:33.  Are you reminded of Scriptures like Jn 1:17; and Heb 8:13?  Do you tie it in with Mt 9:13,16-17?  Good!  Only Jesus Christ could bring peace between God and mankind, this separates the religious (Rom 10:1-10) from those hungry and thirsty for HIS Truth, and showing the fruit for it (Mk 16:16-18; Gal 5:22; 1 Cor 13; 1 Jn 3).  So, choose your clothing (Gen 3:9; Rom 13:14; Gal 3:27; Eph 6:12, and then to Jm 4:7 with Jn 7:38,39).  1 Pet 2:4-10; Is 60:14; Mt 5:14.  Ps 102:16.

Jesus could call the religious Jewish leaders play-actors, because Jesus knew their high priest’s secret:  that arc was not behind that veil anymore! Is Acts 7:45-53 of any help?  God stopped acknowledging that arc since David (Jer 3:14-17)!  We are Zion. That is why He later caused Mt 27:50-54.  God tore that veil [in their temple, and also in the Body of Jesus], so the box is thrown open, the testament (the law inside and under the mercy seat) is out – we can now boldly enter His throne of grace (not condemnation or judgment), and obtain mercy [that has anyway always been above the law inside that box].  Carefully contemplate Mt 21:43; 22:18; 23; Heb 4:12-16; Rev 15:5; Eph 2:5-10; and so on.  Jesus is our Savior, not our accuser!  Know His Voice!  Selah!

20 Carefully study Rom 8 and contemplate v 31.  And 2 Tim 1:7 with Jer 17:7-8 while at it.  Be blessed.