The Good Of The Father (Billy's Battle) # 2173

 

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 loved me, and gives Himself up for me

Paul to the Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament Translation

I noticed a short video of the late Billy Graham the other day which almost made me change my view of the late preacher...almost.  I have known for awhile that Billy adhered to the separation theology of the church throughout his ministry career.  This is the belief spoken by those within the church that it is the sin of man which has separated him from God {Isaiah 59:2}.  While I believe that the old preacher indeed led many to the Lord over his lifetime, I also consider the separation theology to be one of the lies spoken by the mainstream church.  So, what is it that he said which almost changed my opinion of him?  Well, in the middle of one of his crusades, Billy Graham spoke that Christ dwells within us.  I was taken aback, fully expecting to hear the same old church song and dance.  However, through the advice of a good friend I discovered that Billy hadn't turned over a new leaf at all, but was simply exhibiting his own dual beliefs in God.  Yes, he might very well believe that Christ Jesus resides in him, but he also undoubtedly follows the church guidance that he continues to serve his flesh as well.  My friend refers to this belief as a "Dualistic" approach to Christ.  Realizing that Jesus is within us, yet still living with our sinful flesh nature as well.  In other words, they accept the forgiveness of Christ Jesus, but continue to believe that they follow the sinful flesh.  Those who follow this belief will always struggle with the two natures, Christ and the flesh.  In his evangel, the apostle Paul debunks this dualistic belief.  Paul understood that he no longer lived by the flesh, but that his life dwelled within Christ {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}.  Of course, to understand Paul's rationale, we need to accept the truth that we HAVE died with Jesus on that cross.  For to deny this is to believe that sin continues to have a place in our lives.  Paul is adamant that it is Jesus Who has died to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  That "We, who died to sin, how shall we still be living in it?" {Paul to the Romans 6:2}.  

When we know and understand the words spoken by Paul, we realize that there is no room for a dualistic approach to life.  How is it can we continue to struggle with sinful flesh if Jesus has already put it to death?  Therefore, I believe that the old preacher didn't fully grasp what he was saying.  He proclaimed to have Jesus, but didn't understand what that entailed.  I'm not at all ashamed to danced to the church dualistic belief system.  That was how I was taught back in the day.  Anyone who has spent much time in the mainstream church can attest to the fact that there are two competing messages coming from the pulpits, Jesus and the flesh.  That we need to know Jesus, but to be wary of the desires of the flesh as well.  THIS was the message spoken by Billy Graham that day.  He was both confident in the indwelling Christ, but still fought with the flesh nature as well.  This is why believers can attest to believe in Jesus, yet still live in fear of sin and punishment.  Of how God will punish the wicked with eternity in hell.  Growing up, I always lived in fear that God would find me unworthy due to my own behaviors.  I was lost in the dualistic battle.  The words of Paul shed light on the truth we have in Christ Jesus.  That we "By no means should still be slaving for sin" {Paul to the Romans 6:6}.  I challenge anyone who continues to struggle with the two natures to read the words of Paul spoken in Romans 6: 6-11.  It is here where Paul lays out the truth about sin, and how Jesus has died to put it to death once and for all.  The truth is that we no longer live with a sinful flesh nature, but within the love of the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  This is the truth we have in Him.  

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 perceived that Christ, being roused from among the dead, is no longer dying.  Death is lording it over Him no longer, for on 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 Translation

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (The God Question) # 2172

 

"Teaching them to be keeping all, whatever I direct you.  And lo!  I am with you all of the days till the conclusion of the eon! Amen!"

Matthews Account 28: 20, Concordant New Testament Translation

I was reminded of a question the other day.  Not a question which I asked of another person, but one I have asked of God more than a few times.  That question is, where are You, God?  I believe that there are more than a few believers out there who have asked that very question of the Father at one time or another.  I also believe that we ask this question due to our own lack of knowing who God truly is.  Back in the day, when I would ask this of God, I had no idea who He was, or how it was that He related to my life.  All I knew of God came from the teachings and the sermons of the church.  From these teachings, I came to see God as someone Who was far distant from my everyday life.  God is in heaven, and I'm here on earth living this human life.  This is all part of the separation theology spoken and taught by those within the church.  See, I was taught that it was my own sin which had driven a wedge between myself and God {Isaiah 59:2}.  Therefore, when troubling times came, as is common in this life, I was left to wonder, where are You, God?  So, I asked Him the question.  More often than not, I failed to receive an answer, but I believe that this was due to my not knowing who I was within Him.  I believe that this is the problem for many believers today, that we simply don't know of our life within the love of the Father.  For if we knew this truth, we would never need to inquire of God where he is, we would already know in our hearts.  So, where is He?  Well, Jesus has spoken that we do not live a life separate from God, but in union with He and the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  Many Christians see the words Jesus speaks of "In that day" as some indication of a future event.  But I believe that He was referring to the here and now.  Jesus IS in the Father, we ARE in Him and He IS within us.  This is the truth of our life lived within the love of the Father.  Once we know and understand this, we never need ask God where He is.

I recall the days after my mother passed as being some of the most difficult times I had ever faced.  Up until that point, I had never faced death on a personal level.  I had been praying to God for some time that He would heal my mother and relieve her from the pain she was feeling each day.  Predictably, when she passed away, my first thought was why God had not answered my prayer, but those of all who had been praying for her.  For the first time in my life, I was angry with God.  In my mind, he had abandoned me when I needed Him the most.  That wasn't supposed to happen.  I asked the question, where are you, God?  This time, I felt His answer in my heart.  The answer was simple, she's no longer suffering.  By not knowing who God truly is, I had been blinded into thinking that He had abandoned me, something He has promised me that He would never do {Deuteronomy 31:6}.  Had I known the truth of my life within the Father at that point, it's possible that I would not have had to wonder where He was in my time of need.  But, as they say, knowledge often comes through life experience.  I believe that I had to endure this in order to understand who God truly is.  I now know that God is not some far off entity simply watching over my daily life.  That life is lived within Him.  There is nothing I will ever do or experience that He will never be intimately involved in.  In the difficult times, it is He Who guides me.  I never need to ask Him where He is, for I already know.  

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 Translation 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (What God Wants) # 2171

 

Now it is Eonian life that they may know thee, the only true God, and Him Who Thou dost commission, Jesus Christ

Johns Account 17: 3, Concordant New Testament Translation

The question was raised this week among us, what is it that God wants?  Why is it that we ask of Him, why God?  Those within the church talk a big game when it comes to recognizing and knowing His will for us, but they all too often fall short.  See, the churches view of God is one which is based upon our separation from Him.  Therefore, when it comes to knowing the Fathers will for us, their teachings are often based upon that separation theology.  I have heard the will of God described as recognizing our own sin nature within us.  Of course, this is a false teaching.  For the church either refuses to recognize or ignores what Christ Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross.  That not only did Jesus die, but that WE died there with Him {Paul to the Galatians 2:20, Paul to the Romans 6:8}.  In the eyes of those within the church, Jesus died alone, with even the Father seemingly turning His back on His beloved Son.  More false teachings from the church.  To understand what the true will of the Father is, we must first understand who He is.  The apostle John gives us a valuable clue the true nature of the Father when he proclaims that God...is love {First Epistle of John 4:8}.  Yes, above all else, God is love.  Knowing this, we can delve deeper into that question of what the desire of God truly is.  So that is what I shall attempt to do.

So, what does God want?  I believe that the ultimate will and desire of the Father is that His children would come to know Him for who He is.  Jesus speaks to us that eonian life, our eonian life, consists of our KNOWING the Father, the "Only true God, and Him Whom Thou dost commission, Jesus Christ" {Johns Account 17:3}.  So, this is Jesus telling us the one true desire of the Father.  That we would know Him.  This, above all, is the will of God.  I can definitely understand this, for precious few believers today actually know God for Who He truly is.  As a young believer, I never knew Him as I do today.  What is it that changed all of that?  I grew up in the church, adhering to and swallowing the teachings of the separation theology.  I grew up believing that my sin separated me from the God who loved me enough to create me in His likeness {Genesis 1:27}.  Yes, I knew that He loved me, but that my own actions had caused Him to be upset with me to the point that He turned His back on that which He created out of His love for me.  Does this sound like a loving God?  It's not, it is the false image of the Father spoken of and portrayed by the church for thousands of years.  This is the image of God that I grew up with.  Knowing He loved me, but that I had let Him down through my sins.  Ironically, these were the very same sins which Christ Jesus has given Himself for {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}.  So, despite the truth spoken of in the evangel of Paul that Jesus has died to sin "Once for all time," those within the church will continue to treat sin as a relevant issue {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  Again I ask, what is it that changed my thinking about Who God is?  Well, one Easter Sunday, as I sat listening to another prepared sermon on the resurrection of Jesus, the pastor invited all who felt that they had "Unresolved sin" to come forward to be prayed over.  I stood up, but not to go for prayer, to leave the church entirely.  The question in my mind was, how is it that this pulpit pounder could teach of the forgiveness of the risen Lord Jesus one moment, then act as if that meant nothing at all the next?  But this is the message of the church when it comes to sin.  This has never been the intention of the Father Who loves us.  His desire is not that we recognize that we have sinned against Him, but that we see Him for Who He truly is.  

He who is not loving knew not God, for God is love

First Epistle of John 4: 8, Concordant New Testament Translation

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (A Christian Contradiction) # 2170

 

Religion has actually convinced people that there is a invisible man living in the sky watching everything you do, every minute of every day.  And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he doesn't want you to do.  And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever until the end of time.  But he loves you.  He loves you, and he needs money.  He always needs money.  He's all-powerful, all-knowing, all-perfect and all wise, somehow he just can't handle money.

~George Carlin~ 

I was listening to a clip of the late reverend Billy Graham the other day.  Now, I grew up listening to the late preachers crusades, and I'm certain that he ultimately led many to follow the Lord.  BUT, in this message, I ran across what I have come to know as the Christian contradiction.  The reverend Graham was encouraging those listening that God loved you no matter what you had done, which is true.  However, this is where he lost me.  For in his next breath, he proclaimed that God despises the sinner, and that those unrepentant of their sin would be cast into hell.  So, the messaging here is that no matter what I've ever done in my life, God still loves me.  BUT, that He despises those who sin.  And, if you sin, that hell is your ultimate destination.  This has been the Christian religious playbook for thousands of years, so I can't blame the late preacher for using it to somehow frighten people into accepting God in their lives.  Back in the days of Jesus' ministry, the Jewish authorities had many traditions and rituals which they demanded that people of the Lord follow.  So, the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree in that respect.  Yet, in His woes to the Pharisees, Jesus admonished the Jewish leaders for their treatment of the children of the Lord {Matthews Account 23:16-24}.  But what is the truth which Billy Graham and countless other pulpit pounders have either overlooked or outright ignored?  The truth is that God does indeed love us no matter what we've ever done, I agree with Billy on that point.  But to claim that God despises sinners is to ignore the very reason why Jesus was dispatched into this world in the first place.  Jesus came, because "God thus loves the world, so that He gives His only-begotten Son {Johns Account 3:16-17}.  Tell me, if God despises the sinner, why is it that He sent His only Son to redeem them?  Why not simply allow those in sin to wallow in their sins?  The truth is that God has NEVER despised the sinner, but cherished them close to Him through His love.  

The old saying is true, that if you tell a lie often enough that eventually people will see it as the truth.  This has been the reality of the Christian contradiction.  God loves you, but He hates sinners enough to banish them to hell.  Does anyone but me see the absurdity of this belief?  I believe that the crux of the contradiction is based on the churches obsession with sin.  So much so, that it is sin which has caused the Father to throw away His love for us.  Now, if God will not and cannot lie, how is it that He hates the sinner?  Has He not proclaimed that "He will not leave you nor forsake you" {Deuteronomy 31:6-8, To the Hebrews 13:5}.  Has not Jesus Himself spoken that "I am with you all the days till the conclusion of the eon! Amen!" {Matthews Account 28:20}.  Something here doesn't add up.  The truth is that God is not a God of punishment or revenge, but a God of love {First Epistle of John 4:8}.  Therefore, to say that God hates the sinner is simply ignoring who the Father truly is, and who we truly are in Him.  The mistaken belief is that our lives are lived outside of God, where sin runs rampant.  God is in heaven, while we're here in this fallen world.  But Jesus Himself has spoken to the truth that we don't live separate from, but within the love of God {Johns Account 14:20}.  But what about sin?  Well, that ship has sailed.  In his evangel, the apostle Paul speaks to the truth that Christ Jesus has "Died to sin once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  Paul goes further by proclaiming "We, who died to sin, how shall we still be living in it?"{Paul to the Romans 6:2}.  Still think that God hates the sinner?  If you do, then you're probably still stuck in the contradiction of the church. 

He who is not loving knew not God, for God is love

First Epistle of John 4: 8, Concordant New Testament Translation

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (The Ears To Hear) # 2169

 

Now possessing the fullness of faith and holy spirit, looking intently into heaven, he perceived the glory of God, standing at the right hand of God.  And said, "Lo! I am beholding the heavens opened up, and the Son of mankind standing at the right hand of God." 

Acts of the Apostles 7: 55-56, Concordant New Testament Translation

The Hellenistic Jews were livid at the words of the apostle Stephen.  As he preaches the risen Lord within the temple courts, he is brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin to answer for his perceived blasphemous words.  Instead of admitting to his blasphemy, Stephen once again preaches that Jesus is indeed the promised Christ.  Furious, the Sanhedrin orders the apostle stoned to death for his blasphemy.  As he stands before his accusers, Stephen proclaims that he indeed has seen the risen Christ, "I am beholding the heavens opened up, and the Son of mankind standing at the right hand of God" {Acts of the Apostles 7:56}.  As he faced his own death at the hands of his accusers, Stephen perceived Jesus looking and cheering him on, awaiting to receive him into heaven.  For their part, those leaders within the Jewish faith who accused him did not possess the ears to hear Stephens message of the truth that Jesus is the risen Lord they have so eagerly awaited for so long.  Of course, these were the same Jewish leaders who put Jesus to death for the blasphemy of declaring Himself the Son of God.  When we read the scriptures, we often recognize the folly of those who refused the message that Jesus is indeed the risen Lord.  How could anyone deny Christ Jesus?  Yet there continue to be those who will.  There continue to be those who, despite the best intentions of those bringing the message of the truth we find in in Christ, will not have ears to hear that message.  I have dealt with similar situations in my own life.  I currently know a man who, despite confessing to be a believer, will adamantly deny the truth of Jesus found in the gospels.  He will justify his immoral behavior with the belief that, "God wants me to be happy."  Yes, there is no doubt that the Lords desire is for us to be happy, but not in the way you might think.  Gods desire, is that we remain happy IN HIM.  THIS is the truth we have in our life lived within the Father.  

For those who do not possess the ears to hear the truth, a union life within the Father is simply, blasphemy.  In their limited understanding, the truth resides in the words spoken from the pulpits of the mainstream church.  Yes, Jesus is our risen Lord, but to live IN HIM?  What blasphemy is this?  Well, it turns out that it's not blasphemy as all, but the truth spoken of our life within the Father.  Jesus Himself has spoken that our life is not lived independently of, but within the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  Has Jesus spoken blasphemy?  Well, in the eyes of the Jews who condemned Him to His death, yes.  Yet the truth of our life in Christ Jesus is well documented within the scriptures.  The apostle Paul speaks to this in the book of Galatians.  Paul proclaims that his life no longer exists, "But living in me is Christ" {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}.  Paul understood the truth, that the old man he once was has been crucified on that cross with Christ.  What remains, as Paul points out, is Jesus.  Yet many who follow the words and the evangel of Paul continue to have ears that will not hear the truth of their life in Christ Jesus.  I know a man who will claim that those who speak of the liberating words of Paul are simply cherry-picking verses in order to advance their blasphemy.  Really?  I thought that we have been taught that the words of scripture are true, and "above any two-edged sword" {To the Hebrews 4:12}.  I guess that only applies to verses mentioned from the church pulpits.  Before his death, Stephen proclaimed that he had seen the heavens opened and Christ Jesus standing at the right hand of God looking on with approval.  Jesus was cheering Stephen on!  Stephen was proclaiming the truth of Christ to those without ears to hear, and for this Jesus delighted in him.  How much so will He also delight is we who speak the truth of our life lived within the Father?  These are not words of blasphemy, but of the truth of Christ.  

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 Translation 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (The Identity Crisis Facing Men) #2168

 

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 in 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 Translation

There have been many attempts throughout our history to determine what defines a man.  I recall the Marlboro man cigarette ads in the 70's that depicted a man as a horse riding cowboy type who smoked multiple packs a day.  Then, we were told that cigarettes were the main cause of cancer, and the definition  of the man changed once again.  The author John Eldredge penned the popular Christian book Wild at Heart, which spoke to the identity of a man as the outdoors, risk taking, care free man we at times dream of being.  But again, this fell short of the one true definition of what a man truly is in the eyes of the Lord.  Most every time someone has tried to define what a man is, it is usually based upon who the world feels that a man should be.  Tough, compassionate or wild, it seems that we can't make up our minds on what makes a man.  The apostle Paul hits the nail on the head with his own truth of who we are in Christ Jesus.  Paul does not strive to define what a man is, but who WE are.  He understood the truth, that the old man was gone, having been crucified on that cross with Jesus.  All which remains...is Jesus {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}.  So, in our attempts to ascertain the identity of a man, we've been missing the mark entirely.  This is why I believe that men face an identity crisis.  This is the same identity crisis which I faced not that long ago.  Believing what the world told me that a man should be.  Ignoring what the Father created me to be.  It's no secret that, as men, we are bombarded with messages about who we are and how we should act.  I have a gym friend who has spoken to the lie that he believes that women hold too much power over men.  In my opinion, we've done this to ourselves.  Instead of following who the Father has created us to be, we manufacture a false identity which is far different. 

So, who is it that God has created me to be?  Answer this question, and you're most likely on the road to discovering who it is that you truly are.  The truth is that we have been created by God in His own likeness/image {Genesis 1:27}.  He has always been a part of who we are.  Everything we are or will ever be, has been created by God.  So, is God an adventurer, as the author Eldredge sought to establish men as?   Absolutely.  Following Paul's lead, we can assume that we have never been an independent creation, but have dwelled within the love of the Father.  When we look in the mirror, we see the image of Jesus.  Jesus Himself speaks to our union life within the Father in the book of John {Johns Account 14:20}.  God has not created us to be a separate entity apart from Him.  He has created us to live within Him.  The lie spoken by the deceiver has convinced many that man is his own, separate being.  This is the lie spoken by Satan the deceiver in the garden, that man would "Be like God" {Genesis 3:5-6}.  The Christian author Norman Grubb writes about the error in this thinking.  That "There is no independent, self-operating self in the universe, except the One Who calls Himself the I AM"{Exodus 3:14}.  For their part, the church has fallen for the lie of the deceiver hook, line and sinker.  You will seldom hear of our union life within the Father preached from the pulpits of the church.  In my opinion, this only adds to the identity crisis facing men today.  The truth is that we have been created to live IN the Father and not outside of His love.  This is the truth of who we are. 

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 Translation 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (What We Expect From Satan) # 2167

 

We are of God.  He who knows God is hearing us.  He who is not of God is not hearing us.  By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deception 

First Epistle of John 4: 6, Concordant New Testament Translation

There has never been a more aptly applied name.  To many believers, Satan has become known as the deceiver.  We know it, and we proclaim it.  But we all too often don't practice what we preach.  All too often, we fall for the lies of the devil without even realizing it.  The apostle Peter has spoken that the devil roams about seeking whom he may devour {Peter to the Dispersion (1) 5:8}.  He never misses the opportunity to deceive anyone.  I know that I have been the victim of his lies on more than one occasion.  The latest has been during a bout of a feeling of low self-worth, where Satan had a field day feeding me lies about myself.  That I was not important.  That my eternity in the Lord was a false belief.  That my sin had caused Him to deny me.  Lies!  It is in these moments that we need to heed the advice of Peter and be sober...watch!  For we must always be on guard for the lies of the deceiver.  Because deception is his only game plan.  Think about it, what does Satan have to offer us but lies?  Of course, a lie told often enough has a good chance of becoming truth.  Not in this case.  For our truth is within the love of the Father.  The apostle John correctly refers to Satan as the "spirit of deception" {First Epistle of John (1) 4:6}.  Nothing could be closer to the truth than that.  For this is all which Satan has to offer us.  He cannot offer salvation.  He definitely will never offer us unending love.  Everything which he has to offer is based upon lies.  He has spoken the lie that he will ascend above the Lord {Isaiah 14:13-14}.  He has also spoken the lie which speaks to man being separate from God {Genesis 3:4-5}.  I believe that this is one of the most dangerous lies of the deceiver, and one which continues to be preached from the pulpits of the church.  The lie that the sins of man have caused him to be separated from the God Who created him.  As with all of the lies of the deceiver, nothing could be further from the truth.

One of the best defenses to combat the lies of the deceiver is the truth which we have in the Father.  The writer of Hebrews speaks to the truth that God shall be "Imparting My laws to their hearts, I shall be inscribing them on their comprehension also" {To the Hebrews 10:16}.  This is the new covenant of the Lord for His children.  In other words, His desires are not only written in our hearts, but we are always keenly aware of His thoughts if we only will listen to His spirit in which we now dwell.  That's right, contrary to the lie of the deceiver, our life is not lived separate from God, but within His love.  Jesus has spoken to this truth in the book of John {John's account 14:20}.  The apostle Paul, in his evangel, speaks to his life being in Christ Jesus {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}.  THIS is the truth which we have in the Father.  This is who we are!  The deceiver will try to whisper in our ear that our sin has separated us from God, that God could never love a sinner like me.  In reality, it is through the love and mercy of the Father that our sin has been nullified {Paul to the Romans 6:6}.  This isn't just for sins of the past, but for our present and future as well.  The truth is that Christ Jesus has died to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  Knowing this truth we have in the Father, we can easily counter the lies of the deceiver.  That I am created in the Fathers likeness {Genesis 1:27}.  That He has breathed into me the breath of life {Genesis 2:7}.  That I am His loved child {First Epistle of John 3:1}.  A good friend of mine often spoke a simple truth which I remember to this day, when Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future!  My future is in the Father.  The future of the deceiver lies within his deception.  This is all he has to offer us.  

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

Paul to the Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament Translation 

~Scott~