Why not just go? Why therefore?

Why did Jesus not say "go"?

Why did He say "... therefore go"?

I bet you there is a reason!

And it's a GOOD one too!

Beware of enticing philosophy

Man made ordinances and traditions can strip us of our identity in Christ.

I essence we could allow ourselves to be stripped of our identity in Christ by the very choices we make.

How?

By persuasion of deceit for the love of wisdom ...

What?

Build the house - oikodomē

How do we proceed with the Gospel?

Amid all the ungodliness and strive and and deception and lies and idol worship that is going on in the world ... today ...

How do we proceed with our calling?

How do we act and react and move and find our being?

Death is abolished - katargeō

Jesus abolished death.

What? People are still dying, Daniel. Have you noticed?

Yes, but are they?

Paul writing to his spiritual son, Timothy who was sent on an apostolic mission to one of the greatest idol worshiping cities of all times
, Ephesus, writes words of encouragement to him.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 2Ti 1:7-10

What is Paul saying and why?

Paul is encouraging his spiritual son, Timothy who appears to have been going through some  difficult times and criticisms.

Paul is saying to Timothy be encouraged, stir up the Gift, the Spirit of God inside. Do not listen to the wrong spirit, the Spirit that instills fear. Listen to the One Who overwhelms you with love and power and make you think straight in line with Truth Himself.

Maybe some paraphrasing is required here ...

He says therefore don't be quiet on how good God is in Jesus, nor of those testifying about His goodness. 

Partake of the endurance of the Good News by applying the power of your dominion as a son of God. This was the original plan of God, His calling for man from the beginning, to rule not by our own strength and might, but by the finished work of Jesus Christ given to us even before time was. This true Grace toward man was beautifully confirmed by Jesus, God manifest in flesh.

It is made tangible and within reach for all by our Saviour, Jesus, who had katargeō death. He brought only life and eternal living, face to face with man. He is the wondrous Gospel! 

katargeō?

katargeō means to make entirely useless, to destroy, do away with entirely, to totally abolish, to finish off for good both literally or figuratively.

Case closed!

... only life and eternal living, face to face with man for man to receive!

Amen.

HalleluYAH, Amen!

GIGO - we are what we eat

We are all familiar with the saying garbage-in-garbage-out. 

It is used a lot in the world of computer programming and data analysis. But it holds true for most of life ...

We are what we eat ... so the nutritionists say.

Are we?

Justification and Righteousness

If you look at yourself ... just how acceptable are you?

Is there room for improvement?

Somewhat ...?

Slightly ...?

What exactly is the picture you see looking in the mirror?

Amazing what the brain-washed mind can see!

What is this all about?

hopoios - what quality of person are you?

ὁποῖος Hopoios - What manner of person are you?

What kind of Greek question is this?

This is really the question ...

To be or not to be ...

Being a human-being or being a human-doing

Built to specifications!

My dear friend, church, house, holy one ...

Can I call you that?

Do you feel comfortable responding to that?

Do you consider yourself that?

Holy? House? Church? Friend of God?

Ultimate Grace to those in bondage!

I am sometimes astonished that even today people get confused over who exactly God is.

They mix good and evil and call that God. 

They mix distance and delay with living within and now, and call that God.

They mix law and Grace and call that God.

... very much the same as in the time of Moses.

Continually consume my mind - kisses!

Don't you just love the Message translation when it comes to conveying feelings and emotions and the heart of Jesus?

There is something about love-language that instantly focuses your attention.

Hear Jesus' voice when it comes to His lover in Songs of Solomon 1:1-4: