Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, "If ye continue in My Word, [then] are ye My disciples indeed ..." (John 8:31)
Herein, Jesus considered His disciples to be His friends. And this Jesus decided even before the cross, when our Great Shepherd would lay down His life for His sheep. This is a prime example of a friend sticking closer than a brother - that is, blood is thicker than water. However, scripturally, it would appear that the Spirit is thicker than blood. The question for this day -- can two walk together in one accord except they be agreed?
Most certainly, within our modern religious culture, there is an appearance of unity, wherein many appear to be religiously bound together. But as many know from our own church experiences, too often, without any "spiritual" fellowship. There is a difference. People who have been born again, which in and of itself is not a natural birth, will affirm that the born again experience is a spiritual experience. [Acts 2 -- the day of Pentecost, and later Acts 4 are excellent examples of believers in one accord, having repented of their sins, and being water baptized in the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ!]
Even mores, the Word reveals that those who believe are born again of God's Spirit. This is not another Spirit but the one and same Spirit of the Lord God who moved across the face of the waters in the very beginning. (Genesis 1:1-2) This one and same Lord God pouring out His Spirit on those who believe. (Acts 2:1-47; Joel 2:28; I Corinthians 12:1-31)
"God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will ..." (Hebrews 2:4)
Wherefore He saith, "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." (Ephesians 4:8)
But I digress. From the very beginning, God declared the first Adam to be a created living soul. But as a consequence of Adam and Eve's transgression, the living part of the soul was removed because they laid aside God’s instruction. For it is written that the soul that sins shall die. (Ezekiel 18:20) And, because we are Adam's offspring, we naturally inherit a soul totally rebellious toward God and His ways. As the scriptural analogy goes, we as humans wallow in the mire of sin, roaming further away from God’s intended plan for the human race.
Or, as the Lord said through the prophet Hosea, "My people perish for lack of knowledge ..." (Hosea 4:6)
Rather than accept His love, we end up believing that this society (as we know it) or what we see within the walls of religious culture is the norm. And we are accepting of all the bells and whistles under the pretense that everybody is doing it. Look around, and the conclusion often is that no one else is stepping outside of the norm to preach Jesus, and most certainly if they are, it is not to show others how good and merciful the Lord is.
Even so, we can be assured that the Lord still has a people who are His people -- who will not settle for a comfortable pew, or putting a portion of their earnings in a plate. These know in whom they serve, and wherein comes their salvation. "To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him ..." (Daniel 9:9)
But in spite of perceived norms, the Lord still has a people who desire to love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31) A people who will keep His Word and not deny His Name. (Revelation 3:8-9) A people who refuse to compromise their faith for an ever-changing worldly perspective that goes around and around in circles, denying the Lord God and His power within.
And we see the hearts of these people both in prophecy and from the apostles' preaching in Acts. The apostles preaching Jesus mission to all those who would listen -- that is, "to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in [Jesus]." (Acts 26:18)
Indeed, Jesus, the child of the Holy Ghost is born of a virgin surrogate mother, arriving in a period of time declared to be “when the fullness of time was come.” The blood in Jesus' veins was not of Adam’s sinful race. Jesus' blood was a new blood line and because Jesus was the seed of the Spirit of God, His message was a message being delivered to the inhabitants of this race purposefully.
Jesus' message was a message of hope, a message of deliverance offering restitution to His beloved creation. Ordinary people heard Him gladly, and willingly took up their cross to follow Him. But sadly, as we learn also from the scriptures, the religious plotted His death while others wanted to throw Him off a cliff. This latter option (because it was not the death of the cross as prophesied in earlier scriptures) could not have happened, but it is certainly telling of the evil that can be found in men's hearts. Still, as we know, Jesus continued to walk out from among those who sought to kill Him with others whose hearts desired more of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
All this to say, that the born again experience will always be a non-happening experience UNTIL one associates him or herself with Calvary. And without Jesus, there is no born again experience. Whereas if one knows Jesus then they will experience God's grace. His love and peace within our hearts which surpasses all human understanding. The first Adam was of the earth, earthy, whereas, the second Adam was none other than the Lord Himself coming out of heaven, with one purpose of mind. That being, that He Himself would seek to save that which in God’s eyes is doomed. This second Adam is holy Spirit life to those who believe.
How do we know? Because Jesus breathes eternal life upon all who ask His forgiveness.
"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;" (Ephesians 1:7)
Herein, Jesus considered His disciples to be His friends. And this Jesus decided even before the cross, when our Great Shepherd would lay down His life for His sheep. This is a prime example of a friend sticking closer than a brother - that is, blood is thicker than water. However, scripturally, it would appear that the Spirit is thicker than blood. The question for this day -- can two walk together in one accord except they be agreed?
Most certainly, within our modern religious culture, there is an appearance of unity, wherein many appear to be religiously bound together. But as many know from our own church experiences, too often, without any "spiritual" fellowship. There is a difference. People who have been born again, which in and of itself is not a natural birth, will affirm that the born again experience is a spiritual experience. [Acts 2 -- the day of Pentecost, and later Acts 4 are excellent examples of believers in one accord, having repented of their sins, and being water baptized in the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ!]
Even mores, the Word reveals that those who believe are born again of God's Spirit. This is not another Spirit but the one and same Spirit of the Lord God who moved across the face of the waters in the very beginning. (Genesis 1:1-2) This one and same Lord God pouring out His Spirit on those who believe. (Acts 2:1-47; Joel 2:28; I Corinthians 12:1-31)
"God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will ..." (Hebrews 2:4)
Wherefore He saith, "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." (Ephesians 4:8)
But I digress. From the very beginning, God declared the first Adam to be a created living soul. But as a consequence of Adam and Eve's transgression, the living part of the soul was removed because they laid aside God’s instruction. For it is written that the soul that sins shall die. (Ezekiel 18:20) And, because we are Adam's offspring, we naturally inherit a soul totally rebellious toward God and His ways. As the scriptural analogy goes, we as humans wallow in the mire of sin, roaming further away from God’s intended plan for the human race.
Or, as the Lord said through the prophet Hosea, "My people perish for lack of knowledge ..." (Hosea 4:6)
Rather than accept His love, we end up believing that this society (as we know it) or what we see within the walls of religious culture is the norm. And we are accepting of all the bells and whistles under the pretense that everybody is doing it. Look around, and the conclusion often is that no one else is stepping outside of the norm to preach Jesus, and most certainly if they are, it is not to show others how good and merciful the Lord is.
Even so, we can be assured that the Lord still has a people who are His people -- who will not settle for a comfortable pew, or putting a portion of their earnings in a plate. These know in whom they serve, and wherein comes their salvation. "To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him ..." (Daniel 9:9)
But in spite of perceived norms, the Lord still has a people who desire to love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31) A people who will keep His Word and not deny His Name. (Revelation 3:8-9) A people who refuse to compromise their faith for an ever-changing worldly perspective that goes around and around in circles, denying the Lord God and His power within.
And we see the hearts of these people both in prophecy and from the apostles' preaching in Acts. The apostles preaching Jesus mission to all those who would listen -- that is, "to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in [Jesus]." (Acts 26:18)
Indeed, Jesus, the child of the Holy Ghost is born of a virgin surrogate mother, arriving in a period of time declared to be “when the fullness of time was come.” The blood in Jesus' veins was not of Adam’s sinful race. Jesus' blood was a new blood line and because Jesus was the seed of the Spirit of God, His message was a message being delivered to the inhabitants of this race purposefully.
Jesus' message was a message of hope, a message of deliverance offering restitution to His beloved creation. Ordinary people heard Him gladly, and willingly took up their cross to follow Him. But sadly, as we learn also from the scriptures, the religious plotted His death while others wanted to throw Him off a cliff. This latter option (because it was not the death of the cross as prophesied in earlier scriptures) could not have happened, but it is certainly telling of the evil that can be found in men's hearts. Still, as we know, Jesus continued to walk out from among those who sought to kill Him with others whose hearts desired more of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
All this to say, that the born again experience will always be a non-happening experience UNTIL one associates him or herself with Calvary. And without Jesus, there is no born again experience. Whereas if one knows Jesus then they will experience God's grace. His love and peace within our hearts which surpasses all human understanding. The first Adam was of the earth, earthy, whereas, the second Adam was none other than the Lord Himself coming out of heaven, with one purpose of mind. That being, that He Himself would seek to save that which in God’s eyes is doomed. This second Adam is holy Spirit life to those who believe.
How do we know? Because Jesus breathes eternal life upon all who ask His forgiveness.
"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;" (Ephesians 1:7)
"In whom we have redemption through His blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:14)
If you have not already, it is my heart desire that you come to Jesus this very day. Because there is no other love like the Love of Jesus! With arms wide open He will pardon you. At Calvary He opened His arms for you. He laid down His life willingly for you. When you ask Jesus to become both Lord and Christ in your heart, there will be no looking back -- not ever -- because ye will truly understand His message specific to this dispensation of grace.
" ... that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:7)
If you have not already, it is my heart desire that you come to Jesus this very day. Because there is no other love like the Love of Jesus! With arms wide open He will pardon you. At Calvary He opened His arms for you. He laid down His life willingly for you. When you ask Jesus to become both Lord and Christ in your heart, there will be no looking back -- not ever -- because ye will truly understand His message specific to this dispensation of grace.
" ... that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:7)
And this message is not intended for just a few but announced and proclaimed for one and all to behold His glory, who willingly prepared a body for sacrifice, so that you and I might have abundant life in Him. That message -- still being proclaimed in the world today is simply this:
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:11-14)
Stand in the offering plate.
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