Darkness and Light

Darkness means that things are hidden and obscured from view. If we walk around at night without any light, we will most probably stumble over the furniture, because we can't see it and do not know where it is. Light means that things which were previously hidden in darkness is now visible, so that we can understand our surroundings and interact with it. When the lights are switched on, we do not stumble over the furniture, because it is seen.

Now, it is the same in the spiritual. There is a message which obscures our surroundings, and blinds us so that we stumble and fall. The law of Moses was designed to hide righteousness and reveal sin. The purpose was to make men recognize sin, and be conscious of it. In Psalms 78 (KJV) it is written: " 1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:"

The law was the old covenant (hence "of old"), but the law was dark sayings. The Amplified translation adds something else: "2 I will open my mouth in a parable (in instruction by numerous examples); I will utter dark sayings of old [that hide important truth]--

These dark sayings which was the law was designed to hide important truth. What does this mean? The Bible speaks constantly of a mystery which was hidden from human understanding. This mystery had to be kept hidden until a specific time when it could be revealed. The thing that hid the mystery was the law, and the mystery is important truth. Before I go on, I would like to explain something about the scriptures of the law and the prophets. The law was given by Moses as a mediator between God and man (Heb9 and Gal3). The law however was accompanied by prophecies, which spoke of the Messiah which would come to save the world from sin and oppression. The law and the prophets all spoke in unison about one Person, the Christ, the Messiah. Everything that was to happen in the time of Jesus was foretold, but it was kept from the understanding of the people, because it had to be hidden until all was fulfilled.

The law was a parable. We just read it in Psalms 78 that the law is a parable. Heb 9:9 adds its testimony to that fact: "9 Seeing that that first [outer portion of the] tabernacle was a parable (a visible symbol or type or picture of the present age). In it gifts and sacrifices are offered, and yet are incapable of perfecting the conscience or of cleansing and renewing the inner man of the worshiper."

The law was a parable, a shadow if you will, of things to come. Christ is the reality. The law and the prophets testified about a Person, Jesus Christ that was to come, and has now come. To read the law and the prophets in any other context can only lead to deception. Jesus said in John 5:39, speaking to the Pharisees: "You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me! 40 And still you are not willing [but refuse] to come to Me, so that you might have life."

If we look at the scriptures and think that it testifies about us, we are being deceived. We are then being made conscious of the sin that is revealed by the law (Rom3:20, Rom7:13, Gal3:19) and being made unconscious of the righteousness which is revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom1:17; Rom3:21-22; 2Cor5:17). The law needs to be seen in the right light. It was intended to be in effect until Jesus came to hide the mystery, so that all the scriptures concerning Him could be fulfilled (Gal3:20). The function of the law was to expose guilt and hide righteousness. The righteousness of the law was to be worked for, not to be received through faith. Gal 3:11 says: "Now it is evident that no person is justified (declared righteous and brought into right standing with God) through the Law, for the Scripture says, The man in right standing with God [the just, the righteous] shall live by and out of faith and he who through and by faith is declared righteous and in right standing with God shall live. 12 But the Law does not rest on faith [does not require faith, has nothing to do with faith], for it itself says, He who does them [the things prescribed by the Law] shall live by them [not by faith]. 13 Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified); 14 To the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit." The law could never justify us. The scriptures says that the just shall live by faith (Hab2:4; Gal3:11; Rom 1:17; Heb 10:38), and that the law is not of faith (Lev18:5). And yet people preach only believe, and grind their churches with laws and works. This is the greatest darkness in the church today. Darkness hides things, and makes it unseen. Light is the revelation of the unseen.

Why after so many years of 7 keys to this, and 5 steps to that, and courses upon courses on inner healing, deliverance, positive confession and relationship seminars can't the great majority of the church even get a headache healed, or provision for a small need? Why is the divorce ratings higher among religious people? The greatest reason, is that most of the church is preaching a law message that make people focused on themselves and their problems and what they need to do to fix them, paralysing the little faith they had, and sucking out all power that their might have been in their lives. This message makes everyone oblivious of faith, and conscious of works. The church at large is deceived by a works gospel, which is not the true gospel of Christ, but dependant on the works of people to get anything from God. The law is not to be kept. The law was given so that Christ could pay the price. Let me explain:
In Gen 1:26, God said: "God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth."

He gave authority to man to rule. Man ruled. Eve ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate (Gen3:6) . So sin entered into the world and death through sin (Rom5:12). So now man ruled, but submitted himself to Satan. God could not intervene and punish sin, because there was no law for Him to do so. Rom 4:15 says: "For the Law results in [divine] wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression [of it either]." Rom 5:13 says: "[To be sure] sin was in the world before ever the Law was given, but sin is not charged to men’s account where there is no law [to transgress]."

So God had to bring a law. Now the law (old covenant) was a contract between God and man. Think about a contract for a while. There must be two or more parties, there must be some exchange of performance (quid pro quo), and there must be a sanction if it is not complied with, but most of all, there must be a "meeting of the minds", i.e both parties must agree to enter into the agreement. Firstly, there were two parties at mount Sinai: God, and the nation of Israel. There was a mediator (Moses) and there can not be a mediator with just one party (Gal3:20). Secondly, there was an agreed performance: God would bless and protect Israel if Israel would walk according to the statutes of the law. Thirdly there was a sanction if a party did not comply. Israel would be punished by death if they didn't comply with the law, and lastly, there was a meeting of the minds, an agreement if you will. In Ex24 it says: "3 Moses came and told the people all that the Lord had said and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, All that the Lord has spoken we will do." There the agreement was made, and Moses sealed it with the sprinkling of blood.

Why is this relevant? God wanted to save man from sin. God wanted to kill sin to save man, but He had no jurisdiction to do so, because He had said that man was to rule over the earth. God had to establish an agreement, a contract with Israel in order to be able to condemn sin. The purpose was never to condemn man, but to condemn sin. The law was given, and designed in such a way that it would hide God's master plan of salvation. The reason God had to conceal His plan is explained by the apostle Paul in 1 Cor 2:7 "But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God--[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence]. 8 None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory."

If they knew that Jesus could destroy sin in the flesh once for all by dying on the cross, they would not have crucified Him. They were blinded by their ignorance, and only saught to condemn Jesus. Jesus knew this and cried out: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do! After the resurrection, the mystery was first revealed to the very people who crucified Him. God had to punish sin. He had to bring the law to be able to punish sin. He sent His Son to take the punishment in our behalf. The contract was fulfilled by God on behalf of man. God indwelled a human body, fulfilled what was written about Him, and then poured out the blessing He receive by the contract to all those who believed.

We now have a testament, which was enacted the moment Jesus the testator died. The testament is a document with only One party. It is a promise which is effected by death. Jesus died and left us an inheritance of eternal blessedness. We receive it by believing in Him. This is the light. The law is the darkness the hides righteousness, and reveals sin. The Gospel is the salvation of God that reveals God's righteousness in us.

Let's look at 2 Cor 3:6 [It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive. 7 Now if the dispensation of death engraved in letters on stone [the ministration of the Law], was inaugurated with such glory and splendor that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of its brilliance, [a glory] that was to fade and pass away, 8 Why should not the dispensation of the Spirit [this spiritual ministry whose task it is to cause men to obtain and be governed by the Holy Spirit] be attended with much greater and more splendid glory? 9 For if the service that condemns [the ministration of doom] had glory, how infinitely more abounding in splendor and glory must be the service that makes righteous [the ministry that produces and fosters righteous living and right standing with God]! 10 Indeed, in view of this fact, what once had splendor [the glory of the Law in the face of Moses] has come to have no splendor at all, because of the overwhelming glory that exceeds and excels it [the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ]. 11 For if that which was but passing and fading away came with splendor, how much more must that which remains and is permanent abide in glory and splendor! 12 Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely and openly and fearlessly. 13 Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing [splendor which had been upon it]. 14 In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made void and done away. 15 Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds and hearts. 16 But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). 18 And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

It is important to note that Paul is writing about the old and the new, the covenant and the testament, the law and the Gospel, the letter and the Spirit, and he distinctly puts them in opposition to each other. It is also important to notice that Paul speaks of two glories, the glory of the law in the face of Moses, and the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ. The glory of the law in the face of Moses was a fading glory, which was destined to fade and pass away. The glory of the Spirit, in the face of Jesus Christ is ever increasing and abiding forever. Now, how many of you know that when light fades darkness remains? It's quite obvious isn't it? Moses started with glory, and ended in darkness. He started with spectacular miracles, but by the time the Israelites were taken to Babilonia, there was no glory or miracles. It faded. Jesus arrived when the darkness was at its darkest. They did not recognise Him.

1Cor1:21 "For when the world with all its earthly wisdom failed to perceive and recognize and know God by means of its own philosophy, God in His wisdom was pleased through the foolishness of preaching [salvation, procured by Christ and to be had through Him], to save those who believed (who clung to and trusted in and relied on Him). 22 For while Jews [demandingly] ask for signs and miracles and Greeks pursue philosophy and wisdom, 23 We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense. 24 But to those who are called, whether Jew or Greek (Gentile), Christ [is] the Power of God and the Wisdom of God."

They were in darkness, because the law was hiding the truth. Jesus is the truth. He carried the mystery inside Him. When they ripped Him open, they opened the veil, and the mystery could be revealed.

If they had the light, why did they stumble over the stumbling stone, which was Jesus? Jesus was the light of the world (Jn 8:12,Jn9:5). In John 11 Jesus said something so awesome: "9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? Anyone who walks about in the daytime does not stumble, because he sees [by] the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks about in the night, he does stumble, because there is no light in him [the light is lacking to him]."

So Paul writes about this stumbling a bit more in Rom9:31 "Whereas Israel, though ever in pursuit of a law [for the securing] of righteousness (right standing with God), actually did not succeed in fulfilling the Law. 32 For what reason? Because [they pursued it] not through faith, relying [instead] on the merit of their works [they did not depend on faith but on what they could do]. They have stumbled over the Stumbling Stone. 33 As it is written, Behold I am laying in Zion a Stone that will make men stumble, a Rock that will make them fall; but he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall not be put to shame nor be disappointed in his expectations."

Those who trust in the law, walks in the night, in darkness, and stumble over the stumbling stone, but those who walk in the Light, can see that this stone is actually the Chief Cornerstone, and do not stumble, for they can see.

Peter wrote about this further: 1Pet2:7 "To you then who believe (who adhere to, trust in, and rely on Him) is the preciousness; but for those who disbelieve [it is true], The [very] Stone which the builders rejected has become the main Cornerstone, 8 And, A Stone that will cause stumbling and a Rock that will give [men] offense; they stumble because they disobey and disbelieve [God’s] Word, as those [who reject Him] were destined (appointed) to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

In the Light, we see the stone as the Chief of the Corner. In darkness, we are blinded, and stumble over it. The context is abundantly clear. Now I realy just want to set you free and shed some new light on a scripture that has been misunderstood for ages: 1John 1

"1 [WE ARE writing] about the Word of Life [in] Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our [own] eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for ourselves] and have touched with our [own] hands. 2 And the Life [an aspect of His being] was revealed (made manifest, demonstrated), and we saw [as eyewitnesses] and are testifying to and declare to you the Life, the eternal Life [in Him] Who already existed with the Father and Who [actually] was made visible (was revealed) to us [His followers]. 3 What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 4 And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be full [and your joy may be complete]. 5 And this is the message [the message of promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way]. 6 [So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents]. 7 But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]. 8 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. 9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. 10 If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts]."

Just read it again in this light and be free. God is light and there is no darkness in Him. God is full of goodness, and there is no condemnation in His heart towards you. Darkness is law and condemnation. Now verse 6 to 7 might be a shocker, but please see the revelation and be set free: 6 [So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents]. 7 But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

It says this: If we say we have fellowship with Jesus, but walk about in darkness (the law) we lie. If we really walk in the Light (Gospel of righteousness) we have fellowship with Him, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us. What is the qualification to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus? Faith in the Gospel, not good works. Dwelling in light or darkness has to do with what message we believe, not works.

Rom 14:23 says: "for whatsoever is not of faith is sin". The darkness is to live without faith. The sin is to live by the law and not faith in Christ. 2 Cor 3:15-16 says that we must repent and turn away from Moses to Christ. So now the rest of 1John1 ". 8 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. 9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. 10 If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts]."

We need to come to a point of repentance and realised that we moved against God by seeking our own righteousness through the law, and turn to Jesus and trust only His sacrifice. This is the meaning of 1John 1. Trusting in the law of Moses is actively resisting the sacrifice of Christ and making yourself an enemy of the Gospel. The Gospel and the law is absolute opposites. The Gospel is by grace, the law is by works, the Gospel is free, the law is to be earned. Either Jesus paid a price for us, or we have to pay a price. You can't have both. What fellowship does darkness have with light?

We are forgiven and free by faith in the sacrifice of the body and the blood of Jesus Christ. That is our justification, and nothing else.

I have to stop somewhere, so I'll just quote a portion of John 3. I trust that this note has blessed you and given you new perspective on law, grace, darkness and light.

John3
"16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. 18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation--he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.] 19 The [basis of the] judgment (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: the Light has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil. 20 For every wrongdoer hates (loathes, detests) the Light, and will not come out into the Light but shrinks from it, lest his works (his deeds, his activities, his conduct) be exposed and reproved. 21 But he who practices truth [who does what is right] comes out into the Light; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are--wrought with God [divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence upon Him]."

Bless you! May God open your eyes and give you revelation in the deep and intimate knowledge of His Word, may you experience the reality of Christ daily!

Gerrit

Sinners in the hands of a compassionate God - by Colin McGeer

A preacher friend Colin McGeer put this note on his Facebook profile today. It really blessed me.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement), (2Corinthians 1:3)

For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not fail you or destroy you or forget the covenant of your fathers, which He swore to them. (Deuteronomy 4:31)

And they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God was their redeemer. But they flattered Him with their mouths, and they lied to Him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with Him, neither were they faithful in His covenant. But He, full of pity, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them; yea, many times He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath. (Psalm 78:35-38)

We have been taught that God is a different God in the Old Testament to the God in the New Testament. We have this picture of a harsh and unforgiving God who was bent on death and destruction.

What is the truth, though? It seems very confusing because it sounds like two opposing views. Does God have a split personality?

Man is harsh and unforgiving. Demanding justice and very, very cruel.

Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man."
(2Samuel 24:14)

He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious, merciful, and full of loving compassion.
(Psa 111:4)

Webster’s Dictionary defines compassion as, "sorrow for the sufferings or trouble of another or others, accompanied by an urge to help; it is deep sympathy or pity."

We can see by that definition that compassion is both an inward feeling and an outward expression toward others.

Jesus ministered to the sick and the hurting from a heart of compassion.

But seeing the crowds, He was moved with compassion on them, because they were tired and scattered like sheep having no shepherd. (Mathew 9:36)

And Jesus went out and saw a great crowd, and He was moved with compassion toward them. And He healed their sick. (Matthew 14:14)

He had splagchnizomai. (Greek word for compassion.) It is not just concern, it goes beyond the ordinary. The New American Standard Dictionary defines it as: to be moved in the inward parts, i.e. to feel compassion. Strong’s Dictionary terms it as: to have the bowels yearn.

God desires mercy and not judgment. Kingdom life requires genuine love, to know people as God does, not judging from outward appearances, but looking for the inner beauty.

And finally, all be of one mind, having compassion on one another, loving the brothers, tenderhearted, friendly. (1Peter 3:8)

Newsletter July 2010

I have decided to do a newsletter on the blog, so that I can just e-mail the link, and share it on Facebook and Twitter. Its just so much easier, and since my internet access is restricted to my Blackberry at the moment, I can actually get around to do it.

This month has been very good. The Lord has shown His love and mercy to me in a way I can not describe. So many people have started to join us in the weekly outreaches to the hospitals and clinics. More people can simply reach more people. We have seen God perform miracles through the hands of people who have never prayed for the sick before. God is faithful to His Word, and He will do what He promised. His Word says that these attesting signs will follow them that believe, one of which is that they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. We did just that, and many people experienced an immediate change in their symptoms. Mostly the effect was that the pain would be gone immediately, but some people's ears were restored, or could walk better, or could do things they couldn't do before. Praise the Lord. All glory to Him. What we need to realise, is that the scripture mentioned above (Mark 16) says something about our identity. The signs will follow them that believe. We are "them that believe", so now its simple. Because we are "them that believe" we just lay our hands on the sick in simplicity, and the signs do follow us. Jesus is still the same yesterday, today and forever.

The thing God spoke to me this month that touched me most was just a reminder of something He told me eleven years ago as I got saved. Its so close to my heart, and I can't help but get a bit emotional when thinking about it. Phil 1:6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

Eleven years ago I was completely depressed, because I was so conscious of my sin. I SOO wanted to change myself. My whole life revolved around changing, because I loathed who I was. Just to give you an idea of what I experienced, I would literally feel like someone hit me in the gut with force if I were just reminded of my sin. My heart felt like there were thousands of fishing hooks stuck in it, being pulled together with string. I would be sick and then brush my teeth till my gums bled. I felt totally empty and it felt like my soul was bled dry, but I couldn't show it, just in case someone found out. I couldn't let anyone know. Every sentence, every move was premeditated and calculated. I would look cheerful, but after closing the door behind me I would collapse in silent tears, just in case someone was listening at the door. I couldn't show weakness, I couldn't be caught off guard. I went for every course. I went for deliverance sessions. I was so hungry for anything that could help me. All the courses was about what I had to do about my sin, and it only gave me a fresh remembrance of the sin.

My dear friend Jacques Botha, a big rugby player filled with the Spirit of God, used to just be there for me, not judging me, or trying to change me. Every time I would ask him one of my complicated philosophical questions, he would reply the same thing: I don't know, but I just know that the work God started in your life, He will complete.

He was right! Ten years ago, I had an experience with Jesus in my room. The reality of Christ entered my life like a rushing flood, taking away my torment and anguish, replacing it with joy and peace. Since then, God has done so much. This scripture is so true. I was really in the deepest hole, unable to help myself, and Jesus started a work in me, and He still helps me, and changes me daily. He will do the same for you, no matter who you are, what you are, what you did, or where you are. He will help you. Stop trying to save yourself, and let Him do His work in you.

I pray that you will experience the Lord Jesus Christ in reality as I do, and even more. He is truly the same yesterday, today and forever.

Gerrit

Live and let live

We as Christians have so much to give. If what we believe is true, why is it that the earth hasn't been saved in over two thousand years time? I personally think that most of our lethargic lackadaisical existence comes from fear of what we profess not to believe in, and a lack of action in what we do believe in. When asked the question if we believe in God's healing power, most will react and say: yes we believe that God heals the sick. Yet very few people put their actions with what their creed says and lay their hands on the sick for the fear of it not happening. It is the same with other things in life. We are used to fulfilling the identity of victim, and not victor. We stand and watch how our lives and dreams are plundered and destroyed, and do nothing, because we are victims, and someone needs to come and save us from the outside. We are used to blaming, in stead of realising what we have been given, and changing the world with what we do have to give to others. We believe that Jesus Christ came to save the world from sin and death, but we live as though the end is upon us and as if we are defeated without recourse. Why are we living with a victim mentality if salvation has already come? If I were on a sinking ship, I would have reason to cry out for help. If I were then resqued from the ship and placed on safe land, I would rejoice in my salvation, and carry on living my life. Most people live a shipwreck-christianity. We constantly call for salvation, never receiving it and acting on it to maybe save others. Yes we're not perfect yet, and Jesus is saving us daily from sin's dominion, but initially we were saved. If I were saved from certain death, I would certainly rejoice, and speak to others about it, especially of that would bring salvation to them too.

I am very simpathetic to people who have lost much in whealth and loved ones, but when will we stand up and start smiling, living our lives, in stead of constantly looking for reasons why we can't? Are we defining our identities by all the bad things that has happened, or are we rising up from it and living lives inspired by what we actually could experience?
I think its about time we got over ourselves and start taking back what is ours. We have been given the Holy Spirit, of Whom it is written that all things were created through Him, and to Whom all things are possible. Can we please realise now that we are saved, and that there might be others who need what we already have? We constantly ask God to keep giving us what He already has. We ask Him to do what He already did. We even try to do what He already did. We are distracted with sin and morals, trying to overcome our evil tendencies with our behaviour modification programmes. If we are justified by His grace; if we are saved by grace, when will we start giving this grace to others?

I am not being negative, quite the contrary. My aim is to make people conscious of what is inside them, so they can stop being afraid of what happens around them, and change the reality of the world, through the treasures they carry inside them. We have the Holy Spirit. We have His power. We have His grace. We have His love. We have His healing light. We have His mercy. Rom 5:17 says that those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness will rule as kings in life. Rule over what? The suffering of people: sin and death. Just this morning I went to a clinic in one of the poorest areas in the city I live in. About 50 people experienced some sort of change, be it pain that genuinely left, or just emotional change because someone simply cared about them. 10 years ago I was depressed. Now I bring hope to others. In between I realised I was saved.

We feel unfulfilled, because we are so misdirected in our thinking. We think its about us, when the One Who is in us is desperately trying to help those in need. The only reason we are so sad, is because we are bored to the point of insanity with our own shortcomings, and desperately need any distractions. People sin, because they don't realise the whealth of the treasure God put inside them. So something happened to you. Okay, fine. Receive grace, receive help from God, and get on with it. You can't go around expecting everyone to keep on swooning around you for all eternity because you got hurt 15 years ago. If you play the role of victim, you will victimise others for the rest of your life. The oppressed will become the oppressor. Realise that the victory is won and that you are made new in Christ, more than a conqueror through Him, and then get out there and destroy the works of darkness in the lives of others. Our destiny is to BE the help God extends to others, and not to overcome our own selfish sins and woeful characters. You are the answer to their prayers. Where do you see yourself? In Christ the Victor? Or in natural man, the victim of a defeated ruler? The more we go out and be Christ to the people, with that I mean carriers of the Holy Spirit (anointing-Christ), ministering Him to them, the more we will realise that we are not bound, weak, and defenseless, but strong, overcoming and victorious in Him. Don't change yourself before you go. Believe, go, and realise that you already are what you desired to become.

I will close with this thaught: One day I prayed. I asked Jesus to help me with something (as in: I am here, He is there, and He must now come to where I am and help me). I started to pray in the Spirit (in tongues) as I was accustomed to do. Then God spoke so clearly while I prayed through His Spirit. He said: "This is me helping you."

I realised how he helps me. He lives in me, and prays through me when I pray, works through me when I go and minister. He helps us from the inside, not the outside. He doesn't do it FOR you. He does it THROUGH you and IN you. Its still Him doing it, but you are involved. Don't sit and wait for things to happen from the outside. Go and change the world. Go and give God the opportunity to do things on the earth through your body, yielded to His Holy Spirit.

Its all about relationship with Him, not about how perfect you can live. Your morality won't change the world. Your faith will.

Resurrection Life

I often wondered why Jesus had to die and what all of this meant. How could one man bear the burden of sin for the whole world? Well I don’t know all the answers, but God has shown me truth that I can share with you.

Let’s start at the beginning then. Adam and Eve were made perfect people who had no sin in them. They were naked, but had no shame, they had no duties and no one expected them to work for anything. Paradise I suppose.

Genesis 1:26-28
1:26 God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth.
1:27 So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.
1:28 And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth.
But in the middle of the Garden of Eden, there was the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The only warning God gave them, was not to eat of that tree.

Genesis 2:16-17

2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, You may freely eat of every tree of the garden;
2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

There was another tree, the Tree of Life. They were free to eat of it, but under no obligation. Without going into a lot of detail, Eve then ate, and she gave to Adam, and he ate, and sin entered into the world and death through sin. Note that God didn’t say that He was going to kill them if they ate. God said that the day they ate of that tree, they shall surely die. The fruit of the tree was poisonous. The tree could cause only death.

Romans 5:12-14

5:12 Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [no one being able to stop it or to escape its power] because all men sinned.
5:13 [To be sure] sin was in the world before ever the Law was given, but sin is not charged to men's account where there is no law [to transgress].
5:14 Yet death held sway from Adam to Moses [the Lawgiver], even over those who did not themselves transgress [a positive command] as Adam did. Adam was a type (prefigure) of the One Who was to come [in reverse, the former destructive, the Latter saving].

God made man, gave all authority over the earth to man, told man to be fruitful and multiply, and subdue it. If God gave all authority to man, it means that God could only have influence in the earth through man. Man ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and death had authority and power over man. Sin had entered into the world, and death as the result of sin. If God were to punish sin and end it, He had to first bring a law, because sin is not charged to men’s account where there is no law.

So skipping a few years, we meet Abram. God appeared to him and said to move to a land that He would show him, and that He would bless him. Abram believed, and he moved. Later in the King’s Valley, after Abram had slain Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him.

Genesis 14:18-20

14:18 Melchizedek king of Salem [later called Jerusalem] brought out bread and wine [for their nourishment]; he was the priest of God Most High,
14:19 And he blessed him and said, Blessed (favoured with blessings, made blissful, joyful) be Abram by God Most High, Possessor and Maker of heaven and earth,
14:20 And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your foes into your hand! And [Abram] gave him a tenth of all [he had taken].

Abram was served the bread and the wine, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Still later, after Abram had some doubt as to who his heir would be, the Lord brought him outside his tent into the starlight and said:

Genesis 15:5-6

15:5 ...Look now toward the heavens and count the stars-if you are able to number them. Then He said to him, So shall your descendants be.
15:6 And he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God).

Then God said to Abram that his descendants would be slaves for 400 years in Egypt, but that He would bring judgement upon Egypt and lead Abram’s descendants out of Egypt with many possessions. Then God said :

Genesis 17:1-7

17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I [am] the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
17:2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
17:3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
17:4 As for me, behold, my covenant [is] with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
17:6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

God said “I will establish my covenant”. He did not establish it on the spot. 400 years had to pass first. So Abraham received a promise before the covenant was established. The covenant was established only when Moses came and led them out of Egypt. In the desert, at mount Sinai, the covenant was finally established

Exodus 24:1-10

24:1 GOD SAID to Moses, Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu [Aaron's sons], and seventy of Israel's elders, and worship at a distance.
24:2 Moses alone shall come near the Lord; the others shall not come near, and neither shall the people come up with him.
24:3 Moses came and told the people all that the Lord had said and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, All that the Lord has spoken we will do.
24:4 Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. He rose up early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve pillars representing Israel's twelve tribes.
24:5 And he sent young Israelite men, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord.
24:6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he dashed against the altar.
24:7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people; and they said, All that the Lord has said we will do, and we will be obedient.
24:8 And Moses took the [remaining half of the] blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.
24:9 Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up [the mountainside].
24:10 And they saw the God of Israel [that is, a convincing manifestation of His presence], and under His feet it was like pavement of bright sapphire stone, like the very heavens in clearness.

God had to make a covenant with them. God gave all rule and authority over the earth to man, and man submitted to sin and death. In order for God to save man from sin and death, He had to first establish a contract or a covenant with them. Remember that death already ruled by this point. God wanted to give them a saving helping hand.

Now a covenant is nothing different from a contract. Two or more individuals enter into an agreement, to which they would be held accountable. There can however not be a contract if there is not a meeting of minds. The parties to the contract need to both agree on the terms of it. This gives both parties rights and privileges. If party “A” will do something, party “B” will do something in return. Clearly out of this passage in Exodus 24 there were a meeting of the minds between the nation of Israel and God. This was the covenant or contract that God said to Abraham he would make after the 400 years.

God would bless them, protect them, and lead them out to the Promised Land. They would heed to His law, doing all that was expected of them. If they did not obey the law, they would be put to death, which was they point they started at before the law came. Death reigned over man. After Moses brought the covenant, the law reigned over man, because they agreed to enter into the agreement with God. They were thus bound to the law, having submitted under it.

The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil distinguished between what was good and what was evil. The knowledge of evil came through that tree, and death came in through that knowledge. God had to change that arrangement a bit. He gave the law, through which came the knowledge of sin. Sin was revealed by the law.

Romans 5:12-14

5:12 Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [no one being able to stop it or to escape its power] because all men sinned.
5:13 [To be sure] sin was in the world before ever the Law was given, but sin is not charged to men's account where there is no law [to transgress].
5:14 Yet death held sway from Adam to Moses [the Lawgiver], even over those who did not themselves transgress [a positive command] as Adam did. Adam was a type (prefigure) of the One Who was to come [in reverse, the former destructive, the Latter saving].

Sin did come into the world before the law, but the people did not know it to be sin. They had the knowledge of good and evil, which produced death in them, but they did not realise that it was sinful and against God’s will. God gave the law of the covenant to teach them what sin was, and to turn away from it. The problem was that no human being could withstand sin. All men sinned and fell short of the glory of God. Man needed salvation from the power of sin and death. At this stage God had jurisdiction over man to punish the sin and to bless man to the extent of the contents of the covenant. If it was not written, it could not be done.

Man had a sinful nature, and this nature together with a law that revealed sin could never be fully obedient to the law. The knowledge of sin only proved to stimulate the forbidden desires.

Romans 7:7-13

7:7 What then do we conclude? Is the Law identical with sin? Certainly not! Nevertheless, if it had not been for the Law, I should not have recognized sin or have known its meaning. [For instance] I would not have known about covetousness [would have had no consciousness of sin or sense of guilt] if the Law had not [repeatedly] said, You shall not covet and have an evil desire [for one thing and another].
7:8 But sin, finding opportunity in the commandment [to express itself], got a hold on me and aroused and stimulated all kinds of forbidden desires (lust, covetousness). For without the Law sin is dead [the sense of it is inactive and a lifeless thing].
7:9 Once I was alive, but quite apart from and unconscious of the Law. But when the commandment came, sin lived again and I died (was sentenced by the Law to death).
7:10 And the very legal ordinance which was designed and intended to bring life actually proved [to mean to me] death.
7:11 For sin, seizing the opportunity and getting a hold on me [by taking its incentive] from the commandment, beguiled and entrapped and cheated me, and using it [as a weapon], killed me.
7:12 The Law therefore is holy, and [each] commandment is holy and just and good.
7:13 Did that which is good then prove fatal [bringing death] to me? Certainly not! It was sin, working death in me by using this good thing [as a weapon], in order that through the commandment sin might be shown up clearly to be sin, that the extreme malignity and immeasurable sinfulness of sin might plainly appear.

So the law could only produce the manifestation of sin in the lives of people. It never had the power to save man from sin, because man’s very nature was sinful, and the law revealed sin. No one had the power to withstand it. Sin had to be punished and ended, because it kept ruling in the bodies of people. God also made a promise to Abraham, which came before the covenant, before the law. God said to Abraham that He would bless him, and his Seed after him.

Galatians 3:16

3:16 Now the promises (covenants, agreements) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed (his Offspring, his Heir). He [God] does not say, And to seeds (descendants, heirs), as if referring to many persons, but, And to your Seed (your Descendant, your Heir), obviously referring to one individual, Who is [none other than] Christ (the Messiah).

Why was the promise made only to a singular Seed? The Son of God had to come to bear the burden of sin, and to fully absorb the wrath described in the covenant, so that whoever believes in Him, might be made partakers of His righteousness. Let met explain. Only a person who was a party to the contract or covenant could attempt to fulfil it. If a contract exists between “A” and “B” to buy a car, “A” needs to do his duty in terms of the contract, and “B” needs to do his duty in terms of the contract. “A” for instance would buy produces the right amount of money, as described in the contract, and “B” would produce the right car as described in the contract. It is not open for “C” to come in and produce anything.

Jesus said in John 10:1

I ASSURE you, most solemnly I tell you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way (elsewhere, from some other quarter) is a thief and a robber.

If a person was not part of the covenant, but tried to force his way into the blessings by another way, he would be regarded as a thief. So Jesus wanted to come and fulfil the demands of the law, to save them that is under the curse of the law. Jesus therefore had to be born a Jew, under the law, to be a party to the contract, a subject of the covenant. He therefore took on Himself the human sinful nature, but was Himself totally holy.

Romans 8:3-4

8:3 For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],
8:4 So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit].

God wanted to condemn sin, and He never wanted to condemn man. The law came so that sin could be punished, but the law only ministered condemnation to people. Jesus came in that same sinful as a man to the earth, having the power to withstand sin, and having the power to lay His life down and to take it up again. This was the only way sin could be condemned apart from condemning all people. Jesus, the perfect, holy Son of God, knew no sin, but was tempted in every respect as we are. He withstood sin, and never gave in to its demands.

Hebrews 2:14-18

2:14 Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death-that is, the devil-
2:15 And also that He might deliver and completely set free all those who through the [haunting] fear of death were held in bondage throughout the whole course of their lives.
2:16 For, as we all know, He [Christ] did not take hold of angels [the fallen angels, to give them a helping and delivering hand], but He did take hold of [the fallen] descendants of Abraham [to reach out to them a helping and delivering hand].
2:17 So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the people's sins.
2:18 For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering].

Hebrews 4:15

For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].

The law of Moses is called the ministration of condemnation and death engraved in letters on Stone in 2 Corinthians 3:7. In verse 6 it says that the code of the Law kills, but the Spirit makes alive. The law was designed to bring death to those who disobeyed them. The problem was that no one was able to obey it, as I showed above in Romans 7. If a perfect man would arise, the problem would be that He would simply be perfect, and no death would be ministered to Him, and He would simply live forever blessed. It would make no difference to the lives of other people. Therefore the law had another function. It blinded the eyes of them that would subscribe to it, trying to follow its insistent demands, but were unable to do so, that is, it blinded the eyes of every human being who would read it.

2 Corinthians 3:15

3:14 In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made void and done away.
3:15 Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds and hearts.

The identity of the Messiah had to remain a mystery to those under the law, until the goal of His coming was accomplished. So all the Jews, reading the law, and trying to fulfil it, were blinded to His splendour and His goodness, so that it might be fulfilled what was written about Him:

Isaiah 53

53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.
53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth.
53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
53:12 Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

He was an offering for our sins. The perfect and holy was slain for the sins of the wicked. This was His helping hand that He extended to the fallen descendants of Abraham. They had to reject Him, they had to condemn Him, they had to crucify Him, otherwise He would not be able to bear our sins.

John 1:9-11

1:9 [That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

If they knew who He really was, they would not have crucified Him.

1 Corinthians 2:8-9

2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it], they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

His identity was kept a mystery, so that the wrath and judgement of the law could fully be expressed in the body of Jesus Christ. The only way that a man could know who He was, was if the Holy Spirit would reveal it to him.

Luke 2:25-35

2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name [was] Simeon; and the same man [was] just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
2:28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
2:31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this [child] is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
2:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

The true effect of the law of Moses was proven when the Jews crucified Jesus. The law blinds the eyes of men and prevents them from seeing the Christ. The law produces condemnation and false self-righteousness, which is unable to save. They took the Innocent, and unleashed the fury of the law upon Him. They didn’t realise that they were actually acting out what was foretold. This is the reason Jesus said: Father forgive them, because they know not what they are doing. This is also the reason why the Gospel of Jesus Christ was first preached to the Jews, so that they might have the opportunity to repent, to open their eyes, throw away the veil, and look for the first time at the Truth about God which was kept hidden for throughout the ages. Those who believed the message of the Gospel, received the revelation of His glory, and saw. Those who still rejected Him and insisted on the law, and being blinded by it, were lost.

Colossians 1:26-27

1:26 The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints),
1:27 To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.

Jesus came as a man in sinful flesh, with sinful temptations just as we have. He resisted them, lived perfectly holy, and performed the will of God. The people never knew who He was. They were filled with the judgement and wrath of the law. They took Him out, and crucified Him. No one spoke a word in His defence. He had the power to lay down His life, so He stood in front of the law, said “give me all the wrath you have”, absorbed it into His body, lay down His life, and took it up again, so that the law and sin could never have anything to say against Him again.

The law could only produce death. If the law had it full working in us, we would die. The law only ministers death. Jesus came with a disguise, in sinful flesh, absorbed the judgement of the law, lay down His life, and took it up again. Now all sin and all judgement has been completely expressed in the body of Jesus, which was the offering for sin. He overcame sin, and deprived it of its power. He overcame death, and subdued it on our behalf.

Why does that save us? Why does what He did, change our nature? If we believe in Jesus, the Word, or Seed comes into our hearts, and we are born from God.

John 1:1

IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.

If we believe the Word, the Word enters us, and we enter Him.

1John1:5&7

1:5 And this is the message [the message of promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in
any way].

1:7 But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

If we believe the Word, we believe in Him. If we have fellowship with the Word, we have fellowship with Him. If we have fellowship with Him, we are dwelling in the Light, and His blood cleanses us from all sin. It works like this. He is the Seed according to the promise made to Abraham. If we believe the Word, which is the Seed, that Seed enters us and we enter Him. Because we are in Him, we are one the One who laid down His life and took it up again. We are one with the one who conquered death.

That makes us conquerors of death. If we can have fellowship with Him, it means that we have fellowship with His holiness, and He starts to live through us. Christ reigns in our bodies then, and not death. Life entered us, and we are now made alive.

2 Corinthians 5:14-17

5:14 For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died;
5:15 And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.
5:16 Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a [purely] human point of view [in terms of natural standards of value]. [No] even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now [we have such knowledge of Him that] we know Him no longer [in terms of the flesh].
5:17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [the covenant and the law, the old order - my insertion] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

Here is how we are ingrafted into Him, by the baptism.

Romans 6:1-11

6:1 WHAT SHALL we say [to all this]? Are we to remain in sin in order that God's grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow?
6:2 Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?
6:3 Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
6:4 We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life.
6:5 For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God].
6:6 We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin.
6:7 For when a man dies, he is freed (loosed, delivered) from [the power of] sin [among men].
6:8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
6:9 Because we know that Christ (the Anointed One), being once raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him.
6:10 For by the death He died, He died to sin [ending His relation to it] once for all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him].
6:11 Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.

Baptism is taught in some circles to be a ritual which has come to replace the circumcision of babies. Circumcision was a practice which was a sign or a token of the Old Covenant, and the law of Moses. We live by faith, in the Seed, which was heir according to the promise. We do not live by the law and rituals of Moses. Do they really mean to say that the baptism again binds us to the Old Covenant? Wasn’t the death of Christ supposed to free and loose us from the old covenant? There is no scripture that tells us that the baptism is a seal of the covenant. Not one. There are however lots of scriptures that tells us that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells us. How can we who have the Holy Spirit again go back to a ritual that’s dealing with sin? Wasn’t the offering of the flesh body of Jesus enough?

The Circumcision was a parable. It spoke of our old sinful nature being cut away from us, and that we would live a life free from bondage to sin and death. The true circumcision of the heart takes place when we are baptised, because the old unrenewed self is nailed to the cross with Him, and we are buried, and resurrected with Him in a new life free from the dominion of sin and death, in unbroken fellowship with Christ. The baptism is a outward manifestation of the Gospel we believe in. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and by the Gospel salvation is brought to us.

Colossians 2:8-23

2:8 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men's ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).
2:9 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].
2:10 And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead-Father, Son and Holy Spirit-and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].
2:11 In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but in a [spiritual] circumcision [performed by] Christ by stripping off the body of the flesh (the whole corrupt, carnal nature with its passions and lusts).
2:12 [Thus you were circumcised when] you were buried with Him in [your] baptism, in which you were also raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God [as displayed] when He raised Him up from the dead.
2:13 And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions,
2:14 Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross.
2:15 [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].
2:16 Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath.
2:17 Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ.
2:18 Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit,
2:19 And not holding fast to the Head, from Whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by means of its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
2:20 If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world's crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? [Why do you submit to rules and regulations?-such as]
2:21 Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them],
2:22 Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines.
2:23 Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh.]

We were baptised into His death. If we shared His death, we shall also share His resurrection by a new life lived for God. Because we were baptised into His death, the death He died applies to us. He died as an offering for sin. He took the wrath of the law upon Himself. Now we stand as if we have taken the wrath of the law on us, received the penalty of it, which is death, and as if we took our lives up again. We stand in Christ. We stand as if we died and rose again. We share His death and His resurrection.

Ephesians 2:1-8

2:1 AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins
2:2 In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God].
2:3 Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind.
2:4 But God-so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,
2:5 Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).
2:6 And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

We were dead, and He raised us up with the same new life with which He raised Jesus from the dead. That life can never die again. That life is free from sin and death. That life is eternal life and is our inheritance. He gave us that life by giving us the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:11

8:11 And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.

We have the same Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. He dwells inside us now, not our old unrenewed sinful nature. An exchange has taken place. We have died with Him. Our sins were punished in His body, and buried to remain in the grave forever. He was raised to a new life, and we with Him. His new life now resurrects our bodies when He enters into our hearts by faith.

The total wrath of the law is therefore totally expressed in us already. All the demands of the law have now been fully met in us. We could not justify ourselves, so we had to die. So we died, in Christ, and was made alive again in Christ. Therefore the climax of the law has been fully met in us already. This means that we can learn nothing from the Law of Moses. The life we now live, is a life that is sustained by Christ who lives in us, the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us.

Galatians 2:19-21

2:19 For I through the Law [under the operation of the curse of the Law] have [in Christ's death for me] myself died to the Law and all the Law's demands upon me, so that I may [henceforth] live to and for God.
2:20 I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
2:21 [Therefore, I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous.]

I through the Law and under the operation of the curse of the Law have died. That means that the law has had its operation in me fully, and has no jurisdiction to judge me. In Christ’s death I have died to the law, and all its demands upon me. This is the essence of the Gospel.

Romans 7:1-6

7:1 DO YOU not know, brethren-for I am speaking to men who are acquainted with the Law-that legal claims have power over a person only for as long as he is alive?
7:2 For [instance] a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies, she is loosed and discharged from the law concerning her husband.
7:3 Accordingly, she will be held an adulteress if she unites herself to another man while her husband lives. But if her husband dies, the marriage law no longer is binding on her [she is free from that law]; and if she unites herself to another man, she is not an adulteress.
7:4 Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.
7:5 When we were living in the flesh (mere physical lives), the sinful passions that were awakened and aroused up by [what] the Law [makes sin] were constantly operating in our natural powers (in our bodily organs, in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh), so that we bore fruit for death.
7:6 But now we are discharged from the Law and have terminated all intercourse with it, having died to what once restrained and held us captive. So now we serve not under [obedience to] the old code of written regulations, but [under obedience to the promptings] of the Spirit in newness [of life].

We can now by just hearing and believing this message experience true salvation. We can feel Him save us everyday. We can feel Him live His life through us, in stead of feeling and experiencing the sin, condemnation, and regret we have become so accustomed to. We have died with Christ. We have been given His Holy Spirit, Who now indwells us.

We have been totally forgiven of everything the law makes sin. We are now constantly being made alive by the Holy Spirit. He is constantly living His life through us. If we now turn back to the law and a legalistic mindset, we frustrate the grace, and set at naught everything Christ has done for us. We need to stop thinking that we can change ourselves, and believe that we are saved by grace. Right believing produces lasting change. The harder we try to change, the more we will disappoint ourselves.

Acts 13:38

13:38 So let it be clearly known and understood by you, brethren, that through this Man forgiveness and removal of sins is now proclaimed to you;
13:39 And that through Him everyone who believes [who acknowledges Jesus as his Savior and devotes himself to Him] is absolved (cleared and freed) from every charge from which he could not be justified and freed by the Law of Moses and given right standing with God.

Grace to overcome

Hello you blessed saints of God!

Listen to this scripture:
James 4:5 Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love?
4:6 But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).
4:7 So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.

The Spirit of God dwells in us and yearns over us. He jealously protects us against any evil infulences, and will never leave you to fend for yourself. He needs to be welcomed into our hears. Open the deepest part of your heart, that part which you try to protect and which is always locked away. God can always go deeper into our hearts, and show us more of His goodness in deeper revelation. He wants to show you who you are, but you need to trust Him in order for Him to do it. Trusting the Spirit is having faith in Him. You can't trust someone if you think he's out to get you. You need te realise that God is good. He is your protector, and He wants to keep you safe from all corrupting influences, but most of all, all accusing influences.

You need to hear and believe the Gospel of Christ, which tells us about this good God. By believing the Gospel, the Spirit testifies in our hearts that it is the truth, and we are able to believe He is good, and ultimately trust Him. If you think you need to keep things away from God, fearing judgment from Him, you will never be able to trust Him. So realise this: God gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes might not perish, but have eteral life (John 3:16). Going on in verse 17, He says: God did not send His Son in order to condemn the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound in Him. Those who believe will never be judged. Those who believe not, are judged already, because they did not believe in His name. Now, Jesus is not the one that condemns them, but the law of Moses. Remember the law came before Jesus, through Moses. The law was impossible for man, but Jesus came to fulfill it. Rom 10:4 says: Christ is the end of the law. John 1:17 "For while the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." So Moses = Law and Jesus = Grace and Truth.

John 5:45 says "Put out of your minds the thought and do not suppose [as some of you are supposing] that I will accuse you before the Father. There is one who accuses you - it is Moses, the very one on whom you have built your hopes [in whom you trust]." If we trust in the law of Moses, we fear judgement, and we are condemned by the law, because we are too weak to fulfill its demands. If we trust in salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, we are set free from the demands of the law, and all accusations, and His grace and truth lives in us and brings life to us. 2 Cor 3:6 says that the letter (Moses) kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Back to James 4. If the Spirit is welcome in our hearts, we will trust in God, and He will have access to our hearts, and His grace will be able to produce something in us. If we trust in the law, our hearts will close towards God, out of fear of judgment, because we would think that God wants to condemn us. He is then shut out from our hearts, and the law, which is the letter written on stone and which produces death is at work in our hearts. God is your greatest desire and your most wonderful companion. You don't need to hide what is in your heart from Him. He will not condemn you like Moses. He wants to set you free. Trust the Lord, and welcome the Spirit in your heart. Open your heart towards im and let His love wash over you.

Verse 6 says that "He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). This is how God handles your evil tendencies. Not by condemning you, but by condemning Himself on the cross, and giving you grace upon grace and more and more grace to overcome your evil tendencies. Your evil tendencies comes from the knowledge of sin, which comes from the law. Knowledge of sin comes from the law, and the law gives power to sin. God does not condemn us like the law does, no, He gives us grace and grace, so that we can understand that He loves us, and does not resent us. All your evil tendencies will be consumed by the love of God. He will completely restore your identity to sinless perfection and to the likeness of God Himself.

God gives grace to the lowly, to those who are humble enough to receive it. He sets Himself against the proud. The proud are those who trust in the arm of the flesh, the law of Moses, who wants to produce a righteousness of their own. The humble are those who trust in Jesus, who know that they can not make it on their own, and who trust in the work Jesus did on the cross. The humble are those who believe God when He tells them that they are forgiven and made holy by the blood of Jesus. The proud are they who try with all their techniques, and principles and deliverance seminars to try and set people free who are already free by His blood. The more you are involved in your righteousness, the more proud you are. The less you are involved, and the more you stand on what Jesus did for you to make you righteous, the more humble you are.

Then verse 7 says that you must resist the devil and He will flee from you. The devil is in the business of accusation. He uses the obsolete and fulfilled law of Moses and deceives God's people into thinking that they can be dirty. The name Satan means: "One who is against", or "adversary", or "accuser of the brethren". He will trick you into thinking that you need to do something to get free, when Jesus has died for you already. Rom 7:8 says: "But sin, finding opportunity in the commandment [to express itself], got a hold on me and aroused and stimulated all kinds of forbidden desires (lust, covetousness). For without the Law sin is dead [the sense of it is inactive and a lifeless thing]." 7:11 "For sin, seizing the opportunity and getting a hold on me [by taking its incentive] from the commandment, beguiled and entrapped and cheated me, and using it [as a weapon], killed me."

Satan uses the law to accuse you. Jesus doesn't accuse you (John5:45 above). He then uses the law as a weapon against you to bring death to you. Now, James 4:7 says to resist the devil and He will flee from you. This means that you need to stand your ground in the faith. Keep on believing that you are already forgiven, and that God is trustworthy and He will never condemn you, on the grounds that Jesus blood has washed you clean. Close your heart to accusational teachings of churches. Stop listening to the devices of the devil which brings death to you. Resist accusation, and condemnation by believing in the blood of Jesus, and the devil and all his fleshly evil tendencies, and temptations will flee from you.

God gives us more and more grace (power of the Spirit) to meet this evil tendency and all others fully. Receive grace, and keep on receiving grace, so that you can keep on standing blameless in the day of accusation. Resist the condemnation of the Devil and he will flee from you. Hold fast to Jesus, and what He has done for you.

Bless you

Gerrit