Keeping the Law of Moses does not bring anyone into the Kingdom of God.
The law of Moses and the Kingdom of God are two different things. While one demands "doing", the other requires "believing".
Mark 12:28
Then one of the scribes came up and listened to them disputing with one another, and, noticing that Jesus answered them fitly and admirably, he asked Him, Which commandment is first and most important of all [ in its nature]?
The scribe had a good question? Religion always "tries" to have good things but in the end messes things up.
The man asked Jesus which was the first and most important COMMANDMENT.
Jesus replied by satisfying what the man wanted to hear.
Mark 12:29-31
Jesus answered, The first and principal one of all commands is:Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord;
30 And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment.
31 The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
Looking at these verses what Jesus replied to that man we see that the commandment required a "doing".
Religion always wants its believers to DO and keep on DOING. Religion demands a PERFORMANCE.
Hearing this the man was very happy....of course he should be happy....it's what he expected Jesus to answer.
He was like so many RELIGIOUS PREACHERS today. The man expected Jesus to quote from the 10 commandments, and quote he did. Unfortunately, that was not what was going to help that man or ANY OTHER MAN.
The man was elated and replied....
Mark 12:32-33
And the scribe said to Him, Excellently and fitly and admirably answered, Teacher! You have said truly that He is One, and there is no other but Him;
33 And to love Him out of and with all the heart and with all the understanding [with the faculty of quick apprehension and intelligence and keenness of discernment] and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
UNFORTUNATELY there is just so much that RELIGION or the LAW OF MOSES can do.....give you goosebumps. It can make YOU feel good about yourself. But feeling good about yourself is not going to get you in the Kingdom of God. Shocker!!!
Well that's exactly what we see happening next here.
Mark 12:34
And when Jesus saw that he answered intelligently (discreetly and having his wits about him), He said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God. And after that no one ventured or dared to ask Him any further question.
The LAW OF MOSES and RELIGION can cause you to answer intelligently.....but that does not mean that you are in the KINGDOM.
It can get you NEAR the Kingdom of God but it leaves you there...right at the DOOR.
The law of Moses is a schoolmaster that brings us to Christ, but then getting into the Kingdom can ONLY be through JESUS CHRIST.
Galatians 3:24-25
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
We are NO LONGER under the schoolmaster, but we are under CHRIST, the DOOR.
The law can bring us to Christ but to get into the KINGDOM we must go through JESUS CHRIST, through FAITH in Him, in the FINISHED WORK ON THE CROSS, through GRACE.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Seated With Christ
It is an awesome privilege to be seated with Christ on the throne of God. This is one great truth the church must believe and understand. It is now 2000 years since Jesus died and rose from the dead, yet so many in the church are ignorant of the fact that we are victorious in Christ.
In the book of Ephesians, Paul speaks about us being seated with Christ in heavenly places.
Ephesians 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).
This is not something that has to be understood but to be believed. Don't try to understand things first, believe it and you will begin to see it and your understanding will be opened up.
God raised Jesus from the dead and made Him sit at His right hand.
Ephesians 1:20 Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places],
1:21 Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.
Christ the Son of God - created in the "Image of God" was raised and seated at the right hand of God.
Jesus was the only one who was created in the image of God. Adam was not created in the image of God according to popular belief. The Word of god cannot lie.
In Hebrews, Paul very clearly states this fact.
Hebrews 1:1 IN MANY separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the Truth] and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets,
1:2 [But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order].
1:3 He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God's] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,
Notice verse 3, Paul says that "He" (Christ) is the perfect imprint of God's nature.
King James Version says "the express image of his person."
Jesus was the only one created in the image of God. He is the Son of God. When God said in Genesis, "Let us make man in our own image and likeness", He was referring to Christ. Jesus was the only one from creation who was created in the image of God and had authority over everything on this earth. This was clearly manifested during the 3 years of His earthly ministry.
Jesus being the Son of God created in the Image of God; when He was raised from the dead, was given a place to sit at the right hand of God. A place where only the Son of God could and had right to sit.
But, now the interesting part comes.
When you received Jesus as Lord and Savior, you became a Son of God.
John 1:12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name-
1 John 3:1 SEE WHAT [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.
(KJV "Sons of God")
Galatians 4:6 And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father!
By believing in Jesus, you become a son of God. Peter goes on to say that we are born-again by the incorruptible seed of the Word of God and the Word is Jesus.
1 Peter 1:18 You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold,
1:19 But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot.
1:20 It is true that He was chosen and foreordained (destined and foreknown for it) before the foundation of the world, but He was brought out to public view (made manifest) in these last days (at the end of the times) for the sake of you.
1:21 Through Him you believe in (adhere to, rely on) God, Who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him honor and glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.
1:22 Since by your obedience to the Truth through the [Holy ] Spirit you have purified your hearts for the sincere affection of the brethren, [see that you] love one another fervently from a pure heart.
1:23 You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God.
You are "born-again" through the Word of God and that is why we are called "Sons of God".
Jesus being the SON of God, created in the very image of God, suffered and died for us so that we can become the Sons of God by believing in Him.
Jesus was raised from the dead and is seated at the right hand of God - a place ONLY for the Son of God.
Ephesians 2:1 AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins
We were DEAD in our sins and Jesus made us alive in Him.
Ephesians 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).
Jesus gave us life and made us SIT together with HIM in heavenly places.
So if Jesus is seated on the throne of God at the right hand of the Father, and you are seated in heavenly places with Jesus, that means you also are seated on the throne of God together with Christ.
This is possible because we are now the Sons of God.
So, you as a child of God - a Son of God - are seated with Christ right on the throne of God. You are a joint heir with Christ.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God.
8:17 And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.
As a Christian, you are seated with Jesus in heavenly places.
In Ephesians, Paul says that we are blessed with "every" spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 1:3 May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!
So, if you are a "Son of God", created in the image of God through the incorruptible seed of the Word of God, seated with Christ in heavenly places and the blessing is in heavenly places - it does make it easy to be blessed and be a blessing to others.
Be Blessed
Karl Walker
@ The Secret Place
In the book of Ephesians, Paul speaks about us being seated with Christ in heavenly places.
Ephesians 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).
This is not something that has to be understood but to be believed. Don't try to understand things first, believe it and you will begin to see it and your understanding will be opened up.
God raised Jesus from the dead and made Him sit at His right hand.
Ephesians 1:20 Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places],
1:21 Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.
Christ the Son of God - created in the "Image of God" was raised and seated at the right hand of God.
Jesus was the only one who was created in the image of God. Adam was not created in the image of God according to popular belief. The Word of god cannot lie.
In Hebrews, Paul very clearly states this fact.
Hebrews 1:1 IN MANY separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the Truth] and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets,
1:2 [But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order].
1:3 He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God's] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,
Notice verse 3, Paul says that "He" (Christ) is the perfect imprint of God's nature.
King James Version says "the express image of his person."
Jesus was the only one created in the image of God. He is the Son of God. When God said in Genesis, "Let us make man in our own image and likeness", He was referring to Christ. Jesus was the only one from creation who was created in the image of God and had authority over everything on this earth. This was clearly manifested during the 3 years of His earthly ministry.
Jesus being the Son of God created in the Image of God; when He was raised from the dead, was given a place to sit at the right hand of God. A place where only the Son of God could and had right to sit.
But, now the interesting part comes.
When you received Jesus as Lord and Savior, you became a Son of God.
John 1:12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name-
1 John 3:1 SEE WHAT [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.
(KJV "Sons of God")
Galatians 4:6 And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father!
By believing in Jesus, you become a son of God. Peter goes on to say that we are born-again by the incorruptible seed of the Word of God and the Word is Jesus.
1 Peter 1:18 You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold,
1:19 But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot.
1:20 It is true that He was chosen and foreordained (destined and foreknown for it) before the foundation of the world, but He was brought out to public view (made manifest) in these last days (at the end of the times) for the sake of you.
1:21 Through Him you believe in (adhere to, rely on) God, Who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him honor and glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.
1:22 Since by your obedience to the Truth through the [Holy ] Spirit you have purified your hearts for the sincere affection of the brethren, [see that you] love one another fervently from a pure heart.
1:23 You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God.
You are "born-again" through the Word of God and that is why we are called "Sons of God".
Jesus being the SON of God, created in the very image of God, suffered and died for us so that we can become the Sons of God by believing in Him.
Jesus was raised from the dead and is seated at the right hand of God - a place ONLY for the Son of God.
Ephesians 2:1 AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins
We were DEAD in our sins and Jesus made us alive in Him.
Ephesians 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).
Jesus gave us life and made us SIT together with HIM in heavenly places.
So if Jesus is seated on the throne of God at the right hand of the Father, and you are seated in heavenly places with Jesus, that means you also are seated on the throne of God together with Christ.
This is possible because we are now the Sons of God.
So, you as a child of God - a Son of God - are seated with Christ right on the throne of God. You are a joint heir with Christ.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God.
8:17 And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.
As a Christian, you are seated with Jesus in heavenly places.
In Ephesians, Paul says that we are blessed with "every" spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 1:3 May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!
So, if you are a "Son of God", created in the image of God through the incorruptible seed of the Word of God, seated with Christ in heavenly places and the blessing is in heavenly places - it does make it easy to be blessed and be a blessing to others.
Be Blessed
Karl Walker
@ The Secret Place
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
When I Heard of Your Faith & Love.......I Prayed......
Ephesians 1:15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (the people of God),
1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.
How often have we read these two verses? In fact every time we read the book of Ephesians we come across these verses, yet we fail to stop and think of what Paul was saying.
"....because I have heard of your FAITH...." - Faith can be heard - Faith can be seen.
When I say, "I have faith", I am saying that because I believe in the Word of God and I am "ACTIVELY" confessing the Word. If a Christian keeps confessing the Word - keeps on "saying" what the Word says, faith comes into him. Hence, faith can be heard.
How about "faith can be seen?", yes, your faith can be seen too. You automatically begin to "DO" what you "SAY". So if you are "saying" what the Word says, you will begin to "DO" what the Word says you can do. Did I confuse you? No, I did not!
If you "SAY" - "I am righteous because Jesus has cleansed me from all sin" then you will begin to "BELIEVE" what you say because it is what the WORD says.
Acts 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.
If you say that you are righteous because the WORD says you are righteous, you begin to live righteously. The WORD has power to do what it states.
When you confess healing over your body, healing begins to manifest. Because you believe in healing you confess healing and you will see healing upon yourself. It is your FAITH that cause you to say and to be healed. Faith can be seen.
Paul says, "because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus." Faith can be seen and heard.
Love
".....and your love toward all the saints (the people of God)"
I must admit that it is easy to love someone who loves you. It is difficult to love someone who wrongs you. I am speaking in the context of the church and not of those in the world. Can we honestly say that we love our brothers and sisters in the Lord?
Sadly, the answer to this is "NO". If we are to understand what Paul is about to pray for the church in Ephesus, then we need to understand LOVE for the saints.
How often do we turn our face from someone we don't particularly like - maybe they have a bad attitude or a bad aroma (just kidding about the aroma). Yes, their attitude may be bad or wrong, but can we say that we love them? I admit it is hard and I am still asking the Lord to help me everyday.
"....love towards all the saints..."
When we sing the song Amazing Grace - it's always for "us" - "that saved a WRETCH" like ME, but not the "WRETCH" next to me. We are ready to "jump on the Grace band wagon" for ourselves, but many times we refuse to let "the wretch next to me" get on.
Paul tells the church in Ephesus, "...faith & love...", when we read Ephesians, Paul talks of "strong meat" and not just milk. When he was talking to the Corinthian church, Paul said that he fed them with milk and not meat.
1 Corinthians 3:1 HOWEVER, BRETHREN, I could not talk to you as to spiritual [men], but as to nonspiritual [men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates], as to mere infants [in the new life] in Christ [unable to talk yet!]
3:2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough [to be ready for it]; but even yet you are not strong enough [to be ready for it],
3:3 For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of the flesh [under the control of ordinary impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men?
That is why Paul had to spell out everything for the church in Corinth. Imagine, one whole chapter on love. Why? Just because they were still babes drinking milk. But it seems that many Christians have gone back to drinking milk - just because it is easier to digest.
Let's look at what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
13:5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
13:6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
13:7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
I like verse 5 "....love is not touchy...." Ouch! You touched me and I'm going to react........ Are you touchy?
Here's another one, "Love bears up under everything...." Can we honestly bear up/ cover up the faults of our brothers and sisters? Or do we pull it out into the open and leave it exposed?
1 Peter 4:8 Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].
Love covers the sins of others. Do we cover the sins and faults of others or do we expose them?
Let me get this straight. John 20:23 tells us that we have the authority to forgive sins.
John 20:23 [Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him] if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained.
Are we going to take this or are we going to leave it to the Catholic priests and then say they are wrong?
It's the WORD - the WORD that we claim to LOVE so much. The same WORD says that we can and MUST forgive one another.
Is it easier to say "I forgive you" or to cast out a demon or heal a sick person? Remember reading that somewhere?
Matthew 9:2 And behold, they brought to Him a man paralyzed and prostrated by illness, lying on a sleeping pad; and when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven and the penalty remitted.
9:3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, This man blasphemes [He claims the rights and prerogatives of God]!
9:4 But Jesus, knowing (seeing) their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil and harbor malice in your hearts?
9:5 For which is easier: to say, Your sins are forgiven and the penalty remitted, or to say, Get up and walk?
Let me say this, the first time I heard this, my mind went blank and then slowly started receiving the light of the Word.
I've cast out many demons and healed many sick people. A stubborn demon can go out of a person just by us using the name of Jesus - we know casting out a demon is easy and healing the sick is also easy. Then, saying "I forgive you" is also "VERY EASY".
It's just that we need to understand that there is "No condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" Rom 8:1
Whether the person has done wrong or not, Christ does not condemn, so neither should we. Rather we are called to "love one another as Christ loved us."
1 John 3:20 Whenever our hearts in [tormenting] self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. [For we are in God's hands.] For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything [nothing is hidden from Him].
3:21 And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us [if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us], we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God,
3:22 And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.
3:23 And this is His order (His command, His injunction): that we should believe in (put our faith and trust in and adhere to and rely on) the name of His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and that we should love one another, just as He has commanded us.
Ephesians 1:15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (the people of God),
1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.
If we can understand this, then we can go ahead into the prayer Paul prayed for the church
Until next time.......walk in Faith & Love.
Karl Walker
@ The Place Called "There"
1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.
How often have we read these two verses? In fact every time we read the book of Ephesians we come across these verses, yet we fail to stop and think of what Paul was saying.
"....because I have heard of your FAITH...." - Faith can be heard - Faith can be seen.
When I say, "I have faith", I am saying that because I believe in the Word of God and I am "ACTIVELY" confessing the Word. If a Christian keeps confessing the Word - keeps on "saying" what the Word says, faith comes into him. Hence, faith can be heard.
How about "faith can be seen?", yes, your faith can be seen too. You automatically begin to "DO" what you "SAY". So if you are "saying" what the Word says, you will begin to "DO" what the Word says you can do. Did I confuse you? No, I did not!
If you "SAY" - "I am righteous because Jesus has cleansed me from all sin" then you will begin to "BELIEVE" what you say because it is what the WORD says.
Acts 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.
If you say that you are righteous because the WORD says you are righteous, you begin to live righteously. The WORD has power to do what it states.
When you confess healing over your body, healing begins to manifest. Because you believe in healing you confess healing and you will see healing upon yourself. It is your FAITH that cause you to say and to be healed. Faith can be seen.
Paul says, "because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus." Faith can be seen and heard.
Love
".....and your love toward all the saints (the people of God)"
I must admit that it is easy to love someone who loves you. It is difficult to love someone who wrongs you. I am speaking in the context of the church and not of those in the world. Can we honestly say that we love our brothers and sisters in the Lord?
Sadly, the answer to this is "NO". If we are to understand what Paul is about to pray for the church in Ephesus, then we need to understand LOVE for the saints.
How often do we turn our face from someone we don't particularly like - maybe they have a bad attitude or a bad aroma (just kidding about the aroma). Yes, their attitude may be bad or wrong, but can we say that we love them? I admit it is hard and I am still asking the Lord to help me everyday.
"....love towards all the saints..."
When we sing the song Amazing Grace - it's always for "us" - "that saved a WRETCH" like ME, but not the "WRETCH" next to me. We are ready to "jump on the Grace band wagon" for ourselves, but many times we refuse to let "the wretch next to me" get on.
Paul tells the church in Ephesus, "...faith & love...", when we read Ephesians, Paul talks of "strong meat" and not just milk. When he was talking to the Corinthian church, Paul said that he fed them with milk and not meat.
1 Corinthians 3:1 HOWEVER, BRETHREN, I could not talk to you as to spiritual [men], but as to nonspiritual [men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates], as to mere infants [in the new life] in Christ [unable to talk yet!]
3:2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough [to be ready for it]; but even yet you are not strong enough [to be ready for it],
3:3 For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of the flesh [under the control of ordinary impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men?
That is why Paul had to spell out everything for the church in Corinth. Imagine, one whole chapter on love. Why? Just because they were still babes drinking milk. But it seems that many Christians have gone back to drinking milk - just because it is easier to digest.
Let's look at what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
13:5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
13:6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
13:7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
I like verse 5 "....love is not touchy...." Ouch! You touched me and I'm going to react........ Are you touchy?
Here's another one, "Love bears up under everything...." Can we honestly bear up/ cover up the faults of our brothers and sisters? Or do we pull it out into the open and leave it exposed?
1 Peter 4:8 Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].
Love covers the sins of others. Do we cover the sins and faults of others or do we expose them?
Let me get this straight. John 20:23 tells us that we have the authority to forgive sins.
John 20:23 [Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him] if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained.
Are we going to take this or are we going to leave it to the Catholic priests and then say they are wrong?
It's the WORD - the WORD that we claim to LOVE so much. The same WORD says that we can and MUST forgive one another.
Is it easier to say "I forgive you" or to cast out a demon or heal a sick person? Remember reading that somewhere?
Matthew 9:2 And behold, they brought to Him a man paralyzed and prostrated by illness, lying on a sleeping pad; and when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven and the penalty remitted.
9:3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, This man blasphemes [He claims the rights and prerogatives of God]!
9:4 But Jesus, knowing (seeing) their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil and harbor malice in your hearts?
9:5 For which is easier: to say, Your sins are forgiven and the penalty remitted, or to say, Get up and walk?
Let me say this, the first time I heard this, my mind went blank and then slowly started receiving the light of the Word.
I've cast out many demons and healed many sick people. A stubborn demon can go out of a person just by us using the name of Jesus - we know casting out a demon is easy and healing the sick is also easy. Then, saying "I forgive you" is also "VERY EASY".
It's just that we need to understand that there is "No condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" Rom 8:1
Whether the person has done wrong or not, Christ does not condemn, so neither should we. Rather we are called to "love one another as Christ loved us."
1 John 3:20 Whenever our hearts in [tormenting] self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. [For we are in God's hands.] For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything [nothing is hidden from Him].
3:21 And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us [if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us], we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God,
3:22 And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.
3:23 And this is His order (His command, His injunction): that we should believe in (put our faith and trust in and adhere to and rely on) the name of His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and that we should love one another, just as He has commanded us.
Ephesians 1:15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (the people of God),
1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.
If we can understand this, then we can go ahead into the prayer Paul prayed for the church
Until next time.......walk in Faith & Love.
Karl Walker
@ The Place Called "There"
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
What you say
Every day we face tough situations in which we are compelled to say something. Often we end up saying things we did not want to say or did not mean for it to come out like it did. Many times, after we have said what we have said we begin to regret and wish we could have stopped ourselves but we didn't or couldn't.
When we are going through a tough situation we need to watch out what we say. As Christians we face difficult situations all the time, sometimes things don't go the way we expected it to and we end up frustrated or even angry with God.
As a Christian, a Spirit filled child of God, how do we react when we are faced with a situation in which we see the ungodly prosper? How do we feel when we obey the Word of God but still remain in problems?
The Psalmist in Psalm 73 was going through a huge problem. He was obviously not too pleased to see the wicked prosper and the godly suffer.
Psalm 73:1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to the pure of heart.
:2 And I, my foot had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
:3 For I was jealous of the proud, when I saw the peace of the wicked.
Paul writing to the Colossians exhorts them to speak with grace,
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace, having been seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Speaking with grace is something every one of us has to learn to do. As Christians we are required to know how to speak. The Word of God calls us 'Priests', and as priests we have a great responsibility to speak the right words when & where needed.
Let's take a look at what God is saying through Malachi,
Malachi 2:1 And now, O priests, this command is for you.
:2 If you will not hear, and if you will not set it on your heart to give glory to My name, says Jehovah of Hosts, then I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. And indeed I have cursed it, because you do not set it on your heart.
:3 Behold, I am rebuking your seed; and I will spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your appointed feasts. And one shall lift you up to it.
:4 And you shall know that I have sent this command to you, to be My covenant with Levi, says Jehovah of Hosts.
:5 My covenant with him was life and peace, and I gave them to him for fear; and he feared Me, and he is awed before My name.
:6 The Law of Truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and turned away many from iniquity.
:7 For the priest's lips should guard knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of Hosts.
:8 But you have turned out of the way; you have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says Jehovah of Hosts.
Let's look at a few things:
1. We are Priests (1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood ...)
2. The Priest's lips should guard knowledge, now in my understanding it means that I should not talk rubbish (to put it plainly)
3. People can stumble or stand at what we say.
Let's go back to Psalm 73 and look at verse 15, "If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I would deceive a generation of Your sons."
The psalmist was saying that if he spoke what was in his heart based on the situation he was facing then it would discourage many of the children of God. He would rather keep quiet than speak out and cause his brethren to fall.
I sincerely think we need to stop and take a close look at what the psalmist said. If I spread my doubts then I will harm my brethren. How many times do we take care to see what we speak in front of other saints of God? What we say can either be a blessing or a stumbling block to them. So then I need to take care of what I speak and do in front of other saints of God in order not to offend any.
Romans 14:13 Then let us not judge one another anymore, but rather judge this, not to put a stumbling-block or an offense toward his brother.
We are called to be ONE body; if one suffers all will suffer, if one rejoices all rejoice.
By what I say I can either build up a brother or bury him. The psalmist faced a problem, he saw the ungodly prosper and the godly remain in his problem, he wanted to speak out but he decided to remain silent and continue to declare the goodness & faithfulness of God.
The next time you are faced with a similar situation, don't go on and rant & rave about how good you are and how evil the world has become. Just keep quiet and if ever you feel the need to say anything, speak out the goodness, mercy & faithfulness of God.
Say nothing unless you are certain it will be helpful to someone.
Be Blessed in Christ Jesus.
Jesus Christ is LORD!
Karl Walker
When we are going through a tough situation we need to watch out what we say. As Christians we face difficult situations all the time, sometimes things don't go the way we expected it to and we end up frustrated or even angry with God.
As a Christian, a Spirit filled child of God, how do we react when we are faced with a situation in which we see the ungodly prosper? How do we feel when we obey the Word of God but still remain in problems?
The Psalmist in Psalm 73 was going through a huge problem. He was obviously not too pleased to see the wicked prosper and the godly suffer.
Psalm 73:1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to the pure of heart.
:2 And I, my foot had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
:3 For I was jealous of the proud, when I saw the peace of the wicked.
Paul writing to the Colossians exhorts them to speak with grace,
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace, having been seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Speaking with grace is something every one of us has to learn to do. As Christians we are required to know how to speak. The Word of God calls us 'Priests', and as priests we have a great responsibility to speak the right words when & where needed.
Let's take a look at what God is saying through Malachi,
Malachi 2:1 And now, O priests, this command is for you.
:2 If you will not hear, and if you will not set it on your heart to give glory to My name, says Jehovah of Hosts, then I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. And indeed I have cursed it, because you do not set it on your heart.
:3 Behold, I am rebuking your seed; and I will spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your appointed feasts. And one shall lift you up to it.
:4 And you shall know that I have sent this command to you, to be My covenant with Levi, says Jehovah of Hosts.
:5 My covenant with him was life and peace, and I gave them to him for fear; and he feared Me, and he is awed before My name.
:6 The Law of Truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and turned away many from iniquity.
:7 For the priest's lips should guard knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of Hosts.
:8 But you have turned out of the way; you have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says Jehovah of Hosts.
Let's look at a few things:
1. We are Priests (1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood ...)
2. The Priest's lips should guard knowledge, now in my understanding it means that I should not talk rubbish (to put it plainly)
3. People can stumble or stand at what we say.
Let's go back to Psalm 73 and look at verse 15, "If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I would deceive a generation of Your sons."
The psalmist was saying that if he spoke what was in his heart based on the situation he was facing then it would discourage many of the children of God. He would rather keep quiet than speak out and cause his brethren to fall.
I sincerely think we need to stop and take a close look at what the psalmist said. If I spread my doubts then I will harm my brethren. How many times do we take care to see what we speak in front of other saints of God? What we say can either be a blessing or a stumbling block to them. So then I need to take care of what I speak and do in front of other saints of God in order not to offend any.
Romans 14:13 Then let us not judge one another anymore, but rather judge this, not to put a stumbling-block or an offense toward his brother.
We are called to be ONE body; if one suffers all will suffer, if one rejoices all rejoice.
By what I say I can either build up a brother or bury him. The psalmist faced a problem, he saw the ungodly prosper and the godly remain in his problem, he wanted to speak out but he decided to remain silent and continue to declare the goodness & faithfulness of God.
The next time you are faced with a similar situation, don't go on and rant & rave about how good you are and how evil the world has become. Just keep quiet and if ever you feel the need to say anything, speak out the goodness, mercy & faithfulness of God.
Say nothing unless you are certain it will be helpful to someone.
Be Blessed in Christ Jesus.
Jesus Christ is LORD!
Karl Walker
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Free to Live
You are the most awesome group of people on the face of the earth. Give yourself a pat on the shoulder and say “I’m the best”.
You are no longer under the curse of sin and death. Christ has redeemed you from the law of sin and death – you are free to live!
When Jesus died for you – you died to the law. He paid the price for you and me. So that I may take the sacrifice and live.
Galatians 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.
God wants us to LIVE for Him. That’s just awesome. You and I have been chosen to LIVE for God.
The Invitation is given, if you accept it – the invitation, HE will use you.
Zephaniah 1:7 [Hush!] Be silent before the Lord God, for the day [of the vengeance] of the Lord is near; for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, and He has set apart [for His use] those who have accepted His invitation.
You are set apart for HIS use.
Romans 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],
So if I accept the sacrifice, if I accept the invitation – I am free, because He has then redeemed me from the curse of sin and death.
I am no longer condemned to die – I am FREE to LIVE!
We now live our lives in Christ Jesus to the glory of God the Father, moved, controlled and led by the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 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.
Christ has made you free – free to live – SO LIVE!
His Banner is Love
It is not always easy to live in a world that thrives on condemning others. But when the condemning begins to crawl into the church it becomes worse. The church is the “body of Christ” and the body is supposed to be a “the fullness of the Godhead.”
Ephesians 1:23 Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].
Christ is the head of the church and the church is his body.
This scripture had my head reeling for a long time, until last night, suddenly I heard the holy Spirit talking to me and it filled my heart with so much love.
So here’s……..
Mark 8:34 And Jesus called [to Him] the throng with His disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and [joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me].
Many times I’ve heard preachers quote this verse and say that we must “take up the cross” and follow Jesus. Every time I’ve heard a message on the subject, it always had to do with “suffering” and “pain”, it always had to do with going through difficulty.
Exodus 17:9 And Moses said to Joshua, Choose us out men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.
17:10 So Joshua did as Moses said and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the hilltop.
17:11 When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and when he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.
17:12 But Moses’ hands were heavy and grew weary. So [the other men] took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
17:13 And Joshua mowed down and disabled Amalek and his people with the sword.
17:14 And the Lord said to Moses, Write this for a memorial in the book and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens.
17:15 And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord is my Banner;
Moses lifted up the rod and kept it raised up, as long as it was up, Joshua was victorious. When he put it down, Amalek prevailed.
Now, Aaron and Hur stood on either side of Moses and helped him keep his hands lifted up. It was prophetic of the Cross of Jesus. And when the battle was over, Moses built an altar and called it “The Lord is my Banner.”
When Jesus was crucified on the cross – He became our Victorious King and His banner (the cross) is a symbol of God’s unfailing love for us.
John 3:16 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.
3:17 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.
God loved the world and sent Jesus to die for us, to give us life and not condemn us.
If I choose to believe in Him, I am saved and free.
The cross of Christ is the banner of love.
Mark 8:34 And Jesus called [to Him] the throng with His disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and [joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me].
“Take up your cross and follow me”. This has a whole new meaning to me now. The cross is the banner of Christ, the cross is the banner of His love.
You and I are called to take up the banner of His love and follow Christ. How else can we bring salvation to the world?
God LOVED the world and sent Jesus to die for us. If we want to reach out to the WORLD – reach out with HIS undying love.
“Take up your cross and follow me.” – This does not mean that we must live a life of suffering, sickness, poverty and pain, but rather a life that is free and full of the LOVE of God shed abroad in our hearts.
Finally,
Song of Solomon 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love [for love waved as a protecting and comforting banner over my head when I was near him].
Song of Solomon 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
He brought me to the banqueting house (table) – the Holy Spirit showed me the communion table. Every time we participate in the communion we are at that table in the house. And as we eat the bread and drink the wine, we partake of His love – the body and blood of Jesus.
What greater thing there could be that participating in the communion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – a table of love – undying, eternal, pure love.
Do not live your life full of condemnation and guilt, take up the cross and follow Jesus.
Take up the “Banner of Love” and follow me.
That’s the Grace of God!
Be Blessed
Karl Walker
The image of God
For long we have heard that Adam was created in the image of God and that gives place for almost every religion in the world to claim that they too are created in the image of God.
But looking into the awesome WORD of GOD – through GRACE things are not what we were told they were, like for example that Adam was created in the image of God.
Genesis 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.
1:29 And God said, See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the land and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.
1:30 And to all the animals on the earth and to every bird of the air and to everything that creeps on the ground-to everything in which there is the breath of life-I have given every green plant for food. And it was so.
1:31 And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
So taking these few verses so many have made it the foundation of saying that God created Adam in His image. God cannot lie and neither does His word lie. The above verses say that God created “man” in His own image and likeness, notice it also says that He gave them “dominion” and also that this was on the “sixth day”.
Let’s take this up one at a time.
1. So “if” God created “Adam” on the sixth day, then how do we explain these verses??
Genesis 2:3 And God blessed (spoke good of) the seventh day, set it apart as His own, and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all His work which He had created and done.
2:4 This is the history of the heavens and of the earth when they were created. In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens-
2:5 When no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not [yet] caused it to rain upon the earth and there was no man to till the ground, On day 7 God rested from all that He had created.
On day 7 there was still no man to “till” the ground. So where was “Adam”?
2. In the next verse we actually find God creating Adam.
Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being.
It clearly says that “man” became a “LIVING SOUL” Also in the next verse it says that God planted a garden and there he put “man” whom He had formed. So Adam was CREATED & put in the garden of Eden – ON THE 7th DAY.
Notice that we do not find any place where the Word says that Adam had any “Dominion or Authority”.
3. Now to the most interesting part. Was Adam created in the Image of God?
Let’s take a look at the Word of God.
Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being.
The verse is very clear that “man”- Adam was made from the dust and he became a “LIVING SOUL”, it does not say that Adam was created in the image of God. Let’s look at the Word.
Hebrews 1:1 IN MANY separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the Truth] and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets,
1:2 [But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order].
1:3 He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God's] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,
Look at verse 3, “He is the SOLE EXPRESSION , the PERFECT IMPRINT, VERY IMAGE of God’s nature,” it is very clear who Paul is talking about, it is about Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the ONLY ONE created in the IMAGE of GOD, this is what God had in mind when He spoke in Genesis, saying “Let us make man in our own IMAGE & LIKENESS”.
Further, God did say that they (the ones created in the Image of God) should have “DOMINION,” and when we see the life of Jesus it is very clear that He had “DOMINION” and He ministered in that “dominion & authority”. When God said “let them have dominion” He had us in mind. Through us believing in Jesus as Lord & Savior we have now become the children of God.
John 1:12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name-
4:4 But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law,
4:5 To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God's sons].
4:6 And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father!
4:7 Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant) but a son; and if a son, then [it follows that you are] an heir by the aid of God, through Christ.
Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Romans 8:19 For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship].
Philippians 2:15 That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world,
1 John 3:1 SEE WHAT [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.
It is clear from the WORD, over & over we find that “WE” are the sons of God. Because we have received, accepted & believed in Jesus we are born again through the immortal seed of the Word of God.
1Peter 1:23 You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God. Jesus Christ is the Word of 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.
John 1:14 And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.
So if we believe in Jesus then-
John 1:12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name-
1:13 Who owe their birth neither to bloods nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God!]
-We are born of God, we have the seed of the Word of God in our lives, we have the DNA that is in the SEED, the seed is the Word of God – Jesus – The Father. So we bear the image of God through Jesus. Adam was just a living soul made out of dust.
We are the Children of God, Sons of God – created in the IMAGE of God. Adam was NOT created in the image of God – WE ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
Be Blessed.
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