Grace - Jesus Is Faithful to God

“ …He [Jesus] had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people…Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, … Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are….”  Hebrews 2:17; 3:1-6

Hi Everyone,

I find that the writer of Hebrews is a forerunner of the very thing that I am attempting to do:  I want people to see and believe that Jesus is our supply and only need for both life and godliness.  In Christ, we are pleasing to our Father by faith.  His life in us is the source for both everything we need and that which we should do.

Let’s not kid ourselves, it must have been—at the very least—very difficult for Hebrew believers to experience a total change in their faith system.  It was hard for them to accept that the entire priesthood and law covenant system had been fulfilled in Christ.  What were they being asked to give up?  The priesthood—their daily representatives before God; and their law covenant system—the method by which they knew right and wrong and what they needed to do and not do to be pleasing to God.

The eradication of the levitical priesthood and mosaic law covenant ultimately meant that they could finally REST.

But I want to simply point out the message of the verses above.  For most of us, we have always heard that Jesus is faithful to us.  That is true and good, but there is something even more fantastic! See the above verses:  Jesus is faithful to our God and Father! 

Oliver Greene says that “Christ is the substance and the content of our confession.”  I wonder what would happen if our prayers reflected this belief:  “Jesus, in everything that my Father has appointed you to do and be on my behalf, you have been and will always be perfectly faithful.”

Just as the Hebrews had to rest from the priestly system, the law covenant, the blood of animals, and the earthly tabernacles, so must we also rest from the striving from within and without to perfect ourselves before God.  We must look at Jesus and see ourselves in Him.  If we do this, then we will see our every need fulfilled in Him.  We will no longer strive to combat sinful habits, but we will know that the life of Christ in us brings more satisfaction than anything else.

May you come to understand the importance of Jesus’ eternal faithfulness on your behalf.  And just in case you still think it’s humble and holy to see yourself as a sinful worm whose actions are negated by a glorious high priest, let me declare that Jesus is not just your high priest, He is also your life.  Your sinful nature was crucified with Christ, and now Christ has also given you His life and a new nature.  You are in union with Christ (Romans 6:5 - symphytos:  born together with, of joint origin; connate, congenital, innate, implanted by birth or nature; grown together, united with; kindred—symphytos is related to the phrase “Siamese twin”).  What sinful habit can withstand that?  None.  Change your mind about what you've believed to the contrary (or as Jesus would say, "Repent!").  Now that's good stuff.

Grace=Peace

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let this transform your life

for KING & COUNTRY - "The Proof Of Your Love" (Official Music Video)

http://youtu.be/b-2dKOfbC9c

Christians are supposed to love their enemies

Christians are supposed to love their bosses

Christians are supposed to love their leaders

Christians are supposed to love their president

Christians are supposed to love their government officials

Christians are supposed to love EVERYONE!!!

Artist: For King & Country

Song: The Proof Of Your Love

If I sing but don't have love

I waste my breathe with every song

I bring, an empty voice

A hollow noise

If I speak with a silver tongue

Convince a crowd but don't have love

I leave a bitter taste

With every word I say

(Chorus)

So let my life be the proof

The proof of Your love

Let my love look like You

And what You're made of

How you lived, how You died

Love is sacrifice

So let my life be the proof

The proof of Your love

If I give to a needy soul

But don't have love then who is poor

It seems all the poverty

Is found in me

Chorus

Ooh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

When it's all said and done

Ooh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

When we sing our final song

Only love remains

Only love remains

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-7, The Message)

Chorus

behind the song:

http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=894#_

1 Corinthians 13

Leviticus 19:18

Matthew 7:12

Luke 6:31

1 John 4:19

part of 1 Corinthians 13:1 reads "... but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."

Behind The Song Proof of Your Love

From:

http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=894#_
http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=894#_

BEHIND THE SONG WITH KEVIN DAVIS
#338 - "Proof of Your Love" by For King & Country
1 Corinthians 13 provided Joel and Luke with all the inspiration they needed for their latest single.

By kevindavis

Luke Smallbone: "If I were to challenge myself in my own walk every day back home or every day I'm travelling, my life would be radically changed if I do it and allow the proof of God's Love to really manifest itself in me."
Carrying a name that evokes substance and a sense of purpose, For King & Country make their debut with music that more than lives up to their clever moniker. Enveloping their insightful lyrics in a sea of ear-grabbing melodies, brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone have forged a distinctive sound that has earned them an enthusiastic fan base as well as the respect of industry professionals who keep tapping their music for use in high profile TV shows.

Together, Joel and Luke ignite each other's individual passions to form a unique, distinctive voice that blends into simmering sibling harmony, unrivaled by any other collaborative group to date. Born in Sydney, Australia and relocating with their family to Nashville, the brothers remember music being a constant presence in their life. Growing up in a large family of seven kids, the siblings began their creative experimentation early on, soaking up life experiences that would influence their musical future.

For King & Country's debut album, Crave, is a vibrant collection of songs, marked by emotional honesty and a riveting transparency. The first single, "Busted Heart (Hold On to Me)" is among the duo's newer compositions and was inspired from a conversation on the brokenness that every person feels at some point in their life.

I had the great opportunity to interview Joel and Luke in person at Creation Festival Northeast about their newest hit song "The Proof Of Your Love."

Joel and Luke, please share the personal message behind writing the song "The Proof Of Your Love."

Luke: This was one of the last songs that we wrote for the album, ironically. Joel came to me in the studio that day and told me he wanted to write something that would gently nudge and encourage people and at the same time challenge them. That's a very difficult line to balance. People don't want to be challenged too much and be turned away. When we were looking at the Bible passage 1 Corinthians 13, we knew there was something significant that we hadn't written about. We decided to put those words into this song. That's how the song came to be.

Joel: Adding to that, there's a powerful message in proclaiming those truths from God's Word first. The lyrics have me singing, "If I sing, but don't have love, I waste my breath with every song." Rather than have this be a judgment to listeners, it's time for me to proclaim it. Then you can make it your own and put your tent pegs in the ground and announce that you are standing by those same words.

Please tell me about the Bible verses you used in writing the song.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

What's the take-away message for listeners?

Joel: It's been incredible to see the power of these words. When we talked with you a few months ago at WinterJam about "Busted Heart," we also discussed the power of music. We've seen it with this song as well. People are responding to the Truth of the song. The take-away message and application for the song is simple. We often try to convolute Scripture and try to build these elaborate ideas of how to become the person we should be. Really it's simple. It may sound rudimentary, but the straight up Truth is that it's about Love. Our cry in this song and as a band is about letting our lives look like Jesus. How we handle ourselves onstage, offstage, in an interview like right now, with my girlfriend, with Luke's wife, with our family, it goes across the board for us.

Luke: We didn't write the song, the words come straight from the Bible. The other thing when we sing this song from stage and speak these powerful words, we are challenging ourselves every single time. If I were to challenge myself in my own walk every day back home or every day I'm travelling, my life would be radically changed if I do it and allow the proof of God's Love to really manifest itself in me.

Lyrics:
If I sing but don't have love
I waste my breathe with every song
I bring, an empty voice
A hollow noise

If I speak with a silver tongue
Convince a crowd but don't have love
I leave a bitter taste
With every word I say

So let my life be the proof
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You
And what You're made of
How you lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof
The proof of Your love

If I give to a needy soul
But don't have love then who is poor
It seems all the poverty
Is found in me

Ooh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
When it's all said and done
Ooh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
When we sing our final song

Only love remains
Only love remains

So often, even as Christians, we think by avoiding conflict and passively avoiding people in general means that we're following God's commands. However, we are called to actively love one another. There is a lot of great biblical truth throughout this catchy song, "The Proof Of Your Love." I've been consistently challenged by songs that include messages about living out the "Golden Rule," found throughout the Bible. Leviticus 19:18: "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." Matthew 7:12: "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Luke 6:31: "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise."

I think in our world that we live in, so many things are glorified: money, popularity, relationships, etc. There's all these things glorified in our culture and in the song we're talking about how we can do good things in the name of Christ. We can move mountains, we can give away everything we have to the poor, the Bible tells us if we don't do those things in love, it is meaningless.

For me, the reverse of that is true, we can not have money, or fame, however if what we are doing has the right motives, and if we're treating people with kindness and patience, God sees that and that matters to Him. There are days when I wake up and I am convicted to live out the words of the song and that Scripture passage. Today I'm going to be patient. Today I'm going to be kind.

As Joel and Luke and I discussed the song and the profound message, we talked about how we are commanded to love others by Jesus. This song challenges me to think about how well I am loving others. 1 John 4:19 says "We love because He first loved us."

In Francis Chan's book Crazy Love on page 94 he writes: "I was challenged to do a little exercise with these verses, one that was profoundly convicting. Take the phrase love is patient and substitute your name for the word love. Do it for every phrase in the passage. By the end, don't you feel like a liar? If I am meant to represent what love is, then I often fail to love people well. Following Christ isn't something that can be done halfheartedly or on the side. It is not a label we can display when it is useful. It must be central to everything we do and are."

As you listen to this great song by For King & Country, think about how well you are loving others and know that Jesus loves you and wants us to glorify Him and "let my life be the proof of Your Love." Amen to that!

Posted July 17, 2012 | NRT Lead Contributor Kevin Davis is a longtime fan of Christian music, an avid music collector and credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.

Great Books to Read

Hi Everyone,

Here is a list of books that are great reads.  My friend has read most of them himself and would highly recommend them.  

Enjoy!

http://escapetoreality.org/book-reviews/

Grace=Peace

Grace - You Are vs. You're becoming

Hi Everyone,

Just a thought below from me:

The word of God says that we are a chosen race--not becoming a chosen race. That we are a royal priesthood, not becoming a royal priesthood. That we are a holy nation, not becoming a holy nation. That weare a people for God's own possession (which means that we are separated unto Him, also known as being holy), not that we are becoming a people for God's own possession.

We are chosen, we are royal, we are holy, we are His people, and we have been called out of darkness and are now and forevermore, by His doing, abiding in His marvelous light. (See 1 Peter 2:9-10.).

If Christians would simply have faith and believe the above truth, we would no longer see Christians struggling against temptations and striving to be acceptable to God, but rather we would see joyful Christians who are established in righteousness, who boast only of Christ's love for them, who demonstrate power in the Holy Spirit, who are followed by signs, miracles, and wonders, and who are the most loving, self-abasing people on the planet.

As long as Christians strive to obtain what scripture clearly states is theirs already, or even refuse to believe this truth, then the world will only see another world religion, replete with zealous, albeit anemic followers hoping to please a god who stands aloof, waiting for them to get their act together and bridge the gap between them and their god themselves.

Grace=Peace
#grace

Grace - Hebrews: Consider Jesus, Part 6 - The Fear of Death

Hi Everyone,

I hope that you can take the time to read this; I believe it might be one of the best I've written so far.

Hebrews 2:14-15 – “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”

I am convinced that those who have placed their faith in a mixed teaching of law covenant and grace covenant—not discerning the deadly cocktail the two create—suffer from the fear of death.  I say this because that is the only thing Law can create.  Even the greatest teaching on Grace can be nullified by one ounce of Law—the fulfillment of one singular legal requirement in hopes of satisfying God through righteous behavior.  This leaves the hearer with a terrifying expectation of judgment as described in Hebrews 10:26-27, because if the hearer sets aside even one ounce of Law, they experience condemnation for their failure.

Paul described this very situation in Titus 3:9-11:

“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.”

You see, the context of this passage in Titus is the struggle believers faced when people would try to convince the believers to add law covenant obligations to their faith in Christ.  These people were looking to the Law to make them acceptable and pleasing to the Lord, and no matter their intention, Paul clearly recognizes that they are motivated by the condemnation they themselves had experienced when failing to fully obey.  How can Paul know this?  Because he himself had been in the same situation before faith in Christ:

“…I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.  Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?”  Romans 7:23-24

Paul addressed a similar situation with the church at Colossae when he wrote:

"If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees...in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?  These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”    Colossians 2:20 – 3:3.

Paul brought the Colossians back to the realization that they died with Christ and were no longer under law and man’s traditions (BOTH are what he calls “elementary principles of the world”).  He agreed that coming under the law in obedience to it in hopes of being satisfying to God by their behavior seemed wise, but Paul, the experienced Pharisee, unapologetically declared that coming under law was not only unhelpful, but also deadly to faith (Gal 3:12).

What is the answer, then?  How is the wretched man rescued?  How does the Christian not yield to the flesh (meaning a sinful nature) with its passions and desires?

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3

What does this mean?

I know so many brothers and sisters who look to their own efforts and ability to discern between good actions and evil actions, thinking that this is how the Christian life is lived.  What they don’t realize is that they are failing to live by faith.  “Seeking the things above”, which has become analogous to seeking to obey the Ten Commandments and behaving righteously, is so much more.  What does it mean to seek the things above and “set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth”?  The answer is right there:  it is to KNOW that you died (you and your sinful nature, on the cross with Jesus), and that your life is hidden with Christ.  It is NOT crucifying your sinful nature on a daily basis; it is a recognition that it has already occurred.  We look to our condition in Christ AND our position in Christ to know that we are dead to not only sin and temptations, but we are also dead to the LAW!  This is the revelation of Christ in scripture that escapes anyone who tries to obey and be pleasing to God through behavior and adherence to the Law.

When I see a Christian striving to be a "better" Christian, or one that is striving to "please" God, I don't deny that behavior is important.  Instead, I see that, like the teachings and philosophy of men that Paul warned against over and over, those Christians are supplanting the revelation of Christ in scripture with their own effort—thinking that such action will be of use to them.  It's usually also these same Christians who are caught in the vicious circle of repent/do better/maintain/fall/repeat.  This is not victory over sin and it's certainly not how Paul would have us live a Christian life.  I see the roller-coaster lives of Christians who try hard, fail, make re-commitments, and fail again.  I truly believe that Christians who refuse to see Christ as the SOLE source of their salvation, justification, redemption, sanctification, etc., are bound by a fear of death and are enslaved to sin.  They live in a cycle of fear and striving because the law which they try to obey actually empowers sin, leading to fear and death.

In conclusion, we read in Hebrews 2:15 it was God's purpose in Christ to free those who “through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”  We need to connect this with Hebrews 2:9-10:

“But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, …so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.  For it was fitting for Him…to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.”

Jesus tasted the death that we faced under the Law and it was fitting for Him to do so.  You see, Jesus’ goal was to fulfill the Law and bring many sons to glory.  The way to complete this was for Him to taste death for us.  It’s not that Jesus needed to become perfect, but that His task would be completed and thus He would be the manifested, promised way to salvation (teleioō - to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end; add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full; bring to a close or fulfillment by event).

I hope that you can meditate on this and catch what I am saying.  If you can, it will be the most freeing experience of your life.  The demands that the Law placed upon you AND the demands you placed upon yourself after being “inspired” to obey the Law have been fulfilled in Jesus.  Stop your striving and rest in Him.  As Andrew Murray says, this righteousness brought to us by Jesus’ complete fulfillment of the Law will bring you peace.  Nothing else will ever come close:

“There can be no real prosperity or progress in a nation, a home, or a soul, unless there be peace. As not even a machine can do its work unless it be in rest, secured on a good foundation, quietness and assurance are indispensable to our moral and spiritual well-being. Sin had disturbed all our relations; we were out of harmony with ourselves, with men, and with God. The first requirement of a salvation that should really bring blessedness to us was peace. And peace can only come with righteousness. Where everything is as God would have it, in God's order and in harmony with His will, there alone can peace reign.” – Andrew Murray

Grace=Peace

Grace - Hebrews' Author Remained Anonymous

No wonder the author of the book of Hebrews remained anonymous:  in Hebrews, the author said that the Law was weak, useless, made nothing perfect, that God found fault with it and replaced it, that it was obsolete, growing old, ready to vanish, would never make anyone perfect, and was only a shadow of things to come. Obviously, the writer of Hebrews knew he would offend so many who were striving to be right with God that he never dared name himself!  Who in his right mind would want to take that kind of heat from the religious community for saying such things?!??  Haha!

The Shack?

I've never read the book: "The Shack" but I've always heard good things about it and thought it would be a good read.  Well, I still think it's probably a good book and all but just a few hours ago I found the following.  I found a book that is kind of written against The Shack.  It is titled "Burning Down 'The Shack': How the 'Christian' bestseller is deceiving millions".  I checked it out on Amazon's website.  I looked at some reviews and found one review that seems good and interesting.  Here it is:

374 of 437 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars An Unnecessary Book July 13, 2010

By Ben Raines

Format:Paperback

Having read both The Shack (5 times) and "Burning Down the Shack", I am disappointed at another attempt by self-anointed 'experts' to 'protect' us from false doctrine. As another reviewer has mentioned, Paul Young wrote The Shack as a piece of fiction, not as a new revelation of God. Young's experiences and his grappeling with his faith might have taken him on a different journey than the author of Burning Down the Shack, but where Young succeeds in revealing the love and mercy of God toward man, de Young describes man's instinctive distrust in unearned grace and suggests that the relationship between God and man is Jesus, plus this or Jesus plus that. Essentially we get back to works and earning God's approval under de Young's theology.

It's almost too apparent that de Young seeks to capitalize on Paul Young's success; not by creating a thought-provoking and inspiring book, but by straining gnats in his critique of a superior work. Another biblical scholar - the man who wrote The Message bible, Dr. Eugene Peterson, praises The Shack, as do numerous other pastors. What The Shack does, is it presents an approachable Father; and by bringing hurting people to a point where they can at least hope that God is as loving as The Shack portrays - that He not only knows their circumstances, He's willing to step into them on our behalf - it's at this point that people can feel comfortable enough with God to trust Him with their lives. The Shack has done more to draw people to Christ than any book since the Bible. Where they go from there is a journey of deeper discovery and more sure faith. Conversely, Burning Down the Shack is like a termite, undermining hope and faith and plunging readers back into a failed and ineffective system.

de Young says that The Shack promotes universalism, when the book clearly states that all roads don't lead to Christ. The Shack presents a Jesus who will walk anywhere to find followers, but He doesn't leave them in their sins and false beliefs. De Young says that The Shack trivializes God, but readers of The Shack will not find God letting Mack get away with anything. De Young implies a hierarcy in the Trinity, but if the three members of the God-head walk in complete unity, why would a hierarchy be necessary? de Young is a theologian - a person who has invested his time and energy and money into unlocking the mysteries of God...and ignoring what is so obvious to people who have been inspired by The Shack.

de Young's book reminds me of the story where Christ was performing miracles and casting out demons. The religious leaders claimed that He was able to cast out demons because He himself was one. Other would argue why a demon would turn on himself. The Shack has been demonized when the fruits of this book have produced the absolute opposite of what critics are claiming. While it is true that Young personally leaned towards universal reconciliation - an idea that was the result of his own personal spiritual healing - The Shack was co-written by two other respected theologians who collaborated with Young and were satisfied that the finished product - that book that millions of people have bought and read, presents Jesus is someone we have to accept through repentance and belief in this age to participate in His life.

Finally, the fear and criticism over The Shack theology is that it sounds too good and too simple to be true, thus it must be heresy. Put those chains back on if you must, but I prefer the freedom of being in relationship with Christ to that of a servant. If God is not as loving and merciful and gracious as Papa, why would He sacrifice so much to gain my love; for who am I and what can I really do for God? Theologians like de Young have kept believers so busy serving God and knowing how unworthy and dependent we are, that few of us have had the courage to look beyond God's hands to His face, and to see there the love and acceptance and inheritance He offers. Fear only works as long as we allow our selves to fear God; love keeps us in the relationship.

Grace - The Gospel Revolution

Enjoy this article on Galatians.  I've highlighted two or three sentences.

Grace=Peace,

Galatians - The Gospel Revolution

by Bert White

The gospel that Paul preached was very specific. It was also very important to Paul that his hearers receive and live in the truth and the power of the gospel that he preached. If we say the gospel is the most important message that we will ever hear from the bible, it would not be an understatement. Some people think that any message from the bible is the gospel. They also think that all parts of the bible are created equal. That is not true. There are parts of the bible that carry more weight than others do (See Matthew 23:23). There are also parts of the bible that should not be taught on this side of the cross (unfortunately, there are some things that I wish I had not taught on this side of the cross either)!

Tit 1:10 For there are many disorderly and unruly men who are idle (vain, empty) and misleading talkers and self-deceivers and deceivers of others. [This is true] especially of those of the circumcision party [who have come over from Judaism].

Tit 1:11 Their mouths must be stopped, for they are mentally distressing and subverting whole families by teaching what they ought not to teach, for the purpose of getting base advantage and disreputable gain.

It is very unfortunate that some believers do not even know what the gospel is! They sit in churches every Sunday listening to a strange mixture of law and grace not even knowing that the Old Covenant religious system was totally abolished. It is not any wonder why so much of the church is spiritually anemic, sick, and powerless. That is because there is no power, or glory in the preaching of the Old Covenant system (See 2 Corinthians 3:7-9).

This book of Galatians is a book of reformation! During the Protestant Reformation, Galatians served as the defense of the gospel against the religion of the Catholic church. Martin Luther regarded this as his favorite book of the New Testament, and he once wrote, “I have betrothed myself to it; it is my wife!” Frederick Godet later explained that “this epistle was Luther’s pebble from the brook, with which, like another (David), he went forth to meet the papal giant and smote him in the forehead.”

Luther’s writings brought the truth of salvation by faith alone to John Wesley’s heart in that little meeting at Aldersgate Street in London on May 24, 1738. It was Wesley whom God used in such a remarkable way to spearhead revival in the British Isles, leading eventually to the founding of the Methodist Church. And that revival positively affected the entire English-speaking world.

Galatians should serve in every age to inspire reformation and restoration that sets Christians free from religion and its stepchild legalism. In case you have not noticed “Galatianism” is still prevalent in the church today. Like Paul, we must reject this false gospel, and clearly explain that the only distinguishing mark of a genuine Christian is the manifestation Christ as the grace of God.

There is a tremendous weight of glory that rest upon the preaching of the gospel (1 Cor 1:18) and there is also a weight of doom that rest upon the preaching of the Old Covenant (2 Cor 3:9). Paul knew this, so when he learned that the young Galatian Christians were infiltrated by another gospel, he was so upset that he was compelled to write and set things in order. The Judaizers were telling the new Galatian Christians they had to add “works” (circumcision in this case, but our list may be a bit different) to obtain their salvation.

In his letter, Paul takes off the gloves and fights for the purity of the gospel of grace. He makes some strong statements against those who would pervert the gospel of grace. From its earliest days, those who would destroy it are those who try to add to it. You must understand the deception of legalism and performance based Christianity does not attack the message of grace by denying it. They attack it by adding to it! Selah! Two thousand years later, we face the same battle. The lines are drawn. The gloves are off! This means war!  We are standing in the middle of a revolution … Its a gospel revolution.

Live Loved – Bert

a chat with a friend

8:40 AM
(my friend): So, lets talk
8:41 AM
me: ok

what's up?
13 minutes
8:54 AM
(my friend): dude, you are electronically greeted with a Holy Kiss and embrace.
8:55 AM
You are loved so much by the God who created you and everything good around you.
8:56 AM
in that same way, I love you in a holy way.
8:57 AM
Grace and peace to you from our Father in Heaven.

He is especially fond of you Jared
8:59 AM
me: :) :D

thank you!!!!!

yay!!
5 minutes
9:05 AM
(my friend): Since God knew we couldn't come to Him... he limited Himself on purpose and became human. He crossed from heaven to earth. He met us because we couldn't meet him. He became human. He remains fully human and fully God today even...
9:09 AM
me: :)
9:10 AM
(my friend): The center of God's love you'll find us.

me: :) :D

yay!

(my friend): No matter where we are in Christ, he love us!

me: yes! that is so true

!!!
10 minutes
9:21 AM
me: :) :D :) :D :) :D

yay God!!

(my friend): I don't think God causes guilt or creates guilt to guide us (that is of the evil one). God is a restorer. He is working to restore us to Him. God is encouraging us to let go of our chains.
9:22 AM
Among the three God heads, there is not one that is higher than the other. The father isn't higher than the holy spirit or Jesus. They are all equally submissive
9:23 AM
There is no level of authority in the God head. They are all in relationship with each other.

It has to be that way since there is no power struggle between them
9:24 AM
relationship is about submitting to one another and not about expecting the other to do something.
9:25 AM
Now, in the same way, God is in relationship with you, and me.

me: :)

ahh yes!
9:26 AM
(my friend): Now, we submit our selves to God because He submits Himself to us.
9:27 AM
me: ahh
6 minutes
9:33 AM
(my friend): God is one of order. But yet it seems God doesn't value authority. He seems to value relationship as described.
9:34 AM
me: ahh

yes

(my friend): God doesn't cause harm.
9:35 AM
God didn't intentend for bad things to happen.

But yet, he allows them to happen. He doesn't actively come from heaven and stop those bad things.

The reason: God wants us to freely love us.

I mean
9:36 AM
God wants us to free love him

He gave us our of love for us, independence. He let us choose independence. This happened when Adam ate the apple.
9:38 AM
And if God jumped into to prevent the bad things, then he would in effect remove our free will.
9:39 AM
He would remove our independence that we choose to have.

So from this, we see that independence is evil.
9:40 AM
We ought if we want to walk on water, give-up our independence and depend solely on God.
9:42 AM
me: wow

good stuff
9:46 AM
(my friend): If we judge others, then we are assuming us to be the judge of God himself.
6 minutes
9:53 AM
(my friend): We are good at judging aren't we. We judge if this is bad or if this is good. we say, he shouldn't do that. We judge business. we judge killers. we judge each other.

we are good at judging aren't we?

lol
9:57 AM
Let me break it down.

somethign bad happens to us
9:58 AM
So we judge that person for inflicting pain.

But then, do we judge that persons father for causing the same pain in His son?
9:59 AM
So now we judge the person and his father... what about his grandfather? Now lets take a leap, do we judge adam for eattign that apple?

God knew all this would happen and he still created creation, didn't he?

So do we judge God for creating all of this mess?
10:00 AM
So we infact judge God when we judge others, right?

Now, you have to pick one of your parents to goto Hell since you are the judge of the universe.
10:01 AM
which one would you pick?
10:03 AM
You would probably in the end pick yourself rather than choosing any loved one to goto hell.

That sounds a lot like Jesus

That is what Jesus did for us.
10:04 AM
Now, God allows this to happen because He wants us to choose freely to love HIm. Love isn't a bully.
10:06 AM
There is a quote, "judgement isn't about destruction, but setting things right"

Interesting perspectives right?
5 minutes
10:12 AM
me: yes! :) :D

very nice!
10:13 AM
(my friend): These are not thoughts that I developed, but ones that spoke to me while listening to a book titled, "the Shack"

I wanted to share them with you, because they freed me up.
10:14 AM
me: :) :D awesome! i've heard of The Shack... and I have kind of wanted to read it but i'mt not much of a reader in general.
10:15 AM
(my friend): Listen to it in the car. It took me about a week to listen to it all. it is about 7-8 hours of listening and crying. I listened to it while i was driving back and forth to work.
10:16 AM
I am working to personally pair it up with scripture to see if it stands. I would encourage you to do the same after you read/listen to the book.
10:18 AM
The story used to communicate the authors thoughts is fiction (made-up)... but the dialog contains real truth.

It is a good book in my opinion.
9 minutes
10:28 AM
me: yea :) :D awesome

!!
33 minutes
11:01 AM
me: I just realized something, we even judge God often. sometimes we think that God is not right, not righteous, not perfect. we're like, how could God allow that? etc..
11:02 AM
and we judge ourselves as well as each other.

(my friend): Yes, we look into the past and feel guilty.
11:03 AM
At least I do at times
11:04 AM
me: yea
11:05 AM
(my friend): Jesus does remember all... But I think he willfully chooses not to remember the sin when we repent and are forgiven by HIm.
11:06 AM
He has used my past as His good. He didn't cause the bad in my past, but he will use it for His good.

That is freeing for me. and helps to restore me
11:07 AM
me: ahh yea!!! wow!!! really good!!

:) :D
11:10 AM
(my friend): The Lord is not condemning at any point. That isn't helpful. He is encouraging and loving and joyous.

among just a few qualities.
11:12 AM
me: :)

(my friend): I really like how excited and in love with the Lord you are.

me: yea! :) thanks!
11:13 AM
I really like how deep you are getting into God! :) and the revelations of God that you get.. whether it be through a book or anything.
11:16 AM
(my friend): I want to walk on water with Jesus one day! That to me is the culmination of so much. It isn't about walking on water, but it is deeper than that. It is being with Jesus and him working in me. And with that, we can walk on water with Jesus. Wether if that is in Heaven or here on earth, it doesn't matter.... you know?
11:17 AM
And sometimes walking on water is just the shorter way of getting from place to place.

:)
11:18 AM
me: yea, true!

Grace - Why Is Jesus' Yoke Easy?

Hi Everyone!

“All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.  Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:27-30

So, I heard this explained basically three ways:

1.  We take a yoke and a burden upon ourselves and although it sounds nice in this passage, the Christian life, in reality, is very difficult, with lots of burdensome experiences, sacrifices, and pressure to perfect ourselves in holiness through OUR self-discipline.  I’m sure this is not the Gospel of Grace that Paul preached, so, quite frankly, let’s move on to the next traditional explanation of this passage.

2.  To understand this passage, we’ve often been brought into the agrarian context of Jesus’ world with the illustration of two oxen.  For centuries, and even continuing now into contemporary days, farmers have known how to best use oxen.  No farmer will place a heavy yoke and demand intensive plowing from a young, immature ox.  Instead, the heavy yoke and strength to plow fall upon a mature, experienced ox, and the younger ox’s load is considerably less as the older ox pulls the weight and does all the work.  This is how I have always taught the meaning of the above passage in Matthew, and it sounds great, but I see now how it falls so short of Jesus’ intention and message.

3.  Let’s look at the above passage again, and I will also bring in some other scripture verses:

“…no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”  Matthew 11:27

“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”  John 5:19

“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”  Romans 8:14

“And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit…He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read…The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me…Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor…He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives.…” Luke 4:14-18

Jesus’ intent in Matthew 11:27 was to show us the Father!  As a result of this, Jesus not only shows us the Father, but He shows us His own relationship with the Father, and therefore the relationship we ourselves should have with the Father.

In Jesus’ illustration in Matthew 11, we have mistakenly thought that Jesus was the “big ox” and we are the “little ox”.  But look at what the passage actually says:

            “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Do you see it?  Jesus is NOT the “big ox”.  His Father is the Big Ox, and Jesus’ experience of being led by the Father in everything means that Jesus’ yoke is easy.  Jesus is the “little ox” and He wants us to be at ease just as He was while the Father did all the work!

I wanted to share this revelation with you because I feel that so much pressure has been put upon people.  There is a great load of expectation on our shoulders to get our act together, to sacrifice, to self-disciple, to sin less, do better, and to work on our salvation and holiness.  I see clearly now that religion has placed Man on center stage and completely ignored the revelation of Jesus Christ and the Father.  While we will all agree that life is not always easy, this is not the same as the Christian life.  Why is the Christian life to be easy?  Because we are to experience the life that Jesus Christ secured for us, primarily, the experience of the Father working in and through us.  What are we to do?  Frankly, we need to rest, also known as to abide.

“The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.”  John 14:10

I pray that you will understand the impact of Jesus’ revelation of His relationship with the Father.  Clearly, we are meant to live in the same way.  If we will abide and rest in a trustworthy Father, all the spiritual growth that demanded of us by religion will be not only met, but be exceeded by Holy Spirit in us.  Holy Spirit in us will produce not only good works, but most importantly, love!

Keep your eyes on Jesus; put Him on center stage—watch what resting in the Father’s rest will actually do.

“For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.”  Hebrews 4:10

May the easy yoke of Jesus lead and guide you!

(By the way, the word “easy” is the Greek word “chr­ēstos”, which comes from the “chraomai”, meaning:  to furnish what is needed.  Jesus’ yoke furnishes and supplies what we need!)

Grace=Peace

Grace - Hebrews: Consider Jesus, Part 5

Hi Everyone,

Here are the scripture passages upon which I am basing this email:

Colossians 2:8-14 - "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.  For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

Hebrews 2:11, 14-15 – “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren….Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 

As Bert White says, concerning the letter to the Galatians:  “He [Paul] makes some strong statements against those who would pervert the gospel of grace. From its earliest days, those who would destroy it are those who try to add to it. You must understand the deception of legalism and performance based Christianity does not attack the message of grace by denying it. They attack it by adding to it! (emphasis mine).

I think one of the hardest aspects about communicating the Gospel of Grace is that most Christians have essentially been inoculated against the full reality of life under grace.  I’ll relate it to you this way:  when talking to people about Jesus, I find that most people have a pre-conceived notion of Him.  If it’s not that they’ve never heard of Jesus, then often they have a notion of Him that He was either JUST a good teacher, or the Son of God, or that He died for their sins, for example.  What I don’t hear very much from people is an assurance that Jesus still heals today or that He is in them, very alive, active, andpowerful.  It’s almost as though a “head-knowledge” about Jesus has inoculated or prevented people from accepting information (and the reality) of Who He is which does not that fit within their understanding.  Your body's acceptance of weakened virus protects you from the real virus; your mind's acceptance of a weakened Jesus prevents you from experiencing His full effect in your life.

In the same way, I believe that most Christians have a hard time accepting (or even sometimes simply hearing and understanding) the Gospel of Grace because they have been taught a mixture of law covenant and grace covenant teaching.  They're confused from the cocktail.  The apostle Paul states time and time again:

•            beware traditions of men [that add to] the person of Christ
•         we were circumcised with Christ
•        we were buried with Christ
•        we were raised up with Christ through faith in the working of God
•         we were made alive in Christ
•         we have been forgiven
•         the decrees which were hostile to us were nailed to the tree
•         we were made complete in Christ
•        we were sanctified in Christ (He IS our sanctification, so HE can’t be a process)

What is the result of all of this?  The passage in Hebrews 2 above tells us:  that we have been sanctified and that He “might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”

When I see a Christian striving to be a “better” Christian, or one that is striving to “please” God, I don’t deny that behavior is important.  Instead, I see that, like the teachings and philosophy of men that Paul warned against over and over, those Christians are supplanting the revelation of Christ in scripture with their own effort—thinking that such action will be of use to them.  It’s usually also these same Christians who are caught in the vicious circle of repent/do better/maintain/fall/repeat.  This is not victory over sin and it’s certainly not how Paul would have us live a Christian life.  I see the roller-coaster life of Christians who try hard, fail, make re-commitments, and fail again.

Here’s my point:  the Hebrews passage above tells us that it was God’s purpose in Christ to free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.  I truly believe that Christians who refuse to see Christ as the SOLE source of their salvation, justification, redemption, sanctification, etc., are bound by a fear of death and are enslaved to sin.  They live in a cycle of fear and striving because the law which they try to obey actually empowers sin, leading to fear and death.

And here’s the most dastardly point:  the Christian who endeavors to not lust, to not steal, to not violate any law is in reality the one who is sinning.  Why?  Because only one person was able to not do any of those things:  Jesus Christ.  If His life is in us (Christ in us), then why are we looking both to our own righteousness and to a list of things to not do to receive power to not do those things?  Only a life will make us righteousness AND cause us to walk in righteous behavior—His Life.

Don’t add anything—a list, your effort, a knowledge of good or evil—to your Christian life.  Your Christian life is completely filled with the life of Christ.  Do not be tricked into adding anything that supplants Christ as your life and source.

More later.

Grace=Peace

God's final decision concerning you

Beware - Adventure!

http://youtu.be/DF1IQPwdoJQ

God's final decision concerning you.

http://youtu.be/PXNyXWXj_sU

what you deserve is death
death is the wages of sin
you're not going to earn this

don't go there

i'm so glad that God comes to give us not what we deserve but what we are worth.

God doesn't give us what we deserve
God give's us (according to) what we are worth

Grace - For the Present

Grace to you,

Enjoy the short excerpt from "Two Kinds of Righteousness" by E.W. Kenyon

Grace=Peace

"The church has been very strong in teaching man his need of righteousness, his weakness and inability to please God.  She has been very strong in her denunciation of sins in the believer. She has preached against unbelief, world conformity, and lack of faith, but she has been sadly lacking in bringing forward the truth of what we are in Christ, or how righteousness and faith are available.

Most of our hymns put our redemption off till after death.  We are going to have rest when we get to heaven.  We are going to have victory when we get to heaven.  We are going to be overcomers when we get to heaven.  We are going to have peace with God when we get to heaven.  There will be no more failings when we get to heaven.  We have nothing on this side except failure, misery, disappointment and weakness...

What does He mean when He says "Ye are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power"?  When are we to be complete?  Is it in this life or in the next?  What does he mean in Rom. 8:37, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us"?  When are we to be more than conquerors?  Is it after death when we leave this vale of tears?

The ministers do not preach peace in the present.  It is always in the future.  When are we to find this glorious thing call Peace?...

If it requires death to cleanse us from sin, we are left in an unhappy dilemma.  Death is of the Devil.  It would indicate that God in His Redemption was unable to give us victory, that He needed the Devil to complete His redemptive work.  I believe what the Scripture says about us is absolutely true, that God Himself is now our very Righteousness, and that we are the Righteousness of God in Him.  I am convinced that we are partakers of the Divine Nature.  There is no condemnation to us who "walk in the light as He is in the light."

by E.W. Kenyon

Grace - Being Genuine with God

Enjoy the following article!

Grace=Peace,

Being Genuine with God
by Paul Ellis

Now the question might arise: “Why would God not want us to confess our sins to Him? After all, we do make mistakes!” The answer is simple: Because walking around the whole day remembering all the bad things we have done will not bring us closer to God! Jesus already paid the full price so that we could have unbroken fellowship with the Father. This means that when we make a mistake, it does not break our fellowship or right standing with God. Jesus was forsaken by his Father on the cross so that we would never have to experience that!

Some may argue: “But I want to be genuine with God and talk to Him about all my mistakes.” Well if people believe they need to be “genuine” with God about their mistakes, then to be really genuine they should rather act in faith, because without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). How much faith does it take to look at our mistakes and feel miserable about them? None. On the other hand, it takes faith to believe we are forgiven, loved, holy, perfect and righteous, even after we have just messed up…

There is however nothing wrong with confiding in our loving Father about our struggles. He understands us better than anybody else. But it’s all about our motives. When we mess up, do we run to Him feeling guilty and condemned like a murderer about to be condemned to retribution? Or do we ask Him for wisdom in overcoming the habits of our unrenewed minds, knowing we stand completely forgiven and holy in His sight?

Andre van der Merwe

Grace: The Forbidden Gospel, WestBow, 2011, 105.

Grace - It's Not a Theory

Enjoy the article below!

Grace=Peace,

"The American church today accepts grace in theory but denies it in practice… Too many Christians are living in the house of fear and not in the house of love… Personal responsibility has replaced personal response… Though lip service is paid to the gospel of grace, many Christians live as if it is only personal discipline and self denial that will mold the perfect me. The emphasis is on what I do rather than on what God is doing… How could the gospel of Christ be truly called “Good News” if God is a righteous judge rewarding the good and punishing the evil? Did Jesus really have to come to reveal that terrifying message? How could the revelation of God in Christ Jesus be accurately called “news” since the old testament carried the same theme, or “good” with the threat of punishment hanging like a dark cloud over the valley of history?

Brennan Manning

The Ragamuffin Gospel, Multnomah 1990/2000, 18-19.

Grace - I Hope I'm a Good Cook

The Requirements to Be A Preacher!

Grace=Peace,

"Preachers of the Word labor under three distinct requirements. First, they are to be faithful (pistoi). They are called to believe, and they are called only to believe. They are not called to know, or to be clever, or to be proficient, or to be energetic, or to be talented, or to be well-adjusted…

Second, the clergy are to be wise (phrenimoi). They are not to be fools, rich or poor, who think that salvation can come to anyone as a result of living. The world is already drowning in its efforts at life; it does not need lifeguards who swim to it carrying the barbells of their own moral and spiritual efforts. Preachers are to come honestly empty-handed to the world…

But it is the third of these clerical requirements that strikes me as the most telling: preachers are stewards whom the Lord has ‘set over his household servants to provide them with food at the proper time.’ After all the years the church has suffered under forceful preachers and winning orators, under compelling pulpiteers and clerical bigmouths with egos to match, how nice to hear that Jesus expects preachers in their congregations to be nothing more than faithful household cooks."

Robert Farrar Capon

The Parables of Grace, Eerdmans, 1988, 91-2.