Honor God With Your Body

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.

Our Verse of the Day presents an important concept for us to understand regarding our walk of faith in Christ Jesus. The call to holiness in our lives is the spiritual expectation of a “new creature”. In John 3, Jesus spoke about the requirement to be born-again … born of the Spirit … in order to see the Kingdom of God. In our verse, Paul develops this prerequisite further for us and expounds on its implications. Although the immediate context is focused on sexual immorality, the broader application is admonishment against all unrighteous behavior in our lives. We have received redemption through the blood of Christ, and it was confirmed by His resurrection from the dead. When we understand and embraced what God has done for us in Christ, it follows that we would seek to thank and honor God with our bodies and souls … with our very beings. Let’s break down our verse for additional perspective:

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

We can only receive the Spirit of God when we receive Jesus and put our faith in Him as Lord and Savior of our lives. There is no other mechanism for His presence to indwell you … to abide inside your being … except that you abide in Him through faith. Consider that Jesus affirmed we must be born of water and the Spirit or we cannot enter the Kingdom of God. (Cf. John 3:5) Further, Jesus promised us the gift of the Holy Spirit when He assured the disciples: “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (Cf. John 14:15-18)

You are not your own; you were bought at a price.

We were purchased by God. The payment was the atoning sacrifice of His One and Only Son – Jesus. He offered up His life in order to redeem us from condemnation and eternal separation from God. There was not anything we did to deserve it or earn it. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Cf. Romans 3:23) But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Cf. Romans 5:8) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Cf. Ephesians 2:8) When we realize that we are not our own … that God created us and gave us His commands for life to the fullest … and then forgave the rebellion of our sinful hearts so that we would not be condemned forever; I think then we will attain the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ! The price of redemption is beyond our ability to conceive! So, I join with Paul in his prayer:

Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

¹⁶I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Therefore, honor God with your bodies.

This is the bottom line of our faith in action here upon the earth. We are to honor God with our bodies – the ones He fashioned and gave us as gifts and breathed life into – so that we might live in step with His Holy Spirit in our inner beings. Paul urged, “In view of God’s mercy, we should offer our bodies as living sacrifices; holy and pleasing to God – for this is our true and proper worship.” (Cf. Romans 12:1) And, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like unbelievers, who do not know God.” (Cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)

I think Paul does a great job explaining this concept of the indwelling Spirit and His purposeful work within us, so I have reprinted a couple of passages for our consideration here:

Romans 8:1-14 (NIV)

¹Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ²because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set us free from the law of sin and death. ³For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so, He condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. ⁹You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you. ¹²Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Galatians 5:16-25 (NIV)

¹⁶So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God. ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

I think the above passages explain why we are called to live by the Spirit and to put to death the works of the sinful human nature. Though we know that there is a great and ongoing conflict between our flesh and our spirit, Paul brings an interesting perspective on this fight when he asserts: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Cf. Ephesians 6:12) Indeed, we need the spiritual armor of God to prepare and protect ourselves in this battle … and having done all … to stand (persevere) through faith. The role of the Holy Spirit is to guide us into the Truth. What He receives from the Father and the Son is imparted to us. (Cf. John 16:13) Why? So that we will be instructed and directed into a life of holiness … to be conformed to the image of Jesus. Spiritual holiness is manifested through our bodies … how we live! And as John informed us: “This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” (Cf. 1 John 2:6)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” ~ 1 Peter 1:14-16

My Refuge and My Shield

Psalm 119:114 (NIV)

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your Word.

In our Verse of the Day, the truth that God is our refuge and our strength is declared in His Word! Yes, we hope in His Word because that is how we KNOW through faith that He is with us … He surrounds us … He protects us! I want us to look at this section of Psalm 119 for the immediate context:

Psalm 119:113-120 (NIV)

ס Samekh

¹¹³ I hate double-minded people, but I love your law.
¹¹⁴ You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.
¹¹⁵Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!
¹¹⁶ Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.
¹¹⁷Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees.
¹¹⁸You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their delusions come to nothing.
¹¹⁹All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; therefore I love your statutes.
¹²⁰My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.

In a world where we feel surrounded by chaos and confusion and conflict and coercion and cancel, there is a place of refuge and strength for believers. His name is Jesus! I did not say there is a place of hiding because we are not called to hide from the world; rather, we are to be His light in the world. We are to be that city on a hill where it cannot be hidden. (Cf. Matthew 5:14-16) We need to remember the intercessory prayer of Jesus when He prayed for all believers:

John 17:13-21 (NIV)

I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Jesus wants us IN the world, but He prayed for God to protect us … to be our refuge from the evil one. So, we do not ignore what is happening in the world or stick our heads in the proverbial sand. Believers have been called … we are sent into the world to testify to the truth! That truth is God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (Cf. John 3:16-19) Yes, we are to engage the world with the light of the Gospel … with the truth of the Word.

Thus, we need to know the Word of God. We need to know the Truth. And through the Holy Spirit who comes to indwell us, we receive wisdom and discernment. The Apostle John has elaborated this for us:

1 John 4:1-6 (NIV)

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Lord Jesus, you are our refuge and strength because You have given us your Spirit … the Spirit of Truth who indwells us and fills us with Your abiding presence and love. Only in You is the wisdom and knowledge of God made known to us. Only in You is the great love of the Father fully expressed and experienced in our hearts. You are the true light that gives light to everyone. Oh, that the light you have given to us might be received in every heart. You are the Living Word in which we hope and find shelter. You are the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through you. (Cf. John 14:6) And so, I pray that we your children would be your image in this world just as you are the image of the Father. You have sent us into the world just as the Father sent You into the world. Yes, I pray that through our lives and testimonies of redemption, more people will see your kindness and repent. I pray that your great love, which is rich in mercy, will bring life to those who are dead in transgressions. Oh, that your grace, Lord Jesus, would abound as your people proclaim the light and hope, the joy and peace, the truth and love of the Gospel … so that no one would perish but come to a knowledge of the truth and receive eternal life in you. This is my prayer, Lord, and I ask in Your Name. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. ~ Psalm 18:30-32

To Be Born of God…

John 1:12-13 (NIV)

Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

In our Verse of the Day, the Apostle John provides us with a profound statement of theology; and I think we should take a look at what it asserts for believers and unbelievers.

John 1:1-13 (NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

We see the Apostle John laying the foundation of who Jesus is … His identity … and His divine origin. Unlike the synoptic gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), John does not begin his gospel narrative with the physical born of Jesus into the world; rather, he establishes that Jesus is an eternal being … the Word of God from the beginning … the Word who became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We see the divinity of Jesus from the inception of his eyewitness account, and we understand that it is Jesus who “gives us the right to become children of God.” It is upon the basis of His authority that a human has the capacity to be born of the Spirit … to be born of God. There is no other way for this spiritual birth to take place. For Jesus to transform a person, He must be received in faith. Indeed, Jesus is the assurance of what we hope for and the evidence of what is unseen…. (Cf. Hebrews 11:1)

Have you ever wondered why a “second birth” is necessary to see and enter the Kingdom of God as Jesus told Nicodemus? In John 3:6, Jesus affirmed: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” To be sure, we bear the physical image of a human being … the image of Adam; but read this account very carefully:

Genesis 5:1-5 (NIV)

This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, He made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And He named them “Mankind” (Adam in Hebrew) when they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.

In the natural … in the physical … we are made in the likeness of Adam (human beings). We bear his image; however, the likeness of God (the holiness of God) in which the first male and female had been created, this likeness of God was “lost” due to their disobedience in the Garden of Eden. When sin entered the world through the rebellious act of Adam and Eve, our holiness was foregone through the knowledge of good and evil. But God provided a plan of redemption … a path of reconciliation … through the sacrificial atonement of His own Son. To those who receive Jesus … to those who believe in His Name, He gave the right to become the children of God … to bear His image. Through faith in Jesus, we receive His righteousness … His holiness … and we are hidden in Him before God. Our identity is in Jesus and our holiness is restored through Him!

Romans 5:12-17 (New Living Translation)

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Consider this for a moment. We bear the physical image of the earthly man in our bodies; but in order to bear the image of the heavenly man, we must be born-again of the Spirit. Thus, the “second” birth has implications for our resurrection bodies. The Apostle Paul had occasion to explain this concept for the Church:

1 Corinthians 15:44-50 (NIV)

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So, it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Through faith we know that Jesus is the Son of God and the exact representation of His being. (Cf. Hebrews 1:3) And I believe this truth should give us deeper insight into what this Scripture asserts: “For whom God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son….” (Cf. Romans 8:29) God desires us to be like Jesus … to be conformed to His image! This is why we are drawn by the Holy Spirit to pursue holiness in our lives. We who are in Christ Jesus receive in Him wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 1:30) We have been taught, with regard to our former way of life, to put off our old selves, which are being corrupted by their deceitful desires;to be made new in the attitude of our minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Cf. Ephesians 4:22-24) For without holiness, no one will see the Lord. (Cf. Hebrews 12:14)

Like Nicodemus, there are many people who do not understand the theological concept of being born-again. And I hope this brief overview helps us to see its presentation through multiple writers of the New Testament. The spiritual implications of the new birth are tremendous and it all begins with Jesus … the One who proclaimed: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” (Cf. John 14:6-7) My friends, it is only in Jesus that we have the right … the “authority” … to become children born again of the Spirit.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Hasten To Obey…

Psalm 119:60 (NIV)

I will hasten and not delay to obey Your commands.

Have you ever hesitated to follow through on a prompting of the Holy Spirit that you know was aligned with the Word of God? Regretfully, I know that I have done so. I suspect it happens to all of us…. We hear His voice in our spirit to say or do something that is intended to advance the Kingdom of God; but then we fumble the ball, we doubt the impulse, we make excuses, or we act like we did not hear the voice of God. We might begin to question, “Was that really you speaking to me, God?” How can I know? Show me a sign! Yet, in our inner being, we knew God wanted us to respond to Him and to act upon His command in that moment…. It was another opportunity to be light … to be salt … to show grace … to plant a word from God … to lead someone to the truth … but we did not follow through. I hold my own head down in shame at the opportunities … given and forsaken. I hear Jesus ask me, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Cf. Luke 6:46)

Our Verse of the Day filled me with fresh conviction! Faith asks me to be bold … to be courageous. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” (Cf. 2 Timothy 1:7) Oh, how I need to remember these scriptures when I find myself in a “divine appointment” … when I find myself “asked of God” to do a good work – one that He prepared in advance for me to do. (Cf. Ephesians 2:10) I should say in my heart, “Lord, I will hasten and not delay to obey you!”

When God directs us to act … we need to listen and align with His Word and His timing. And, yes, I believe it is fine to ask God for “the right time” to accomplish His assignment. We should ask for wisdom or discernment regarding the circumstances, if needed. But these types of requests are different than simply procrastinating out of our own doubts or insecurities or just plain slothfulness. If it matters to God to prompt us through His Spirit … it matters for us to be obedient.

And while it is important for us to listen to God and to obey Him as He guides and direct us to be His hands and feet in this world, I think there might be another application much closer to home that we should consider … something that might be overlooked. I want to encourage us to look inward for a moment. What if the “divine appointment” is with yourself? What if the good work God asks of you is to change something within you? Perhaps we should be still and listen for His still small voice a moment. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you in your inner being? What commands have you heard that you have dismissed or delayed to obey? Is there a conviction from the Word of God challenging your pursuit of sanctification? Consider this passage from 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” Or is there a conviction from the Word of God challenging your character? Consider this passage from Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

My friends, there is plenty we can hear from God and apply to our lives from His Word. We just need to read it and study it. “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Cf. Hebrews 4:12) Indeed, the indwelling Holy Spirit guides us into ALL truth … including the truth about ourselves. And sometimes when we want to impact the world around us for Christ, we often need to begin with changes within ourselves. Whether God calls us to divine encounters with those around us, or He calls us to submit to His prompts within our own hearts, we would be wise to listen to Him! Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice, and they follow me.” (Cf. John 10:27) And so, as we hear His voice, let us hasten and not delay to obey His commands. This is my prayer for each of us. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly, I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. ~ Matthew 21:28-32

The Children of God…

Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.”

Our Verse of the Day affords us some insight on how Jesus felt about children within a religious structure that did not appear to value children on a spiritual level to the same degree. We can infer these observations from the synoptic Gospel texts that captured the scene:

Matthew 19:13-15 (NIV)

Then people brought little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.

Mark 10:13-16 (NIV)

People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them.

Luke 18:15-17 (NIV)

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

I find myself imagining the scene … mothers and fathers who were bringing their children to Jesus. I surmise they had heard of His power to heal … to cast out demons … and to teach with authority on the grace and love of God. Mesmerized. Touched. They wanted something from Him. They wanted something for their children … something beyond their own perceived ability to afford themselves or their children. Hope? A Future? An encounter with God? There was something special about this man named Jesus. They could see He was different from the religious leaders at the temple. This Jesus was different than even the disciples who followed Him. For they had rebuked the parents and tried to disperse the children … dampening their smiles of curiosity and diminishing their squeals of joy. Indeed, there was something about Jesus that stirred a longing inside their hearts … a yearning in search of assurance … a gesture of acceptance and validation … a gentle embrace of sincere love … from a man, so God-like, so un-like any other man who stood in the temple courts. I can just imagine the moment of relief when Jesus called them to Himself. Oh, how the encounter and blessing from the man of God would change their lives … forever.

Jesus taught everyone a lesson in that moment … especially His disciples. He validated the children … their open hearts … their willingness to believe … their faith and trust in someone who deeply cares for their souls. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me! Do not hinder them! The Kingdom of God belongs to them … to those who open their hearts to me in faith and trust.” He taught that our relationship with the Father is a matter of receiving Him as a little child. Miss that point … and you miss how God desires to have fellowship with you through His Son. It seemed to be a spiritual issue that the pious and the religious needed to understand. Jesus wanted them to understand…. Consider the following passage:

John 3:1-10 (NIV)

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?

When I read Verse 8 and how it describes the wind blowing wherever it pleases … and that you hear its sound but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going … I cannot help but think of young, innocent children. Children seem to have a natural trust … an openness to learn … a desire to discover all the mysteries of life. And so it is with everyone born of the Spirit! And there is something specific that Jesus mentions to Nicodemus that we need to note: “No one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” What does that mean? The best explanation I have read comes from the Old Testament. Surely Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, would have known this scripture:

Ezekiel 36:24-29 (NIV)

“‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness.

The new birth requires belief in the Word of God. It requires us to become as children in our ability to trust Him. We must be born of the cleansing Jesus provides through His atoning blood and the indwelling spirit that He places within us to abide with us forever. Yes, we will receive new hearts and become renewed creatures; and this is ALL His work in us! “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Cf. Ephesians 2:8-10) Yes, unless we become as children and submit to God we will miss what the Father sent Jesus to do in our lives. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right (authority) to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (Cf. John 1:9-13)

My friends, it is my prayer that we will live as children before our Heavenly Father. As Paul affirmed:For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (Cf. Romans 8:14-16) Yes, let us be filled with His assurance that we are His children and know in our hearts that we belong in the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. ~ Matthew 11:25-26

Jesus Is The Messiah…

Matthew 16:15-16 (NIV)

“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”

In our Verse of the Day, Jesus asks His disciples a poignant question: “Who do YOU say that I am?” Let’s look at this passage to see the context:

Matthew 16:13-20 (NIV)

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, (Greek word meaning ‘rock’) and on this rock I will build my Church (community or assembly of called out ones), and the gates of Hades (Hell or the realm of the dead) will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.” Then He ordered His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah.

This question is one that every human will have to answer: “Who is Jesus?” When Jesus inquired, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is,’ I believe His question was a general one to them. The expression “Son of man” is used extensively in the Book of Ezekiel to address the prophet regarding what he is commanded to speak. However, in the Book of Daniel, we see a different reference to the term: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Cf. Daniel 7:13-14)

The Aramaic phrase bar enash used here is translated as “son of man” meaning “human being.” But in the context, the ‘Son of Man’ referenced here was unique. This Son of Man was coming with the clouds of heaven; approaching the Ancient of Days (God) and entering His presence; was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; worshipped; having an everlasting dominion and kingdom. These attributes do not reflect the description of a prophet like Ezekiel or Daniel; rather, they refer to a special Son of Man … an extraordinary human being having great intimacy with the Father like a Son of the Most-High God Himself. This was the Jewish understanding of the human being … the Son of Man … who would be the Anointed One … the Messiah of God … coming to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth.

So, at first, the question Jesus posed appears to be general. Who do people think the “Son of Man” spoken of by the Prophet Daniel is? But then Jesus personalized the question by asking, “Who do you say that I am?” By implication and self-reference, I believe Jesus was asking if they understood that HE is that unique Son of Man … the Holy One of God … the Messiah that Israel was looking for and expected to come … the One seen in the vision that Daniel described. And when Peter answered Jesus, “You are the Messiah … the Son of the Living God,” Jesus confirmed that Peter understood the connection because the Spirit of God had revealed it to him.

We need to remember that this revelation: “Jesus IS the Messiah” is still the role of the Holy Spirit to give each person. This testimony upon which we have built our faith must still be internalized and believed! Jesus the Messiah (Yeshua Hamashiach) is the foundation … the rock … upon which the message of the Gospel rests. And His physical resurrection affirms the claims of Jesus and His identity! Yet, the truth can still be rejected as an act of human will. “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Cf. Psalm 118:22-23) This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Behold, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; and the one who believes … who relies on it will not be shaken nor fear. (Cf. Isaiah 28:16) Now, note the theological connections that Peter would make with these prophecies a few centuries later:

Acts 4:8-12 (NIV)

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus IS “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

My friends, I hope that you will meditate on these things. Think about your own answer to the question Jesus poses to His followers: “Who do YOU say that I am?” How does your answer reflect your faith in God? It is my prayer that we, the Church, will never fail to proclaim the answer: “Jesus is the Messiah … the Son of the Living God!” And it is my prayer that we, the Body of Christ, will continue to be the living representation of Jesus in our generation as we have been called to do! Yes, I pray that our lives as believers would be sufficient evidence to lead those who do not know this truth to the One who answered: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” (Cf. John 14:6)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Therefore, I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:3

The Way of Faithfulness…

Psalm 119:30 (NIV)

I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.

Our Verse of the Day affords us a simple, yet powerful message. The decision to be faithful –faithful to God and to one another is always individual. God has created each of us with a personal will that allows us to choose according to the dictates of our own hearts. So, we are challenged to thoughtfully consider our decisions before we make them, as well as the commitments we have determine in our hearts to fulfill. It brings to mine other verses that I believe are applicable: “I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Cf. Psalm 119:11) And, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” (Cf. 1 Samuel 15:22)

The Psalmist gives us, perhaps, the most vital key to exercising the wisdom we need to apply for both short-term and long-term decisions. Actions are essentially the output or engagement of the thoughts of our hearts. And so, what we set our hearts on ultimately determines what we will do. If we set our hearts on the laws of God … His Spirit-inspired Word (the expressed will of God), then we will discern the right choices available to us. Why? Because we will have the knowledge needed to exercise our personal wills in a manner that produces correct decisions for our lives. And, again, our choice to be obedient will be manifested by our conduct. What we ultimately do will always be the expression of the inclination of the thoughts of our hearts. And therein lies the tension … the internal conviction that arises when we do not set our hearts on the will of God and surrender to Him….

Here are some other Scriptures that might bring some additional insight on this subject:

1 Chronicles 28:8-9 (NIV)

“So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever. “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (NIV)

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was like a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

James 1:22-25 (NIV)

Do not merely listen to (or read) the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to (or reads) the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard (read), but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

My friends, we know the will of God has been expressed in His Word, but it is up to us to align the inclinations of our hearts and to surrender ourselves to His revealed will! The difficulty here for us is that no one truly has the capacity to change their own heart. It is God who changes the heart and conforms us to the image of His Son. It is the merciful gift of His Spirit and grace that draws us to Christ Jesus so that we can be filled with the power of His anointing! And, as we have learned, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” (Cf. 2 Peter 1:3) Even so, as believers, we will experience a continual spiritual battle for our minds because thoughts determine behavior; and the thoughts of our hearts must be brought captive to the Word of God at all times. “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Cf. Hebrews 4:13) Yes, we need to be reading the Word … studying it … knowing what it instructs … and applying it to our hearts.

A simple short verse can awaken us once again to the choice of faithfulness! I feel so strongly about the message it imparts. God has been unfailing in His faithfulness to us! (Cf. Psalm 89) So, if we want to be faithful to God, then we will have to discipline ourselves and our thoughts through the light and wisdom of His Word. If we want to be effective and productive in the Kingdom of God, we will have to be students of the Word of God. If you get a moment this week, I would encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 2. I believe you will find it applicable to the general discussion here. If we want to live as Jesus did and be conformed to His image, then we will need to have His mind. And Paul asserts we do have the mind of Christ because His Spirit imparts His thoughts to us as believers. It is my prayer that we will reflect on this truth more deeply. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. ~ 3 John 2-4

God Is Light…

1 John 1:7 (NIV)

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.

Our Verse of the Day challenges us to live in the light of God … according to His Word and through the life of His Son!

In his first epistle, the Apostle John gives us some foundational theology to govern our walk with the Lord Jesus. John begins with his eyewitness testimony regarding Jesus, and shares his desire to declare the truth of his personal encounter with the Son of God. He asserts that Jesus is the living Word of God; the light and revelation of God the Father; and the atoning sacrifice that reconciles believers with Him. I have reprinted Chapter 1 for your reference:

1 John 1:1-10 (NIV)

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you that which we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make your joy complete. This is the message we have heard from Him (Jesus) and declare to you: God is Light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all (every) sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us.

From this chapter, we learn that God is Light. There is no darkness in Him at all. We also know that God is Spirit and that God is Love. And Jesus, His Son, is the living holiness and light of God. He is the very nature of God (light and love) sent in human form (Cf. Philippians 2:5-11) through whom we receive atonement, salvation, and fellowship with the Father and one another. John said this is what we declare. Indeed, this is WHO we proclaim. Jesus is the Light of the Gospel message. Jesus is the Light that we have been called to walk in from the beginning. He is the Good News we are to share with others!

I want to note that John admonishes us to be mindful about what we claim regarding ourselves. “If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” And, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word is not in us.” These declarations affirm that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Cf. Romans 3:23) There is no room for “fake” fellowship. There is no allowance for hypocrisy. Our sinful human nature points to our need for atonement and salvation in order to be reconciled to fellowship with our Holy Father. It requires the humble and unequivocal submission of our own will to the will of the Father. To receive Jesus … to believe in Him … means He becomes Lord and Master of our lives. It means the utter denial of ourselves if we want to have abiding fellowship with Him.

John 1:1-9 (NIV)

John 3:16-21 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

My friends, Jesus was sent by the Father to reveal His Light … to reveal the way and the truth and the life. If you reject Jesus, the Light of God sent into the world, you reject the truth of God and His sovereign authority. As John affirmed: “Light has come into the world, but people love darkness instead of light because their deeds are evil.” And it is clear that people do not want to see the truth because they love their sin and darkness. As Paul explained, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel that displays the glory of Christ – who is the image of God.” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4) Unless a person comes to the Light of God found in Jesus alone, they continue to walk in darkness … they continue in the condemnation of sin … they continue to be separated from the life of God. Indeed, there are eternal consequences to living and remaining in darkness! All the more reason for the light of the Gospel to be shared. All the more reason to pray for the lost to come to the light of Jesus. All the more reason to know the truth and to walk in it. As Apostle John exclaimed: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (Cf. 3 John 1:4)

It is my hope and prayer that we who now walk in the light will testify to others that Jesus is the light of the world. He has fulfilled our need for reconciliation with the Father. Indeed, He is the only answer to our human dilemma of separation from God. Jesus commands His disciples to go into all the world and declare the Gospel to all creation. (Cf. Mark 16:15) So, let us continue the Great Commission in our generation as we approach the end of the age.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. ~ Isaiah 42:6-7

Unashamed of the Gospel…

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

Our Verse of the Day is a familiar passage, and so many thoughts come to mind about the importance of sharing the Gospel … the Good News about Jesus Christ! Why is this so important? Well, Paul answers that question: “Because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” There are two key points here regarding the Gospel: Power of God and Salvation! The power of God is His Word. He spoke creation into existence! (Cf. Genesis 1) And so, in order for a person to come to faith and receive salvation, the Word of God (the message about Jesus) must be heard and understood. For Jesus IS the incarnate Word of God! (Cf. John 1:1-5; 14)

Paul wrote: “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Cf. Romans 10:17) And what is the word about Christ? What is the core message about Christ?

John 3:16-18 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

1 John 4:9-10 (NIV)

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

John 3:31-36 (NIV)

The One who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what He has seen and heard, but no one accepts His testimony. Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

Romans 3:21-25 (NIV)

But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith.

There are a multitude of Scriptures that emphasize the salvific power of the Word of God; but we can see with just these few I have shared that our atonement can only be received through Christ Jesus – the Son of God! Life, eternal life, is given to us as we hear His words, listen to them, and apply them to our hearts. And I love this pronouncement from God through the Prophet Isaiah: “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Cf. Isaiah 55:11) Indeed, God has ordained that His Word … His Son … shall bring forth salvation. As Jesus affirmed: “I know that His command leads to eternal life. So, whatever I say is just what the Father has told me say.” (Cf. John 12:50) This is why sharing the Gospel is so important … so that unbelievers can come to a knowledge of the truth and place their faith in Jesus Christ.

Proclaiming the message of Christ (a message that permeates both Old and New Testaments) is imperative if people are to know the truth and respond to it! Against great opposition, trial, and persecution, Paul was determined to persevere in the preaching of the Gospel. And it is quite evident from the record of his life that Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel, its message, or its power to transform the human heart. God does not want His people in rebellion against Him; rather, He desires peace, reverence, and oneness in His relationship with us. Sharing the Gospel is the telling of God’s message of forgiveness and reconciliation through His Son, Jesus the Christ! The Gospel is not a human invention or imagination because the compassion and unfailing love of God has been revealed from Genesis through Revelation through His Word. As Paul asserted in Romans 1:17, “For in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last (from faith to faith), just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Citing Habakkuk 2:4)

As Paul and the other apostles and disciples experienced, sharing the Gospel can become quite wearisome. Although we have been called in Christ Jesus to believe in Him and His atoning sacrifice for our sins, putting our faith in action will not be without cost or hardship. Jesus taught: “Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Cf. Luke 14:27) Even now, we see that our faith in Jesus has become the impetus of ridicule, scorn, persecution, and ever-increasing hatred in this world. But we should not be surprised…. When Jesus sent out His disciples to minister to “the lost sheep of Israel,” He forewarned, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.” (Read Matthew 10) And Jesus counseled: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (Cf. John 15:18-19)

Despite whatever vitriol or persecution that might come to believers, the Gospel must be shared! This is the call and commission of very born-again, Spirit-filled believer. Our faith should be bold, courageous, unashamed, undeniable, and unwavering! Indeed, we have been filled and equipped by His indwelling Holy Spirit! “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We are to implore others on Christ’s behalf to be reconciled with God.” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:20) And as we see the end of the age approaching, we can enter it with full confidence; for Jesus has already told His disciples what to expect: “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of Me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other; and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Cf. Matthew 24:9-14) Even so, come Lord Jesus.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the Gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7-10

Brought To Fullness…

Colossians 2:9-10 (NIV)

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Our Verse of the Day looks into a doctrine of faith that should create deep conviction and reverence within us for our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul, in essence, asserts that Jesus is God in human form! All the fullness of the Deity … the Godhead abided in Him who lived among us! That is incredible to contemplate, so I want us to go back and read the verse in the surrounding context:

Colossians 2:1-10 (NLT)

¹ I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. ²I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ Himself. ³In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. ⁵For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong. ⁶And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. ⁷Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. ⁸Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. ⁹For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. ¹⁰So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

I like the phrasing of the NLT better than the NIV. It just seemed to resonate a little stronger with me as I pondered the theological instruction of Paul. In succinct fashion, Paul strongly affirms that any questions we might have about God or our understanding of God are answered in Christ Jesus. Indeed, God is Spirit and mysterious, but Christ Jesus has revealed Him to us in a personal and unique way. All we can know of God’s personhood has been fully manifested in Jesus. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. To me, what Paul is saying is that we do not have to wonder any longer about God or His Existence … His Being … His Will … His Power … His Purpose … His Plan … His Nature … His Character … or His LOVE! Jesus is the full and complete expression of God … sent by God … in human form … to reveal Himself to His creatures (humans) made in His image … in order to have full and intimate relationship with them.

John 1:1-5; 14-18 (NIV)

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning. ³Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

¹⁴The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵(John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is the One I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”) ¹⁶Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known.

Hebrews 1:1-3 (NIV)

¹ In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ²but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe. ³The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

In his Gospel account, the Apostle John states that “out of His fullnesswe have all received grace in place of grace already given.” Paul goes further to declare “We have been brought to fullness IN Christ.” Paul states that “Jesus is the head over every power and authority.” Matthew 28:18 records the resurrected Jesus declaring, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” All this is consistent with what John states: “All things were made through Him (Jesus), and without Him nothing was made that was made. By His Being, Jesus is inherently ruler over all things created. Thus, His title is King of Kings and Lord of Lords….

But I also think another point Paul is trying to make here is that as followers of Christ … those who abide in Christ … we receive that same fullness of the Deity that indwells our Lord. Through His grace, we have been given access to His divine power – a capacity that gives us all things that pertain to life and godliness. (Cf. 2 Peter 1:3) The question is not whether His power is available to us; rather, the question is whether we believe His power is available to us. I’m pretty sure we will not access His power until we actually believe it is available to us and begin to exercise it. Think about it a moment. If we believe that Jesus is God the Son and in perfect unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit (the Godhead or Deity), why do we fail to recognize our capacity to walk in the spiritual power and authority He has given us? Jesus assures us: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” (Cf. Luke 10:19) Do we even realize that we have His authority abiding in us when we abide in Him?

I think there are other scriptures for us to consider in this regard. “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He (the Father) not also, along with Him (Jesus), graciously give us all things? (Cf. Romans 8:32) Yes, I believe in some sense that our Verse of the Day is trying to stir up in us the awareness of the power and authority … the “fullness” we have actually received in Jesus Christ. And it makes sense because Jesus told us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (Cf. John 15:5) So, I hope we will focus on this deeper call of faith … to abide in Christ and to be filled to the fullness of God in Him. He designed us and ordained us to participate in the divine nature. (Cf. 2 Peter 1:4)

My friends, we need to understand that spiritual fullness is to be exercised through the Church (His Body) and not just as individual members. Paul addresses this point in Ephesians 4:11-13 and Colossians 1:18-20. Please click on the links provided. It is my prayer is that we will find the boldness and courage to believe God at His Word and to walk in the fullness we have been given in Christ as His Body. (Cf. Ephesians 1:23) May His fullness be manifested in grace and compassion extended to those who are lost and broken in spirit; displayed in power over the chains of addiction, relentless temptation, and the dominion of darkness; and fulfilled in the accomplishment of the good works we were created in Christ Jesus to do. Yes, may His fullness be reflected in the fruit of the Spirit we bear through our lives as we abide in Him and in the sincere love we have for one another.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!