Tag: Daily Walk

Make no Provision for the Flesh

On By TimIn Love, Romans 13, SinLeave a comment

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.

Romans 13:14

Pervious to this verse, Paul is exhorting the Roman church to act correctly. Not because of legalism, or to put on a show of righteousness. No. Proper behavior has an edifying effect. In it, there is also no way for the fleshly desires to be fulfilled.

As follow up to the recent post on love and lust where I did mention how serving desire was the downfall of Eve (and eventually Adam,) it is necessary to show exactly how difficult doing the right thing is for Adam’s race.

I know the popular phrases with the loaded baggage. It is why those phrases are just wrong to use. One that immediately comes to mind is original sin. If it was just about what Adam did to bring corruption into perfection, that’s one thing. Most often, it is used to burden the entire race with the moral culpability from Adam’s sin. That’s clearly not the case. We did not inherit sin or immorality.

As a result of that error, some lay the moral failures of humanity on Adam. They blame him for all the carousing and carrying on in sin that is rampant these days. That is not the case either. But is exposes another flub, we did not inherit a sin nature.

Humans inherited corrupt flesh and the knowledge of good and evil.

Corruption of the Flesh

The sin of Adam introduced corruption into the perfect creation. It also disturbed his genome. While the Bible doesn’t actually come out and say that Adam poisoned himself, there are enough clues to infer that may indeed be the case why humans die. It comes here:

Out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, along with the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:9

Adam was given every tree that was deemed good for food to eat (as food.) There were two trees that did not fit this category. They are named in that text. Neither were given as good for food.

Eve deemed the fruit of the tree of good and evil by its appearance. She considered it good for food and consumed it.

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasing to the eyes and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:6

This needs some considerable attention. More than just a flippant Adam’s original sin brought all humanity a sin nature. If there is a sin nature inherited from Adam which brings death to all, why did his woman eventually die?

Some understanding of inheritance of traits by genetics can help. Human males have a XY chromosomes and human females have XX chromosomes. It would not be an incorrect inference that the three X chromosomes would be identically perfect. Eve was made of Adam’s rib, therefore all of them came from Adam. And before the fall. If the fruit poisoned the genetics of both because it was not to be used for food, that explains why lifespans were encumbered by death for both. Eve didn’t inherit sin from Adam, nor did she receive addled genetics from him.

Entropy entered their genetics fulfilling God’s warning they would die. He literally said, “Dying you shall die.” Which is an apt definition of entropy.

The Knowledge of Good and Evil

The knowledge of good and evil became part of the human experience.

For years I struggled with the idea that evil here is equivalent to moral failure or even sin. It didn’t make sense that this kind of knowledge is reserved for God. God is not immoral at all. In reality, we know what is moral not by the law.., But by Who He is.

As with all of those times spent grappling with the words in the Bible, eventually the Truth was revealed. The knowledge of good and evil is better understood as knowing good and calamity. Or the difference in how to alleviate or not experience calamity, and make and experience calamity.

To put it like that previous post entails, it would be called the knowledge of love and lust.

When loving others as God loves us sacrificially, it is doing good to them. It is to look after another’s interest and well-being first. As Paul wrote in our introductory verse, doing that makes no provision for the flesh.

But when we seek to satisfy our desires, it brings calamity on ourselves and most likely on others, too.

That is what putting on Christ is… Sacrificially caring for others purposefully and unconditionally with reckless abandon. Just as Jesus did, not counting Himself and His well being first.

Consider God’s top ten… It is correct to look at the list from top to down. What lies at the foundation of the list is startling.

Do not covet.

I am going to say that almost every single has its foundation in coveting. We want something that is not ours. Eve did it. Adam did it. We do it because we are looking to satisfy ourselves and our own felt needs, often with no regard to others.

What Adam and Eve did not have to go with the knowledge of good and evil were the skills necessary for that knowledge. That is the entirety of the Bible. Because we don’t know how to use the knowledge we must be taught. Paul said “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Do things the right way.

If coveting comes from lustful desires (not just sexual) then is it any wonder that such thinking is hostile expulsion of God. Adam and Eve ran to hide from God.

Good and evil.

Love and lust.

Spirit and flesh.

In these, the latter is to exclude the former. Therefore, if one looks after their own needs first, such is not spiritually minded. One cannot be in that.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, for the carnal mind is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:5–8

We must be mindful to do better, every day.

Ardent, Vehement, Yet Fully Tender and Intimate

On By TimIn 1 John 02, Love2 Comments

Brothers, I am writing no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning. Yet a new commandment I am writing to you, which holds true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

1 John 2:7–8

I am thinking over the things that were discussed at a recent meeting meeting. It was a many-faceted, yet casual talk over biblical doctrines on marriage, divorce, gender, and sexuality. These tend to be sensitive subjects. Of course, questions came from the audience considering hypothetical situations. Some of those questions seemed to drift off-topic.

These personal situations and concerns seem to be directed toward the symptoms of a deeper problem. One that, a proper foundation may provide answers even before questions come. John did just that in his first epistle as will be shown. He is going to demonstrate the differences between love and lust. (The latter has a broader application than most consider.)

John is referencing the old commandment…

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:18

The new commandment is now very much central to the teaching Jesus gave. It is not just to love each other, but to love others in the selfless, steadfast way the Father loves the Son. It is the same way Jesus loves us. That is, even to the point of dying for others.

Somehow the latter part is missed by a majority of Christians these days.

Whoever says he is in the light but hates his brother is in darkness even until now. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 2:9–11

John is using words that may be unsettling to some. But to be indifferent and even dismissive towards another is to walk in darkness. It is difficult to come to terms with that. Darkness tends to blind us, just as Paul instructed in the first chapter of his epistle to the Roman church. That principle is that sin suppresses the knowledge of God. Sin blinds indiscriminately. That is why the counsel is to be circumspect.

I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake.
I am writing to you, fathers,
because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I am writing to you, little children,
because you have known the Father.
I have written to you, fathers,
because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.

1 John 2:12–14

I find it apropos that John is calling out to men… Fathers and young men. He is not questioning their Christianity at all. He is challenging them to a different way of abiding as a real-life epistle that others may read.

Look again, John uses a rhetorical device of repetition. This is to emphasize the importance of what he is writing. Not just that, he is drawing laser-focused attention to his audience… Men!

Why?

We think that love and hate are opposites. Indifference actively opposes love. As does dismissiveness.

The kind of love John is speaking of is commonly understood by the Greek word used… Agape. That Greek term is used in the Septuagint to translation the Hebrew word ahab. Both terms are meant to convey a sacrificial and unconditional, ardent and vehement inclination of the mind toward others. It comes with tenderness and fullness of affection. It is an act of the will, meaning one chooses to love others not because of who they are or even what they do. Love sacrifices self for the well-being of others.

This is what John is calling Christians to. It is severely absent these days, and waning more every day.

As an aside, Hebrew has some peculiarities that draws attention. One of those is about that Hebrew word ahab. This word construction has nuances that are staggering. The proto-Hebrew used symbols as representing letter sounds. These figures were not unlike Egyptian hieroglyphics. These symbols were combined to make words. Yet each individual pictogram in itself conveys meaning. (I know scholars tend to dismiss this as hokey.) But knowing the meanings behind those pictograms can help us grasp the meaning of a Hebrew word.

The first letter of ahab is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet aleph. It was drawn like the head of a bull. With that, the letter generally coveys the idea of head or first, as in leader. The last letter of ahab is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is beth. It is drawn Like an upside-down v, symbolic of a tent. Think Bethlehem, which means house of bread. Taking the aleph and the beth together is a familiar Hebrew word, ab. Ab is the Hebrew word for father, generally considered the leader of the house.

That’s fascinating. But insert the Hebrew letter heh between the aleph and beth to make ahab. Heh means breath. God added heh to both Abram’s and Sarai’s name. It can also mean the very essence of something, like breath is to life. Taking that together ahab is the essence of the Father.

God is Love.

But you knew that. My hope is for you the reader to understand the astounding love lavished on us by the Father. Nothing is ever wasted with Him.

Since we are to be about our Father’s business. We are to lavish that kind of love on others.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:15

Here is where John drives the point to home. It is the age-old conflict between God’s program… Love; and the enemy’s program desire from flesh. That was the trick used to get Eve, awaken desire in her flesh. Desire is not necessarily sexual.

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1 John 2:16

The desire of the flesh is to satisfy itself. Hunger makes us want to eat. That is why fasting is important, as it teaches us that we can master desire by will.

The desire of the eyes is the basis of not just sexual sins. It is really based in coveting. Wanting something that is not ours.

That’s what the world does. That’s the enemy’s program.

Love is an act of the will.

Lust or desire is caving into the wants of the flesh.

The English language tends to be very precise, but these two words as used contemporarily, are not. They come with sensual baggage, and are often confused and conflated, as if they go together.

In English, lust almost always is used in a sexual nature. This adds confusion with the word love, too. This is especially true in conversations about marriage, divorce, gender, and sexuality.

Yet the way the Bible uses them is in a stark contrast. It is simple.

Love always seeks to sacrifice self to what is best for others. Just as Jesus did for us.

Lust (or desire) seeks what is best for self with little and often no regard to others.

I think that when questions arise about marriage, divorce, sexuality, gender identity, and even personal relationships… They should first be sorted. Is it love or lust?

I think any questions will almost always be answered there.

The Demons Believe and Tremble

On By TimIn Faith, James 02Leave a comment

You believe that there is one God; you do well. The demons also believe and tremble.

James 2:19

This is one of those often misunderstood and misapplied verses of the Bible. This is just like the misused idea from the epistle in Revelation 3 where Jesus likens the Church of Laeodicia as lukewarm. There are many that shame and browbeat believers with it. The same idea is true with this matriculate verse in James 2.

It is employed by some as a sort of proof that salvation doesn’t come by belief, when it isn’t speaking to that at all. Some use it to scare believers with loss of salvation. Others use it to shame believers they think haven’t repented in the right way.

None of those things apply in this verse. There is significant reason to demonstrate that.

First, demons have no Kinsman and no Redeemer. They are not eligible for salvation in any way. Their belief has nothing to do with salvation, because they can’t get that. Therefore, salvation isn’t in mind here at all.

Second, the ‘good works’ a demon does earn no merit. But then, demons don’t really do good works, so… A demon’s faith doesn’t lead to good behavior, either.

The importance of what James is saying is an exhortation. Your faith can save you and lead to good things. It is good that it does. James is encouraging believers to do good things.

He is not shaming them for the wrong kind of faith… As this is almost always applied.

But those demons believe and tremble… Why?

Well, as said before… Demons have no Kinsman nor Redeemer. Salvation isn’t for them. Their rebellion has sealed their fate, as sure as Jesus rose again. They know their end in perdition comes quickly.

But a believer’s doesn’t… Ever. On the other hand, an unbeliever will ultimately get the same end as a demon, unless they change their mind.

Don’t fall for the subtle Galatian heresy that one has to do good works commensurate with the law to be saved.

Why Did God Take His People Out of Egypt?

On By TimIn Exodus 29, Holy Spirit, Israel1 Comment

That’s a question that reveals much more than one thinks.

I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, so that I may dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.

Exodus 29:45–46

God took His people out of Egypt because He could not dwell with them there. This was revealed to Moses as he was given instructions for the people to build the tabernacle. That tent would be the place where the presence of God dwelt among the people.

As Israel wandered in the wilderness, God did dwell with them. When they crossed into the Promised Land, God dwelt with them there. When Solomon built the Temple, God’s presence dwelt in Jerusalem among the people of Israel.

Knowing the Tanakh, it is clear Israel as a nation stumbled much. The struggles Israel had with sin eventually made it impossible for God to dwell among them. It’s not so much that He couldn’t or wouldn’t… It’s that their sin made them forget about Him.

I’m not saying they forgot He was there or even Who He is, they forgot to maintain that intentional relationship with Him. As even we are prone to do today, even with His presence inside of us. The corrupting influence of sin is real. It suppresses the Truth.

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth through unrighteousness.

Romans 1:18

Unrighteousness has a dangerous way of interference. With it we tend to forget about the goodness of God. In the place of that comes the reminder of the wrath of God. That knowledge can become burdensome if left to fester. As I said before, this can and does happen to believers today. We become caught in things, forgetting to maintain that relationship, and then procrastinate. The enemy uses it to shame us.

But… There is always a quick cure. Stop and fix it. Run to Him and confess your sins. Keep the tally sheet blank.

The patterns associated with this had some real consequences for the Israeli people. When the advent of their expected King came, they didn’t even know the time of visitation.

When He came near, He beheld the city and wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had known even today what things would bring you peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

Luke 19:41–42

Eventually they were given over to their blindness. Just as the Temple and Jerusalem were sacked and the people taken captive to Assyria and Babylon, it would happen again just as foretold in Daniel.

Though Israel’s lament would eventually become a blessing to the entire world. In the day of her expected visitation, Jesus taught a parable of the vineyard and vinedressers. He used it to show how the leaders of Israel were actively plotting to kill Him. They clearly understood what He said. The relationship between the vineyard owner and the vinedressers was broken, despite all that the owner had done for them. With that in mind, Jesus followed was this declaration to them.

“Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing its fruits.

Matthew 21:43

What did Jesus mean by that?

Well, just as God called His people out of Egypt, He is calling another people out of the nations of the world. All of the privileges of Israel would be taken away and given to another. Paul addressed this.

I am speaking the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen by race, who are Israelites, to whom belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises, to whom belong the patriarchs, and from whom, according to the flesh, is Christ, who is over all, God forever blessed. Amen.

Romans 9:1–5

One of those privileges is that God dwelt among the people. Another was that they had the privilege to share God with the whole world. The early church in Jerusalem knew this.

God, who knows the heart, approved of them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us, and made no distinction between them and us, and purified their hearts by faith.

Acts 15:8–9

But unlike in Israel of before the death of Jesus where the presence of God dwelt in a physical place, the presence of God would now be in the individual believer. Each of us is now the temple of the Living God.

He calls all of us out of the world. Egypt is idiomatic of the world. He does that so that He may dwell with us. The Holy Spirit is ours forever. Jesus said it.

I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Counselor, that He may be with you forever: the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, for it does not see Him, neither does it know Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you, and will be in you.

John 14:16–17

Intentions, Speaking, and Truth in Love

On By TimIn Ephesians 04, Prayer, RelationshipsLeave a comment

He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of service, and for the building up of the body of Christ, until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, into a complete man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so we may no longer be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men, by craftiness with deceitful scheming. But, speaking the truth in love, we may grow up in all things into Him, who is the head, Christ Himself, from whom the whole body is joined together and connected by every joint and ligament, as every part effectively does its work and grows, building itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:11–16

The desire of God is for all to grow to maturity. That is why Jesus said in Matthew 5 to be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. Perfect meaning to be mature or complete. Teachers and leaders help, but we must ourselves be diligent in the Word and also to speak the truth in love. Every part of the body of Christ is necessary to Its proper function. But there is something a bit deeper here. It is the intentionality that is needed to move on to maturity.

I started this post years ago and set it aside many times. I think it may have been a bit fearful in ways. However, the gist of the idea is not just using words, but the intentionality that comes with them. There are many other things I have encountered in the meantime that resoundingly reinforce the ideas here.

This post will be long and definitely drift into the blurry. Let’s set the groundwork.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Ephesians 1:3

As believers, our reality interfaces with eternity. Not only does the eternal God love in us, transcending time and space, our blessings do, too.

As Paul moves a bit further ahead, this idea is even clearer.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and He raised us up and seated us together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4–7

It’s laid plain right there. Paul says that Jesus raised us up and seated us in heavenly places. The verb tenses used for raised and seated is aorist, meaning the action is done and carries forward to present and beyond. It’s not undone. We are already seated together in a way that transcends space and time. The verbs also convey the truth that that situation cannot change.

He’s teaching us an important idea, I keep repeating it. I want it known that there is more to reality than what just meets the physical senses.

Transcending Dimensions

The first idea I want to communicate is rather grandiose. It is this idea of transcending dimensionality. What we know of our physical reality (space and time) is that it consists of four dimensions. Most understand three dimensions, height, length, and width. These are all physical properties, but there is a fourth physical property to consider. One that Einstein discovered. It is a fourth dimension called time. A proper description of the things we normally experience is the four dimensions of space-time. that is, the properties of three-dimensional objects change as time progresses. This fourth dimension gives room for movement. The three-dimensional object can move because of transdimensionality in the fourth dimension of time.

Time being a physical property of our existence also provides some peculiarities. Take looking up at the stars in the night sky. It is done in the present time, but the inescapable reality is that we are peering into the distant past. The light we see has traveled vast distances.

Consider also that the passage of time is affected by other things… Like gravity and velocity. It gets somewhat weird, but the tick-tock passing of time is contingent on the perspective of the observer. Time at sea level passes measurably slower than time on a mountaintop. It is called gravitational time dilation. This is a real observed proof of Einstein’s theory of relativity.

Granted, it is a big concept to grasp. I am certain my description is far from comprehensive, and I am trying to make the concept easier to understand. What is important to know is that the Bible has nodded to this truth long before it was affirmed by science. God stretched out the heavens. Keep all of this in mind.

It leads me to a question… Did Paul have peculiar knowledge about our four dimensions long before Einstein did?

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would give you, according to the riches of His glory, power to be strengthened by His Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:14–19

I didn’t intend this to be a study in Ephesians, but it is looking like that. But this is where we leap off into this truly mind-blowing thing. Just ponder that paragraph and what Paul is conveying. First of all, don’t ever think that being called Christian is something to be denied or avoided as if it is watered-down in meaning. Paul says it is the identity of the whole family in heaven and earth. We are named for and bear the name of Jesus Christ. That, too, transcends dimensionality.

There is more. The gift we receive personally from His riches is the Holy Spirit. He gives us the power to be strengthened in our innermost parts. Remember, Christ dwells in our hearts rooting us and grounding us in that love of His.

Now the kicker… Paul is telling us to think really big thoughts. And he is calling us all to consider the vast magnitude of the love of God. He says it surpasses knowledge. He uses four-dimensional language; breadth and length and depth and height. Paul is saying that the love of Christ fills all of space-time we can experience in this physical universe. It covers our lifespan and more. It covers all lifespans in this physical world. It’s at least that BIG. If it occupies all of that, isn’t it then transcendent?

Now… For love to be that big to fill our space-time requires a space beyond what we can now perceive naturally. The scientifically minded call these hyperspaces. For a resource that explains the concept of hyperspace far more practically, read this article from Koinonia House.

While I mention Koinonia House, they have many well-written articles that expand on this subject. Save this list for future reference. Remember, what you already have now transcends space and time.

Our conversation now takes us to what seems to be an unrelated topic.

Soulish Versus Spiritual

We will examine both parts, but now, let’s consider the soulish part first.

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things. Yet he himself is not judged by anyone.

1 Corinthians 2:14–15

Here Paul uses a Greek term translated into our English word natural. Like English, this is an adjective in the Greek language. It is formed from the Greek word for soul which is psuche. The derived adjective is psuchikos, which sums up the action initiated by the soul. Psuchikos is translated in a variety of different ways: sensual, worldly, worldly-minded, unspiritual, without the spirit, following natural instinct, and natural. Without a direct English equivalence, I will logically use soulish to convey the meaning of that word.

The soul without the Spirit of God is disconnected from the original pattern of creation. The spirit of man came directly from God (Genesis 2:7.) That spirit related directly to God. There was a perfectly ordered relationship with God. God worked in a person’s spirit, the person’s spirit worked in the soul, which directed their body. With Adam’s rebellion pushing God out of the way, the spirit relationship of a person toward God was now compromised. The human had turned away from his direct relationship with God. Adam then became controlled by the soul, which is the will, the intellect, and the emotions. This hobbling of a person is described in another place by Paul as being dead. That is, it is useless to the purposes of God as they were established. We became enslaved to the governing powers of this world and to the desires of the carnality… soulish.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the age of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among them we all also once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and we were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 

Ephesians 2:1–3

I want to avoid a lot of the loaded language about soulishness, but it may not be possible. Given that, I do not embrace spiritual death as it is often employed. The spirit of man did not die, which is already clear. This truth will become plainly obvious as we progress.

These soulish men can still pursue real spirituality. Spirituality is not to be confused with godliness. Correct spirituality is the spirit acting on the soul, which then acts on the body. Without the spirit leading, the soulish person operates differently. His soul must use the body to operate spiritually. This practice is obvious. Some take substances to alter their consciousness. Others may employ various disciplines on the body; transcendental meditation, yoga, regulated breathing, and relaxing exercises. This list is not comprehensive.

When one disciplines the body to enter spirituality, it’s an altered form of consciousness. It is as effective as using mind-altering substances. The practice of entering spiritual realities from soulish practices leaves the body and the mind vulnerable to all sorts of shenanigans from familiar spirits. Read those spirits as NOT the Spirit of God nor from God. Remember, the soulish person does not discern the spiritual things of God. Those are foolish. If the Spirit of God is not operating in one’s spirit, danger is afoot.

The spiritual person is markedly different. We have already encountered this in Ephesians 2. The true spiritual person is saved (and sealed) by the Holy Spirit. At that moment such has been made alive together with other believers in Christ. He has raised us up and seated us together with them in the heavenly places.

You and I know this because of the indwelling Spirit of God. (That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.) It’s that grounding in love that surpasses all things. With Him, we are given truthful discernment in spiritual things. When we let His Spirit operate our spirit, we can overcome the soulishness that comes from the corruption of sin. It requires submission in faith. So we ought to let Him operate in us.

Also, understand that all believers are knit together in the body of Christ. Past, present, and even future believers are included. This too, necessarily transcends space and time, heaven and Earth.

What I am saying is that you and I as believers operate in the spiritual realm because of our connection to God through His indwelling Spirit. That is why intentionality becomes so very important.

The Science

I spoke about Einstein before. His discoveries, at first unbelieved by even him, have become the foundations for quantum physics. It is when looking in that things in that quantum realm get really strange, nevertheless, it is reality. Quantum physics gives rise to quantum mechanics. There is an even narrower field of study called string quantum mechanics.

This is where we leap off into how big God is. String quantum mechanics theorizes that 10 dimensions are inadequate to contain the hinted-at reality. There is even a field of string quantum mechanics that “operates consistently in 26 dimensions.” And those 26 dimensions do not account for consciousness or intentionality. With that, I will use that to briefly summarize a published PubMed article called Retroactive prayer: a preposterous hypothesis? It is a fascinating read even though it may be technical.

Our reality is so much more than we think. In the physical universe, matter, energy, and time are interrelated. This is the basis of E=mc2. If something doesn’t have mass, it ceases to have time. It is a property called non-locality. Time and distance basically become irrelevant. The study cited above indicates this, clearly.

Sending Thoughts and Prayers

We have all said that at one time or another. And maybe we actually followed through on it. The modern culture in the United States ridicules this notion, often in light of mass casualty events. Sending thoughts and prayers is said to do nothing to help. Comedians make fun of it. The theophobes (my word for atheists) deny it. There are even some Christians who mock it. But what does the science reveal?

Well, thoughts and prayers do work. I am going to say that again. Thoughts and prayers do work. It has been measured.

Wait, there’s more.

The title of the paper I mentioned says retroactive prayer. It references a scientific experiment conducted on over 3,000 patients with sepsis. These patients were hospitalized between 1990 to 1996. Some years later, the patients were randomized and separated into either a control or intervention group. Prayers were then offered for those patients in the intervention group. (You can read the paper here: Effects of remote, retroactive intercessory prayer on outcomes in patients with bloodstream infection: randomised controlled trial.)

In the experiment, there was a measurable difference in better mortality, shorter length of hospitalization, and the lessening duration of fever in those patients randomly assigned to the intervention. This happened even though the prayer was offered years in the future.

Let that sink in. The conscious and intentional prayer for these patients not only transcended distance (space,) but it transcended the time. As strange as it might sound, it coincides with what we know of reality through the Bible and quantum physics.

Granted, I don’t know if those ones offering thoughts and prayers were operating soulishly or spiritually. The reality is the measured effect it had. (At the time I originally wrote this, a mass casualty event just happened in Philadelphia. Take a moment to pray for those affected even after the fact.)

Your intentions do have an effect on reality. Your consciousness affects this world physically. And that with no restriction on time and space.

Now, I will offer some ideas that may raise the hairs on your neck.

Not New Age

Long before finding any of this, I had considered the idea in my mind and realized that God is not confined by time and space. He is present in all those places and times. Think of the psalmist saying “Where can I go from your Spirit.” There is no place or time where God is not present. If that is true, and it certainly is, it follows that I can pray for Paul on his missionary journeys today. Those prayers are heard by God Who is not encumbered by time and distance. They really do accomplish things.

This is not to ‘name it and claim it.’ It’s not ‘manifesting one’s reality’ by speaking it into existence. At least not how many consider it, though it seems those things have a foundation in reality. What those things have in common is that they operate in soulishness. In some ways, these are real concepts. Practiced in this way, it is selfishly soulish and will have unintended consequences because of the addled way it is accomplished. It is not done with the Spirit of God.

A believer who submits his spirit to the Spirit of God can be led by God. The believer is set free from the bondage of soulish desires. It doesn’t mean that such will not have them, but that they do not have to have control over the believer. Instead, we can believe God let His Spirit work in our willing spirits. The Bible uses the phrase mixed with faith. When we send thoughts and prayers to someone, it is mixed with our faith in God. It really does things!

Remember those Israelites long ago…

Therefore, since the promise of entering His rest remains, let us fear lest any of you should seem to come short of it. For the gospel was preached to us as well as to them. But the word preached did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed have entered this rest

Hebrews 4:1–3a

In the same way, our prayers are made in faith. We know God hears and answers.

Let me help… As believers, we are to enter His rest. His rest is not necessarily heaven. But it is the place where we can be of use to Him. It’s that maturing to completeness, be perfect as He is. It takes faith. It takes submission. Sometimes we wander in a wilderness of sin. When we hear the Word, it needs to be mixed with faith to have any benefit in our lives before it can touch those of others.

It goes deeper.

But above all things, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by the earth or by any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No,” that you do not fall into condemnation.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your faults to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much.

James 5:12–16

What we might gloss over in this passage is the strong intentionality James challenges us to have. Yes, we are to be careful in the things we might say. I know this is very verbose, but the idea is important. Our communication needs to be truthful, not necessarily curt. In the life circumstances James lists, he instructs us to give an intentional offering to God in the midst of them. Then he uses one word… Energoumenē. That gets translated to the English words… Effective and fervent. Everything about that word conveys intentionality.

As is clear with Einstein’s relativity… One’s perspective matters. (I think that is a pun.) It follows, that one’s intentions also matter.

This Principle is Hidden in Plain Sight

This is not new knowledge. And like most good things, the enemy counterfeits it and exploits it. Did you know the English word grammar comes from an old French word gramaire?

That French word is translated into English as grimoire. A grimoire is a book of magic, incantation, spells, and other mumbo-jumbo. Think hidden magic words that have power when used.

Given that, it could be said that writing with proper grammar is akin to scrying and speaking with proper grammar as casting spells. That might surprise everyone.

Consider how propaganda is readily employed in many cultures. Tell a lie long enough and it eventually changes reality. It is even more pernicious… The political left and the culture of the world have an inherent belief that language creates reality. They use it skillfully. Just think of the entire lot of moral issues that have been politicized. Marriage and abortion are but two. Change the language one uses and eventually the reality shifts.

The practices of what is ‘New-Age Modalism’ also employ this. It’s mindfulness that teaches people they can manifest their realities into existence. Some Christians embrace this as “name it and claim it.” There is even an adventure app based on this mindfulness concept that is growing popularity, even though it has real dangers.

The powers-that-be love to redefine words and terms. They use them to demonize, control, and subdue people. In other words, they are using grammar to make magic and cast spells. The brazen attempt is to change and control our reality as they want us to see it. They create reality by controlling language.

Casting Spells?

While writing this, I stumbled upon another interesting tidbit. It has to do with the magicians’ word abracadabra. The origins of this word are sketchy. Many theories are offered. One prevailing theory states it is from Hebrew evra ke-adaber, which means I will create as I speak. Another claim is an Aramaic source, evra ke-davra, which means I create like the word. These are surprising enough. But the earliest use comes from a second-century Roman physician named Quintus Serenus Sammonicus. In his work Liber Medicinalis, the word abracadabra was written in such a way that one letter is subtracted on each iteration. This created a triangle of the word that was then worn as a talisman or lucky charm to remove illness.

When reading through the writings of these fringy-ragged edges of the culture one collects thoughts that are salted away in the back of the mind. Pagans and Satanists use magic incantations to change reality. Sometimes these words are used to summon other entities from hyperspaces. They are now using these soulish practices to map out, subdue, and attempt to control the hyperspaces of spirituality. It’s by this manipulation they think they exercise power. Though the power is not theirs.

It is also in this kind of research where I have heard the charge from the ritualistic that Christians have a very powerful form of magic but don’t use it effectively, if at all. I have always wondered what that meant… But now I think I know. I will let the Bible explain this.

What and How

God worked powerful miracles by the hands of Paul. So handkerchiefs or aprons he had touched were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists invoked the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We command you to come out in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.” There were seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva doing this. The evil spirit answered, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was jumped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled from that house naked and wounded.

Acts 19:11–16 (MEV):

I love that. No, not that someone got hurt. But that the responsibilities God gives to the believer are really real!

The sons of Sceva witnessed Paul performing miracles. They also saw exorcisms in the name of Jesus. For those, it was just a form of more powerful magic that they wanted. Their thinking was this is magic that can be exploited and used to manipulate others. Thus giving them the perception of great power. It backfired.

Was it Jesus that failed?

No. It was the soulish desire that the sons had to use His name for their own gain and notoriety. Also note that there is a very important lesson about order. People are subject to and yield themselves to spiritual powers. Engaging with them without circumspection may extend rights. Yet finally (and thankfully,) all powers yield to the Name above all names… Jesus Christ.

It’s crucial to understand that what we say is as important as how we say it. What I mean is that the intentions of what we say have real power. The sons of Sceva stand as a lesson. They knew there was power in the name of Jesus. Their intentions didn’t match.

The Lesson from James

See how we put bits in the mouths of horses that they may obey us, and we control their whole bodies. And observe ships. Though they are so great and are driven by fierce winds, yet they are directed with a very small rudder wherever the captain pleases. Even so, the tongue is a little part of the body and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles. The tongue is a fire, a world of evil. The tongue is among the parts of the body, defiling the whole body, and setting the course of nature on fire, and it is set on fire by hell.
All kinds of beasts, and birds, and serpents, and things in the sea are tamed or have been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring yield at the same opening sweet and bitter water? Can the fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a vine, figs? So no spring can yield both salt water and fresh water.

James 3:3–12

James tells us that the power of what we say defiles the body and it sets the course of nature on fire. Could it be that James is hinting at the ideas we have encountered?

It used to be in this country, that people were in church on Sundays. The vast majority of people gathered to sing praises to God together! Is it any wonder that this country flourished under that?

There is the power of collective voices and the power of collective wills united. In that proper way, it protected nature. Families flourished, the economy was the envy of the world. That was an old-fashioned idea called temperance. People exercised self-control of their own volition. Then something happened.

I don’t think it was one thing. I think it was a well thought-out campaign by dark powers. It came with the modern conveniences. It centered on changing language to steer the heart.

Convergence

At the beginning of the twentieth century, English was a single homogenous language in two flavors, American and British. American English users outnumbered the British. Enter the push for globalization and English became more diversified. By the end of that century, English had become the de facto language for commerce led by technology.

The lexicon grew, the rules of grammar relaxed. Word meanings changed and expanded. Slang terms entered. Restrictions on what is tolerated also came. With political correctness, words were now considered weapons.

There was massive growth in art. It became more accessible and with radio and television, folks had instant access. Advertisers learned how to control emotions with many techniques.

Church attendance began to wane. The mention of God and Jesus in the public square is less tolerated. Atheism and paganism began to grow.

Paganism also entered homes and minds of the unsuspecting through the media consumed. Music changed. The praises of God became the ballads of love. Love turned to promiscuity and pursuit of altered consciousness. People sang lyrics that at first glance seemed angsty, but closer inspection reveals a ritualistic aspect to them. People were subtly led to participate in mass rituals called concerts.

Television became a perfect vehicle to have these rituals brought into the home. By turning the channel and watching, people unknowingly gave permission for all sort of shenanigans in their homes. Listen to the sounds of the words, tell a vision. Where programs (think propaganda) are transmitted by channels (think as mediums channel spirits.)

Today, evil doesn’t hide. It’s welcomed almost everywhere.

This comes as no surprise to those who know their Bible. The world has converged on language and technology. Global communications are instant. Globalization charges forward a united planet-wide government. Populations are being readied for the man with a plan. One who is smart, charismatic, and worthy of worship.

What Do We Do?

I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1–2

The first step is to go back to God. Repent of whatever shenanigans have sidetracked your mind and will. We are not to be conformed to the patterns in this world. That means we have to stop willingly participating in the rituals. That is going to require some discernment. And if we inadvertently do, we have to renounce any attachments they may bring.

Next, is renewing your mind. That starts with Scripture. You are going to have to spend time with God in His Word. Thankfully, God makes it easy to participate in the things that further His cause.

The enemy counterfeits that, and uses subtle manipulation to keep you from God. We have every excuse, “I have to watch Survivor.” “I will do it after the game.” “My friends want to go out.” “Let’s go fishing.” It’s the subtle things that don’t seem like distractions… Yet they are.

And yes, I am talking to myself, too.

Spend some time meeting with other Christians. Sing praises to God together. If the enemy can use words and intentions to further his cause, our God can trounce him in that. And we are extended the privilege to work with our God!

Ask!

In the looming shadow of Calvary, Jesus left His friends many instructions. Among them can be considered what is discussed at length. See if you catch it.

Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me. Or else believe Me on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me will do the works that I do also. And he will do greater works than these, because I am going to My Father. I will do whatever you ask in My name, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

John 14:11–14

Using the name of Jesus is not a magic spell to be cast. His name has real power. Power to raise the dead, do you believe that?

I do. Jesus is not sharing that He is going to meet our felt needs. He is telling us we will have all that we really need.

Want to slow the incursion of evil?

Want to change the feel of your local community?

Want to change hearts and minds?

Ask Him, expecting results!

When Philip asked to see the Father, Jesus gently chastised him and said:

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority. But the Father who lives in Me does the works.

John 14:10

The Christian has a Helper. When we petition God, we don’t do it in our own authority. It is not a soulish exploit to satisfy carnal desires. The words we speak have great power, in His Name. This is how the work of ministry gets done.

We need the Spirit of God in us to do it right. And when we do, it transcends all of reality.

Intentions matter. Words matter.

The Concluding Principle

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Genesis 1:3

God’s Word has power. Real power to create, and real power to destroy. Our Bible teaches us the reality of the power in the words. The universe came to be by spoken word. It is held together by spoken word. Our redemption is also by the Word.

As we are created in His image, it follows that our words can also create realities. It is everywhere around us. Politics, media, music, news… You name it. Though their intentions most likely work in opposition to God’s.

Our words and the intent behind them have a real effect on reality. One that transcends time. With that in mind, I keep going back to that text in James, and the intentionality needed in the way we do things. I also think that people speak out of the treasures of their innermost person.

Be very careful what you speak over someone. Whether they can hear it or not, you are changing their reality. I know from my own experience. The things people spoke to me as a child became my inner voice. It became the lens through which I viewed myself. Someone else’s words became my reality. And the enemy craftily employed it as a tool to hobble me for much of my life. (He still does, and sometimes I am not cognizant enough to catch it.)

Yet, I am ever grateful for Jesus. He gently reminds me I am not what was spoken over me a lifetime ago. I’m not what someone thinks of me in secret. I am His. He is my Brother. I am a son of God. Not just because I say it, but because I know it.

Our words matter greatly. The intentions behind those words have great power. Use your intentions and then your words wisely.

He Who Preaches Another Jesus

On By TimIn 2 Corinthians 11, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

But I fear that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve through his trickery, so your minds might be led astray from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might submit to it readily enough.

2 Corinthians 11:3–4

This is a warning against gullibility. Paul is teaching us to be circumspect and not immediately tolerant of other ideas without inspecting them throughly. There are other versions of Jesus being preached. There are other spirits you can receive.

These false teachings use the seemingly right-religious words. These often seem to be pious, and even Christian in nature. Yet the idea being offered in then may not necessarily align with the truth of Jesus Christ.

The strategy is to get the false ideas into the body. Whether that body is the corporate church or the individual believer. This is how the enemy a foothold. It’s an entrance inside the armor, a permission slip that gives him rights to exploit.

Do not give place to the devil. Let him who steals steal no more. Instead, let him labor, working with his hands things which are good, that he may have something to share with him who is in need.
Let no unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth, but only that which is good for building up, that it may give grace to the listeners. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you are sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outbursts, and blasphemies, with all malice, be taken away from you. And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Ephesians 4:27–32

When false ideas enter the body of Christ, the strategy employed is to savagely destroy that body from the inside. The seduction of false doctrine hoodwinks many.

How can you be certain you’ve not succumbed to such a subtlety?

Pray to God to give you discernment. And when He shows you what it is, disavow it out loud in Jesus’ name. And then don’t do those things that give the enemy a place.

Escaping the Corruption of the World

On By TimIn 2 Peter 01, Eternal Security, Salvation1 Comment

There exists a vast difference in between the ones who escape the corruption of the world and partake of the divine nature and those who escape the defilements of the world for a season.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

2 Peter 1:2

In the introduction, Peter is established the tone. That tone is to Peter is encourage other believers to hold fast. Not that they might lose out on eternal life at some future time, but to ensure their own maturity in the faith. To grow to maturity ought to be the goal of every Christian.

At the beginning of this epistle, Peter establishes a premise. Sometimes that premise is blurred by the particular translation of the Bible used which may lead to some insecurities. Because of this, I prefer a literal word-for-word translation. This helps me to grasp the nuances in word meanings being translated. It also helps to have tools available to try and understand the subtleties in the original language that do not translate clearly. Taking the extra time for a bit of a deeper dive helps to ensure right division of the Bible.

With that said, let’s dive in!

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us by His own glory and excellence, by which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that through these things you might become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2 Peter 1:3–4

At the outset, Peter is saying that Christians have everything they need no to live godly lives. These come by the promises of God. Promises that you have no part in save to receive them. He keeps them, even in light of what you do… Because it’s His word. His word is not made void by the freedom He has bestowed on us.

Because we have these promises, we escape the corruption of the world and become partakers of the divine nature. That statement is loaded with lots of stuff to unpack. Note the phrasing, escape the corruption. The corruption is in the world through lust. Think of the word lust as desire and intense craving.

Focus on the word corruption. It is the Greek word phthoras which does mean corruption and can also mean destruction. The destruction is ultimately death. That is the end result of sin. But the Christian escapes this.

For this reason make every effort to add virtue to your faith; and to your virtue, knowledge; and to your knowledge, self-control; and to your self-control, patient endurance; and to your patient endurance, godliness; and to your godliness, brotherly kindness; and to your brotherly kindness, love.

2 Peter 1:5–7

Peter then provides a prescription for the saved person who has eternal life. Keep in mind that God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. The outline is indeed doable by every Christian.

It is self-explanatory in nature. Faith is required to get eternal life and forgiveness is sins, it is also necessary to live a Christian life. It’s not faith alone. We add virtue onto our faith.

Virtue is excellence of character… Blamelessness. Add knowledge to virtue and then self-control. Self-control is different than virtue and comes after. Patience, godliness, kindness then follow, and finally love.

Most of us get it backwards. We think we love first. Peter is telling us that we cannot truly love without all of those things that come orderly before.

For if these things reside in you and abound, they ensure that you will neither be useless nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:8

The discussions that sometimes revolve around 2 Peter tend toward who is really saved. The reality is Peter is encouraging us to be useful and fruitful. This is not unlike much of the Bible, which itself teaches us how to be useful to God. Yes, first we need to be saved. Being useful and fruitful comes with maturity.

Virtue Revisited

I need to say more about virtue. It is a word that conveys an idea of blamelessness. Paul helps us to understand this idea of blamelessness and from whence it comes. He calls it a gift.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if through the trespass of one man many died, then how much more has the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. The gift is not like the result that came through the one who sinned. For the judgment from one sin led to condemnation, but the free gift, which came after many trespasses, leads to justification. For if by one man’s trespass death reigned through him, then how much more will those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:15–17

Righteousness is the quality of being in accordance with God’s requirements. It’s to be blameless in the law. Paul says this gift comes freely by Jesus to any who want it. Recall what Peter said, He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. We don’t add to it, not maintain it. We simply cannot!

It is this gift of righteousness that leads to justification of life. Meaning you and I as Christians can stand blameless in the presence of God. It’s like me saying “Just as if I’d never sinned!”

Strong’s Dictionary gives us some additional insight to this word virtue (Greek aretē.) It means excellence of character, whether that excellence is intrinsic or attributed. As Paul showed, righteousness is attributed to us by God as a gift.

There is another sense conveyed by virtue… It is the idea of valor. Valor is the strength of mind needed to resist fear and brave danger. Think about that. God has given you that strength of mind.

Adding Virtue to Faith is Then Easy

If you are a Christian… You are saved. You have eternal life. Nothing can move you from that position. Fear can trick you but you don’t have to succumb to it. We resist that fear.

When the enemy comes and tells you you’re not doing enough and therefore not valuable to God, know it’s a lie. It’s designed to make you afraid. Resist it the fear, and the enemy has to flee.

God sent His Son Jesus for us. You and I have value and worth far greater than you can imagine.

The journey from faith to virtue is easy. God gives it to us. It means those that have eternal life by faith cannot be removed from it. If there’s a struggle on whether you can lose the gift of eternal life and your salvation, it stops here. And the text is going to show us that clearly.

Blind and Shortsighted in Forgetfulness

But the one who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted because he has forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

2 Peter 1:9

When we forget who we are, and more to the point… Whose we are… It can lead to shortsightedness. Remember, you and I are already cleansed from former sins. Yes that is true. Yet it goes beyond former sins. Remember Peter saying that we might become partakers of the divine nature?

Paul says we already are.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has resurrected together with Him, having forgiven you all sins. He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed authorities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them by the cross.

Colossians 2:13–15

We are already resurrected with Him. There is no way that can happen unless we are already partaking of the divine nature. Not only that, we are forgiven all sins. These are not just the former sins, but all of them!

Whatever claim the enemy had on us is gone. That’s the freedom of the Christian life. That’s the virtue that we courageously stand in now. We are immovable. We cannot sin enough to lose out on anything God has already given to us. Why would any of us really want to do that?

Now knowledge is added to the virtue. So what now?

Add the rest, self-control, patience, godliness, kindness, and love.

Calling and Election

Therefore, brothers, diligently make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided for you.

2 Peter 1:10–11

We make our calling and election sure. That is not about salvation. It’s about being useful, useful to God. He has given to every one of us unique gifts to be of service to Him. It is our responsibility to know what these things are and how to employ them for His glory. That is making sure your calling is to a particular place of service. Your election is to be useful to God… Not just saved.

Championing Us

Therefore I will not be negligent to always remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth that is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I live in this body, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that soon I will take off this body, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me. And I will also be diligent to make sure that after my death you will always remember these things.

2 Peter 1:12–15

We all need encouragement. It ought be a strong part of our lives to encourage and admonish others in the same love that Peter does. We do that by reminding ourselves and others of all of these things.

Warnings

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their judgment, made long ago, does not linger, and their destruction does not slumber.

2 Peter 2:1–3

This discussion takes a darker turn away from encouragement. Peter is instructing as he exposes false teachers and those led astray by them. These deny the Lord that bought them. Does that mean they have lost salvation?

No. As we have already witnessed in Colossians, sin has been nailed to the cross and taken out of the way freeing humanity from the grips of the enemy. The Lord bought the lot of Adam’s race, every single human that has, had, or will have life. To deny that is to never ever come to salvation and receive the gifts of eternal life and righteousness. I admit, it’s a simple conclusion, but it’s right there. It is the truth. That’s why the writer of Hebrews put it this way:

Therefore we should be more attentive to what we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken by angels was true, and every sin and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation, which was first declared by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him?

Hebrews 2:1–3

Considering the immeasurable generosity is such a gesture, how do people ignore it as if nothing really happened?

It would be the height of arrogance and indifference. It’s easy to understand why people go to perdition. And Peter does not have kind things to say about these types of people and the ideas they share with others.

For when they speak arrogant words of vanity, they entice by the lusts of the flesh and by depravity those who barely escaped from those who live in error.

2 Peter 2:18

Remember, the first phrase… Escape the corruption (phthoras.) Peter uses the same idea of escape again. This time it is to describe those who barely escape from those who live in error. I think he is speaking of Christians. These false teachers entice believers with religion. Religion is the idea that people can make themselves presentable to God by abstaining from sin.

Promised Freedom

Although they promise them freedom, they themselves are slaves of corruption, for by that which a man is overcome, to this he is enslaved. For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then turn back from the holy commandment that was delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, “The dog returns to his own vomit,” and “the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mud.”

2 Peter 2:19–22

Freedom is contrasted with the enslavement to corruption. Instead of teaching reliance on the promises of God, the false teacher offers a semblance of freedom that is really slavery.

These teachers have themselves not yet escaped corruption (phthoras) but are still slaves to it. Remember what Paul said:

Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves to obey, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Romans 6:16

Stepping out to sin is presenting yourself as a slave to it. Sin leads to death… The (phthoras) destruction.

Back to the text in 2 Peter, these false teachers seem to escape the defilements of the world. Defilements in the Greek is the word miasmata. It’s different than phthoras, and is only used this once in the entire New Testament. The single usage connotes it has some significance.

Miasmata means shameful deeds, or what we would call sins. In other words, it seems these are escaping sins. But it only seems for a bit as they return to the carnality of the world.

When a person hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ presented they receive the knowledge of Him as Savior. What they do with that is of paramount importance as Peter hints at.

Let’s consider an example. It’s like when people come to church. They might enjoy the time of worship and even get something from the message given. They may even enjoy the fellowship and kindness that abounded. Then they leave and not applying what they heard. They are not changed. Yet, for a short period of time in church… They escaped the defilements of the world in the shelter of the Spirit present in the body of Christ. They did not repent, were not saved, and they did not receive eternal life. These go back to their carnality.

The part of having not known the way of righteousness the becomes condemnation. Each time the Gospel is ignored it hardens the heart. At each iteration it will become easier to not respond. That is why the latter state is worse not hearing.

Escape the Corruption

Christians escape the corruption and become partakers of the divine nature. It is escaping destruction. And such can never become corrupted again. Therefore losing eternal life and salvation are not possible.

Those that escape the defilements can sometimes be described with a term I like, “churchians.” These are folks who go to church and try to live a good life by not sinning, somehow thinking those things give them credibility. Some even shame others for not living like they do. Self-help and motivational therapy is not Christianity. Doing good deeds is not what makes a Christian. Neither is keeping the law or obeying commands. Don’t fall prey to the quaint religious language.

A Christian is one who believes in the One Whom God sent… Jesus. It’s His name we bear. It’s I solely in Him Who we trust. We know He lived, died for our sins, and spent three days in the grave. That was not the end… For He rose again as Victor over death.

Believing that is what makes one a Christian. Jesus keeps those who are His. Those things don’t come by following a set of rules.

Circumcision is Forever

On By TimIn Colossians 02, Eternal Security, SalvationLeave a comment

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which also you were raised with Him through the faith of the power of God, who has raised Him from the dead.

Colossians 2:11–12

One of my favorite things about Scripture is the precision in the words used to convert an idea. There is no wiggle room for shenanigans, though many may try. Take what Paul says above. He chose his words carefully. Clearly, he is talking about salvation. Read it again, even the tenses of the verbs are significant.

In Jesus, the believer is circumcised. The body of fleshly sins is put off. It’s taken away. The verb tense for circumcised, buried, and raised is aorist. This converts that an action has accurate occurred in the past and it is not undone, with continuing effects to present and beyond.

That word circumcised is used deliberately… In three forms. That signifies grave importance, which provides tension for a pertinent questions.

Can what is circumcised away be reattached or regrow?

No. It doesn’t. Circumcision is forever.

The airiest verb tense also provides more tension. Tension that leads to more questions.

Does the one who has already been raised ever become unraised?

How does one who is already raised from the dead go back to being dead?

No.

So tell me… How does one lose salvation?

And by lose, I mean go away by whatever means one can dream up.

Paneas and You

On By TimIn Matthew 16, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Matthew 16:24

In as much as Jesus is talking to His disciples present at Banias, He is also talking to you and me. This is the walk of the Christian. We are to take up our own cross.

Therefore, since we are encompassed with such a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and your hearts give up.

Hebrews 12:1–3

Jesus despised the shame of the cross… Yet endured the suffering. He is now lifted up and seated in glory. The writer of Hebrews uses this as encouragement. The idea of taking up the cross may come with an expectation of suffering. But I choose to think of it as an expectation of victory.

Jesus did not fear what would happen. He set His mind beyond the momentary suffering. Though I don’t think any of us could even begin to imagine the things He endured, it is not about death, but life.

This is Spiritual Warfare

Jesus has already told His disciples that the Gates of Hell will not prevail against His church. The church, which is built upon the resurrection of Jesus as the chief Cornerstone. We, as living stones, are told to take up our part in the building of the church. Not a physical building, but the activity of building up. We do that, just as Jesus did… By denying our desires and seeking to do the will of the Father.

For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Matthew 16:25

Paul would put it this way.

Let this mind be in you all, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. But He emptied Himself, taking upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the form of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5–11

If there is any that had the right to hold onto themselves and their position, it is the Creator of the universe. Yet as our working through Matthew 16 and the account at the Grotto of Pan shows, He took on the form of a servant. He became obedient to the curse of death. It was through that cross that He really had life.

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 16:26

Here is that idea of binding and loosing spoken of before. It is iterated in a different way. One may continue to serve self and gain all of the wealth and power in this life. Yet cannot take the power and prestige into the next life. Such would be remanded to an eternity of languishing in the futility of self-pursuit. That one loses his soul in perdition hot, needy, and alone.

Yet if we loosen our grip on pursuing our own positions in life, just as Jesus did we gain our soul. Life is not living for oneself but for others. Those others include the Savior Who led by example.

It is exactly that mindset where the victory of the Gates of Hell is. There is a real battle for you and your soul. It happens in your mind and among your thoughts.

Paneas is about looking beyond ourselves and beyond our circumstances. It is about taking our thoughts captive. That means identifying those thoughts that come from outside our minds.

Peter provides a poignant glimpse into this. At the beginning he rightfully identifies the Son of Man. Jesus says this thought arose outside of Peter’s mind being revealed by the Father. In the same way, when Peter denied Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus attested to the origin of that thought.

Likewise, being born of the Spirit and with His help, we can identify the thoughts in our mind. These thoughts come from our own inner voice or a prompting of the Spirit.

And sometimes they come with a heavy dousing of brimstone. These are the ones that discourage, shame, accuse, and condemn. Throw them out. Don’t bring them inside. Don’t entertain them.

The battle in the mind can hinder. The prescription Jesus gives us to deny ourselves. Deny a focus on our thoughts, even looking to encourage and better the welfare of others.

Taking up your cross is not to focus on suffering. It is to focus on victory. It is about shedding the fear that comes with sin and death and look toward life, everlasting life.

Speaking to that, we do life with other believers, in fellowship. We encourage each other, being accountable. We do this in local bodies called churches. Remember Jesus’ words, the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against His church.

Looking for Jesus

For the Son of Man shall come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay every man according to his works.

Matthew 16:27

Our focus is always on Jesus. We look forward to His return when justice is delivered. This is the sure victory all will see clearly.

For some it won’t be a good thing… Especially for those waiting to be judged for their works.

Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Matthew 16:28

Now, this verse has confounded many. Some say this is about the transfiguration which happens on Mt. Hermon recorded in the next chapter of Matthew.

I think this is speaking to something a bit more practical. When Jesus was taken up in the first chapter of Acts, He gave instructions to His disciples to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the promise or power.

So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them, “ It is not for you to know the times or the dates, which the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:6–8

The disciples ask Jesus if the kingdom would be restored to Israel. Jesus said it’s not for them to know the times, as if there seems to be a pause to the restoring of the kingdom to Israel. He promised them they will receive power and be witnesses to all. That was the calling to Israel, who failed to attain that. It’s not a far stretch to see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom is a reference to the birth of the church. The same church-kingdom to which the Gates of Hell have no way to answer.

John,
To the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 1:4–6

John attests that we have been made kings and priests. It is a theme repeated in Revelation.

And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
and to open its seals;
for You were slain,
and have redeemed us to God by Your blood
out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
and have made us kings and priests unto our God;
and we shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:9–10

Blessed and holy is he who takes part in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Revelation 20:6

I encourage all to read a few verses before the last verse in chapter 20. There is a previous post explaining who the judges are. Keep in mind that the term first resurrection is probably not indicative of a one-time event. It is a classification, think first class, which doesn’t necessarily mean the first class of the day.

Back to the text… We see clearly that this New Testament body is peculiar in nature. It is a body of judges, kings, and priests who will serve in His Millennial kingdom. John said we’ve already been made kings and priests. It’s my contention that His kingdom did come with the birth of the church at Pentecost.

Peter seems to witness to this truth in his sermon, too.

God raised up this Jesus, of which we all are witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this which you now see and hear. For David has not ascended to the heavens, yet he says:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Until I make Your enemies
Your footstool.” ’
“Therefore, let all the house of Israel assuredly know that God has made this Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Acts 2:32–36

That’s where we get a hint to what the kingdom. Jesus Christ did indeed ascend to heaven. He sat down, taking His seat as Lord and Christ. He sent His promised Spirit into those who believe. It is those who are of the kingdom of the Son of Man. One that has not yet been restored to Israel yet nevertheless exists in a body of believers now. That is the body of Christ.

The importance of Paneas is not to be taken lightly. The exact workings of the kingdom were revealed there. Jesus would die, and rose again putting His Spirit in believers. In that Hell is defeated now. It has no business with believers, including you.

Don’t give it entry into your mind, your life, or your church. Pray daily revoking rights and permissions given to any spirit other that that of God and Jesus, whether those are down intentionally or accidentally. You and I have that power, in Jesus’ name!

Who is Like God?

On By TimIn Exhortation, Psalm 113Leave a comment

Praise the Lord!
Praise, O you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its going down, the Lord’s name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God,
who dwells on high, who looks down on the things that are in heaven and on the earth?

Psalm 113:1–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Who, exactly, is like God?

His name is worthy to be praised at all times. There is no power above Him. There is no authority over Him.

But consider that last verse, “who looks down on the things that are in heaven and on the earth(.)”

Another translation puts it this way:

who ⌊condescends to look at⌋ what is in the heavens and in the earth?

Psalm 113:6 — W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012)

We start to see a hint as to what is really happening. The note for the bracketed phrase in that translation says the meaning of it is “makes low to see.”

Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

Psalm 113:6 — The Holy Bible: King James Version

The translators of the King James see clearly what is happening. The exclamation point tells us to pay attention.

The idea given is that any time that God deals with His creation, whether in heaven or earth, He humbles Himself. He has to do that. Nevertheless, it is a part of Who He is. He loves His creation so much that He humbles Himself to take part in it.

I want you to keep that point in mind.

He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, even with the princes of His people. He gives the barren woman a dwelling, making her the joyful mother of children.
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 113:7–9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy from the ash pit. That’s us. Each of us humans is made from the dust of the ground, and in ourselves, we are condemned in the place of burning. He lifts us out of that to sit with princes!

It gets better. The barren have a place and can bear fruit. Each of us that understands how God has humbled Himself can share that Good News with others, bearing children for the Lord Himself.

But who, exactly, is like God?

Can I say… You and I are. Any time we set aside our own desires to help another, we are like God. For most who do it, it is perceived as small gesture, if even that. Yet each of us can help another with the gifts we have. In that ministry, those others who receive also have opportunity to minister to others, maybe even the one ministering to them!

When we take in a stranger, clothe and feed someone who is homeless… When we lift someone from a place of despair, even if it is only for a moment. In that way, each of us are like God.

This isn’t to make you feel superior in anyway, but just to encourage you to continue helping. It may not be visible to others, but your Heavenly Father has humbled Himself to see it. Just as you had to humble yourself to see the need in others.

And like God ministers to us, we minister back to Him by praise.

Praise the Lord!