Righteousness revealed - get your ID

The problem with the modern-day Christian is that we do not know our identity.

We do not know who we are in Christ.

We therefore do not know that we are given the authority to reign ... we are therefore defeated Christians during our tenure here on earth.

It's an identity-crisis!

So, as a Christian, how is your righteousness revealed?

Jesus did not pay for your sins

Someone recently posted Adam sold us out. Jesus bought us back! #PaidInFull.

… and I thought about what the Spirit of Truth once taught me …

To this post I had to ask the question Sold out to who … and paid who?

Sold out!

Yes, Adam did more than selling human kind out. He relinquished his rights and power and authority and gave away his precious position in God.

But Jesus didn't negotiate or pay a price to the thief in order to gain our freedom.

Never!

Look and be saved

Sometimes it's just better to sit and enjoy ...

... especially when something is already done!

Stand back, behold ... take it in and receive what is accomplished.

Why do we find it so hard?

Beyond and above - ask

In my last post I dealt with some New Testament prayer ... a better way to pray in comparison to the old covenant prayers we pray as brain-washed Christians.

Don't blame me!

Blame Paul!

There is a difference between the New Testament and the old covenant (which you were never part of, unless you were an Israelite) and there is a different way to pray.

You are an heir in the kingdom of God. Now pray like you are!

Is prayer really prayer?

Ephesians 1 prayer

The New Testament brings a new way to pray...

Paul shows us how in Ephesians 1:17-23 (I have personalized it from the KJV).

Now go on ... pray it over yourself!

HalleluYAH, the picture ...

If ever there was one Hebrew word that we all use all over the world all of the time, it is the word Hallelujah ... or, as I like use it - HalleluYAH!

We use it all the time. 

Even non-Christians and people in all kinds of religions use it.

And we don't find the time to stop and see what it is that we are saying ...

So, let's do!

Resurrection in Message language

Have you heard Paul speaking in Message language?

Yes, he does sound a little different ... but he is even more understandable. 

So I took the liberty to post what Paul says about the subject of "resurrection", ... but from the Massage (from the MSG translation).

It's awesome!

The crowns of Yahshua

The Word explains the Word.

... to the extent that you will stand perplexed ...

... and be utterly astonished of how that even the word-pictures testify and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Out of the miry clay

The prophet Zechariah (remembered by Yahveh) speaks so beautifully and eloquently about the Grace of God - Jesus. 

Zechariah also prophesied about God's elect (us), who was freed from Babylon (confusion-by-mixture, the miry clay), describing an amazing picture of a crown (ăṭârâh or עטרה - encircled or crowned with the pictograph: revelation surrounded by the Highest in Grace) for the head of Yah'shua (Jesus).

Join me as I share my own astonishment

Cast out the bondwoman

We talked about Perfect Liberty, the PLL (Perfect Law of Liberty) in a previous post.

The straight opposite is to be in bondage.

Both are available, yet mutually exclusive.

You can not be totally free when you are in bondage. And you cannot be in bondage when you are totally free ...

Think about it for a moment ...

Who overcomes?

Did you know that the word defeat does not occur anywhere in the KJV translation New Testament?

The word overcome does.

Maybe it is so because those of us who see ourselves as heirs and beneficiaries of the New Testament are not meant to be defeated, but rather we are meant  to be the ones who overcome.

It is a shift of power and authority story

The Word is Life, Medicine unto all flesh

What is life?

Is this a philosophical question?

Actually, it is very simple, straight-forward question with a very simple straight-forward Answer. And we find it (...Him) spread out through all scripture.

Turning to Solomon for some perspective

How will the heirs know what to say onto the mountain?

Do you know what to say?

How to say It?

When to Say It?

... do you even say It?

Reading Isiah 54, makes for very interesting, poetical conversation between God, His Son and You!

How to cut straight - orthotomeō

Understanding the Importance of Clear Discernment

In our spiritual journeys, we may sometimes encounter detours, shortcuts, or even roadblocks. These distractions can lead us astray from the clear path of God's Word. Paul, in his letter to Timothy, urges us to "be diligent to present yourself approved to God, as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).  

The Power of Clarity

The Mirror Bible translation beautifully captures the essence of this instruction: "live your life from a place where you are familiar with the complete approval of God; you do not need to apologize for the fact that your experience might be a contradiction to your faith!" (II Timothy 2:15, Mirror Bible).  

The Greek Word for "Rightly Dividing"

The Greek word for "rightly dividing" is orthotomeō. It means "to cut straight" or "to handle aright." This suggests that we should approach the Word of God with precision and care.

The Straight Cut

When we rightly divide the Word, we are presenting the Gospel in a clear, undiluted, and unbent manner. We avoid mixing the old covenant with the new, grace with works, or human doctrines with the purity of God's message.

The Power of Clarity

The Mirror Bible emphasizes the power of clarity: "There is such an immediate authority in clarity! Truth triumphs over every contradiction!" (II Timothy 2:15, Mirror Bible). When we present the Gospel straight, we unveil Jesus in all His splendor. It shines a light on the difference between the law of works and the law of perfect liberty in Christ.

Applying the Straight Cut in Our Lives

This concept of "cutting straight" challenges us to be honest with ourselves and others about the Gospel's message. It means avoiding the temptation to add our own interpretations or opinions. It means allowing the pure, unadulterated Word of God to take center stage.

Key Biblical Principles

1. The Unity of Scripture: The Bible is a unified whole, each part complementing and illuminating the other. We must avoid isolating passages from their context, as this can lead to misinterpretation. The whole of the Bible is about Jesus and we should be careful to make the Bible into law or a recipe book for us to follow.

2. The Authority of Scripture: The living Word, Jesus,  is the supreme authority for believers. The Bible is the written word. It is the inspired Word of God, and it provides the standard for truth that we would do good to read with the assistance of the Holy Spirit to discern well

3. The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus. He is our guide and teacher, illuminating and rightly dividing the written Word of God along with the truth of God's Word. We must rely on His guidance to understand Scripture correctly.

4. The Importance of Context: Understanding the historical, cultural, and literary context of a passage is essential for proper discernment and interpretation.

The Challenge and the Reward

The Gospel should always be provided with clarity and truth. In this regard Jesus, and His finished work, is the focus. He is the Way, the Truth and Life. In world of confusion, this focus requires diligence, just as Paul instructs Timothy. The reward is immense. When we do so, we open the door for others to experience the complete grace and approval of God, just like the Mirror Bible translation highlights. We empower others to walk in the victory achieved by the Word Himself – the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Look in the Mirror

Without any delay, live your life from a place where you are familiar with the complete approval of God; you do not need to apologize for the fact that your experience might be a contradiction to your faith! What God believes about you needs no defence! There is such an immediate authority in clarity! Truth triumphs over every contradiction! It makes a clear-cut division between light and darkness; the word of truth shows distinctly that the duty-driven law of works and annoyances and the love-driven law of perfect liberty have nothing in common! (The word spoudazō means to use speed, to be prompt, immediately. The word paristēmi from para, a preposition indicating close proximity, a thing proceeding from a sphere of influence, with a suggestion of union of place of residence, to have sprung from its author and giver, originating from, denoting the point from which an action originates, intimate connection; and istemi, to position. The word alētheia means not concealed, truth, clarity.) [II Timothy 2:15] http://www.mirrorbible.com]

Conclusion

Let's commit to cutting straight! Let's present the Gospel with precision and care, allowing the transformative power of God's Word onto salvation. By doing so, we can ensure that our understanding of God's grace aligns with Him. This is our calling.

The volume of the book

Today we are eavesdropping on some conversation between other people.

Think that's good?

Is it even allowed?

In the Bible?

Well, it's in the Bible!

ergazomai ... or logizomai

Writing his letter to the Romans, Paul asks this question that forms the basis of who we are ...

He asks in Romans 4 are you what you are because you were able to work for it yourself, or because you are so reckoned?

Where do you find your identity?

"Can you work it out?"

Fruit of the Spirit

Have you ever heard the preaching that says how that you have to bear fruit?

And the right fruit!

Not the wrong fruit!

You will be known by your fruit!

An able God!

Most of us believe that God is able to fulfill His promises.

However, most of what we are told is nothing more than deferred hope (Pro 13:12) - a gospel based on distance (God is far) and delay (you'd never know when, or if God would move). Pure religion!

Even the Israelites believed this lie whilst God moved visibly with them in the desert, yet instantly helped them when they were thirsty, hungry, in need of victory over their enemies, bitten by snakes, etc. etc.

Reading who God is in pictures

Can you remember those cvc children's books where you start off by reading in written text and every now and then a word is substituted by a picture in the sentence?

As children play

Well, ancient text writing started out exactly like that. Written language (or text) was a mere system of simple pictures (pictographs or symbols) organized in such a way that whoever reads it would read the same message again and again.

Know your place ...

It is always good to know where you are ...

No, seriously!

Not knowing where you stand may cause you to behave and react in totally strange and irrational ways. It may even make you do things that you ought not to. And for many perverse reasons ...

When church is not church

When Church is Not Church

A strange thing happened this week. I was having a quiet time with the Holy Spirit, pondering the meaning of "church," when I received a question about the names of the churches in the book of Revelation. By the time I received the question, I had already coined the title of this post: "When Church is Not Church."

Amazingly, my quiet time turned into more of a revelation than I expected.

Let's start with the word "church."

Exceeding glorious ministry of righteousness

This post is not my own.

I admit that I copied it all from the Apostle of Grace.

And I'm not even commenting.

Every thing said is just perfect.

So, sit back and drink deep, very deep.

Then, ponder and let it sink in ...

Repeat as often as you need.

Shaken by end-time prophecy

Many times we are troubled and shaken by so-called end-time-prophecies.

Many times a sense of fear is provoked amongst believers. All based on obedience and own works ... Do! Get Busy! Serve! Obey!

And the institutional church has become an expert in this.

Purposed freedom against a defeated foe

I love reading the old covenant Bible scriptures and seeing how it all points to Jesus.

I love reading and seeing ALL the law, all the prophecies, all the proverbs, history and sayings all come together, fulfilled in Jesus. Perfectly

I love looking at scripture and realizing IT  IS DONE.

Covered

Sometimes we all feel like failures ... and the institutional church plays no insignificant part in this.

But ask yourself. Who exactly is it that specializes in making the beloved of God feel like failures, unworthy, unjust, unfulfilled, sinners ..?

Who is that?

You guessed it right!

Whole Armor of God

Among charismatics Ephesians 6:14-18 have always been a very prominent scripture. On the other end if the scale traditional churches have not paid much attention to these verses.

Again, it has to do with to-do or not- to-do ... to some to be active or to be passive.

Foolishness - don't be a moron!

How to be a fool in one easy step ...

To be foolish is a serious thing!

Nobody wants to be foolish!

No one wants to be a fool!

But is it possible. And what exactly does it mean?

The Bible tells us in no uncertain terms who a fool is:To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. Psa 14:1

And the wise Solomon says He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. Pro 11:29

David should know

After all, he encountered such a person by the name of Nâbâl (Fool). Nâbâl was a rich, religious Celebite with a beautiful wife that he neglected and constantly ignored. He also scorned and insulted David (Beloved) and his men by refusing them shelter and food when they fled from king Saul in the wilderness.

David decided to execute Nâbâl.

so, Nâbâl's beautiful wife, Abigail (My-Father-is-silly) then took David and his men some provisions and pleaded for the life of her rude and uncanny husband. As soon as she told Nâbâl what she did, he killed over and died from a heart attack.

Strange story. But it is true.

The moral of the story?

This is the story of the fool disregarding the Beloved.

If you do not have Jesus, you are a fool!

What did Paul say about mōria?

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Foolishness.

In the Greek foolishness is the word mōria.

It occurs only five times in the New Testament. All five times are in Paul's first book to the Corinthians. 

The meaning of the word reaches deep down to the very foundation of what a fool is.

The word mōria means silliness or absurdity, foolishness. It comes from the base word mōros where we get the word moron from. Directly translated it means impious, godless, dull, stupid, fool...

Wow!

And then there is muō

The word mōria is further derived from Greek word μύω or muō, which is even more explanatory. Muō means to be dum struck or to be shut in the mouth. From this word comes the idea of a secret or mystery founded on silence, imposed by an initiation into religious rites (Strongs concordance).

Wow, religion really can render you speechless and powerless!

Why is Paul writing about foolishness?

In fact, Paul's letter is a letter of encouragement to the believers in Corinth for them to continue in the Spirit and not to let the works of the flesh (self-righteousness) get the better of them. He is drawing a comparison between earthly wisdom (foolishness) and spiritual wisdom.

Paul is saying that the wisdom of this word is superficial. James said the same thing: This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. Jas 3:15

In contrast, the wisdom revealed by the Spirit is so deep, intimate, intense and liberating,  rendering exuberant and saturated with the very thoughts and mind-set of Christ Himself!

Paul keeps explaining

But as it is written,
Eye hath not seen,
nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man,
the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?
Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God;
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Which things also we speak,
not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth,
but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;
comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:
for they are foolishness unto him:
neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things,
yet he himself is judged of no man.

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1Co 2:9-16

... want to read it again?

Born blind but receive sight

More precious than pure gold

One of the most precious words the Holy Spirit taught me when I came to Grace some years ago, is the word "receive" or lambanō.

It can be one of the hardest things to receive something you have not worked for or earned and you feel it is undeserved and there must be something that you can do to deserve it.

But ...

The beguilement of touch not, taste not, feel not

The Word of God comes out strongly against the false teaching of this world ...

Doctrine and dogma

It is the doctrine of man.

It is a Pharisee's interpretation, turning and twisting ...

Amatory ode

Finding Jesus in the Psalms is no difficult task.

It is all about Him.

He is all about me.

And reading with the lenses of Grace makes this fundamental truth abundantly clear. And mind-blowing.