Nishlam!

 

When, then, Jesus took the vinegar, He said, "It is accomplished!"  And reclining his head, He gives up His spirit. 

Johns Account 19: 30, Concordant New Testament 

As Jesus hung on that Roman cross, no doubt weary from the treatment He had received, He uttered the most iconic words in all of our Christian belief.  That being, IT IS ACCOMPLISHED!  In uttering these words, Jesus not only proclaimed the end of His ministry, but the end of sin as an issue as well.  In regards to sin, Christ has proclaimed it finished in the past, present and future.  There would be no need for Jesus to put sin to death a second or third time.  As the apostle Paul proclaims, Jesus died to sin "Once for all time" {Paul To The Romans 6:10}.  Why is this important?  Because in modern Christianity sin continues to be an issue for many believers.  I believe that many Christians know of the death of Jesus on the cross, but are unaware of the significance of His sacrifice.  For Christ did not simply die for the forgiveness of my sins, but that sin as a whole would be nullified {Paul To The Romans 6:6}.  Yet far too many Christian pastors continue to speak of sin as if it were still relevant in our lives.  That we need to be aware of its influence in our lives.  That because of sin, there is now a separation between ourselves and God.  This is, of course, ridiculous thinking based upon the lie of the accuser spoken in the garden {Genesis 3:5-6}.  But despite Jesus declaring the defeat of sin "Accomplished," the mainstream church continues to this day to deny the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  Now, don't get me wrong, for I am fully aware of what I have just staked claim to.  The church denying the sacrifice of Jesus?  Yes, and hear me out.  When the powers that be in the modern institutional church continue to proclaim the existence of sin, they are in fact denying that Jesus gave Himself up for the defeat of sin {Paul To The Corinthians (2) 5:21}.  That's right, Jesus BECAME sin that it would die with Him on the cross.  To continue to speak to the existence of sin is, in fact, denying the sacrifice of Jesus.  Yes, I fully expect a backlash of opposition to such a blasphemous claim, but how else can you describe it?  When Jesus Himself declares It is accomplished, I believe 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 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 

The larger question one might ask is, if someone not trained up in seminary Pharisee school can profess to this truth we find in scripture, then why don't modern Christian pastors do the same?  Even though it is never my intent to point the finger of guilt at the mainstream church on most issues, they make it far too easy to do just that.  Most church leaders will point to the words of Paul in Romans proclaiming that all have sinned {Paul To The Romans 3:23}.  Yet in the very next verse, Paul speaks to the deliverance which we find in Christ.  Yes, all have sinned, but through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the cross that stain has been washed away.  I am no longer considered a sinner, nor a sinner saved by grace.  For with the sacrifice of Jesus I am a new creation free from the condemnation of sin {Paul To The Corinthians (2) 5:17}.  It was never the Fathers intent to keep His children in a state of bondage, yet that is what many are experiencing today.  For to believe that we continue to live in sin is to be in bondage to sin.  To live free in Christ is the realization that sin was put to death with Him on the cross.  Knowing this, we can confidently say IT IS ACCOMPLISHED! 

So that, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the primitive passed by.  Lo! there has come new! 

Paul To The Corinthians (2) 5: 17, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Forever In Jesus

 

According as He chooses us in Him before the disruption of the world, we to be holy and flawless in His sight. 

Paul To The Ephesians 1: 4, Concordant New Testament 

I've spent a good deal of time proclaiming the truth of Christ Jesus in me.  Some refer to this as the indwelling Christ.  The apostle Paul spoke to this in his letter to the church in Galatia {Paul To The Galatians 2:20}.  I know that it is indeed Christ Jesus that I now live in union with.  But the question was raised this week of just when Jesus came to be in me.  In the words of John, Jesus has been with us from the beginning {Johns Account 1:3}.  Not one thing came into being apart from Christ Jesus, even me.  Paul also speaks to the fact that Jesus chose us before the creation of the world {Paul To The Ephesians 1:4}.  Indeed, it was Jesus who chose me, I did not choose Him.  It was Jesus who chose us from the beginning.  Knowing what I know now, why is it that I did not speak to the indwelling Christ long before this?  Well, in all honesty, I did not realize that I indeed lived in Him.  I would say that this is the issue with many well meaning believers today.  They do not realize their own life in Christ.  I know I didn't.  This should come as no surprise as many believers continue to adhere to the traditional teachings and traditions of the mainstream church.  If there is one place where one will not hear of the indwelling Jesus it's in the church.  The one place where this truth should shouted from the rooftops.  Of course, the refusal of the church to embrace the truth of our union with Christ does not by any means make it untrue.  What it means is that, for reasons of it's own, the traditional institutional church has chosen to ignore the truth of the gospel of Christ.  Therefore, I am not at all surprised when people respond with confusion when I proclaim my union with Jesus.  The church has long stood by the edict that God could never be in the presence of sin.  God is holy, and sin is unholy.  The two do not belong together.  But the mainstream church, in all of its wisdom, has chosen to ignore the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  For Jesus became sin in our place on the cross {Paul To The Corinthians (2) 5:21}.  Jesus died for our sins, end of story.  So, tell me again how God and sin cannot coexist.  

And He is before all, and all has its cohesion in Him. 

Paul To The Colossians 1: 17, Concordant New Testament 

In all honesty, the biggest barrier to our realization of the indwelling Christ is the mainstream church.  Yet I cannot pass all of the blame on the institution, as people also have the ability, as I did, to inquire and search on their own.  People have the ability to seek out the teachings of others in order to know Him more.  In fact, the apostle John challenges believers to "Test the spirits" of those who are speaking the gospel to see if they are of God {First Epistle of John 4:1}.  Despite the fact that I spent many years in the halls of the mainstream church, it was the words of a good friend which started me on the journey of knowing the truth of His Son in me.  This eventually led to the Fathers revelation of my life in Christ.  Although we are tasked to test the spirits, it is the Father who will give us the revelation of our union life in Him {Johns Account 14:20}.  Paul, one of the greatest teachers of the gospel of Jesus, received his revelation on the road to Damascus {Paul To The Galatians 1: 15-16}.  Yes, Jesus has been with us from the very beginning, as He has all things.  Yet it is by the Fathers revealing that we will know of our life in Him.  This in no way nullifies the words of Paul which speak of the indwelling Christ.  That "Living in me is Christ." 

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  

~Scott~ 

A Perfect Union

 For in Him the entire compliment of the Deity is dwelling bodily.  And you are complete in Him, Who is the head of every sovereignty and authority. 

Paul To The Colossians 2: 9-10, Concordant New Testament 

The scriptures tell us that there is none perfect but for the Lord {Paul To The Romans 3:10, 3:23}.  Indeed, each and every one of us may struggle for a lifetime without ever gaining the perfection of the Lord.  Or can we?  Traditional Christian wisdom and teaching tells us that all have sinned and fallen away from the Lord, we're not perfect.  We're told that the closest we can be is to be "close" to Jesus or to "Be like" Him.  Even traditional Christian music calls for Jesus to "Come closer" to us.  The entire paradigm is one of the distance between ourselves and the God.  Between the perfect and the sinners.  The apostle Paul spoke to the truth of Christ Jesus in him in his letter to the Galatians {Paul To The Galatians 2:20}.  I remember that when I first read this passage that it upset the apple cart of beliefs I had been carrying around for so many years.  Jesus...in me?  Actually, it is myself in Him.  But how is it that a sinner like myself could be in Jesus?  These are the elementary questions which come up whenever the truth of Christ in us is spoken to those who follow the traditional mainstream church teaching.  Understand, that without the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, there would be NO indwelling Christ within us.  For Jesus Himself became sin on the cross that it be put to death {Paul To The Corinthians (2) 5:21}.  Paul proclaims that it is Christ Jesus who has defeated sin once for ALL {Paul To The Romans 6:10}.  It is Jesus who declared that all He had set out to accomplish had been completed {Johns Account 28:30}.  The sin issue that far too many believers continue to cling to is no more.  What remains is Christ.  Knowing this, we can say with confidence that we are indeed perfect in Christ Jesus.  Paul proclaims that we are complete in God {Paul To The Colossians 2:9-10}.  We are perfect in Him. 

I in them and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in one, and that the world may know that Thou dost commission Me and dost love them according as Thou dost love Me.  

Johns Account 17: 23, Concordant New Testament 

If I were to walk into any mainstream church and declare that I was indeed perfect I'm sure that I would be scrutinized to the max.  But I would never think of doing that.  What I WOULD proclaim is that I am indeed perfect IN HIM.  For to speak that I am perfect speaks to the false idea that I am my own individual.  Understand, it has nothing to do with my own accomplishments that I am now in union with the Lord {Paul To The Ephesians 2:8-9}.  It is through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus that I remain in Him {Johns Account 14:20}.  Therefore, I am perfect in the Father.  I lack nothing of Him in my life.  I can already see the mainstream church followers scratching their heads as they attempt to contemplate such heresy.  When Jesus proclaimed that He and the Father were one, the Jewish authorities took up stones to hurl against Him {Johns Account 10:31}.  The Jews accused Jesus of blasphemy and for "Making yourself God" {Johns Account 10:33}.  I have no doubt that were I to proclaim that I am perfect in God that I may receive a similar reaction.  But Jesus wasn't wrong.  He and the Father ARE one just as I am one in He and the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  I have had a few conversations with a good friend who adheres to the Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and he has vehemently argued against this idea despite the truth we find in scripture.  I have never claimed to be perfect.  What I do proclaim is that I am perfect in the Lord. 

~Scott~ 

Missing The Point

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

First Epistle Of John 4: 8, Concordant New Testament 

I read a short blurb written by Wayne Jacobsen on something known as the Four Degrees of Love.  Written by the monk Bernard of Clairvaux, the four degrees of love include (1) Loving ourselves for our own sake, (2) Loving God for our own sake, (3) Loving God for His own sake, and (4) Loving ourselves for God's sake (Assuming we continue to have a independent self?).  Now, I didn't think much of this as ol' Bernard seemed to follow the traditional church mantra that we indeed are independent beings.  However, it did bring me back to a conversation I had with a brother recently about the meaning of the different translations we find in scripture.  We find in scripture, especially in the New Testament, that there may be differing definitions of love depending on the situation.  The Greek word Phileo translates to a emotional love which transcends casual friendships.  The Greek word Agape refers to an unconditional love, which can be compared to the love of the Father for us.  Yet the word Eros is used to portray love in an erotic fashion.  Everyone got this so far?  Far from being different degrees of the same thing, as the monk proclaims, we see different words for different situations.  This is the language of the ancient Greeks.  When we read the scriptures, we tend to see one of the Greek words signifying love and we attach one single meaning to it.  The apostle John writes of the love of the Father {First Epistle of John 4:8}.  Which Greek word best describes this passage?  I see the word Agape as referring to the Fathers love for His children, which is unconditional.  When Jesus inquires of Peter, "Are you loving Me more than these?", He was not looking for the correct translation of the word, but for what was on His apostles heart {Johns Account 21:15}.  While we may regret that our language has no words which refer to a degree of love, we know full well the love we feel in our hearts.  

Perceive what manner of love the Father has given us, that we may be called children of God!  And we are!  Therefore the world does not know us, for it did not know Him. 

First Epistle of John 3: 1, Concordant New Testament 

I don't think the our friend the monk is the only one who is missing the point here.  If we consider the differing degrees of love we might fall into the idea that we are indeed independent, which is the lie of the deceiver spoken in the garden {Genesis 3: 5-6}.  Has the Father shown us differing degrees of love?  Are there stages of love which we need to graduate into?  No, for as I said, this idea of degrees of love is more about translation than the true meaning of the word.  Our friends the Greeks simply had different words to describe what they were feeling.  The monk latched onto this, took it and ran.  Now, could we ourselves benefit from having words which differentiate the different feelings of love which we feel?  Perhaps, maybe that is why so many peoples intentions get misconstrued by others.  They say one thing but those around them are hearing something else.  Indeed, one of the most oft used and abused phrases in the English language are the words "I love you."  We seem to toss these words around without thinking more often than not.  We have no differing words to describe the different situations of love.  Now, one can say, "I love you like a brother" and be perfectly fine.  But it doesn't always turn out that way.  I believe it's less about the words and more about what's in our hearts.  

~Scott~ 

From The Ashes

 

Now we know that God is working all together for the good of those who are loving God, who are called according to the purpose. 

Paul To The Romans 8: 28, Concordant New Testament 

Thinking of yesterdays post, I was pondering if it is indeed easier to see God in our troubles than to see how it is that He is working good in these situations.  Knowing that God is all in all might be an easier pill to swallow than seeing good in tragedy?  Perhaps, but I'm beginning to understand that they go hand in hand.  To understand that the Father is all in all is to know that His love nature {First Epistle Of John 4:8} prompts Him to bring about good in the lives of those who know Him.  Still, far too many believers and non believers alike continue to wonder out loud how it is that God could allow tragedy in the world.  But what others see as tragedy I see as simply another opportunity for the Lord to work in someone's life.  Through the death of my mother, I have come to know and understand Him better.  I'd say that is God working for the good.  When we look at the tragedies in life, we often only see things from our earthly perspective.  Unless our prayer is for the Fathers revealing of His intentions, we cannot know what is really going on behind the scenes.  Indeed, the scriptures proclaim that the ways of the Lord are not our ways {Isaiah 55:8-9, Paul To The Corinthians (1) 2:15-16}.  Therefore, if indeed we intend to know what the Father is up to, we should indeed make it known to Him through prayer.  A few years ago, while going through a trying time in my life, a dear brother posed to me the question.  What is it that God is doing through all of this?  Amen!  This is a question seldom asked and a prayer not often spoken.  Why wouldn't we want to know what the Lord is doing through us?  If indeed we are in union with He and Jesus, there is no doubt that the Father is working in each and every part of our lives {Johns Account 14:20}.  When I began to see the Father in this way it gave me a better perspective on those trying times in my life.  

Knowing this first, that no prophesy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation.  For not by the will of man was prophesy carried on at anytime, but, being carried on by the holy spirit, holy men of God speak. 

Peter To The Dispersion (2) 1: 20-21, Concordant New Testament 

Listen to church sermons long enough and you will undoubtedly hear some pulpit pounder speak of the difficult "seasons" of life.  The author of Ecclesiastes spoke that there is indeed a time for every purpose under heaven {Ecclesiastes 1:1}.  So poignant was this message, it seems, that the Byrds turned it into a classic rock tune.  Yes, into every life a little rain must fall.  Yet I would interpret this scripture to mean that there is a time for each and every one of Gods purposes in our life.  What is His purpose for our life in the rough times?  We can know the answer, if we just ask Him.  In His own way, the Lord will open our eyes to what it is He is accomplishing through us.  Knowing this may just help us look upon those difficult times in our lives a bit differently.  Consider the alternative.  Not knowing that the Lord has a purpose for us in these difficult times can and usually does lead to more stress than we care to handle.  At least it did for me.  Knowing that God has a purpose to work all things for the good for those who know Him can indeed be a life changing revelation.  Our prayer should not be why are you doing this, Lord?  Knowing that He is working His purpose, we can be assured that He is working good through us. 

~Scott~ 

Where We Don't See God

 

Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him who subjects all to Him, that God may be all in all.  

Paul To The Corinthians (1) 15: 28, Concordant New Testament 

Most believers can testify to the fact that the universe and all which we see has been created by the spoken word of the Lord.  God said it, and it came to be.  I assume that we can also agree that it is God who created who we are.  First in His image {Genesis 1:27}.  Then by giving life to His image {Genesis 2:7}.  Knowing this, we can assume that God is present in each and every aspect of what He created.  He is indeed all in all {Paul To The Corinthians (1) 15:28}.  Yet, there are times where we certainly do not see the God who is all in all in certain parts of our lives.  It's easy to coast through the good times in life and proclaim that we are indeed blessed.  I wouldn't argue with that, for we are indeed blessed.  But what about those times in our lives when we don't feel so blessed?  I can speak from experience because I have been going through a difficult season as of late.  Is it possible for me to still proclaim that I am blessed?  Absolutely!  The issue for many people is that they refuse to see God in their most difficult circumstances.  If God is all in all, then He is in our pain and sorrow as well.  But we seldom look for Him there.  Instead, we put out our prayers of "Help me, Lord."  I get it.  Because when the chips are down and life gives us lemons, we instinctively turn to God for help.  I don't fault others for doing that, it's what we've been taught to do in tough times.  Believers worldwide form prayer groups and chains with the express purpose of praying for those in need.  Here in Portland, there is a weekly Sunday evening call in prayer request show on a local Christian radio station.  The Hearts of Love broadcast has been sending out prayer and praises to local listeners for many years.  However, I have never heard the hosts mention that God is with us in our pain.  That's an issue.  For when we do not see God in our struggles, we might slide down that slope of seeing ourselves as being separated from Him.  This is the lie spoken to Adam and Eve in the garden by Satan {Genesis 3:5-6}.  In reality, we have never been isolated from the Father.  He has never changed.  He has always been all in all.  

Who will transfigure the body of humiliation, to conform it to the body of His glory, in accord with the operation which enables Him even to subject all to Himself. 

Paul To The Philippians 3: 21, Concordant New Testament 

People are big into claiming that we cause our own pain.  That it is because of our addictions and bad choices that we end up in difficult stages of life.  While this may be true on the surface, where is God through all of this?  Is He not completely involved in this as well?  It might be difficult for the believer to wrap their minds around the truth the God is in our pain and suffering, but that is indeed where He is.  God was in the pain and suffering of Abraham as well as the pain of His servant David.  So He is with us.  The apostle Paul speaks to the truth of Christ Jesus in him in Galatians {Paul To The Galatians 2:20}.  By this we know that we are in Christ.  This is our union with Christ Jesus and the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  Christ in the Father, we in Jesus and Christ in us.  Knowing that He created us in His image, how is it that we can then proclaim that God is not an intimate part of our lives?  When we speak of God being all in all, we definitely need to understand that there is no part of His creation that He is not a part of.  This, of course, includes those places where we would not expect Him to be.  How liberating is it to know that even in our darkest times, God is right there with us?  All in all.  

Wherein there is no Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman, but all in all is Christ. 

Paul To The Colossians 3: 11, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Through A Different Lens

 

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, and, indeed, they will be turning their hearing away from the truth, yet will be turned aside to myths. 

Paul To Timothy 4: 3-4, Concordant New Testament 

The truth is, I have not set foot in a church service for over ten years.  Why?  Well, it seems that I found a chink in the armor of the mainstream church.  That being the preaching that sin is still present in us all.  Indeed, for many well intentioned believers, sin is the elephant in the room.  We confess to know that Christ died for the forgiveness of sin, yet we continue to live as if His sacrifice had no meaning.  For many years I was that guy seated in a church pew on Sunday listening to the pastor tell me that I needed to seek forgiveness for my sins.  That is, until one Sunday when, after proclaiming that Jesus had indeed given Himself for the forgiveness of my sins, the same pastor invited the congregation to come forward to seek forgiveness for whatever sin they felt was holding them back.  At that moment, I was done.  I was done hearing that Jesus had forgiven me only to have some pulpit pounder tell me that wasn't true at all.  So it was over the following years that I developed a different lens than I had in my younger believer days.  The "Lens" I refer to is that which I believe to be true in my heart.  Don't get me wrong, I have not abandoned entirely the mantra of the mainstream church, I still feel that the gathering of believers is a good thing.  But, that's as far as it goes.  The church insisting to ram down my throat the idea that all have sinned and that this sin penalty still remains despite the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus is not something I can get behind {Paul To The Romans 3:23-24}.  What I CAN get behind is the truth of the evangel which proclaims that Christ became sin on our behalf {Paul To the Corinthians (2) 5:21}.  What I believe is that through the sacrifice of Jesus, sin has been put to death {Paul To The Romans 6:10}.  The fact that we were once all sinners should no longer concern us.  For through Christ Jesus we are a new creation {Paul To The Corinthians (2) 5:17}.  This is the lens through which I now see myself.  Not as one who has sinned, but as one who is in Christ {Johns Account 14:20}.  

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 wed died together with Christ, we believe that we shall be living together with Him as also, having perceived 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, reckon 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

Turn on any news station and you will certainly get a crash course on the existence of differing opinions.  These are the different lens by which we view the world around us.  So it is with the lens by which we view the gospel.  While many continue to view it from the lens of the mainstream church, still others see the truth which is spoken of by Jesus and His apostles is scripture.  The apostle Paul speaks to our union with Christ {Paul To The Galatians 2:20}.  The mainstream church?  Not so much.  The church will indeed speak to being "Like" Jesus, but that is a far cry from being in Him.  I've found that listening to local sermon broadcasts has become like watching the tv news.  Within minutes, my lens can immediately notice the church proclaimed message which has been fostered for thousand of years.  I have no doubt that were I to step foot once again into the halls of the mainstream church that I would see the differences between the teaching and what I now know to be true in my heart.  To borrow a phrase from former, and future, president Donald Trump, this church message is indeed fake news.  Now, before I get branded as a heretic once again, keep in mind that I have gone through much meditation and soul searching in order to come to the place I am today.  I do not take the sacrifice of Christ Jesus lightly.  I will not nullify His death by proclaiming that I continue to remain in sin as the church continues to preach.  Who I am is in Christ Jesus. 

~Scott~