The Good Of The Father (Here In Heaven) # 2100

 

But, according as it is written, that which the eye did not perceive, and the ear did not hear, and to which the heart of man did not ascend - whatever God makes ready for those who are loving Him

Paul to the Corinthians (1) 2: 9, Concordant New Testament 

Part of the heresy which many feel that I have delved into is the question of when and where we will partake of the experiences of heaven.  According to the church religious leaders, those who have accepted Christ Jesus and have lived righteously are believed to be in heaven as we speak.  This would include the saints and martyrs of old.  But here lies the problem for many believers, we're told that accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is paramount to our ascending into heaven.  But to live righteously?  This coming from those who make it a point each and every day to remind us that we are but sinners in need of a Savior.  Not only that, in the face of the reality that the Father has dispatched His Son that He would be that propitiation for our sins, they continue to preach that it is sin which keeps us from a close relationship with the Father.  How does that work?  Did God intend that sin would continue to thrive despite the willing sacrifice of His Son?  I would say no to that nonsense.  It is for beliefs such as this that I am criticized for speaking blasphemy.  But how is it that I can be accused of blasphemy if all I am doing is relating what is spoken in the scriptures?  A judgmental Christian friend of mine is quick to point out that I simply cherry pick verses to fit my own narrative.  Well, if this is true then many believers are guilty of the very same thing I am being accused of.  So, on that topic of heaven, who is it that will, or are, granted that status of being within the presence of the Lord?  One of the main promises we have of being in heaven is that we will be in the continual presence of the Father.  This is supposedly the reward of those who accept Christ Jesus and live a righteous life.  Well, I have trusted and lived my life for Jesus but, according to those in the church, I cannot "Punch my ticket" to heaven unless I live righteously.  This raises an interesting question, who is it that can be saved? 

I have realized that it is not God Who has placed such rigorous requirements upon His children in order to be rewarded with their eternity in heaven.  The apostle Paul has spoken to the truth that it is only through the grace and love of the Father by which we are saved {Paul to the Ephesians 2:8-9}.  That's it, by God's grace and that's all.  There is NOTHING which we can do in order to earn our way into heaven.  Nowhere is this point driven home than the day in which Christ Jesus declared to the two thieves crucified next to Him "Verily, to you I am saying today, with Me shall you be in paradise" {Lukes Account 23:43}.  Had these two thieves lived a righteous life?  Yet here is Jesus declaring one favored to enter into the Lords kingdom with Him.  For his part this man asked of Jesus "Be reminded of me, Lord, whenever Thou mayest be coming in Thy kingdom {Lukes Account 23:42}.  So can we say, then, that those who have believed in Christ Jesus now reside in heaven?  Or, as I have been ridiculed for believing, are we experiencing the Lords kingdom as we speak?  Do we live in the presence of God?  Jesus Himself has declared that we now live our lives within the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  There have been a few descriptions given which give us a clue as to what heaven looks like.  However, Paul makes it clear that man has not perceived what God has prepared for those who love Him {Paul to the Corinthians (1) 2:9}.  Whatever it looks like, it is clear that God has created the heavens AND the earth {Genesis 1:1}.  It is my belief that there is not much of a fine line between the two.  Rather, I believe that heaven is but another dimension to which our eyes have not yet been opened.  Does that mean that we could be experiencing the Lords kingdom without knowing it?  Absolutely!  One thing I do know, is that I do not need to compete to get there.  

"In My Fathers house are many abodes; yet if not I would have told you, for I am going to make ready a place for you"

Johns Account 14: 2, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (The Church Of Jesus) # 2099

 And He is the head of the body, the ecclesia, Who is Sovereign, Firstborn from among the dead, that in all He may be becoming first 

Paul to the Colossians 1: 18, Concordant New Testament 

The question was offered up the other day, what will the church Jesus is building look like?  I believe that the apostle Paul lays this out in a few places in his evangel.  First, he speaks to the truth that Jesus is the head of the body, the ecclesia.  This Greek word, mentioned in the scripture to describe the church of Jesus, is meant to describe a gathering or assembly of believers.  Therefore, I believe that the church of Christ Jesus is, and will be, the gathering together of those who know Him.  I do not believe that this ecclesia will be like any church any of us have ever attended here in this worldly realm.  Gone will be the boring Sunday sermons, the tithes to the church corporation and the modern praise and worship music concerts.  Instead, the believers in Jesus will be assembled with one desire, to honor and praise the Lord Jesus.  After all, He is the head of this body, this ecclesia {Paul to the Colossians 1:18}.  It is Jesus Who has brought all who dwell within this ecclesia together.  Since Jesus continues to draw many into His assembly, into His church, what will it look like?  Paul speaks to the truth that all who are members of the ecclesia of Christ "Are the body of Christ, and members of a part" {Paul to the Corinthians (1) 12:27}.  Indeed, this assembly of the believers in Jesus are His body, with Christ Jesus as the head of that body.  As members of the church of Jesus, we are all connected and serve Him in spreading His gospel message as well as serving one another in the love born of the Father.  In the second book of the Acts of the apostles, we are given a glimpse into what life in the ecclesia of Jesus is like {Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47}.

I have always thought of the words we find in Acts 2 as the example of what church should be.  Free to bestow the love of the Father not only on other members of the assembly of Christ Jesus, but on those surrounding them as well {Acts of the Apostles 2:47}.  How many man created churches can claim to emulate that which we see in the ecclesia of the followers of Jesus we find in the scriptures of Acts?  I would venture to say that there has never been such a brick and mortar church with such qualities.  If there has, I've never heard of it.  But I believe that this is why the ecclesia of Christ Jesus is different from anything we've seen before.  Because when we mention the word church, we all too often think of the practices and traditions of the man-made brick and mortar churches we've become so accustomed to.  The true church of Jesus is nothing like this at all.  With each member a member of Jesus Who sits at the head of it, there is little room for the struggles of prominence and position which we often see in the churches we are so used to seeing.  No one member is more important than the those around them.  This might sound strange to many who have grown up in the man-made church.  How can a church even survive without budgets, leadership groups or structure?  Well, I believe that Jesus has done away with such things on purpose.  That is, that His ecclesia would be focused on the Father and not upon the requirements of man.  After all, He is the One Who sits at the head of His church. 

Now all those who believe also were in the same place and had all things in common.  And they disposed of the acquisitions and the properties, and divided them to all, forasmuch as some would have need.  Besides persevering day by day with one accord in the sanctuary, besides breaking bread from home to home, they partook of nourishment with exultation and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor for the whole people.  Now the Lord added those being saved day by day in the same place

Acts of the apostles 2: 44-47, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (Seeing God) # 2098

 

In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you 

Johns Account 14: 20, Concordant New Testament 

What would you do if you had no church to go to?  Where would you turn to hear of the Lord?  Obviously, we have the scriptures to guide us to Him, but honestly, how many of you read your bible every day?  I ask these questions because after my previous post a good friend of mine asked me where people would turn once there were no more churches.  I've been thinking of his question for a bit, and I realize that he has a valid point.  Our mainstream churches have been seeing a massive exodus of members in recent years.  How much longer can the religious system be sustained?  With rising costs of building maintenance and staff salaries, it's only a matter of time before many brick and mortar churches become extinct.  Of course, there is the internet option, but again, how many people will find the time to devote themselves to such things?  How will someone come to know the Father?  For myself personally, I didn't come to know a relationship with the Father until after I had stepped away from the theologies of the church for the final time.  It was not until I was removed from the traditions and teachings of the church that the Father revealed Himself to me.  I realize, of course, that this is how things worked out for the man Saul as well.  After years embedded in the Jewish religion, Saul was introduced to the very One that he had been persecuting, Christ Jesus.  Paul himself recounts that it was indeed in the Lords own timing that he came to know Him {Paul to the Galatians 1:15-16}.  So, how does this fit into the reality of those children of the Lord coming to know Him when there are no churches to guide them?  Well, there are a few options here.  One is that they will hear of the Father through those who know Him already.  In my own circle of gyn rat friends, I have introduced more than a few people to the truth of the Father in us.  We also must recall that the Lords hand is not so short nor limited that He cannot reach those who are in need to know Him.  My own experience is testimony to this.  The absence of a church does not mean we are absent from God. 

To better understand this truth, one needs to understand the truth of the Father in our own lives.  Jesus has proclaimed that we do not live separate from God, as those within the church are so fond of pointing out, but that our life is lived IN Him {Johns Account 14:20}.  This is the truth of our life lived within the love of God.  A life of love and not of sin.  For it is Christ Jesus Who has given Himself for sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  It is my belief that the church has relied on the lie of separation theology because of their own need to keep that sin narrative alive and well.  If people believe that they are sinful, they are then more likely to look for a church to seek Gods forgiveness for such things.  But in the eyes of the church that forgiveness never materializes because sin is the constant in the lives of all men {Paul to the Romans 3:23}.  No matter how hard try, I'm still a sinner, right?  WRONG!  For the teachings of the church often contradict what Jesus has accomplished on the cross.  That through His love for us, He gave Himself for our sakes {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}.  Now, if Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of sin, believe it!  Do not believe the lie spoken by those in the church that despite giving Himself for our sakes, that sin somehow survived to live another day.  This is simply not true.  As I said, once we know the truth of our life within the love of God, we will have no need for the brick and mortar church and its religious traditions.  When the Father reveals Himself in us, we can live a life in His love and not in the condemnation of the church.  

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it was not yet manifested what we shall be.  We are aware that, if He should be manifested, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him according as he is 

First Epistle of John 3: 2, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (Our Sunday Best) # 2097

 

"God is spirit, and those who are worshipping Him must be worshipping in spirit and truth"

Johns Account 4: 24, Concordant New Testament 

I recall one Sunday morning back in the day as I was preparing for another church service when I was approached by a good friend of my mothers who attended the same church.  As I recall, she was very worried as she had just come back from a run before church and didn't have time to change clothes before services began.  In her mind, far too many worshippers would be looking down on her "Non church" apparel, which made her pretty self conscious.  I was reminded of this episode the other night when I came across a video from some unknown pastor who was admonishing his congregation for not "Honoring the Lord" with their apparel each and every Sunday.  Apparently this padre had an issue with the partially revealing clothing of some of the youngsters in the pews.  I get it.  However, my first thought upon watching this video was something along the lines of, do we really need something else to drive people away from our churches?  It's really no secret that our churches have been shedding membership over the past few decades.  I have heard many of the reasons people give for leaving the church, from seeing it as too judgmental to having to follow far too many traditions and practices.  Remember, it is Jesus Himself who decried His woes to the Pharisees of His day for those very same reasons {Matthews Account 23:13-33}.  Jesus admonished the leaders of the synagogues of His day for placing too much emphasis on the traditions and practices of their religion while neglecting the needs of the people.  Tell me, how much emphasis would Jesus place on someone wearing jogging clothes to church on a Sunday morning?  Is this what's truly important to a church?  Or, as I believe, should we be focusing our efforts on more important issues, like a closer relationship with the Father?

I'll admit that there came a time when I personally became uninterested with the mainstream church for my own reasons.  I have not walked into a Sunday church service in over 20 years, and yet my faith in the Lord has never been stronger.  In my opinion, those within the church spend far too much time worrying about appearance and not much time concerned about substance.  Sure, a shiny new church building looks impressive, and your services might have award winning Christian music, but is this truly what's important in the eyes of the Father?  Jesus didn't think so.  In fact, Jesus never considered ones appearance to be paramount to a good worshipper.  What He DOES say is that those who worship the Father do so "In spirit and truth" {Johns Account 14:24}.  The Father is in spirit, so those who come to Him must be of the spirit as well.  True, authentic worship is the desire of the Father.  If this were not true, Jesus would not have proclaimed it.  Buildings and traditions will fade with time, but the Father will be forever with us.  Ask yourself, where is your heart?  Is your heart centered on the physical appearances of the church, or is it centered on knowing a relationship with God?  The church will tell us that a relationship with God is dependent upon His forgiveness of that sin in our life.  The Father tells us that ship has sailed.  We have already been redeemed through the willing sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the cross {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}.  What you will seldom hear spoken from any church pulpit is that the Father has redeemed you, and that He is waiting for you to know Him as He has known and loved you.  THAT is more important to Him than whatever clothes you wear.  

"But, whenever you may be making a reception, invite the poor, the cripples, the lame, the blind, and happy will you be, for they have nothing to repay you, for it will be repaid you in the resurrection for the just"

Lukes Account 14: 13-14, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (Tommorow's Troubles) # 2096

 

You should not, then, be worrying about the morrow, for the morrow will be worrying of itself, sufficient for the day is its own evil

Matthews Account 6: 34, Concordant New Testament 

Jesus has spoken that one of the greatest commands which He has given is that we love one another {Johns Account 13:34-35}.  I am not disputing this, as we should love one another as Jesus has loved us.  However, I believe that I He could have given us another command which would come in as a close second to the first.  That being His words that we That being the words of Jesus which tell us not to worry.  So important were these words, that Jesus devoted a good portion of His sermon on the mount explaining not only the consequences but also the rewards of a life free of worry {Matthews Account 6:25-34}.  Now, even though I have read the scriptures which Jesus has spoken about the dangers of worrying, my own life experience is the best teacher that I could ever have on that subject.  So, what are a few of the dangers of a life filled with worry?  How many of you have ever literally worried yourself sick?  I know that I have.  Indeed, the stresses involved in worrying over that which has yet come to fruition can and will wreak havoc on our bodies.  Like I said, I know this from experience.  I was reminded of this this week when the worries of things yet to come once again came knocking at me door.  Instead of following the words of Jesus, I began to worry over things I could not yet see.  Again, Jesus has told me that worrying over such things is a fools errand.  So, in this case I was indeed foolish in my thoughts.  At the base of our times of worry has to be our faith and trust in the Father.  As I read over some encouraging scriptures the other day I was amazed at just how many verses mentioned the idea of trusting in the Lord {Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 55:22, Paul to the Philippians 4:13}.  I believe that these words were not spoken in vain.  That in our times of worry and dread, that we can rest in confidence that the Father will never leave us nor forsake us {To the Hebrews 13:5}.  

One of the my favorite passages on faith comes from the book of Hebrews.  That faith is our conviction of that which we have not yet seen {To the Hebrews 11:1}.  Also, that the elders of the scriptures were testified of due to their faith {To the Hebrews 11:2}.  The concordant translation of the  New Testament goes so far as to describe faith as "An assumption of what is being expected."  Tell me, what room is there for worry with faith such as this?  Jesus spoke to His disciples upon witnessing the faith of the Roman centurion "With no one in Israel so much faith did I find" {Matthews Account 8:10}.  The Chosen series has Jesus speaking to the faith of this Roman as "Bold confidence."  Indeed, who has ever worried themselves sick for having that bold confidence in what the Father can do?  I know I haven't.  I believe that this is the very reason that Jesus spoke to the dangers of worry, as He knew what it could do to us.  I only wish that I would take His advice to heart more often than I do.  Because when that rubber meets the road, my first inclination always seems to be to assume the worst that could happen.  In reality, my thoughts should be on what the Father has in store for me.  Where is He leading me?  We know that the one true nature of the Father is that of love {First Epistle of John 4:8}.  So, the Father is not leading us into any situation out of spite, revenge or condemnation.  Our discipline is not His primary objective.  He is seeking to love and to guide us into His desire for us.  I see nothing to worry about in that. 

Tossing your entire worry on him, for He is caring concerning you 

Peter to the Dispersion (1) 5: 7, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (Broken Chains) # 2095

 

Knowing this, that our old humanity was crucified together with Him, that the body of sin may be nullified, for us by no means to be still slaving for sin, for one who dies has been justified from sin.  Now if we died together with Christ, we believe that we shall be living together with Him also, having perceive that Christ, having been roused from among the dead, is no longer dying.  Death is lording it over Him no longer, for in that He died, He died to sin once for all time, yet in that He is living, He is living to God.  Thus you also, be reckoning yourselves to be dead, indeed, to sin, yet living to God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Paul to the Romans 6: 6-11, Concordant New Testament 

There is a popular Chrisitan hymn performed by Micheal W Smith titled Amazing Grace, My chains are gone.  The words of this popular rendition of an old classic could very well describe what the apostle Paul has written of our former sin condition in his evangel to the Romans.  My chains are gone, I've been set free, my God and savior has ransomed me.  It is Paul who has spoken of our former sin condition, "For us by no means to be still slaving for sin" {Paul to the Romans 6:6}.  Indeed, those chains which once held me in the bondage of sin have been broken open through the work of Christ Jesus on the cross.  Why would Paul refer to our former sin condition as slavery?  Because far too many times, this is the truth of what sin was in our lives.  That these indeed were those chains which held our former humanity captive.  You will notice that I am referring to our sin as our FORMER condition.  Indeed, this is how Paul speaks to it as well.  That our former humanity, that old man which once defined us, has been crucified together with Christ Jesus.  That Jesus has died to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  Yet there are many within the mainstream church who continue poke that accusatory finger of guilt in my direction.  That my false belief in the truth of the words of the evangel spoken by Paul are akin to some sort of blasphemy.  If this is true, why is Paul not seen as a blasphemer?  I'll tell you why, because even those in the church who disagree with his words would never think of messing with the written word they claim to follow.  That ALL scripture is to be seen as useful {Paul to Timothy (2) 3:16-17}.  

I have used the words spoken by Paul many times when discussing the fate of sin which he speaks of in Romans.  I referred to them many times in the years following my stepping away from the church.  Like many within the church, I was once of the belief that my sin was alive and well and something which I needed to seek the Lords forgiveness for each and every day.  I struggled with it.  I beat myself up continually for being too weak in my faith to overcome it.  It took a good deal of deprogramming before I began to realize that Christ has already taken care of that sin through His love and grace.  The funny thing about the theology of the church is that they agree that Jesus has given Himself for the forgiveness of sin, yet they continue to speak to the lie that it is our sin which has separated us from a personal relationship with the Father.  This is a lie spoken by those within the church.  Coincidentally, it is also the same lie which the deceiver spoke to Eve in the garden.  That if she were to take of that which the Lord had commanded her not to, that she would "Be like God, knowing good and evil" {Genesis 3:5}.  Eve accepted the words of Satan over the word of God.  Contrary to what many within the church have spoken over the years, Eves disobedience did not alienate her from God, that was only what she believed.  She and Adam believed in the lie spoken by the deceiver.  This is the lie which Satan continues to speak to the children of the Lord each and every day.  The truth, as spoken by Paul, is that through Christ Jesus, the chains of bondage have been broken.  

With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ.  Now that which I am now living in the flesh, I am living by faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me

Paul to the Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (Soldiers Of Allah) # 2094

 In whom the God of this eon blinds the apprehensions of the unbelieving so that the illumination of the evangel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of the invisible God, does not irradiate them 

Paul to the Corinthians (2) 4: 4, Concordant New Testament 

My first introduction to the soldiers of Allah came on Sunday, November 4th, 1979.  On that day, a mob of student protestors in Tehran, Iran climbed over the walls of the United States embassy in Tehran, taking 66 American hostages in the process.  The students, led by the muslim cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, had been protesting the exhiled former leader of Iran, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.  The Shah had been toppled in a revolution led by the student protests and backed by Khomeini, who had been exiled from Iran years earlier.  For 444 days, the Americans were held hostage by these soldiers of Allah, and were not freed until the last hours of the administration of disgraced president James Earl Carter, who had been defeated by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 elections.  For 444 days, the world watched as the radical students holding American citizens hostage followed the dictates of their spiritual leader Khomeini.  To me, it seemed that these radicalized students had been blinded to everything except the instructions of Iran's new supreme leader of the muslim faith.  It wasn't until years later that I would come to see this same blind devotion in those of the Christian faith as well.  When I speak of the soldiers of Allah, I am referring to those who follow the instructions of their religious leaders blindly, no matter the costs.  However, I could also be referring to those Christian soldiers who have taken to adhering to the theology of the mainstream church as well.  In recent years, I have experienced more than a few believers who adhere to their old covenant beliefs while at the same time ignoring the saving grace of Christ Jesus.  In the words of the apostle Paul, their eyes have been blinded by God from witnessing the truth which is in Christ Jesus {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 4:4}.  I believe that although they follow a different religion, that the soldiers of Allah have also had their senses blinded to the truth which is in Christ Jesus.  The truth that Jesus has given Himself to the death of the sins of man "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  

The practice of apologetics in the Christian faith has gained in popularity over the years.  By definition, apologetics is the "Justification" of the Christian faith.  Authors such as C.S. Lewis made a career out of justifying the Christian faith to others around the world.  Yet when I think about it, does Jesus even need to be justified?  Does Jesus even need our help in anything He does?  Indeed, the words and works of Christ Jesus give testament to Who He is and what He has accomplished.  It is Jesus through whom we have already been justified {Paul to the Romans 3:23-24}.  Yes, all have sinned, but it is through the grace of Christ that we have now been found to be justified.  Yet the die hard Christian soldiers will insist that the sin which Jesus gave Himself to forgive continues to be prominent in the lives of all believers.  So much so, that man has been separated from God because of it.  As Paul has spoken, their eyes have been blinded to the truth which is in Jesus.  So it is that these modern Christian soldiers blindly follow whichever pastor or spiritual leader they deem to speak their version of the truth of the gospel.  I have seen too many fellow believers switch churches routinely until such time as they find one which "Speaks" to their beliefs.  Paul warned young Timothy of these followers, reminding him that they will "Heap up for themselves teachers in accord with their own desires" {Paul to Timothy (2) 4:3}.  This is why I place so much emphasis on the words of the apostle John who proclaims that we are to "Test the spirits to see if they are of God" {First Epistle of John 4:1}.  If His spirit within us spurs us to question a teaching, we should take notice of that.  

For the era will be when they will not tolerate sound teaching, but, their hearing being tickled, they will heap up for themselves teachers in accord with their own desires 

Paul to Timothy (2) 4: 3, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~