The Christ Reflection

 

As He Is, So Are We in This World: Unveiling the Radical Reality of Hyper-Grace and Christ's Finished Work – Operating in Dominion Authority

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17). This profound declaration from the Apostle John stands as one of the boldest statements in the entire New Testament. It is not a hopeful wish or a distant aspiration; it is a radical, present-tense reality. But how can mere mortals, prone to struggle and imperfection, be genuinely likened to the glorified Son of God, even now and here, and what does this have to do with boldness in the face of judgment? The answer lies wholly within the majestic truth of

Many are called … few are chosen. Are You?

For Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen: The Message of Grace

Jesus uses a phrase that often causes confusion, if not condemnation, in the hearts of believers. In Matthew 20:16 and Matthew 22:14, He says, "...for many be called, but few chosen."

This phrase follows two of His most powerful parables: the parable of the workers in the vineyard who are all paid the same wage regardless of when they started, and the parable of the wedding feast where one guest is cast out for not wearing the proper garment.

Is this phrase a warning of exclusion, a looming threat that implies our salvation is conditional upon our performance? Or is it a profound revelation of God's unchanging nature and His redemptive plan?

Legalistic preachers often use this text to condemn their audience, preaching, "Get right with God or get left behind!" or "Repent, or you won't be chosen!" This mindset forces people into a law-abiding, Pharisee-like way of thinking. In doing so, they miss the very heart of the Gospel and risk causing believers to fall from grace by returning to a works-based system (Galatians 5:4).

So, what is the true meaning behind Jesus's words?

The Case for Hyper-Grace

Unpacking "Hyper-Grace": Beyond Measure, Beyond Doubt, All Because of Christ's Finished Work

Someone asks the question:

"Is this new 'hyper grace' movement OK?"

Mmmmm, well, firstly, let's establish that the concept of abundant grace is certainly not new; it's as ancient as the Gospel itself! The term "Hyper-Grace" is a modern label, often used to describe teachings that emphasize God's grace to such an extent that critics sometimes argue it neglects other biblical truths (denominational and religious dogma) like personal responsibility, repentance for believers, or the pursuit of holiness. However, when understood biblically, "hyper-grace" simply points to the immeasurable, overflowing, and radical nature of God's favour given to us in Christ. It is God’s Gift from which we cannot subtract, nor add to make our salvation and position in Christ even better.

So, let's see. We know that Grace is God's unmerited, unearned favour. It's the divine kindness extended to humanity, not because of what we do, but because of who God is and what He has done for us. In the New Testament, the primary Greek word for grace is χάρις (charis). This word signifies God's benevolent disposition and the divine enablement that empowers believers. It is in Jesus Christ that we see Grace personified and perfectly demonstrated!

Hyper? A Biblical Super-Abundance

Baruch Ha Ba Ba Shem Adonai - Revisited

Baruch Ha Ba Ba Shem Adonai: Embracing Wholeness in the Name of Jesus

One of my earliest memories when I became intimately aware of the love and presence of Christ was the ancient Hebrew blessing, Baruch ha ba ha Schem Adonai (בָּרוּךְ הַבָּא בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה)? It's a phrase bursting with deep and intuitive meaning: 

"Blessed be He who cometh in the Name of the LORD."

The original Hebrew text cuts right to the heart of it: "Blessed be He who cometh in the Name of Yahveh." This isn't just a greeting; it's a deep declaration of authority, identity, and divine purpose. It is a very personal statement, using the Personal Name of the Blesser Himself.

But who is it that comes in His Name?

The Lover's Intimate Whisper to the Ekklēsia

Don't you just love the Message translation when it comes to conveying feelings,  emotions and truth, the very heart of Jesus? There is something about love-language that instantly focuses your attention. It draws you in, inviting you into an intimate embrace with the Divine. This deep, personal connection is the very wellspring from which God desires to reveal all truth, including profound insights into His people, His beloved ekklēsia.

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

 

There's a subtle, yet dangerous, distortion of a powerful biblical truth propagated in most Christian circles: the idea that the Body of Christ should embrace complacency because "the battle belongs to the Lord." This notion, often spread by well-meaning songwriters and leaders of religious institutions, can unfortunately lead believers to believe they have zero dominion, power, and authority. This is precisely what the enemy desires – for us to believe this lie so he can prance onto the battlefield with pride and joy, unhindered.

Let's unpack this crucial truth, not by dismissing "the battle belongs to the Lord," but by understanding it within the full context and counsel of God's Word, especially through the lens of the fully accomplished work of Christ.

Fullness of Christ as the day breaks trough

Growing into the Fullness of Christ

The Christian journey, for many, often feels like a relentless striving towards an elusive ideal. We hear calls to spiritual maturity, to be "more like Jesus," and sometimes, these calls can subtly morph into a burdensome checklist of performance. WWJD. Yet, tucked away in the New Testament in clear sight, is a profound declaration of our destiny, particularly in Ephesians 4:13 (NKJV): "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

From a grace perspective, this isn't a command to labour tirelessly to achieve something we lack. Instead, it's a glorious invitation to manifest the divine reality that is already complete within us through the finished work of Jesus Christ. This verse, when seen through the lens of God's lavish grace and its surrounding context, reveals spiritual growth not as a demanding climb, but as a beautiful, effortless unfolding of Christ's life within the united Body of Christ.

Teacher - YAH-rah and bridling - Revisited

Unbridled horses are just strong, elegant, and beautiful animals that serve no purpose except to satisfy their own needs. Yet, once bridled, they can fulfill a multitude of useful purposes with all their inherent power and might.

It’s the same with us. If we are not taught (by the Holy Spirit), we are without understanding, like a horse or a mule running wild and without purpose.

The question is: How do we bridle ourselves?

Paranoia or Metanoia? Living with a Transformed Mind in the Finished Work of Christ

 

“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” — Romans 12:2 KJV

Many believers live in a quiet state of paranoia—always second-guessing their standing with God, questioning whether they've done enough, or if their faith is strong enough. This mindset reflects an underlying fear, one that religion often feeds but Grace destroys.

God never intended us to live beside the mind (the literal meaning of paranoia) but to live from a transformed mind—the mind of Christ, rooted in the truth of His finished work. That transformation is called metanoia—a complete change of thinking.

What is Metanoia?

Two Minds, One King

Two Minds, One King: Overcoming Double-Mindedness in the Fullness of Grace

Have you ever found yourself in a state of internal tug-of-war? One moment, you're confidently declaring God's promises and appropriating your inherited dominion in Christ, the next, a whisper of doubt or fear creeps in. One day, you're walking in victory, the next, old habits or worries resurface. This isn't just common; it’s what the Bible calls double-mindedness. In the world of Psychology, this inner turmoil is known as cognitive dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance is the mental distress or psychological angst someone feels when battling contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values.