Immanuel: God with us!

Isa 7:14 NRSV  "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel."

Early this morning as I was taking my son to work on Christmas morning I received a glorious illumination. It began with a gorgeous sunrise. The sky ways beautiful. It was a mixture of bright orange, soft yellows and pale blue. And, I almost jokingly, said Happy Birthday Jesus. It was then that the Spirit spoke to me and told me the absolute significance of Christmas. I know, December 25th is likely not Jesus birthday. I know, it is a pagan holiday converted by the early Christian church. However, the Spirit told me that the important thing was that He was born of flesh and blood. So from now on, I will realize that Christmas stands as a proof that God is with us.

In the above verse from Isaiah, the promise is given that the birth of the son is a sign from the Lord himself. The name given is significant. Immanuel means "God with us." Yes, God has shared in humanity, and in doing so, has proven that He is with us. Further, we realize that he is with us via His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. There is deeper significance with this fact. This is a sign for all of humanity. It shows that we are eternal beings, proven by the resurrection, and it lets us know that God has never left us and certainly has not forsaken us.

It signifies the day that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself and not counting our trespasses/sins. It signifies the day that proclaims this fact. In the reconciliation comes peace with the Father and the restoration of all that was given away in the garden by our first parents. We are now again naked before God but loved with an unfathomable love. We can walk and talk with Him in the coolness of the day/evening, and he is with us in the extreme heat of any moment. Let me repeat. He has not left us even once, and He will never forsake us.

With all the commercialization of the day, and with all the criticism of the day by many I can now fully embrace the significance of the event. It does not have to be a day when much of America spends more than they can afford. It does not have to be a day of regret and disappointment for some. Rather, it is the day that God proved that he is among us and I will proclaim with the angels, "peace on earth and good will to humanity!"

Your Black Friday Bonus; The blessings of Deu 28

Listed below are all the blessings that go along with being the SEED of Abraham. You are obedient when you believe that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. You are obedient when you trust in the faithfulness of Jesus and believe that his righteousness before the Father is yours because of his death, burial, and resurrection. This understanding will well up in your heart and cause a great love for the Father that will in turn transform you.

Jesus absorbed and absolved the curses of Deuteronomy 28 when he was crucified and because of his acceptance by the Father all of the promises of Deuteronomy 28, and not only that, but ALL the promises to Abraham and his SEED are yours by virtue of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world or in other words from creation forward.

Declare these words over yourself today and be the voice of God proclaiming them as he has whispered this to you to shout from the rooftops.

• Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.  
• Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, both the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock.  
• Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.  
• Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.  
• The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you; they shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways.  
• The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns, and in all that you undertake; he will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.  
• The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he has sworn to you
• All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.  
• The LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give you.  
• The LORD will open for you his rich storehouse, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all your undertakings. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow.  
• The LORD will make you the head, and not the tail; you shall be only at the top, and not at the bottom

The Damage of the Holiness Movement

Eph 4:24 NRSV  "and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

I begin with this passage from Ephesians that speaks of the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Here are a couple of observations about this passage. First, when Paul mentions TRUE righteousness and holiness, he is suggesting that there is FALSE righteousness and holiness.  Secondly, he mentions in the likeness of God. Since John stated in his first epistle that God is love/agape, then TRUE righteousness and holiness, is centered in love/agape.

I think it is instructive to also cite a passage for Paul in Romans. Rom 10:2-3 NRSV  "I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened.  (3)  For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God's righteousness." Here we are allowed a glimpse of false righteousness and holiness. It is indeed self righteousness and self imposed holiness. Herein lies the erroneous damage that is perpetuated by the holiness movement.  I think it is important in this instance to name names. From my experience, the groups that are most guilty of this are the Church of God in Christ (COGIC,) and the many independent assemblies that have broken off from this movement for one reason or another. The Church of God, the Assemblies of God, Full Gospel Churches, and the Oneness Pentecostals are very similar and equally damaging. All of these denominations insist on self righteousness and self holiness.

The above mentioned denominations are the most cult like. They all tend to add to the gospel of grace by demanding that behavior and adherence to regulations are proof of real conversion. In one way or another all of the above groups actively promote spiritual abuse. I have heard stories of individuals who as children were severely beaten because they did not properly embrace the hard legalistic line of these churches. They operate mostly on fear and shame. If one does not line up completely with what they deem to be scriptural mandate they are shamed, shun, or punished in some way. For the most part, they give lip service to love because they know that it is a command but in reality have no conception of what love is especially agape, the love of God.

Moreover, these denominations erroneously interpret scripture in the most literal terms. They operate with the premise that the bible was written precisely to them and their current culture and generation, and are not interested at all in historical, grammatical, or cultural context. The truth of the matter could not be more different than this. Further, they look at the scripture in the most legal, constitutional way and see it as a life manual that must always be obeyed to the literal letter. The wooden operational manual approach to scripture was not taught at all by the first century followers of Christ. As I continue in this vane over other posts I will include denominations and assemblies that do not embrace the spiritual aspects of Pentecostalism yet demand strict adherence to the literal aspect of scripture because of their stance they call Lordship. These assemblies are equally damaging.

Back to the holiness movement. I have heard of an assembly that ended up shunning their pastor of many years because he got cancer and they claimed that he gave into it because of lack of faith. In otherwords, he admitted the diagnosis, and thereby doomed himself to cancer. One could write an entire book with stories like this. It is common for people to be blamed for illness because of lack of faith. This exemplifies how sinister the holiness movement can be, and how abusive it is toward its adherents.

Let's take a minute to unpack true righteousness and holiness. We know from the multitude of Paul's writings that it is not self righteousness. First off, there is a connotation that is used mostly within evangelical Christianity to the word holy/holiness that is not compatible with the meaning of holy/qadosh. In the Old Testament; the Jewish meaning was set apart for a special purpose. God wanted Israel to be a people set apart unto Him and separated from the rest of the world. It did not mean pious or having piety. So holy would mean set apart and not obedient to law. In fact, God told the Israelites that obeying the commandments would be righteousness to them not their holiness. Further, there is a direct relationship between holy and sanctified. To Israel under the Old Covenant sanctification was ritual washing again set apart for a purpose.

Since most of the apostles of the first century were Jewish, and all who wrote the letters of the New Testament were Jewish, one can safely assume that they held to the Jewish meaning of holy when they used it in their writings. This completely negates the use of the holiness church in their meaning of holy. The see it as super pious and obedient, and quite frankly they are just plain wrong! While I admit that some of the use of holy in the New Testament was meant to set apart the behavior of the saints from the rest of the world, they did not mean to use it in a legal constitutional way. They meant for it to be understood in light of grace being the transforming force that produces love in each individual based on total forgiveness and acceptance of them by God, and that Jesus redeemed them from all... past, present, and future sin once for all time.

The first century saints were set apart by the gospel message that was proclaimed often too them as they assembled. They strove to be more godly based on their understanding of forgiveness and grace and not on the understanding of commandments and law. While the commandments and law were informative of godliness it was never used as a measure of their salvation, redemption and reconcillation. I am convinced that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, and the law of sin and death written about by Paul in Romans eight was the same law with a different application. It was the law of sin and death because of the weakness of flesh when viewing Deut 6:25 righteousness, and it was the law of the Spirit of life when viewed with a Romans 8:1 understanding.

Let me emphasize... you cannot beat righteousness/holiness into someone, you cannot shame someone into being righteous/holy, and you cannot shun someone to make them righteous/holy. You can only proclaim the gospel of God's grace over and over often, and allow the gospel message used by the Holy Spirit to cause love for God to well up in the individual, and this anointed love will cause a person to want to be ever and ever more godly. To be successful, it requires a community to practice this and the holiness movement has failed miserably, and instead has had the opposite effect.

Paul's prayer for the saints; "to be filled with the fullness of God."

Eph 3:14-21 NRSV  For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,  (15)  from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.  (16)  I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit,  (17)  and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.  (18)  I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  (19)  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  (20)  Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine,  (21)  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians is such an important letter in Paul's repetoire. It more clearly than any other book in scripture presents the absolute sovereignty of God in redemption, salvation, and reconciliation. Of first importance is the fact that God chose "us" in Christ before the foundation of the world. I have emphasized this fact over and over on this blog as it shows that God's purpose in creation was redemption. He goes on a few verses later to explain that it is to the praise of God's glorious grace. God wants to be praised for his grace. Why? Because He in His infinite wisdom and knowledge understands that it is His glorious grace that will supernaturally promote love for Him in our inner being. The mode He uses for this is the power of His Holy Spirit that indwells the believer to reinforce the truth of his grace and the good news concerning it.

Paul's prayer, posted above, asks God to give us saints the power to comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ's love for us. It is in this comprehension that we will be filled with the fullness of God. Being filled with the fullness of God means being filled with the fullness of His Holy Spirit. I find it interesting that Paul states that it is a knowing that surpasses knowledge; to know beyond knowledge, what can that mean? It is a knowing that exists within every fiber of being and not just in the intellect. That my friend is the fullness of God. When we hear the gospel of God's grace, the Holy Spirit enables us to know the love of Christ beyond knowledge. It becomes who we are! As I sit here writing this I am filled with this fullness and overwhelmed and overjoyed with the peace that it brings.

It is so easy to forget it, and it can be ever so fleeting if one does not hear the gospel of grace rehearsed over and over. This once again is the reason that Paul determined to know nothing among the Corinthians, and for that matter, I believe to know nothing among all the groups he encountered in his ministry sojourn, except Jesus Christ, crucified, buried, risen, and seated at the right hand of majesty on high. It is precisely why all saints need to hear the gospel clearly articulated each and every time they assemble. Not just as an afterthought in the alter call, but as the main substance of the meeting. The reason is that it is the way in which the Holy Spirit refills our tanks so to speak. It is the gospel message and no other that fills us with the fullness of God.

Let me finish with my prayer for the saints. I pray to the Father in Glory that evangelical Christianity will be awakened from its lethargy and error, and will be certain to proclaim to all the saints at each and every meeting the gospel of God's grace that they may comprehend the love of Christ in its entirety and thereby allow that love, so rich and so freely given without condition, to transform them by being filled with the fullness of God's love, and that this love might transform their inner being into an instrument of God's love in the earth!

In all thy ways

Pro 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

You surely know by now if you regularly read this blog that the gospel of grace, the pristine gospel that turned the first century world upside down is the main focal point of what I write. The emphasis is squarely placed on the idea that imputed righteousness, and peace with Father God is crucial to the proper spiritual transformation of the saint.

Of premium importance in this idea is the concept of resting in Jesus or the Sabbath Rest. The catalyst for transformation is resting in the gospel decrees no matter what. This means that one must trust and rest and rely on the gospel of grace at ALL times. This is a place where a misinformed tenet of evangelical dogma plays a very confusing role. Evangelical doctrine and dogma have linked two thoughts from First John chapter one that are not really linked. One is fellowship with the Father and the other is being "confessed up" on all sin. The fact is that 1John 1:7 and 1John 1:9 are not symbiotic. Fellowship is not predicated on constant confession in the mind of God. He had Paul declare that He/God, was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing humanities sin, and rather that Christ, who knew no sin was made sin for humanity so that the one walking in the light of that fact would be in CONSTANT fellowship with God based on the work of Christ and not the individual. The twisted way that evangelical dogma has viewed 1John negates this most important aspect of the gospel of grace.

Of course, it is good for us to confess our sin/faults and be aware of them. However, it does not restore fellowship as it has been declared that He will NEVER leave us or forsake us. If there is a breach in fellowship it is only in the mind of the individual not resting completely in the gospel of grace as explained in great detail by Paul, and reinforced by all the first century apostles including James. This is precisely where the above quoted Proverb comes into play. It is a statement that agrees with Paul's explanation of the gospel of the kingdom which is in fact the gospel of God's grace in Christ Jesus.

To trust in the Lord with all of ones heart is to rest completely in the finished work of the cross of Christ Jesus. It is necessary to set aside ones own understanding or in other words that way which seemeth right! It does not seem right that God would declare one righteous based on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. Our own understanding would make it so we would surely think that we must do something. The only thing that one can do is apprehend the faithfulness of Christ by a God given measure of faith imparted by the Holy Spirit upon hearing the gospel proclaimed.

So now comes the second part of the above Proverb; "In all thy ways acknowledge Him." What are all of our ways? The simple answer is in our good ways and in our not so good ways; in our obedience and in our sinfulness. The Proverb has a promise. If we trust in the Lord with all our heart (believe the gospel,) and lean not unto our own understanding (avoid the way which seems right,) in all our ways acknowledge him (no matter what the circumstance know that He will never leave or forsake and is always with us,) then He will direct our paths. That should be a comfort to all!

Jesus, James, and the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus amplified the law in the Sermon on the Mount. He pointed out that murder and adultery begin in the heart, and are a heart issue. I believe that the reason Jesus did this was to demonstrate that those Jews who thought themselves blameless by the law were really not blameless. I recently realized that James was using a Jewish hermeneutical device when he spoke of the law in James two. He was referring his readers to the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. He did this by using murder and adultery as the examples of law breaking. He knew that everyone had an issue with either anger or lust.

Mat 5:21-22  "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.'  (22)  But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire.

Mat 5:27-28  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'  (28)  But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Jas 2:10-13 NRSV "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.  (11)  For the one who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.  (12)  So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.  (13)  For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment."

So James begins with the idea that if a person breaks just one commandment they are then guilty of breaking the entire law. For years, I wondered why did he choose murder and adultery as his examples. My thought was that not many people murder or commit adultery and that there would be more universal commandments that most people would be guilty of breaking. Then, I recalled Jesus words in the Sermon on the Mount. He connected anger and murder and lust and adultery. I have for years believed that Jesus was amplifying the law to show that people were not capable of obeying the law, thereby gaining righteousness from the law. Of course, the Apostle Paul plainly stated that no one was capable of establishing their righteousness by the law, and he also stated that as a Pharisee, with regard to the righteousness from the Law he was blameless. He then followed that assertion with this. Php 3:7-9  "Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.  (8)  More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ  (9)  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith." 

James addressed his letter to the Jews that were in the dispersion. By that, he meant all of the Torah Observant Jewish Believers that had been carried into captivity at the time of the Babylonian invasion and had remained dispersed and had not returned to Jerusalem or any part of the Israeli homeland. So, in his letter he was reinforcing the teaching that Jesus had given on the mount. This sermon of Jesus' was well known, and often rehearsed orally in their assemblies. And, like Paul, James was explaining the futility of trying to gain right standing with God based on obedience to the law. He uses the law aspects that everyone has problems with. The truth was that they could not even obey the first and greatest commandment, because they could not love with all their heart, mind, strength and soul one that they feared, but that is another post.

As I look closer at this epistle, I am seeing that James is far more graceful than most have been led to believe. He goes on in the above passage to mention the law of liberty. What law is that you may be thinking? The answer is that it is the "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." That is simply using the law in a way that sets one free from "the law of sin and death." It is using the law as a tutor to drive one to Christ for righteousness that is based on His faithfulness. Looking into the perfect law of liberty is using the hermeneutic taught by Jesus Himself. It is seeing Jesus, life, and redemption in every passage of scripture (John 5:39-40.) It is seeing the scripture as the testimony of Jesus, the Spirit of ALL prophecy. Read again Paul's words in Philippians three,  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith." Let me emphasize that Paul is thinking of the justification that comes from the faith/faithfulness of Christ (Gal 2:16.)

We do violence to scripture when we do not consider the grammatical and historical context. Historically one needs to be acutely aware of the intended audience of James' letter. It was to Torah Observant Jews, while the temple still stood that had placed their faith in the faithfulness of Jesus of Nazareth. James goes on in the above passage to remind his readers of the mercies of God. He points out that in God's program mercy triumphs over judgment every time! Think about that will you? God's mercy triumphs over His judgment. How does that work? Simple. Mercy triumphs over judgment because Jesus was triumphant over Satan.

The Gospel, the Kingdom of God, and the Theological Theory of Everything: Part 2

Joh 5:39-40  "You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf.  (40)  Yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Luk 24:27  Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

Luk 24:44-48  Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled."  (45)  Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,  (46)  and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day,  (47)  and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  (48)  You are witnesses of these things.

Evangelical/orthodox dogma is based on many presuppositions. One area of presupposition that makes it virtually impossible to adopt a Theological Theory of Everything are the presuppositions about the scripture. It is most especially this one presupposition about the scripture. In 1978 the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy met in Chicago and drafted what is called the Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy. It contains Articles of Affirmations and Denials. One of these Articles addresses what I believe to be the problem with evangelical/orthodoxy's position on scripture. Further, I believe that it contradicts what the first century followers and Jesus Christ Himself plainly taught and stated as reflected in the passage of scripture posted above. Here is the affirmation and denial that I am referring too. It is article twelve:

Article XII

We affirm that Scripture in its entirety is inerrant, being free from all falsehood, fraud or deceit.

We deny that Biblical infallibility and inerrancy are limited to spiritual, religious or redemptive themes, exclusive of assertions in the fields of history and science. We further deny that scientific hypotheses about earth history may properly be used to overturn the teaching of Scripture on creation and the flood.

It is my considered opinion that the passages of scripture that I have posted above from John and Luke's gospels contradict the underlined part of the article that I have included. I have changed the color of the text as I do scripture to be certain that no one confuses it with my thoughts and assertions. Jesus and his first century followers that wrote the New Testament definitely taught that REDEMPTIVE THEMES was the ONLY THEME.

I confidently make the above assertion because of two reasons. 1) Jesus said that the entire purpose of scripture was to point to Him for a redemptive purpose. 2) The New Testament writings clearly define the word of God as the gospel of Jesus and Jesus the gospel made flesh. There are numerous blog posts that irrefutably prove that the first century authors of the New Testament meant the gospel or Jesus when they wrote "word, Word, the word of truth, the word of God" You can find a collection of all these writings HERE.

In fact, the main scripture passages that evangelical/orthodox theologians cite for proof of inerrancy limits it to a "redemptive theme." I will post it here but will underline and embolden that part that limits it to redemptive and then will explain why. 2Ti 3:15-17 NRSV  "and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  (17)  so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work." Now then, at the time of the writing, Paul was referring to the Old Testament scripture as the New Testament as we know it did not even exist at the time Paul instructed Timothy on this matter. He sated the purpose, a redemptive purpose in verse 15. The unbelieving Jews were scripture experts beyond anything else and the scripture did not instruct them in obtaining salvation. It did not teach them, it did not reprove them, it did not correct them, it did not train them in righteousness, and it did not make them proficiently equipped for every good work.

The reason is that they were using the scripture as a legal-constitutional document. They were using it as a life operational manual. Jesus and his followers pointed out that it was not that at all. Rather is was the redemptive narrative, the story of redemption. It was the story of God's love that was so great that he would stop at nothing, including sacrificing his own Son to demonstrate his unfathomable love for the humanity he had created.

As long as there is an insistence on treating the scripture as a legal constitutional document, as an operational manual of sorts, the pristine gospel that turned the world upside down will not completely be believed and thus, it will not be able to supernaturally transform the saints as it was meant to do and as it did in the first century.

More to come....

You can read part one HERE.

The Gospel, the Kingdom of God, and the Theological Theory of Everything: Part 1

Mat 24:14 NASB  "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come."

I want to begin a series of posts on the gospel of the kingdom and the theological theory of everything. Progressive revelation is the process that God has used throughout the history of redemption. As people progress, more light is given to God's redemptive plan. This is very similar to science, especially astro-physics and astronomy. I like to use the history of astronomy as an illustration of God's progressive revelation. Astronomy began with the concept that the earth was the center of the universe. That moved on to the idea that the sun was the center of the universe. As astronomy developed it became apparent that there were, many stars, galaxies, and at the center of the universe was a primordial big bang. My point is that additional information gave additional light and understanding and the same is true about the ever unfolding story of redemption.

Recent developments in physics has encouraged physicists to look for a theory of everything that would harmonize relativity and quantum mechanics. I believe that the time is ripe, that is to use a Greek term, the kiros, is now, the present...  to look for a theological theory of everything that encompasses the gospel, the kingdom, prosperity, and the future of spirituality. Currently, within the thousands of denominations there is a wide variety of ways to look at each of those facets of Christianity. As is obvious, many do not agree, and in fact, many contradict one another. It is so confusing that millennials will likely not participate in church as have previous generations. There are many studies that show that millennials are disenchanted with religion and especially so with organized religion and denominations.

One thing that would go a long way toward dealing with this approaching crisis is the development of a unified theory of theology that reasonably explains and unifies the biblical record in such a way that the heretofore disparities that various denominations and groups have promoted would find a unified solution. After all Paul said: Eph 4:3-6 NRSV "making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  (4)  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling,  (5)  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  (6)  one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all." Oh? One would not know that by the current state of Christianity, and more specifically, about evangelical orthodoxy. The reason is simple. There IS NO unified theology in Christianity!

Why is that? This is a great question to ask, and I believe there is a reasonable answer. Let's examine a warning from the apostle Paul: 2Th 2:9-11 NRSV  "The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders,  (10)  and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  (11)  For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false," The obvious answer is that evangelical/orthodoxy is the powerful delusion. It is also the result of the leaven of the Pharisees and it is the fulfillment of Paul's warning to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:29-30. The ravaging wolves who did not spare the flock did so to gain and maintain control. Instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to operate among the saints, these wolves took over so that they could further their selfish agenda's and control the saints.

It must be stated now and often through out this series, that the gospel of grace, and the gospel of the kingdom are the same gospel. There is only one gospel. It is the good news of redemption. It is the good news of peace with a loving Father. It is the good news that through the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, Satan was once for all time defeated. He may go about like a roaring lion but he is a toothless lion. Christ's victory over Satan was the victory over death and separation from God. The atonement made Jesus victorious over Satan. 1Jn 3:8 NRSV "Everyone who commits sin is a child of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil." It was Jesus victory over Satan that destroyed the devil's works.

It was the gospel of grace that destroyed the works of the devil. The beginning and foundation of the theological theory of everything is the gospel of grace. The reason is that the gospel is synonymous with the word of God, and Jesus of Nazareth is the gospel incarnate. The incarnate word is the incarnate gospel. The gospel became flesh and dwelt among humanity. There is much more to say on this topic, and if time and God permits it will be said and written down so stay tuned.

Forget not all of His benefits: All that accompanies the gospel

Joh 5:39-40 NRSV  "You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf.  (40)  Yet you refuse to come to me to have life."

Psa 103:1-5 NRSV  "Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  (2)  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—  (3)  who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,  (4)  who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,  (5)  who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

It is important to understand that Jesus and his first century followers changed the focus of scripture from a legal-constitutional document that was viewed as a life operational manual, to the redemptive narrative that focused on the mission of Jesus the Messiah and the gospel of God's grace. It can be seen from the passage in John's gospel that the scripture is solely about Jesus, and that means that the 103rd Psalm is about Jesus, his mission, and all of the benefits He brings along with the gospel message. What are the benefits?

Benefits:

• forgives all your iniquity
• heals all your diseases
• redeems your life from the Pit
• crowns you with steadfast love and mercy
• satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's

Forgives all your Iniquity:

When it says that one of the benefits of Christ Jesus and the gospel is the forgiveness of ALL one's iniquity, it means iniquity past, present, and future. Further on in Psalm 103 it says that as far as the east is from the west, that's how far he has separated us from the guilt of our iniquity. This is necessary for the gospel to operate supernaturally as an agent of transformation. Paul explained, that the realization that one is justified in the eyes of God by the faithfulness of Jesus, creates total peace with the Father (Rom 5:1.) This produces real love for God and is the catalyst for loving one's neighbor as oneself.

Heals all your diseases:

Healing is definitely a big part of the mission of Jesus Christ. Disease is a result of the fallen nature of the world and is a natural aspect of life. It is random in many ways. Still, this is one of the stated benefits that accompanies the believer and the gospel of grace. There are many testimonies of saints who have by faith and prayer have seen their diseases healed. Certainly this is an area where individual faith is important. Yes, I want to emphasize that healing is definitely a benefit of Christ, but there are also saints that for what ever reason, have not been healed, and there is a lot of spiritual abuse that has arisen from this. The important factor is that the Holy Spirit enables our faith and faith is directly connected to hope which is definitely a benefit of Christ Jesus.

Redeems your life from the pit:

One could also translate this portion of the Psalm as "redeems your life from the ditch." There are ditches and pitfalls in our lives here. However, one of the many benefits of the gospel of Jesus Christ is redemption from the pitfalls and ditches. I have experience my share of ditches and pitfalls, some that apparently just happened and some that were of my own making. I can testify beyond doubt that I have experienced redemption from them all. That is the beauty of the gospel of grace. One can rest in the fact that even if one causes the ditch, ultimately God redeems it for the saint.

Crowns you with steadfast love and mercy:

Psalm 103 also states that as high as the heavens are above the earth, so is God's steadfast love and mercy. This is one of the absolute best benefits of the Lord Jesus Christ. One can trust explicitly in the fact that God's love is unending and always there. From this love comes His mercy. James stated that God's mercy always triumphs over judgment. What a benefit that is. This is an important fact to focus on. One can rest in, rely on, trust in, and have settled confidence in God's infinite mercy.

Satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's:

So many ministers make prosperity the focus of their gospel. In fact, it is referred to as the prosperity gospel. However, it is one of the benefits of the gospel of grace. It is unfortunate that so many put undue focus on it to the exclusion of emphasis on redemption and forgiveness. However, in its proper place, it is a beneficial fact of the gospel. All of the promises and NONE of the curses of Deuteronomy 28 are a part of the benefits of Christ Jesus and the gospel of grace. These benefits are predicated on the declaration of God, the faithfulness of Jesus, and nothing else. This is a place where ones measure of faith comes into place.

The Holy Spirit enables one to believe the gospel and likewise, the Holy Spirit enables one to have the faith to apprehend all of the benefits of Christ Jesus. That is the word that best describes what takes place with the one believing the gospel. There are two important words to consider here; they are comprehend and apprehend. Comprehend means to understand and apprehend means to lay hold of and make ones own. When one is apprehended by the police, they are shackled in handcuffs and locked in an area, whether the back seat of a patrol car, an investigation room, or a cell. This is what the saint must do with these benefits. They must apprehend, lay hold of, arrest, and make ones own the benefits of Christ and the gospel of grace/kingdom.

The accuser of the brothers and sisters

Rev 12:10-11 NETV  "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the ruling authority of his Christ, have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, the one who accuses them day and night before our God, has been thrown down.  (11)  But they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die."

An instructive question comes to mind with this passage. Who was accusing the brothers and sisters day and night before God? The answer to the question is the unbelieving Jewish leadership. It becomes even more interesting when one understands that both Jesus and John the Baptist called the Jewish leadership, a brood of vipers, or in other words, the seed of the Serpent. Here is an undeniable tie between Satan, religion, and religious leaders.

They were accusing them of blasphemy, worshipping a false God, and heresy, but mostly they were accusing them of being sinners. When will we wake up and realize that religion and the religious mindset is the handiwork of Satan. Today, in most assemblies, the accuser of the brothers and sisters stands up at the pulpit. Instead of proclaiming the gospel of grace, they instead, look at the law and find multiple reasons to accuse. All of this in light of the obvious teaching against it by Paul.

Here's what Paul taught:

• Christ is the end of the law for righteousness for those who believe
• God cancelled the written requirements that were against the believer by nailing it to the cross
• Paul knew that the letter killed while the Spirit gave life
• The Jews tried to establish their own righteousness and did not submit to the righteousness of God
• Believers are justified by the faith of Christ Jesus
• There is no condemnation for anyone in Christ Jesus
• God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not counting trespasses/sin
• Made the one who knew no sin to be made sin for those that would become the righteousness of God in Christ

Above is just a portion of what Paul taught about the gospel of grace, and he went on to tell the Corinthians that he had determined to know nothing among them save Jesus Christ crucified. So why are so many of the sermons continually accusatory? Why is it that the brothers and sisters are accused every time they enter a sanctuary. Think about that, a sanctuary is a place of refuge and safety and week after week the saints go to the sanctuary to be beat up and accused. You must admit that there is something drastically wrong.

You hear a lot of individuals from the Pentecostal ranks speaking of the strong man in the demonic realm. I have maintained, and I know beyond doubt that I am one hundred percent correct on this that the strong man is the demon of religion. The main avenue that Satan uses to accuse is religion. It is a perversion of the truth. It has elements of truth, and it seems very right to the human mind, but it is antithetical to the gospel message.

Satan quotes scripture, Satan interprets scripture, Satan uses scripture to accuse the sisters and brothers. It is his most effective tool. But perhaps, Satan's biggest triumph is that he uses gospel preachers and pastors, unwittingly I believe, but uses them none the less to accuse the children of the kingdom.

No doubt some are saying but Paul was accusatory was he not? What about all the passages in Paul that speak of how the saint should behave? To that, I say that evangelical/orthodox dogma has not properly understood Paul in light of the redemptive decrees that I stated above in bullet form. If the way church doctrine treats the redemptive decrees is correct then it is doubtful that anyone is really saved, but we know, by the witness of the Holy Spirit within us, that we are in fact children of God. The reason is that God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us bears witness with our Spirit that we are in fact children of God, and guess what, it is the job of the accuser to bring doubt. I repeat. Why do so called gospel ministers do Satan's dirty work? It comes from erroneous teaching and thinking.

James, (don't get me started on the most misunderstood text in the scripture,) said the following: Jas 3:1 NRSV "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." Yes, if you say your called to the gospel ministry, and rarely or never preach the gospel, you need to worry about the fact that you will one day have to answer to God/Christ for what you taught and how you taught it and who you accused.

But back to the idea that Paul, James, John, Peter, the author of Hebrews appear to accuse the brothers and sisters as well. Those passages of the New Testament deal with a question that many if not all asked when hearing and believing the gospel of grace. The question is simply this: Based on unmerited reconciliation, HOW THEN SHALL WE LIVE/WALK/ACT? The first century apostles and prophets DID NOT believe for a minute that their dealing with this question would be codified in a legal/constitutional way. This can be studied and proved but most of the minister's are too prideful and hardheaded to look at it differently than they currently do, and because of this, they become accusers of the brothers and sisters week after week.

Transformation, metamorphosis: The gospel mystery now being revealed: Part 2

In the previous post, (I will place a link to it at the bottom of this one,) I began explaining the transformation process. By that, I mean the supernatural way that the Holy Spirit transforms the saint through the gospel of grace. I want to emphasize once again for the sake of clarity that the gospel of the kingdom, the gospel of God, the gospel of Christ is the gospel of grace as explained by the Apostle Paul. There is no other gospel. This is to combat those who insist that the gospel is more than the forgiveness of sin by the death, burial and most importantly the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Rom 12:1-2 NRSV  "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  (2)  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect."

"A mystery now being revealed" is part of the title of this post. The mystery that is now being revealed, illuminated... is best explained by the difference between conforming and being transformed. Conforming is something that one does themselves, and transforming is something that happens without the effort of the person. When you look at the word meaning for the original intended audience in the New Testament passage above, the difference becomes distinct and clear. Conform is the Greek word, is συσχηματίζω, suschēmatizō it means to fashion oneself. Transform is μεταμορφόω, metamorphoō it means change, transfigure, transform and is an action that is from a force outside of the person being transformed.

The illumination of the mystery previously not known stems from not properly understanding the transformation process. The question that needs answering is how is the saint transformed? What is the transforming agent? Well the obvious answer is the Holy Spirit is that agent, but how does the Holy Spirit bring about the change, the transformation? This is the mystery that is now being revealed/illuminated. Current evangelical/orthodox doctrine and dogma does not give and answer to the how. It is heretofore a mystery. Oh, there have been explanations but they are not satisfactory because they really do not explain the how. The conventional evangelical/orthodox explanation is that the Holy Spirit, spiritually enables the transformation. This explanation still leaves a mystery. The mystery is exactly how does the Holy Spirit do this?

Here is the illuminated explanation of the transformation process. The Holy Spirit uses the message of the gospel of grace to transform the individual. The Holy Spirit enables one to believe the gospel. Believing the gospel message brings peace with the Father. The way it brings peace with the Father is by explaining that one is justified before God by the faith of Jesus Christ. Rom 5:1 NRSV  "Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," This is one of the most important concepts that Paul gets across to the saint.

The fact is that people are justified by the faith/faithfulness of Christ. Gal 2:16 NET  Gal 2:16  yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. I had to use the NET version of the bible for this scripture passage because only the NET, KJV, and the YLT render it faith of Christ. I can assure you, with my limited understanding of Greek that it is faith of and not faith in Christ. The other versions render it faith in Christ for theological and not grammatical reasons as in the Greek text it is most definitely the faith of Christ and not faith in Christ. You can draw your own conclusions as to why they changed it to faith in Christ. In any case, it has added to the perpetuation of the mystery. Once one realizes that they are justified before God by the faith OF Christ or Christ's faith, rather than ones faith in Christ, the dynamic changes drastically. Understanding this fact is truly a catalyst for having peace with God. The peace comes from the realization that justification is something that God did in Christ separate from other human effort.

Peace with God is the first step the Holy Spirit uses in the transformation process. The second is love for God. By this I mean genuine love for God absent fear. The apostle John explained it this way. 1Jn 4:10 NRSV  "in this is the love, not that we loved God, but that He did love us, and did send His Son a propitiation for our sins." It is peace with God based on justification because of the faith of Jesus that causes real love for God. It does so by being perfect love, God's love agape. It is God's perfect love that works in the transformation process. 1Jn 4:18 NRSV  "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love." Being justified by the faith of Christ reduces fear of punishment. The gospel of grace sets the mind of the saint at ease with regard to being acceptable and pleasing to God. Unconditional forgiveness is the second thing that the Holy Spirit uses to bring about transformation. 

For the transformation to properly take place it is necessary for the saint to hear the gospel message over and over. The gospel is what the Holy Spirit uses to supernaturally transform the saint from fear of God to love for God. This is the source of real transformation. Unfortunately, because it has been a mystery, the saint has been left to conform to the Christian life by trying to do it on their own with a read and do mentality, and an explanation that if they read and do, the Holy Spirit will enable them in their doing. That is not the function of the Holy Spirit. The read and do mentality makes the saint a victim of having their spirit killed by the letter, and unfortunately, there are not many congregations and denominations that bring the spirit back to life with the gospel message.

So what is the answer to this dilemma? The answer is for those who are the responsible leadership in congregations, denominations and assemblies, to make sure that the gospel of grace is proclaimed every-time the believers meet. I have preached the gospel to many different assemblies in my life, and I have never met a seasoned saint who told me that they did not need to hear the gospel. Rather, they rejoice and are re-invigorated spiritually every time they hear it. For what it is worth, in 20 some years of preaching, I have never stood before a congregation without making the gospel of Christ my main focus. The result has always been the same. There is spiritual rejoicing and spiritual rejuvenation that takes place every time. One can include the blessings of Abraham, prosperity, healing along with the gospel as they are natural outflows from believing the gospel. I have done that often, but always, the main focus was the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The gospel that explains that God was IN Jesus Christ, reconciling the WORLD to Himself. He imputed the sin of the world to Jesus in the cross event, and He imputed the righteousness of Jesus perfect faith to all who believe the gospel.

How much clearer can I make it?

Link to part one
https://paradigmshift-jmac.blogspot.com/2019/10/transformation-metamorphosis-gospel_20.html

Transformation, metamorphosis: The gospel mystery now being revealed

(Rom 16:25) NRSV  "Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages"

(Col 1:26) NRSV  "the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints."

I use the above passages to show how important illumination of mystery is in the gospel message. Paul uses the word mystery in 18 different verses. The word he used is musterian, a secret. The whole concept of progressive revelation suggests that there are secrets periodically revealed. So that I don't alienate any readers who think that revelation has ended, I will simply state that I believe the Holy Spirit has ILLUMINATED for me this previously unrevealed mystery. Most all believers accept the premise of Holy Spirit illumination. So, whether it is revelation or illumination is not important. The important aspect is progressive knowledge of the meaning of scriptural passages provided by the Holy Spirit supernaturally to the saints.

With this in mind let's take a look at the concept of transformation and the transformation of the saint by the gospel of grace. Paul wrote in Romans: (Rom 12:2) NRSV "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect." We can get clarification on this from the gospel of John. Joh 6:39-40 NRSV  "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.  (40)  This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day." So let's answer an obvious question, renew the mind to what?

When Paul speaks of the mercies of God in verse one of Romans twelve, he is referring to the gospel of grace. Let me reiterate here something I state over and over in this blog. The gospel of grace IS the gospel of the kingdom, it is the gospel of God, it is the gospel of Christ and there is NO OTHER GOSPEL! I have also answered the question about what is the perfect will of God the Father. It is to believe the gospel of grace! That is a given in light of John 6:39-40.

Now, let's look at metamorphosis. It comes from the Greek word METAMORPHOO which is the word translated as transform in Romans 12:2. So then, to be transformed is to undergo metamorphosis. Let's look to the caterpillar. It does not will itself to be a butterfly. It goes through a process of metamorphosis and becomes a butterfly as its nature changes from being a creepy-crawly to a beautiful winged insect, able to soar. It is not the caterpillar that causes the transformation it is a source outside itself.

This is an excellent metaphor for the transformation of the saints of God from creepy-crawly creatures to beautiful winged creatures able to soar to the heights. But, what is the operation of the metamorphosis? How does the Holy Spirit transform the saint? The answer is with the gospel of grace! When one hears that they are forgiven, PAST, PRESENT,and FUTURE, this causes a complete and restful peace with God. It then transform into a deep and abiding love for God. This is how the metamorphosis works. It does not work by a read and do mentality. That is Satan's lie passed on by unwitting anti-Christs. The accuser of the brethren does so to try and destroy the catalyst for metamorphosis.

Why don't we grasp and receive this all important mystery? It shows that the saint, whether seasoned or a babe needs to hear the gospel of grace rehearsed over and over and over and over and over again!

Singing... when will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?

Link to Part 2
https://paradigmshift-jmac.blogspot.com/2019/10/transformation-metamorphosis-gospel_20.html

What is an Apostle anyway? Part 2 a look at present day Apostles and Prophets; The signs of an apostle

2Co 12:12  The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, signs and wonders and mighty works.

Paul explains the signs of a true apostle, and Acts chapter 14 explains the purpose of the signs. Act 14:3 NRSV So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through them. I have underlined the important fact. God testified of the WORD OF HIS GRACE, in other words, testified of truth of the gospel by granting signs and wonders to be performed by the apostles. In this case, the apostle's written about were Paul and Barnabas.

It would be correct to conclude that the only reason that God would grant signs and wonders to modern day apostles would be to testify and confirm the word of His grace, the gospel. However, so many modern day apostles rarely mention the gospel of Christ. They are busy establishing their authority and teaching people to obey their every word and command. There is little or no focus on the gospel. I'm sure they would tell you that they spend their time teaching believers, and that seasoned saints don't need to hear the gospel, and to that I simply say.... Oh... is that right? The answer is a definite no it is not right. So called seasoned saints need to hear the gospel message often as it is the catalyst that produces true love transformation in their lives. This is not the focus of many modern day apostles and so you have to ask yourself, apostles? …. apostles of who?

Let me be clear. I am not against modern day apostles. I do not believe that Ephesians 4:13-14 has ever been fulfilled, and this being the case modern day apostles are necessary if that scripture is ever to be fulfilled. After all, Ephesians NRSV 4:13-14 is the reason that Jesus gave the apostolic gift to humanity. Let me post this passage so that you don't have to look it up at this time: Eph 4:13-14 NRSV  "until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.  (14)  We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming." Let's face it, with 30,000 plus denominations this has not been fulfilled yet. The fact is that many modern day apostles are actually adding to the problem not solving it.

So then what should the modern day apostle be doing you ask? The answer is the same thing Paul and Barnabas did in the first century. They should be staying in one place a long time proclaiming the word of God's grace and allowing God to testify and confirm their preaching by real signs and wonders, the signs of a true apostle.

Which brings me to the signs and wonders being performed by apostles that do not spend all of their time proclaiming the word of God's grace. One must extrapolate that they are what Paul called sings and lying wonders in 2Thess 2:9. Yes, back then, in the first century there were apostles roaming about teaching all sorts of stuff except the gospel of grace. And by the power of Satan were performing signs and lying wonders... something to think about?

It is interesting to me because when I read 2Thess 2, I immediately see how it is a metaphor for all of the spiritually abusive ministries that exist today. Some man or woman, has set themselves up in the temple of God (the church) demanding to be worshipped like God, claiming to speak directly for God....

More to come, the Spirit is not done talking to me on this subject... She/he who has an ear!

What is an Apostle anyway? Part 1 a look at present day Apostles and Prophets

I feel led by the Spirit to begin a series that explains the calling and function of an apostle. There are many apostles today within the evangelical body of Christ. They are mostly in the Pentecostal movement or various iterations of that movement. It would be good to have a working definition. It is much easier to define prophets as we have a better grasp of the prophetic function. So let's see if we can do the same for apostles.

First, let's look at the Greek word, and its meaning in the first century. The word is Apostolos, ἀπόστολος; it means a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent. It is important to see that the apostle is an ambassador of the gospel. Paul called it the ministry of reconciliation (2Cor 5:18.) So then, an apostle is the ambassador of reconciliation and the message of reconciliation. The miraculous power was granted to establish the truthfulness of the gospel of grace (Acts 14:3.) It should not be difficult to understand that any miracles today would be the result of the same thing if in fact they are signs and wonders from God and not lying signs and wonders.

Secondly, the apostles were foundational to the gospel. Eph 2:19-20 NRSV  "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God,  (20)  built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone." They were the ones who taught and explained the gospel of God's grace. One only needs to look at the sermon that Peter delivered to the Gentile's at Cornelius' house to understand the content of the gospel message. Here it is in its entirety: Act 10:34-43 NRSV  "Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality,  (35)  but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.  (36)  You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.  (37)  That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced:  (38)  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.  (39)  We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;  (40)  but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear,  (41)  not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.  (42)  He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.  (43)  All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." This message completely squares with what Paul wrote in 1Cor 15:1-4. When the Gentiles at Cornelius' house heard what Peter said and believed it, they immediately received the Holy Spirit. This, and nothing else is the foundational message of the gospel and foundational apostles will proclaim this message.

It is however important to understand, that the apostle Paul, and the other apostles were transitional apostles. They were all awaiting the fulfillment of the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. They were awaiting the New Jerusalem. Paul explained in Galatians that the true Jerusalem was the Jerusalem from above which was the mother of all, both Jews and Gentiles. The Jerusalem that existed in the natural world was in bondage. Thus, much of the existence of the churches in the transitional period was dealing with the struggles of the natural world in view of the gospel of grace and the hope of the New Jerusalem. 

It appeared to the observer at the time that God had two different programs coexisting at one time. He had the unbelieving Jews who were Torah Observant and dependent on the temple and temple sacrifices for forgiveness. On the other hand, God likewise had the believing Jews and Gentiles that were forgiven based on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. The former being a picture of the latter. They were awaiting a time when God would put his stamp of approval on the believing Jews and Gentiles. This would happen with the prophesied destruction of the temple. The author of the epistle to the Hebrews explained it this way: Heb 9:8 NLT  "By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use." The destruction of the temple would show once and for all who the children of God really were. In other words, the destruction of the temple would bring about the awaited manifestation of the sons and daughters of God. I will use the NLT once again to illustrate this concept. It reads, Rom 8:19 NLT  "For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are." That revelation was fulfilled at the destruction of the temple.

Now before you conclude that I am anti-Semitic, let me make it perfectly clear that it was foretold both by the prophet Isaiah and the Lord himself that much/most of Israel was blinded. Paul explained the purpose. The purpose was to bring the Gentiles into the benefit of the gospel of grace. Let me be clear, the gospel of grace is the gospel of the kingdom. 

So how does this relate to foundational apostles? The answer is simple. The New Jerusalem was available from the destruction of the temple forward. However, if it is not realized or believed, it will not be manifested. And, it was not realized or believed and therefore was not manifested. Here is where the importance of foundational apostles and prophets comes to the forefront. They are needed to explain the reality of what is possible with the gospel of grace.  The kingdom of God is based solely on God's grace and his gracious gift of imputed righteousness. In the passage above from Act's 10, Peter spoke of the fact that through Jesus the message of peace was preached. Paul explains in Romans 5:1 that being declared righteous brings peace with God. As I have explained many times in this blog, it is peace with God the Father that produces love for God the Father, and it is love for God the Father that transforms people into loving beings. 

Therefore, foundational apostles should be explaining to all, that through Christ, we are ALL the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise to Abraham. What was the promise? "I will bless those who bless thee, and I will curse those who curse thee, and in thy Seed, (Abraham's Seed,) all the families of the world will be blessed. It is by the gospel of grace that all the benefits of Abraham are passed onto the children of men, and true foundational apostles will know and teach this. This makes the fruit of the Spirit very important. If one is not constantly promoting, love, joy and peace, they are not acting as a foundational apostle.

The gospel shows a way in which all the blessings of Deu 28 and none of the curses are the inheritance of the saints. Foundational apostles should be explaining this. As this series goes forward, I will explain how prosperity and well being are wrapped up in the gospel of grace. More to come.....

Apostle, if your focus is not the gospel of grace and its transforming power then you ain't an apostle of Christ!

Rom 1:1-5 NRSV  "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,  (2)  which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,  (3)  the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh  (4)  and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,  (5)  through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name,"

There are many present truth apostles these days. Most of them do not focus, dare I say rarely mention, the gospel of grace and the transformation it will bring. Quite frankly, if one is not continually proclaiming the gospel of grace they are NOT, I repeat NOT an apostle of Christ Jesus! They are claiming and chasing signs and wonders. However, the scripture plainly states that the purpose of signs and wonders is to establish the truth of the gospel of grace. Act 14:3 NRSV "So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through them." Yes, I will admit that many of the modern day apostles perform signs and wonders, but are they lying signs and wonders? I think they are because they DO NOT LAST!

These apostles continue to promote the schizophrenic gospel that requires people to do all sorts of things themselves. When people don't get healed, they simply say that the person's faith was not strong enough. That sounds like a cop out to me. If the person is healed or they receive a miraculous request then the apostle is great. If they do not, then simply the person, not the apostle, did not have enough faith. But in Acts 3:1-9 you can read a story where Peter the apostle's faith healed the lame man. Again, as explained in Acts 14:3 it was done to establish the truth of the gospel that Peter was preaching.

Apostles should be building on the foundation of the gospel of Christ. Yes, they should be foundational apostles. The foundation is the pristine gospel of grace. It is the gospel that explains that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. It is the fact of reconciliation that brings forth all of the miracles. The prosperity promises of Deu 28 are available in Christ and the gospel. They are NOT predicated on law obedience. They are strictly predicated on the obedience of faith. That is what Paul stated that he was assigned to facilitate. Romans 1:5 in the passage above said that he was set apart for the gospel of God to bring about the obedience of faith. Faith in what? Faith for the sake of faith? No! Faith in the gospel of God's grace.

I see people these days chasing after these apostles and prophets looking for a miracle. They have itching ears and gullible hearts. They want to vicariously put faith in another person to receive their miracle. What they most certainly need to do is put faith in the gospel of God's grace and rest completely in the finished work of the cross! This will bring about all they desire. Hear me well, a true apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ will constantly be preaching Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. Every message, let me repeat this to be clear, every message.... EVERY MESSAGE... should be a resurrection message!

Apostles should be encouraging churches to continuously proclaim the gospel and rest in it. If they did this they would find that they would have the real anointing and they would see that the real anointing produces the fruit of the Spirit.... by their fruits they will be known.... the fruits are Love, Joy, and Peace!

The most grossly misunderstood book in the New Testament.

Jas 2:14-26 NRSV  "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him?  (15)  If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food  (16)  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?  (17)  In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.  (18)  But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works.  (19)  You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.  (20)  Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?  (21)  Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar?  (22)  You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete,  (23)  and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.  (24)  You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.  (25)  In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route?  (26)  For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."
James is the most misunderstood book in evangelical Christianity. The reason is that little or no consideration is given to the occasion of the writing or the intended audience. Likewise, the position and era of the author is completely overlooked.

Let's first address the audience and occasion. The audience was strictly a Jewish church in Jerusalem. James was the apostle to the Jews. Secondly, it was addressed at a time when there was great persecution going on in Jerusalem, especially for the Jewish believers. There was a lot of poverty in Jerusalem at the time of the writing of James. Paul spent a vast amount of energy taking up a collection for the saints in Jerusalem. One of the reasons for the poverty was that the believing Jews were ostracized and put at an economic disadvantage by the unbelieving Jews. Another according to Acts was that there was a severe famine. James is addressing a specific type of work in this passage. It is a work of mercy and compassion. It is most definitely NOT works of the law. It is only about law obedience to the degree that it is addressing the commandment to "love thy neighbor as thyself." After all, Jesus addresses this very thing as the reason for judgment in Matthew 25:31-46. He went on to say in this passage that, when one feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, gives shelter to the homeless, they are actually doing it unto or for him.

Now comes the problem; for the most part, evangelical Christianity treats James as if it were written to us today. There is little understanding of the historical context. It is important to realize that the first century Jewish believers were awaiting the destruction of the temple and a time when God would put his stamp of approval on them. Yet, the unbelieving Jews under the old covenant were still God's people, and they were doing what they thought was right by the scripture that they had available to them. They were quite simply unaware of the purpose of the law, and the real mission of the Messiah. Therefore, since they were trying their best to be righteous by the law, it only makes sense that the believing Jews would be encouraged to be as law abiding as possible. I am not suggesting that anyone should be lawless. I realize that the gospel provides the solution for being far more loving, which would, if properly believed and utilized, make one love one's neighbor as oneself.

Therefore, it can be concluded that faith without the accompanying love works would be dead or completely ineffective. There is no separation here between James and Paul as some suggest. Paul does a lot more to explain the way in which the gospel of grace works to transform than James does here, but remember, James' audience was already very accustomed to strictly obeying the law of Moses. It was not law works that was in question.  As Jesus made clear in his criticism of the scribes and Pharisees, all too often their law obedience lacked any kind of love motivation. He was simply reminding the Jewish believers that love and charity toward the less fortunate was the prime directive. After all, it was what Jesus said they would be judged by (Matt 25:31-46.)

It should be clear that the current evangelical use of James is off the mark and in total error. That should not be surprising because so much of evangelical dogma is completely off the mark and misses the point of the New Testament Scripture. This is due in large part to an insane insistence on a legal constitutional reading, and an operational manual reading of the scripture. My hope is that evangelicals will wake up to the truth and repent of their erroneous ways.

What Luke and Acts tell us about the Gospel of the Kingdom

Luke 1:1-4 NRSV  Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us,  (2)  just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,  (3)  I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,  (4)  so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.

Act 1:1-5  In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning (2)  until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.  (3)  After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.  (4)  While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me;  (5)  for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Two New Testament books are most instructive in piecing together what first century Christianity was, and how it related to first century Judaism. They are of course, The Gospel of Luke, and The Acts of the Apostles. The reason is they were both written by Luke. There is little evidence to disbelieve that Luke was the author of both, and a substantial amount of evidence to believe that he was the author. What he clearly states is that he set out as a reporter that investigated the material from first hand sources. Given this, Luke becomes a most reliable source.

It also must be noted that Luke the physician was a companion of Paul's and was mentioned in his epistles. Therefore, it can easily be concluded that Luke got a lot of the input for his writing from Paul. But, Paul was not an actual eye-witness to the earthly ministry of Jesus and therefore Luke consulted others that were with Paul. Several biblical scholars believe that his chief eye-witness was Mary the mother of Jesus herself. This makes sense to me because there is no mention that his mother brothers and sisters thought that he might be out of his mind  when they went to find him as was portrayed in the Mark account. It seems likely to me that Mary would leave that part out.

John MacArthur, wrote a book entitled "The Gospel According to Jesus." In it, he emphasized the law aspects of Jesus message and, in my view, laid waste to the gospel message. What he did not consider for a minute was the transition that takes place in the New Testament. This transition is most obvious in the two works written by Dr. Luke. One could conclude that Luke wrote about two different gospels. That is not what happened at all. He merely as a good historical reporter finding the facts and presented them as they were. The facts he uncovered and wrote down show the transition very well.

Luke begins with the last Jewish Old Covenant Prophet John the Baptist. Luke presents the story of his birth, calling, and the miracles surrounding his birth and upbringing. He was the prophet that was foretold in Isaiah, "a voice of one crying in the wilderness make way for the Lord." It was a strictly Jewish message to a strictly Jewish audience. He was a prophet to the Jews, before the cross/resurrection event, and thereby was strictly Old Covenant. Jesus said as much. Luke NRSV 7:26-28  "What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  (27)  This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'  (28)  I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." Jesus states simply and clearly that while John the Baptist was the greatest Old Covenant prophet he was not in the kingdom per se, and was not a gospel of the kingdom prophet.

Luke then takes up the mission and ministry of the Lord himself.  Now it should be very interesting that Luke did not dwell too much on Jesus teaching about the Mosaic Law. There is indeed a contrast between the story that Luke tells and the story that Matthew tells. The reason most scholars give for the difference was that Matthew wrote to a strictly Jewish audience and Luke wrote to a Gentile and Hellenic Jew audience. However, this also shows that there was not as strong an emphasis placed on the law as evangelical orthodox dogma suggests. Most of the references to the Law in Luke's gospel are concerning Jesus birth and youth. However, Luke did record this interesting statement by Jesus: Luke 16:16  "The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force." According to Jesus the Law was in effect until the end of the mission of John the Baptist. The writer of Hebrews explains that it was fading or passing because it was obsolete and would SOON disappear (Heb 8:13.) It would disappear when the temple was destroyed (Heb 9:8.)

Moving on to The Acts of the Apostles, there are several sermons recorded there. Most notably are those of Peter. He preached the gospel to the Jews on Pentecost, and to the Gentiles at Cornelius' house. The complete content of his gospel message in both instances was the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. This also agrees with what Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 1 Cor 15:1-4. Likewise, you have Paul stating that he determined to know nothing among the Corinthians except Jesus Christ crucified, again the gospel of grace. Finally, Paul states this:  Col 2:6-7 NRSV "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him,  (7)  rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." How did they receive Jesus? The answer is by the obedience of faith. It is clear to see that the gospel of the kingdom was in fact the gospel of grace and nothing else.

People who want the gospel of the kingdom to be more than faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus often throw out the phrase "easy believism." Every time I hear or read that phrase I have to roll my eyes and shake my head. There was nothing easy about Jesus perfect faith in the Father. He believed that in spite of the ridicule and torture that he was the unique Son of God that had a special redemptive mission. It was his perfect faith that pleased the Father. How do we know this? Because the writer of Hebrews explained that without faith it is impossible to please the Father.

So back to the "easy believism" accusation; it is not easy to believe that God declares us righteous, which means justifies us, based on faith alone. Yet, that is precisely what Paul states in Romans 5:1. It just doesn't seem right to the human mind. That is why there are so many that want to add to their faith in Christ with their works for justification or to prove justification. It matters little if one adds works to justify or simply uses works as proof of justification. The end result is ALWAYS the same. It results in death by the killing letter of the law. The gospel of the kingdom operates in a very different manner. The person who hears the gospel, believes that they have been declared righteous by the Father, that they indeed have peace with God as the result of this reconciliation, will automatically love God based on the content of the gospel message. This presents a challenge however, we need to hear the message of the gospel over and over. Every time it is preached, it ALWAYS has the same exact effect. It promotes peace and love for God the Father. Upon hearing the gospel message one automatically fulfills the greatest commandment.

This is why the writer of Hebrews admonished his intended audience to not forsake the assembling of themselves. It was to hear and rehearse the gospel over and over and not for the purpose that most churches today try to force people to be in the church every time the door opens. It was the source of renewal for the Spirit life. The saint is in continual rebirth. We are freshly born of the Spirit each and every time we hear the gospel of grace. It is not that we become spiritually dead in between hearing the gospel message, rather it is that in hearing it we become revitalized. I pray to the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, that the saints of God will awaken to this fact, that they will forsake the leaven of the Pharisees, that they will set aside the strong delusion, and will renew their commitment to the gospel of grace which is the gospel of the kingdom.