There is no independent, self-operating self in the universe, except the One who calls Himself the I AM {Exodus 3:14} and says, "I am the Lord and there is none else, there is no God beside Me {Isaiah 45:5}
Norman Grubb ~ No Independent Self
The other day I was reading through the words which Jesus spoke on humility Lukes Account 14:11, Matthews Account 23:10-12}. In His words, is Jesus attempting to relay to us the truth of our existence? The truth that we do not exist as independent creations, but within the life of the Father. The author Norman Grubb would more than likely agree with that idea. It is Grubb who, among his works, penned the book "No Independent Self," in which he states the case that the only self-operating self in the universe is God the Father {Exodus 3:14}. The lie of the deceiver, spoken in the garden, promised Eve that were she to partake of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that "Your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Unfortunately, unknown to the Lords first creation at the time is that they already were "Like God," having been created in His likeness {Genesis 1:27}. This is seen as the beginning of the false belief that man has become separated from God. The mainstream church perpetuates this belief by proclaiming that it is through our sin by which we have been separated from the Father. Nothing could be further from the truth of who we are in the Father. For just as the first creation has been created in the Fathers likeness, so it is with us as well. I would argue that the true spirit of arrogance is to believe that you are alone in the universe, with no connection to the One who created you in the first place. That God is simply in heaven watching over all of His creation with no intimate connection to that which He has created. This is the lie introduced by the deceiver and which continues to be spoken by those within the mainstream church. But what is it that Jesus proclaims about who it is that we are? How does He, and the Father for that matter, see us? Does He see us as a creation, separated by sin, waiting to be judged for their deeds? I believe that get a glimpse into how it is that the Father looks upon us through the spoken words of Jesus. It is Jesus Himself who has proclaimed that we do not live apart from the Father, but that we live our lives in Him {Johns Account 14:20}. Knowing this, there is no place for me as an individual in this world.
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 flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me
Pual to the Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament
The other day I messaged a good friend for prayer as I was about to undergo a cut and go medical procedure. Honestly, I was expecting the traditional "Lord heal my friend" prayer from him. On the contrary, his prayer for me was that I realize the life which I have in the Lord Jesus. Wow. Those were the words I needed to hear most in that moment. That traditional prayer of healing seems to denote the belief that we remain separated from God. That God, being outside of our space, would grace us with healing. But the truth of who we are in Him suggests that we are being healed IN HIM. As Jesus has proclaimed, it is our life lived in He and the Father. There is NO need for me as an individual in this relationship. I do not act independently of my creator, I live through Him. There is no way that I could ever be separated from He who created me in His image. To those who insist that this is true, I ask, "What about Jesus?" Was not Jesus the innocent blood shed willingly for us {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}? Make no mistake, we're the ones who needed to die, not Him. Yet it is Jesus, through His death on the cross Who has once again reconciled the Fathers creation unto Him {Paul to the Romans 5:10, Paul to the Colossians 1:20, First Epistle of John 4:10}. Despite the fact that the mainstream church continues to speak the lie of the deceiver, I live in the revelation given to me that my life is in the Father. My prayer is that others will come to this realization as well. That there is no place for "Me."
~Scott~
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