Intentions, Speaking, and Truth in Love

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.

Which Side Are You On?

History provides some poignant lessons… Among those is this one. I know I’ve written about this recently, but here is an important contemporary idea that needs to be considered in light of what the Bible says.

Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord
and against His anointed, saying,
“Let us tear off their bonds
and cast away their ropes from us.”

Psalm 2:1–3

How could this apply today, it’s just poetic literature, right?

Reading it carefully, it is God speaking to the nations and the people of those countries about their policies. God calls their plans self-serving.

The kings of the Earth set themselves. This clearly states that the leaders of the nations set themselves in opposition to God and Jesus. There are also rulers who counsel with these kings. Some of your translations read princes, but I think something a bit more sinister is at play. The Hebrew word translated here as ruler is razan. It means heavy, as in commanding. It is translated as prince or ruler. When we look at the Septuagint, the Hebrew scholars chose the Greek word archon. This adds a spiritual context that may hint at some underlying context.

Archon is used in many forms and places in the New Testament. It is used in the gospels as a descriptor of Beelzebub, ruler of demons (Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15.) It is also used in the Gospel of John to describe the ruler of this world. For the discussion at hand, let’s look at the two ways Paul uses it.

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,

Ephesians 2:1–2

And again here:

For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

In the first citation, Paul says there is a prince of the power of the air. To understand, think that there is an archon of the exousia of the air. The second instance tells us we wrestle not against principalities, those are the archons. We also wrestle against exousias (powers) and kosmokrators (rulers.) These are dark powers at work in this world.

Considering that, what may be said in Psalm 2 of the kings and rules taking counsel together is that there are dark powers working with human leaders to effect policies in our world. The question then comes, is there evidence for such a thing?

I think there is ample evidence. Step back into recent history:

There is a source called Secret Nazi Plans for Eastern Europe A Study of Lebensraum Policies by Dr. Ihor Kamenetsky. He writes of the German occupation of Poland and the desire to eliminate what the Germans deemed as sub-human. The occupiers desired to weaken Polish society to accept their ideas. Those socialist Germans issued the following decree:

“All measures which have the tendency to limit births are to be tolerated or to be supported. Abortion in the remaining area (of Poland) must be declared free from punishment. The means for abortion and contraceptive means may be offered publicly without any police restriction. Homosexuality is always to be declared legal. The institutions and persons involved professionally in abortion practices are not to be interfered with by police. Racial-hygenic measures are not to be promoted.” — (Page 139, Secret Nazi Plans for eastern Europe)

It is said… Those that do not know history are doomed to repeat it. Looking again at Psalm 2 seems to reveal a prophetic pattern that comes with substantial consequences and an ultimate consummation.

The first point in the socialist’s decree is unrestrictive abortion and contraception. Given modern propensities, these may be perceived as desirable things to have. After all, with global warming, limiting the human population is probably a good practice. But is it?

Except the Lord build the house,
those who build labor in vain;
except the Lord guards the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain for you to rise up early,
to stay up late,
and to eat the bread of hard toil,
for He gives sleep to His beloved.
Look, children are a gift of the Lord,
and the fruit of the womb is a reward.
As arrows in the hand of a mighty warrior,
so are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man
who has his quiver full of them;
he shall not be ashamed
when he speaks with the enemies at the gate.

Psalm 127:1–5

God commands humans to be fruitful and multiply. He calls children a gift of His, they are a reward. They are even deemed weapons of a mighty warrior. Could that be why the Germans wanted to curtail these things under the lie of freedom?

There is also the unspoken idea present in the decree… Marriage to one person for life is too restrictive.

Look… The enemy doesn’t change tactics at all. He gets people to buy into the idea that the institutions given by God are too restrictive. God gave gender, male and female. That is now declared too binary. God told humans to be fruitful and multiply, but having children binds one to home. God gave marriage as a gift, but the idea of one man and one woman is old-fashioned. The means to be fruitful, that is sex for procreation is also considered too narrow. These things are now declared as too binding, just like ropes used to tie something up. They are considered limitations to human freedom. It is the same proclamation of bondage and a false promise of liberty that the nachash (serpent) spoke to Eve in the garden, “You shall be as gods.”.

The National Socialists in Germany knew how to demoralize humans. We are witnessing the repeat by decree of governments worldwide. It is just as if what Psalm 2 says… Is true now. Yet, history demonstrates that atrocities follow such things.

The War Against Humans

The enemy is at war with humans. There is an all-out battle waging in both the spiritual world and the physical world centered on human procreation. It was declared in Genesis 3:15, and it has God as Victor on one side and dark powers on another. It is like the activities of world governments are telling us Who the real Victor is.

I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures saying, with voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and there before me was a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow. And a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering that he might overcome.
When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come and see.” Then another horse that was red went forth. Power was given to him who sat on it to take peace from the earth, causing people to kill one another. Then a great sword was given to him.
When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there was a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” So I looked, and there was a pale horse, and the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed him. Power over a fourth of the earth was given to them, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had held. They cried out with a loud voice, “How long, O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers should be completed, who would be killed as they were.
I watched as He opened the sixth seal. And suddenly there was a great earthquake. The sun became black, like sackcloth made from goat hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when it is shaken by a strong wind. Then the heavens receded like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the commanding officers and the strong and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. They said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of His wrath has come. Who is able to withstand it?”

Revelation 6:1–17

It is just as He said in Psalm 2…

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD ridicules them.
Then He will speak to them in His wrath and terrify them in His burning anger:
“I have installed My king on Zion, My holy hill.”
I will declare the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are My son; this day have I begotten you.
Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You will break them with a scepter of iron; you will dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Now then, you kings, be wise; be admonished, you judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear; tremble with trepidation!
Kiss the son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath kindles in a flash. Blessed are all who seek refuge in Him.

Psalm 2:4–12

Truth is pure. He knows the end from the beginning and has told us in advance.

Children are a heritage. There is no middle ground.

Which side are you on?

The Rapture (Part 1) – Ecclesiology

To deviate from the normal posts, I want to offer some clarity on an important doctrine. To do that requires some foundational understanding.

But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and arose again, so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall be forever with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Some may scoff that the word rapture doesn’t appear in the text. It’s true, the English word rapture does not appear in the text. But the Greek word harpazo (rapture) translated as caught up is.

The Rapture, to and for Who?

It’s specifically for those in Christ.

You are all sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, and there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:26–29 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We now have a clear understanding that the rapture is for those in Christ. To be in Christ is to be baptized into Jesus Christ.

That’s Great. But What Does it Mean?

The rapture is for the body of Christ, His church. We must have a clear understanding of what the church is. That is, we must have a proper ecclesiology.

Let’s get started.

He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Colossians 1:18 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

What we learn here is exactly what the church is. The church is the body of the Messiah.

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called the “uncircumcision” by the so-called “circumcision” in the flesh by human hands, were at that time apart from Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were formerly far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For He is our peace, who has made both groups one and has broken down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of the commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile both to God into one body through the cross, thereby slaying the enmity.

Ephesians 2:11–16 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This passage basically explains what the composition of the church is.

Paul begins by explaining the initial conditions of God’s dealing with people. There were basically two groups of people, the Israelis, and the Gentiles. There was an advantage to being Israeli because God had a special relationship with those people. One of these groups was set aside by covenants that God made with them. Of those covenants, one called the Mosaic covenant (containing the ten commandments) served as the dividing wall or partition between the two people groups. Gentiles were alienated and far off from the benefits of these covenants even though they could be saved by the same faith as the Israelis.

When Messiah died, He broke down this partitioning wall and took it out of the way. As the wall is now removed, God creates of the two separate groups one new man. The one new man is now a third entity that had not heretofore existed. It is one body through the cross. The body is the church of the Messiah.

The composition of the body is all Israelis and Gentiles who believe.

How Does One Enter this Body?

For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we are Jews or Gentiles, whether we are slaves or free, and we have all been made to drink of one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The way to enter the body is by baptism by Spirit. This is the one baptism. It isn’t by water.

There is one body and one Spirit, even as you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Ephesians 4:4–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

One body. One God. One Spirit. One Father. One Lord. One faith. One baptism.

When did the Church Begin?

This can be a confusing point. There are many different ideas presented on exactly when the church began. Some see it in the Tanakh, thinking it started with Adam or Abraham.

Since we know that entrance into the body called the church is by Spirit baptism, let us see if we can find where Spirit baptism began.

Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then He commanded His disciples to tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

Matthew 16:17–20 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is the first and only occurrence of the word church in the four gospels. The setting for this is in Caesarea Philippi. It is home to the Grotto of Pan or as Jesus said the gates of Hell. Reading further on from this passage, it can be learned that the church being built is a consequence of Israel for their rejection of the Messiah. The important part is that the church is yet future… I will build my church. It is simple present tense informing us that it is not something that had existed before and will be expanded.

For John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts 1:5 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Jesus promises Spirit baptism, not many days from now. It is yet future. We know now that the entrance into the church body was still yet future, therefore the church as a body was still to come. But when did Spirit baptism begin?

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared to them tongues as of fire, being distributed and resting on each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

Acts 2:1–4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

On the Day of Pentecost, as the disciples were gathered, the Spirit entered them. They were filled with the Spirit. This is not a new idea, many

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

Luke 1:15 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.

Micah 3:8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of craftsmanship to devise artistic works for work with gold, with silver, and with bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of craftsmanship.

Exodus 31:3–5 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I posted these to show that being filled with the Spirit is not a new thing. It happened to John the Baptist and to Micah. It happened to Bezalel the son of Uri.

Acts 2 declares nothing about Spirit baptism. Being Spirit-filled is not the same as Spirit baptism.

To understand clearly, we need to move forward in Acts to Chapter 10.

Peter, after receiving a vision Peter was instructed there were three men looking for him. These three were sent by a centurion named Cornelius who had just previously been visited by an angel. Peter invited these three men and provided lodging for them. The next day he went to Joppa with them. Peter entered the house filled with relatives of Cornelius. He spoke to them and shared the details of the Gospel with these Gentiles. We pick it up in the text.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. All the believers of the circumcision who had come with Peter were astonished, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and magnifying God.
Then Peter continued, “Can anyone forbid water for baptizing these, who have received the Holy Spirit as we have?” So he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Acts 10:44–48 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

When Peter returned to Jerusalem to report on what happened, there was a bit of controversy. Peter had entered a Gentile home, something forbidden in the law.

Peter tells of his vision, and not wanting to be disobedient to the vision, he did as he was instructed to do.

“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as He fell on us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?”

Acts 11:15–17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

He tells us succinctly that what happened with these Gentiles was the same as what happened to those Jewish disciples gathered on that beginning Pentecost. He remembered what Jesus said in Acts 1:5. The church began in Acts 2 with Spirit baptism. Because that is when Spirit baptism began.

The church is a distinct body that is not Israeli or Gentile. The church had a beginning that is clear. It was the Pentecost day described in Acts 2. That is when Spirit baptism began.

The Living Temple of God

you also, as living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house as a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:5 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

From our previous excursion, we note some important things: What God is doing is new, and it is alive. It is not like the old covenant of bondage. Just as Jesus Christ is a living cornerstone, set firmly in place, we believers are also firmly set in place.

With Jesus as the foundation, God is building upon that idea a new temple. It isn’t like the tabernacle made of skins and cloth. It isn’t like Solomon’s temple arrayed in the finest and costliest of materials. Nor is it Herod’s temple that was never quite as splendid as Solomon’s. This new temple isn’t made with perishable things. It’s made of more precious living stones.

Why use stone as a metaphor?

At the time, building with stone made the most durable structures. The proof is the ruins we visit in modern-day. Stone, once set, is practically immovable. The metaphor may seem imperfect, but we know this world suffers corruption, and things can happen to remove set stones. The place where God works doesn’t have corruption, therefore the stones God builds with cannot be moved.

We are the living stones. We are set in place making a new spiritual house. Earlier, Peter tells his us that in this place we are strangers or pilgrims, our citizenship is elsewhere. In the previous post, this elsewhere is Zion, New Jerusalem, the City of God.

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the entire building, tightly framed together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19–22 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Back to the present, God is in the middle of a building program. He is using living stones to make a living spiritual house. Any of us who fall on the Cornerstone for mercy are saved and become living stones that God builds with. He makes us part of the living temple He is building upon the foundation stone, Jesus Christ.

A Holy Priesthood

Though Peter’s audience is primarily the ten scattered ‘lost’ tribes of Israel, the message he writes can be useful for us. Not all of those lost tribes were believers. Peter is writing to the believers of those tribes. Though what Peter writes is Jewish in nature, it parallels what Paul writes. Believers are part of a royal priesthood.

Way back in 1 Peter 1:2, it is written about the sprinkling of blood. We know Moses sprinkled blood on the people to consecrate them to the old covenant (Exodus 24.) The sprinkling of that blood represented the sealing of the covenant. In Leviticus 8, Moses consecrated Aaron and his sons as priests. It was done with the sprinkling of blood.

The same is for you and I, if we believe and have been sprinkled with the blood of Christ. The significance is we’ve been consecrated (set aside, reserved) to a new covenant and a priesthood, as the types and shadows in the law teach us. When that old covenant was established with blood a new nation was born. Likewise, we are a new nation.

Think like Peter, with the sprinkling of the blood from Jesus. We are set aside for God as a nation under a covenant and set aside as priests. The job of the priest is to declare the goodness of God because we’ve been healed of our sin and rescued from darkness to light. This idea is also typified in the law, when a leper was to be cleansed from his corruption he was sprinkled with blood (Leviticus 14.)

That’s the goodness of God. We’ve been set aside, given a new promise, and cleansed. Teach the goodness of God to others.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may declare the goodness of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Since we’ve been called from darkness to light, let’s live like it. We have already encountered this idea when Peter tells us to put off certain things. It is important to understand our identity in Jesus and to live it out. Peter gives us practical ways to do that.

Spiritual Sacrifices

As priests, we offer up spiritual sacrifices. The most important of these comes first:

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 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Did you see how this connects?

The sacrifices we offer are acceptable to God.

In a similar fashion of casting ourselves on the living set cornerstone for mercy, we present our bodies a living sacrifice to Him. It’s a reasonable service of worship.

The first spiritual sacrifice is a living one, our own body. In so doing we give wholly of ourselves, not reserving anything selfishly. We don’t seek to take from God. Such a sacrifice requires us to not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. That connects back to what Peter said to desire the pure milk of the word.

Therefore let us go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing the reproach that He bore. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Through Him, then, let us continually offer to God the sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share. For with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Hebrews 13:13–16 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The writer of Hebrews in what leads up to this passage, speaks of Jesus who suffered on the outskirts in order to sanctify us. This leads to the next ideas of sacrifice.

The second sacrifice we offer is praise. It is easy to do that in church with brothers and sisters surrounding us. But we are called to live differently as pilgrims and foreigners. And that means we are going to suffer persecution. Even in the midst of severe persecution, we are to offer praise. In the direst of circumstances, the martyrs of old sang praises to Jesus.

It’s to go outside the camp. That is an allusion to help us remember to remove ourselves from our current circumstances. Sometimes we can do that physically by removing ourselves from challenges. Most times it is difficult to extract ourselves physically. We must remember to go outside the camp in our minds by setting them on heavenly things and not our current circumstances. And there, to continually praise God.

With such a sacrifice, God is well pleased. It is acceptable to God.

Take careful note of the admonition to do good and share. This is another spiritual sacrifice. It is one of helping others by sharing what we have.

Why do we do this?

In times past, you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. You had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We are set aside for a purpose. We are the chosen of God. Not for anything we did, but because of what Jesus did. He has set us aside by the sprinkling of His own blood because we’ve received mercy.

It is another poignant reminder of what was taught in the prophets who sought to look into these things, all the while knowing they were serving us believers.

Then the Lord said: “Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are not My people, and I am not your God.” Yet the number of the children of Israel will be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not My people,” there it will be said to them, “You are the children of the living God.”

Hosea 1:9–10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We are the children of the living God. As we move on, Peter will continue to encourage us to live lives that are like it.

Dead Isn’t Inability

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins

Ephesians 2:1 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is a favorite proof-text for some. It is brought to bear upon a superstitious condition of men. That would be the alleged Total Depravity of humanity as touted in the Calvinist TULIP short-hand. What that attempts to pass off is that humans are born not being able to do anything that pleases God, not even exercises faith in what He says… Because they are born dead in sin.

As conversations around TULIP go, there are many well-worn, yet limited Scripture proofs offered. They are intended to be understood to offer proof of an external contention. The terms “election” and “predestination” usually are in play. As such, Romans chapters 8 & 9 are often used to succinctly explain (the TULIP believer’s) version of these terms.

As I was reading, I find this.

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 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Here, Paul is not explaining that an unsaved person cannot do good, nor can a saved person, not sin. But it is the mindset of the unsaved. It is hostile toward God. A person with a mindset to sin is actively hostile toward God. It’s plain and simple. Sin brings death. God is opposed to death. (Even for believers.)

But to the point of the discussion, Paul continues.

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Romans 8:9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is the difference between a believer and an unbeliever. It’s not what such does or does not do, but Who lives inside.

And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that lives in you.

Romans 8:10–11 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is a promise a believer can hold fast to. As the Spirit lives in us we have the ability to put the deeds of the body to death. But nothing here is saying that a person that is born “dead in sins” cannot please God. In fact, what Paul says here is the antithesis that upends Total Depravity.

If a man born “dead in sins” can do nothing good; then a person whose body is dead “because of sin” ought not to be able to do things that displease God.

Dead men don’t sin. Yet saved men do sin. They do displease God.

What Paul is saying in both places, is that a person dead in sins is useless to the purposes God has already intended for him. The saved person’s body is reckoned dead because of sin. The word “dead” being used isn’t to mean like a physically dead person, but more like “useless for its intended purpose.” A dead battery cannot start a car.

That understanding is clearly evidenced in these:

So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

James 2:17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

But do you want to be shown, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:20 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.

James 2:26 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Faith without works is useless to the purposes God has intended. As is the body without the Spirit.