Sunday, January 30, 2011

Faith In Christ Puts One In Christ and Salvation

by Dave Candel
Do you want to go to Heaven? My Grandfather was asked that when He was an unbeliever or what one might be called until mercy comes calling, doubting. The question was asked by a neighbor friend who is born again Christian. He thought, "can one in my religion be sure of Heaven?" He went to a Bible church and heard about getting saved. He found Christ and was radically changed.
Don't think I'm more righteous or even self-righteous for any religion's purpose for thinking this way or using the word Heaven to separate two groups or kinds of people, for God can translate you to His Kingdom instantaneously. Jesus is the way. Have you ever thought of why don't I make sure I have it right with God? I'm not talking down on anyone in a condemning or condescending way. God's life is sure filled with natural good abundance of love, kindness, and gentleness in family.
Have you ever asked yourself, why don't I seek Him whole-heartedly and be Born again? If the Bible IS the Word of God, and it states that it is clearly and plainly right in its contents, then, by God's terms why not belong to Him by second birth as the Bible says to do? For it's by verbal plenary inspiration meaning every word of every thought in every thoughtful line is Divinely Anointed thoughts from God Eternally given but in time sprung from His mind He wants communicated and by His Spirit He bore along the Biblical writers, then why don't I do my life His way?
And, "if my life doesn't line up with Him now why is my life that way and can it then line with scripture somehow and even can it line up with the potential for no stumbling inside my walk with God inasmuch as Christ is in control of our heart and keep ourselves in the love of God is His imperative with this promise, (see Jude 22,23 a New Testament book of the Bible?") Jesus said, "You must be born again," in John 3:3. I'm not talking about a sinless life but a life of patiently expecting mercy unto fellowship/koinonia that goes on to succeed in getting to Heaven. You can have the assurance of going re: Heaven!

If someone comes between you and God who's closer? Let no man/woman come between you and God or let that situation stay that way. Forgive. Do it for yourself and God and His way which is restorative of relationships and reconciliation or unilaterally if need be.
Do you desire or want a relationship and fellowship with your Heavenly Father God? Do you know God loves you more than you could love yourself? God will always love you more than you could love yourself so be glad you're loved! He is a personal God! He loves you more than any personal human being! God IS love and did you know that God requests the honor of your presence at a Marriage Supper/Positive Uplift Judgment to be given someday in Heaven for you and God's Family? God's love for you is no less stupendous and fabulous now! Then make Jesus your Savior and in celebration of Jesus, make Him your Master and Lord. THIS LIFE ABUNDANT IN Jesus then IS IN POVERTY OF SPIRIT IN HUMILITY of PERSONALITY without a lot of 'stuff' in God's Son, Jesus under God's hand.
Did you know that Christianity is more about repentance and confessing you're a sinner (in nakedness before God) than externals alone but it's in fact living from the inside? The Bible tells plainly of our Living God and Savior, Jesus Christ Risen as our only Exalted Head, and Lord in victory? He as the Bible says, causes God to hear us from above from between the mercyseat of the two facing Cherebim of the Ark in Heaven, and talk to us. We can't get chummy. Everytime you call Him Lord you're telling Him you're slave! And that's a good thing.
Jesus then is the only Prophet, Priest, and King necessary for men to get to God: (and we're raised with Christ) to newness of life in His Access in the Heavenlies by His Finished Work and Perfect Death for us. His Love for us in propitiation is meant FOR US on mercy's side, & brings a great great good right standing with God through Jesus Christ. Propitiation just means His Atonement satisfied the Requirement. Jesus's Life showed us and shows us how to overcome. He, filled with the Spirit having freshly come from His Baptism and hunting of the devil down for 40 days for which He had come into the wilderness like a Rambo and left like a Patton full of the Spirit confidently in control with the Father in Him demolishing re: strongholds. Who can explain the Trinity then? If it gives you a headache its supposed to.
Jesus was more than an example, He "became sin" so we could be free and go free! Atonement full and free. God's LOVE so rich and wide its amazing!!! The Gospel is Good News. It's great good good news! Do you think of salvation as a getting right with God aright? Do you know having it right is a lifetime journey with God and is forgiveness of sins and the experience of knowing God aright throughout your lifetime and more and more? God loves you and is love! Do you know God promises to all a newness of life, with renewed faith to you through the Gift of His Son by coming in faith through grace to Him alone Who is Faithful and True?
He promises to reveal Who He is to those that seek Him (with the whole heart.) This happens through the Holy Spirit's attracting and our participating and interest finding. In essence you throw yourself on the mercy of the court and you were declared innocent by virtue of what Jesus Died for. It's not where you've been but where are you now in God's Eternal Now. The Spirit and the Bride are calling. Would you have the guts to follow Jesus Christ, God's Only Son even in the hard places? Feeling Adventurous? Not boring for sure.
It's about what God's going to do with you today! And the adventure tomorrow. What do you want from Him? Tell Him. He wants your attention to get saved, a committment/follow-through that starts, and is seed on good ground, and becomes Holy living as Gift until we come to see Him as He is someday in confirmed righteousness in Heaven. He has a job for you to do (until then.) He has blessed the little children and He is Sovereign and He builds His Church.
He wants to be in an intimate personal relationship with us through His Son, attending Church, (Bible literal taking one,) have fellowship with others, & live life as a slave to His Master in fullness, faithfulness, and loving for believing on Him, supping fellowshipping with Him. This is all a part of the characteristics of the life Our Lord Jesus Christ calls our life to live in I Corinthians 13. It's an excellant exciting prospect, a Bill & Ted adventure only holy through the covering of the Blood of the Lamb. It's: "If in this life only we are to hope in Christ we're of all men most miserable," but with enhancement. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned the Bible says.
A hidden mystery exposed and revealed which means made manifest and is in Essense an Abundant Life In Christ. Jesus being the way, in adventurously believing in faith and by experience: the Word of God, the Bible: I exist for God's purpose to be in right relationships with people and a relationship especially with the one and only true Living God Who gives us richly everything to enjoy. Evangelical faith (which is a Gift to believe from Him above) is to believe in Christ and in Christ for salvation.
We, all the time can learn: what He's done, what He's doing, and what He's going to do in the future in you and me and what can I do in His Word BY FAITH! With men these things are impossible, but with God all things are possible. Do you recognize His love over you? Joyously? hilariously? With tenderness and joyfulness even hilarity? His hand is mighty. He is a mighty warrior in our midst. We glory in tribulation and even first glory in glory of God. That love is spelt l-o-v-e with much tough and tenderness, blessing under His hand, & lovingkindness from God. Lovingkindness is sandwiched between God's love and mercy. He has given you prevenient common grace for your many needs and wants: food, clothing, and shelter under His hand.
When you think of faith do you have a certain object of your faith? Is it holding you to something or SomeOne? It matters this object of faith because this Jesus is the Incarnation of God become man. He's that Object of faith. God revealed Himself in a tabernacle or tent of human kindness called Christ Jesus the Only Begotten Son of God born in a manger 2000 years ago. That makes Him worthy of our commitment to be worth our worship. For there's no formula nor method to Holiness but Christ He is the way! Are you walking in His Footsteps? At Calvary? Are you trusting His Grace this very hour?
We're sinners and you can fathom that, if you realize you're not perfect & that from your lower nature that sins, you're a sinner before God, therefore we need help from the broken way we live as humans from the Holy Spirit. You are dead if you don't know God, the Bible says Ephesians 2:1-4. Spiritually you can't do a thing without salvation. You may hara krishna or yogi but its all in vain if Heaven is your goal for you need God on His terms. God would search you inside thoroughly if you invited Him to, and love on you & say that you need, and you can find a new life in Him, (the way is God & in peace in an agreement between Himself and you: A Covenant Union through Jesus.)
God loves you and wants you in living to work out mightily between Him & you what is a good warfare of good o'er evil, overcoming evil with good, knowing His Will, doing His Will, & in a personally adventurous experiencial way to follow Him and be known by Him in fellowship moment by moment you two interacting. For in God's Only Son Jesus, in His Fullness of Resurrected Shekinah Presence there is love, joy and peace and pleasures at His right hand forevermore and this is all in knowing Him personally more and more through Jesus Christ once and for all on His terms, the God-man Jesus Who was Resurrected as God's Representative of Love in a lifetime joy journey of our own through Him for we must have Him inside and this starts with forgiveness of your sins. The Holy Spirit welcomes you to God's Family with enthusiasm, en Theos, in God (in greek: to be excited to be in God.) You get a new heart and a new mind, and a new spirit from Him. You are renewed in the spirit of your mind.
God is Holy and buying you a Ransom He paid yes He's even paying in eternal now time for you this present minute by minute if you're accepting Christ as Savior one moment by moment at a time (& on that basis.) And in the next moment of Eternal Now if you continue belief and automatically obtain therefore a forever inheritance knowing this all starts at the Cross!? God cares for you! Indeed He does.
Salvation by faith is a word expression that is an offense to the world being that they can't understand it. Scripture says, "if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him." What is the sin of the world? Unbelief. Unbelief particularly in Jesus as the Son of God the Only Begotten Son Sent by God. Unbelief in the corruption of nature in the world and unbelief in your being a sinner re: wretched, poor and blind. Unbelief leads to worse unbelief. Like the law of entropy or disorder it takes over. Inasmuch as one doesn't love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and their neighbor as oneself, there's sin involved.
Obedience within God's Salvation on the other hand begins (God knows when) outside you, you hearing the Voice of God and the words of scripture particularly the Plan of Redemption from someone saved & believing it committing to it, discipled. Hearing it read (the Word) for yourself when you begin belief in God totally in His Finished Work (of Christ's) Himself you become born again baptized into it. God draws you near, you hearing the still small voice of God to repent and get saved is how it starts; then responding to the Living Gospel you witness it outside sealed by the Holy Spirit. Your supplied with a Gift, the Holy Spirit. What you do with it makes all the difference in your life and Eternal Life.
You are saved by the Living God in repentance from your old way of life and saved unto a newness of life: to your new Eternal Life made practical in time. Living the Christian life isn't in self-righteousness but in a Risen life over-abundant in mercy and grace in Him depending on Him. Living as a Christian isn't silver or gold in having but not neglecting thanksgiving and other such things as are what God wants, contentment in committment. It's not about accumulating stuff.
Christ is our foundation bedrock of righteousness and the Source of all and every blessing to which we boast 'in Him' alone. We're in His Presence in a special way when saved and known by Him rooted and grounded by love and built up in Him for then we're inbreathed by God (greek: theoneustos,) translated into His Kingdom. For supernaturally in Him we live and move and have our being. You have to get saved for this to happen.
Gal. 5:16 says, "If we walk by the Spirit we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh." Jesus left earth when He ascended and sent the Spirit in His stead. Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega, & the same yesterday today and forever for our faith it says in scripture, "As Commander In Chief of the Lord's Armies, Yeshua Hommiashiach" (Joshua 5.)
For those who believe then receive His grace for their salvation and don't do their works of righteousness on their part for 'brownie points' before God, they would be acceptable as a hypothetical. But as you have received grace for grace, receiving imperative from Jesus as your own koinonia responsibility: gold, silver, and precious stones to lay at (Jesus's) feet in quality of things you do in God cooperating and you will do in quantity also: you will continue in being gratefully saved.
Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord and will be when his enemies become His footstool and Jesus returns. If you've come to Him, ie. as a childlike disciple 'born of God' person *you will please Him having been sent the Spirit. This is by faith with the help by grace infused from God and kindled from the Holy Spirit & its possible first becoming born again a Gift of salvation from God on His terms. The seed of God becomes imparted to or implanted in you. All things are possible in God to a next level by walking in Jesus abiding and in dependence on Him. Receive Him moment by moment like you would a familiar trusted friend or in a childlike trust by the way you live from then on. He is able to help you do this, to save you from sin and keep you personally fully and really found out like its written in our Lord's parable in Luke 15 says: 'saved,' a sinner coming home. There God writes, "He rejoices and invites others to rejoice even over one sinner who repents." You start to experience His love practically! and then just by hearing it from the Spirit proclaimed through a person and you taking it in and responding with 'a word (meaning yes, to Him) of perseverance.'
And if saved, living by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and the Rapture occurs while you're living in Christ and honoring a disciple's relationship to God through grace in God and in fellowship (let me emphasize it's by faith and grace or faith working by love,) you can be caught up in ("rapizo" in the orig. Bible languages, 'caught away') in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall you ever be with the Lord Jesus and that special Marriage Supper! Even so come Lord Jesus! Maranatha!Doesn't this sound like something you'd like? or learn to like? Read I Thessalonians 4:13-17 and I Corinthians 15:1-7ff for instance, and maybe St. John's Gospel chapter three verse three.
In context, "God be merciful to me a sinner," was said in an open appeal brokenhearted and statement made faithfully by a Tax-gatherer of whom it was said in a parable told by Jesus as one who humbles himself before God this man having beaten upon his breast saying those words. Jesus told this parable about people who think themselves righteous and show contempt for others. The other man in the parable, the Pharisee said, "I thank Thee God I'm not like other men, I fast twice in the week, etc. and I'm not like this publican." Certainly this man has no clue for his saying this. This parable shows a humility before God by the publican instead who came home exalted and justified having humbled himself in a simple single but great way before God. You can be like this person.
If Jesus is your Lord and you are His child, remember mercy triumphs when humbling yourself before God under His Mighty Hand and God will love you to hell and back. I'm proposing God is love and Jesus shows it all along our way Jesus having died in our place. There is a testifying in every believer a witness unto Jesus that Jesus Paid It All all in a regard to our sin debt. It's all too clear that the deliverance over sin Christ won to gain our salvation for us was complete and full over sin, death, and hell; His Death did this.
Christ became our sin on the Cross and it's punishment II Cor. 5:21. After being buried (we were too,) that's when He rose from the dead; He made us alive whole, complete, & individually directed in His path in salvation in new wine. He satisfied the Living Requirement The Old Testament Law demanded. That's why it's said by us to by purposeful determination, glorify Him, with admonishment all our lives as (ecclesia, Greek for Church,) the called out ones, as witnesses (maryturos in Grk.,) and as testifying 'believers' individually of an undivided Faithful God and His Word, to proclaim Him.
And we shine for God and are martyrs also in part because our Ransom paid for us was costly and we treat it costly, and all who desire to live godly (subject and suboordinate to God) in Christ Jesus trying to communicate the Gospel in a hostile world will suffer persecution, some to torture and punishment, and some to death and eventual Everlasting life. If we suffer and endure with Him He will confess us and let us reign with Him in Eternal Life.
The Word of God states "IN BEGINNING" (No article "the" inbetween those two words in the Genesis 1:1 account in Hebrew,) given as plain fact that by His speaking into existence God creating the cosmos is on the sixth day creating by His hands, and then every man was created by Him in the image of God.
God created him or her in the Garden of Eden and He rested on the seventh day. That's right the work is over. It's time to be on His side in a fallen world. It's in the image of God Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, were created from the dust of the ground by His hand or fingers which shows God's intricate care for man and love. Because of the Fall of man in the eyes of the Lord, Failing Him God's Spirit died in man & man's spirit died in God's Presence.
God would walk with man's in the sunset portion or cool of the day as He did to fellowship/walk with man intimately as He did before this. Adam and Eve succombed to the serpent Satan's schemes & misleads and this caused a substantial crises to His man. God had made the command to not eat the fruit in the center of the Garden of one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Every other tree was good to go. God said not to eat of it, for you will die, in the day you eat of it. It was bad fruit. From it all who were born from Adam die. But they ate, and though man was still made in God's image and had free will moral agency, and loved to fellowship in the Garden and walk with God they failed God's moral test.
And man made fig leaves to cover his/her nakedness at an attempt to reconcile their naked disobedience before God but that was a flop and so God made provision of a clothing covering from a sacrificed animal without help from man. That Miracle God did, to produce *Redemption of the likeness and image of God returned happened though God was blameless and Holy. That was mercy, not getting what we should. Redemption is for a worthless slave to buy (who long had law and grace defied.). Even today in a higher spiritual way, getting saved as the Word says to, you can be free more and more to live in Him with this covering coverage from God 'in the Eternal now' (PR) in the down payment of Jesus's sacrifice for us now to obtain a sinless body someday in Heaven but first a saved life now in various aspects.
With obedience and perseverance on your part in life in Him and His Timing and His Faithfulness truly is to expect God to move in us and for us in our behalf & inherit the promises of God. God is indeed a Rewarder of them that dilligently seek Him. Hebrews eleven goes on to say, "Some died (believing) not having obtained the promise." It goes on to say, "Of whom the world was not worthy (Hebrews 11.") The problem with America is they have digressed to exaggerate the Gospel to include money and health in claiming the promises of God at a cost to the core imperitives of Jesus Christ and this has made us lukewarm and non-compliant too in obeying Him. Personal Revival and True Discipleship is at a premium that is strictly for those who have Jesus and no other motivation internally or externally! This is not religion. Religion kills. Jesus makes alive!
Surely and for certain that likeness of God/image of God in salvation is returned in godly hope inclined in high belief anticipation that doesn't make us ashamed at ALL because the love of GOD HAS BEEN shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Romans 5:3-5. God lives in an Eternal Now but He has in time intervened in human affairs like the universe is in the span of His hand and continues for in Him all things consist Colossians 1:16. This makes us glad through confidence that He is Sovereignly in control and we are not. We will reign with Him if we endure with Him suffering wrongfully.
So in salvation through the conduit of God's love for you and your love for Him in steadfast hope that is of Another Kind in the Holy Spirit: faith in Jesus Christ for salvation: come to believe it unto Eternal Life and a Life In The Spirit. We're just aliens and passing thru in this life. Remember Pilgrim's Progress? JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis as Authors and Characters in God? Their stories and other Biblical fantasy novels and their non-fiction writings are faithful. On the other scanty side of life, wrong desires war against the soul vexing us. Sin is crouching at your door but you must master it. If you do well won't your face take that on and be revealed by it?
Eternity is a long time and our lives are but a vapor. It's on my theological plate to believe that the desire for God and the likeness of God Himself, the aspects of the image of God in man in a body with a created soul and clothed in a spirit that is unique in this existence on earth *that it was no accident. If God said, "abstain from pre-marital sex," I believe Him. We can clothe ourselves with Christ to a life in the Spirit to where God clothes Himself with us. This is from Samuel Chadwick. This is truly God's empowerment to live a holy life.
Father God returned at Calvary, all we lost by the progenitor Adam and we gained it back BECAUSE His love restores us reconciles us future tense if we go on forward with Him. He IS SHOWING US LOVE, revealed in the Son of God Jesus.. in His Incarnation.. in His Sacrificial Love.. in His Birth/Nativity, Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, Exaltation and Glorification and Seating.. for our Redemption of the purchased possession.. we who are, "privileged in benefit.." to choose to be His bondslaves and chosen!
In His LONG-HEARTED EXCITEMENT TYPIFIED AT THE LAST SUPPER HIS PASSION shown Sovereignly appointed time at the Cross God proved the plan He put in force will work for you by its longevity in history re: hospitals, universities, and orphanages built, even every changed life coming through Christ by the worship we lift up holy hands to God by in the Gospel.
If we enter at some point and believe with a persevering belief in Jesus that acts on grace alone to become saved we wont want to build our kingdom but His, to build on that foundation gold, silver, and precious stones, and will hear a voice behind us saying when we turn to the right, or to the left, "This Is The Way, Walk You, In It." We take one step sometimes at a time in His Footsteps. Then a stride until it's a marathon.
God's attitude toward us is one of Favor that is for us for a God-sized timing particular that is of punctilinear (point in time, greek tense: aorist active indicative) saving faith belief starting at a point in time (continuing) established and based on the merciful observation that God was in Christ at the Cross reconciling man to Himself! He has comitted to us a word, even of reconciliation! I pray you in Christ's Stead, Be ye reconciled to God!
A Wise man will hear and increase learning! Grace Grace Grace To It!
For Him who has ears to hear
link to a great church
Bethel Assembly Of God Church Services

Monday, January 10, 2011

Are You A Letter Of Christ's?

http://www.shoprunner.com/invite/a0QA0000002aQbIMAUDo you want to go to Heaven? Jesus is the way. Have you ever thought of why don't I make sure I have it right with God then? God's life is filled with over-abundance of love, kindness, and gentleness. Have you asked yourself, why don't I seek Him? If the Bible IS the Word of God, and it states that it is clear and right, then by verbal plenary inspiration meaning every word of every thoughtful line is thoughts from God He wants communicated and His Spirit bore along the Biblical writers, then why don't I do my life His way? and, "if my life doesn't line up with Him now why is it that way and can it then line with scripture somehow and can it even line with little or no stumbling (see Jude 22,23 a New Testament book of the Bible?")

Do you desire or want a relationship and fellowship with your Heavenly Father God? Do you know God loves you more than you could love yourself? God will always love you more than you could love yourself! He is a personal God! God is love and do you know that God requests the honor of your presence at a Marriage Supper/Banquet to be given in behalf of His Son? God's love for you is no less than stupendous and fabulous and that celebration of Jesus, with compassion/joy IS beautiful. THIS LIFE ABUNDANT IS IN POVERTY IN HUMILITY of Spirit without a lot of 'stuff' in His Son, Jesus Christ. Did you know that Christianity is more than externals alone but living from the inside? The Bible tells of our Living God and Savior, Jesus Christ Risen as our only Exalted Head, and Lord in victory? He the Bible says, is the only Prophet, Priest, and King necessary for men to get to God: and we're raised with Christ to newness of life in His Access in Heavenly Places by His Finished Work and Perfect Atonement for sin. His Love for us means for us, a great good right standing with God. Jesus's Life shows us how to overcome. He is filled with the Spirit having freshly come from His Baptism and He hunted down the devil 40 days as He came into the wilderness like a Rambo and left like a Patton full of the Spirit confidently in control with the Father in control. He was more than an example, He "became sin" so we could be free! Atonement full and free. Love so amazing!!! The Gospel is Good News. It's great good good news! Do you think of salvation as a getting right with God aright? Do you know having it right is a lifetime journey with God and is forgiveness of sins and the experience of knowing God aright? God loves you and is love! Do you know God promises to all a newness of life, with renewed faith to you through the Gift of His Son by coming in faith through grace to Him? He promises to reveal Who He is to those that seek Him (with the whole heart.) This happens through the Holy Spirit's attracting and our participating. In essence you throw yourself on the mercy of the court and you were declared innocent by virtue of what Jesus Died for. It's not where you've been but where are you now in God's Eternal Now. The Spirit and the Bride call. Could you have the guts to follow Jesus Christ, God's Only Son even in hard places? Adventurous places? Not boring for sure. It's about what God's going to do with you today! And the adventure tomorrow. What do you want from Him? Tell Him. He wants our attention to get saved, a committment/follow-through that starts, and is, and becomes Holy living as Gift until we come to see Him as He is someday in confirmed righteousness in Heaven. He has a job for you to do until then. He has blessed the little children and He has and is building His Church. He wants us to be in an intimate personal relationship with Him through His Son, attending Church, (Bible literal taking one,) have fellowship with others, &.. live life as a slave to His Master fullness, faithfulness, and loving for believing on Him. This is all a part of the characteristics of the life Our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to live in I Corinthians 13.
A mystery exposed and revealed is an Abundant Life In Christ. Now here's what I adventurously believe by experience in the Word of God, the Bible: I believe in right relationships and relationship especially with the one and only true Living God Who gives us richly everything to enjoy and evangelical faith (which is a Gift from Him) to believe. We learn: what He's done, what He's doing, and what He's going to do in the future in you and me and can do in His Word! Do you recognize His love over you? Joyously hilariously? With tenderness and joyfulness even hilarity? We glory in tribulation and first even glory in glory of God. That love is spelt l-o-v-e with much tough and tenderness, blessing under His hand, & lovingkindness. He has given you prevenient common grace for your many needs and wants, food, clothing, and shelter under His hand. When you think of faith do you have a certain object of your faith? Isn't it holding you to something or SomeOne? It matters this object of faith because this Jesus is the Incarnation of God become man. He's to be that Object. God revealed Himself in a tabernacle or tent of human kindness called Christ Jesus the Only Begotten Son of God born in a manger 2000 years ago. That makes Him worthy of our commitment to be worthy of our worship. For there's no formula nor method to Holiness but Christ He is the way! Are you walking in His Footsteps? At Calvary? Are you trusting His Grace this very hour? We're sinners and you can fathom that, if you realize you're not perfect & that your lower nature sins & you're a sinner before God, therefore we need help from the broken way we live as humans from His Spirit. God would search you inside thoroughly if you invited Him to, and love on you & say that you need Him, (the way is God & in a peace agreement between Himself and you: A Covenant through Jesus.) God loves you and wants you in living peace with Him, knowing His Will, doing His Will, & in a personally adventurous way known by Him. For in God's Only Son Jesus, in His Fullness of Resurrected Shekinah Presence there is love, joy and peace and pleasures at His right hand forevermore and this is all in knowing Him personally more and more through Jesus Christ once and for all, the God-man Resurrected Representative of God's Love in a lifetime joy journey and this starts with forgiveness of your sins. The Holy Spirit welcomes you to God's Family with enthusiasm. God is buying you a Ransom He paid yes He's even paying in eternal now time for you in your accepting Christ as Savior momentarily - in the next moment of Eternal Now will you obtain a forever inheritance and this starts at the Cross! God cares for you! Salvation is a word that is an offense to the world being they can't understand it. Scripture says, "if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him." What is the sin of the world? Unbelief. Unbelief particularly in Jesus as the Son of God the Only Begotten Son Sent by God. Unbelief in the corruption of nature and unbelief in being a sinner wretched leads to worse. Inasmuch as one doesn't love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and their neighbor as oneself, it's a sin. Salvation on the other hand begins (God knows when) outside you, you hearing the Voice of God and the words of scripture particularly the Plan of Redemption from someone & believing it. Hearing it read (the Word) yourself when you begin belief in God totally in His Finished Work (Christ's) Himself & you're born again. God draws you near, you hearing the still small voice of God to repent and get saved is how it starts; then responding to the Living Gospel. You are saved by the Living God in repentance from your old way of life and are saved to newness of life: Eternal Life. Living the Christian life isn't in self-righteousness but in a Risen life over-abundant in Him depending on Him. Living as a Christian isn't silver or gold in having but not neglecting thanksgiving and other such things as are what God wants, contentment. It's not about accumulating stuff. Christ is our righteousness and the Source of all blessing so we boast in Him alone. We're in His Presence in a special way when saved and known by Him and then we're constantly inbreathed by God (greek: theoneustos.) For supernaturally in Him we live and move and have our being. But you have to get saved. Gal. 5:16 says, "If we walk by the Spirit we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh." Jesus left earth when He ascended and sent the Spirit in His stead. Jesus Christ is the beginning and the ending: Alpha and Omega, the same yesterday today and forever for our faith it says in scripture. For those who believe & receive His grace for their salvation and don't do their works on their part for 'brownie points' before God their righteousness & they would be acceptable as a hypothetical. But as you have received grace for grace, receiving as your own responsibility: gold, silver, and precious stones to lay at Jesus's feet in quality of things you do in God cooperating and you will do in quantity also: you will continue in being gratefully saved. Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord if you've come to Him, ie. as a childlike human born of God person *you will please Him having been sent the Spirit. This is by faith with the help by grace infused from God and from the Holy Spirit its possible first becoming born again. All things are possible in God walking in Jesus abiding and in dependence on Him. Receive Him moment by moment like you would a familiar trusted friend or in a childlike trust. He is able to save you and keep you personally fully and really found out like its written in our Lord's parable in Luke 15 says: 'saved.' There God writes, "He rejoices and invites others to rejoice even over one sinner who repents." You start to experience His love practically! and just by hearing it from the Spirit proclaimed and you taking it in and responding. And if saved, living by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and the Rapture occurs while you're living in Christ and honoring a disciple's relationship to God through grace in God and in fellowship (let me emphasize it's by faith and grace or faith working by love,) you can be caught up in ("rapizo" in the orig. Bible languages, 'caught away') in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall you ever be with the Lord Jesus! Even so come Lord Jesus! Maranatha!Doesn't this sound like something you'd like? or learn to like? Read I Thessalonians 4:13-17 and I Corinthians 15:1-7ff for instance, and maybe St. John's Gospel chapter three verse three.
In context, "God be merciful to me a sinner," was said in an open appeal brokenhearted and statement made faithfully by a Tax-gatherer of whom it was said in a parable told by Jesus as one who humbles himself before God this man having beaten upon his breast saying those words. Jesus told this parable about people who think themselves righteous and show contempt for others. The other man in the parable, the Pharisee said, "I thank Thee God I'm not like other men, I fast twice in the week, etc. and I'm not like this publican." Certainly this man has no clue for his saying this. This parable shows a humility before God by the publican instead who came home exalted and justified having humbled himself in a simple single but great way before God. You can be like this person. If Jesus is your Lord and you are His child, remember mercy triumphs when humbling yourself before God under His Mighty Hand and God will love you to hell and back. I'm proposing God is love and Jesus shows it all along our way Jesus having died in our place. There is a testifying in every believer a witness unto Jesus that Jesus Paid It All all in a regard to our sin debt. It's all too clear that the deliverance over sin Christ won to gain our salvation for us was complete over sin, death, and hell; His Death did this. Christ became our sin and it's punishment. Then when He rose from the dead He made us alive whole, complete, & individually directed in His path in salvation in new wine. That's why it's said by us to purpose to glorify Him with admonishment all our lives as (ecclesia, Greek for Church,) the called out ones, as witnesses (maryturos in Grk.,) and as testifying 'believers' uniquely of a Faithful God and His Word. And we are martyrs also in part because our Ransom paid for us is costly and we treat it costly, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, some to torture and punishment, and some to death and everlasting life.
The Word of God states "IN BEGINNING" (No article "the" inbetween those two words in the Genesis 1:1 account in Hebrew,) given as plain fact that by His speaking God into existence created and the cosmos is on the sixth day created by His hands, even every man was created in the image of God.
God created him and her in the Garden of Eden and He rested on the seventh day. It's in the image of God Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, were created from the dust of the ground by His hand or fingers which shows God's intricate care for man and love. Because of the Fall of man in the eyes of the Lord, Failing Him God's Spirit died in man & man's spirit died in God's Presence. God would walk with man's in the sunset portion or cool of the day as He did to no more fellowship/walk with man intimately as He did before this. Adam and Eve succombed to the serpent Satan's schemes & misleads and this caused a substantial crises to His man. God had made the command to not eat the fruit in the center of the Garden of one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God said not to eat of it, for you will die, in the day you eat of it. But they ate, and though man was still made in God's image and had free will moral agency, and loved to fellowship in the Garden and walk with God they failed God's moral test. And man made fig leaves to cover his/her nakedness at an attempt to reconcile their disobedience with God but that was a flop and so God made provision of a clothing covering from a sacrificed animal without help from man. That Miracle God did, to produce *Redemption of the likeness and image of God returned happened though God was blameless and Holy. But even today in getting saved you can be free to live with this covering coverage from God 'in the Eternal now' (PR) in the down payment of Jesus's sacrifice to obtain a sinless body someday in Heaven a saved life now. With obedience and perseverance on your part in life in Him is to expect to inherit the promises of God. Surely that likeness of God or image of God in salvation is returned in godly hope inclined in high anticipation that doesn't make us ashamed at all because the love of God HAS been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Romans 5:3-5. God lives in an Eternal Now but He has in time intervened like the universe is in the span of His hand. So in salvation through the conduit of God's love for you and your love for Him in steadfast hope that is of Another Kind in the Holy Spirit: faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is believed unto Eternal Life and a Life In The Spirit. We're just aliens and passing thru in this life. Remember Pilgrim's Progress? JRR Tolkein & CS Lewis? Their stories and writing are faithful. Eternity is a long time. It's on my theological plate to believe that the likeness of God Himself, the aspects of the image of God in man in a body with a created soul and clothed in a spirit that is unique in this existence on earth that it was no accident. Father God returned at Calvary, all we lost by the progenitor Adam and we gained back BECAUSE His love restores us future tense if we go on forward with Him. He IS SHOWING US LOVE, revealed in the Son of God Jesus in His Incarnation in His Sacrificial Love in His Birth/Nativity, Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, Exaltation and Glorification for our Redemption of the purchased possession we who are, "privileged in benefit." In His LONG-HEARTED PASSION shown Sovereignly appointed time at the Cross God proved the plan He put in force will work by its longevity in hospitals, universities, and orphanages built, even every changed life by the Gospel. If we enter at some point and believe with a persevering belief in Jesus that acts on grace alone to become saved we want to endure to the end and we will hear a voice behind us saying when we turn to the right, "This Is The Way, Walk You, In It." We take one step at a time in His Footsteps. God's attitude toward us is one of Favor that is for us for a timing particular that is of punctilinear (point in time, greek tense: aorist active indicative) saving faith belief starting at a point in time (continuing) established and based on the observation that God was in Christ at the Cross reconciling man to Himself. I and others have observed in intervention from Abba Daddy God that in life given it's adventure for eternal life someday consummated if I accept Christ and be saved, because my life is exposed and "laid bare before Him with Whom we have to do," Hebrews says in ch. 3. He wants our attention! Signs along the road of life show us God is love! HE IS FOR US! He has another side to Himself which is goodness. We can believe He is good like in: 'crazy good' in being possibly, positively, and humanely opportune in us for His Holy Will to be accomplished and for His ways & His Kingdom to prosper and this is well and good. He wants us saved and aware He is Holy and on a Highway of Holiness, His Gift of Holy and a destiny in heaven. Man's plan will end in destruction at least for now for in corruption we're birthed. For death is sin's wages. Bible says, "there is a way seemed right to a man and the end of it is death." There is a time for death once and then judgment but you can have the sacrifice that your sins are judged at the Cross of Calvary and you can have pardon now if you open the door to Christ. Or if not and you "do it your way" after you're dead have them judged fail to enter Heaven do not pass go nor go on to play Monopoly. See the grace to be saved? If in this life your sins are judged at Calvary by getting salvation this side of eternity you will have an eternal inheritance in a better place heaven as well. No 'O.K. Corral' or 'Jesus face,' on please, nor any poker face for this is truth 'without wax,' (without makeup.) The big trick of the Satan is make you think he doesn't exist. He doesn't want to party with you. He wants victims. Christ takes away sin. In fact, these eternal glimpse Spiritual wooings of God's glory, in fact the Dating God does of us, literally the out-rays of His love for us He's revealing to us are working for us as Christians (in name and for a few, far more of our minds: character too,) an unseen underspoken eternal weight of glory worth far more in features and exceeding value than in every circumstance outwardly dissapointing or purposefully unjust but useful suffering we endure in God and is true no matter how we're pressed (Greek: thillipsis) our squeezing in path and how we experience life. We rejoice in the glory of God however. We glory in the glory. We joy in rejoicing in tribulations, however, too, give thanks to Him in everything, and acknowledge Him in all our ways, trust Him, and take the faith-trust to receive the salvation He offers with all our whole hearts like a childlike child weaned would trust an adult parent. Jesus last words were, "It is finished." It's justified from the Cross works, (greek Tetelestai: to finished completion) that to the undershepherd the work of salvation is Done and that the Finished Works He accomplished will show up all along our way in us in His Work of the Holy Spirit's Presence within and on our countenances. We will then be ready to be cradled into heaven by Him someday at death or the Rapture whichever comes first or in other words ushered in by Him while we're obeying in the present and following Him in surrendered obedience to the end at death to Heaven or at the Rapture ready. In accepting Jesus and a radical salvation, He, by spiritual transferance gives you a newness of life abundant, forgiveness, new heart, and new spirit. Hearing the word of perseverance to the end, adopted, and regenerated sons and daughters of His you belong to Him showing you're possessed of a hope IN HIM more and more steadfast! God says, "all creation is eagerly (waiting) hoping on hippity-hoppity tip toe anticipating with inexpressable joy the adoption of the sons of God to happen even for the redemption of our bodies. For all the universe in natural creation shall be liberated in a manner similiar to like the children of God's liberty someday." (See Bible verses on the Kingdom of God in the New Millenium, in Psalms, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hoseah, Zechariah, etc. and Romans 8:22-28.) But you need salvation to be a part. You need to become a butterfly. You, born in sin, a sinner, need to become a chrysalis or cocoon first. You get your feet wet and ask God to reveal Himself to YOU.
Christianity is not a list of do's and don'ts. You put up a sign, "keep out," and the surest way to not keep people out is say, "don't." You put up a sign, "wet paint," and people will touch it. The most the laws of the Old Covenant did was to rule and strengthen us for sinning. It doesn't empower you to obey the law. It doesn't strengthen you to obey the law. 613 laws and all kinds of human traditions wrapped around it: 613 ways to fail God laid out in intimate detail and we blew it. Even the one rule in the beginning in Genesis we blew it. Letters of the law and rules can never ever create a life that is God's. Yeah. Because its only based on fear. Its only based on failure. You want to run your life on what it shouldn't do and you will fail. Try running a marriage on what you should and should not do on a contract. Won't work very long. Written: It's a relationship. And if you haven't figured it out yet what works one day with your spouse won't work the next: Because we always want something new. So does God by the way. How about that! Learn to keep room for spontaneity. This paragraph is from my Pastor.
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God is Love! God wants you! We love Him because He first loved us and for that we're greatly benefited by being hidden with Christ in God forgiven much specificly forgiven everything before salvation if we believe Him: take the faith in Him to be a part, involve your belief in God's salvation by getting 'into His boat.' Israel believed in the future he, Messiah would come. They look forward, we look back. About Our Savior Jesus Then We Read In The Bible: The Gentiles were grafted in to the one Olive Tree; The enmity was abolished through Christ: Now we see through a glass darkly, pictures of salvation all around us and the reality is (in Jesus) the Living Word:
Jesus was name called, meaning it was put upon him unjustly, to be named, "the friend of sinners," "a glutton, a winebibber," " a likeable fellow," because He ate and drank with sinners but knew God through and through and as His all in all and as He spoke knowingly WITH AUTHORITY, did the work (ergon in Greek) of God, and yet loved (infamous, sinners like us) but didn't engage in their/our sinful acts or sin as principle. Jesus the Great Teacher And Physician, Eternal Savior (descriptions of His acts and title) pleased God perfectly. Not only did He please God but He obeyed God the Father so much so that He in addition was declared to be the very God by men and by angels. Greatest man in History, Jesus, had no servants, yet they called him Master, had no degree, yet they called him Teacher, had no medicines, yet they called him Healer, had no army, yet kings feared him, won no military battles, yet he conquered the world, committed no crime, yet they crucified Him...He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today................He is the Reason For The Season !!!. Jesus Christ who was crucified for the sin of mankind who became sin at the Cross to pay to God the Ransom for our own sin in particular has won the victory. He was without sin and human and lived a high priest in things pertaining to God in everything with perfect judgment and Life: His Holy Nature expressed He, our Savior, 100% God 100% man. His godly prerogatives to do His own thing He gave up from doing (with the Father and Holy Spirit's help) to with significant help and sustenance liberate man from the oppression of sin, living 33 1/2 years on the planet. Wherever He laid His head down as home & traveled there was light and that light was most precious light. Where sin abounded grace did much more, and abounded as Jesus Christ obeyed to a t a sinful humanity's Death on the Cross and determined beforehand to explain to His twelve that was His purpose. He saw the goal and His point in time (importance of action in significance) and did it. The Father working alongside while the Spirit did the work also of signs, wonders, and miracles was through God. And when considering WHETHER He is Lord, liar, or lunatic if you read the Gospels as clearly as we do you begin to estimate in a decision to be open about it, for God to reveal Himself in a firm judgment of character to believe and envision that He's the genuine McCoy: the God-man by what He says, and is, and by the failure of those around Him, in other words in an anti-inflammatory sense: those to fail in their mission from Jesus: (they failed before the Cross in weakness, by frustration) but after the Resurrection of Christ by fifty days the Holy Spirit fell enabling them to greatly boldly proclaim results and produce (faith) evidence of things hoped for. Then you have to decide too rather than sit on the fence. Isn't it right to believe He is Lord and Master over sin and its effects! He is our Savior from sin! He even said to top it all off, "If you can't believe, believe on the basis of the works." And what lovely altogether beneficial Godly works, "I do!" Jesus says. He never spoke out against anybody in an untrue way. The people said of Him, "He does all things well." "He makes both the blind to see and the deaf to hear." "He raises the dead." "To the poor the Gospel, preached," Luke 4:19. He was as gentle as gentle mice, but inwardly He knew all men & what was in men and lived a situation at all times therefore quick in God's fear around Him, to redeem out every situation never trusting what was in man. He was genuinely mighty inside like Moses was and more so in overall honor (Hebrews says, "as a builder of a house has more honor than the house" and "as a son," rather than the servant Moses was, a servant.) But He exhausted Satan's tactics so very mightily, constantly, consistently, faithfully, dynamically entrusting slamming the Adversary overcoming the world, the flesh, and the devil, and his hordes in this life in deliverance, to obeying God in reliance as a savory aroma (not just rote obeying,) but with Charismata Dunamus (charisma and dynamite.) He wasn't self-reliant on Himself but had absolute trust in the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit to do the Works of God (Grk. Ergon,) & God works through personality so often. By the Spirit indeed through grace He obeyed the Father God and God filled His life and ways high up and greatly in miracles and small miracles too also from God Most High full and with the Spirit, and Power, & therefore He was declared VERY GOD AND SAVORY TOO, (even through every obstacle AND through even when it got tough.) His word planted in men's hearts as it does perform that for which it is sent, conflicts as many a time the Word of God's plan (the Logos) does vs. man's agenda Isaiah 55:11. He burst forward toward the Cross. He had a Godly "Aroma" as they say in the Greek Dialect, (a Charismata.) "He FRAGRANCED smelled of good deeds." He passed every trial every test and staggering well.
Jesus, being a servant in all aspects to us in everything also said, "If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto Me." This He said speaking of His Atoning Death on Calvary and Risen Exalted Life, His glorification and ascension to the Kingdom of God Heavenly Throne up above where that it resulted in sins taken away. He said, "the Kingdom of God is come near," therefore repent, change your mind and attitude and amend your conducts from the inside out. It's from the inside out our heart cries out loud cries and tears therefore God must use other people to build our edifice from the outside by the way. His life, Death, and Resurrection show His Divine power (like controlled dynamite) over the Universe in creative acts of Creation and Re-creation in saving us being efficacious or effectual. He could have called twelve legions of angels to take Him down from that Cross and save Him on that day put but He hung on to the cross. He didn't flinch from the doing of God's will. He rarely mentioned His Death without adding also He would Rise from Death which is a proof of His DIVINE Existence. Christ literally BECAME sin for us and suffered the pain it cost of our remediation or redemption on the Cross. Every sin we will ever commit from the past, into the future, and even the present was forgiven when in an eternity of eternities He experiencing the wrath of God by sinful humanity hanging Him in pain on the Cross for you and I and come out the other side. His Death and victory over sin and for sin in reconciling us back to God and His Resurrection is become our justification: our victory over sin, death, and hell, and the grave (and peace with God now,) at the Rapture later, resulting in our purposing to be glorifying HIM now. We're witnessing unto our Lord of God's saving grace. It was a great tremendous victory the cross the empty tomb though from an outward view. He meekly came a Preacher of righteousness of right relationship to God sent by our Father to come by grace and truth and of His fullness we all partake of grace. But He came a fervent servant the first time and we didn't recognize Him. But it was to be the overthrow of the Holy Spirit in control of His heart and His life at every minute and turn and by exchange to our lives too if we submit to Him once for all at salvation. John the Baptist was a forerunner of Messiah a disciple/preacher close at His heels to introduce personal and cooporate revival in Christ. Jesus Christ called God His Father and accepted man's worship having made Himself equal with God, and in kenosis: His self-emptying He thought being like God not something to be grasped but obeyed God humbly giving vehement cries and tears while He lived in communing with the Father reverently. Even to a release of spirit up to God of Himself, a Death on the Cross, He forgave (we knew it not.) This was His testimony of His inner perfection with God. His act of laying His life down willingly for us in Crucifixion Death is the demonstraton of God's love personally personified to each person potentially to save them from a life of wandering sin (which Jude says results in blackness of darkness of fires of hell, a warning) (for those who constantly reject God's love to finally obtain salvation) of which I am pleading and explaining is impetus to be saved the 'basis for our evangelical faith for getting saved & believing.' Scripture says, "No greater love has any man, than he that lays down His life for his friends," Jesus said. Jesus calls us His own in the dramatic present, *"and no longer do I call you servants but I call you *friends." He said, "For I tell you what I'm doing." He's not our Lord until we make Him Lord and never our buddy. And through intimacy He's there inside. He's not our homeboy neither but has over 100 titles in the New Covenant where we honor Him. He said, "I have power to take it up (my life) and power to lay it down," from above, (The Father being from above and Christ speaking of His life and Death and "became alive.") So then that His Blood spilt in fact was effectual for us as life changing truth and if even one drop of it fell to the ground it was sufficient to buy us from our sins is truth. This is in verity. The proof of Christianity is changed lives. What are we doing with His Blood? The Blood of Jesus Christ saves from sin. God's Plan through His Son was for the Trinity to work in cohesive fashion and in tandem and save mankind. The Father planned, the Son bled and died, and the Spirit carried it out through to God. Christ was the Father's only Begotten Son sent as an Innocent Righteous Lamb to die for the sins of all mankind, even for the many who will accept Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Ransom for them. But the gate is small and the way, narrow, the Bible says. The Christ, through the Spirit, exogenerated (without creation nor generation) or came forth from the Father from beyond our galaxy: in the power of the Spirit lived, and died once for us all. All sin we'll ever commit then has a punishment, penalty, or consequence and permanent death consequence unless it is forgiven by God. On Jesus was laid your's and my sin and its punishment. Can you value important, relevant, the need to appropiate His love and salvation? The Cross carries a lot of weight to we Christians. Old Covenant saints were never quite sure God heard. This is because there was every year as the High Priest went in to the Holy of Holies, remembrance of sins all the time and Jesus came to put away sin once for all by the offering of Himself up to God as a down payment. When Jesus by His pleasing aroma offering to the Father at the Mercy Seat in Heaven above the cherebim His Gifts and offerings His perfection He perfected forever those who are being sanctified. He became the Innocent Righteous Holy Lamb Of God's Sacrificial Choosing in God's Sight: re: Our New Covenant. When Christ died He led captivity captive, emptying Abraham's bosom of good souls and He gave good gifts to men including giving poured out the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day. We can now speak in tongues as the initial physical evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit being filled with the Holy Spirit. All through Acts this was so. By faith and trust in Him, having accepting Christ as Savior and Lord and continuing in Him we're living it out loud and out and out for Him building ourselves up on our most holy faith. Old Covenant saints looked ahead to Messiah, and we look back to Him. Take Him in your life and heart as Savior from your sin and sins, repent. Tell Him your sorry today. Ask for His forgiveness and to be saved. Then set Him always before you. Make Him your certain square aggrement. Live like there are no other causes or apps to qualify you or qualify for but HIS Graceful Presence before you and within you. He is always with you (never does He leave,) and your desire is delighting in Him and glorify Him. He will hound you to get saved by His Spirit or affirm and confirm that it was done at the point in time you did it. And dreaming His dream for you we dream can become like God's dream for us overall in the Body of Christ in the New Man always increasing us. But if in this life ony we have hope in Him only we are of all men most miserable but if we're in Him we have over-abundant spiritual life and sight & HE must increase and we must DECREASE. We weep God's tears pray God's prayers and hope God's hope for God's Will to be done and Paradise or Heaven as we learn it concerning this life & the next, its heavenly destination for our own home, hope as we call it to be from God direct the Object of Hope, and is our destination/goal in assurance. 'The Second Chapter Of Acts' that great Christian Rock Music Band has said it good, "I've got a Mansion Builder Who Ain't through with me yet." We have assurance of salvation from the Holy Spirit then He bearing witness with our spirit that we are God's children. Remain in His love and do everything to make your calling and election sure (that's in Jude and Peter.) Rejoice therefore your names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. God is intended that in our character we grow and that over our comfort much of the time. God is able to keep you from stumbling and to stand you up held blameless before Him at His Kingdom Coming and His Glory. Believing Jesus Christ is a partnership with Him with outrageous retirement benefits. Following Jesus Christ in a Risen life you and I and God can agree on our this road together in Kingdom seeds resulting in love, joy and peace, and be engaged under a different system then than the unsaved (under His Power.) Applying the Word to all of life we learn by experience God wants us for His own belonging children joined in Spirit to Him, belonging, to a Family of God. He made us partakers of His Divine Nature for His own, co-heirs in co-laboring bodies, spirits that have a body, free will moral agents that are His, that can decide or choose 'yes' to Him throwing ourselves on the mercy of the Court. God's ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than our thoughts. In salvation through faith in Christ once for all WE HAVE a dynamic Kingdom of God state of TRANSFORMATION ongoing and we seek first His Kingdom. Jesus pulled no punches in preaching a straight-forward spot right on Gospel hard showing how difficult it's made for the rich and proud to see or enter the Kingdom of God without 'eyes to see' and 'ears to hear' that are reborn now when from then on they become bondslaves of the Master/King. If you want to know deep things of God and how great are the promises of God and be great in God's Kingdom you have to serve and learn how to be willing to serve at the lowest level, be least of all, and last. Jesus never judged at all anyone for wanting to be great. He encouraged it among the twelve. Jesus makes a difference in a life bound for heartache and defeat. He came to seek and to save the lost in sin, ruination, the sinful, bruised, (battered, broken, and shattered people He created.) The Church is not for perfect people but for perfecting persons. We make no excuses. We hold to the highest standard. Jesus holds us in an embrace in putting us back together from this world's sin effects. We fall on the Rock.
Christ is God's LAMB for sin not just great moral teacher or example. If it was right on Jesus was up on it. He chose to love with supreme intelligent decision-making while alive. He acted nonetheless right properly and not from His own initiative but the Father and the Spirit through God also. And He was good in that most highest innate moral sense of excellence. It was cooler for Jesus to speak His mind than to obey the religious, those in religion in other words. But instead He pleased God alone truly rather than man. The early Church grew because people of God have hands and with fingers of God to touch the world. Thousands were saved on a regular basis as the Book of Acts unfolds. This is after Christ's Resurrection. Christ spoke in a different way to the Pharisees who thought themselves good enough who were not after the Spirit and who despised God's way and other people: really Pharisee, Sadducees, teachers of the law, and scribes that kept the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law. *Jesus spoke condemning of their caustic-like hate for others. He healed many on the Sabbath which angered them and on the other hand He rebuked the Pharisees and Saducees for their hypocrisy and genuinely heard man instead in need and He healed all who came. He crossed a then racial lines barrier to do it. He healed several people from a few miles distance, and by spoken word alone sometimes healed also, that incomparable Christ did. All who came were healed by Him of various & diverse kinds of illness or diseases. He commended calling "great" the faith of two persons outsiders to the Jewish Nation. He raised at least three people from the dead. He walked on water at least once and the storm had to be quiet when He spoke to it. This One Solitary Life touched the sick and the hurting in the earth and the world could not contain the books that would be written concerning of all He said and did in other words what that Jesus the Mighty Prophet, Healer, the Lord, Great Physician, Exalted Savior, Prophet, Priest, Master & King: both began to say and do and teach. In hearing the still small voice of God and heeding that Voice then at one's conscience then to "get saved" convicted convinced with compunction about being a sinner is right on. It tells one so convicted convinced to also live a holy life as a Gift from God leaving sin and everything behind by following Christ a disciple in the revealing and receiving of the revelation of His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ in the heart. The Word of God spoken by God's Voice inside us causes us to practice God's Presence and individually live Holy as the Spirit TRANSFORMS US daily. The dynamic power for being this witness is, "hearing is by faith and hearing by the Word of God (Logos.") The Word of God prevails. It transforms. It performs that mission to which God sends it ably so. Now this can turn up the heat on your own life or lifestyle (your plans, and better them) AND/OR bring His Victory if you're (quoting Paul,) 'in Christ.' Are you GOOD ground for Him? God through Paul in his writing spoke of the relationship to God within of engagement of faith in the will and in the Holy Spirit of faith 'in Christ,' following our exalted Head the Holy Son of God with Whom we're called to fellowship I Cor 1:9. There is freedom and victory in serving our God clearly knowing God is by getting to know Jesus. Jesus said, "If you've seen Me, you've seen the Father." You'll at once realize by an over-abundance of grace and mercy if you can that you're a sinner if God has chosen you to show mercy on, an object of mercy. We seem to miss the revelation of God's true glory so easily. God turned the world upside down by it's joyful sound. For God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself not counting men's sins against them and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. And through the Death and Resurection of Himself He's poured out the fullness of the cup of the New Covenant for the remission of sins for the many in His Blood. It's unmerited favor from Himself toward us who believe. It's truly like God signed a will, and dotted every i and crossed every t ensured that it, the Kingdom talked about in the Bible, arrives at its destination and then He died (in Jesus) to make us sons in sonship and an heir. He does it of Himself. Fear not then as it's His good pleasure to do it. God sows a seed to bring us to a salvation experience: a pressing, pressure, squeezing, and narrowing that puts us on our back. There we can look up to God and be saved. By grace you can be saved and KNOW Christ your victory. God causes you to feel, maybe for the first time and experience God's outs: standing up for Jesus inside and on your faces in persecutions even. Sometimes God wants to skim off the dross from the molten metal of our lives as we rejoice always, exult in tribulation and give thanks in everything and glory in God and in that which happens to us Acts 14:22; Colossians 4:2; Romans 5:3,11. Jude says, "Remember according to the words (gr. Rema) spoken by the Apostles beforehand given us," and "be building yourselves (up) on your most holy faith" ie. on a firm foundation (of Christ's:) as an edifice. Listen you are absolutely somebody because "God wants us to rejoice. God don't make no junk." God's not angry with you because of the Cross. In fact He loves you. It's love from Him uncondemning solid: He's forgiven you for: His gentleness makes one great. It's His gentle reminding of His forbearing of us to keep you blemishless and spotless, unreproachable, no defect, and undeniably so with your spirit, soul, and body being preserved and presented blameless before the Father at His Resurrection by Jesus. Hold onto Jesus's feet and believe Jesus Christ paid it all. God will tell you what this entails. He holds the nails to your coffin of deadness to sin, and sin's enticing, and atttraction to it. "From now on you will only see dead Egyptians," Moses was told by God. You only identify with Christ's crucifixion and for yourself identify and a Christian's profession of hope. You get out of your prison and walk out. You nail it shut and leave old ways behind and learn what you can from them to neglect those old ways coming to Christ for help now, following after the Holy Spirit. You tell Satan you hear him laugh and you're angry, and you're not going to take it anymore but submit to God & say to God you will fight, and resist or flee being aware of satan's schemes. "Cleanse yourselves," Timothy writes, "from the old ways (latter) (Cleanse in Greek is Katharizo meaning to cauterize or cathartic.) If you do, God's Promise is, "You'll, be used for God's Higher or even Highest Purposes." You let Christ's Righteousness on you be thus for you your real evidence of newness of life. You follow after Christ denying yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him daily minute by minute moment by moment. The unseen is eternal and the more real in God's Kingdom than the seen which is temporal and subject to corruption and thieves breaking in to steal. Don't sell yourself for a mess of pottage which are trinkets of illusion. Topsy turvy is the expression for the things or parables of Christ concerning our planet under the superficial under the surface that twist upside down to this world within God's will for the believers in the Kingdom of God Spirit. A parable has one main teaching and is an earthly story with a twist of heavenly meaning under it for it's upside down to this world, (or in fact has Jesus's one main teaching per parable.) All things become new in God at salvation and in newness of life God saves you, being infused with the right kind of hope, the right kind of hope with God is your Source. You live abundantly a life IN Christ and commit more and more of 'stuff' rolling it onto the Lord. It's by the Holy Spirit coming along side you in a Paraclete overthrow to submit it to Him (Greek Paracletos, Comforter; Mentor up close.) For after salvation you put on like a piece of clothing a New Self which is created in Righteousness & true Holiness of the truth which is Christ Himself which the Holy Spirit sanctifies you, you do. You also bear fruit. And this isn't a step but for there are no steps to sanctification. It's an act of the will however for God's Word sanctifies being truth. There's level ground therefore at the cross where we're being made holy imparted Christ Himself a Gift. Within your faith we corporately participate by belief in the truth Who is Jesus (Who sanctifies you,) for it's by the Holy Spirit's involved through Christ's Body, intervention and infused interaction in progressive sanctification. It's one act, (this saving happens from past, present, and future sins.) But there is a past, present, and future aspect to being saved imparted the righteousness of our King and Master the Lord Jesus in a right standing position with God at once and by a different method, holiness where we're to be made Holy still a Gift of holiness nonetheless. We're never spot right on there in sinless perfection in salvation even because we sin even after being reborn but not consistently or as habit. In fact we like very much to withdraw away from sin and sinful practices et al. After getting saved we have no obligation to sin nor to the sinful nature. Like a corpse we don't have to respond when tempted. For HE died and WE died. "For something to come to an altar something has to die," says Evangelist Stevens. But we also arose with Christ. It's by the Holy Spirit's making Jesus Lord of you in an overthrow of your head and heart and you cooperating with that that you make progress in the sanctification process. "Only what's done for Christ will last," is a famous quote. And in this every department or area of lifestyle the Savior CAN BE YOUR LIFE indeed, and LORD IN YOU, and you crucified to this world in an exchanged ALIVE TO GOD example not of a sanctimonious nor ecclesiastical person but of one living holy as a Gift for Him and from Him. Holiness is something God does and is. We are not holy without Him. He changes us by transforming our lives metamorphosizing us as in a mirror in our TRANSFORMING beholding the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ in the Word as Lord as in a reflection of His glory (becoming conformed to His image) in a trial, or a tribulation (thillipsis,) becoming clear who mirror His words in a generous glorious word infusion in and of scripture. We gain a fullness of a spirit of holiness from God in kindled zeal and works. We get this vision, we, God's glory's reflection, reading the Bible and doing what it says. He who has the Son has life! If you don't have the Spirit and the Son inside.. there is no life spiritually in you. You are dead in trespasses and sins and need a complete makeover in an eternal universal sense.We draw near to God in a rekindled spirit. Justified. Just as if I'd never sinned. Jesus is all we will ever know of God He showing us an exact replica of, the image of God, (see Hebrews 12; 1:3.) Don't you want to know God more and more and peace? 'Who did so much for you in love' and did so no less while you were His enemies and and ungodly and He will therefore reveal Himself! If we let God turn it around for us, and repent, we will feel great changes emphatically emphasizing holy living and we will feel His love HAPPEN in us. His love ministers moment by moment. You experience God's love first and it's maybe for the first time you're aware. Obediently we call ourselves bondslaves of His own. We seek the Fullness (Greek: Pleroma) of God. We want to be found faithful, good stewards, feeding the servants their food and not beating the maidservants nor manservants but last, least, and lowest, washing feet.We are receptive recipients of His Word like ever trusting receptive children. If God said it that settles it for us now. We let it correct us, rebuke, and train, and instruct us. It's like we lose our life in friendships and associations we give up down here to find them in the Kingdom of God Spirit and eternal life up in Heaven in the Holy Spirit. Dynamicly transformed by the Spirit in grace you stay renewed. Keep renewing your mind daily moment by moment. Your spirit will keep refreshing in a refreshed state of mind as you remain in the Word of God having made a sincere devotion decision of mental assent, comittment to, and follow through in accepting Jesus Christ for yourself of salvation trusting Him. With God's help you keep your mental diet a follow through spiritual one. And believe spiritual thinking to not think like the unsaved nor have their problems at all you break the mold this world tries to conform you to Romans 12:2. "Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that you might prove what is that good, perfect, and acceptable Will Of God," the verse goes. You put off the old nature and old ways like a garment with its covetousness, lusts and greed and receive from the Lord your new festive vestal garment and embrace the New Nature in everything being born again. Problems never seem to go away even tragic upheavals. But you're renewed in the Lord and you change and they (the problems the upheavals change) they mix it up in God's timing for an answer a solution and change. The way out is up to God.We look into the face of our Father. Scripture says of the New Birth, "old things have passed away, the new has come," & Hebrews says, "I will put my laws into their hearts and on their minds I will write them." In our new born again mind from Christ (see Phil chapter 2.) taking up residence, and the Spirit-formed zeal of God we're receptive to it & is for a New Heart implanted and a New Spirit under the Power and by the Holy Spirit renewing daily and fed and nourished by Him to be equipped for grace-filled service to God and to man being saved now. This is by apostles (that go into new territory,) prophets (that forth-tell and fore-tell,) pastor's, teachers, and evangelists who are gifts to us. By these we know the right tool for the job. No man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for he Kingdom of God.
No man can love without Jesus Christ. Neither can we do anything of lasting worth unless we abide in Christ and remain. We choose to love because it is a choice, not a verb. It may be love as truly meant or lust so-called to give up, or love for someone in authority or family, or be romance that is true on earth but God's love lasts eternally everlasting and for the good of other's lives benefit according to I Corinthians 13 aspects characteristics. Jesus Christ has Finished The Work in Power in forever time and you are seated with Him in the Heavenlies, Raised or Risen with Him so live in the precious light of that truth, and of His love as saved. God created us and He claims complete ownership of our being as Lord Creator Redeemer Designer. Raise His Standard High. "If we lived like the Promises of this Book is real for one week, men would melt before our testimonies," was declared by Charles Finney. We become then God's sons Spirit-led to share unfathomable riches in Christ and living it out by us in Him living epistles known and read of all men. And fruition is certainly probable and possible as you're sweetly transformed in the spiritual DNA of Him of Whose new motives they are from God alone. This is from sin to a changed life. Trouble diminishes then making Jesus Lord as a part of being in right motives and in the Holy Spirit's plan for you. But God ministers to us and raises us up to walk on mountains too with Jesus and so to become who we never could be. His rod and staff comfort us. We hear the Good Shepherd's Voice and a stranger we will not follow. Everywhere a revival or riot follow and we seek the peace of the city and we will rise on eagle's wings. God cares for us with eagle wings, letting us be carried on them until we can fly right and build a nest. This 'eagle' teaching is from my Pastor.The Certificate of debt is destroyed which was against us Col 2:13,14. Christ begins to process the fruit of a Christian life in and through us in the Spirit. Hallelujah! What a Soul Salvation Fellowship! A Soul Koinonia! Read Galations 5:22,23.We let the Word of Christ divide in us and dwell within us richly Col 3:16.
Love God & live surrendered obeying the Gospel. Let everything else go. Whether we live or die we say, "we're the Lord's." Live life loving in a tough-skinned body in tenderheartedness, compassion sympathizing and/or then empathizing with others. Compassion is going to cost you something. Salvation is not of yourself by any means, not of works lest any man should boast. God's desire is that we not be religious, nor try Him out, nor have a 'Jesus face,' but we by over-abundant grace and mercy follow through in pleasing God alone. Trinity is hard to comprehend. We are His Hands His Feet! The Christianity we invest in is God having Bled for you at Calvary and not you bleeding in your attempt to get to God. We 'love God' with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and "love our neighbor" "as ourself," which is the summing up completely of the Old Covenant demand and New Covenant Life. We can't make God love us anymore than He does in His firmness. He loves us strongly and with Almighty firmness.This new life starts with faith now and impregnated with the Word. Mt. 6:33 is, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Even about this good news we gossip, even a colorful NEWNESS OF LIFE not so much a reforming life but a colorful variety inspired flavor-filled ABUNDANT LIFE in the Kingdom of God and eternal. Like a prize one gets in crossing a finish line run in a way of FULLNESS that wins. So run that you may win your race in a way that is winning lawfully in God's marathon of grace accepting of the cost you're determining that is needed to your consciousness and conscience of living for Christ every moment with compunction to get the prize of the high calling of God. This is not a passive thing though you don't do one thing to earn it. God's promise is to bring it to pass and you live in faith and you follow through what God is telling you to do so you can make it. Let Christ say who you are and know Who God is. Phil 1:6; Gal 6:1ff. Go For Gusto With God In His Love! Forgiven! In Him You live, and move, and have 'get up and go' to your being and you Are More Than A Conqueror (hupernikao greek: overwhelming victory) Through His Love! Jesus said, "I am the Resurrection and the Life!" "He that believes in Me though he were dead yet shall he live though he dies! And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." Max Lucado said and I agree, "Its All About Him And Not Us." "He is no fool to give up what he can't keep to gain what he can't lose," was a quote by a very great persecuted missionary Elliot. God's vast riches you have now can only be seen with the 'eyes of the heart' Pastor Catapano says. Let your thinking processes and thoughts ruminate over and over how Holy a lifestyle God requires of us of godliness and holiness filled by Himself as a Gift of Holiness to filled fullness and power without which no man shall see God we must live. Jesus was driven into the wilderness to hunt the devil down in the fullness of the Spirit as Sly Stallone Rambo. He came out in the Power of the Spirit in the style of Patton. This lifestyle imparted I speak of can coexist and co-exert in Him in a sinful world side by side triumphant among unbelievers with whom you rub shoulders with. 1/3/2011
Eph 4:7 The gift of Christ gives dimension to grace and defines our individual value. (Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the gift of Christ.)