This triad idea is so huge. I find that making lists can be helpful in studies like this one but there is a point where you realize and say, 'Wow, This is going to be a very long complicated list.'
Here is one gem I found this morning that I hope is a blessing.
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." - 1 John 2:16 KJV
"This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." - 1 John 5:6-8 KJV
Three things that are not of the Father but then there are three that are witnesses here on Earth and in Heaven.
Lust and pride involve self-orientation apart from God. They are three very deep things that came with the fall of mankind. God didn't design creation and include those things. They are a dynamic added after Adam exited the garden of Eden.
The three witnesses on Earth came after the fall also but center in on Christ Himself. They are Christocentric witnesses involving His incarnation. God becoming a man produced three visible witnesses that can speak to us.
Who will we listen to? Will it be lust or will it be redemption? They both call to us and pull us in different directions.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:2 KJV
The good, acceptable and perfect will of God is that we take heed to the three witnesses we have been given.
--
Showing posts with label Blood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blood. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Enjoy The Victory
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV
I'm reading a booklet and the Pastor says something interesting about besetting sin...
'Smoking is not the real issue; the issue is that this person enjoys no victory. His health is being tremendously affected. The whole issue behind his predicament is a besetting sin that he will not let go. As a result, He is limited in his blessings, in his process, and in his progress in the Kingdom of God. He has admitted that he doesn't feel right when he smokes, but he will not receive victory above his preoccupation.' -Carl H Stevens, Jr (Church Leadership)
The part that caught me this morning was '...he enjoys no victory...'
We need to enjoy victory. You might say, 'I'm not a competitive person'. Ok. I get that. But victory comes in many forms.
"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." - Revelation 12:10-11 KJV
Who did 'they' overcome in this Heavenly vision of the future? They overcame 'the accuser' who told them that their identity was something less than what it was.
The Blood of the Lamb = The reality that sin has been paid for and delt with
The Word of Their Testimony = The story they rehearsed about God's faithfulness
Loved Not Their Lives = The lived like eternity was real
Oversimplified. Yes. Maybe a little.
It isn't the smoking. It's the cycle of defeat. Jesus provides a counter spin of victory that overcomes the whirlpool of accusation. Every believer is an overcomer because of the blood but no believer will experience daily victories unless they talk truth against the current and live beyond self-love.
You are a winner. Say it. You have won because of Jesus.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:35-39 ESV
I like the 'no' in that passage. That 'no' shows a contest. Let's win that battle today and say, 'No. We (not i) are more than conquerors.' because the accusation isn't just against us and we don't live in victory just for ourselves.
--
I'm reading a booklet and the Pastor says something interesting about besetting sin...
'Smoking is not the real issue; the issue is that this person enjoys no victory. His health is being tremendously affected. The whole issue behind his predicament is a besetting sin that he will not let go. As a result, He is limited in his blessings, in his process, and in his progress in the Kingdom of God. He has admitted that he doesn't feel right when he smokes, but he will not receive victory above his preoccupation.' -Carl H Stevens, Jr (Church Leadership)
The part that caught me this morning was '...he enjoys no victory...'
We need to enjoy victory. You might say, 'I'm not a competitive person'. Ok. I get that. But victory comes in many forms.
"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." - Revelation 12:10-11 KJV
Who did 'they' overcome in this Heavenly vision of the future? They overcame 'the accuser' who told them that their identity was something less than what it was.
The Blood of the Lamb = The reality that sin has been paid for and delt with
The Word of Their Testimony = The story they rehearsed about God's faithfulness
Loved Not Their Lives = The lived like eternity was real
Oversimplified. Yes. Maybe a little.
It isn't the smoking. It's the cycle of defeat. Jesus provides a counter spin of victory that overcomes the whirlpool of accusation. Every believer is an overcomer because of the blood but no believer will experience daily victories unless they talk truth against the current and live beyond self-love.
You are a winner. Say it. You have won because of Jesus.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:35-39 ESV
I like the 'no' in that passage. That 'no' shows a contest. Let's win that battle today and say, 'No. We (not i) are more than conquerors.' because the accusation isn't just against us and we don't live in victory just for ourselves.
--
Friday, February 3, 2017
Three Living Witnesses
Mulling over the concept of a 'witness.'
"A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established." - Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV
A witness is someone who saw something so they say something. God required witnesses for certain legal proceedings. A notary is a kind of witness. They sign to say someone else was present.
"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." - 1 John 5:4-13 ESV
I have to say... this is not an easy passage. For a long time it came across to me as legal jargon. I had a person tell me the Gospel. How are the water, blood and Spirit involved? Ok... Maybe I could begin to grasp how the Spirit was involved but the water and blood part made little sense to me.
Perhaps this refers to the Gospels? I think it has a dual reference... the Gospels and now. Jesus was baptized... water. Jesus shed His blood. He was born of a virgin and had pure blood uncorrupted by sin. Those things speak historically.
"For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son." - 1 John 5:7-9 ESV
This is a right now kind of believing from witnesses that are speaking now in a courtroom of sorts. That means they are living witnesses. Wow.
The Spirit is speaking. The water is living and speaking. Water is often a picture of truth... pure, clear, flowing and cleansing...
"...by the washing of water with the word," - Ephesians 5:26b ESV
Then there is the blood we spoke about yesterday. It is a living witness. It experienced all our sin on the cross and was poured out as a remedy.
"...and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." - Hebrews 12:24 ESV
Abel was the first murder victim and his blood cried out asking for revenge. Jesus' blood asks the Father if He would forgive us.
Believers in Jesus have living witnesses that speak. That is unique. No other philosophy or religion has this threefold correlation.
"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." - 1 John 5:13 ESV
If we have seen and believed then we can become witnesses of redemption if we open our mouths and recount what we saw.
P Butch Veader has been speaking about this concept for the last few weeks with the Evangelistes and it is really revolutionary. The passage isn't jargon to me anymore. It is starting to sink in.
In the courtroom when a witness opens their mouth things become real. That person is alive with perceptions and feelings. Then another totally different person takes the stand with a different but correlating point of view... then another. What happens? We are convinced. We need to be convinced in order to have hope.
There are three witnesses... Hear what they say today... weight their words against your evaluations. They were there in history and they are here right now speaking.
--
"A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established." - Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV
A witness is someone who saw something so they say something. God required witnesses for certain legal proceedings. A notary is a kind of witness. They sign to say someone else was present.
"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." - 1 John 5:4-13 ESV
I have to say... this is not an easy passage. For a long time it came across to me as legal jargon. I had a person tell me the Gospel. How are the water, blood and Spirit involved? Ok... Maybe I could begin to grasp how the Spirit was involved but the water and blood part made little sense to me.
Perhaps this refers to the Gospels? I think it has a dual reference... the Gospels and now. Jesus was baptized... water. Jesus shed His blood. He was born of a virgin and had pure blood uncorrupted by sin. Those things speak historically.
"For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son." - 1 John 5:7-9 ESV
This is a right now kind of believing from witnesses that are speaking now in a courtroom of sorts. That means they are living witnesses. Wow.
The Spirit is speaking. The water is living and speaking. Water is often a picture of truth... pure, clear, flowing and cleansing...
"...by the washing of water with the word," - Ephesians 5:26b ESV
Then there is the blood we spoke about yesterday. It is a living witness. It experienced all our sin on the cross and was poured out as a remedy.
"...and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." - Hebrews 12:24 ESV
Abel was the first murder victim and his blood cried out asking for revenge. Jesus' blood asks the Father if He would forgive us.
Believers in Jesus have living witnesses that speak. That is unique. No other philosophy or religion has this threefold correlation.
"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." - 1 John 5:13 ESV
If we have seen and believed then we can become witnesses of redemption if we open our mouths and recount what we saw.
P Butch Veader has been speaking about this concept for the last few weeks with the Evangelistes and it is really revolutionary. The passage isn't jargon to me anymore. It is starting to sink in.
In the courtroom when a witness opens their mouth things become real. That person is alive with perceptions and feelings. Then another totally different person takes the stand with a different but correlating point of view... then another. What happens? We are convinced. We need to be convinced in order to have hope.
There are three witnesses... Hear what they say today... weight their words against your evaluations. They were there in history and they are here right now speaking.
--
Monday, May 2, 2016
No Familiarity With Forgiveness
"He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" - Hebrews 10:28-29 KJV
What an interesting passage this is to study in the Greek. I used the KJV because the language is much closer to what is being said in the Greek. One notable difference a should point out is that 'died without mercy' should be 'dies without mercy' because it is a present active indicative (the ESV translation gets this right).
What caught my eye this morning was 'despises Moses law' atheteo (Strong's G114) in the aorist tense and 'done despite unto the Spirit of Grace' enybrizo (Strong's G1796) as also in the aorist tense.
This culture knew exactly what it was to despise the law of Moses. People were aware of the law and their culture reflected it. You had to habitually ignore or rebel against it until there were two or three witnesses who saw you and were willing to testify against you to have the penalties applied to you.
This idea is brought into the idea of having reverence for the blood of Jesus Christ. If a person has a lifestyle that discounts the work of the cross and lives in the culture and enjoys the benefits of the culture but habitually ignores forgiveness then they 'insult' (aorist tense) the Spirit of Grace. If this were past tense then it would be something that happened and is over but it is aorist so it happening in time but has lasting results into the future until there are inevitable consequences. How can you insult someone who gives unmerited favor and is not performance oriented? This is the way you do it. Familiarity with the blood of Christ by acting outside forgiveness until it is apparent and witnessed by people who are so fed up that they are willing to testify against you. Wow.
Jesus is Holy. His blood is holy. We can forgive based on His blood alone. It is in truth the only basis for true forgiveness. If we base forgiveness or unforgiveness on sorrow or apology as a practice then we are careless believers. We are like an Israelite who keeps the Sabbath if it suits him but works if he feels like working. Moses law is flimsy to this man. It is just a guideline and not a boundary that must not be crossed.
I behold the cross and the now empty tomb this morning and it reinforces my resolve. Jesus' blood is holy and I can't be familiar or conditional. I don't want the Trinity to see my life and say, 'Look He doesn't care what we have done. He walks on it like dirt.'
God forbid.
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." - Hebrews 12:22-24 ESV
If the eternal blood of God was shed for people's sins then I want to hear what it is saying. It says 'forgive because I have forgiven'. Don't insult the giver. Take the gift and reverence it because it is a precious gift.
--
What an interesting passage this is to study in the Greek. I used the KJV because the language is much closer to what is being said in the Greek. One notable difference a should point out is that 'died without mercy' should be 'dies without mercy' because it is a present active indicative (the ESV translation gets this right).
What caught my eye this morning was 'despises Moses law' atheteo (Strong's G114) in the aorist tense and 'done despite unto the Spirit of Grace' enybrizo (Strong's G1796) as also in the aorist tense.
This culture knew exactly what it was to despise the law of Moses. People were aware of the law and their culture reflected it. You had to habitually ignore or rebel against it until there were two or three witnesses who saw you and were willing to testify against you to have the penalties applied to you.
This idea is brought into the idea of having reverence for the blood of Jesus Christ. If a person has a lifestyle that discounts the work of the cross and lives in the culture and enjoys the benefits of the culture but habitually ignores forgiveness then they 'insult' (aorist tense) the Spirit of Grace. If this were past tense then it would be something that happened and is over but it is aorist so it happening in time but has lasting results into the future until there are inevitable consequences. How can you insult someone who gives unmerited favor and is not performance oriented? This is the way you do it. Familiarity with the blood of Christ by acting outside forgiveness until it is apparent and witnessed by people who are so fed up that they are willing to testify against you. Wow.
Jesus is Holy. His blood is holy. We can forgive based on His blood alone. It is in truth the only basis for true forgiveness. If we base forgiveness or unforgiveness on sorrow or apology as a practice then we are careless believers. We are like an Israelite who keeps the Sabbath if it suits him but works if he feels like working. Moses law is flimsy to this man. It is just a guideline and not a boundary that must not be crossed.
I behold the cross and the now empty tomb this morning and it reinforces my resolve. Jesus' blood is holy and I can't be familiar or conditional. I don't want the Trinity to see my life and say, 'Look He doesn't care what we have done. He walks on it like dirt.'
God forbid.
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." - Hebrews 12:22-24 ESV
If the eternal blood of God was shed for people's sins then I want to hear what it is saying. It says 'forgive because I have forgiven'. Don't insult the giver. Take the gift and reverence it because it is a precious gift.
--
Friday, January 8, 2016
Three Principles Of The Overcomer
"And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.' " - Revelation 12:10-11 ESV
Repentance (recognizing the power and redemptive merit of the blood of Christ), confession (professing Biblical eternal truth as it pertains to life and circumstances) and not loving your life so much that you won't lay it down (having the life and mind of Christ functioning in your day to day experience) are the marks of the overcomer.
I was refreshed in this doctrine last night at coffee. P Butch Veader was so exercised in this truth. I could only stay for a few short moments because of commitments but wow! I was so glad for those few moments.
"Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." - Matthew 18:19-20 ESV
This truth does not need my endorsement but here I am endorsing it once again. With just a handful of people much can happen. If one or more of them are overcomers then watch out! The atmosphere of a place is overwhelmed by glory. People can't help but pay attention when they 'overhear' eternal words.
Thank God for people who will lay down their lives. Thank God for those who recognize the power of the blood of Christ. Thank God for ones who won't put a bushel over the candle of truth.
The accuser will one day be put down. That is what Revelation 12 declares. We have the privilege (and challenge) to function today as overcomers. It won't happen by force of will or strength of personality.
"Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts." - Zechariah 4:6b ESV
Let's turn to God and win the souls of people as ones who don't love their life so much that it must be preserved at any cost. Only God can do this in us. Only grace can reveal to us this new and living way.
Help us God. Give us backbone. Gather us and make us people that will spend the time to hide Your word in our hearts. Thank you for friends who function as brothers because God has purchased them with His blood.
Thank You God... really... Thank You.
--
Repentance (recognizing the power and redemptive merit of the blood of Christ), confession (professing Biblical eternal truth as it pertains to life and circumstances) and not loving your life so much that you won't lay it down (having the life and mind of Christ functioning in your day to day experience) are the marks of the overcomer.
I was refreshed in this doctrine last night at coffee. P Butch Veader was so exercised in this truth. I could only stay for a few short moments because of commitments but wow! I was so glad for those few moments.
"Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." - Matthew 18:19-20 ESV
This truth does not need my endorsement but here I am endorsing it once again. With just a handful of people much can happen. If one or more of them are overcomers then watch out! The atmosphere of a place is overwhelmed by glory. People can't help but pay attention when they 'overhear' eternal words.
Thank God for people who will lay down their lives. Thank God for those who recognize the power of the blood of Christ. Thank God for ones who won't put a bushel over the candle of truth.
The accuser will one day be put down. That is what Revelation 12 declares. We have the privilege (and challenge) to function today as overcomers. It won't happen by force of will or strength of personality.
"Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts." - Zechariah 4:6b ESV
Let's turn to God and win the souls of people as ones who don't love their life so much that it must be preserved at any cost. Only God can do this in us. Only grace can reveal to us this new and living way.
Help us God. Give us backbone. Gather us and make us people that will spend the time to hide Your word in our hearts. Thank you for friends who function as brothers because God has purchased them with His blood.
Thank You God... really... Thank You.
--
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
The Right Balance
"A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight." - Proverbs 11:1 ESV
"For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace." - Jeremiah 6:13-14 ESV
Peace Peace... Shalom Shalom (Strong's H7965)... It is more than a feeling. Shalom Shalom is a state of harmonious rightness. It is when God's Shalom and our shalom are one. It is when, 'How are you doing is a question that does not need to be asked because the person asking has shalom and sees that same peace and rightness in the person they are with.
Shalom and strife can't coexist. Unforgiveness has no place in Shalom. The world pretends it has peace. It wants it so lies are told to pretend it is happening. The human heart brings war to the tranquil meadow. It is at war with itself.
"And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!' " - Luke 2:10-14 ESV
The most tranquil human teacher is still a false balance but the angels rejoiced to see balance appear on the planet again. Jesus has the Shalom that heals the sick. He Is the true peace. He is the right and righteous One.
We can not unbalance Him. We can enter into His balance. Grace does that. It is God's balance that has a spin we do not understand. Christ's blood is heavier than the all the sins of the world combined into one huge heavy weight.
The world seems out of control and things seem heavier than we can manage. They are heavy but not heavier than God's glory.
We come to God the Father on the basis of His Son's blood and He says, Shalom Shalom.'
We become ambassadors of that Shalom. Our homes have Shalom resting on them when Shalom rests on us. Our words frame a peace that is real and lasting.
I don't want to strive. In God's throne room I find peace. Then my face shines with it as I go out into the world. Jesus has arrived. He Is the peace of the world. He Is my Saviour.
--
"For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace." - Jeremiah 6:13-14 ESV
Peace Peace... Shalom Shalom (Strong's H7965)... It is more than a feeling. Shalom Shalom is a state of harmonious rightness. It is when God's Shalom and our shalom are one. It is when, 'How are you doing is a question that does not need to be asked because the person asking has shalom and sees that same peace and rightness in the person they are with.
Shalom and strife can't coexist. Unforgiveness has no place in Shalom. The world pretends it has peace. It wants it so lies are told to pretend it is happening. The human heart brings war to the tranquil meadow. It is at war with itself.
"And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!' " - Luke 2:10-14 ESV
The most tranquil human teacher is still a false balance but the angels rejoiced to see balance appear on the planet again. Jesus has the Shalom that heals the sick. He Is the true peace. He is the right and righteous One.
We can not unbalance Him. We can enter into His balance. Grace does that. It is God's balance that has a spin we do not understand. Christ's blood is heavier than the all the sins of the world combined into one huge heavy weight.
The world seems out of control and things seem heavier than we can manage. They are heavy but not heavier than God's glory.
We come to God the Father on the basis of His Son's blood and He says, Shalom Shalom.'
We become ambassadors of that Shalom. Our homes have Shalom resting on them when Shalom rests on us. Our words frame a peace that is real and lasting.
I don't want to strive. In God's throne room I find peace. Then my face shines with it as I go out into the world. Jesus has arrived. He Is the peace of the world. He Is my Saviour.
--
Friday, February 13, 2015
The Red That Gives Value
Value is perceived. It is not intrinsic. In other words something can't be valuable by itself. A thing can be unique by itself but not valuable.
Water quickly becomes more valuable than money when you are traveling through a desert.
Jesus didn't come to save us because we were valuable. He came to save us and make us valuable. Just like He took ordinary clay and breathed life into it to make a man. He took fallen worthless people and shed His blood to give them worth.
We live in a world where talent has value and beauty is valuable. Potential is sought and exploited. People are just resources to be used. If we think people have value on their own then we will be a 'respecter of persons' and greatly under value them.
Grace is favor based on God's perception. Jesus' blood was shed for all people. That makes all people valuable. 'Better' does not exist in this arena. No one is better or more important than anyone else but each person has tremendous value.
The question is whether or not we have the same value system that God does. If we can't agree with Him on this than how many other things are we wrong about? But, If we do agree then we can move forward using the same measuring system that He uses.
When we look in the mirror what do we see?
There will be a lot of red everywhere tomorrow. Valentine's Day is supposed to be about love. You may have someone to love or you may not. Please don't let it determine your happiness. The red that means the most to me is not the red of hearts and bows. It is the red shed on a cross 2,000 years ago. That is the love that lasts forever. That is the love that gives value.
---
Water quickly becomes more valuable than money when you are traveling through a desert.
Jesus didn't come to save us because we were valuable. He came to save us and make us valuable. Just like He took ordinary clay and breathed life into it to make a man. He took fallen worthless people and shed His blood to give them worth.
We live in a world where talent has value and beauty is valuable. Potential is sought and exploited. People are just resources to be used. If we think people have value on their own then we will be a 'respecter of persons' and greatly under value them.
Grace is favor based on God's perception. Jesus' blood was shed for all people. That makes all people valuable. 'Better' does not exist in this arena. No one is better or more important than anyone else but each person has tremendous value.
The question is whether or not we have the same value system that God does. If we can't agree with Him on this than how many other things are we wrong about? But, If we do agree then we can move forward using the same measuring system that He uses.
When we look in the mirror what do we see?
There will be a lot of red everywhere tomorrow. Valentine's Day is supposed to be about love. You may have someone to love or you may not. Please don't let it determine your happiness. The red that means the most to me is not the red of hearts and bows. It is the red shed on a cross 2,000 years ago. That is the love that lasts forever. That is the love that gives value.
---
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
It Is Finished - Part 3
The payment for sin is complete. God shed the blood 'of His own' to accomplish it. One offering was made and it is paid in full. No other offering will be made. No offering can be made.
"...the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." Acts 20:28c ESV
"Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him" Hebrews 7:25a ESV
I love that little phrase 'to save to the uttermost' in the Greek the phrase is Eis (Strong's G1519) Ho (G3588) Panteles (G3838). 'Bring them to complete perfection' would be a good alternative translation.
When Jesus said 'It is Finished' in John 19:30 he used the word Tetelestai (G5055) which comes from the same root word uttermost comes from that is Telos (G5056). Telos is the end of something. The termination point. The last payment on your car is the Telos payment. The last stoke of a paint brush on a canvas brings it to completion. When something can't go any farther because there is no farther to go it has been brought to it's termination point.
That is what Jesus did. He completed salvation. There is no farther to go. No more needs to be done. No more can ever be done. It is finished.
If are drawn near to God through Jesus our salvation is finished. No more needs to be done. No more can be done.
"For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, 'Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.'... then he added, 'Behold, I have come to do your will.' He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." - Hebrews 10:1-6, 9-10 ESV
It is a big chunk of scripture... I know... each line has such great meaning.
God took away many sacrifices and replaced them with one sacrifice. He took Israel's many sacrifices and He takes away our many sacrifices. The things we do to assuage our conscience are taken away and replaced by one man giving Himself for us. Jesus made peace with God quickly. God saw the meaning of that sacrifice and the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom. God opened the access into Holiness almost instantly.
It takes us puny shortsighted beings longer to understand. We are blinded in our traditions and routines. Our self justification is over! Oh, that is good news. Dance, sing and laugh... cry with joy as I am now... It is finished!
"And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." Hebrews 9:21-22 ESV
I like how it says almost everything. Not everything required blood but the sin issue did require it.
"Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Hebrews 9:25-26 ESV
Not only is this only done once but once done it puts the issue to bed once and for all. Sin is put away. It was put away 2,000 years ago. It was planned before the world began but it was enacted on the cross. The ruling came into full enforcement when Christ's blood was shed in time.
Jesus said this on the cross. We may need to say it again and again. We can take a deep breadth and then exhale saying 'It is finished.' We say it to ourselves... We say it to God as worship and praise. As we say it the tension leaves our brow... stress melts... things fall into perspective... not everything requires blood but the things that do are taken care of... we are free to live now.
We say it to the hopeless person... the condemned person... It is the best news possible for everyone to hear. They may not get it at first. We still don't understand the full ramifications of it. I think it will take all of eternity to grasp it.
"...the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." Acts 20:28c ESV
"Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him" Hebrews 7:25a ESV
I love that little phrase 'to save to the uttermost' in the Greek the phrase is Eis (Strong's G1519) Ho (G3588) Panteles (G3838). 'Bring them to complete perfection' would be a good alternative translation.
When Jesus said 'It is Finished' in John 19:30 he used the word Tetelestai (G5055) which comes from the same root word uttermost comes from that is Telos (G5056). Telos is the end of something. The termination point. The last payment on your car is the Telos payment. The last stoke of a paint brush on a canvas brings it to completion. When something can't go any farther because there is no farther to go it has been brought to it's termination point.
That is what Jesus did. He completed salvation. There is no farther to go. No more needs to be done. No more can ever be done. It is finished.
If are drawn near to God through Jesus our salvation is finished. No more needs to be done. No more can be done.
"For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, 'Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.'... then he added, 'Behold, I have come to do your will.' He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." - Hebrews 10:1-6, 9-10 ESV
It is a big chunk of scripture... I know... each line has such great meaning.
God took away many sacrifices and replaced them with one sacrifice. He took Israel's many sacrifices and He takes away our many sacrifices. The things we do to assuage our conscience are taken away and replaced by one man giving Himself for us. Jesus made peace with God quickly. God saw the meaning of that sacrifice and the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom. God opened the access into Holiness almost instantly.
It takes us puny shortsighted beings longer to understand. We are blinded in our traditions and routines. Our self justification is over! Oh, that is good news. Dance, sing and laugh... cry with joy as I am now... It is finished!
"And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." Hebrews 9:21-22 ESV
I like how it says almost everything. Not everything required blood but the sin issue did require it.
"Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Hebrews 9:25-26 ESV
Not only is this only done once but once done it puts the issue to bed once and for all. Sin is put away. It was put away 2,000 years ago. It was planned before the world began but it was enacted on the cross. The ruling came into full enforcement when Christ's blood was shed in time.
Jesus said this on the cross. We may need to say it again and again. We can take a deep breadth and then exhale saying 'It is finished.' We say it to ourselves... We say it to God as worship and praise. As we say it the tension leaves our brow... stress melts... things fall into perspective... not everything requires blood but the things that do are taken care of... we are free to live now.
We say it to the hopeless person... the condemned person... It is the best news possible for everyone to hear. They may not get it at first. We still don't understand the full ramifications of it. I think it will take all of eternity to grasp it.
Monday, January 21, 2013
A Lamb?
"And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." Rev 5:6
This image of Christ as a lamb was a strange one to me at first. It is one thing for John the Baptist to say it. In John's gospel...
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29
It signifies Christ's role as a sacrifice. I understand that... but the scripture keeps saying it over and over in the book of Revelation...
"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see." Rev 6:1
"And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." Rev 15:3
Clearly Christ is known this way. It was not a temporary reference that was later dropped. Some say, 'Christ came first as a lamb but will return like the lion of the tribe of Judah.' (see Rev 5:5) making it seem like there is a change of some kind away from this 'lamb' image but it is still this lamb that wages war in Rev 17:14.
This image endures all the way until the end of the book and the end of time...
"And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:" Rev 22:3
Why? What is the significance of this? Stick with me here I am going to put on my white lab coat and get all scientific for a minute... I'll take it off again I promise. {smile}
I was thinking about Christ's blood and the non-reactive nature of it. There are several types of human blood. Blood type primarily determined by immune response. There are substances we call antigens that are found on red blood cells. If person has these substances on their cells then they do not have the antibodies in the plasma of their blood that will react to these substances. There are over 600 known antigens but there are are two that cause such a reaction that they can split blood types into four categories (A, B, AB, O) depending upon the reaction. They have other names but they are so important in blood typing that they have labeled them A and B.
A person with both antigen A and B on their blood cells has no antibodies that will react to A and B in their blood stream and they can receive blood from anyone. They are known as universal donors.
Type O people can give blood to anyone but can not have type A, B or AB transfused into their body because their immune system would react to that blood causing them to get very sick.
Ok... That was a bit complex I know and I may have lost some of you... let's shift gears...
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the BLOOD OF ABEL." Heb 12:22-24
Christ's blood speaks 'better things', it is non-reactive, Abel's blood cried out from the ground in the fourth chapter of Genesis. Jesus' blood is not screaming for vengeance. It is non-reactive like a little lamb is.
"Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth." Acts 8:32b
Jesus was all that a man is and that is what qualified Him to be our Savior. He is like us... but more... much more. He will not react to what we as fallen men would react to. Psychic infections have produced antibodies in us that lash out... so much so that like someone with an autoimmune disease we attack ourselves and are damaged by friendly fire in our soul.
Not Jesus. He is at peace. He is a relaxed little lamb sunning Himself and basking in the warmth of His Father's love.
At our rebirth we become like little lambs. It is a new nature. God does it to us and in us. We remain human but we are also more. That is why salvation is done 100% by God and not even 1% by us. We might change our behavior but we could never shed our old fallen nature.
The new nature is non-reactive. Sin is not attached to it and never will be. We don't cry for vengeance as a new man. We can plead for mercy for those that offend us.
This image of Christ as a lamb was a strange one to me at first. It is one thing for John the Baptist to say it. In John's gospel...
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29
It signifies Christ's role as a sacrifice. I understand that... but the scripture keeps saying it over and over in the book of Revelation...
"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see." Rev 6:1
"And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." Rev 15:3
Clearly Christ is known this way. It was not a temporary reference that was later dropped. Some say, 'Christ came first as a lamb but will return like the lion of the tribe of Judah.' (see Rev 5:5) making it seem like there is a change of some kind away from this 'lamb' image but it is still this lamb that wages war in Rev 17:14.
This image endures all the way until the end of the book and the end of time...
"And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:" Rev 22:3
Why? What is the significance of this? Stick with me here I am going to put on my white lab coat and get all scientific for a minute... I'll take it off again I promise. {smile}
I was thinking about Christ's blood and the non-reactive nature of it. There are several types of human blood. Blood type primarily determined by immune response. There are substances we call antigens that are found on red blood cells. If person has these substances on their cells then they do not have the antibodies in the plasma of their blood that will react to these substances. There are over 600 known antigens but there are are two that cause such a reaction that they can split blood types into four categories (A, B, AB, O) depending upon the reaction. They have other names but they are so important in blood typing that they have labeled them A and B.
A person with both antigen A and B on their blood cells has no antibodies that will react to A and B in their blood stream and they can receive blood from anyone. They are known as universal donors.
Type O people can give blood to anyone but can not have type A, B or AB transfused into their body because their immune system would react to that blood causing them to get very sick.
Ok... That was a bit complex I know and I may have lost some of you... let's shift gears...
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the BLOOD OF ABEL." Heb 12:22-24
Christ's blood speaks 'better things', it is non-reactive, Abel's blood cried out from the ground in the fourth chapter of Genesis. Jesus' blood is not screaming for vengeance. It is non-reactive like a little lamb is.
"Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth." Acts 8:32b
Jesus was all that a man is and that is what qualified Him to be our Savior. He is like us... but more... much more. He will not react to what we as fallen men would react to. Psychic infections have produced antibodies in us that lash out... so much so that like someone with an autoimmune disease we attack ourselves and are damaged by friendly fire in our soul.
Not Jesus. He is at peace. He is a relaxed little lamb sunning Himself and basking in the warmth of His Father's love.
At our rebirth we become like little lambs. It is a new nature. God does it to us and in us. We remain human but we are also more. That is why salvation is done 100% by God and not even 1% by us. We might change our behavior but we could never shed our old fallen nature.
The new nature is non-reactive. Sin is not attached to it and never will be. We don't cry for vengeance as a new man. We can plead for mercy for those that offend us.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)