“We have this treasure (Christ) in earthen vessels (human bodies), that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; ...that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body, ...manifested in our mortal flesh” (2 Cor. 4:7,10,11)
The new creation is filled with a treasure which is active and divine in its nature. Since its principal characteristic is love this presence flows through the new man with a power which overcomes death and guarantees an overflow of life in the vessel. A torrent is created that will make its influence known in everything in its vicinity. Those who are midst in this river of life know that the power is not of themselves. Every desire of imitation is quenched when the living water manifests its invisibility in human flesh. Garden life is again restored in its simplicity and perfection in a beloved creature who finds that this is the eternity embedded in its heart. Christ as us is a blossoming flowerbed of diversity. The inner law of life far surpasses any outer law of death. Human notions such as motivation and examples, which stir the flesh, are declared obsolete when the real thing manifests itself – the very manifestation of Christ in us as us.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Blind, but now seeing
“And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?" And he looked up and said, "I see men, but they look like trees, walking." Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.” (Mark 8:22-25)
When you have a desire to see dear ones saved you pray to your heavenly Father and He will send Jesus to them. Jesus will take the hand of the blind person and lead him to a place where He can manifest Himself and endow the gift of regeneration unto him.
In the beginning the new creation will behold the newness of his being with childish eyes. He will have an understanding that his sins are forgiven, and that something has happened within. His spiritual sight will, however, be blurred, and this will be manifested through his aptness to follow the habits of the old man attempting to make himself presentable to God by his own works.
But it is Jesus who does everything, and who will ask the new man when his resources are exhausted; “Do you see anything?”, that is, do you appreciate that you are a new creation whose old man died on the cross with me? When I say died, I mean both those parts of you that you found repulsive and those parts in which you were proud. Do you know that both your “evil” and your “good” are nothing? Do you know that I am here to live in you through you as you? Do you know that I am the only One who can live the Christian life? Do you know that you also are resurrected with me to take part in my resurrection life?
It is now that Jesus put the final touch on His work in that person’s life. He opens his eyes so that he can behold clearly the beauty of the union life with Christ and enjoy his life as a perfect manifestation of the invisible God.
We have all gone from spiritual blindness to an intermediate position where things are a bit blurred, and from here we are firmly steered to the final revelation where we with increasingly clarity behold the magnificence of God’s plan. We are perfectly saved also in our state of childishness when we strive in our ignorance, but as our consciousnesses are renewed to the image of Christ we are transformed from glory to glory.
Notice that it is Jesus who is the doer. The man merely follows along, puts his trust in Jesus and answers a simple question. Obviously, the blind man could have refused Jesus’ offer to lead him out of the village, that is, his old self and old life. He could have lied to Jesus and retorted that his present sight was adequate, or perfectly suitable for his kind of life; that he was satisfied with his condition.
The spit symbolizes Jesus’ life now imparted to the man. In John 9:6 we find that Jesus spat on the ground and made mud that he smeared on the eyes of a man who was born blind, which is a common human condition, spiritually speaking. God formed man from dust of the ground (Gen 2:7), so when Jesus mixes His salvia with the dust this is a powerful image of the union life.
When you have a desire to see dear ones saved you pray to your heavenly Father and He will send Jesus to them. Jesus will take the hand of the blind person and lead him to a place where He can manifest Himself and endow the gift of regeneration unto him.
In the beginning the new creation will behold the newness of his being with childish eyes. He will have an understanding that his sins are forgiven, and that something has happened within. His spiritual sight will, however, be blurred, and this will be manifested through his aptness to follow the habits of the old man attempting to make himself presentable to God by his own works.
But it is Jesus who does everything, and who will ask the new man when his resources are exhausted; “Do you see anything?”, that is, do you appreciate that you are a new creation whose old man died on the cross with me? When I say died, I mean both those parts of you that you found repulsive and those parts in which you were proud. Do you know that both your “evil” and your “good” are nothing? Do you know that I am here to live in you through you as you? Do you know that I am the only One who can live the Christian life? Do you know that you also are resurrected with me to take part in my resurrection life?
It is now that Jesus put the final touch on His work in that person’s life. He opens his eyes so that he can behold clearly the beauty of the union life with Christ and enjoy his life as a perfect manifestation of the invisible God.
We have all gone from spiritual blindness to an intermediate position where things are a bit blurred, and from here we are firmly steered to the final revelation where we with increasingly clarity behold the magnificence of God’s plan. We are perfectly saved also in our state of childishness when we strive in our ignorance, but as our consciousnesses are renewed to the image of Christ we are transformed from glory to glory.
Notice that it is Jesus who is the doer. The man merely follows along, puts his trust in Jesus and answers a simple question. Obviously, the blind man could have refused Jesus’ offer to lead him out of the village, that is, his old self and old life. He could have lied to Jesus and retorted that his present sight was adequate, or perfectly suitable for his kind of life; that he was satisfied with his condition.
The spit symbolizes Jesus’ life now imparted to the man. In John 9:6 we find that Jesus spat on the ground and made mud that he smeared on the eyes of a man who was born blind, which is a common human condition, spiritually speaking. God formed man from dust of the ground (Gen 2:7), so when Jesus mixes His salvia with the dust this is a powerful image of the union life.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The Vantage Point
To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. (Tit 1:15)
The meaning of this verse can only be fully appreciated from a union perspective with the cross as the focal point. The regeneration involves a change of spirits. The old man died at the cross, and in the resurrection with Christ the new creation is mystically formed. The old master, that is, sin is cast out. Man is now a temple for God, a sacred place where the Spirit dwells.
From the moment of rebirth man is in God and God is in the flesh of man. In God there is no law. He is His own law, which is love. In Him everything is pure, in Him there is no variation or shadow due to change. In Him the believer’s mind and consciousness is renewed in accordance to the glory of God’s image.
The unbeliever’s focal point will always be himself. Whether he is good or he is evil, he is a container of sin following the prince of power of the air. For this person nothing is pure, and besides there is only one who is good – the Father – the instigator of our faith.
What a joy there is in the Father’s heart when one of His precious sons is led to the vantage point and the son in joyful awe gaze at the purity he now is joined together in and has been since the point of origin – the regeneration. In struggle, in temptation, in suffering and enduring mockery the consciousness has been brought from glory to glory until it reconciles its human condition with divinity.
The meaning of this verse can only be fully appreciated from a union perspective with the cross as the focal point. The regeneration involves a change of spirits. The old man died at the cross, and in the resurrection with Christ the new creation is mystically formed. The old master, that is, sin is cast out. Man is now a temple for God, a sacred place where the Spirit dwells.
From the moment of rebirth man is in God and God is in the flesh of man. In God there is no law. He is His own law, which is love. In Him everything is pure, in Him there is no variation or shadow due to change. In Him the believer’s mind and consciousness is renewed in accordance to the glory of God’s image.
The unbeliever’s focal point will always be himself. Whether he is good or he is evil, he is a container of sin following the prince of power of the air. For this person nothing is pure, and besides there is only one who is good – the Father – the instigator of our faith.
What a joy there is in the Father’s heart when one of His precious sons is led to the vantage point and the son in joyful awe gaze at the purity he now is joined together in and has been since the point of origin – the regeneration. In struggle, in temptation, in suffering and enduring mockery the consciousness has been brought from glory to glory until it reconciles its human condition with divinity.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Teacher
“We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” (1 Cor 2:12)
God’s desire is for us to understand the marvelous gifts He of His own free council has decided to unconditionally dispense on His daughters and sons. To make sure that His desire comes to pass He has given man His Spirit.
“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.” (1 John 2:27)
The Holy Spirit is here to teach us about all things (John 14:26). In fact His ability to convince us about the truth, that is, what our Father has freely given us, is so persuasive that we really don’t need any additional teachers.
What many have discovered, however, is that the Spirit is also thrilled to use writings and teachings from others of God’s precious new creations to convince about righteousness. When He advances His proofs of the truth the timing is always perfect in accordance with the maturity of the recipient.
When John writes that we don’t need anyone to teach us he obviously is pertaining to the fact that the Holy Spirit is our only teacher, and that it is His inner testimony which has precedence. As we grow in knowledge to Him we are better disposed to discern His inner encouraging voice which goes against condemnation and self effort.
His principal teaching is that we remain in Christ, because He is the truth. He is the light which dispels the darkness of self-sustenance; the lie that is in opposition to the free gift of abundant life.
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Ef 1:16-21)
God’s desire is for us to understand the marvelous gifts He of His own free council has decided to unconditionally dispense on His daughters and sons. To make sure that His desire comes to pass He has given man His Spirit.
“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.” (1 John 2:27)
The Holy Spirit is here to teach us about all things (John 14:26). In fact His ability to convince us about the truth, that is, what our Father has freely given us, is so persuasive that we really don’t need any additional teachers.
What many have discovered, however, is that the Spirit is also thrilled to use writings and teachings from others of God’s precious new creations to convince about righteousness. When He advances His proofs of the truth the timing is always perfect in accordance with the maturity of the recipient.
When John writes that we don’t need anyone to teach us he obviously is pertaining to the fact that the Holy Spirit is our only teacher, and that it is His inner testimony which has precedence. As we grow in knowledge to Him we are better disposed to discern His inner encouraging voice which goes against condemnation and self effort.
His principal teaching is that we remain in Christ, because He is the truth. He is the light which dispels the darkness of self-sustenance; the lie that is in opposition to the free gift of abundant life.
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Ef 1:16-21)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Bronze Mirrors
We find several instances of burnt offerings before Moses was commissioned to structure and systematize the ceremony into a religious activity. The burnt offering was principally employed as sin atonement. We can find a lot of information regarding the purpose of this ritual in other sources.
The interesting part right now is the peculiarity which occurred while constructing the altar, an oddity which was not included in the original recipe Moses received from God (Exod 27:1-8).
“He made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.” (Exodus 38:8)
In ancient times mirrors were made from bronze. In this context they symbolize our independence (When we in this context utilizes the word independence we mean the false self-syndrome, that is, the sentiment that we are not containers of either sin or God's Spirit, but independent entities.); the mirrors cast back our own image. We either have a conceited image of ourselves or we find our defects in the mirror. No matter how we behold our image is not a correct reflection of us. Something is lacking, namely our union with Christ.
The false mirrors of man are thus melted and amalgamated into the basin which most likely is a type of God who burnt His only begotten son as a burnt offering for our sins. Christ has become our sin atonement, he is our burnt offering. He is now our true mirror – the only one who reflects a perfect image of our being. The melting into God provides us with a beautiful picture of the union; every atom is rearranged and blended in the melting process until it becomes a perfect mix. When the mixture set it is forever molded together. It is impossible to separate the two, they are forever one.
A mirror also represents introspection, which is considered a necessity in many faith systems to facilitate change of behavior. Most are familiar with introspection as a sure path to condemnation. To ensure that our gaze is upward the mirrors are melted and done away with. It is the upward gaze which enables man to behold the free gift of perfection in Christ.
The interesting part right now is the peculiarity which occurred while constructing the altar, an oddity which was not included in the original recipe Moses received from God (Exod 27:1-8).
“He made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.” (Exodus 38:8)
In ancient times mirrors were made from bronze. In this context they symbolize our independence (When we in this context utilizes the word independence we mean the false self-syndrome, that is, the sentiment that we are not containers of either sin or God's Spirit, but independent entities.); the mirrors cast back our own image. We either have a conceited image of ourselves or we find our defects in the mirror. No matter how we behold our image is not a correct reflection of us. Something is lacking, namely our union with Christ.
The false mirrors of man are thus melted and amalgamated into the basin which most likely is a type of God who burnt His only begotten son as a burnt offering for our sins. Christ has become our sin atonement, he is our burnt offering. He is now our true mirror – the only one who reflects a perfect image of our being. The melting into God provides us with a beautiful picture of the union; every atom is rearranged and blended in the melting process until it becomes a perfect mix. When the mixture set it is forever molded together. It is impossible to separate the two, they are forever one.
A mirror also represents introspection, which is considered a necessity in many faith systems to facilitate change of behavior. Most are familiar with introspection as a sure path to condemnation. To ensure that our gaze is upward the mirrors are melted and done away with. It is the upward gaze which enables man to behold the free gift of perfection in Christ.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Everything means Everything
I hope you are ready to join me on a little faith journey. My idea is to present a string of thoughts which manifested in my mind today. The conclusion encouraged me immensely, and I hope the text will have the same effect on you.
God is love. It isn’t something He has, it is something He is. At the outset of our walk as new creations we find it difficult to reconcile life’s many facets with His love. As we grow we come to understand that we receive His love through faith, more often than as an experience. Then the Holy Spirit establishes this as a truth in the innermost corners of our being – and His love becomes knowledge. We have all experienced that His love can also be manifested in tribulations and sufferings leading us to a deeper sense of His all encompassing love.
An undisputable fact is that as new creations we are in Christ. If we are in Christ and He is love, then we also are love, simply because His sap flows into the branches. This goes beyond feelings and appearances, because it is a spiritual truth. Let us not in this part of the account begin to contrast evil and good, because there exist no such thing in our being. In Christ we do the truth and we do what is right, which basically is being in Him and let His life flow in us.
The next step is to acknowledge that everything works together for good for those who love God. Regarding our love towards Him; this is not either a question of feelings; it is a plain fact that we love Him because He loved us first. When we strive to please Him we do not easily recognize His love; that is true. However, those who have entered His rest bask and revel in His unconditional love.
He is the one who works everything for good. His highest good is Himself. When we behold our actions, attitudes and behavior and judge them according to our perceptions of good and evil, which is a heritage from the fall, we often feel that we fall short. That is not the truth, however. The truth is that He uses everything – everything plainly means everything – to advance His good.
If we have disappointed someone, which we occasionally do, God employs that to work forth His good in that situation. Disappointments and other things which are not so pleasant have the inherent power to lead people to the end of themselves and thus solely rely on God. In other words God’s love in us may cause tribulations for others so they can experience His highest good - Himself.
Seems odd, doesn’t it? Not exactly what we have been previously taught. This is of course just a marred and simple illustration, but I hope it gets the point across. I am not saying now that we should dispense tribulations on others as we please, just that those things inadvertently occur, and when they do they are also an opportunity for our Father.
The conclusion is: Rest from your own seemingly failures and rest in Him. When you do the sap flows unstrained and you are everything you are, a perfect mirror of Him.
God is love. It isn’t something He has, it is something He is. At the outset of our walk as new creations we find it difficult to reconcile life’s many facets with His love. As we grow we come to understand that we receive His love through faith, more often than as an experience. Then the Holy Spirit establishes this as a truth in the innermost corners of our being – and His love becomes knowledge. We have all experienced that His love can also be manifested in tribulations and sufferings leading us to a deeper sense of His all encompassing love.
An undisputable fact is that as new creations we are in Christ. If we are in Christ and He is love, then we also are love, simply because His sap flows into the branches. This goes beyond feelings and appearances, because it is a spiritual truth. Let us not in this part of the account begin to contrast evil and good, because there exist no such thing in our being. In Christ we do the truth and we do what is right, which basically is being in Him and let His life flow in us.
The next step is to acknowledge that everything works together for good for those who love God. Regarding our love towards Him; this is not either a question of feelings; it is a plain fact that we love Him because He loved us first. When we strive to please Him we do not easily recognize His love; that is true. However, those who have entered His rest bask and revel in His unconditional love.
He is the one who works everything for good. His highest good is Himself. When we behold our actions, attitudes and behavior and judge them according to our perceptions of good and evil, which is a heritage from the fall, we often feel that we fall short. That is not the truth, however. The truth is that He uses everything – everything plainly means everything – to advance His good.
If we have disappointed someone, which we occasionally do, God employs that to work forth His good in that situation. Disappointments and other things which are not so pleasant have the inherent power to lead people to the end of themselves and thus solely rely on God. In other words God’s love in us may cause tribulations for others so they can experience His highest good - Himself.
Seems odd, doesn’t it? Not exactly what we have been previously taught. This is of course just a marred and simple illustration, but I hope it gets the point across. I am not saying now that we should dispense tribulations on others as we please, just that those things inadvertently occur, and when they do they are also an opportunity for our Father.
The conclusion is: Rest from your own seemingly failures and rest in Him. When you do the sap flows unstrained and you are everything you are, a perfect mirror of Him.
Monday, January 18, 2010
No consciousness about sin
“Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?” (Hebr 10:2)
The implications of this verse are very exciting. The author is discussing the superiority of the new covenant compared to the one which is now obsolete. In the old covenant they made annual sacrifices for sin. This system upheld people’s consciousness of sin. The supreme news is that since Jesus is sacrificed once and for all the worshipper can through faith enter a consciousness of no sin.
This consciousness is oblivious when it comes to terms such as trespasses, iniquity and sin pertaining to its own life. It doesn’t acknowledge those concepts any longer, and it certainly isn’t going to discuss those subjects, except that it has an idea that there still are people who are in sin due to unbelief, that is, they haven’t accepted Christ. Because this consciousness is so thrilled in its state of innocence it desires others to share this marvelous life as well.
If you still are trapped in 1 John 1:9; “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” please read the brilliant book “Safe and Sound” by Paul Anderson Walsh who without a shadow of doubt proves that 1 John was written to a mixed congregation of born again Christians and Gnostics. Paul discusses the matter extensively and shows that this verse is addressed to the Gnostics, and that any other conclusion is both unscriptural and illogical.
We can thus confidently assert that 1 John 1:9 pertains to the Gnostics and it demonstrates to them how easy it is to be born again and thus be partakers of a genuine divine nature. This relation becomes more pronounced when we understand that Gnostics believe that they are already without sin and that salvation comes through knowledge.
To be unconscious of sin also denotes a mindset which is free from self effort, self improvement, own works and self reliance. “Why would I involve myself in futile activities like that when He has already made me perfect and fulfilled the commandments in me?”, this person would answer any opponent.
Unconsciousness of sin equals a holy lifestyle! It even pertains to having the mind of Christ!
The implications of this verse are very exciting. The author is discussing the superiority of the new covenant compared to the one which is now obsolete. In the old covenant they made annual sacrifices for sin. This system upheld people’s consciousness of sin. The supreme news is that since Jesus is sacrificed once and for all the worshipper can through faith enter a consciousness of no sin.
This consciousness is oblivious when it comes to terms such as trespasses, iniquity and sin pertaining to its own life. It doesn’t acknowledge those concepts any longer, and it certainly isn’t going to discuss those subjects, except that it has an idea that there still are people who are in sin due to unbelief, that is, they haven’t accepted Christ. Because this consciousness is so thrilled in its state of innocence it desires others to share this marvelous life as well.
If you still are trapped in 1 John 1:9; “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” please read the brilliant book “Safe and Sound” by Paul Anderson Walsh who without a shadow of doubt proves that 1 John was written to a mixed congregation of born again Christians and Gnostics. Paul discusses the matter extensively and shows that this verse is addressed to the Gnostics, and that any other conclusion is both unscriptural and illogical.
We can thus confidently assert that 1 John 1:9 pertains to the Gnostics and it demonstrates to them how easy it is to be born again and thus be partakers of a genuine divine nature. This relation becomes more pronounced when we understand that Gnostics believe that they are already without sin and that salvation comes through knowledge.
To be unconscious of sin also denotes a mindset which is free from self effort, self improvement, own works and self reliance. “Why would I involve myself in futile activities like that when He has already made me perfect and fulfilled the commandments in me?”, this person would answer any opponent.
Unconsciousness of sin equals a holy lifestyle! It even pertains to having the mind of Christ!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
In the Well
I came to be thinking about Joseph and his colorful life the other day. Particularly his well experience came to mind. It might be that I am a bit slow, but it suddenly struck me that many, if not most of us have had our well experiences. We have endured rejection, slander, envy and malice. Usually a helping hand has come by and helped us out of the well. However, to our dismay we find that our tribulations haven’t ceased.
Even though our time in the well has taught us to be more careful in our associations (and other perhaps more important lessons) we have nonetheless met others who have disappointed us gravely, something which has caused us to go through periods which have been as bleak as dungeons. People have meant it for evil, but as time passes we find that God has meant it for good. In retrospect we almost shudder when we think about the glory we would have missed or where we would have been hadn’t it been for those seasons, notably when we find that we now are promoted to be next to God.
Even though our time in the well has taught us to be more careful in our associations (and other perhaps more important lessons) we have nonetheless met others who have disappointed us gravely, something which has caused us to go through periods which have been as bleak as dungeons. People have meant it for evil, but as time passes we find that God has meant it for good. In retrospect we almost shudder when we think about the glory we would have missed or where we would have been hadn’t it been for those seasons, notably when we find that we now are promoted to be next to God.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Perfect from Infancy to Maturity
John claims that the Christian walk is characterized by three stages; children, young men and fathers (1 John 2:13). When Jesus walked this earth he went through the common human seasons; infancy, childhood, adolescence and maturity. In every stage of his earthly life he was found without sin (Hebr 4:15).
John also asserts that we can have boldness on the day of judgment “because as he (Jesus) is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17) Moreover, the author of the epistle to the Hebrews states; “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Both verses encompass the same truth, our perfection in Christ.
In addition, John alludes to our union life – the mystery revealed – Christ in us living as us (Col 1:27), when he writes that as he is so are we. God's master plan is to regenerate man so that humanity and divinity is perfectly amalgamated into one being, which is both us and Him and where it is impossible to discern between the two. A perfect union.
Paul corroborates with John’s stages when he differentiates between what kind of food the Christian is able to digest in 1 Cor 3:2; “Everyone who uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.” Meat, however, is for the mature.
What we can infer from this is that Jesus' different stages in life symbolize the different stages the Christian goes through as a new creation. If Jesus was perfect from infancy to maturity it is not far stretched to assert that this also applies to our grace walk. For most believers this calls for a leap of faith.
When established in this amazing truth our entire outlook will be altered, and how we view our sisters and brothers who still are unskillful in the word of righteousness will be revolutionized. This truth empowers us as well to accept and love ourselves as perfect in Him.
This perfection concerns body, soul and spirit. We are compelled to assume that this perfection applies to all of our human entities on account of Jesus who was the son of man coming in the flesh. If we limit this perfection to only the spiritual realm we are unwittingly limiting Jesus' perfect sacrifice, and we are standing on the threshold of Gnosticism.
John also asserts that we can have boldness on the day of judgment “because as he (Jesus) is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17) Moreover, the author of the epistle to the Hebrews states; “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Both verses encompass the same truth, our perfection in Christ.
In addition, John alludes to our union life – the mystery revealed – Christ in us living as us (Col 1:27), when he writes that as he is so are we. God's master plan is to regenerate man so that humanity and divinity is perfectly amalgamated into one being, which is both us and Him and where it is impossible to discern between the two. A perfect union.
Paul corroborates with John’s stages when he differentiates between what kind of food the Christian is able to digest in 1 Cor 3:2; “Everyone who uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.” Meat, however, is for the mature.
What we can infer from this is that Jesus' different stages in life symbolize the different stages the Christian goes through as a new creation. If Jesus was perfect from infancy to maturity it is not far stretched to assert that this also applies to our grace walk. For most believers this calls for a leap of faith.
When established in this amazing truth our entire outlook will be altered, and how we view our sisters and brothers who still are unskillful in the word of righteousness will be revolutionized. This truth empowers us as well to accept and love ourselves as perfect in Him.
This perfection concerns body, soul and spirit. We are compelled to assume that this perfection applies to all of our human entities on account of Jesus who was the son of man coming in the flesh. If we limit this perfection to only the spiritual realm we are unwittingly limiting Jesus' perfect sacrifice, and we are standing on the threshold of Gnosticism.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Enticement
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:5-7)
Adam and Eve’s temptation was to be like God. They fell. Jesus temptation was to be like God. He didn’t fall. We are tempted in the same manner as He was. Even though we, as new creations, are in the form of God, we are almost daily enticed by the imposter to return to the tree of good and evil and behold and judge life by appearance and strive to better ourselves to be like God. Pleasing to God is, however, to walk in faith in the likeness of men appreciating that we are once and for all perfected though one sacrifice.
Adam and Eve’s temptation was to be like God. They fell. Jesus temptation was to be like God. He didn’t fall. We are tempted in the same manner as He was. Even though we, as new creations, are in the form of God, we are almost daily enticed by the imposter to return to the tree of good and evil and behold and judge life by appearance and strive to better ourselves to be like God. Pleasing to God is, however, to walk in faith in the likeness of men appreciating that we are once and for all perfected though one sacrifice.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Law and Striving
I feel so sorry for those who still believe they need to keep the law, or say something similar to; “This year I will continue to strive to better myself”. If you are to keep the law you cannot pick and choose. You must obey all the commandments, and if you break one you have broken them all. God demands perfection.
If your will is to better yourself you obviously regard yourself as an independent entity in this universe. What you really are saying is that you are going to ascend to the most high and become like God. That was the Serpent’s mistake.
One of the concepts which are used in the Scripture to describe our human condition is containers. We either contain sin (the devil) or we contain the Spirit of God. What we never must assume is that we are independent units.
If Jesus, who was a perfect image of us, could do nothing outside His Father, neither can we. A container is designed to receive, so that is what we do. We receive, and God gives and gives and gives. Our only hope thus in achieving the perfection God demands is to die from our self-effort (the flesh) and by faith receive our perfection from the resurrected Christ in whom we now continue to live.
The Law's principal task is to expose self effort as futile and void, and to expose our wretchedness. To use an image from the Old Testament; the law is our desert experience which God utilizes to lead us to the Jordan River, which we cross by a leap of faith in order to enter the Promised Land which is Christ.
What do you prefer: The limitations of the desert or the abundance in the Promised Land? May The Holy Spirit be blessed in His mighty work in leading people from bondage to freedom!
If your will is to better yourself you obviously regard yourself as an independent entity in this universe. What you really are saying is that you are going to ascend to the most high and become like God. That was the Serpent’s mistake.
One of the concepts which are used in the Scripture to describe our human condition is containers. We either contain sin (the devil) or we contain the Spirit of God. What we never must assume is that we are independent units.
If Jesus, who was a perfect image of us, could do nothing outside His Father, neither can we. A container is designed to receive, so that is what we do. We receive, and God gives and gives and gives. Our only hope thus in achieving the perfection God demands is to die from our self-effort (the flesh) and by faith receive our perfection from the resurrected Christ in whom we now continue to live.
The Law's principal task is to expose self effort as futile and void, and to expose our wretchedness. To use an image from the Old Testament; the law is our desert experience which God utilizes to lead us to the Jordan River, which we cross by a leap of faith in order to enter the Promised Land which is Christ.
What do you prefer: The limitations of the desert or the abundance in the Promised Land? May The Holy Spirit be blessed in His mighty work in leading people from bondage to freedom!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Short Version
It was late in the evening. I had been a Christian for several years already. I still didn’t completely trust in God; I wasn’t completely assured that He was love. I doubted that He was completely in control and that He wanted my best. So to pray “May your will be manifested in my life” and “Lead me closer to your heart” that evening was a leap of faith in those early days of my walk. I can recall that I was terrified that God would lead me into suffering, or that He would let some sort of tribulation come my way. I wasn’t ready for any Gethsemane experience, and I was certain if that would be the case I would plead: remove this cup from me.
However, God took my prayer very seriously, and confident that He could lead me perfectly through everything I feared He began His works in me. Let me be completely honest; all my worst nightmares came through. When my preconceived notions about how the Christian life should be lived were sufficiently shaken He could begin teaching me that I was dead to the law, that I was perfect in Christ and that my salvation was secure. When my desert experience came to a conclusion He led me to the Jordan River which He lured me across. Repeatedly He has encouraged me to take leaps of faith further and further into the Promised Land. This fall He has opened my eyes to the mystery, Christ in us. In everything He has turned out to be more than faithful.
In order to heal me from my many personal issues He first had to crush me. He led me into situation after situation which challenges I tried to conquer in my own powers. It wasn’t until I came to the end of myself and all my resources were exhausted that He could establish Christ in me as my new identity. During the dark nights there were times the excruciating pain rendered me with a wish to die. God has, however, revealed that I was already dead, and that I am now leading the glorious resurrection life of Christ. A week ago God showed me that Jesus was perfectly capable of vicariously living as me in pain and suffering, and through that revelation a new outlook was created in me, and darkness turned to light.
There was a long period of my life where I fought against difficulties perceiving them as the works of the devil. I believed that the Christian was predestined to prosperity. I dreaded to read passages which dealt with suffering, and I even rationalized them as experiences meant for the first Christians. Despite all this, God continued telling me that He would give me treasures hidden in the darkness. I thought He meant secrets hidden in the scriptures. He meant treasures hidden in suffering. Now He is establishing me in joy whatsoever circumstance I encounter, because He is all in all.
He has more than answered my prayer that evening. To my astonishment I can now say that I appreciate He has been finding it worthwhile to perform this huge job in me. I also find it important to note that it hasn’t been suffering all the way. There have been long periods of calm and peace, filled with joy and happiness and occasional daily challenges which I by and by have learned to return to Him. What I remember most clearly from this journey, are all those moments when He has spoken directly to me about things He has wanted to share about His character and who I am in Him, and all those times when He has embraced me with His love and held me tight. Together we have gone from victory to victory, and He has taught me how to reign in life.
I have lost count of how many times my Father has led me to this passage:
Isaiah 45
1 "This is what the LORD says to his anointed,
to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of
to subdue nations before him
and to strip kings of their armor,
to open doors before him
so that gates will not be shut:
2 I will go before you
and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze
and cut through bars of iron.
3 I will give you the treasures of darkness,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
4 For the sake of Jacob my servant,
of Israel my chosen,
I summon you by name
and bestow on you a title of honor,
though you do not acknowledge me.
5 I am the LORD, and there is no other;
apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,
though you have not acknowledged me,
6 so that from the rising of the sun
to the place of its setting
men may know there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
7 I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the LORD, do all these things.
8 "You heavens above, rain down righteousness;
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation spring up,
let righteousness grow with it;
I, the LORD, have created it.
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. (2 Cor 2:14)
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. (2 Tim 2:12)
For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. (Rom 5:17)
However, God took my prayer very seriously, and confident that He could lead me perfectly through everything I feared He began His works in me. Let me be completely honest; all my worst nightmares came through. When my preconceived notions about how the Christian life should be lived were sufficiently shaken He could begin teaching me that I was dead to the law, that I was perfect in Christ and that my salvation was secure. When my desert experience came to a conclusion He led me to the Jordan River which He lured me across. Repeatedly He has encouraged me to take leaps of faith further and further into the Promised Land. This fall He has opened my eyes to the mystery, Christ in us. In everything He has turned out to be more than faithful.
In order to heal me from my many personal issues He first had to crush me. He led me into situation after situation which challenges I tried to conquer in my own powers. It wasn’t until I came to the end of myself and all my resources were exhausted that He could establish Christ in me as my new identity. During the dark nights there were times the excruciating pain rendered me with a wish to die. God has, however, revealed that I was already dead, and that I am now leading the glorious resurrection life of Christ. A week ago God showed me that Jesus was perfectly capable of vicariously living as me in pain and suffering, and through that revelation a new outlook was created in me, and darkness turned to light.
There was a long period of my life where I fought against difficulties perceiving them as the works of the devil. I believed that the Christian was predestined to prosperity. I dreaded to read passages which dealt with suffering, and I even rationalized them as experiences meant for the first Christians. Despite all this, God continued telling me that He would give me treasures hidden in the darkness. I thought He meant secrets hidden in the scriptures. He meant treasures hidden in suffering. Now He is establishing me in joy whatsoever circumstance I encounter, because He is all in all.
He has more than answered my prayer that evening. To my astonishment I can now say that I appreciate He has been finding it worthwhile to perform this huge job in me. I also find it important to note that it hasn’t been suffering all the way. There have been long periods of calm and peace, filled with joy and happiness and occasional daily challenges which I by and by have learned to return to Him. What I remember most clearly from this journey, are all those moments when He has spoken directly to me about things He has wanted to share about His character and who I am in Him, and all those times when He has embraced me with His love and held me tight. Together we have gone from victory to victory, and He has taught me how to reign in life.
I have lost count of how many times my Father has led me to this passage:
Isaiah 45
1 "This is what the LORD says to his anointed,
to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of
to subdue nations before him
and to strip kings of their armor,
to open doors before him
so that gates will not be shut:
2 I will go before you
and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze
and cut through bars of iron.
3 I will give you the treasures of darkness,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
4 For the sake of Jacob my servant,
of Israel my chosen,
I summon you by name
and bestow on you a title of honor,
though you do not acknowledge me.
5 I am the LORD, and there is no other;
apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,
though you have not acknowledged me,
6 so that from the rising of the sun
to the place of its setting
men may know there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
7 I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the LORD, do all these things.
8 "You heavens above, rain down righteousness;
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation spring up,
let righteousness grow with it;
I, the LORD, have created it.
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. (2 Cor 2:14)
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. (2 Tim 2:12)
For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. (Rom 5:17)
Friday, January 8, 2010
My father and Father
In March two years will have passed since my father died. He had cancer in the esophagus. It took nine months from he received the diagnosis till he passed away. He was not a Christian. There wasn’t a single work in his life that was carried out in God. He wasn’t a particularly good father, and an even lousier husband. My father smoked, and was addicted to pills and alcohol.
Several times during his sickness I urged him to accept Christ, but to no avail. However, two days before he died a priest came to visit him and the clergyman led my father to salvation. Those who were present recall the moment as holy and glorious. God’s presence was tangible, they told me.
Lately, I have been pondering his passing away and it strikes me how far God’s grace goes. This was a man who was in sin until two days before he left this temporal world. He had no idea about regular Christian terms such as holiness, righteousness or the renewing of the mind. Despite all his, he is now dressed in God’s glory.
As God has revealed more of the mystery, Christ in us, and also opened my eyes to the glorious truth that Christ is all in all, new light has been cast on my father’s life. He was God’s vessel to mould, amongst other things, me. God used his life to drive me into my heavenly Father’s arms. My earthly father’s conduct also taught me my first lessons about suffering. He was one of the factors which caused the depression – my dark nights of the soul - which altered the course of my life five years ago.
My father was God’s gift to me, because “All things come to me from my Father’s hand” (Matt 11:27). It pleased God to demonstrate His love towards me through all this, and when my father’s life had accomplished God’s purposes it pleased God to regenerate his spirit and take him home. “But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.” (Micah 4:12)
My awareness in recognizing that God is in all my life’s circumstances has increased considerable lately. This is a mighty work of the Holy Spirit in me. It enables me to recognize that my father caused me to die, and from my death and resurrection in Christ his new life sprang forth.
Several times during his sickness I urged him to accept Christ, but to no avail. However, two days before he died a priest came to visit him and the clergyman led my father to salvation. Those who were present recall the moment as holy and glorious. God’s presence was tangible, they told me.
Lately, I have been pondering his passing away and it strikes me how far God’s grace goes. This was a man who was in sin until two days before he left this temporal world. He had no idea about regular Christian terms such as holiness, righteousness or the renewing of the mind. Despite all his, he is now dressed in God’s glory.
As God has revealed more of the mystery, Christ in us, and also opened my eyes to the glorious truth that Christ is all in all, new light has been cast on my father’s life. He was God’s vessel to mould, amongst other things, me. God used his life to drive me into my heavenly Father’s arms. My earthly father’s conduct also taught me my first lessons about suffering. He was one of the factors which caused the depression – my dark nights of the soul - which altered the course of my life five years ago.
My father was God’s gift to me, because “All things come to me from my Father’s hand” (Matt 11:27). It pleased God to demonstrate His love towards me through all this, and when my father’s life had accomplished God’s purposes it pleased God to regenerate his spirit and take him home. “But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.” (Micah 4:12)
My awareness in recognizing that God is in all my life’s circumstances has increased considerable lately. This is a mighty work of the Holy Spirit in me. It enables me to recognize that my father caused me to die, and from my death and resurrection in Christ his new life sprang forth.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The Single Eye
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! (Matt 6:22-23)
This is a very intriguing passage, and its implications are indeed fascinating. To be single eyed is to have an understanding that Christ fills all in all with His fullness (Ef 1:23). It is to have an awareness that nothing exists outside God, and that He is upholding everything with His word.
According to God evil is thus defined as having a double vision, which is a belief system that erroneously states that the creation can operate independent of its Creator. This plainly implies that everything man does with a mindset that believes it can work outside God is evil in God’s eyes, notwithstanding it is good or bad in our eyes.
It is then quite clear that everything that springs forth from faith is light. In this context these verses become full of meaning: For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. (John 3:20-22)
To do the truth is to lead a life in the light. To be in the light implies that we through faith, the single eye, believe we are perfect in Him, and that Christ lives as us. By this, for many difficult, leap of faith we are no longer in fear of judgment or an easy prey for condemnation, because we are completely safe in Him when we understand that He lives His life through us.
Those who live outside this truth will have this overwhelming desire to hide from God, because outside Him they can never achieve perfection. Since God demands perfection they are found wanting in all areas of life, and they know it. On this ground they do not come to the light, because they are afraid that their works should be exposed as void.
It is in this light that we come to understand what the flesh is. The flesh denotes man’s efforts to make himself presentable to God. Everyone who attempts to live by the law is hence in the flesh.
The most edifying aspect with having a single eye is that it constitutes a way of life which is more about right being than right doing. Surprisingly to man, right being facilitates right doing in God’s eyes. Right being facilitates works which are carried out in God. We have entered God’s rest.
This is a very intriguing passage, and its implications are indeed fascinating. To be single eyed is to have an understanding that Christ fills all in all with His fullness (Ef 1:23). It is to have an awareness that nothing exists outside God, and that He is upholding everything with His word.
According to God evil is thus defined as having a double vision, which is a belief system that erroneously states that the creation can operate independent of its Creator. This plainly implies that everything man does with a mindset that believes it can work outside God is evil in God’s eyes, notwithstanding it is good or bad in our eyes.
It is then quite clear that everything that springs forth from faith is light. In this context these verses become full of meaning: For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. (John 3:20-22)
To do the truth is to lead a life in the light. To be in the light implies that we through faith, the single eye, believe we are perfect in Him, and that Christ lives as us. By this, for many difficult, leap of faith we are no longer in fear of judgment or an easy prey for condemnation, because we are completely safe in Him when we understand that He lives His life through us.
Those who live outside this truth will have this overwhelming desire to hide from God, because outside Him they can never achieve perfection. Since God demands perfection they are found wanting in all areas of life, and they know it. On this ground they do not come to the light, because they are afraid that their works should be exposed as void.
It is in this light that we come to understand what the flesh is. The flesh denotes man’s efforts to make himself presentable to God. Everyone who attempts to live by the law is hence in the flesh.
The most edifying aspect with having a single eye is that it constitutes a way of life which is more about right being than right doing. Surprisingly to man, right being facilitates right doing in God’s eyes. Right being facilitates works which are carried out in God. We have entered God’s rest.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Illumination
Have you ever wondered why the Holy Spirit must illuminate the word for us? The unregenerate spirit cannot understand the Bible because he follows the spirit of the ruler of the kingdom of the air. This spirit, Satan, is a liar and he veils the scripture in falsehood. The Bible thus comes out as condemning and lifeless, and under this spirit’s influence God’s love letter is transformed into a receipt for self effort.
When the Holy Spirit begins His work in the new creation He will turn upside down every preconceived notion we have, which means everything. This is a process which can take some time, because the lies are so entrenched in our minds. The Holy Spirit finds great pleasure in convincing God’s saints about the truth, because of the joy and the liberty His beloved ones experience when He leads them to the green pastures of life.
There are, however, those who harden their hearts, who stiff-necked refuse to humble themselves and let go of the lie that they can operate as independent selves. They prefer the old system of legalism due to the fact that it provides them with the opportunity to boast. They are those who are having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.
It’s a fascinating journey as the Holy Spirit unravels the precious truths about who we are now, what Jesus has done and is still doing in us. The sensation of utter awe when He endows us with glimpses of God’s master plan is beyond words. It is thrilling when He encourages us to take leaps of faith. When He secures us in our salvation and shows us the depths of God’s love our whole being is transformed into light.
When the Holy Spirit begins His work in the new creation He will turn upside down every preconceived notion we have, which means everything. This is a process which can take some time, because the lies are so entrenched in our minds. The Holy Spirit finds great pleasure in convincing God’s saints about the truth, because of the joy and the liberty His beloved ones experience when He leads them to the green pastures of life.
There are, however, those who harden their hearts, who stiff-necked refuse to humble themselves and let go of the lie that they can operate as independent selves. They prefer the old system of legalism due to the fact that it provides them with the opportunity to boast. They are those who are having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.
It’s a fascinating journey as the Holy Spirit unravels the precious truths about who we are now, what Jesus has done and is still doing in us. The sensation of utter awe when He endows us with glimpses of God’s master plan is beyond words. It is thrilling when He encourages us to take leaps of faith. When He secures us in our salvation and shows us the depths of God’s love our whole being is transformed into light.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The Easy Yoke
Jesus said: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Personal experiences have given this verse a different and even more profound meaning than what it has conveyed before in my grace walk. Jesus has experienced every affliction, tribulation and hardship we will ever endure in this life. When we by faith accept that He lives as us we come to acknowledge that He is perfectly capable of going through those periods as us, in us. We just let go in faith and leave the reins to Him who also was perfected through what He suffered. Our sufferings are made lighter and their often paralyzing power is powdered when He undergoes them as us. We simply abide in Him.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Lukewarm
To be lukewarm is to have settled for the compromise which states that God is satisfied as long as I try to do my best, which is nothing else that a little bit of me and a little bit of Him. This person has not allowed the law to bring him to the end of himself where he desperately cries out: “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?“ He has never given up. He has never come to realize that without Christ he can do nothing.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Fatherhood
It is quite obvious that before Eve and Adam knew right and wrong they lived in a neutral state. From the beginning they were designed to be containers of the Deity. However, there must have been a sparkle of independent self life in them since they chose their own will to His in this drama of cosmic proportions which is so vividly depicted in the first chapters of Genesis.
In their state after the fall they had become containers of the evil force which wasn’t the truth, but which had infected God’s crown jewel with its own self centeredness. Man’s self effort to become like God were plagued by shame and a profound sense of insufficiency. Man came to reject and despise his humanity which seemed so frail and marred in a world he desired to be perfect according to his image and by his own powers.
On the cross man was offered the opportunity to die from the consequences of the fall and return to his glory in the Father. Even though he now was a new creation and had died from his former state he still was plagued by self analyses and introspection. The pastors and teachers continued to preach self improvement to the new creation which, however, wasn't designed for such a task. He was created to contain I AM, and as a consequence of again containing the Deity he was now in a position to enter his former neutral position by a leap of faith which assured him that he was a perfect image of the Son.
Even though man became a new creation by faith he found it difficult to abandon his old ways. His efforts to make himself presentable to God were, however, preposterous and futile. God found it thus necessary in man's best interest and to see to that His will was fulfilled in man to lead him through tribulations and let him struggle on his own which ultimately would make him come to the end of himself and his independent self life.
In this utter darkness the Father could repeatedly show man his perfection in Him, and lead him to rest. From here on man would enter life as Him and thus finally find peace from shame and this nagging feeling of inadequacy. In accepting his humanity he could again experience the freedom in the original state of neutrality. To do so man had to become like a small child and behold life with the kind of innocence that trusts completely and which just is. Paradoxically, man has now entered fatherhood and found his life.
In their state after the fall they had become containers of the evil force which wasn’t the truth, but which had infected God’s crown jewel with its own self centeredness. Man’s self effort to become like God were plagued by shame and a profound sense of insufficiency. Man came to reject and despise his humanity which seemed so frail and marred in a world he desired to be perfect according to his image and by his own powers.
On the cross man was offered the opportunity to die from the consequences of the fall and return to his glory in the Father. Even though he now was a new creation and had died from his former state he still was plagued by self analyses and introspection. The pastors and teachers continued to preach self improvement to the new creation which, however, wasn't designed for such a task. He was created to contain I AM, and as a consequence of again containing the Deity he was now in a position to enter his former neutral position by a leap of faith which assured him that he was a perfect image of the Son.
Even though man became a new creation by faith he found it difficult to abandon his old ways. His efforts to make himself presentable to God were, however, preposterous and futile. God found it thus necessary in man's best interest and to see to that His will was fulfilled in man to lead him through tribulations and let him struggle on his own which ultimately would make him come to the end of himself and his independent self life.
In this utter darkness the Father could repeatedly show man his perfection in Him, and lead him to rest. From here on man would enter life as Him and thus finally find peace from shame and this nagging feeling of inadequacy. In accepting his humanity he could again experience the freedom in the original state of neutrality. To do so man had to become like a small child and behold life with the kind of innocence that trusts completely and which just is. Paradoxically, man has now entered fatherhood and found his life.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Rest
I am not a systematic reader of the Bible. The right word in my dealings with the scripture is spontaneous. I read whatever I fancy there and then, or I pick passages randomly. I was in a random mode this morning, and when my eyes fell on the page I had opened the following verses sprang out of the book:
"We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. Open the gates that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.” (Isaiah 26:1-2)
Isaiah must have been a tad surprised over this, because what he passed on says that those who keep faith will enter the new city of salvation. He might have been a bit dumbfounded as well hearing God utter something contrary to what he had been reared to obey, because the covenant he was subject to demanded perfection under the law to enter God’s salvation.
We all know that failing to observe the commandments and the law was called sin under the old covenant. Sin in the new dispensation must thus be not keeping faith. Paul confirms this in Rom 14:23: “For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”
My conclusion is obviously that we are not to be concerned with our works, doings, attitudes and so forth, but be preoccupied with faith only - which is Christ, who He is and who we are in Him. The reason why Jesus left us with His peace is found in verse 12 in Isaiah 26: “O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.”
Let us all enter His rest through faith, because it is finished!
"We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. Open the gates that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.” (Isaiah 26:1-2)
Isaiah must have been a tad surprised over this, because what he passed on says that those who keep faith will enter the new city of salvation. He might have been a bit dumbfounded as well hearing God utter something contrary to what he had been reared to obey, because the covenant he was subject to demanded perfection under the law to enter God’s salvation.
We all know that failing to observe the commandments and the law was called sin under the old covenant. Sin in the new dispensation must thus be not keeping faith. Paul confirms this in Rom 14:23: “For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”
My conclusion is obviously that we are not to be concerned with our works, doings, attitudes and so forth, but be preoccupied with faith only - which is Christ, who He is and who we are in Him. The reason why Jesus left us with His peace is found in verse 12 in Isaiah 26: “O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.”
Let us all enter His rest through faith, because it is finished!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Hvile 2
I går slo vi fast at synd i den nye pakt var å ikke holde troen (Jes 28:2). David forutså også at det ville komme en tid hvor synd ikke ville være det som stod mellom Gud og menneske: ” Salige er de som har fått sine lovbrudd tilgitt og sine synder skjult. Salig er det mennesket som Herren ikke tilregner synd.” (Rom 4:7-8)
Det er ganske klart at Davids profeti gjelder de troende fordi Johannes sa: ”Den som er født av Gud synder ikke, fordi det som Gud har sådd blir i ham og han kan ikke synde fordi han er født av Gud.” (1 Johannes 3:9) Det er i denne sammenhengen at vi kan forstå de følgende ordene skrevet av Paulus på et enda dypere plan: ”Det er derfor ingen fordømmelse for de som er i Kristus Jesus, de som ikke vandrer etter kjødet men etter Ånden. (Rom 8:1)
Det er nå klart at en person som ikke kan synde kan heller ikke oppleve fordømmelse, særlig nå når vi er klar over at synd er forbundet med tro og ikke noe annet. Den troende lever ved tro fordi han har tatt imot Kristus og er født på ny. Ingenting av hva vedkommende vil kunne komme til å gjøre vil tilregnes ham som synd. Dette er ren og uforfalsket nåde! Det er uforståelig for den som ikke er født på ny, og for mange av de som fortsatt er barn i åndelig forstand.
Paulus sa: ” Men alt er av Gud, han som ved Kristus forsonte oss med seg selv og ga oss forsoningens tjeneste. For det var Gud som i Kristus forsonte verden med seg selv, slik at han ikke stiller dem til regnskap for deres misgjerninger, og han betrodde budskapet om forsoningen til oss. Så er vi da utsendinger for Kristus, og det er Gud selv som formaner gjennom oss. Vi ber dere på Kristi vegne: La dere forsone med Gud! Han som ikke visste av synd, har han gjort til synd for oss, for at vi i ham skulle få Guds rettferdighet. (2 Kor 5:18-21)
Den ikke-troende er derfor fortsatt i synd fordi han ennå ikke har tatt imot Kristus i tro. Men, han er kun et lite skritt fra å bli erklært rettferdig og bli forsonet med Gud, slik som vi er.
Som vi alle vet syndet Jesus aldri. Når Johannes skriver: ”I dette er kjærligheten blitt fullendt hos oss: at vi har frimodighet på dommens dag. For vi er slik som han er i denne verden. (1 Joh 4:17) så er dette også et argument for vår fullkommenhet. Hvis vi er i denne verden slik som han var og er, og Han ble funnet uten synd, så er også vi uten synd i denne verden. Når dette verset taler om kjærlighet så er det ganske opplagt at Johannes refererer til Guds kjærlighet som nå er gjort fullkommen gjennom Hans uhørte nåde!
Det er ganske klart at Davids profeti gjelder de troende fordi Johannes sa: ”Den som er født av Gud synder ikke, fordi det som Gud har sådd blir i ham og han kan ikke synde fordi han er født av Gud.” (1 Johannes 3:9) Det er i denne sammenhengen at vi kan forstå de følgende ordene skrevet av Paulus på et enda dypere plan: ”Det er derfor ingen fordømmelse for de som er i Kristus Jesus, de som ikke vandrer etter kjødet men etter Ånden. (Rom 8:1)
Det er nå klart at en person som ikke kan synde kan heller ikke oppleve fordømmelse, særlig nå når vi er klar over at synd er forbundet med tro og ikke noe annet. Den troende lever ved tro fordi han har tatt imot Kristus og er født på ny. Ingenting av hva vedkommende vil kunne komme til å gjøre vil tilregnes ham som synd. Dette er ren og uforfalsket nåde! Det er uforståelig for den som ikke er født på ny, og for mange av de som fortsatt er barn i åndelig forstand.
Paulus sa: ” Men alt er av Gud, han som ved Kristus forsonte oss med seg selv og ga oss forsoningens tjeneste. For det var Gud som i Kristus forsonte verden med seg selv, slik at han ikke stiller dem til regnskap for deres misgjerninger, og han betrodde budskapet om forsoningen til oss. Så er vi da utsendinger for Kristus, og det er Gud selv som formaner gjennom oss. Vi ber dere på Kristi vegne: La dere forsone med Gud! Han som ikke visste av synd, har han gjort til synd for oss, for at vi i ham skulle få Guds rettferdighet. (2 Kor 5:18-21)
Den ikke-troende er derfor fortsatt i synd fordi han ennå ikke har tatt imot Kristus i tro. Men, han er kun et lite skritt fra å bli erklært rettferdig og bli forsonet med Gud, slik som vi er.
Som vi alle vet syndet Jesus aldri. Når Johannes skriver: ”I dette er kjærligheten blitt fullendt hos oss: at vi har frimodighet på dommens dag. For vi er slik som han er i denne verden. (1 Joh 4:17) så er dette også et argument for vår fullkommenhet. Hvis vi er i denne verden slik som han var og er, og Han ble funnet uten synd, så er også vi uten synd i denne verden. Når dette verset taler om kjærlighet så er det ganske opplagt at Johannes refererer til Guds kjærlighet som nå er gjort fullkommen gjennom Hans uhørte nåde!
Hvile
Jeg leser ikke Bibelen systematisk. Det er kanskje mer korrekt å si at jeg er en spontan leser. Jeg leser det jeg kjenner for å lese, eller jeg bare slår opp i Bibelen helt vilkårlig. Jeg var i det vilkårlige hjørnet i dag, og når blikket mitt falt på siden jeg hadde åpnet var det som om følgende vers hoppet ut av siden:
”Vi har en sterk by; Han reiser opp frelse som vegger og skanser. Åpne portene slik den rettferdige nasjonen som holder troen kan gå inn.” (Jesaja 26:1-2)
Jesaja må ha vært litt overrasket over dette, fordi det han bringer videre sier at det er de som holder troen som vil gå inn i den nye byen av frelse. Han må ha blitt ganske forbløffet over å høre Gud si noe som stod helt i motsetning til hva han hadde blitt oppdratt til å adlyde, fordi den pakten han var under krevde fullkommenhet under loven for å kunne gå inn i Guds frelse.
Vi vet alle at det å ikke overholde budene og loven ble kalt synd i den gamle pakt. Synd i den nye pakt må derfor være å ikke holde troen. Paulus bekrefter dette i Romerne 14:23: ”For alt som ikke er av tro er synd.”
Min konklusjon er opplagt at vi trenger ikke være bekymret over våre gjerninger,tjeneste, arbide, holdninger og så videre, men være opptatt av kun tro – som er Kristus, hvem Han er og hvem vi er i Ham. Grunnen til at Jesus etterlot oss med sin fred finner vi i vers 12 i Jesaja 26: ”Herre du hjelper oss til fred, fordi du har i sannhet gjort for oss alle våre gjerninger.”
La oss alle gå inn i Hans hvile, fordi det er fullbrakt!
”Vi har en sterk by; Han reiser opp frelse som vegger og skanser. Åpne portene slik den rettferdige nasjonen som holder troen kan gå inn.” (Jesaja 26:1-2)
Jesaja må ha vært litt overrasket over dette, fordi det han bringer videre sier at det er de som holder troen som vil gå inn i den nye byen av frelse. Han må ha blitt ganske forbløffet over å høre Gud si noe som stod helt i motsetning til hva han hadde blitt oppdratt til å adlyde, fordi den pakten han var under krevde fullkommenhet under loven for å kunne gå inn i Guds frelse.
Vi vet alle at det å ikke overholde budene og loven ble kalt synd i den gamle pakt. Synd i den nye pakt må derfor være å ikke holde troen. Paulus bekrefter dette i Romerne 14:23: ”For alt som ikke er av tro er synd.”
Min konklusjon er opplagt at vi trenger ikke være bekymret over våre gjerninger,tjeneste, arbide, holdninger og så videre, men være opptatt av kun tro – som er Kristus, hvem Han er og hvem vi er i Ham. Grunnen til at Jesus etterlot oss med sin fred finner vi i vers 12 i Jesaja 26: ”Herre du hjelper oss til fred, fordi du har i sannhet gjort for oss alle våre gjerninger.”
La oss alle gå inn i Hans hvile, fordi det er fullbrakt!
Et lite ord om det å ikke ta i mot fordømmelse.
(A brief word on taking no condemnation)
Av: Fred Pruit
Noen ga respons på artikkelen om fordømmelse og sa at fordømmelse ofte kom fra andres munn.
Takk for at du skriver tilbake. Jeg forstår at fordømmelse kan komme fra andre. I alle ting så lærer vi å flytte blikket til Gud som tillater alle omstendigheter som kommer i vår vei for vårt beste, og til det beste for alle som er involvert. Hvis vi kan se Guds gode hensikt, selv når vi blir behandlet dårlig eller urettferdig, så blir vi satt fri fra å la bitterhet og sinne strømme mot gjerningsmennene, men i stedet vil Guds kjærlighet strømme ut fra oss som gjengjelder ondt med godt.
Ettersom skriften sier til oss at vi skal betrakte andre større enn oss selv, noe som er en umulighet for oss rent menneskelig sett, men når vi i Kristus betrakter andre, uansett hvordan de er mot oss, som om Kristus er i dem, uansett om de tror på Ham eller ikke (det er en sak mellom dem og Gud), da vil vi derfor som tjenere av Kristus bli tjenere for disse andre, til og med disse som kanskje misbruker oss. Det betyr ikke at vi underkaster oss misbruk, men at vi uten å ta hensyn til våre handlinger eller reaksjoner er i stand til å kun se Faderen som virker fram alt i henhold til sitt eget råd og sin vilje. Det setter oss fri til å elske uten å betrakte våre behov som de fremste, og gjennom det å se Kristus i andre blir vi istandsatt til å ”tjene Kristus” i dem, og sette dem høyere enn oss selv, for Kristus er ikke herre såfremt Han ikke også er tjener. Så sett din lit til at Gud har deg akkurat der Han ønsker du skal være og har kun ditt beste i tankene.
Av: Fred Pruit
Noen ga respons på artikkelen om fordømmelse og sa at fordømmelse ofte kom fra andres munn.
Takk for at du skriver tilbake. Jeg forstår at fordømmelse kan komme fra andre. I alle ting så lærer vi å flytte blikket til Gud som tillater alle omstendigheter som kommer i vår vei for vårt beste, og til det beste for alle som er involvert. Hvis vi kan se Guds gode hensikt, selv når vi blir behandlet dårlig eller urettferdig, så blir vi satt fri fra å la bitterhet og sinne strømme mot gjerningsmennene, men i stedet vil Guds kjærlighet strømme ut fra oss som gjengjelder ondt med godt.
Ettersom skriften sier til oss at vi skal betrakte andre større enn oss selv, noe som er en umulighet for oss rent menneskelig sett, men når vi i Kristus betrakter andre, uansett hvordan de er mot oss, som om Kristus er i dem, uansett om de tror på Ham eller ikke (det er en sak mellom dem og Gud), da vil vi derfor som tjenere av Kristus bli tjenere for disse andre, til og med disse som kanskje misbruker oss. Det betyr ikke at vi underkaster oss misbruk, men at vi uten å ta hensyn til våre handlinger eller reaksjoner er i stand til å kun se Faderen som virker fram alt i henhold til sitt eget råd og sin vilje. Det setter oss fri til å elske uten å betrakte våre behov som de fremste, og gjennom det å se Kristus i andre blir vi istandsatt til å ”tjene Kristus” i dem, og sette dem høyere enn oss selv, for Kristus er ikke herre såfremt Han ikke også er tjener. Så sett din lit til at Gud har deg akkurat der Han ønsker du skal være og har kun ditt beste i tankene.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Image
The consequences of the fall were many and its repercussions are still very vividly manifested in the human race. The inclination towards acting and being like God has many facets. One of the more subtle expressions is our desire to mold people in our image. We have expectations when it comes to how we want others to be or behave, how they live their lives and how they are to express their spiritual life through attitudes and works. When they fail to comply with our image we subtly or more directly begin to condition them applying a diversity of manipulation techniques from our copious arsenal.
Until our minds are renewed we have great difficulties in acknowledging and recognizing how God's master plan is unfolded uniquely in each individual. God employs the truth in His molding process. The truth which plainly and straight forward addresses the question; "who am I?". This truth is the definite truth, because the source is the Creator of all things. In telling us the unprecedented truth about our value and who we are in Him we are drawn close to this Person who is everything contrary to manipulative. In this truth we breathe freely and in an instant we become this truth through faith.
The paths He leads us to follow are everything the religious world is not. When we fell our preconceived opinions concerning how things ought to be were formed according to the ideas of the ruler we now had submitted to. The record is very brief when it comes to what life in the garden was like. We only catch some glimpses of Eve and Adam having an intimate relationship with their Father. There is a great secret contained in this, because in this silence the potential of true liberty is. God doesn't have to abide to a receipt in His dealings with His precious children.
So, when you ask God, as Peter did, why He leads someone in a direction you don't approve of He will answer: ".......what is that to you? You must follow me." (John 21:22). Jesus' answer might seem harsh, but if we are to paraphrase it would be something like this: "Peter, everything I do is love and my love manifest itself uniquely in each and every individual. Therefore everyone will be led along different paths where they can trust me completely, because everything is woven in love." However, there is also an edge to His words, because if we are trapped in a rigid pattern of comparing ourselves with others we will not easily yield to His perfect ways.
To compare ourselves with others denotes that we still haven't entered His rest and His freedom. It falls thus natural to us to deny others to enter this liberty when we haven't tasted it for ourselves, and the temptation to begin molding others in our image is irresistible. In doing so we are proclaiming that we do not respect the individual, we do not understand love and we are unwilling to let others flourish in His light.
Until our minds are renewed we have great difficulties in acknowledging and recognizing how God's master plan is unfolded uniquely in each individual. God employs the truth in His molding process. The truth which plainly and straight forward addresses the question; "who am I?". This truth is the definite truth, because the source is the Creator of all things. In telling us the unprecedented truth about our value and who we are in Him we are drawn close to this Person who is everything contrary to manipulative. In this truth we breathe freely and in an instant we become this truth through faith.
The paths He leads us to follow are everything the religious world is not. When we fell our preconceived opinions concerning how things ought to be were formed according to the ideas of the ruler we now had submitted to. The record is very brief when it comes to what life in the garden was like. We only catch some glimpses of Eve and Adam having an intimate relationship with their Father. There is a great secret contained in this, because in this silence the potential of true liberty is. God doesn't have to abide to a receipt in His dealings with His precious children.
So, when you ask God, as Peter did, why He leads someone in a direction you don't approve of He will answer: ".......what is that to you? You must follow me." (John 21:22). Jesus' answer might seem harsh, but if we are to paraphrase it would be something like this: "Peter, everything I do is love and my love manifest itself uniquely in each and every individual. Therefore everyone will be led along different paths where they can trust me completely, because everything is woven in love." However, there is also an edge to His words, because if we are trapped in a rigid pattern of comparing ourselves with others we will not easily yield to His perfect ways.
To compare ourselves with others denotes that we still haven't entered His rest and His freedom. It falls thus natural to us to deny others to enter this liberty when we haven't tasted it for ourselves, and the temptation to begin molding others in our image is irresistible. In doing so we are proclaiming that we do not respect the individual, we do not understand love and we are unwilling to let others flourish in His light.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Metal
This was his worst nightmare coming through. Mr. Johnsen felt like crying. He didn't know how he could have been so stupid as to permit them inside his modest apartment. The two guys towered over him. Long hair, earrings and denim and leather. Their t-shirts said Metallica and Megadeh, respectively. Weren't that rock bands that sacrificed cockerels to the devil on the stage? He had read about this somewhere. Only monkeybrains listened to that kind of music!
He beaconed them to follow him to the living room, because there he would be closer to the phone. The police could be at his apartment in five minutes. Those guys wouldn't kill him immediately. They would torture him slowly, so the police would have plenty of time to save him from his tormentors.
The two guys followed after his wheelchair.
'Nice apartment', the one with the dark beard said when they placed their large bodies in the couch. The poor thing shrieked from the sudden strain.
Well, You won't find much of value here, Mr. Johnsen thought.
Instead he said with the most steady voice he could muster, 'What can I do for you guys?'
'Well, Peter over here has something to say, haven't you Peter?'
'Huh?'
'Peter is a man of few words, you see. But, he is an awesome writer. His thesis on the gospel of John is something of the most profound I have ever read.'
Mr Johnsen could vividly imagine that that paper was probably the only thing that idiot had ever read, and it most likely took him a couple of years. Gospel of John, was that an unknown aphocypic book? No one knew the bible better than Mr Johnsen. What else could he fill his time with. He doubted that those devil worshipers had ever read the Bible. A thesis? Mr Johnson renounced the idea as ludicrous.
He found it, however, strange that they didn't swear more. He had imagined that people like that would use a rather colorful language, to put it mildly.
'Peter, can't you tell the man what you saw tonight, the angel thing.'
Most likely an angel from hell, Mr Johnson thought.
'Yeah', Peter managed to utter.
'An angel came and gave you a message, didn't he?'
'Yeah.'
'He said something about Mr. Johnsen here.'
'Yeah, he did.'
'As a result you sold some of your valuable music, didn't you?'
'Yeah, I did.'
'We are rather poor you see, Mr. Johnson, but when a thing like this occur we have to try to be of some help. Right, Peter?'
'Yup'
Mr. Johnson had this unpleasant feeling that somewhere along the road he had been somewhat mistaken. He wasn't sweating profoundly anymore, and he sensed that he was intrigued by the conversation between the two guys.
'Can't you tell Mr. Johnson what the angel said?'
'He said that Mr. Johnson who lived in the second apartment in Billaway Street was very lonesome and poor, and that God was sending us two to cheer him up and bring a present to Mr. Johnson.'
'Well, and here we are.'
Mr. Johnson was rendered speechless, and he felt a most unwelcome lump in his throat.
'Peter, it is time to hand Mr. Johnson the gift.'
Peter put his hand inside his leather jacket, and for a moment Mr. Johnson thought he would bring out a gun. It was an envelope, which Peter prudently lay in Mr Johnson's lap.
'I am afraid we have to go now, but we will pay you a visit tomorrow as well, if you don't mind.'
Mr. Johnson just nodded.
As they left he could hear the one with the beard say to his companion, 'Austrian Death Machine is playing at the Dome tonight. Wanna go?'
Mr. Johnson gave the envelope his attention. He opened it very gingerly. In his opinion one could never be too careful. Slowly he pulled out $500, and then the dam burst and tears found their way and moistened his cheeks. When he read the accompanying note written with a steady hand he began to sob uncontrollably. Plainly it stated; 'God Loves You'
He beaconed them to follow him to the living room, because there he would be closer to the phone. The police could be at his apartment in five minutes. Those guys wouldn't kill him immediately. They would torture him slowly, so the police would have plenty of time to save him from his tormentors.
The two guys followed after his wheelchair.
'Nice apartment', the one with the dark beard said when they placed their large bodies in the couch. The poor thing shrieked from the sudden strain.
Well, You won't find much of value here, Mr. Johnsen thought.
Instead he said with the most steady voice he could muster, 'What can I do for you guys?'
'Well, Peter over here has something to say, haven't you Peter?'
'Huh?'
'Peter is a man of few words, you see. But, he is an awesome writer. His thesis on the gospel of John is something of the most profound I have ever read.'
Mr Johnsen could vividly imagine that that paper was probably the only thing that idiot had ever read, and it most likely took him a couple of years. Gospel of John, was that an unknown aphocypic book? No one knew the bible better than Mr Johnsen. What else could he fill his time with. He doubted that those devil worshipers had ever read the Bible. A thesis? Mr Johnson renounced the idea as ludicrous.
He found it, however, strange that they didn't swear more. He had imagined that people like that would use a rather colorful language, to put it mildly.
'Peter, can't you tell the man what you saw tonight, the angel thing.'
Most likely an angel from hell, Mr Johnson thought.
'Yeah', Peter managed to utter.
'An angel came and gave you a message, didn't he?'
'Yeah.'
'He said something about Mr. Johnsen here.'
'Yeah, he did.'
'As a result you sold some of your valuable music, didn't you?'
'Yeah, I did.'
'We are rather poor you see, Mr. Johnson, but when a thing like this occur we have to try to be of some help. Right, Peter?'
'Yup'
Mr. Johnson had this unpleasant feeling that somewhere along the road he had been somewhat mistaken. He wasn't sweating profoundly anymore, and he sensed that he was intrigued by the conversation between the two guys.
'Can't you tell Mr. Johnson what the angel said?'
'He said that Mr. Johnson who lived in the second apartment in Billaway Street was very lonesome and poor, and that God was sending us two to cheer him up and bring a present to Mr. Johnson.'
'Well, and here we are.'
Mr. Johnson was rendered speechless, and he felt a most unwelcome lump in his throat.
'Peter, it is time to hand Mr. Johnson the gift.'
Peter put his hand inside his leather jacket, and for a moment Mr. Johnson thought he would bring out a gun. It was an envelope, which Peter prudently lay in Mr Johnson's lap.
'I am afraid we have to go now, but we will pay you a visit tomorrow as well, if you don't mind.'
Mr. Johnson just nodded.
As they left he could hear the one with the beard say to his companion, 'Austrian Death Machine is playing at the Dome tonight. Wanna go?'
Mr. Johnson gave the envelope his attention. He opened it very gingerly. In his opinion one could never be too careful. Slowly he pulled out $500, and then the dam burst and tears found their way and moistened his cheeks. When he read the accompanying note written with a steady hand he began to sob uncontrollably. Plainly it stated; 'God Loves You'
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Roots
A friend of mine recently said something along these lines: The Holy Spirit has a huge job convincing people that they are perfect in Christ. I gave my approval, but I didn’t quite understand how profound her statement was before now.
There seems like there exists a common misunderstanding among many believers which says that God has to fix the parts of my personality that I don’t like. These personal traits make their presence known when we are facing some kind of affliction. We therefore assume that God leads us through these seasons in order to disclose the parts of us that need a fix.
When we are going through these periods we often experience some sort of condemnation which relates to our reactions and behavior. Wrongly we then think that The Holy Spirit is working in our lives to make us more like Jesus in terms of behavior.
The objective of these kinds of tribulations is, however, the opposite. God is showing us through them how deep the roots of condemnation go. When life is quiet and the world is smiling towards us it requires a simple act of faith to believe that we are perfect in Him. However, when the gale is coming our way our belief system is shaken.
When Jesus promised us liberty and an abundant life it is imperative that the roots of condemnation are exposed so that we can experience this quality of life. Condemnation cripples us, it robs us of our boldness and it makes life generally miserable. God cannot help us to accept the totality of His grace if we are not aware of these concealed roots which have found their way to the innermost places of our being. They can only be revealed when we are going through a tribulation which triggers patterns of reactions we despise and brings forth condemnation and shame. It is in this position of helplessness that the Holy Spirit can whisper His life-giving words to us.
We are in fact imitating Eve in the garden when we say that we are not perfect, and are in need of a fix. We really want to be good, and we often conclude that the new creation isn’t perfect to the degree we had expected. We want God to better us so that we can resemble the image of Jesus we carry in our minds. If Eve hadn’t found any faults with her being she wouldn’t have been tempted to eat from the wrong tree.
When God says we are perfect He wants us to be secure in this truth. He encourages us to accept every part of us as a perfect image of Him without having any remnants of condemnation. This is a profound mystery, because when we accept ourselves as He accept and love us we find that this is the most efficient behavior modification there exists. When this is said I feel it is important to observe that God is more preoccupied with life than behavior and reactions.
It is on this background that we can be happy when we face an affliction, because its sole purpose is to liberate us from shame which ruin our relationship with God, and it empowers us to clearly hear our Father say: “This is my beloved daughter/son in whom I am well pleased.”
There seems like there exists a common misunderstanding among many believers which says that God has to fix the parts of my personality that I don’t like. These personal traits make their presence known when we are facing some kind of affliction. We therefore assume that God leads us through these seasons in order to disclose the parts of us that need a fix.
When we are going through these periods we often experience some sort of condemnation which relates to our reactions and behavior. Wrongly we then think that The Holy Spirit is working in our lives to make us more like Jesus in terms of behavior.
The objective of these kinds of tribulations is, however, the opposite. God is showing us through them how deep the roots of condemnation go. When life is quiet and the world is smiling towards us it requires a simple act of faith to believe that we are perfect in Him. However, when the gale is coming our way our belief system is shaken.
When Jesus promised us liberty and an abundant life it is imperative that the roots of condemnation are exposed so that we can experience this quality of life. Condemnation cripples us, it robs us of our boldness and it makes life generally miserable. God cannot help us to accept the totality of His grace if we are not aware of these concealed roots which have found their way to the innermost places of our being. They can only be revealed when we are going through a tribulation which triggers patterns of reactions we despise and brings forth condemnation and shame. It is in this position of helplessness that the Holy Spirit can whisper His life-giving words to us.
We are in fact imitating Eve in the garden when we say that we are not perfect, and are in need of a fix. We really want to be good, and we often conclude that the new creation isn’t perfect to the degree we had expected. We want God to better us so that we can resemble the image of Jesus we carry in our minds. If Eve hadn’t found any faults with her being she wouldn’t have been tempted to eat from the wrong tree.
When God says we are perfect He wants us to be secure in this truth. He encourages us to accept every part of us as a perfect image of Him without having any remnants of condemnation. This is a profound mystery, because when we accept ourselves as He accept and love us we find that this is the most efficient behavior modification there exists. When this is said I feel it is important to observe that God is more preoccupied with life than behavior and reactions.
It is on this background that we can be happy when we face an affliction, because its sole purpose is to liberate us from shame which ruin our relationship with God, and it empowers us to clearly hear our Father say: “This is my beloved daughter/son in whom I am well pleased.”
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