Life has been crazy. I know this stack is free but I apologize for the lack of publishing. I have 30+ articles in draft and before I can complete one, another compelling topic comes along. Further, life is coming fast and furious and time is short. As always, blessed by any who read, and I hope and pray these truths help you grow in grace and knowledge of Christ and His work in and to you.

“Inherit Eternal Life”?

The topic for this article is the center of the gospel - highly important. I felt strongly I should write about it as the main gospel topic of this stack: “Come to Christ for life!” Further, a pastor I know gave a message awhile back using the “good Samaritan” passage. This has “How do I inherit eternal life?” as the main context; yet, this was regrettably ignored. Because this vital main context was not considered or emphasized, the Mosaic Law (Old Covenant) was wrongly applied to believers, among other out of context applications.

Sadly, my friend is not alone in this manner of teaching; it is the majority. The big error in many believer’s thinking is that they come to Christ for life once for the ticket to Heaven and then go to the Law or rules for the power to live their life. Perhaps this feels logical, it is after all, “God's Law”. Yet, this ignores much of the epistolic writing to the church which declares that “…Christ is the end of the Law…to everyone who believes.” Romans 10:4 This is stated many different ways in the epistles, but most vividly in the middle chapters of Galatians and Colossians. Most of the book of Hebrews is also dedicated to this purpose. Still, sadly, most “Christian” messages mix the Old and New Covenants - if not the exact letter, then in the spirit of “requirements”.

I will write a direct analysis of the Good Samaritan passage in a later article as I first focus on “eternal life”. Since it seems my friend may not fully understand what “inherit eternal life” means, it inspired me to write about it directly. We need to understand these key gospel themes so when something is false, or even a mixture of false, we immediately recognize it and reject it. How we think gets acted out in our walk. If you think you are still a dirty rotten sinner, not a pure holy saint, then you will more easily act like a dirty rotten sinner. Accepting lies in our mind never goes well, even commonly accepted lies in our faith circles. The enemy strategy is to repeat lies so they become truth. And he loves religious or “godly” lies.

Scriptural meaning is vital to know gospel truth.

Understanding scripture terms based on proper context is important because it is vital to know the truth, especially for this core gospel topic. Scripture, not tradition, must define terms. Perhaps we do know what something means; but, it doesn't fit with our preconceived notions, so we ignore it or pretend it means something else - confirmation bias. Or, perhaps we don't know the proper meaning because we define by what we have been told by others rather than digging deep into scripture. Either way, we miss vital truth and/or propagate lies. Let the cycle stop here! Slow down! Legalism insists on “spiritual productivity” as some measure; but, better to learn and/or speak one truth than a dozen lies.

Understanding meaning and context in scripture is our responsibility, especially if we are teaching. We can get perspectives from others but ultimately we must decide the meaning for ourselves. My personal history and spiritual growth path has allowed the Spirit to give me certain perspectives; but, I am never under the impression that I listen perfectly or they are perfect. We are all learning and growing. Yet, we cannot use growth as an excuse for not believing obvious truth from scripture! The core gospel message is quite clear if we listen carefully and discard the religious junk ideas many add to it.

Repentance, a change of mind, is key to knowing and believing gospel truth

I know I harp on repentance, but because most of my current perspectives represent a change of mind or repentance, I have more confidence in them. I used to believe these law and grace mixture doctrines mostly because I had not really inspected them. However, due to where this led me in life (not good places) and my own study of these matters, I changed my mind (and continue to do so). I have written about this, but repentance is only this “change of mind” process. It is not purely focused on sinful actions as many make it (unless you think sin is good!). However, a true change of mind will change actions. Of that I am convinced and have my own life evidence.

How we think guides our living. God's gift of repentance empowers renewing of the mind. But only if we recognize it as a mental thing. Many people “turn over a new leaf” and engage in “behavior improvement” without really changing their minds. Faith and repentance are interlinked. Anyone can change their actions; but, only actions naturally changed by faith matter to God and the kingdom. Without faith you cannot please God. This is a theme in my writing because it is so vital. Of course, the gospel is only good news - we are forgiven for our lack of faith! But, we are missing out if we replace faith with behavior modification. God wants better for His kids!

For those reasons and my dedication to be true to the crucial new covenant gospel “gift” promise of God, I have much confidence in what I believe. However, I try to reference scripture frequently, and implore anyone to never take me at my word. Use a Bible app that shows the Greek and confirm for yourself. This technology has made it easier for a non-scholar to gain meaning. Compare the different meanings of Greek words in English and see which one actually matches the gospel of “everything is a gift”. Look at how it is translated in some verses and how the translator might change it in others where it changes meaning. Always judge meaning by the clear gospel fact that relationship with God is a gift. Period. This fact cannot be compromised. There is no scripture, when properly interpreted, that changes this fact. If you think a verse does, you are wrong.

God wants His gospel to be accessible. I do have passion; but, I am simply an ambassador for the new covenant. Ultimately, we all have a choice in what spiritual food we eat. Don't settle for spiritual Doritos. Mixing law and grace creates spiritual junk food. So let's dive into “inheriting eternal life”. It is the most nutritious meal you can consider - the Bread of life - Jesus Christ. You don't have to gather the wheat or bake the bread; there is a continous supply of Christ within you ready to help you live from your new heart! It is when we try to discipline ourselves to gather our own spiritual wheat and bake our own spiritual bread that we go off track. The Christian life is simply coming to God's table and eating the meal He has prepared for us.

Christ’s death and resurrection are key to the gospel; but, a believer’s spiritual death and resurrection are just as key. Giving us His life is why Christ did what He did. (John 10:10)

As much as most “Christian” churches will emphasize Christ's death; and to a lesser degree His resurrection; the final results of His work in a believer are often neglected. Many fail to emphasize why He did what He did or hide it in religious language. He did not die to only give us a “ticket to Heaven” and it isn’t only Christ who died and is resurrected. All true believers have been taken through His death and resurrection spiritually. (Romans 6:6-11; Galatians 2:20)

The result of a believer’s death and resurrection is the inheritance of eternal life. From my 40+ years of church experience, the fact of OUR resurrection is little known or understood. The buzzwords are used; like, “eternal life”, “born again”, “raised to new life”, etc.; but, the implications of these truths are minimized or ignored. Making it only about a future heaven is one way of minimizing. Only discussing “imputed” righteousness and not “imparted” righteousness is another (Galatians 3:21). These are a couple of the many ways this vital truth is ignored or minimized. Mainly it is ignored by acting as if we must earn God's promises - like perfect closeness with God - that we receive for free as an inheritance at our new birth. We have so many things for free simply because we are a new creation child of God. Trying to earn what God has freely given is the antithesis of faith. It is arrogance at the highest level!

Similar to ignoring truth, many will discuss topics like “born again” and then proclaim lies that detract from these truths. False messages like: “Believers are still have dirty, wicked hearts and need to do “spiritual disciplines” as a clean up job so they can stay right with, or close to, God.” There are many diverse unscriptural “christian” phrases used to diminish the work of Christ in us and try to “frighten” or guilt us into good behavior. Terms like “backsliding”; “out of fellowship”; “out of God's will”; “missing God's blessings”; etc. These messages try to turn the gospel and God into a “tit for tat” philosophy and deity which is the antithesis of the gospel and God's nature of love. It is the corrupt idea of grace by faith for “salvation” but works for “sanctification”. (Galatians 3:3) It's still “works righteousness” - ignoring that we were made righteous for free.

Often scripture about unbelievers (like the Good Samaritan story) is misapplied to believers to make these lies seem legitimate. But, let’s carefully consider what Christ accomplished and why He did what He did. The truly good news is the only thing left for us to do is learn to trust what Christ already did. Learning what Christ did in and to us and growing in grace is the “ongoing”¹ aspect of our salvation. Learning the wrong thing will stunt your growth and lead to frustration and discontent as you try to “better yourself” and do what Christ has already done. So, let's investigate and consider this good news of what Christ has done. Once you know what Christ did, simply trust His work and stop trying to do it yourself. Again, better to sit still in faith than be busy doing a bunch of stuff to try and earn.

What Does “Inherit Eternal Life” Mean?

This phrase’s meaning is clear in scripture: this is salvation - being “born again”. This results in becoming a “new creation”; the “new self”; a child of God. This happens when you, by faith, request, receive, and accept Christ’s gift of His life - it is His life that is eternal. “Eternal life” is not our life made longer - it is that we receive Christ’s life that is truly eternal (no beginning and no end). Our human life has a beginning so it can never be called “eternal”. Extended forever; but not eternal. It is key to recognize that this phrase references possessing the life of Christ; it is not referencing our life made longer - this is a side-effect.

It is important we don't confuse the two. Christ physically died and resurrected so that we could also die and be resurrected in spirit - this is the “new birth” which births a “new creation”. This new creation is now permanently infused with Christ’s eternal life. We are now forever connected to the Trinity. It is this connection that “saves” us - this is “eternal life”. This is “salvation”.

How can we be called a “child of God” if there is not some element of God and His nature now part of us? Scripture is quite clear that this is true. This is the gospel message - unlike the pitiful lies out there saying believers still have a sinful nature and wicked heart. We now share in the divine nature. (2 Peter 1:4) That treasure is in an “earthen” vessel. (2 Cor. 4:7) Don't judge a believer, even yourself, based on the “earthen vessel”! (2 Cor. 5:16) Reality for a believer should always begin with God’s gospel promises first - this is faith - and then our lives and walk flow from these.

Once Christ has made us good, then we must embrace and revere what Christ has made us! And yes, this is actually the real you. Christ did not turn you into a hologram puppet. The new creation is God and you in perfect union - oneness. (John 17)

Without this divine connection, Christianity is just like any other religious belief system. With all religion, the main goal is to try your hardest to be good enough to please some deity based on a “good” activity list. This idea literally has roots in ancient paganism and original sin. That some people try to make Christianity into this rule based belief system with a Christ label is a crying shame. It is also hubris and arrogant. As Christ says, “Without Me, you can do nothing”. The Trinity must be the source of life and everything - of ourselves there is nothing good. But, again, Christ has made us good and so we must gratefully embrace this new reality that the gospel promises is true! Believing and acting as if this is not true spits on Christ and His work. As always, a believer is still forgiven for wrong thinking! The gospel covers us coming and going - how good is your gospel? Maybe not good enough. The gift of forgiveness should spur us to put faith in God's other promises if we understand it.

Only an active trusting belief (faith) in our new creation caused by our divine connection pleases God. (Hebrews 11:6) “Works” that flow from that please Him. But doing works in order to please (or appease) God cannot be of faith because they deny that we please Him by default as His children. Motivation determines faith. God is not forcing us to act “good” by threats and demands. He has clearly stated that as new creations in Christ we are already good at our core. (Romans 3:22, 5:9, 5:18, 5:21, 8:10, 10:4; Galatians 2:21; 2 Corinthians 5:21 among many others.)

Trust Christ's Work In You

Our goodness was His work. His only desire is that we embrace our goodness and let it work it's way out in our living. But this only happens when we stop trying to do it ourselves. Only then will we stop quenching the Spirit and become motivated by our new good hearts. We won't have to try to act good; goodness will happen as we let Christ work in dependency on Him. It is now in our nature to be good. We are good by default - it is actually hypocritical for a believer to sin! Every temptation we give into is against our own new nature. Saying believers want to sin is an enemy attack; not the truth.

Once Christ has recreated us good, it is key that we embrace and revere what Christ has made us! We can't act like nothing has happened! Yes, this life we now have is because of Christ - we cannot brag. But it reality as a genuine child of God - we are new and good - connected in spirit and nature to the Trinity. Faith is embracing and trusting this new reality but it becomes more difficult when we believe religious lies.

The world, especially the religious world, and even some sincere Christian teachers, will try to ignore and poopoo this reality God has said is true. This is a constant temptation and happens for many reasons. Yet, true faith embraces this reality. And only this embrace will lead to walking by the Spirit and a “Christian” life lived naturally without compulsion. Faith helps us embrace that we want what God wants because He has recreated us to want it! This takes away the religious pressure that often tries to substitute for the gospel. Christ in us will motivate - not guilt, shame, peer-pressure, or other compulsion to obtain anything that God has promised us as His children. Christ's burden is “easy and light”. If that is not your spiritual experience, then you could be believing lies. I'm not saying the world is easy, far from it. But Christ never adds to that burden; He helps us carry it - unlike legalism.

Abundant Life

Christ directly gives His earthly mission in John 10:10 - “I have come to bring abundant life.” Bring it to who? Well, humans of course - God is life - He is not bringing it to Himself. Again, this abundant life is His life joined to ours; not simply our life extended. Perhaps the most well known verse in history - John 3:16 - promises this type of life for those who believe in Christ. He only did this because God loves humanity - even while we were His enemies! This is far more than just our life extended; abundant implies a quality of life. This abundant life starts the moment we recognize we cannot achieve this ourselves and come to Christ for His life. We have this now - we don't need to wait for Heaven. (Romans 8:10 - “mortal body”)

In the Greek, English “abundant” doesn't catch the “over the top” meaning. Christ is promising that His life will be in excess of anything you could ever need! Maybe “super-abundant” or “hyper-abundant” catches it a bit. This reminds me of Romans 5:20 where Paul says grace is hyper-abundant. It should remind us - it is the same thing! The Greek literally combines hyper and abundance; “hyper grace” is a proper gospel phrase - not derogatory at all! Little do the legalists using this phrase as an attack on the true gospel realize it is actually scriptural. Of course, if they understood the topic of this article, it would be “abundantly” clear!

Grace is the power through which Christ’s life acts within us. Christ = Life = Grace. There is so much of His life Christ is offering that it will never be insufficient for “life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). As Paul says in Romans 5:17, we will “reign in this life” because of His life. The Spirit brings life even to our fallen, “mortal” bodies. (Romans 8:11) This begins the moment we call on Him and accept the free gift of His life. Don't let those who misunderstand the gospel hinder or destroy it's grace power in your life. Even genuine children of God can be ignorant; much less those who are complete fakes. But believe in God's gospel “good news” above all else. That is the best way to stymie “ignorance”. Ignorance should never be an excuse to ignore the gift of His life.

Consider Your Inheritance

Scripture puts this life and divine connection in terms of an inheritance because we cannot earn it. Not only did we not earn it initially, we still don't maintain it by earning. Christ’s life is now your “inheritance” through the new covenant (will and testament). Christ’s death for us enacted this new will or covenant. By definition, someone must die to enact a will. The gospel or “good news” is what is written in God’s last will and testament!

Every church service or Christian teaching should be about discovering what is written in God's new covenant or will! Any gathering of believers should a “reading of the will”. Unlike human wills, God's will or the gospel is so chock full of goodness that it takes many, many readings to begin to get at what is in our inheritance. Since His will expresses His nature of love, it actually takes an eternity! With so much to learn from the new covenant, why do we waste so much time on other stuff? Even other stuff in Scripture? This truly baffles me.

Some scriptural history now and again is fine, IF you show Christ in it (as He did on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:27). But our primary objective should be gaining a better understanding of the new covenant. Stop worrying if you are “in” God's will; just read His will and you will find out you are already in it LOL! You can be stupid and have earthly consequences that grieve God as your Father, but He never disinherits you. You are safe in His will. Perhaps if more teachers focused primarily on the new covenant, the body of Christ would be healthier.

Don't reject the new will! Partial rejection is nearly as harmful as full rejection.

Scripture contains as much of this new will or covenant as humans can grasp; but, it also contains much that is not the gospel (or Logos - the Word). If the new covenant is not the central lens for all reading and study of scripture, then that is often how Christianity gets so messed up. Yes, there is history leading up to this new covenant; there have been other shadow “wills”; but, this is the culminating spiritual event of human history. Just like a human based will, the final will trumps all others. The new covenant is God's “last will and testament” for humanity. When we focus mostly on the old will or covenant, then we tacitly ignore the new. They are both in scripture, so just because you are “reading the Bible” or listening to teaching from scripture doesn't mean you are getting good gospel food. This is a huge concern as the enemy has used this to damage the gospel.

All of scripture can be useful (2 Timothy 3:16), but only when filtered through new covenant truth. The entire book of Hebrews was written to portray that God's last will or covenant invalidates the old. Clinging to the old, or even parts of it, prevents you from enjoying the full benefits of the new. Benefiting from any will requires that you accept the terms of the will and you take hold of the benefits of it under those terms. The terms of God's new will is that everything in it is free and you must accept those terms to receive the benefits. If you try to change to terms to earning of any kind, you will hinder the benefits. (Galatians 3:10-20) “No conditions” beyond faith is a key promise in this new covenant. If we add conditions, it is not the same covenant. A “gospel” with conditions beyond “grace by faith” is a false gospel - both for salvation and the “Christian walk”.

Not everyone is happy at the reading of God's will, when it is read properly.

Imagine a scene from many movies. A rich man has died and the family gathers for the reading of the will. They have high expectations for what they will receive. They are expecting good things for them in the will, otherwise they would not be there. Hebrews 11:6 says faith is excitement over what is in God's last will or covenant for us. That is the very definition of faith!

Imagine, again, the Pharisees show up at the reading of God's last will and testament. They are expecting commendation that they have kept all of the terms of the prior will and will be rewarded. Immediately they are up in arms since there are filthy Gentiles at the reading! And then, just like in so many movies, they find that there was a secret will enacted that totally invalidates the old will. (Romans 16:25-26) They are aghast!

Though they are included in the new will along with the Gentiles; and, if they would even consider the terms, they would realize it is much better; most of them storm out of the reading in disdain or sorrow (2 Cor. 3:14). We will also see this when we study the Good Samaritan passage. While on earth, Christ tries to help the Jews realize the old covenant is being replaced; but, most are so addicted to their self-righteous attempts to keep it, they simply won't give it up. Especially the strict religious sects like the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees.

Even today, not only for Jews, but for far too many Gentiles - many keep trying to go back to the invalidated will and testament to determine their relationship with God. Some take a bit from the new will or covenant and try to add it into the old; or, pull a bit from the old and try to add it into the new; but, ultimately, by this mixture, they really don't fully accept the terms of the new will or covenant. They simply cannot accept that everything was done by Christ and freely given to those who accept this new covenant by faith.

Even many believers keep trying to live under some of the terms of the old covenant, hoping this will gain favor with God. Yet, God says that He is only pleased by fully embracing and trusting the terms in His new covenant and thus fully abandoning the old. He says, through Paul and others, that the old will is a curse He had to enact until Christ came because of how self-destructive humanity is. And He says that if we are His kids, we have his favor as a gift. We do not have to earn our Father's favor. Even a human father would be considered abusive if he demanded his kids earn his love and favor by behavior! And God is far better than any human father.

The reading of the divine Trinity’s will is nothing like a human will.

When we read the Trinity's last will and testament (the gospel), there should only be joy, unless you actually think the prior will (laws and rules) was better (many sadly do). First, because God’s final will does not depend on any human action - only on Christ’s work - then it cannot fail! (Hebrews 6:13-20) The old covenant was based on human power and thus continuously failed (Galatians 3:19). Even more important, God's will is far superior to any human will because the Person who died and enacted the will has come back to life! He is actually the Advocate presenting us with the will! (Hebrews 7:28-25; 1 John 2:1) Yet, His death was real, so the will is still enacted even though He came back to life. When we read the will correctly, we find that because of His resurrection, He is giving us His very life as our inheritance; thus, we “inherit eternal life” when we put faith in Him.

As we continue to read the will, we find that this eternal life is the description of a huge gift box. The will continues to describe all of the items contained within His life. Perfect forgiveness for all time. Perfect righteousness from within. We are now perfectly at peace with God. Our hearts are now filled with His perfect love. Not even counting: perfect peace, joy, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. The list of God's promises in His new will are extensive and awe inspiring. And we should be awed! That is the “fear” of God! Not being afraid, but a reverential faith in His legitimate goodness expressed in His will. Fearing God is an awe filled recognition of His love. It is awesome love!

Now, we no longer have to be self-destructive! Either in a licentious or religious way. Since no human but Christ could ever meet the terms of the old will, it never stopped our bent towards self-destruction. It only slowed it a bit. Every old testament story portrays this. Even David, a man “after God's own heart” had immense failures. And that is the point of these biblical stories, to show how as believers, we have something better. (Hebrews 11:40) It certainly is not so we go back to the self-righteous law power that failed them! While the old testament saints are to be commended for their faith, the covenant through which they accessed God was still an utter failure. We can admire their faith while still rejecting their covenant! Because clearly God rejected it (Hebrews 7:18-19). Only their faith, not their Mosaic Law keeping, saved them. Abraham lived 400 years before there was ever any law! Yet, still his faith was counted as righteousness despite his many failures.

Believe in the power promised in the will.

This new covenant promised divine connection is as if a car; representing our body and soul; has just gotten a new engine. However, unlike the old engine, this new power plant now allows our car to fly, hover, and go underwater. Part of the Trinity's will and testament is a new heart and spirit. This is the “new creation”; a whole new power. This far exceeds the power of the old will or covenant where we had to try our best and thus failed to ever keep the terms. The old relied on human power - as God designed it to do. Under the new covenant, sometimes our car’s computer firmware needs updating (renewing of the mind) and ultimately the bondo’d body will be replaced (final resurrection); but the new powerplant (our spirit and heart) is perpetually perfect. God’s new creation power never fails.

The key to utilizing Christ’s life power is faith in the new covenant or will. This is purely logical. If you get in your car and see the new button that clearly says “fly”; but, you never hit the button, then you will never fly. If you sit at the reading of the will and are presented with the gift box the rich relative left you; yet, you think that this relative was severe and probably did not leave anything good; then, you will never open the box. Or maybe you accept the box at first, randomly reach in without looking, find a “ticket to Heaven”, and then get distracted from everything else in the box. Perhaps you are distracted by the old will! You struggle to give up your rituals and good works to please God.

Abandon trying to keep the terms of the old will

Unless you stop trying to keep the terms of the old will, you never fully utilize your new covenant inheritance. It's always there as God's child, but you bypass many benefits, because you never really believe the full contents of God's new covenant gift box. Many become stuck, fixated on the old will, thinking that is how to obey and please God. And they usually gravitate to scripture portraying the old and not the new. They want a fleshly list to use to perform. The new covenant of grace is scary to them.

Remember, Paul says in Galatians 3:12 that the “Law is not based on faith.” Faith and flesh are in opposition. By Paul saying the Law is not of faith, he is portraying that it requires flesh power keep it. It is the flesh power that is faulty, not the Law itself. That is why Paul can say the Law is “good” but still say it is bad to try and use it to live by - or put ourselves under it. All flesh powered activity is sin, even seemingly good activities like trying to keep the Law. Thus, we must trust in a completely different power to live: “Christ in us”; our divine connection; our eternal life inheritance.

Scripture clearly portrays believers as heirs of this new covenant.

As a believer you are co-heirs with Christ (Galatians 3:29; Ephesians 3:6). Not only the heir of His life; but, everything else that goes with being a child of God. You now have an incorruptible inheritance given to you by God. (1 Peter 1:3-5) Thus, to inherit eternal life means to become a child of God. When that happens, the inheritance of Christ’s life is the essential element. Gaining Christ's life means you are born again; being born again means you have inherited Christ’s life. You cannot have one without the other. This was Christ’s entire reason for coming and is the product of His finished work: His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. Because He lives - you can now have His life (Hebrews 7:25). Our only work as believers is to revel in this truth - learn and live out what it means - “grow in grace and knowledge” of Christ and His work.

My house is on a well system; we have tapped into an underground water source that is now connected and flowing into our house. We have a tank that holds the water and distributes it so it can be used for various purposes. Believers are spiritually connected to Christ and the Trinity. The flow of the divine is now connected to our new heart “holding tank”; it is constantly available to infuse our body and soul with God's love and other Spirit fruit.

Of course, like a faucet, we can mentally turn this off - that is called quenching and grieving the Spirit - and that is how believers sin. The connection and the flow of the divine is always there; sinning never takes it away. Sin for a believer is simply when we turn off the Spirit faucet - thus quenching the benefits of our divine connection. At that point we begin to walk by the flesh. This is why there can be “good” looking sinning and “bad” looking sinning. Self-righteous good behavior quenches the Spirit as much as any other flesh powered action. But no matter the results of our quenching, the Spirit water is still there, waiting for us to stop quenching! That is God's promise. Even when we are faithless, He remains faithful. (2 Timothy 2:13)

We cannot walk by the Spirit and sin at the same time; however, that inner source of power never diminishes, no matter what we do or don't do. But, our mental choices to believe religious lies vs. gospel truth do impact the Spirit’s activity in our daily lives. Mentally adhering to parts of the old covenant quenches the Spirit; same as when we believe licentious lies like having more or “better” sex will fulfill. A fleshly, obligation-based, religious mindset will quench the Spirit just as fast as giving into sexual or other more obvious sin. The point is to not quench your divine connection, either in a religious or licentious way. Walk by faith not sight.

Faith is like turning on a faucet to let Christ’s life flow.

If I never turn on a faucet in my house, the flow of water is still there. The tank is still full. But I won’t be getting a refreshing glass of water or a nice hot bath! Once we are connected, God never disconnects us no matter what we do! Our divine connection is always there waiting for us to stop quenching it by our unbelief. The biggest lie we can believe is that we need to perform to obtain what we already have in Christ! Relying on this connection means knowing and trusting it is there. If we don't realize this, and think that we need to perform in some way to gain or maintain our connection to Christ, then our trajectory will automatically trend to using flesh power.

I have never worried that when I turn on a faucet, water will not come out. I mean, this is only an earthly analogy, it could fail. It is just not anything I consciously consider. God’s promises are more reliable than my plumbing duh! But much the same way, we will only use our divine connection if we know about it and trust it. That is faith! This divine connection should be a foregone and constant conclusion in every believer’s mind! It should be an existential entity influencing everything - it is the foundation of the true “Christian life”.

The key is a mindset of faith in our inheritance where we simply accept it as fact. We utterly stop trying to earn anything by what we do. We simply leave the Spirit faucet on and stop turning it off by trying to earn. When we try to do what Christ has already done and freely willed us; then, we quench His power within. We must stop this blockage to His power! Once we do this, then His power works freely and righteousness flows from us by default. It is as if we are “slaves of righteousness”! (Romans 6:18) Because we are! Paul says to “think”, “consider” - “count” yourself righteous. God is not playing mind games - He is showing us the reality of our new creation - this is the truth and anything else is a lie. We must believe we are righteous already in order to genuinely act righteous. Believing false messages that say we must try hard to act righteous in order to obtain righteousness, and other faithless messages, will turn off the faucet of Christ’s life. Keep the life faucet on! Believe the truth!

Review: inheriting Christ's eternal life means you are born again; being born again means you have inherited Christ’s life. This is what “inherit eternal life” means.

This understanding of eternal life is quite important to the core meaning of the gospel. Again, the idea that getting “saved” only means you eventually go to Heaven and live forever ignores the immediate impact of being a new creation now. It ignores what 2 Peter 1 calls being a “partaker of the divine nature” which gives us “everything we need for life and godliness”. This is crucial to understanding what it means to be a “Christian” and how to live. It cuts through the religious fog and legalistic deception that harms the gospel. This deception always flows from the idea that we must perform to please God, receive His blessings, or to be right with Him.

Again, this is distinct from the scriptural idea that our good behavior does please God. But we still please God by default in our identity as His child no matter our behavior. Why our faith powered good behavior pleases Him is for a totally different reason than the legalists believe. It is not because we are somehow improving our relationship or connection to Him. It is because we are no longer harming ourselves and others by sin! It is because we are living the fulfilled life Christ paid the ultimate price to give us. It is because we are living out our eternal Christ life.

God's pleasure is always based in His love. He loves us, thus He offers His life. This gift makes us whole and gives us the ability to live by faith. Living by faith leads to life powered attitudes and actions. These please God because they are healthy for His kids. And the love of God circle is complete. But trying to please God outside of this cycle of His love quenches this power. Performing certain activities from obligation or duty (earning) is not faith - it is a pitiful gospel.

Don't substitute a pitiful gospel

The pitiful “gospel” I most often hear taught or implied is a form of: “Get saved - go to heaven when you die. In the meantime, try your hardest to be good by following various rules or disciplines to “be obedient to God”. If you don’t, He will withhold His fellowship and blessings and might even curse or kill you”. Some have called this the “carrot and stick” gospel. These rules vary greatly; but, there is always a list, often taken from scripture to try and legitimize it. This is mixing law and grace - grace for Heaven and law (rules) for living. (Galatians 3:3) This is mixing the old and new wills. Often in these false messages the more extreme you can make the “spiritual disciplines”, the more you are proving your dedication to God! Think of some of the extreme fasting movements. It is sad that most do not recognize the tie to the flesh and ancient paganism in these things. Sacrificing yourself to try and get your deity to love you and treat you well is paganism - period.

The world is often an extremely difficult place. Faith may lead us to significant suffering. Paul, and most of all Christ Himself, demonstrated this. Yet, many believers with great faith have never suffered beyond being an “alien” in this world. Scripture never calls for us to seek suffering. It only calls for us to trust Christ when suffering comes our way. Which, in one form or another, it will. But we don't need to get into some religious suffering contest to try to prove something to God. All you will do is make Him weep over your foolishness and lack of faith.

Do not succumb to religious flesh leading to religious addiction.

These ideas are a corrupt fleshly mixture that is not the gospel. It only feeds our human desire to perform for God - same as the ancient pagans. Often these rituals become like an addiction with an emotional “high” from doing them and a “low” if you miss them or don't do them frequently enough. How we cannot see that this is of “the flesh” I cannot imagine! Yet many think this religious “addiction” pleases God and makes them more spiritual! A simple question to determine “religious addiction”: how do you feel if you don't do your list? Do you feel guilty or distant from God? Do you feel fear that God is upset with you? Do you feel like you can't make it through the day and live properly? Do you feel compelled to try and “make up” or to do better and not miss another day? Consider this carefully.

These rituals often fit the same pattern as other addictions; yet, get a pass because they are mistitled “serving God”. The enemy’s worst deceptions have a “God” stamp on them! I will get into this more in future articles, but Paul calls this “religious desire” in Colossians 2 and it is not a good kind of desire. Paul puts it in the same category of any other fleshly desire like sexual lust! He should know - he spent his childhood through early adult years becoming more and more religiously addicted. And it ended in heartbreak and failure, like all addictions do. Only Christ could break this cycle for Paul. (Romans 7:24-25) A true understanding of Christ’s life flowing within us through our divine connection is the only way we can break it too. Religious addiction is insidious.

Often those who are the most addicted to their form of rules or religion are the ones publicly condemning those addicted to the “obvious” behaviors powered by the flesh: sexual lust and the like. Yet, they are blinded to their own religious addiction. Truly scripture and God's love does not allow us to ignore harmful sinning. But, we cannot ignore religious type sin and only focus on licentious type sin. With any kind of sin, Paul advocates we humbly and mildly restore or train our spiritual siblings to do better. (Galatians 6:1) We don't do this because God is angry at them or they no longer have peace or fellowship; but, because their sinning is harmful. This is true of both religious and licentious sin. God wants us all to know and trust that we are no longer slaves of sin - no matter what kind of sinning it is.

Don't confuse my words: societal norms or rules and governmental laws are not intrinsically bad. Consider that the Mosaic Law, while certainly more, was still a set of governmental rules for ancient Hebrew society.

I often feel it necessary to explain that I am not saying societal rules or governmental type laws are bad. Nothing could be further from the truth. Faith should lead a believer to follow these better than anyone else unless they conflict with godliness. (1 Peter 4:15-16) The majority of the world is not indwelled by Christ and most of those who are hardly realize it. I would much rather live in a society operating within common sense laws and societal rules than anarchy.

I am not against putting up the 10 Commandments in public places. A society where people are not lying, stealing, and cheating on their spouse is better than the alternative, no matter why they are doing it. I would rather there be less stealing out of fear of jail than the alternative. This is just common sense. And for unbelievers, the Mosaic Law is there to convict them of their need for Christ and His life. So, putting up the 10 Commandments in a worldly place should help the Law do it's job. It should lead unbelievers to Christ for His life.

HOWEVER, while great for earthly society, rules and laws ARE NOT how relationship with God works. God has a far better way! (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6-13) A way that inspires goodness and lawfulness from within, without need for rules and laws. A way that leads to genuine goodness from the heart. If everyone had Christ, and fully knew the divine connection they had, rules and laws would start to disappear as they would not be needed! We know this will never happen without direct Divine intervention. God promises this will ultimately happen when Christ returns. Until then, the earth will continue to need rules and laws - both God and human laws to maintain order.

These laws are based in the earthly system. But, as believers, we have God’s divine connection now - why not mentally strive to discard the earthly based way of rules and laws to try and please God and embrace God's true way of faith and love? In that way, each believer learns to shine the light of heaven here on earth. It is a vastly different light than religion shines with it's dead works through laws and rules. Living by faith may not fix the world and creation like Christ will when He returns, but it will help fix some of your corner of the world. It will certainly lead to a better life for you. Give true faith a try - you won't ever regret it. It is the genuine “Christian life”.

Rules are not part of the gospel.

As I have written many times, it is not the content of the rule list that matters. It is the list mindset or attitude itself that is of the flesh. The Torah or Mosaic Law is a rule list - even the so called “moral” parts. This is why Paul says the entire Law is not of faith (Galatians 3:12) - even the 10 Commandments! (Romans 7:4-8; 2 Corinthians 3:6-11) The Law forces you into a list mentality which is antithetical to faith. You cannot depend on your connection to Christ and depend on your list of rules at the same time. This is cognitive dissonance for the human brain! Scripture is clear - you must choose one way or the other - the old or the new covenant. There is no option to mix them. And if you choose the old, you must keep it perfectly to have relationship with God. (Galatians 3:10; James 2:10) Using rules or rituals to gain or maintain relationship with God is antithetical to the gospel. In your mindset, your relationship with God must be fully secure before good attitudes and actions will flow from faith.

If you are inclined to try and base your relationship with God on your law keeping, don't forget, in many portions of the “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5, 6, and 7, Christ portrays the true requirements of the Mosaic Law which culminates in “be perfect like God”. Thus, if you decide to try and please God and maintain relationship by your law keeping performance, it is now this advanced standard that you must keep perfectly. But, unless you are only one second old, it is already too late. You have broken the Law. There is no make up test. God doesn't grade on a curve. So, both for salvation and living, you must choose your way: law or grace. I recommend that you trust in pure unmixed “grace through faith” and abandon the faithless law and lists.

But, Paul has “rules” or “commands”?

But, you might say, Paul says not to steal, lie, etc. Please hear me carefully: Even if the result of new covenant trust in your divine connection is less lying, adultery, or stealing - this does not mean you are under the Law. It means you are living a life empowered by Christ’s life - which is love - and would never do those things. There is nothing wrong with guideposts or signals that you are or are not walking by the Spirit. That is Paul's intent and it is not legalism. If you have a lying, stealing, or sexual lust problem, then you are clearly not walking by the Spirit. Yet, Paul never says that if you sin then you have lost your peace, fellowship, or God's blessings! Unlike the Law, the gospel never attaches threats!

This is a far cry from a law mentality. Unlike the old, there are no spiritual consequences or condemnation for failures. Good behavior is no longer required to maintain connectivity or relationship with God. Faith requires we believe this because God says so! On the flip side, true faith will lead to good behavior. But that is a side benefit, not a main objective. Faith is the objective - the good behavior is a consequence of true faith. Paul always wanted his audience to grow in “grace through faith” power. Thus, he discusses signposts that show you are walking by the flesh not the Spirit. But, he was not contradicting his many other writings that say believers are not under the law!

Faith always looks good; but good looking behavior is not always faith.

You can put yourself under law and requirement and the inherent fear may motivate you to stop doing some bad things for a while. But it is powered by the flesh (fear) and will not last. (Just look at the size of the prison population despite every law they broke “existing” and having “severe consequences”.) Even if you have a strong fleshly ability to keep some laws, it is not motivated by faith or your heart, so it is of little value to the kingdom of God. And no one keeps them all. Some may measure their flesh patterns against others and minimize them, but everyone has one, two, or ten flesh patterns. Don't forget the religious or good looking ones! Are those who put themselves under law sinning less? No.

This is a hard truth, but it is true. As I said, good behavior is better than bad, for sure! The unbeliever with a good work ethic and who is generally moral will have a better life than the drug addict and the person on death row. But for believers, we should always sacrifice the good for the perfect! We have a perfect connection to Christ for life; we don't need a list of rules and requirements to enslave us again. (Galatians 5:1) Christ’s life power will never lead you into sin because faith shows you that you are now righteous and want righteousness. You will do good things because it is your nature to do so; not because a rule says to, or you are afraid of displeasing God and being out of His will or fellowship.

Fear that God will not keep His new covenant promises unless we act a certain way or do certain things is the very definition of faithless! Even then, God promises He will be faithful! (2 Timothy 2:13) But, why not believe God and take Him at His word? Why not accept the terms of His new will or covenant? We would miss out on a lot of misery if we only would do this. But this requires dedication to the pure gospel message and being on guard towards all of the false mixed messages out that that try to threaten and coerce you into “obeying” God's rules.

Obedience is not “keeping God's rules”. The “obedience of faith” is trusting your new creation divine connection for living.

I have heard it said that you can keep every single one of God's laws yet not love Him. But when you love God, that means you will trust Him. This will naturally lead to listening to the Spirit leading from within and godliness pouring out as fruit. You will automatically “keep God's laws” without even considering or realizing that you are. Keeping the law should never be the objective. This is trusting vs. trying. This is faith. And an even more amazing thing contained in God’s last will or covenant is that God pours His love into our hearts when we are born again! So this love is also our inheritance! (Romans 5:5) We don't even have to try to love God and others; He has already empowered us to do this from within. Trying = quenching the Spirit. As Paul wrote the believers in Ephesus:

Ephesians 6:24 - “Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.”

“Christ to get you to Heaven but rules to help you live” is a lie - a lie Paul clearly calls out in many places. Even Christ Himself calls this out, which we will soon see. The term “obedience” is often tied to this corrupt old/new, law/grace mixture; so, if you reject it, then the legalists will accuse you of “disobeying God”. The truth is that only faith in your divine connection is the obedience that matters - the “obedience of faith”. (Romans 1:5; 16:26) This is the “work of the Father” Christ calls us to do. (John 6:29)

Trust Your Divine Connection

Sadly, when listening to teaching or talking to folks in church, our divine connection is not a truth many understand, believe, or have as a focus. I think maybe this core truth of the gospel is “scary” even for “gospel” teachers to consider! They think this is ignoring sin if they focus on the Savior more than sin. Yet, without a divine connection focus they are not teaching the gospel and they will never give believers the truth that enables them to fully reject sinning. What they are teaching is a partial gospel or no gospel at all, and ignores the power of Christ within. The gospel is the good news of how Christ paved the way for this divine to human connection by His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. This is “eternal life”. This is the gospel of our inheritance. This is not rule keeping.

I have much more to say, but when I realized it would take an hour for most people to read through it, it was just too much for one article. So, I have divided these up. All will have the same theme of eternal life. But until then, please ponder your divine connection, read the references I have mentioned, and consider how this truth might change your perspective and life. Then “let” the Holy Spirit renew your mind and work out what He has already worked in. Think, act, and live as if this is true - because it is! “Count” or consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God - because you are. Let your mind be renewed to God's gospel truth and promises! Depend on your eternal life!

As often happens, I intend to start small but my study morphs into something larger. If you are enjoying this in email and your email cuts it off, feel free to click to the actual article page. Humbled by any and all who read.

I was listening to a message in Philippians 1 by Andrew Farley recently and yet again my understanding of a passage was flipped because of grammer. This time it was “grammatical numerics” and I wanted to explore, dig deeper, and share my findings.

Most often it is tense that changes the meaning but this time it was singular vs. plural - hence grammatical numerics. Tense is also important because if God promises something that is already completed in the past, then faith will take Him at His word that it is done. This means we should not keep asking Him to continue accomplishing what He has already done or act as if we still need to accomplish it ourselves. Similarly, if a message is going to a group of people, it may significantly change the meaning of the message vs. an audience of one. These are nuances that cannot be overlooked when we study scripture, yet they often are.

Great care should be taken we when studying scripture or reading/listening to teaching about scripture. A wrong understanding often takes a life of its own, being passed along as we just accept the top layer of the words and other people's meaning they have taught us. And often they are simply repeating “common knowledge” or traditions they have been taught without digging deeper. The point is to question everything - don't even take your own understanding at face value - confirm, repeat, confirm. It never hurts to make absolutely sure something you believe about scripture or God is absolutely true - especially when it involves the gospel - which should be our main focus.

True Repentance

Often when faced with evidence that should lead to a change of belief - or repentance - we struggle for various reasons. Most often we have simply believed something for so long it is hard to change. Sometimes it is subtle peer pressure - “Well, all these scholars, preachers, and teachers believe this way so how can I go against them?” we might think. It can also be worship of beliefs in the place of Christ: we are so afraid to believe the wrong thing that we are also afraid to repent. We trust how well we are believing over the indwelling Christ and His finished work.

Actually all of these make an idol out of “beliefs” and undermine the gospel. While believing truth is important, we are not saved because we believe perfectly. If that was the requirement, then no one is saved. Later in the book of Phillippians where I am focused on this article, even Paul discusses how he is still learning and growing. We are saved because Christ indwells us and we are new creations in Christ. We rest secure in that truth and it takes the pressure off of us to have perfect beliefs. Ironically, this freedom will actually become a freedom to repent or change our beliefs which will improve what we believe! And that is my point. It's OK to believe something incorrectly…otherwise we can never repent! Repentance itself is contingent on us having a wrong belief that we need to change. If you believed perfectly, you could never repent. However, this freedom does not negate the need to “study and prove” what we believe - it is the impetus for it!

There are many reasons why repentance is hard, but it is necessary to continue to grow in faith. Always consider new evidence or dig deeper to find it. Don’t automatically accept something new either; but, logically weigh and consider all concepts - both new and old. In Acts 17:11, scripture portrays those who do this in a positive light. The apostle Paul, already having a big reputation as a teacher, comes to Berea to teach the gospel. Yet, the Bereans did not just take even Paul's message at face value. They “examined the scriptures” to check it out and were commended for it. The Greek word used here means a “detailed forensic investigation”. This is no shallow enquiry that just takes someone’s word for it or reads only the surface language. This is every believer’s responsibility.

It is Critical to Know The Audience

Knowing the audience of a passage of scripture is a very important contextual consideration. As I mentioned, if a message is intended to address a group of people, and we interpret it for an individual, then the interpretation can get messed up. Or, if the audience is one group and we interpret it for another, then there is a risk of error. Often in Scripture there are messages for unbelievers vs. believers or messages for Jews vs. Gentiles. If we don't recognize and consider the audience, then we may easily get corrupt ideas from those passages. If we take a passage intended for Jews who were under the old covenant and apply it to Gentiles who only ever had the new covenant then the message will get mixed up and contaminated. This is a common thing unfortunately.

I will eventually do in depth articles on Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5-7 to defend my stance, but clearly His audience was unregenerate, unbelieving, Jews not believers who would eventually become the new covenant body of Christ or the “Church”. This includes his disciples who were His physical followers; but, who had not been indwelled by the Holy Spirit; had not received His life yet; and thus, were still unregenerate.

While the disciples followed Christ on earth, they were not new creations, though most eventually would become one. This is not a popular view since many consider Christianity to be about what we do, not what has been done to us; but, it is the truth nonetheless and a necessary distinction. Being a follower of Christ as a teacher is not the same as being a “new creation in Christ”. As Christ told them, there was something better coming once He ascended. But it had not come yet, not until Pentecost. Again, recognition that the disciples were not “new creations in Christ” while they were following Christ on earth is important. Christ did give them some words about the future new covenant church but not everything Christ said was new covenant teaching. If it conflicts with later Apostolic guidance and clarity of the new covenant gospel then that is a clear sign.

Rightly Dividing Scripture

Taking teaching from scripture meant for unbelievers and applying it to believers, or vice versa, is extremely harmful. It will harm the believer’s faith, making them insecure in what Christ has done and God's promises. It often leads them to use self-effort to achieve rather than receive God's gifts. And it can make unbelievers overly confident in self-effort for salvation and santification. In both cases, the harm is extreme.

The sermon on the Mount is only one example; there are many in scripture. We can glean truth from every word in scripture; but, we still must divide and apply it properly based on context - especially the audience. Often the truth is: “While I can learn something from this passage, the first thing I must learn is this does not apply to me as a believer.” In the next section I will give some examples; but, as I have emphasized over and over, the best measure is does it line up with the good news that everything from God is a gift? Does it conflict with a new covenant gospel of grace promise?

Don't apply evangelistic passages meant for unbelievers to believers.

Just as we should not today, the Apostles never assumed even in a local “church” that everyone was a new creation in Christ. Some were there to discover, many were there socially just of be part of a group, and a few were there to disrupt. In 1 John 2:19, John speaks of those who “went out from among us”. He means people who participated as “Christians” but were not really new creations in Christ. Just like Christ, the Apostles were well aware of their audience and the need to be evangelistic as well as encourage the true saints in new covenant truth.

For example - an easy one. Romans 10:13 - “for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” BSB Unlike many other evangelistic passages, I have not heard this disputed as being for unbelievers or evangelistic. Yet, it is in an epistle written to a new covenant church! This is often the excuse used to claim evangelistic passage are for believers. But I digress. Obviously this is not for believers and few, if any, dispute this. Thus, it makes it a good contrast as an example for my point.

My point is what if we did believe this instruction was for believers? Do believers need to daily (or more often) call on the name of the Lord to become believers again? As new creations in Christ; children of God; do we get aborted frequently and have to be re-created again? Nonsense. If you apply this verse to believers it will harm their faith in what Christ has already done. If you have genuinely - from the heart - called on Christ by faith, then you are saved forever. God does not abort His children. However, why not apply the same logic to other passages in scripture also intended as evangelistic towards unbelievers?

Many (including some of my dear friends) who will agree with the application of Romans 10:13 as an evangelical verse will vehemently disagree about other evangelical passages, including many in the Sermon on the Mount. Here is a quick example: Matthew 5:22b - “But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.” BSB This is one of 3+ times that Christ threatens hell or forbids entrance into His Kingdom for some type of sin in this sermon. Which is, of course, absolutely true for unregenerate Jews who are trusting in their ability to keep the Law of Moses for entrance into the Kingdom or salvation. However, is this true of believers? Will a genuine child of God go to hell if they call someone a fool? If not, then how could this instruction be for believers? The only logically correct answer is: it is not. Believers are not the direct audience of Christ for many of His statements in the SOTM. We must divide old covenant teaching from new covenant teaching - even in Christ’s teaching.

Shall we sin so grace can abound? God forbid.

Another red herring that is used is that if this is not for believers, then they are free to run around calling everyone a fool and being deliberately offensive. To some degree this is true - Paul called some folks fools in his epistles! However, it is beside the point! The point is: if we do this will we go to hell as believers? Is Paul in hell? The answer is absolutely not; so, no one can get away from this statement by applying it to believers.

Christ’s point for Jews under the old covenant Law was that they are hypocrites because they say they keep the Law yet still hate other people and call them fools. Thus, their destination is hell, not the Kingdom. Christ is trying to shame or scare Jews who are putting their trust in their Law keeping into putting their trust in Him instead. He is not trying to shame or scare believers into behaving better. Christ would never undermine His own good news in that way.

As He would eventually teach Paul “the Law is not of faith”. Believers learn how to behave through faith not fear. As John says in 1 John 4:18, someone who fears punishment from God has a limited understanding of God's love. Thus fear of God's punishment will prevent us from bearing Spirit fruit. Christ would never teach believers to fear the punishment of hell.

When we continue to insist this passage is for believers then we are simply being ignorant; including my dear friends. But despite this, and the many books written that disagree with my take, the evidence is unrefutable - Christ is not saying Christians who call people fools are going to hell - thus this passage is not for believers. Yet, so many simply cannot see it as they are blinded by traditional views and refuse to repent.

As I will demonstrate shortly, the traditional view is wrong and damages the gospel. It is how this view damages the gospel that bothers me - I am sad so many cannot see this potential. Scripture is always the enemy's most potent weapon against gospel truth. Even the words of Christ are twisted to damage faith. And many teachers and preachers (and dear friends) unwittingly further the enemy cause. Let me attempt to logically demonstrate.

God is always a perfect promise keeper - period. New covenant gospel promises trump everything else in scripture - period.

One of God’s singular new covenant gospel promises to believers is we are at permanent peace with Him and won't be punished for our sins. This is Gospel 101 (Romans 5:1-5; Hebrews 8:12, 10:10-18 and many other places). Yes, there are built-in consequences for sinning - reaping what you sow clearly applies to believers (Galatians 6:7-8). But that is God's loving warning for believers - not His threat against them. God will never punish us for sin since that would break His promise. He does not go against His word.

The offer on the table is to save us from those consequences by helping us choose better as new creations; not deliberately cause the consequences for us. God does not have to punish us for sin; sin is it's own punishment. If many believers could see this, perhaps they would choose to sin less! It is certainly a better motivation that being afraid of God's punishment! God certainly does not promise to take the consequences away if we are stupid and choose poorly. But we have the Holy Spirit and a new heart that is available to guide us into truth and good choices of we don't quench them. When you walk by the Spirit you won't have to worry about reaping the corruption that comes from walking by the flesh.

However; for a believer; living in fear of God's punishment is not fear of God - it is a lack of faith because it diminishes Christ’s finished work and God's promises. It is the opposite of reverence for God because it disagrees with His word. Fearing God’s punishment for our stumbles calls God a liar and is already walking by the flesh and by sight. It is not walking by faith. The first step of walking by the Spirit is believing and trusting God's new covenant gospel promises. However, if a believer thinks they are in danger of hell (God's punishment) if they slip up and call someone a fool, will this help or harm their faith in this foundational new covenant promise of God?

Remember God's promise of no condemnation and punishment for any sin committed by a believer - past, present, or future.

If a scripture passage promises “Hell” or any other punishment for sin from God directly, it cannot be for believers. Both cannot be true: if we are at peace with God and forgiven forever because of the One sacrifice then He then cannot punish us. We must use God's gospel promises to help judge meaning - God never goes against His own word or promises. We cannot allow poor scripture interpretations to scuttle God's promises in our mind. If a passage appears to be doing this, then it is a clear sign we are understanding it incorrectly and need to reconsider context like audience.

Christ would never go against His own future promises enacted through the new covenant when He died, was buried, resurrected, and ascended. He would never proclaim that a believer who calls someone a fool would be going to hell, and then later promise that no sin would be punished for believers. So, either Christ lied in the SOTM and didn't really mean that calling someone a fool would bring hellfire; or, He lied in all of the new testament promises that say believers will not go to hell or be punished for their sins. Or, stay with me now, maybe, just maybe, that statement in the SOTM is not for believers. Hmm. Seems like the latter to me; I'm not inclined to call the author and finisher of my faith a liar. The perfect Creator of everything does not lie. Yet, those who say this passage is for believers cannot have it both ways.

A passage that threatens hell for sinning cannot ever be for the church or believers. If it was, it would invalidate a key new covenant gospel promise of God. I realize this is hard to believe and many teach differently; but I will stick to believing God's promises not human ponderings. I will take God's clear word over human interpretations. If we are “in Christ” then we have peace and forgiveness with God forever - period - no wiggle room. And if Christ Himself is saying something different before His own death and resurrection - then He is not saying it about believers. He would not contradict His own word. This is just a singular example of how context gets twisted by tradition and can cause much harm and disagreement. But I would love for someone to disarm my logic. Feel free to do so in the comments.

Again, I will do a much deeper dive into the SOTM at some point. I wanted to finish this section by declaring that this view does not diminish the impact of the SOTM in the least. Putting it into proper context does not diminish it - it makes it more valuable. Nor does it diminish the value of good behavior for believers. It simply avoids teaching the old covenant motivation for good behavior and thus avoid diminishing a believer’s faith in what Christ accomplished for them under the new covenant. My other point for this section was to demonstrate how audience context is extremely important to meaning.

Philippians 1: Audience Context is Key

Now, back to Philippians 1. I have always seen this passage as for an individual, particularly verse 6, but I was wrong. Upon further study, I have had to repent of my view. This article is now my public display of repentance! Paul uses a plural word when referencing his audience and thus he is writing a group, not an individual. Given that, and other contextual clues, I believe it changes the meaning significantly. Let me quote the passage with context and let's study this out.

Philippians 1:3-11 - “3-I thank my God every time I remember you. 4-In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy, 5-because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6-being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7-It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me. 8-God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9-And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10-so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11-filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” BSB

The “Partnership in the Gospel”

Ok, so the first thing to note here is Paul is writing a group of believers - a local “church” - and he is commending them for their “partnership in the gospel”. This is a vital context for what follows - both in this chapter and the rest of the letter. Paul is grateful for this group of believer’s work of partnering in the gospel and prays that it will continue. Essentially, as a group, they have been positively moving forward the expression of God's good news without watering it down or harming it by mixing in bad news.

In the Greek, this is the same word used for “fellowship”. Essentially, Paul is saying this is a group of believers who are properly living as believers by faith and performing their Kingdom mission within the fellowship of God. In the New testament, the word fellowship is used the same way Tolkien used “fellowship of the ring” in his “Lord of the Ring” books. It is a group bonded in a common mission. Paul further clarifies the context by using this word. All believers are in God's “fellowship” once we become His children. It is simply another word that describes being in the family of God and inheriting the family goals or mission.

This is certainly not how we think of it today: a meal or social event. This fellowship is much more permanent and created by God Himself. Certainly the lesser kind of “fellowship” occurs within God's family, but don't confuse the two types. The fellowship of God - being permanently fused with Him - is a far greater concept than some kind of meal or shallow conversation. It is His permanent creation and promise - not some occasional activity we participate in either with God or others. It is an identity: a permanent family or team. This is sometimes another important grammatical consideration - a verb or noun. The act of fellowshipping (verb) is quite a different concept from the existence of a group (noun) created and bound together by God. But further elucidation on this topic requires a new article, sigh. So many topics; so little time.

What does this partnership look or act like?

In verse 7, Paul further confirms what this “partnership” looks like externally. “For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.” (BSB - emphasis mine). They are confirming and defending the good news in mental and spiritual alignment with Paul. They are properly establishing gospel truth. This is the only “work” in context for this passage. And I would venture to suggest it is the only church “work” that matters.

I wish I had more time to discuss the Greek words. The confirmation or establishment of the gospel is a covenantal word. It is like ratifying the covenant. Paul is saying that this work is establishing God's new covenant promises so that the hearers understand them and it helps their faith in them. The defense word is also very covenant based. It is a “reasoned argument with proof” portraying and defending the ideas within the new covenant and arguing against the ideas that water it down or harm it. This is the mission of God's children on earth.

The Philippian audience is a group of people united in the work of establishing and defending the truth of the new covenant gospel message. This is a perfect synopsis of the true mission of the body of Christ or Church: establishing and defending the good news of God's new covenant promises. Any other works that are done either flow from this mission to further it or are a distraction from or destruction to this mission. Every church teaching and activity can be judged by this mission statement. Of course, in order to properly judge, you must know what the good news is and God’s new covenant promises within it promise! Paul will get to this later.

A person or group of people can fill their days with tasks and busy-ness trying to please God and get into His good graces, much like the older brother in the story of the prodigal son. But if the end result, either in their own minds or others, has not “established and defended” the gospel or good news of God's grace, then it was worthless or possibly harmful. Ultimately this is Paul's point, but let's continue.

Begun this Good Work? What is the Work in view?

This ultimate church mission of establishing and defending the gospel sets a valuable context for verse 6. Literally until right before I started this article I thought the work Christ is “finishing” here was “salvation” or when we were born again. This is sort of a legitimate idea as certainly Christ giving us His life and enlivening us as new creations was a good work and He was the one who did it! And it is a work that continues to work; so, in one sense that was a “beginning”.

However, a careful consideration of this specific passage negates this interpretation. It is true that Christ did a good work in us and our maturity is valuable; but, it is not what this passage is referencing. I was wrong 😔 . Thus, this article is my confession of my repentance!

NOTE: every commentary I read about this passage espoused this traditional view so I had lots of company before. However, please consider my evidence to the contrary taken from the passage context and grammar. I have had to repent of that meaning. I will be proving my previous point that even broad agreement or really ancient agreement doesn't always make an interpretation truth. Telling the same lie for a really long time or from many voices doesn't turn it into truth.

The work in Philippians 1 is establishing and defending the gospel by a group - not the growth or sanctification of an individual.

First, I have already demonstrated that Paul's context for the word “work” here is “establishing and defending the gospel” - not growth or sanctification. And further, every use of the word “you” in the entire passage is plural, not singular. This cannot be a reference to “the work” in a single individual. Further, the word “in” also means “among” in the Greek. Paul is referencing the overall work of this Philippian church of partnering with Him to establish and defend the gospel and how Christ will continue to work among them to finish this work or mission as a group.

Yes, there is a work Christ did “in us” as individuals - but that is not what Paul is referencing here. This is the work or mission of the church and a subset of God's children who are coming together to accomplish it. And Paul is encouraging them that Christ will always be among them to help finish this mission. This is what he has been praying for: their partnership in the Gospel to flourish.

This focus on the “group mission” of the body of Christ completely changed the meaning of this passage for me. And the true meaning is much better and fits better with the gospel. Ironically, my previous belief about this passage actually went against Paul's point in the passage: making sure that nothing contaminates the gospel message. As I will get into, my previous belief could lead to some very anti-gospel places.

The Day of Christ?

Paul emphasizes the phrase the “day of Christ” in this passage. From other context we know this is when Christ will return and bring about His final physical Kingdom - completing what is currently only a spiritual Kingdom for believers on earth. This is another context that I wrongly associated with an individual. Basically, my idea was that Christ was completing our growth until He returns or we die. However, I have already been wary of this idea as it seems to indicate that we must have a specific level of growth before we can get into Heaven. It subtly leans towards a works salvation or sanctification which is anti-gospel. But I simply never took the time to study this out to confirm or deny my wariness.

First, Paul doesn't say “when we die”, he says the “day of Christ”. So, for the millions of Christians who have died before the day of Christ, were they properly completed? Are they still being completed? Is the Catholic idea of purgatory true? (The answer is no, but you see where this can go). This interpretation makes no sense.

Thus, my previous understanding doesn't work, even at a purely logical level. I had not properly studied and/or thought it through (reasoned it through with proof as Paul says in this passage). I had simply accepted face value what others taught about this passage. I did exactly what I am warning against in this article and Paul warns against in Phillippians. Don't do what I did!! Study, study, dig deeper, and study more. And if you haven't done the studying, don’t blindly take up a belief. And certainly don't argue or repeat it! Take great care with your spiritual gospel food you mentally consume.

Paul believed the “day of Christ” was imminent.

In all of Paul's writings you can absolutely see a firm conviction that the “day of Christ” would happen in his lifetime or certainly within a close generation. Thus, this statement actually strengthens my current point. He is saying that “on the day of Christ the work will be finished”. This is true. At that point, the gospel will be fully established, for better or worse, depending on if one believes it or rejects it. But, it is an absolute fact that on the “day of Christ” this mission or work of the church will be done. This makes far more sense than some level of maturity an individual believer must achieve before Christ returns.

Given more consideration, that is truly an anti-gospel idea. Yes, we are growing in grace and knowledge of Christ - yet, our status with God is not based on our maturity level. Being more mature helps in many ways, but it does not improve our status with God. And I firmly believe we will continue to grow in grace and knowledge of God into eternity even after the “day of Christ”! God is simply immense enough to require an eternity to truly know Him. God desires our maturity here on earth because He loves us and wants the best life for us - but the idea of a maturity measuring stick, especially for Heaven, is anathema to the gospel. Again, I confess I believed something harmful. It happens to the best of us. Always approach scripture with humility.

The Mission of the Universal Church

Since Paul is convinced the day of Christ will happen soon, he is speaking that way directly to the Philippian church. He believed the gospel mission would truly be finished for them soon! However, certainly this applies universally to the Body of Christ, the one “Church”. Our mission is to establish and defend the gospel, but there will be a time when that is no longer needed.

That mission has and will continue throughout generations until the “day of Christ”. Christ began this “work” or mission at His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension and He will continue to empower it using the body of Christ until He returns. Every new creation joins this mission by default. And once He returns it will be completed. This particular mission will end. To continue my Lord of the Rings analogy, the ring will have been destroyed.

Until then, Christ is certainly “among us” helping to continue this mission and help it succeed. “Where two or three are gathered together Christ is among them” (Matthew 18:20). Paul's admonition continues to be true and reminds us of our priorities as the entire body of Christ.

If anything we are doing or teaching as a group does not as a result establish and defend the gospel then we should not be doing it. The enemy loves to get us busy with churchy looking business that is at best a distraction from the true mission or at worst helps destroy it. Or, many in church barely understand what the good news really is, including many teachers, so how can they establish and defend it? Thus, when inadequate substitutes become the norm many don't recognize the difference. Often the gospel substitutes or mixtures seem so legitimate and become so entrenched it causes the pure gospel to seem suspect in some way!

Should the Message or the Messenger be “Pure and Blameless”?

Philippians 1:9-11 - “9-And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10-so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11-filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” BSB

Verses 9-11, if applied to an individual, could certainly lead to some anti-Gospel places. This is clearly a “work” focused passage and it has “purity of the work” in focus, not the purity of an individual believer participating in the work. There are many places where God promises that Christ has already purified us as new creations. He has cleansed us - it is a finished work. Because we are new creations, we are pure and “Heaven ready”. There is no work we do that continues to purify us or prep us for Heaven. Thinking Paul is giving us an individual “purity test” in this passage is primarily where this could go to anti-gospel places. It would break God's promise that Christ’s work has purified us.

1 Peter 1:22 is an example:

“Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.” BSB

“Obedience to the truth” is another way the Apostles reference “faith in Christ for salvation”. Peter is saying that because we accepted Christ, He made us new creations which purified us on the inside. We are the new purified self. This gave us a pure heart from which the love of Christ can be reflected. We think and act on what Christ already did within us. We don't think or act in order to accomplish anything new. Without this gift of a pure heart, we have no solid place from which to love others deeply.

We choose to let Christ purify us.

It is interesting how Peter phrases this. Obviously we did not do our own purifying - only Christ can do that. However, Peter gives credence to our choice in obeying the truth of the gospel. We opened the door to Christ. We accepted Him by faith. We participated in the “obedience of faith” which resulted in Christ purifying us. The Apostles are never shy to portray that our choices matter. They have no concern that God giving us this power of choice affects His sovereignty at all (it doesn't). It is the “Divine puppet master” view that is a weak view of God's sovereignty, but I again digress. My point is that Peter makes our participation in this very clear.

Note that we continue to have choices even after we choose to obey the gospel. We can quench the Spirit and not reflect the love Christ gifted us in our hearts. We can walk by the flesh and not choose to love or try to love from our own power instead of our new hearts. I mean, you must believe you have a new heart as a first step before you will ever use it to love! Peter, like Paul, establishes our purity and our new pure heart as the foundation or basis for choosing to love. Without that foundation, or faith in it, we cannot properly love no matter how hard we try.

You must be pure in your identity or being before you can act pure. However, certainly scripture emphasizes our choice to live out our internal purity by making wise choices and learning to walk by the Spirit. I am not denying that fact. It is why I write! Yet so often in teaching and preaching the “acting pure” is emphasized to the detriment of the foundational truth that we are already pure. This faithless belief becomes cognitive dissonance - you are dirty in reality but you must still act pure somehow or God will smite you! Truly putting heavy burdens on believers with no solution to the burden.

Paul is certainly not doing that in Philippians nor is he implying some kind of entrance test of how pure our works are for heaven. That is anathema to the gospel. Chris's work of making us new creations fully purifies us and makes us “Heaven ready”. Beyond receiving this gift of life there is no further actions required by us. We will desire to do good works; but they are no longer mandated or required to be in some kind of perfect state for the day of Christ. Context is key. Don't use, or let others use, Philippians 1 to diminish faith in your gift of purity caused and gifted by Christ when you became a new creation.

Love Requires Knowledge and Insight

I don't want to skip verse 9 as it is valuable. Much like Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul emphasizes the need to grow in the love of Christ. However, in both places, he emphasizes “knowledge” as a key component of this growth. The world often emphasizes love as an “emotion” so this is a key difference! Consider how knowledge is portrayed in regards to how we love:

1. We must know God's promises through the gospel and how those truly portray His love of us as His children. Part of this knowledge is knowing and believing He has given us a new heart filled with His love. Faith in God's promises is walking by the Spirit and the only way to bear fruit.

2. We must recognize “love” as an intellectual willful choice based on the knowledge in #1. Certainly, there is the supernatural component of Christ's life and love involved, but that is accessed through the “renewing of the mind” which allows Christ’s power to transform or mature our attitudes and actions. (Romans 12:2) As we set our mind so goes our trust in Christ’s life to empower our daily life. How can you rely on something you don't know, understand, or believe? How have you learned Christ?

The knowledge and trust of Christ’s love for us empowers our own.

Because we are loved by Christ and we possess His love in our hearts, we can always choose love, even when our “feelings” don't match up. Since the world often defines love by feelings, then how well they love follows their feelings. This is a trap. Even as believers, our feelings, based in our fallen body, are all over the place. They are influenced by a myriad of things, many outside our control. Our feelings are not always based in truth. Even something as simple as a single meal can impact emotions and how we feel. Love cannot be based on this shifting foundation.

If how we love is based on this, then it will be up and down and all around. (Visible hint: the divorce rate for church goers matches everyone else). This is directly related to an ignorance of the new covenant gospel. As believers, we have a foundation in Christ and His new covenant promises that can overcome this obstacle. Love can absolutely be an intellectual choice based in gospel truth. We can love based on our knowledge and insight of the gospel and all that it means.

This is what Paul is praying for here. That their love would abound based on gospel truth and not their emotions. That their choices would more and more be loving choices; not because they feel like being loving; but, because they know they are loved by Christ and choose to benefit others based on this truth - whether they feel “loving” or not. This mindset is crucial.

Getting back to “pure and blameless”.

Phillipians 1:10-11 - “10-so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11-filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” BSB

Phillipians 1:10 - “that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,” NKJV

Ok, let's dig in. If you peruse the various translations of verse 10, you will find that some say that “you” may be “pure and blameless” or “sincere and without offense” and others leave out the “you” entirely. Unfortunately, both of these are wrong. The Greek word “ēte” is used here and it doesn't mean “you” but we can't leave it out either. The plural word “hymas” Paul uses at the beginning of the verse does mean “you”, so if he meant to tie “pure and blameless” to the group, he would have used that word again, not “ēte”.

Why does this matter? The word “ēte” is contextual and vague - it essential means a state of being or that which is happening as part of the state of being. It is most often translated “is” and “are”. In this context, Paul is referencing the same work or mission that he has been focused on - the existential mission of the church. It is this church mission of defending and establishing the gospel that is in focus to be “pure and blameless”, NOT the believers executing the mission. Paul wants them to test and prove what is the “best” belief and gospel message so that the message itself will be pure and blameless. The work or message being pure as an entity in itself is what Paul is getting at here - not the individuals giving it. As we covered, the individuals are already pure, and that is not in context here.

Even if you disagree with this point, the “you” in question is again plural. This is not an individual “purity of work” qualification for the day of Christ; it is a mission qualification for the body of Christ. Paul does not want the message of the gospel to be corrupted in any way the entire time the mission is in place (until the day of Christ). His focus is the group mission, not an individual’s attitude and actions. His goal is gospel message purity until the message is no longer needed.

The church as an entity IS in focus for an action in this passage - the action of testing and proving what is best in presenting and defending the gospel message. They are responsible for what they are teaching so that it is not compromised by a mixture of other corrupting messages. This is an important charge by Paul and is his primary focus in this passage and letter. This is the main guidance that should be taken from this passage. It a a charge to maintain the purity of the new covenant gospel without leaven or compromise.

Pure - An In Depth Look

Further evidence of this comes by inspecting the translation of this phrase. Clearly the NKJV changes it significantly. It says “sincere and without offense”. This is logical in the context of defending and establishing the gospel, but does not fit as well in regards to an individual’s purity. But let's check out the Greek ourselves.

Unlike the word “katharois” which is used many times in the NT and is also translated “pure” or “clean”; the Greek word “eilikrineis” translated “pure” here is only used twice in the New Testament. The word “katharois” is exclusively used to describe an individual - like having a “pure heart” - not “eilikrineis”. The 1 Peter 1:22 passage I just referenced uses “katharois” in reference to the “pure” heart. Thus, even by word choice, Paul is not indicating that this is an individual who needs to purify themselves for the day of Christ.

In the Greek, this word means “uncontaminated” or “unmixed”. Certainly “pure” works but only if the context is the gospel message, not an individual. Because purity is also used to describe the state of being of individual believers, using this translation can be confusing. It would be better to translate it as “uncontaminated”. The gospel message we establish and defend should be uncontaminated by mixing in Law or anything else that waters it down. Legalism or licentiousness, both of the flesh, will never mix with the gospel of grace. They are like oil and water. They are both bad news that contaminate the good news.

Blameless - An In Depth Look

This Greek word “aproskopos” means “free from hurt or harm thus not causing offense”. Now the word offense or offend is often used to mean that we don't emotionally upset people but that is not the context here. Again, the context is the mission and message of the church. A mixed message that waters down the gospel always hurts the hearers whether they are believers or unbelievers. This harm is causing “an offense” against the hearers. In this context, causing harm and offending are synonymous. Not harming their feelings; but harming their spirituality; harming their souls. All false teaching should be offensive to our ears and it certainly can harm or be an offense to the hearer.

Again, it is the church’s message that should not cause harm. If the message is always the pure gospel without diluting or mixing in error, then it will not cause harm. If we mix law or any other cursed worldly philosophies with the gospel, then it will harm. And this is what Paul is advocating against. His words are not focused on an individual’s daily behavior and achieving some level of purity in thought and action. This is focused on keeping the main mission of the body of Christ pure and undiluted as we defend and establish the gospel in our sphere of influence; and the same for the full body of Christ into the greater world.

Of course, our attitudes and actions do go hand in hand with the mission. If you have an uncontaminated gospel message and you believe and trust it, then your attitudes and actions will follow. Paul gets at this in my next section. Let's dive right in!

How to keep the mission and message pure?

“test and prove what is best…filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” BSB Paul surrounds his message of keeping the Gospel message pure with direct guidance on how to accomplish this. First, and this ties into my opening statement, we study and prove our gospel message before we defend and establish it. One interesting thing about this Greek word “dokimázō” is that it is only ever used in the positive sense. Meaning, you are not trying to prove whether a message is bad, only whether it is good. We are to portray the goodness of the gospel which should be easy because by definition it is good news. The light of a genuine message of good news will vividly contrast with the darkness in the other messages.

This is often how scripture portrays a proper mindset - it focuses on the good as the inverse of the bad. Examples: “Think on that which is good and acceptable” (Phil. 4:8). “Change your minds about God and by default you will change your mind about sin” (Acts 20:21). “Prove your gospel message is pure and you won't teach a harmful bad message” (current passage we are discussing). “Walk by the Spirit and you won't walk by the flesh” (Gal. 5:21). “You are children of the light thus you are not part of the darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5). “You are now children of light thus walk as if this is true” (Ephesians 5:8).

Religion wants to focus on all the bad you are doing to try and guilt, shame, or frighten you into doing the opposite. The gospel is only good news: it focuses on Christ's work and the new covenant promises flowing from that. It focuses on the fact that you are good by nature and this is your gifted foundation for good works. God's new covenant plan for believer behavior is this: if you know, believe, and trust that Christ has created you in Him and you are now pure, perfect, and good; then your choices, attitudes, and actions will mirror this foundational truth. And that leads directly into the next point.

Fruit of Righteousness

One key thing to point out immediately is Paul does not say to be “filled with righteousness”. He says be filled with the FRUIT of righteousness. This is a distinction with a major difference. Religion will tell you to act righteous in order to be righteous. It will tell you that choosing righteous looking actions leads to being righteous in identity. Legalism turns the gospel message around and corrupts it. Paul's choice of words here is deliberate - he wants there to be no confusion about a believer’s identity of righteousness.

Again, the gospel is the opposite of legalistic religion. Christ already made you the righteousness of God by nature; now, you just need to allow or let the fruit of that righteousness fill you and empower your works. You don't do the works to gain righteousness; you do the works because you are righteous. This fruit of righteousness is the same as the fruit of the Spirit; it is just a different way of saying it. Of course, the point with this fruit is you don't cause or create it. You are a branch on the tree of Christ. He causes and creates the fruit; you simply bear it. God has to make this easy for us; otherwise we fail. When we make it harder than it is (cough, religion) we begin to go off the right track. Legalism makes Christianity hard on purpose and it always fails. This is by the design of the enemy to trick and trap us.

Paul demonstrates this by the phrase “comes through Jesus Christ”. Both the gift of righteousness (at salvation) and the fruit of this gifted righteousness come from Christ. My whole point is: our only responsibility is to choose to bear it (and this is certainly often hard enough for us.) This ties in with knowledge. Because we can't rely on feelings, we need to test and prove the pure gospel message in our own minds long before we try to teach or live it. As we do this we will bear fruit. As we begin to bear fruit, this feeds into our daily lives and ministry, whether that ministry is directly teaching or not.

Foundational is the understanding and belief that we are righteous by nature. We are not becoming righteous by acting righteously. We act righteously because we are righteous. Only by knowledge of and trust in this truth can we bear genuine fruit. If you think God is demanding righteous attitudes and actions in order to become more pure or even to please Him then your motivation is not a gospel one. Faith in our perfect purity gifted by Christ is essential to walk by the Spirit and live well.

Don't stray from the main mission of the body of Christ: establish and defend the pure new covenant gospel of grace.

In many ways, the Apostles and Christ Himself established that the mission of work of the body of Christ or church is to establish and defend the pure new covenant gospel of grace - just as Paul directly states in this passage. And in just as many ways or more, actual churches and teachers stray from this onto many other things, not necessarily all “bad”. From trivial distractions like building plans, how to dress, or music styles; to harmful beliefs that minimize, water down, or oppose the pure gospel; we humans often act both blindly and deliberately in ways that at best distract from the mission and at worst do great harm to the mission. As I have already mentioned, Paul is encouraging us to avoid this. Truly seeing and understanding his message in Philippians will help with this.

Rather than describing an individual believer’s growth in Philippians 1 as I have thought for many years, Paul is actually encouraging and establishing the proper mindset for maintaining and continuing this mission - both for a smaller group of believers and the entire body of Christ still alive on this earth. The encouraging thing is that he is convinced that Christ will continue to use the church to fulfill this mission - despite all of the legalistic or licentious doctrines of demons that still prevail in our churches. Little did Paul know that this would continue for over 2000 years beyond his own life. But he was right - and it will continue for another 2000 or until the day of Christ when He returns and the mission will no longer be necessary.

Until then, the church; and yes of course, the individual believers that compose the church; must keep this mission in focus. And for this, Philippians 1 is invaluable instruction if you interpret it properly. Yet, out of this context it could be harmful. If you use it for individual “Christian growth”, as opposed to the proper growth of the overall mission of the church to spread the gospel, then it can lead to error. Error like “we need to purify ourselves by good works for when Christ comes”. That is not a good meaning at all and it weakens faith in God's promises. It uses Paul’s own words fighting against gospel contamination to contaminate the gospel. He would be aghast to think his words were interpreted that way.

Quick Review

Paul's makes several confident assertions in this passage:

1. Christ will continue empowering and moving forward the Kingdom work or mission of establishing and defending the new covenant gospel of grace by using the church - until the mission is completed upon His return.

2. We are all partners with other believers in this mission, especially those in our immediate circle of influence. This mission is completed in diverse ways using diverse believer desires and gifts. The different roles are not always some religiously defined “ministry” like teaching or preaching, though they can be. No matter our role, keep the true mission in focus.

3. Knowledge of and trust in the massive love of Christ is the foundation for testing and proving the best way to carry out this mission. It is key to keeping the mission’s core gospel message pure and uncorrupted by mixing. A mixed message will cause harm to those it is intended to help. Both legalism and licentiousness ignore or misunderstand this love. God loves us enough to fully forgive our stumbles for eternity; but He also loves us enough to gift us power through His life to overcome and lessen our stumbling by faith.

4. Knowledge (beliefs) or mindsets (the way we think) must continually be tested and proved by scripture and logic using a deep forensic investigation of truth. This is critical to properly know the love and new covenant promises of God so we do not mix the message and harm ourselves and others. Uncorrupted gospel knowledge is critical to be able to teach and live properly.

5. Recognize that believers already are the “righteousness of Christ” but that we are responsible to allow ourselves to be filled with it’s fruit and thus bear it. Yet, it all comes from Christ. We do not produce anything, we depend on Him both initially for the gift of a righteous identity, and for fruit that comes from that. It is the attitude of dependence by faith that fills us and allows us to bear fruit. This starts with recognizing and trusting the reality of our identity.

One final note: God’s fruit is all attitudes: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, contentment, etc. There are actions that flow from these attitudes; but, in scripture the attitudes are the fruit, not the actions. The actions flowing from the fruit are great and necessary; but, they are not really the main attraction. As we focus on being filled with the fruit this will lead to proper attitudes and actions by default. But the focus must be on the fruit.

In scripture the pattern is always:

1. Set your mind on gospel truth by knowing and believing God's new covenant promises without contamination

2. Trust God's new covenant promises in Christ thus trusting Christ and His work - this is faith

3. Hence you bear spirit attitude fruit by resting in Christ’s finished work

4. These attitudes result in many actions and activities. The fruit of God's love means you give up your own rights in order to forgive others just as Christ gave up many of His “rights” as God in order to die on a cross to forgive you. This is but one of many reactions to Spirit fruit. The results are limitless and often cannot be measured. They just happen.

Conclusion

I hope this has been as informative and a blessing to you as it was to me. While certainly maturity is key for an individual believer; however it is simply not what Paul is getting at directly in Philippians 1. He is commending them as a group for their past partnership in the gospel and he is encouraging them that Christ will continue to empower that work until it is complete. The rest of the epistle will have this overall mission in context as Paul does a deep dive into how to best prepare for the mission. Even though he commends them initially, he still sees the need to remind them of the best way to keep the message pure.

His goal with this instruction is that they continue to wisely partner with the gospel without mixing in beliefs that harm it and would cause their message to harm themselves and others. Ironic, is it not, that some often use his words out of context to try and “growth shame” believers. That is not even the context and is actually one of the mixed messages that can harm. God does not have some expected growth chart on the wall in heaven for us and then judges us if we don't match up. Every believer is Heaven ready as soon as they become a new creation or child of God.

However, what a great reminder of the Kingdom mission of establishing and defending the pure good news of the new covenant gospel of grace. With so much error out there, this is not an easy mission. But it is a fulfilling one. When you see the results of the pure message both in your own life and others - it is it's own reward. As Paul will say later in Phillippians, seeing people living by grace is like having a golden crown on his head.

No Other Message Compares

Nothing compares to this good news. The legalistic and licentious messages out there totally fall short. Only the life of Christ satisfies - and it is only ever accessible as a gift - both for salvation and for walking after you have been saved. Both legalism and licentiousness spurn the gift. Legalism tries to live right without it and licentiousness doesn't recognize the power of the gift to satisfy. Each one seeks the fruit of the gift without living from it.

The prodigal sons in Christ’s parable demonstrate these two extremes quite well Yes, plural, they were both wrong! The older brother represents legalism and the younger licentiousness. Yet neither understood or trusted their Father's love. One thought he could earn it and the other thought he would never meet the standard to earn it. Both attitudes are not of faith. God's love is unconditionally freely given - you cannot earn or dis-earn it. You can only receive or reject it. Ironically it was the licentious son who finally saw clearly enough to receive the Father's love; the final state of the legalistic son is not made clear by Christ. While both are bad and fleshly, I maintain that legalism is a greater obstacle to understanding and trusting Christ than licentiousness. Again, ironic how focused the legalists are on constantly pointing out licentiousness. Hmm.

God’s Love is Everything

Further, Philippians 1 is a spectacular reminder of God's love. It helps us see love as more than an emotion - it is a mental willful choice made from knowing truth. God's attributes all merge into His being. He is Love because He has perfect knowledge. His perfect knowledge makes Him Love. This is an imperfect human based description of God; but, my point is that we will always love the way we see ourselves loved by Christ. He always chooses love because He knows His own identity perfectly - He fully trusts the Father's love - always has and always will. We are learning our identity, but we now have the opportunity to make the same choices. Paul is clear that the amount we know and experience Christ's love will determine how much we reflect it. It is a direct correlation.

May we mentally bathe in Christ's love more and more so that everything we think and do will reflect well on Christ and the gospel and continue to move this mission forward. This is something that happens in everyday life; it is not just a special “ministry”. Those are only roles in the mission. The mission is to know Christ and live from Him so that whatever role we play in establishing and defending the gospel, it moves it forward and does not harm it or those in need of its help. It is better to speak the pure message to one person than an impure message to thousands. One ounce of truth is better than a hundred pounds of error.

And that is of primary importance - knowing, experiencing, and reflecting the pure good news of God's grace. May you continue to walk well in this grace. Thank you for your time to read. May you continue to walk well in God's truth. And I pray I have contributed to that in some small way by portraying truth and the gospel in an uncorrupted way. If so, then I am partnering with Paul and all of you in this mission. And that is my only goal! It is a spectacular mission.

I wanted to pass along a few things I have known, recently been reminded of, and recently learned about the Christmas story, which is the story of Christ’s incarnate birth. So, Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy these truths as much as I have.

Christ brought God's Peace on Earth and Good Will Towards Men

I received a good reminder of this from Ed Elliot's Morning Spiritual Coffee email this morning. Here is a link to that:

What-Did-the-Angels-Mean-by--Peace-on-Earth-Goodwill-Toward-Men

Please click and read his piece, but the gist is that while those who are new creations will have Spirit fruit which will lead towards peace with others as we learn and grow, that is not what the angels were speaking of. This was not peace between humans. This was peace with God.

What the angels were speaking of was the new covenant gospel, where once you have accepted Christ and become co-heirs with Him as God's child, then God only has good will towards you. The gospel is the good news of God's good will towards humanity and His gift of perfect peace with Him. It is only good news. Again, as believers we should hence have peace with one another, but again, we still live in an earth suit infected with the parasite of sin. We are free from sin, we don't have to submit to it, but it is still there, and we still do. We are learning and growing and it is a process.

However, if we view Christ as purely an example to follow, and thus use the power of the flesh to try and “have peace” with each other, then we have missed it. The world and most religions can do the same. Depending on the person they might do this better than believers! This is missing the point of the gospel and the angels’ announcement. The point is not to focus on how well we are being peaceful with others, but to focus on the permanent, unalterable peace we have with God through Christ. And the overall good will God has towards us.

Titus 3:4-5 - “4-But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5-He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 2:4 - Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

What the angels actually meant is vital to show us the heart of God and His intention by sending Christ. Any other view of God will hinder true repentance. Only an accurate view of His intense love and kindness for humanity will engender true repentance or “change of mind” towards God - either to come to Christ for His salvific life or to live in dependence on that life once you receive it. Consider carefully the vital truth of “peace with God” through Christ that the angels announced.

What the Incarnation Shows Us about Us

The incarnation is truly a mystery. Much has been written and taught about it but there is only so far we can go to understand how God became human and perfectly maintained the nature of both. Yet, Christ did this and continues to exist in this God-Human state with the prototype of our new resurrection physical body. This is not my main point, but is still not often a focus that Christ still remains in a human form.

However, as mysterious as it is, it is essential that we believe it. The entire epistle of 1 John was written to counter those who would oppose this truth. Further, there is at least one other idea that flows from this that I have seldom heard taught: the incarnation of Christ proves without a doubt that God and humanity are compatible. This is probably not emphasized because it is so hard to believe.

Christ also had a “fallen body” originally - just like us.

However, Christ's original body, before He died and was resurrected, was a fallen body just like ours. Scriptures hints at this many ways but it is also just logical. Before the resurrection, Christ did not just appear in the upper room as if He walked through walls - after, He did. His original body could be killed; His resurrection body could not. He aged. Etc. He was tempted in all ways like we are (Heb. 4:5). He was faced with the power of sin every moment of his physical life before His resurrection. Yet, He never submitted His body to it. He never walked by the flesh; He always walked by the Spirit.

Beyond this showing us our full compatibility with God - the truth that we can become “partakers of the Divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4) - it also shows us that once we become new creations and are connected to Christ we can walk the same way He walked on earth. We can bear the same fruit of the Spirit He did. We can operate from Divine power just as He did. This is the good news! This is life. Divine life that Christ said He came to bring (John 10:10). We have been gifted the same life, the same power, by which Christ lived while on earth and in a normal human body. John discusses this further in 1 John - God in us, us in God.

1 John 4:15-19 - “15-If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16-And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

17-In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.

18-There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. 19-We love because He first loved us.”

Christ in us - a result of the incarnation.

It is quite simple: if you are a believer, if you are saved, then you abide in God and he abides in you. “Christ in you the assurance of glory…” Christ placed this perfect love in our new hearts (Romans 5:5). This gives us confidence towards God and judgment. As new creations, IN THIS WORLD, we are just like Christ. This phrase “just like” in the Greek is “to the same degree”. John is saying that as new creations we operate to the same degree as Christ did. The new creation, our new spirit and heart, are treasures in an earthen vessel.

Notice the contrast between God's work and our growth. The word “perfect” (teleioó) has an extremely contextual interpretation and is heavily based on tense. If it is referencing Christ's work, then it is a past finished perfect work. Yet, the same word can reference our growth in grace and knowledge of Christ. Mixing these up will mess up your faith mindset. You will be trying to achieve what Christ already perfectly completed. Or, more rarely, you could mix it up the other way. This means you could have a mindset of passivity, that somehow Christ will move your limbs like a puppet. Neither is true.

Thus, it is vital to carefully analyze these passages. In this passage I just quoted, both ideas are referenced. Verses 15-17 reference Christ's perfect past work: Christ changes our spiritual location - we are no longer in the flesh or in Adam, we now abide in Christ or the Holy Spirit. And they abide in us. This work of Christ has “perfected” His love in us - and thus in His church that we belong to. It is faith in His finished work that gives us confidence on the day of judgment. This is a sure fixed thing that Christ did - and it is finished.

Our work is growing in grace and knowledge of Christ - including knowledge of His love.

Yet, as believers, do we ever fear? In verses 18-19, is John saying that any believer who fears has not had Christ's perfecting work done? Is our confidence in our salvation based on how well we don't fear? Of course not. If so, then there are no believers - everyone fears at some point. So, what is John referencing here? He is discussing our maturity - the renewing of our mind. John is portraying love and fear as utter inverse concepts. We cannot be walking in perfect love and be fearful at the same time. We cannot be afraid of God and walk in perfect love. It is one or the other.

Though we have the perfect love of Christ infused in our new hearts, we don't always walk in that love. We often still think and act as if God is going to punish us for our failures. We are not mature with our mindset perfected in the truth of God's love for us. We don't always trust His new covenant promises. We are afraid He is a harsh God and we do not heed the angelic message and the good news that He has goodwill towards us.

John concludes with why we don't always reflect God's love to others. “We love because He first loved us.” To the degree that we trust God's love for us is the degree to which we will reflect His love to others. To the degree that we believe that He has given us His love in our hearts as a gift is the degree to which we will act like this is true. Otherwise we will try to love from the same power the world does - the flesh. This will never work in the same way. There is a worldly kindness and affection, but it cannot equal the supernatural unconditional love of God.

When we think or act based on any kind of fear that God will punish us for our sin, either now or in the future, we are not acting or walking in love. This is the foundation for walking in God's love! You absolutely cannot love others until you recognize and trust God's love for you! A sign post, or beacon, that shows how mature you are in God's love is how little you fear God's punishment! It's like a scale - as your fear piles up on one side, your ability to love lowers. As your trust in God's love piles up on the other side, your fear decreases, and you are able to love better. When we are fully mature in our thinking about how much God loves us - fear will be gone. This is John’s message.

The Incarnation gives us Hope

In conclusion of this section, because Christ demonstrated the compatibility of Divinity with normal earthly human flesh, then it gives us even more confidence in our personal compatibility with the Divine nature through the finished work of Christ. Since through Christ we have this connection - we have been gifted His life and it's power to also walk by the Spirit just as Christ did. This is not some kind of lifeless mimicking of Christ's actions; it is the ability to respond to our life and circumstances as Christ did with His. We are not a Jewish carpenter living in the world of Roman rule 2000 years ago. But His same character and love indwells us and we can reflect it into our specific life and circumstances.

Unlike Christ, we do not do this perfectly. We see God and His love in a skewed dark fashion and find it hard to trust His promises, especially about us. We focus on our failures and fear God's punishment or at least His displeasure. We don't see our sin as being taken away, especially the one we just did. We fear that God will send negative circumstances based on how well we are doing. We tacitly reject God's promised gift of perfect peace with Him no matter what. Our mindset is not “perfected” in the knowledge and trust of His love.

And that is our work - eliminate mindsets that cause us to be afraid of Abba God and water down His promises. Avoid false teaching that bases our security in God's love on on how well we are doing. Recognize what we have and who we are as new creations. As Christ is, so also are we here in this world. We are partakers in His Divine nature. The incarnation paved the way for this truth and all the other promises tied to it. Now we simply learn to fully trust it - but, that is a full time job! And it is our only work as believers - everything else flows from that.

No Room at the Inn?

I recently read a fascinating article about Christolic archaeology. I could not find it again to link but I found a similar article that describes the proper interpretation of “no room at the inn”. You can read it here:

Christmas Urban Legends

The gist of this idea is that the Greek word translated “inn” for Christ’s birth story doesn't really make sense as a public dwelling place. Those were not common in this society and often were of ill repute. The more likely translation should have been guest room. The NIV translates it this way. The idea would be that Mary and Joseph arrived at a relative’s house and the normal room where they would put traveling guests was full. Thus, they had to stay in the room where they would normally keep an animal. There was often a built in spot to put hay or even water for the animal. This was cleaned out and used for the new baby Jesus to sleep.

What the article above doesn't mention, but the other alluded to, is that this room was often used for the family’s sacrificial lamb to keep it without blemish before taking it to the temple for sacrifice. It would be safer in this inner room than remaining outdoors with the rest of the animals and would be more convenient to take when it was time. There was not necessarily an animal in that room when Mary gave birth; but, the symbolism is ripe since Christ became the final sacrifice for sin. Yet, Mary, Joseph, and the new baby Jesus were still surrounded by their family, and the common idea of being in some strange stable surrounded by animals is simply not accurate.

This word is not used often in the New Testament but Luke uses it one more time. It is informative to our discussion.

Luke 22:11 - “and say to the owner of that house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’”

This is the famous “upper room” where Christ ate His final passover supper with His disciples. Translating this word “inn” makes no sense since this was a room in a private house. If we apply this idea back to where Luke describes where Christ was born, then there would be no space left in the “guest room” or “upper room” in the private housing of one of their relatives. Thus, they ended up in this less desirable lower “animal” room, but still not the same idea as a public stable at an inn.

Final Thoughts

I found this fascinating. Both for how a common idea from scripture that is fully accepted by the church and the world could be really quite off-base. In this case, there is little harm; yet, in many cases there is a lot of harm to the gospel. Plus, you miss out on the symbolism of the room where the perfect lamb was being kept safe for the temple sacrifice was where the true perfect “Lamb of God” was born. And it just makes sense that the family of Joseph and Mary would not be inhospitable in that culture, especially with a woman about to give birth.

Putting this together with how the Angels announced God's peace and good will towards humanity and how this birth in the space reserved for the perfect sacrificial lamb resulted in God incarnate - God and humanity joined together in perfect harmony. Thus, we see how the Christmas story and the Easter story join to proclaim the new covenant gospel. Yet, I have one more final Christmas thought.

The start of the new covenant was not Christmas, it is Easter.

Despite those who put together Bibles and divide the new and old testaments at Christ's birth, the actual new covenant did not begin then. As Christ Himself proclaimed in that upper guest room that I just mentioned, Christ proclaimed the new covenant as starting when His blood was “poured out” on the cross. The cup was a symbol of this.

Luke 22:20 - “In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.”

The true dividing line of human history was the cross, not the birth of Christ. The old covenant did not end until Christ died. When Christ was still alive, his disciples were still living under the old covenant of Law. Christ Himself lived under Law. This is crucial to understand. It helps us properly divide old covenant teaching from new covenant. The disciples were not “saved” and indwelled by the Holy Spirit before the cross and new covenant was enacted.

Galatians 4:3-7 - “4-But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5-to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons. 6-And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7-So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.”

There is a lot to unpack here and I really want to publish before Christmas is over at least in my time zone! But this is a good place to end. Christ was “born under the law” - under the old covenant - so He could keep the Law perfectly and thus break the slavery of the Law and make us children and heirs of God. What makes us a child of God is His Spirit in our new hearts. The Spirit within testifies and convinces us that God is our kind Abba. This relationship is in opposition to the curse of the Law. The old covenant depended upon us and our faithfulness; the new covenant depends upon Christ and His faithfulness.

This is all part of the epic story of humanity's redemption. The incarnate birth of Christ led to His sacrifice which led to His resurrection which enabled the new covenant to fully replace the old and cause us to become new creations in Christ - true sons and daughters of God, connected to His Divine life. This reality is everything. It is how we love; it is how we live; it is what matters. We can love like Christ loves - we have His love poured into our hearts. We can live like Christ lived - we have become the righteousness of Christ as a gift. And all because of the incarnate birth. God with us leading to God in us. The Divine and human connection that is everything.

I hope all of this ties together for you and was a blessing. Merry Christmas 2024 and a happy new year for 2025. May it bring a year of rejecting religious lies and growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ with a deeper faith in the new creation that Christ has made you. Praying you walk well in the riches of God's gracious gifts and promises.

Natural Gratitude

The more I explore scripture, the more I recognize that an “attitude of gratitude” is what powers faith. I am obviously wanting to emphasize this on this day of Thanksgiving here in the US; but, it has been slowly becoming an awareness. Of course, the quintessential scripture defining Faith leans into this:

Hebrews 11:6 - “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

I have done a deeper study of that verse in the past in my writing, but it strikes me that this verse is how to please God. There is no mention of punishment or any kind of fear based motivation here. There is no mention of even acting “holy” or specific works. There is literally nothing negative here. There is no obligation or coercion. This verse consolidates the gospel or good news.

What is the good news? Well, I have spent thousands of words trying to describe it but here the author of Hebrews distills it: God is a rewarding God not a punishing God. The enemy wants to paint God as cruel and demanding but Christ reveals God as being very different from those ideas. As this very author reports:

Hebrews 1:1-3 “1-On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets.

2-But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.

3-The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

The author is emphatic that everything that had been spoken about God by the Old Testament prophets was at best incomplete. This is not to say that Old Testament scripture is not inspired; but, for reasons God only knows, He held some revelation back or even allowed Himself to be misrepresented. Note that Christ is “the exact representation of His (God's) nature”. John gets at this in his gospel:

John 1:16-18 - “16-And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17-For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18-No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” (NKJV)

I used the NKJV because of translates the Greek word “kolpon” better as “bosom”. It is a hard word to describe but it is a complete embrace in the heart region. Essentially, Christ portrays the heart of God. Also, note the contrast between Moses and Christ that both authors emphasize. Legalism has no part of Christ but I digress.

The Heart of the Father

In my last article about there being a “cost” to be a child of God, at the end of the article I portrayed how Christ's parable about the “Prodigal Son” demonstrates the Father’s heart. I somewhat regret putting that at the end as my articles tend to be long and it was possibly missed. I believe it is some important concepts and fits on my arc for this article, so I am going to copy it here.

A Child or a Servant?

Consider these wise words from Paul the Apostle. (emphasis mine):

Acts 17:24-25 - “24-The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. 25-Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”

God does not need us to serve Him. He is not interested in us adding up our points by service like the prodigal’s brother. He simply wants us to act like sons and daughters. He wants us to participate in the family business of righteousness. We are fully equipped by Him to do this. We have been gifted His inheritance and all that comes with that. Yet, even then, He is not coercing us. He is not extracting some cost. He simply wants us to love because He loves us. Love is our inheritance.

The Prodigal Sons - Both of Them Needed to Repent.

When you feel you must earn anything from God then your service will not be from love. It cannot be. Both of the sons in the story of the prodigal son have the same problem: they did not trust in their father's love for them. (Luke 15:11-32) They both felt they needed to earn it. One felt inadequate to earn it so he took the lacivious route. One thought he could actually earn it so he stayed home and tried. And they both missed the whole point. Their father's love was freely given as was everything else he owned.

In the end, there was more hope for the lacivious one. He hit rock bottom and returned to the father wanting to serve him. Wanting to make amends. But, the father wouldn't even listen to his apologies and threw him a party! He never wanted a servant, he wanted a son. He did not want apologies, he wanted his son to act like a son. A son who trusted his love and enjoyed status in the family. The father's kindness brought repentance for that son. (Romans 2:4) The father never even acknowledged his apology; he simply wrapped him in his love.

Those who are loved much forgive much.

I'm not so sure about the repentance of the religiously zealous son who served. He certainly did not show the love of the father for his brother. He was jealous that his brother was treated like a son because he had not “paid the cost” or served the father well. He could not see why the father would love and treasure his brother when not only did he not earn it, he deliberately left the father.

The serving brother judged himself and others by what they did, not who they were. Even his own brother did not deserve love unless he earned it. He did not recognize the kindness of the father - he felt he was harsh and expected him to pay a cost for being a son. With this attitude, repentance would be difficult. He was not grateful for what the father freely offered; how well he earned was how he measured his own esteem.

Love like a son or daughter of God.

I realize in context Christ was using this analogy for Pharisees and sinners or in the later context of the gospel - Jews and Gentiles. However, the main universal point was: He was describing the heart of His Father! Neither son was admirable. One operated out of religious, moral, serving type flesh; the other operated out of licentious, immoral, debauchery type flesh.

They both needed to repent and change their mind about the Father's love. They needed to act like sons not servants. They did not need to earn the father's love or even make amends. They simply needed to trust in his unconditional love for them because they were his children. They needed the mindset of being sons or daughters and living within that inheritance.

There is no cost to being a son or daughter of God. When we think this way, we begin to act like the prodigal's brother. We begin to try and earn everything God freely offers. This is not faith and will not produce genuine fruit of the Spirit. Reject any thoughts like this. They sound pithy and religious but they will not help you. They will harm. They are not from God and they do not demonstrate His heart. Faith receives His gifts and promises with gladness in a recognition they are good. Any earning or cost mindset casts a negative shadow over what God freely offers.

A proper view of God is essential for natural gratitude.

Interestingly, in the Greek the words used for thankfulness or gratitude are all based on the same word for “grace”. A recognition and understanding of God's grace is the key to a heart felt gratitude. I did not take time to count, but gratitude and “giving thanks” is written about dozens if not hundreds of times in the Epistles. Here is another example from the author of Hebrews after he describes faith:

Hebrews 12:28 - “Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”

There is lot to discuss about this verse. I left the BSB because it correctly translates the phrase “let us be filled with gratitude”. I will further discuss this in a bit, but notice that we are allowing this to happen, not engendering it. This is a critical perspective.

However, the BSB puts the “are receiving” God's kingdom inartfully. This implies it is future, while the Greek tense is present. We are already in the Kingdom. The Kingdom and salvation are essentially synonyms. Being in the Kingdom is what “saves” us. Thus, in the same way the Apostles describe salvation, we moved into the Kingdom spiritually when we were “saved”; and we are presently in that Kingdom; yet, this reality continues its work in an ongoing fashion and there is a completed ending that is coming.

Our past salvation continues to work in the present and will culminate in the new earth and a new resurrection body. But everything was completed by Christ - both at His death and resurrection and then our own spiritual death and resurrection. His past finished work for the world and then in us is what enables any present and future work.

Allow Gratitude to Fill Us

Notice that the author is not suggesting that gratitude is a work. It is a mindset, but not a work. The Kingdom; and hence, our salvation; is a gift. When we properly see it as a gift we won't have to try and be thankful! It will fill us! Thus, the author gives us the pattern of faith. We recognize the amazing gifts and promises of God; this causes us to be filled with gratitude; this gratitude results in the proper worship of God from a genuine place where there is no obligation. This is the new covenant way to live.

If we feel obligated to “give thanks” from a place of coercion then it will not be genuine. Humans are good at faking, and do it for many reasons.

Devout religious folks often do it out of an improper “fear of God” meaning they are actually afraid of punishment or cursing. Of course, sin is it's own curse. As Christ said in John 3:17-18 - He did not come to condemn the world, but those who do not trust Him are condemned already. It is our sin that condemns us by default, not God. He offers life; the opposite of life is death. If you are spiritually dead - that is your condemnation - and you choose it.

“1 John 4:18 - “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.”

New Covenant Instruction

Ephesians 5:20 - “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - “Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

These are but two examples of Epistolic instruction on thankfulness. The issue comes if you read these with an old covenant “Law” lens of obligation and cursing. As the author of Hebrews demonstrates, this is not the attitude of faith. This instruction always follows an extensive instruction on the new covenant and the new creation.

We have new hearts filled with gratitude. Thus, our responsibility is our mindset. When we “set our minds” on how good God’s love and promises are, then gratitude will be the natural result. We won't have to try and give thanks, it will flow out of us.

Do we give thanks for cancer?

There are other ways that these passages are taught that can also mar the loving face of God. Many view passages like this as if we should be grateful for what the fallen world throws at us like sickness or other suffering. Nothing could be further from the truth. Note in the Hebrews passage that it is the Kingdom that is the inspiration of our gratitude. Our gratitude is pointed at God and His gifts and promises, not our circumstances.

The 1 Thessalonians passage gets at this more directly, but both of the passages above indicate the same. Notice the phrase “in every circumstance” not “for every circumstance”. It is the enemy who tries to twist scripture so that we think God is inflicting cancer or other fallen world sinful products on us as some “trial by fire” to help us grow. God forbid. When we get cancer, our gratitude is for Christ working within us to help us get through it, not for the cancer itself. The focus of the gratitude “in the circumstances” is Christ, not the circumstances.

For Everything?

But, you might point at the Ephesians passage and note that in English it says give thanks “for everything”. However, again, there is some translation leeway going on here. This Greek word translated “for” here is far more complicated than the English “for”. It has many contextual meanings. It properly means “above, over, or beyond”. The immediate context is being filled with the Spirit and singing.

Obviously context is up to the person reading, but based on other scripture I don't believe Paul is saying we should be grateful for the bad things that happen to us. I believe he is saying to let our gratefulness overcome everything. Meaning it is the filling of the Spirit and our heartfelt gratitude to Christ that overshadows every circumstance. He is saying the same thing he did in 1 Thessalonians.

Filled with the Spirit

This phrase opens a can of worms that I cannot fully discuss now. However, I believe that there is a clue earlier in the Ephesian epistle where Paul describes being filled.

Ephesians 3:17b-19 - 17b -“Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18-will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth 19-of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

I mean, God and the Spirit are the same. Paul is describing the same experience of being filled. And what is the foundation of this filling? Knowing God's love for us. And this article now comes full circle. We recognize God's love due to His literal beneficience to us. This recognition allows us to be filled with the Spirit which will engender a natural gratitude for everything God give us. But if we think God's gifts are bad or difficult, we will struggle with the proper faith mindset.

How to have Natural Gratitude

This article is far too short to truly investigate this topic, but hopefully I have been able to get the main points. Again, with all living under the new covenant, it is all about mindsets or how we set our mind. As we become convinced more and more that God truly loves us unconditionally and nothing can separate us from that love. As we discover more and more the depths of that love (an eternal discovery); then we allow that love and the gratitude it produces to flow from us.

Part of this is rejecting enemy mindsets of obligation to be thankful and that God is hurling disasters at us in response to our sin. God promises that because of Christ we are fully forgiven and He no longer remembers our sin. Thus, He can no longer punish us for it. When we reap sin’s wages, He can still turn it to good, but it is sin’s wages, not God's. We must reject these mindsets that make God act like the enemy and mar His nature, even if scripture is twisted to support this. Christ represents the heart of God made manifest. There is no greater love than those who give their life.

Romans 5:8-11 - “8-But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9-Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!

10-For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! 11-Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

Does God love His children less than those who are not?

Notice the “rejoicing” inherent in the new covenant gospel. This is another aspect of gratitude. Yet, as God's children we have another level of His love - we have His life. God loves everyone but there is a special place for those who have been “reconciled” or reconnected to Him through Christ. We have the inheritance.

Yet, so often we speak and think as if unbelievers have a better “deal” from God that us! It is all “grace through faith” as a free gift until we receive the gift. Then the “Christian life” becomes something else entirely. We walk the same way we came to Christ: by grace through faith. (Colossians 2:6) Don't be like the Galatians and think that you are saved by the Spirit but you grow by your works. (Galatians 3:3) Paul calls this foolish.

Stop “Quenching” to be Filled

Let's review 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and add 5:19:

1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 - “18-in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19-Do not quench the Spirit.” (NKJV)

I used the NKJV because I like the word “quench”. In my mind it paints a vivid picture. The Apostles are clear - if you are a believer, you have the fire of the Spirit within. You cannot lose that. However, why then do we sin? Why then are we not eternally grateful from the heart? Because we quench! The Spirit never goes away but we can prevent His activity within from being expressed in our attitudes and actions.

Our natural state as a believer means that the Spirit will fill us. It is our anti-gospel mindsets that quench this. We never need to do anything to be filled - the only thing we can do is repent (change our mind) and set our minds on gospel truth. As we do this, we no longer quench the Spirit’s activity within. The Spirit is always acting and leading. It is our choice to think in ways that quench this. And the enemy loves for us to quench the Spirit and uses everything at his disposal to get us to think in these harmful ways. This is really all he has left to harm believers. And sadly twisting scripture to tarnish God's new covenant gospel promises has and continues to work really well.

Conclusion

I hope and pray this discussion has been insightful. Again, faith is receiving God's new covenant gospel promises with joy and fully trusting they are true. This is a faith mindset that prevents us from quenching the Spirit and releases true gratitude along with other manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit. We bear it; we don’t cause it. Christ is the root and trunk, we are merely branches. Within ourselves, we can do nothing. All we can do is see how good what Christ offers is and receive it. We will then bear fruit, including gratitude, from the heart.

Paul clearly ties having gratitude with not quenching the Spirit. He also ties being filled with the Trinity to a growing understanding of Christ’s love for us. Christ’s love is expressed through His finished work and the promises that come along with the new covenant. We cannot doubt our forgiveness - past, present, and future - and truly trust His love. We cannot think we are becoming more righteous by our works and be trusting His love. We cannot think that we are growing closer to God by our “spiritual disciplines” and be trusting His love.

All of these ideas, along with many other mindsets, diminish specific new covenant gospel promises of God. Our “work” is to believe and trust these promises. When this happens, then we will no longer be quenching the Spirit. The bright flame within will fill us and inspire genuine natural gratitude along with all the other things that have been promised.

But, it all starts with seeing God in the proper light. He is a giver, not a taker. He loves His children. He does not condemn; He saves us from sin's condemnation. Don't ascribe to God what is the result of the power of sin and the enemy. It is God who saves. God is love. A full recognition of this leads to discovering and fully accepting His promises in a recognition that they are something truly amazing and that we desperately need them.

Gratitude is simply one of many results the flow from this faith.

If you are observing it - have a Happy Thanksgiving! Either way, may you learn to stop quenching the Spirit and thus be filled so that every day is filled with gratitude for Christ and His life!

Introduction

I apologize it has been so long since I have posted. Personal circumstances have kept me with little spare time unfortunately. This is not the only space in my life that is suffering - praying I can catch a break soon. Often this is just the way life goes. Though I have many articles in work, I have not been able to finish them. In the meantime, I thought this recent “Spiritual Coffee” email from Ed Elliott was worth sharing and fits perfectly into the theme of anti-legalism that Paul teaches in Titus. Of course, I have my own thoughts on this topic so even this has taken me awhile to write!

I feel inadequate to communicate how anti-faith the concept of believers paying a cost or owing anything to God is. It should be obvious from the gospel, but somehow it is not. This is exactly the kind of legalistic mindset I have been writing against and Paul opposed. There are few concepts more corrupt than this yet so easily accepted in our churches. But I will get to Ed’s words first and follow up with more of my personal thoughts. He rightfully points at love as the holy motivation for everything. Without further ado:

Morning Coffee Email 10/2/24 by Ed Elliott - Is there a “cost” to following Jesus?

Language Matters: Personal Thoughts on “Paying the Cost”

This anti-gospel idea is pervasive in our modern (and not so modern) Christian culture. Even older hymns fall prey to this falsehood. “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe…” Certainly Jesus did pay it all; but, He did that so He could freely give everything to us - even His glory! (John 17:22-23) He paid the debt so we would no longer “owe”! This is “Gospel 101”. We don't owe Him anything, that is the entire point. We owed a debt we could not pay; Christ paid our debt (the cross); He then went even further and gave us an inheritance of His life (the resurrection)! He freely paid our debt and freely gave us His life.

This should not even be controversial. Yet, the mindsets of religious flesh - religious desire - are so entrenched that we easily water down the gospel message without even a second thought. We glibly sing phrases that do this. Perhaps you might say I am being picky - but how we think and what we say impacts our faith which impacts our life. The words we use matter. Thinking you must pay a cost or that you owe God leads to many flesh-based things and makes it more difficult to walk by the Spirit. It creates yet another checklist to follow.

The flesh comes in many forms.

The flesh can be a confusing topic in scripture. Occasionally the same Greek word means the body, but this is always easily recognized contextually. Normally, this word means both a realm and a mindset. Paul says as unbelievers we live “in” the flesh - we are in the realm of the flesh. In this realm, we are enslaved and controlled by sin. As believers, we are no longer in that realm, we are in the Spirit. Christ has totally moved us from the flesh to the Spirit. That is now our realm. We are raised and seated with Him. (Ephesians 2:6)

However, the fleshly realm also has mindset or philosophy of life (opposed by the Spirit mindset). It is essentially how to cope in life without God. Unbelievers are enslaved to this philosophy. No matter how they may cope, since they don't have the Spirit, it is all of the flesh. However, believers can still think, act, and live by the flesh. Scripture calls this walking “by” or according to the flesh (vs. the Spirit). We are not IN the flesh, but we can still walk by it. We can still try to cope using the flesh based old mindsets that have not been renewed. This is sin no matter what form it takes. Whatever is not of faith is sin.

However, what people use to cope by the flesh varies widely! The Pharisees coped by using the law and religion to try and do well in life. Some cope by addictions like drugs or alcohol. Some cope by seeking love through multiple sexual encounters. The flesh comes in many forms. If you cope or feel worthy based on your spiritual performance then you are still walking by the flesh the same as if you try to cope by these other things.

How do you feel if you ever miss a “spiritual discipline”?

I have heard this many times from believers: “Oh, I missed my quiet time and I am struggling today”. Studying scripture should help us to trust Christ's work more; but, it is still His work. He works whether we miss a quiet time or not! I venture that this attitude comes from a fleshly idea of reliance on our work of “quiet time”, not Christ's work within. If missing a single “quiet time” or even several causes emotional angst, then perhaps the previous quiet times have not been effective! As Christ indicates in my URL scripture, scripture leads to Him and He is always within. We can trust Him at all times.

The modern “conservative church” is adept at pointing out the depravities in the world and the “bad” looking fleshly mindsets. Yet, the “good” looking fleshly mindsets are ignored or elevated as something good - even when they are clearly anti-gospel. This idea of a cost fits this category perfectly. As I have stated many times - fleshly mindsets breed further fleshly mindsets. Religious flesh and licentious flesh go hand in hand. Neither is walking by the Spirit. There is a specific attitude of reliance that helps us avoid walking by the flesh. If we learn to walk by religious flesh, I almost guarantee hidden licentious flesh is not far behind.

Thinking that we owe God is a common religious fleshly mindset. It feeds the idea that we are accomplishing something spiritually by what we do. It is anti-faith and anti-love and we need to be wary of anyone who teaches or implies it. Even if it doesn't lead to open licentious flesh it is still not the way of God's kingdom.

Good and Bad Looking Flesh

As Paul vividly states in a few places, many acts of the flesh are obvious. (Galatians 5; 1 Corinthians 6; etc.) He does not want anyone in his audience to ever think the Holy Spirit is motivating lying, cheating, adultery and the like. Again, this should be “obvious” as he states. What is perhaps not so obvious is what he also describes as the flesh - specifically in 2 Corinthians 11:16-33. Paul calls out bragging about suffering and moral credentials as being foolish and fleshly! He is being sarcastic because they are doubting him and his gospel message. The Corinthians loved to view everyone based on fleshly measurement and status - even “spiritual” status. Paul counters this by giving his “flesh” credentials including his suffering.

It is clear that Paul calls this bragging foolish and fleshly - he is doing it to make a point. His point is that trying to measure spirituality by a cost is foolish! He makes a similar point in Philippians 3:1-10 where he describes his moral credentials as a devout Law keeper as rotten garbage. He says that outwardly he was faultless as to “righteousness under the Law” - an amazing statement! He was so zealous to please God he became a “Type A” law keeper. No one could find fault with his law keeping! Later, he calls this attitude foul trash.

NOTE: please stop, read, and consider this passage. Compare it to messages you may hear in church. If Saul of Tarsus, the devout law keeper, were to become a member of most of our “conservative” churches, would be not be welcomed with open arms as a devout, disciplined, spiritual person? I take him at his word that no external person could find fault with his Law keeping.

If someone this disciplined walked into our churches and simply added Christ’s name to their law keeping, would they not be elevated?

Unfortunately there are many like this. Many have a form of disciplined fleshly “godliness” through “Bible rule keeping” without the power of the genuine Spirit (both believers and unbelievers). I used to be in this category! And often these are elevated in our churches though there are few signs of the genuine fruit of the Spirit. Our measure by which we judge others is often warped. Man judges the outside while God judges the heart. Thankfully a new creation has a new heart! This is a key truth. We don't engender a good heart, it is a gift.

Paul reiterates this later in Galatians 3:12:

“The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”

Paul could not be more clear here. Putting yourself under the Law as a believer is flesh not faith. Trying to keep the Law or thinking the Spirit is helping you fulfill the obligations of the Law is flesh not faith. Law based flesh is anathema to the Spirit as much as adultery or any other fleshly activity.

Are we anti-law?

Is this antinomian (anti-law)? No, the book of Hebrews makes clear that when there is a change of covenant then there is a full change of law. (Hebrews 7:12) The Law of Moses or Torah is no longer in effect for believers - we are under the “Law of Christ”. Paul also calls the same Law he advocates believers are not under as good. The issue is not the Law, the issue is humans under the Law always use flesh to try and keep it. However, when we genuinely keep the law of Christ it is only by the Spirit.

Christ in various places, and Paul and John in their Epistles clarify that the law of Christ is to “believe in Christ” and then “love others from the source of His love”. True faith in Christ means He gifts you His life and you become a new creation with a heart filled with His love. This is the power to keep the 2nd part of this new law: loving others. Again, this is the new creation and it is all that matters.

But there is no obligation with this law unlike Moses - no threats. There doesn't need to be. The benefits of this life are so amazing we simply will want to walk this way (once our minds are convinced of this truth). Often, however, religious lies have convinced us otherwise and made sin seem delectable. So many messages act like a believer is craving sin and must discipline themselves against that craving. But that is not what God says about you - and I will take His word over the twisted thinking of humans.

Many point to epistolic instruction portraying that walking by the Spirit will lead to morality and suggest that because items in the Law address similar moral issues then believers are still under the “moral” Law. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Law obligates and demands perfect morality but has no power to help you be moral. The gospel has no obligation -only love as a motivation. And grace as the power to be moral from that motivation. But the biggest obstacle to walking in love is thinking that morality is an obligation and operating under the implicit threats of the Law.

Walk By the Spirit

True growth is learning about the Spirit way to walk so that we minimize walking by the flesh - whether it is good or bad looking flesh. Many, even unbelievers, can “grow” better at “doing more good looking things” or “avoiding more bad looking things”. Paul demonstrates this in his own testimony as a Pharisee - he was perfect at doing this. Yet, while “good works” are the natural result of walking by the Spirit, God's main goal is not specific good works. In the very same passage I recently referenced, Christ gave the main goal and in John 10:10 He says why He came. Consider this chain of new covenant truth about our closeness to God.

John 10:10 - “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” (BSB)

John 17:3 - “Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” (BSB)

Hebrews 8:11 - “No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.” (BSB)

1 John 2:27 - “And you, the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But just as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things and is true and is no lie, and just as it has taught you, you shall abide in Him.” (BLB)

Do we already live in Christ or are we trying to live in Him daily?

I chose the Berean Literal Bible because it correctly states that because of our “anointing” (which simply means “Christ in us”), we continue to abide in Him. This same anointing teaches us how to live and think - John clearly states this. This teaching does not replace scripture study; but again, if a believer is illiterate or has no access to scripture they can still grow. Scripture is a valuable tool in the growth process (unless it is twisted to be used as a faith diminishing weapon). But again, by Christ's own words, it’s purpose is to point to the living Christ within.

What an amazing chain of new covenant promises. Christ came to give us His life and make us alive; this life is an intimate connected knowledge of God; because of this innate knowledge of God we can be secure in this connection; and this completes the loop: Christ in us and us in Christ. This is the new creation and is our source of power to live and walk. Scripture helps us confirm this truth and points us to it, but it is the physical and spiritual reality of it that informs our walk.

When we come to Christ, He moves us out of Adam and into Himself - we now abide in Him. And this abiding or annointing continues to work in us. Part of this work is to convince us that we actually do continue to abide in Him! It is this inner connection that is the core of the new creation.

We abide in Him by His power - abiding is not a work. But of course, we are responsible to set our mind on this truth to believe and trust it. Yet, if we turn abiding into a work - dependent upon us - then it is automatically a mindset that is not of faith. It is mindset that quenches the Spirit. Confidence in where we live spiritually is one key to walking by the Spirit.

The Two Ways to Walk

There are only two ways to walk: by the flesh or Spirit. If you are not walking by the flesh then by default you are walking by the Spirit. Our annointing guarantees this. Our biggest problem is not that we need to try to walk this way, it's that our trying often blocks it! With the proper mindset we will naturally walk by the Spirit. An obligation mindset blocks our natural way to walk.

Often, religious desire and false half-truths about the gospel combine and cause us to go our own way. The most subtle temptation is when that way looks good. We are convinced that because the stuff we are doing is on the “good list” then it is of faith, when the whole time we are still quenching the Spirit. Many think that “going our own way” means solely a licentious way; however, a self-righteous way of rules is still our own way.

The Gift Way

Any attempt to gain something we have already been gifted is going our own way rather than God's way of faith. Religion has convinced us that we need to be doing things to stay close to God, obtain His blessings, to be righteous, etc. However, the truth is truly good news: we already possess all these things from God and much more. These gifts motivate our faith walk, but they obligate us to nothing. A gift never obligates.

If you don't crave reflecting the goodness God has gifted you, then you simply don't understand the Gift. You don't need more rules and discipline; you need gospel truth. It could even be that you must cast away all “spiritual disciplines” and learn to be content doing nothing but trusting Christ in you. Learn to reject the temptations to judge yourself by what you are doing. Then find out from scripture what God has said about you as the new creation (stay mostly in the Pauline Epistles at first). Once you learn to trust these promises, move forward in this faith and simply live your life.

(NOTE: I'm not advocating making stupid harmful choices either, no matter the motivation. I'm simply saying to stop doing extra “good” things that you feel guilted, shamed, or obligated to do. That is the temptation. The work of the Kingdom should come from a place of joy and peace, not guilt or obligation. I promise, once you stop going your own way, you will recognize this shift. You will want to do this work, even from your mind, will, and emotions. You will not have to force yourself. The renewing of the mind is simply aligning it with what is already true about you in spirit and heart.)

The Way of the Spirit

God's goal is that we grow in grace and knowledge of Christ and the gospel and thus avoid the temptation to walk by the flesh. This leaves us in the natural state of a believer: walking by the Spirit. When this is happening, we don't need to measure our good works or even really worry about them. They will just happen, and sometimes we might not even realize it. As Christ said, even a cup of water given motivated by the Holy Spirit is enough to show righteousness.

But the key to walking by the Spirit is to recognize that because of your annointing this will happen naturally. You won't have to force it. Of course, we still make choices, but a trust in your annointing will enable those choices to more and more reflect God's choices for us. The choices we reflexively make help us recognize whether our mindsets are correct or not. If our willful choices are clearly not reflecting coming from a motivation of unconditional love, then again, we don't need more rules. We need to learn how to let Christ rule from within.

Always use the gift lens.

Again, always having the gospel gift mindset will help us see through this enemy crap. Everything God offers is a gift and thus it is free! There is no cost for us, period. Ed puts it a bit more gently than I might, but we are in agreement that this is an anti-gospel idea. I am so tired of this rubbish being passed off as God's truth! If we are genuine new creations we can sit perfectly still, do nothing, and still be OK. We won't want to do this - passivity is NOT a fruit of the Spirit - but nothing is required to gain or maintain our status in God's family. Emphasis on “maintain”. Many teach that we cannot gain the family of God by works; but, in their next breath, they teach that we maintain it by works!

Colossians 2:6-7 “6-Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, 7-rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (BSB)

We receive Christ as a free gift through grace by faith. We walk the same way. This idea that somehow we “owe” Christ or must pay a cost for the gift of His life is so rabidly anti-gospel it is scary. Yet this is such a common message in our Christian communities - and again, often elevated as something worthy. It is part of the fleshly “Christian caste” mindset where certain behaviors or circumstances help you “level up” in the Christian universe. Christianity is not a video game! Christ has already raised us into heavenly places - as high as we can be. (Ephesians 2:6) This is His work, not our own - it is a gift. Any works we do flow from His work.

Some religions make this a dogma - “sainthood” comes to mind (the true gospel calls every believer a saint - again, a gift, not earned). Even if “earning levels” by works is not explicitly stated, it is often implied. This is one of the most subtle attacks on the gospel within the legalistic mindset. It is anti-faith and creates doubt. It leaves believers feeling guilty that their lives might be too easy. It can cause us to use self-effort to try and do things to make our life more difficult on purpose in some pointless effort to maintain our relationship with God. Perhaps the most agregious aspect is how it minimizes the suffering inherit with the fallen world and sin. Legalism is truly twisted.

Everyone “suffers” in this world; but, especially believers, because we see and know it's fallenness.

Obviously there is suffering in this fallen world. In John 16:33, Christ said we would have trouble in this world, even though it is a world that He has already overcome. I am reminded of 1 Peter 3:21 going into 4:1. Peter describes the story of Noah and the ark and how a remnant was saved. He follows with this:

“21 - And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 - who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him. 4:1 - Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin. (BSB)

Done with sin?

This is a curious passage, especially the last verse. What does “suffering in the body” have to do with being “done with sin”? Let's attack the last phrase first. First off, the word “done” in the Greek is the perfect tense. The Greek perfect tense indicates the continuation and present state of a completed past action. Peter is not saying as believers we never sin. But he is pointing out a reality in our being that because of what Christ has done He separated us from the power of sin. This is a completed past action which is now influencing us within our bodies to help us actively reject fleshly mindsets.

This reminds me of what Paul writes in Romans 6:6:

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— (NIV)

I used the NIV since it phrases this using the word “done”. However, don’t be confused about the object here. Paul's point is not that the body will be done away with (though later he does indicate this). Here he means the “ruling by sin” over our bodies is done away with. This is a completed action when our old self was crucified with Christ at salvation.

Peter and Paul are discussing the same thing. And there are several more epistolic passages that indicate a similar concept: as believers, we are no longer ruled by sin. We can choose to walk by the flesh sometimes, but we never have to. When we do it - it is out of ignorance of what Christ has done for and to us. The enemy tempts us to believe that we actually are ruled by sin so we essentially have no choice! And sadly, many pulpits back up this message. But the truth will set you free: as a believer, you are no longer ruled by sin - either religious sin or licentious sin. You are truly free - and that mindset, no other, is what will lead to you to not walk by the flesh.

What is suffering in the body?

Peter in this passage says that Christ suffered in His body and likewise those who are “done with sin” also suffer in theirs. Peter is referencing the idea that there is an inherent suffering a believer will experience in this world that is characterized by our fallen bodies.

As believers, we have been given a new “nature” by Christ. While we are in this “earthly body” this new self - the new creation - is held as a “treasure within an earth vessel”. Our nature, just like Christ’s nature, is now in conflict with the world, the flesh, and sin. The difference is that Christ’s nature never changed; it was already eternally holy. Our old nature that was disconnected from God needed to die so we could be born again, fully connected to God.

The phrase “arm yourselves” is the Greek word “hoplizó”. This has the meaning of “to equip”. And what does Peter indicate we are equipping? Our minds. The word “resolve” in the Greek means thoughtfulness or consideration. So, Peter is essentially saying that we should give thoughtful consideration to the truth that because of our new nature, those of us who are dead to sin will inherently suffer here on earth. There is always a conflict between our new nature and the fallen ways of the world that are opposed to God and His ways.

Of course, Peter has a broader encouragement to his audience who has been suffering far beyond this inherent suffering. But, his focus is on the natural conflict of light and darkness. We are now children of Light. We are aliens in this world. We naturally feel this conflict even without additional suffering inflicted externally by sickness or other humans.

NOTE: Paul says that we can offer our physical bodies to God as a holy living sacrifice. (Romans 12:1) I am not saying in any way (like a Gnostic) that our bodies themselves are intrinsically bad. They are simply tools or “vessels” as Paul calls them. As believers, we can offer them to God or sin. In Romans 8:11, Paul says that our connection to God through the Holy Spirit gives “life” even to our “mortal bodies”.

Consider that Christ was sinless; yet, still had a body that was impacted by sin. For example, His physical body clearly aged. There is nothing to indicate that He did not get sick. His physical body was able to be murdered on the cross. Yet, as an act of His will, He never offered His body or mind to sin. He certainly was never a slave of sin. Further evidence that His original body was like ours is that after death He was given a resurrection body as a forerunner of the one we will receive. (1 Corinthians 15)

This is a complicated discussion and I cannot do it justice. Perhaps no one can as the incarnation equals the Trinity in its mystery. My point is simply that Christ suffered in His body just as we do. I believe this is what Peter is communicating. The incarnation is amazing because it shows us that even within this fallen world and with a body impacted by sin, we can operate within the same reliance on God as Christ did. See Christ's prayer in John 17. The incarnation gives us hope and shows the compatibility of God with humanity. We cannot blame our bodies when we make bad choices. We have everything we need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:4)

The False Measure of Suffering

Peter is not advocating we seek suffering or feel lesser if we have not suffered in the same way at some other believers. He is not giving some suffering measuring test as a cost of being a believer. I mean, did the middle age monks have a good idea when they would whip themselves? God forbid. Peter simply wants us to consider and keep in our minds the truth of our new nature and it's conflict with this world.

Because of the finished work of Christ and it's impact within us, we intrinsically suffer from the world not being as it should. Much like the rest of creation, we groan within this conflict. (Romans 8:22-23) Peter is absolutely not giving an admonition that somehow if you are not suffering enough, then you are not being a “good” enough Christian or paying enough cost. This is a ridiculous assertion. However, now that we are connected to Christ, as new creations we are in conflict with this world by nature. Peter simply wants us to arm ourselves mentally with this truth.

A Couple of Other “Suffering” Passages

As I was studying “suffering” passages in the Epistles, I ran across a couple more that a legalist could twist to make it seem like suffering or paying a cost makes us worthy (beyond Christ making us worthy by His work). The first is Philippians 1:29:

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,”

In context, Paul is discussing God's justice for those who were actively persecuting these believers. The way this is translated makes this seem like God is sending suffering their way. However, it all hinges on the word translated “granted”. This Greek word “charizomai” has the same root as the word “grace”. What Paul is saying is that just as God freely gave them the grace to believe; He is also giving them the same grace to be able to endure the suffering. This is all about Christ’s gracious provision to us: both within our salvation and when we suffer.

In the previous verse, Paul says they don't need to be afraid of their opponents when they are trying to persecute them. He uses the phrase “and it is from God.” This goes immediately into the verse I just discussed. One must wonder what is “it”? Does Paul mean the suffering is from God? Is God causing these enemies to persecute them in some form of training or purification? Is God forcing these persecuters to sin against His children so that He can cause the believers suffering in order for them to pay a proper cost? God forbid. Yet, this is the ridiculous final conclusion of much teaching out there.

Working our way using backward logic, Paul is not saying the suffering is from God, he is saying the “lack of fear” is from God. He then describes the grace they have through their salvation to endure suffering without fear as I just discussed. He is not encouraging some legalistic walk where we try to make ourselves worthy by properly enduring suffering - he is showing the Source of our ability to not show fear in the face of opposition. And this leads right into my next verse.

Does suffering make us worthy of God's kingdom?

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 - 4-That is why we boast among God’s churches about your perseverance and faith in the face of all the persecution and affliction you are enduring. 5-All this is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment. And so you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

Paul has nearly the exact same context as he did in Philippians. He goes on to talk about how God's righteous justice on those opposing them will be far more severe than what their opponents have done to them (unless, of course, these opponents turn to Christ first). However, the key idea of this passage, the one that legalists pounce on, is who is counting us worthy? Is this God, waiting to see how we endure suffering? Are we made worthy of His Kingdom by our suffering? Or, is it Christ's suffering that makes us worthy by faith and thus this passage cannot mean that?

It should be obvious that Paul cannot mean that we earn God's kingdom by any work, even enduring suffering. So, what else could Paul mean? Is there anyone else besides God who would be observing their attitude under suffering? Well, the most obvious one are those persecuting them! The suffering does not make us worthy, only Christ did that. Our worthiness to God is a gift - everything is! However, when we react with a supernatural attitude by bearing the fruit of the Spirit during suffering, then those around us observe that and we reflect that we are truly in God's kingdom to them! They are the ones “counting us worthy”; not God.

Again, Paul is not giving a test of faith. He is once again pointing at the grace they have been freely given and it's result. As always, he is pointing to Christ and His power within. Does this mean that we must rely on grace every single time to endure suffering with a perfect attitude or God won't count us worthy? Of course not. No one, not even Paul, has done this perfectly. Yet, we do have the perfect gift of grace and the indwelling Christ. We can rely on this and have a Christ-like response to suffering. And whether they admit it or not, even those causing the suffering will notice our Kingdom response. And that is Paul's point.

Be content with all circumstances - good and bad. Don't seek to change your circumstances in order to “improve” your spirituality.

In Philippians 4:11-12, Paul talks about contentment in all circumstances, good and bad. When his earthly life was going “easy” - which he implies it sometimes did - I cannot see him thinking: “Oh man, I am a failure as a Christian. I don't have any trials at the moment. I better find a den of Pharisees to throw Christ in their face so they will persecute me and I can pay a cost.” I know I am over-emphasizing this attitude, but drawn to a final conclusion, shouldn't this be the end result of “paying a cost” teaching? Shouldn’t we seek out suffering so we can be even more worthy to God? If we have an “easy” life, shouldn't we be discontented and seek otherwise?

Paul simply learned gratitude for both the good and bad on this earth as he walked by the Spirit. The Apostles never tied suffering in a way where we are “paying a cost” to have the life of Christ - that is not a gift mindset. Though there is an intrinsic suffering because we are believers, everyone suffers in this world by default. It is just as wrong to seek suffering or poverty and call it spiritual as it is to seek wealth, health, and comfort and associate that with faith. Faith is content with any circumstance.

This false idea devalues the finished work of Christ.

Recognize that “cost” is a value measurement. By using that word, it implies a value comparison. Paul saw the gift of Christ’s life as so valuable that, if we want to use the word cost, it was far more costly to NOT have it! (Romans 8:18; Phil. 3:8) That is a faith mindset. Again, the wages of sin is the real “cost”. Romans 6:23 - it is sin that has a wage - the gift of Christ’s life is free. A cost is anathema to the gospel.

By using this word, we measure earthly things to the value of Christ’s life and imply that His life comes up short. There is no other way to see it. Maybe that is not what people mean; but, then, use a different word than cost. Unfortunately, I think this is exactly what many mean since they often lack an understanding of the new creation. Because legalism deals in measuring, they really do see any negative impacts of being a Christian as a “cost”. But faith sees the overwhelming benefits of the life of Christ as a gift beyond measure. Whatever suffering on earth that may bring is not even a factor.

Seeing suffering as a “Christian cost” is a fleshly idea.

Even the specific suffering we experience in this world as believers is not a “cost” attached to the gospel. And if it is a cost at all, those enslaved and empowered by sin are paying that cost far more than believers! Everyone earns the wages of sin and we are all in the same fallen world. Those who are persecuting believers are suffering far more than the believers they are persecuting! Only a fleshly, worldly view sees this differently. It is the gift of Christ’s life that is the answer to this worldly suffering. The very meaning of salvation is we are being saved from the “wages”!

Christ’s life enables and empowers us to deal with any “cost” of the fallen world, it does not add more of a burden on us! Again, this is such a warped human-based view. Even those facing persecution and death in the early church recognized that the gift they had was actually freedom and it was those who were doing the persecuting that were enslaved to sin and earning horrible wages. They saw their spiritual status of being raised with Christ and viewed suffering through that lens. It certainly wasn't a “cost”. Those who think this way are struggling to see the value of their salvation - and it is doubtful they understand the new creation at all. It is a pitiful and weak view of Christ's gift of life.

The Pagan Idea of a Cost

A focus on what happens to us here on earth as some Christian measurement of spirituality is a fleshly view - not a heavenly one. Many non-Christian religions pay the same or more “cost” as believers do! Is this a competition? This is actually a pagan view - it is the ancient pagan human imagined “gods” who demanded a cost! Crops or other sacrifices - even your children in order to earn their beneficence! Even today, many still sacrifice their children in the altar of their god - themselves. But that is a different article. The true God is the only one who sacrificed Himself so we wouldn't have to pay the cost.

Someone who would speak this way and associate it with Christianity is speaking from an ignorance of Christ’s life within and His love. They are speaking from a place of religion - a set of beliefs and principles. Many pay an earthly “cost” for their beliefs - even non-religious beliefs. Those who refused COVID vaccines often paid an earthly cost - that was the price of their belief. For many, this was not even tied to being a believer - it was a health based belief. Any set of beliefs worth having will exact a cost in this world.

Yet, the gospel is not just a set of beliefs, principles, and activities. It is Christ's life empowering us from within. Legalism minimizes Christianity down to a set of beliefs, principles, and actions. Certainly we have beliefs of course - primarily that Christ was fully God and human, and He died, was buried, resurrected, and ascended to Heaven. We are called “believers”! We believe Christ now lives forever in order to resurrect us, abide in us, and join us into God's family. We believe some “crazy” stuff!

But, all that matters is His life within and trusting that. To quote Paul, all that matters is the new creation. Belief is the path to the doorway of Christ, it is not the main event. Christ is always the main event. Even demons believe some correct stuff (James 2:19); but, if the beliefs don't lead to trust in our new creation then they are next to worthless.

Don't listen to enemy ideas, even if they are coming from your favorite pulpit.

Paying a “cost” for the gospel is an enemy idea, not of God. It is faithless because it is focused on the worldly system and not the heavenly one. It ignores God's sovereignty over the works He has planned for you. If the world brings us suffering, one of the works may be to rest in Christ so we can have joy and peace through it. However, there are many believers who are walking by the Spirit truly well; but, who by these measures, are not “paying the cost”. This is a worthless fleshly measurement.

In 1 Timothy 2:2, Paul says a tranquil life should be prayed for! He says to pray for rulers “so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.” (BSB) He promotes this kind of life as something good! This word tranquil means “without needless commotion or disturbances”. Yet, if God answers this prayer for someone and they have this kind of life; there will be a legalist around the corner trying to make them feel guilty for it. “They must not be a “legitimate believer” or mature since their life is peaceful.” I cannot emphasize enough that this is a garbage idea. Perhaps that believer’s work is to have peace and joy through the persecution of the legalists! Perhaps it is the legalist proclaiming about costs who is helping cause the suffering. Sigh.

Most importantly: is this scriptural?

A quick study in scripture for the idea of believers “paying a cost” comes up void. Yet again, this is a human idea. The only cost listed in scripture is the cost that Christ paid to redeem us. As Andrew Farley puts it, “Christ paid the ultimate price so that he could give us His life for free”! Our salvation was the ultimate expense for Christ but given freely to us.

Don't let legalism cheapen the price He paid by making it about us paying some human idea of a cost. Paying a cost is anathema to the definition of a gift. If you believe this, you will struggle to experience the joyful and peaceful fruit of the Spirit! This teaching, taken to it's ultimate conclusion, sees peace and joy as a lack of spirituality. Wow! It is right the opposite. There is no special spiritualized meaning to these words - peace and joy are peace and joy. They are a gift - no matter the circumstances. What a disgusting mindset to have that doubts Christ’s life in you if you are not going through a hard enough time on earth. It just blows my mind that ideas like this get tied to the gospel.

A Contented Faith Life

If you are walking by the Spirit and are not experiencing some sort of excess trials by some human measure, then thank Christ. Be grateful. Just being in this world is trial enough. Don't let these legalists, with their religious desire, unholy measurements, and their mental ranking charts, disrupt your legitimate peace and joy.

However, if you are facing difficult trials, recognize that Christ's life within is there to lift you up, not push you down. His life within will never engender some sense of pride that by your suffering you are a better believer than those who are not suffering the same way. Quite the opposite - you will be grateful for their circumstances - not judging them! You can also be grateful that Christ will ultimately use the sins of others against you for good.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul discusses at length the analogy of being part of the body of Christ and says the following in verse 26: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” (BSB). Thus, those suffering will still rejoice for those who are not, and vice versa. Again, the gospel never engenders a spiritual competition - only religious desire or legalism does that. Those in the body who are hands or feet should not judge those who are forearms or calves. (1 Corinthians 12:12-26)

The Spirit never engenders a “holier than thou” attitude. Our “holiness” is a gift from Christ - making us the “righteousness of God” - and is never based in our works. We cannot boast - even in our suffering.

One final thought. Many times these legalists might pay a cost (as they define it), not due to them being Christians, but because they are obnoxious. If you are displaying the genuine fruit of the Spirit (love, peace, joy, etc.) and people hate you for it - so be it. This happened to Christ and He said it would happen to us. There is a natural enmity between darkness and light. But if you are haughtily pushing some legalistic religious belief system without gentleness and respect - then you will receive the wages for your fleshly religious sin. This is not suffering because of Christ.

Don't confuse religious desire with the fruit of the Spirit. Even in our discussions of Christ with others, we must consider 1 Peter 3:15 - be ready to give an account of the hope within BUT be gentle and respectful. This is not obnoxious or worthy of disdain. And notice what the message is about - the HOPE within. It is not “turn or burn”, it is not even condemning the unbelievers for their sinning, it is the good news that there is a promise of escape.

For Christ, it was actually the legalists doing the hatred and persecution! Legalists hate the legitimate relaxation and peace the gospel brings because they can't ever get there with their rules and measurements. Their way is a way of cursing and failure. They love to spy out our liberty like they did with the Galatians. If you are obnoxious and people reject you, you are suffering because you are obnoxious, not because of Christ. Don't confuse legitimate suffering for Christ with suffering because we are reaping corruption by sowing religious flesh.

Not only does God not send us suffering directly - He does not want us needlessly suffering by our poor choices!

Peter brings up a parallel idea in 1 Peter. He indicates that “suffering” because you are breaking laws and thumbing your nose at authorities cannot be considered as the cause of Christ. Imagine driving 80 MPH in a 45 MPH zone and telling the officer that “I am a Christian, God has forgiven me, and you should too.” I imagine the ticket might just go higher after that! Imagine as a believer being addicted to cigarettes and smoking 2 packs a day for 50 years; yet, then expecting God to heal your lung cancer.

In a similar way, obnoxiously pushing morality or even the gospel in a self-righteous manner will result in push back. You cannot consider this “suffering for Christ”. This is reaping poor treatment from sowing stupidity and obnoxiousness. Choosing to be obnoxiously self-righteous will have consequences and God may not choose to save you from them any more than the above examples of speeding and smoking. We reap what we sow. Sowing to religious or licentious flesh will still reap corruption, just like sowing to licentious flesh. The corruption may take different forms but it is corruption all the same.

Closing Out

Beware of any teaching that is primarily focused on you and your actions. If any teaching implies God is exacting a “cost” for His gifts and promises, it has its basis in the flesh and paganism. Much more could be said but I hope this is evident from the core meaning of the gospel as well as the scripture I have discussed. Many legalists are experts at twisting scripture to defend their fleshly self-righteousness. And much of these ideas have infiltrated Christian teaching to such a degree that they are considered orthodox.

However, even a basic consideration of a pure gospel message cuts through these ideas. Further, comparing all messages (even my writing) to the definition of a gift is the best way to cut through the lies. Remember that the enemy’s designation in scripture is the “accuser of believers”. Any message that accuses us of anything is not from God - it is from the enemy.

This is not to say that God does not discipline and train us - but that is to help us choose better in the future - not punish us for the past. God never points at our mistakes - He only points at our righteousness - the very same gift He has given us. This is because guilt and shame will never help us choose better; only a reliance on our gifted righteousness will do that. We must be convinced that we are righteous by nature; not based on what we do outwardly.

Yes, we reap what we sow. Much of our “suffering” comes from this. Further, this is a fallen world. We intrinsically suffer because we have been recreated in Christ to fit into a place without sin. We are not there yet. This is not even counting the direct suffering we may face within disease, relationships, war, famine, persecution, and other direct results of a world in the thrall of sin. Yet, Christ did not come to condemn the world but to save it. (John 3:17) Again, “Gospel 101”. If He did not come to condemn the world, He certainly is not condemning you! (Romans 8:1)

Christ is our life in poverty and wealth. He is our life in sickness and in health. He is our life in suffering and comfort. Christ is our life period.

It is not productive to listen to these messages that proclaim you must seek different circumstances in order to please God. Circumstances can change at any given moment; caused by our choices or completely outside our control. Yet, the fruit of the Spirit fits with them all. Even when we choose wrongly, we still have the Spirit and we can choose to react to our failures by bearing His fruit. The Spirit’s aspirations are never to accuse; only inspire bearing fruit by convincing us of God's gifts and promises.

Many walk by the Spirit and endure great suffering and persecution. Many don't. Perhaps for some, their main suffering is dealing with self - accusation that they are not suffering or doing enough. This comes from believing a false gospel. Many suffer from reaping the consequences of stupid choices and not listening to the Spirit within. This also comes from believing a false gospel and temporarily not trusting God's promises. As Paul would say, “do you not know? Or Have you forgotten?” Many suffer from disallusionment that God is not changing their circumstances. They should be healthy and wealthy but they are not. Again, they are believing a false gospel.

The only answer is always the true gospel - embodied by the living Christ who has permanently gifted us His life. This life, reflected by the fruit of the Spirit, works in every circumstance. Don't let pagan ideas, masquerading as morality or Christianity, take away the benefits of Christ’s life. Just say no. Learn to say no to religious temptation as well as licentious temptation. Recognize fleshly ideas in all their forms. Recognize religious good looking flesh and say no. Recognize licentious bad looking flesh and say no.

Otherwise, simply trust Christ working through your own new creation and live! There are only two ways to walk for a believer: by the flesh or by the Spirit. If you are not willfully walking by the flesh then you are automatically walking by the Spirit. That is our default. Breath a sign of relief! Let that truth wash over you. Let your life be the “easy and light” way of life Christ promised - no matter the circumstances.

Notice I said “let”. It is our mindsets that quench the Spirit and prevent His work. “Letting” God work is a scriptural concept - it is the opposite of quenching. Reject these stressful mindsets that God is extracting some cost. Relax in Christ. Only from that place of faith will you be able to face whatever comes at you as Christ did.

I will leave you with these wise words from Paul the Apostle. Consider them carefully when outside messages or your own mind tries to convince you that you are not doing enough or paying enough cost (emphasis mine):

Acts 17:24-25 - “24-The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. 25-Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” (BSB)

God does not need us to serve Him. He is not interested in us adding up our points by service like the prodigal’s brother. He simply wants us to act like sons and daughters. He wants us to participate in the family business of righteousness. We are fully equipped by Him to do this. We have been gifted His inheritance and all that comes with that. Yet, even then, He is not coercing us. He is not extracting some cost. He simply wants us to love because He loves us. Love is our inheritance.

Oops, one more thought. The Prodigal Sons - Both of Them Needed to Repent.

One final consideration, I promise! When you feel you must earn anything from God then your service will not be from love. It cannot be. Both of the sons in the story of the prodigal son have the same problem: they did not trust in their father's love for them. (Luke 15:11-32) They both felt they needed to earn it. One felt inadequate to earn it so he took the lacivious route. One thought he could actually earn it so he stayed home and tried. And they both missed the whole point. Their father's love was freely given as was everything else he owned.

In the end, there was more hope for the lacivious one. He hit rock bottom and returned to the father wanting to serve him. Wanting to make amends. But, the father wouldn't even listen to his apologies and threw him a party! He never wanted a servant, he wanted a son. He did not want apologies, he wanted his son to act like a son. A son who trusted his love and enjoyed status in the family. The father's kindness brought repentance for that son. (Romans 2:4) The father never even acknowledged his apology; he simply wrapped him in his love.

I'm not so sure about the repentance of the religiously zealous son who served. He certainly did not show the love of the father for his brother. He was jealous that his brother was treated like a son even though he had not “paid the cost” or served the father well. He could not see why the father would love and treasure his brother when not only did he not earn it, he deliberately left the father. He judged himself and others by what they did, not who they were. Even his own brother did not deserve love unless he earned it. He did not recognize the kindness of the father - he felt he was harsh and expected him to pay a cost for being a son. With this attitude, repentance would be difficult.

Love like a son or daughter of God.

I realize in context Christ was using this analogy for Pharisees and sinners or in the later aspects of the gospel - Jews and Gentiles. However, the main universal point was: He was describing the heart of His Father! This is the perfect ending to this article. Neither son was admirable. One operated out of religious, moral, serving type flesh; the other operated out of licentious, immoral, debauchery type flesh. They both needed to repent and change their mind about the Father's love. They needed to act like sons not servants. They did not need to earn the father's love or even make amends. They simply needed to trust in his unconditional love for them because they were his children. They needed the mindset of being sons or daughters and living within that inheritance.

There is no cost to being a son or daughter of God. When we think this way, we begin to act like the prodigal's brother. We begin to try and earn everything God freely offers. This is not faith and will not produce genuine fruit of the Spirit. Reject any thoughts like this. They sound pithy and religious but they will not help you. They will harm. They are not from God and they do not demonstrate His heart. Faith receives His gifts and promises with gladness in a recognition they are good. Any earning or cost mindset casts a negative shadow over what God freely offers.

My Actual Conclusion

I hope and pray this has given you food for thought. I hope it helps you consider those moments when you are under accusation that God is disappointed with you or you are not doing enough; suffering enough; or paying enough. Jesus paid it all…we can simply leave it right there. And then humbly accept the gifts He paid the ultimate price for. Don't try to earn what God offers for free. Think and act like the sons and daughters you are!

Everything the Father has is freely offered to us. We don't have to work for it - unless celebrating is work! The father celebrates His Son; now, we are invited to join that celebration as sons and daughters. Don't be like the prodigal's brother and diss the celebration and the father because you think there is a price to pay. Simply soak in the Father's love and enjoy everything He bestows upon you. There is no better way to live!

First, life has simply been crazy, both in my personal and work life. I have been working on several articles for awhile, but wrapping them up has proven difficult. I have not given up on finishing out the faith promises articles, I promise (pun intended).

In the meantime, I did not want to pass up this discovery in the book of Titus though I still had to divide it into parts. I believe these are some valuable perspectives and I hope they inspire you to keep reading and be open to come to your own conclusions about this scripture. Truth is truth - and that discovery is always an adventure. Entertaining alternative perspectives is literally repentance and how we grow. If everything you believe about God is right - you can never repent!

Law vs. Grace - The Epic Battle of the Ages

My first coming “faith promises” article is about how there are no requirements - beyond faith - to receive all of God's gifts. That is a new covenant promise. The gospel message is that God offers everything freely and without obligation. These gifts or promises are wrapped up in ‘salvation’; but, the list is numerous. He does this purely because He is kind and loves us. The true gift is Himself - Christ offers Himself to us with all the gifts contained in His life. The best word picture of the gift of Christ is the fruit of the Spirit - particularly love. Only a mindset of continually “receiving a gift” will enable us to bear His fruit.

This is the new covenant gospel of grace - it is good news because it does not depend on our performance! There are no conditions - like behaviors - added to this covenant. It is the polar opposite of the old covenant - scripture portrays the two covenants as being in opposition. My next article will show details from scripture how adding conditions - treating the new like the old - will ruin the effectiveness of the new. The only condition is “receiving the gift” of Christ - which is faith.

Walking by faith means that we learn what Christ offered when He made us a new creation and then we we grow in trusting that inner work. There continues to be no conditions - beyond faith - after salvation. The covenant doesn't suddenly change once we receive it! Paul is clear: in the same way we received Christ, so we walk in Him. (Colossians 2:6)

The Key to Faith

Our faith must be rooted in a “no conditions” mindset. We have all of Christ - all the time - period! We are a new creation - nothing can change that status. When we sin, Christ is there within; thus, we are a new creation choosing the wages of sin over the gift of life (Romans 6:23). Yet, no matter how often or how long we struggle - our status with God never changes. Faith in this status cannot be compromised! Legalism or earning compromises this truth in big and small ways - the epic enemy of faith.

Legalism adds conditions - beyond faith - to participate in the gospel promises of God. You must do XYZ so that God will do XYZ. It may be for salvation itself or the many post-salvation obligations the legalists come up with like: staying in God's will; staying close to God; earning God’s blessings; etc. But, it is all part of this epic battle between Law and grace - earning vs. gift. There is no more important topic to discuss. Paul's calling was to fight this battle.

Only Two Belief Systems

There are only two types of belief systems. There is the earning (law) based belief system or there is the gift (love/grace) based belief system. The gospel is the story of the love and grace based system. All other philosophies are based in the earning system - an earthly, fleshly system. Within an earthly context, it works. An earthly worker should receive wages - that is the way earth works. That is why earthly religions like Judaism work to some degree within the earthly system to help manage society.

But that is not the way the Kingdom of God works. Mixing in this fleshly earning mentality messes up faith. It is the root of every corrupt Christian concept. My calling is to help free others from this corrosive mindset, just as I am breaking free myself.

The way of the Kingdom does influence earth; but, do not mix the two systems.

Problems occur when mixing these two systems. Consider in history when folks tried to create a utopian society based on making everything free. It does not end well - it ends in utter destruction of society. The gift system will never work on earth until Christ returns with a new earth no longer infected by sin. Even the early church tried this and failed! Let history be a lesson to us. On earth, unlike Heaven, we must operate under an earning system - the earth’s system. To be clear, doing well using the earth's system is not legalism. Scripture even advocates for that! The book of Proverbs is full of God's wisdom for doing well in the earthly system.

Yet, consider when we try to make the Kingdom of God an earning system - it is the root of every religion and false teaching out there. Mixing earning into the gospel message in any form corrupts it. The earthly way of earning is not of faith and does not work in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God runs on the gift system (love). God has everything good and He freely offers it all to humanity. We must rid our minds of the earning system - and simply receive - to operate well in the Kingdom.

God’s Perfect Earning System

Didn't God Himself give the Hebrews an earning system - the Mosaic Law? There is a reason He did, and I will cover that in detail in my next set of articles. Not everything God gave or Christ taught is a Kingdom way. Sometimes God gives us something only to show us that it is a failure. The Law is God showing us how mixing the systems is a failure! Much of the old testament is the story of how badly it failed! As Paul rightly indicates, the Law was good and perfect. The Law itself did not fail, but it will never work for humanity within the earth system. We will get into this in much more detail in my next set of articles.

Don't try to spiritually keep one foot on the law or earning path, and one foot on the gift or grace path. That only leaves you stuck.

We are stubborn creatures, seeking our own way. God gave us the Law to show the perfect “earning” standard. The Law stands in place as a dare to humanity: show off your ability to earn life in the Kingdom of God using the earthly earning system. And every human, except Christ, fails miserably. Thus, the gospel answer is to utterly abandon that way and go the grace way. Don't try to keep a foot on the earning path and a foot on the gift path - that only stalls your spiritual growth. We must root out all earning mindsets towards Christ and His gifts. You earn your paycheck; but, not the fruit of the Spirit.

This epic earning vs. gift struggle is the main struggle of humanity. Don't mix the two kingdoms. But, again, scripture has much earthly wisdom too! It is not legalistic to act wisely within the earthly kingdom. Scripture can say in Proverbs that it is stupid to be lazy on earth - a person should earn his keep. And yet scripture offers all of the gifts of the Kingdom of God for free. And some of those gifts help us to not be lazy within the earthly system! I'm not saying Heaven doesn't impact earth. But the systems are still vastly different.

Scripture says that we should submit to earthly rulers and abide by their laws. As believers, this should be a no brainer - God's Kingdom law of love compels us to be at peace with all people. Yet, following laws is the currency of earth, not Heaven. On earth, you break certain laws you earn imprisonment. Yet, we were the very enemy of God; disconnected from His life; connected to the power of sin; and still He makes a way for us to become His heirs with Christ by faith. Nothing required but to accept the amazing gift of Himself and His life. That is God's gift system - proclaimed as the good news or gospel.

Let the Kingdom of God system influence the world through you; but, still, don't confuse the two systems.

Let's be practical. God is not dropping manna on your doorstep every morning for your daily bread. As scripture says, we are “in this world but not of it”. Being “in” the world means that we participate in its system. I go to work to earn a wage to be able to support my family. This is the earth's system.

Scripture is full of how to participate well in the earth’s system. “If a person does not work, they should not eat; if you do not care for your own family, you are worse than an infidel; do your work as unto Christ.” We interact in a physical world - physically! Nothing wrong with that - that is not legalism. Christians should interact within the earthly system even better than unbelievers because we are new creations.

Again, as a people who are spiritually located in the Kingdom of God, that system does influence us as we interact within the earth system. Yet, the two systems are still vastly different. Holy Spirit fruit may inspire us to be a hard worker; but His fruit is free, while the wages we earn are not. Again, do not confuse the two systems. And especially don't confuse God's perfect earthly earning system - the Mosaic Law - with the gospel. No matter what anyone says, the Law and the gospel are mortal enemies. That is God's choice, not mine.

Relationships: Where God's Kingdom Interacts with Earth

The main interaction on earth where God's system reveals itself is relationships. Consider marriage - do you have an earning mindset towards your spouse - tit for tat? If they mistreat you in some way, does it cause you to hold back? If so, how is that working out? The high percentage of divorce portrays the folly of an earning system in relationships. When we measure each other and barter “love” - it ruins relationships. Yet, this is the natural system of earth - a fleshly system.

Being a new creation in Christ is an intimate connection with our Creator. Can you see how this mindset of earning will ruin our perception of our relationship with Christ? There is one vast difference - unlike human relationships, God always acts towards us using the heavenly system. We may try to interact with Him using the earthly system, but He never does. His essence is unconditional love. Thus, He cannot ever act outside of His system. If He could, He would not be the God of scripture. Even when we are faithless, He remains faithful. (2 Timothy 2:13)

Legalism is trying to interact with God using the fleshly system of earning.

Working on this introduction to Titus has caused a profound realization. I knew that the gospel portrays a gift mindset towards God and His promises, but it was not as clear to me the battle lines of history between the earning vs. gift systems. If you carefully examine scripture you will see these battle lines epicly depicted. The language of the gospel depicts the gift system: Christ, Spirit, love, grace, mercy, kindness, faith, hope, generosity, gentleness, freedom, blessing, etc. The other side is: Adam, Law, curse, bondage, sin, flesh, powers, hate, cursing, etc. The battle lines are clear.

This is the battle of the ages and it is our daily battle. How are we going to interact with Christ? Do we use an earning system where we feel dirty and distant from Him when we stumble? Do we feel inadequate if we haven't done some list of “spiritual” activities or spent enough time doing them? Are we doing certain things, or trying to avoid other things, in order to get closer to God; stay in His will; be blessed by Him; or stay in fellowship with Him? These ideas are all based on the fleshly legalistic earning mindset. Scripture passages are twisted to push this mindset; but, it is not of the Kingdom of God - faith and love.

Welcome to the Battlefield

This is a battle of the mind as all of our spiritual battles are. It often feels like a battle the enemy is winning. Vast swaths of people in churches have bought into earning from God. Some for salvation; but, if the enemy cannot get us to try and earn salvation itself, he tries to get us to earn its benefits. We take the Mosaic Law - an earning system - and try to mix it with the gospel at varying levels. Most teaching I have heard pushes this mindset and ignores or minimizes the revelation of the gospel in the epistles! This earning mindset produces stress, anxiety, and other destructive mindsets and emotions because our perception of God is muddled.

This is a battle the apostle Paul was well equipped for. As a former professional legalist, he knew all the tricks. And if we simply listen to what he has to say, including the book of Titus, it will help us in this battle. The gift mindset is the key to the Kingdom system and I want to make the battle lines clear. Legalism is not just a bad habit or those weird people over in the corner - is is a primary enemy tactic.

Do you choose a gift or earning mindset towards God? Do you choose a gift mindset for getting into Heaven, but an earning mindset for the rest of God's promises? How have you learned the gospel and Christ? Only a gift mindset is faith, everything else is flesh. But, let's dive into Titus and see how Paul faces down legalism heads on. This study has renewed my furvor for this epic battle. We must learn to root out every tendril of this flesh based philosophy from our thinking.

Titus - A Trusted Partner in the Gospel

The epistle to Titus from Paul is a treasure trove of gospel tidbits and has led to some interesting places. My primary focus is how Paul describes “good works” or deeds, but there are many connecting ideas. Titus is quite a treatise against legalism, much like most of Paul's writing. Since Paul calls his former legalistic life ‘dung’, this is not surprising. (Philippians 3:1-10)

NOTE: That Greek word some translate as ‘dung’ is fascinating. In other ancient Greek texts it is used for everything from animal excrement to table scraps. So, Paul considered his good works under the Law to be like the nasty used cat litter I throw in the trash every week. If only we would hold the same revulsion for these legalistic mindsets today!

Titus was a traveling evangelist like Paul, though he did not write even one letter published as scripture! However, clearly he was considered just as valuable to the body of Christ by Paul as Paul himself. This should be an example that we must not compare and contrast ourselves in the body. As we will soon see, Christ provides our calling and our good works. Our only responsibility is to walk in them, not measure them and see how they stack up with other believers. Measuring is a product of earning or legalism, not the gospel.

Paul frequently mentions Titus.

We see Titus mentioned by Paul in his epistles to the Corinthians, Galatians, and of course his personal letter to Titus himself. He mentions in this letter that Titus was on the island of Crete appointing elders or leaders to the different Christian groups that had sprung up on the island. Paul emphasizes the importance of leaders who stick to the pure gospel.

Clearly Titus was a trusted partner. In 2 Corinthians 12:18b Paul says this about him: “Did we not walk in the same spirit and follow in the same footsteps?” Titus was a close friend of Paul and someone he trusted to stick to the purity of the gospel without compromise - though he still encourages him to be bold. Even those who understand the gospel well need reminders to be confident and not give in to anti-gospel legalistic ideas.

Titus also traveled with Paul to Jerusalem for the big council over the Mosaic Law (Acts 15). Paul later goes against some of the items in which he compromised with the council! The council recommended that the Gentile believers not eat food sacrificed to idols, yet Paul clearly says later that this does not matter. (Except sometimes it does - if you or someone else thinks it does. See Romans 14 and welcome to the adventure of God's love!)

Patience and love for the immature is important.

Paul was not being disingenuous - he recognized the need for church unity over matters that are not important in the scheme of things (like food). He was living out his teaching in Romans 14. Yet, he also knew that these things were not of faith, legalistic, and immature; thus he taught otherwise.

NOTE: I want to be clear up front. While I believe a legalistic mindset is harmful and not of faith, sometimes our brothers and sisters need time and patience (as we all do).

Walking by faith is always the best way, but everyone is in a different place. The core of the gospel is love, and patience is part of the fruit of the Spirit and a core tenant of love. I know how destructive these mindsets have been in my life so I want everyone to get their minds right, right now! I want everyone to see the benefit in a pure gospel mindset! But love never forces itself on you.

I will not hold back fighting these faithless legalistic philosophies in my writing and discussions. But speaking the truth in love often means compromising in our relationships, much like Paul did in this and other examples. Repentance resulting in changed mindsets can be a long process for believers.

Caution Pulling Doctrine from Historical Accounts

The Jerusalem council is an historical account from Acts while Paul's epistles teach the clarity of the gospel. Thus, for doctrine, always go with the Epistles over Acts. Be careful finding doctrine in scriptural history. Often history is God showing us the human process and how folks are getting it wrong. Many corrupt beliefs have been taken from historical passages that are not corroborated elsewhere. The council is a good example of early church unity, but their conclusion was dead wrong. Paul makes it clear elsewhere that believers are not under a single one of the Mosaic Laws, period. Especially food.

Paul uses this trip as an example to the Galatians that even the “Party of the Pharisees” did not insist, in the end, that Titus follow the circumcision law. This experience for Titus would be valuable as he later faces these type of people on the island of Crete. Clearly Paul and Titus were tight and Titus was mature in his thinking about the gospel. A great example of the unifying power of Christ - Jew and Gentile.

Jewish Myths

The main passage I want to focus on is in Titus 3, but Paul has several leading thoughts which provide context. Paul was constantly defending the new covenant gospel against legalism (old covenant earning mindsets mixed with the new covenant gospel; the idea of earning or improving God's gifts by what we do - not simply accepting them). This is certainly a theme in Titus.

In chapter 1, Paul guides Titus on picking good leaders. He warns him to beware of certain teaching. In context, he wants Titus to make sure the leaders’ mindsets are not corrupted by false teaching. Carefully note that this specific false teaching has a Jewish context and is based in the Mosaic Law.

Titus 1:10-14 “10-For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision, 11-who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not.

12-As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13-This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith 14-and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who have rejected the truth.” (emphasis mine)

Paul is not one to mince words - “rebellious deceivers” - and notice the distinctly Jewish context in his warning. This is compelling for Titus who was part of the Jerusalem council where they faced these type of deceivers. Don't get sidetracked by the term ‘circumcision’. While that was an extreme thing this group tried to push on adult male Gentiles - thus they were well known for it - this legalistic based philosophy goes far beyond that extreme act. Today we could replace circumcision with “quiet time” or “spiritual disciplines” and it is from the same earning root.

Especially Judaism

Note the word “especially”. Paul is saying that Judaism is the false teaching that must be opposed “most of all”. The Mosaic Law and attitudes toward it are the basis for legalism, though any list of rules and regulations can apply. Paul is writing to help Titus fight the enemy philosophy of legalism. It often comes in the form of God's own Mosaic Law as this is easy to push as being a “godly” mindset. However, nothing is further from the truth. Law and grace - the old and new covenants - are diametrically and epicly opposed.

When God supercedes something (the old covenant), even though it was something He gave, we must pay attention and listen. This is what He did with the new covenant vs. the old (see the book of Hebrews). Many miss this, including these early church Judaizers. The detailed reason for this is covered in my next set of articles, but we will touch on this concept often in this Titus article. Mixing the old with the new is the ancient root of legalism and it hinders the gospel.

Judaism is the main false teaching opposed by the Apostles as a belief system or religion.

Judaism is the false teaching most often brought up by the Apostles. Given current events, I must emphasize that this is not Jews as an ethnic group. The focus is on the Mosaic Law or old covenant centered belief system, not the people group. The gospel is a unifying message - we are all one in Christ. (Galatians 3:28)

Judaism is a legalistic religion based on earning God's favor or avoiding His curses by keeping the Mosaic Law. This can certainly be taught as a way to obtain salvation or enter God's Kingdom. However, most often in the early church, same as today, a mixture was taught - Christ (the gospel) for salvation and Moses (the Law) for living. This was the mixture that Paul wrote against in the book of Galatians; but this is referenced many times in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 3 as an example). Back then, it was the extreme act of adult circumcision that marked this mixture; but, it is really any type of works based righteousness, either to achieve salvation OR to help you ‘behave’ after you have been saved.

Attacks on the Gospel of Grace

There are a few groups like the Messianic Jews who still push full Law keeping, but I see mixture as being the most prevalent in our churches today. The legalists divide the Book of the Law into sections like moral laws and proclaim that believers are still under the Law in some way; yet, scripture clearly says we are not. In most churches the “10 Commandments” are sacrosanct. Despite clear scripture portraying believers as “dead to the Law” and not “under the Law”, the legalists will make up words like ‘antinomian’ or ‘hypergrace’ in an attempt to smear the pure gospel of grace and those who teach it.

NOTE: even the council in Jerusalem in Acts 15 only included one ‘moral’ Law in their recommendation for Gentiles. The only one from the 10 Commandments was sexual promiscuity. I think we should denounce the council as antinomian! But I digress. My point is that those today trying to put believers under the 10 Commandments are going even further than the early church council compromise with the party of the Pharisees! That should tell us something.

The slander for those who stand up against this faithless mixture of Law and grace is that they are ‘lawless’ and advocate that sinning is OK. Grace is not lawless, far from it. As we will see, it is the only way to perform legit “good works”. Whether they realize it or not, even pushing a small mixture of legalism is anti-gospel. This is a matter Paul takes quite seriously, and so should we. It is easy to proclaim a lukewarm, leavenous mixed Law and grace message as the gospel and get away with it. But it is the surest way to disrupt proper spiritual growth, walking by the Spirit, and bearing genuine Spirit fruit.

The predominant measure of a legalistic message is any thread of obligation or coersion.

Any coercive message of obligation that adds conditions to receiving God's gifts is legalistic. Of course God wants us to behave well…but, He does not require it to be His child. He wants good behavior because He loves us. He wants us to sow good things on earth so we reap good things. Being His child - a new creation - will inspire and motivate good works. But there is no list of good works or performance consistency that is required, period. That mentality will cause any good works to be from flesh power not faith - thus dead works.

I do not know if Paul, in Heaven, is aware of the modern use of his teaching; but, if he is, he must be in a constant state of face palming. Every single instructive behavior statement he makes is always rooted in the gospel and walking by faith (even in Titus 1). He portrays how the character of Christ within us will reveal itself; but, he is never giving a list of demands! The amazing thing about the gospel is that Christ never face palms about us even when we have faithless legalistic mindsets! It is only these mindsets that would think in this way.

The requirement based coercive aspect of the old covenant Law is why Paul calls it a curse! He would be appalled that this same requirement based coersion would be used to teach his own writings. This is the root of the very mixture of Law and grace he calls leaven. We must learn to root these instincts out of our thinking and actions. And we must ignore teaching that pushes us into these mindsets.

Religious Desire

The historical account of the council in Jerusalem in Acts 15 provides some direct statements about this mixture. Notice that these instigators are called ‘believers’ in verse 5, yet still they are trying to mix in the Law with the gospel of grace. Even as believers, they are immature in their understanding of the gospel. They have not rightly divided between the old and new covenants.

This mentality is alive and well in the institutional church today; though, of course, circumcision is no longer the primary emphasis. As we will see, it is not the actual laws in the Law that matters. This division of the Book of the Law into moral laws, etc., is a legalistic red herring. It is not the list of activities - it is the mindset, motivation, and power behind the Law that matters. These are quite different for Law vs. grace. And just like the Party of the Pharisees in the early church, these profound differences are often missed or ignored by the institutional church today.

Acts 15:1,5 - “1-Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

5-But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”” (emphasis mine)

Notice the fleshly factions already appearing in the church: the “party of the Pharisees”. You would think that label would give anyone pause - they were the main enemies of Christ! Yet, Luke labels them as believers so I won't disagree with his opinion. Maybe they were, just as many legalists today are simply confused believers. That doesn't change the destructiveness of their message. A message so destructive that Paul made one of his few trips back to Jerusalem to be a part of this council! He felt it was important enough to influence the council against this false philosophy.

Circumcision was a “Moral Law” for the Judaizers

Again, the modern day legalist will take the idea of circumcision and other “ceremonial” aspects of the Law and try to hedge against grace, dividing the full Book of the Law (Torah) into parts. Because lying, stealing, and such are harmful and bad; because they will always be opposed to the character of God; the legalist misunderstands the motivation or mindset of the old covenant Law. Thus, they miss the new covenant mindset. An old covenant mindset is not of faith and a new covenant mindset is. A faith based new covenant mindset will never lead to lying and stealing.

For these Judaizers, circumcision was a moral act. No matter which of the laws are in focus, it is the “required to obey” part that is not of faith. A new creation is not required to obey any law - even the moral laws - to maintain their spiritual status. Life in the Kingdom is a gift. Our new creation status is not based on works - only the work of belief leading to living faith. The mindset of requirement kills faith - it causes dead works. Again, I will get into the details in my next article, but the root of living faith is always expressed through love, and love can never be coercive or “seek its own way” (1 Corinthians 13:5)

A coercive mindset of requirement will kill faith.

This false idea is opposed mightily by the Apostles, especially Paul. His language could not be clearer in Titus. Again, like all belief systems, legalism is not actually about specific rules or activities - it is a mindset, power, and motivation. Two believers can perform the exact same “good deeds” and one be motivated by faith and the other by religious flesh or legalism. As we will learn later, Paul calls this mindset “religious desire”. Religious desire is as worldly a desire as any other human desire. I will get into this later and it is fascinating! If only the institutional church was as focused on religious desire as licentious desire, the body of Christ would be much healthier!

The Apostles, and especially Paul, never discuss believer behaviors without rooting them first in the gospel. We don't behave because we have to - we behave because we want to! We are in union with the character of Christ within - at our core we want what He wants. But, the flesh and the power of sin war against us in our minds and try to convince us we want them. Worldly religious desire is all a part of the temptation - it is one side of the flesh coin. On one side is licentious desire and the other side is religious desire. When we believe God is coercing us to behave in any way, we take our eyes off Christ and put them on ourselves. The enemy loves this mindset - since it is flesh based - it is still enemy thinking.

Since it is flesh based, religious desire tends to lead to or partner with other fleshly desires like greed.

Paul calls these purveyors of lies “those of the circumcision” who believe “Jewish myths”. It is clear the Judaistic focus - and thus the Mosaic Law focus. Apparently there was some financial gain related to teaching these lies. The Jewish religious organization at this time was a fairly powerful entity. The Romans gave them leeway and put some of their rulers in power to help manage the Jewish people. Thus, a level of money and power were elements of joining this religion at the time. Paul makes the tie between religious desire and other fleshly desires - like greed - clear.

Paul's language about legalism is pointed.

Paul calls out the fact that this teaching is deceptive and those teaching it have “rejected the truth”. Even the phrase “Jewish myths” means Jewish lies - they are polluting the gospel in a Judaistic way. This mixing of Law and grace is the corrupt root of legalism. His comment in verse 16 does not hold back:

“They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deeds. (emphasis mine)

In my past, I would skip over the Judaism context and think that Paul was describing some kind of licentious folks caught lying in a bed of prostitutes. Only these kind of folks would be detestable and disobedient, right? However, that is not the context. These are religious, upright, moral acting folks. They love God's Law, and require everyone to be under it.

These religious based activities are what deny God, not some pagan ideas. This is far more dangerous than paganism since it is obvious that paganism is not godly. Legalism is a “form of godliness” without the power of faith through the Holy Spirit - it is paganism in the name of God. It can fool even the most sincere believer.

Legalism: an Enemy Mindset

This enemy mindset towards God has not changed since Christ walked the earth - from Christ to Paul until today. Christ’s biggest opponents were the scribes and Pharisees who pushed behavior reform and Law keeping. They were prideful, thought they could please God by their works, and hated Christ for teaching otherwise. If the historical accounts are to be credited, they also excused much immorality while claiming to be keeping the Law. On the legalism spectrum they are extreme; but, any mixture of this mindset into the gospel is harmful, however small.

This teaching is a wolf in sheep's clothing and enemy lies. But it often fits right into our churches. And that is why it is so dangerous. It takes many forms. Legalistic mindsets and teachings fill both our ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ churches. It is the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It is a form of godliness without the power. It is faithless living. No matter how many “good works” folks with this mindset appear to do, it is not Kingdom of God living. Don't be fooled by it.

“Unfit for Any Good Deeds”

Remember this phrase for later. The point of the Mosaic Law is to help you do “good deeds”, right? It is the main emphasis of legalism and religion. People with this mindset are obsessed with their lists of works. They often label this mindset as “obedience to God” or “being radical”. Their messages are full of how to be “obedient”. But there is always some level of behavior that you have not achieved yet. It is the video game “gospel” - working your way up levels. The Law itself is a checklist of good works to do and bad works to avoid. This is always the primary focus.

Yet, Paul says those with this mindset are “unfit for any good deeds”. This is a theme in Titus. Putting yourself under the Mosaic Law does not promote good works - it is opposed to grace. Only grace by faith produces genuine good works. Paul could not be more clear in Galatians 3:12 - “the Law is not of faith”. As we will see, we don't have to seek out good works or make lists in order to obey and please God.

How can you “keep the Law” and yet be disobedient?

How dare Paul call these folks disobedient? Their identity is dedication to obeying God's Law. Obedience is a constant theme in their messages! They would be welcome and elevated in most churches. They are as externally upright and moral as anyone. Yet, their obedience is false - it is not the obedience of faith (Romans 1:5, 16:26). I'm sure most are quite sincere - they may truly want to “obey God” - but they refuse to understand and believe the pure gospel message and push a works based righteousness. The only true godly obedience is the obedience of faith. We are not saved by works; nor do we mature by works.

By what actions are they denying God since they are obsessed with His Law? Legalists love to call out licentiousness, (particularly those areas which are not their own struggles); but in this case, this is not some kind of moral failures. This time they deny God by their legalistic teaching and religiously moral lifestyle. They are often the ones loudly judging others for their immoral life.

How many sermons have you heard preaching against sexual immorality, yet how few (if any) against religious desire? Paul never holds back against licentious immorality when needed; but, here, it is “religious desire” as his target - the desire to earn points with God - not licentious desire. Yet, religious desire often gets a pass or is promoted in our churches while sexual type desire is over-emphasized.

The Real False Teachers

What is ironic is that a legalistic mindset is often characterized by an over-emphasis on hunting out “false teachers”, usually related to teaching that, in their minds, will “lead to” licentiousness or lawlessness. This is what they accuse the genuine gospel of grace teachers of due to their misunderstanding of grace. Much like Paul, those who preach and teach a pure new covenant gospel without a law mixture are often accused of teaching a message of “continuing in sin so that grace can abound”. Yet, like Paul, I must say, “God forbid”. Those who over-emphasize licentious sinning over religious sinning simply don't fully understand what sin is. Replacing licentious sin with religious sin is not Kingdom living. It is still not of faith and still sin.

While licentious mindsets are a concern (see Corinthians), and the Apostles address it, it was legalism they opposed the most. It is easy to walk by religious flesh and throw stones at those walking by licentious flesh. In God's Kingdom, both ways of living are of the flesh. But, only one of them gets by with a fake shell of righteousness - thus; again, it is more dangerous. Those who are walking by licentious flesh are usually well aware of their failings - mostly because those walking by religious flesh don't let them forget it!

As Christ proclaimed, so I must loudly proclaim: “Beware the leaven of the Pharisees”. Watch out for this mixing of Law and grace. Watch out for this mixing of the covenants. Just because they both came from God does not make them equal. When God says the new replaced the old and says the old covenant is weak and useless, we must hear and believe Him. Don't turn to something that is obsolete, weak, and useless to empower your life and walk. Trust Christ by faith for that power. As Andrew Farley says, “You don't need rules, you only need to let Christ rule by faith.” But, let's jump into chapter 2 and see the contrast between Law and grace - earning vs. the gift.

Grace Teaches Us to Say No to Sin

Titus 2:11-15 - “11-For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. 12-It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13-as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

14-He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. 15-Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.”

There is much here, wow. Titus 2:11-12 have been some favored verses of mine for quite awhile now. I feel I should remind of another common verse as Paul restates the same concept.

Romans 6:14 - “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”

Grace (gift) and law (earning) are opposing forces fighting to be the power by which we live and walk. This is the same battle between the Spirit and the flesh. Grace based living is of the Spirit; Law based living depends on the flesh. This is truly an epic battle that started with the tree of knowledge of good and evil. That was the earning tree while the tree of life was the gift tree. Again, I will get deep into the details of why this is in my next set of articles, but notice: Paul says it is only God's grace that teaches us how to live well. Under law, sin will be your master; under grace, it will not. Every time we sin it is because we are not walking by grace - we are walking with a law based mentality - that is Paul's point.

Grace and Law are opposing forces seeking to be what we put ourselves under for power to live. Grace is of faith; Law is not. This enmity must not be ignored in scripture.

Grace is the power that enables us to act from our slavery to righteousness and freedom from sin’s power. Again, read these well known words and tell me: what helps us walk in freedom from sin? Being under law or under grace? Then why do we insist on a law, requirement, or earning based relationship with God? It simply makes no sense. This idea flows from the flesh and the world and becomes so engrained in our brains that we find it difficult to give up.

Legalism is any mindset of living by rules and requirements as a source of power. It is not always only the Book of the Law, though obviously Paul is focused on that in Titus. Even the secular world orders have a set of morality they live by. Thus, the modern term ‘woke’. Yet, it is all a rebellion against the gospel and the gift of the life of Christ as the power for living. These are competing powers - they seek to replace each other. The same flesh power is behind religion as any other worldly order. We cannot let the “God” shell distract us from how evil a legalistic mindset really is.

Remember, despite the emphasis on doing the deeds of the Law, Paul said in Titus 1:16 that those who teach this Judaistic mixture of Law and grace are “unfit for any good deed”. It is the mindset itself that makes them unfit, not the deeds. No one is saying that lying, stealing and the like are good and charity is bad. But not lying or stealing to earn God's favor is not of grace, faith, or love. It is not the gospel - it is not allowing Christ’s life to empower you.

There are many motivations for teaching and having this mindset. Some are truly egregious like greed, power, or excusing secret immorality. But, I think much of it is fear based - fear of displeasing God and believing we must act to please Him. In all cases, this is based in a lack of understanding and trust in gospel truth. These mindsets ignore or minimize the gospel promises of God.

The message of the gospel is we have complete peace with God by faith. The pressure or compulsion to act is utterly gone. As new creations, we please God by nature. The message is we are “dead to sin and alive to God”. This is a fixed solid truth, not based in our actions. It can and should influence our actions, but it is true whether we act like it is or not. A legalistic mindset minimizes or ignores these truths. Instead of acting from faith in them, it seeks to cause or confirm them through action. This is opposed to the gospel. Our identity in Christ is a gift - Christ freely made us a new creation. Our works don't cause us to become a new creation and they don't improve that status in the least.

Grace and Law Contrasted - Promises vs. Commands

In Titus 2:14, we see a contrast. Those who live under God's grace - by recognizing they are good and holy saints; children of God; a people of God's own possession - will be zealous for good deeds. This is NOT a command - it is a promise! It is Christ’s work of purifying us that causes the desire for good deeds. It is not a command where we must seek them out.

This is another distinction of how a legalist interprets scripture vs. the gospel lens. A legalist sees instruction passages as commands - you must perform these or else. The gospel sees God's instruction as a promise - this behavior is a gift through the finished work of Christ - the new creation.

If you read scripture with an earning mindset, then you must find the list of commands to follow. Whether this is old covenant Law or new testament instruction, it is the same mindset. However, a gift or grace mindset sees new covenant instruction as a gift or a promise. You don't have to receive a gift, but a good gift always has a built in incentive to receive and open it! And there is no better gift than Jesus Christ and His life.

In one Greek lexicon I looked at, it describes this particular word translated zealous as “wanting to possess a thing”. Grace will cause you to want to display goodness. It will cause you to want to bear the fruit of the Spirit because you recognize the benefits. Only with a mindset of grace will you recognize your own personal deep desire for acting righteous - gifted to you by Christ at your new birth. Legalism spurns the gift of life because there is no earning in a gift.

Promises vs. Obligation

Again, a legalistic or earning mindset will read this passage, not as a promise, but as an obligation. They will think along the lines of: “Paul is saying that a “good” Christian is zealous for good deeds, so I need to get my checklist together for how to pursue good deeds. I need to find them and do them so I feel good about myself that I am a “good” Christian and am being obedient to God.” Yet, this mindset is not of faith - it does not reflect genuine obedience - nor does it please God.

Paul is clear - the zealousness for good works flows from the redemption and purification that Christ does to us - we don't have to try to be zealous. The trying is where legalism sneaks in. Because Christ gave Himself to us - gave us His life - this redeems and purifies us, changing our nature and desires to want what He wants. Paul is not treating “zealous for good works” as a command but as a fact.

This is the “circumcision of the heart” that Paul speaks of. (Romans 2:29; Colossians 2:11). This is the natural rhythm of grace. We reject this rhythm when we have a mindset of law, earning, and requirement. We become unfit for any good work because our works are from the flesh and not of faith. They are like filthy rags. We must learn to reject these worldly and fleshly inclinations of obligation and coercion. We must have the same mindset about religious desire as we do any other out-of-bounds sensual desire - it is something to reject.

A Supernatural Life

Andrew Farley has recently started saying if your attitudes and actions are not ‘supernatural’ - flowing from Christ's life within - then they are not of faith. I think this is a good way to put it. Again, no condemnation, we cannot ‘legalize’ grace. Our growth is an eternity long process that is ultimately in Christ’s hands. Yet, the mindsets we choose do play a part, and there is no time like now to begin walking in gospel truth and allow your living faith to give you a supernatural way of living through the power of Christ within. Rejecting legalistic lies is a big step towards embracing this manner of life.

Sometimes this is obvious; sometimes it is not. I have mentioned in other articles how major struggles like addiction can be light posts to guide you into this faith based walk - those things that you have worked so hard to defeat, yet never could. And then suddenly you stop trying, give them to Christ, and they begin to go away. I have seen this mindset of dependency on Christ literally take away struggles immediately! Sometimes it takes longer; yet, there is no condemnation. It is the lack of condemnation that fuels the ability to conquer any struggle. Trying to earn through legalism is a condemning mindset - you never measure up - and it will never work.

The Spirit is always acting - we don't need to do anything to get Him to act. Our focus should be eliminating mindsets that “quench” His activity in us.

As you reject legalistic motivations like guilt and shame to try and stop sinning; and replace them with gospel of grace motivations like your “slavery to righteousness”; then you begin to see the supernatural happen. It was always there - Christ always wants to act - but now you are not “quenching or grieving the Spirit”. Legalism quenches Spirit power - grace releases that power. As Paul puts it - it teaches us how to use it.

As you adjust to these grace mindsets they begin to impact even those ways of living that you do not consider a struggle. Maybe you are naturally honest - you cannot get away with lying - your physiology gives you away. So, you learned to be honest by flesh power to avoid these consequences. Yet now, you have a better reason to choose truth - the love of Christ infused in your heart. Your honesty may not change outwardly, but the inner power and motivation changes significantly! Now you are living from the supernatural - even in those ways of living that you did not “need” it before.

Christian growth is Christ's strength being “perfected” within us as we recognize our own weakness.

When Christ told Paul how His strength was “made perfect in weakness” - this is what Christ means. (2 Corinthians 12:9) We must come to the end of our ‘strength’ before we will use faith in Christ for living. The Law or earning system totally depends on our strength. We either choose the grace manner of dependent life by believing truth OR the world and sin will force us into it. Of course, there is nothing wrong with Christ's strength within - it is always our mindset that is at fault. As I described in my ‘faith’ articles, believing is our main work. It is the root of all other works.

You can only maintain outward ‘success’ in the Christian life by fleshly earning for so long. Eventually it catches up to you. Many last a really long time in flesh based living - they live the life of a baby Christian - either through religious or sensual desire. But if you are truly a new creation, the misery will get to you. Christ isn't making you miserable, but He uses it to help you see your weakness and learn to rely on Him. Don't see weakness as a detriment - it is a blessing in disguise! Our weakness helps us learn to develop a mindset of dependency on Christ.

Failure is an opportunity - a training lesson - in dependency on Christ.

If you take nothing else from this article, please consider this: those secret things that you are most ashamed of - your weaknesses - are no longer items of shame or guilt because of Christ. They are opportunities for dependence on Him. This is a gospel and faith mindset. This does not mean they are not sin or harmful. Of course, Christ’s goal is to help you overcome. There is no spiritual condemnation; but, there are earthly consequences.

Only by releasing the shame and guilt to Him can you proceed in faith. You will never conquer a struggle until you decide that never conquering the struggle doesn't change your peace and closeness to God! The true gospel message is ironic in that way. It is your connection to Christ that conquers all struggles; yet you must think in a way that acknowledges this truth: Christ is your life whether you conquer the struggle or not! You are always a new creation even if you carry the struggle until the end of your earthly life. You are simply a new creation - a child of God - with a struggle.

Trusting the New Creation

This is the hard part of faith. The naturally ‘moral’ person will not need faith. Those who don't need saving will not seek a Savior. When we stumble - when we are figuratively laying in the dirt with skinned and bloody knees - that is when it takes faith to set our mind on the gospel truth of our slavery to righteousness and connection to Christ. To trust that we are still at peace with God. We can walk by sight, look at the skinned knees, and decide that is our identity; or, we can walk by faith and believe in our righteousness.

This mindset starts with a full trust in the new creation no matter how much we stumble. We must believe that every stumble is an opportunity for growth and God never holds our stumbles against us. He promises never to remember them! (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17)

A faith walk always starts with agreeing with God - confession. Part of that is thinking of and treating ourselves as He does. This is not easy since we often train our brains to think poorly of ourselves and to overly focus on every stumble. Of course, this isn't helped by most teaching that encourages this view of sin! Is our sin bigger than our Lord? God forbid! I am certainly not saying sinning is OK, but let's keep it in perspective. It is nothing compared to the power of Christ's life within. Until we can agree with God on that, then we will struggle immensely.

Part 1 Conclusion

I am ending Part 1 here - there is much more to come. We will discuss “worldliness” in scripture, and how in common church parlance it is one-sided, leaving out a major way scripture uses the word. We will flesh out the phrase “religous desire” from Colossians 2. And finally, we will discuss my titular topic of how the gospel views “good works” or deeds. Thank you for reading this far and I hope you will continue.

As always, my goal is to stimulate your thinking about gospel truth and I pray to be used by the Spirit in the renewing of your mind. Until next time, continue to walk as those who are raised and seated with Christ! Because you are a child of Light, walk as a child of Light.

The Clarification

I stand by the essentials of what I wrote in the repentance article and I am not going to change it. My articles have improved along they way, as they should, but that does not mean I need to rewrite every time I take issue if the data is still good. The main issue is a matter of formatting and emphasis. Thus, there is an emphasis I would like to emphasize, LOL, in advance of anyone reading or re-reading this article. I did mention this several times in the article, but I'm not sure I was clear enough.

All Unbelief in Christ is Sin

So, let me clarify: ALL UNBELIEF IN CHRIST IS SIN. Thus, when you repent for salvation you are changing your mind from unbelief in Christ to belief in Him. Thus, you are technically moving from the sin of unbelief to the good action of belief. Unbelief is the basis of all active sin. Thus, in that sense, repentance is always about the sin of unbelief. In scripture, this is the main focus of repentance. And even when other sins are in focus, unbelief is the root of them. “Whatever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)

However, as you will see if you read the article, the sin of unbelief is only ever implied with repentance. Rarely is the word ‘sin’ directly tied to repentance in scripture. You would never realize this when you listen to most teaching on repentance - and that is one of my points. One of the ways concepts are corrupted is by not emphasizing or over emphasizing something vs. the way scripture treats it. This is what happens with repentance in traditional teaching.

But, as my dear friend pointed out, repentance in scripture is always associated with the Trinity and aligning our thinking with God's. Sin is defined by thinking, attitudes, and actions that do not reflect God's way. Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. When you believe lies, it is automatically sin, because it is not of Christ who is Truth. This is another big reason we need salvation by grace or the gospel. As humans, it is impossible to fully know truth. Growth is discovering God's truth, believing it, and trusting it. Repentance = growth. Yet, if our status with God depended on our ability to believe truth - then frankly we are screwed. Again, God sent Christ for this very reason.

Turning from a list of sinful activities is not repentance.

As I emphasize if you read the article, the corruption of the repentance concept is that most teaching on repentance does not focus on the “change of mind” or moving from believing lies to believing truth as it should. Most teaching focuses on “turning from” a particular list of actions or activities - i.e. activities that would be considered ‘sinning’.

When scripture references ‘repentance’ for salvation or forgiveness of sins, it is not these types of ‘sinning’ in focus. It is always only the sin of “unbelief in Christ” or other beliefs that hinder faith in Him. However, in my 40+ years of listening to teaching on repentance, belief is rarely, if ever, the emphasis - despite the clear meaning of repentance in the Greek.

As you will see if you read the article, in scripture there are relatively few ties of repentance with these types of sinful activities and they are always for believers - not for salvation. The only sin that prevents salvation is the sin of unbelief. The sin of unbelief is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. That is the only focus or emphasis of repentance for salvation in scripture - not any other sinful activities. And this is where traditional teaching begins to become unmoored from scripture.

You may have stupid beliefs about some sinful practices and still recognize your need for Christ and His life. This is the faith that saves, regardless of your views on sinful activities. Truly this is only logical since genuinely turning from any other sin requires the life of Christ within. A spiritually dead person can turn from a thousand sins and yet remain dead. Changing your mind about Christ and what He offers is what matters. You don't need behavior improvement - you need His life.

Repentance is a Lifelong Pursuit

As usual, there is a works or legalistic mindset causing this external sin emphasis. This is the basis for nearly every corrupt concept out in the religious world. Can you see how this is really quite stupid? We can never believe 100% correctly, thus we can never stop sinning and act perfectly. If that is our goal, either for salvation or growth, then we will always fail. We could never succeed anyway - if so, the we would be God. Can you see how futile this pursuit of some kind of sinless perfection in our behavior really is? That is the true demand of the Law and legalism. Thank Christ for His work and the gospel of grace - that is always where this train of thought should lead. That is the purpose of the Law in the first place.

The Truth is a person: Jesus Christ. Because we have faith in Him, we don't need to worry about our beliefs being perfect. Frankly, we don't need to worry about our other sinning either. Only in the sense that it is hurting us and others - we reap what we sow. This is why repentance and believing truth is a lifelong pursuit and grace is required to enable life. Life is also a person - Jesus Christ. This is all about Him.

This mindset is my focus when discussing the corruption of the concept of repentance in the article. When we make it about stopping our lists of sins, it corrupts the real meaning. While true repentance may lead to stopping of sins, the stopping of those sins is not repentance in and of itself. The only sin you are stopping when repenting is the sin of unbelief or wrong beliefs. This is the pre-cursor to the gift of faith. Faith is a gift of God, but we must change our mind about God and His gifts to receive it. As Christ says, the only work of God is to believe in Christ. (John 6:28-29)

This is true for salvation and for Christian growth. As a believer, if you are struggling with some sinful activity, it is still your belief system that is the root of the problem. A focus on the activity itself will only perpetuate it. This is why the Law enflames sin. (Romans 7:5) Legalism will never fix sin; it only ever leads to other kinds of sin; and often increases the very sin you are trying to fix.

Repentance is still a “change of mind” in scripture.

I hope that clears this up a bit. Certainly, repentance is changing your beliefs. That is the definition. However, in scripture this change of mind is always focused on Christ. If you don't believe Christ is God, or that He resurrected from the dead, or that He is able to give you His life and thus ‘save’ you, then you are still in your sins and remaining in the sin of unbelief. Thus, you must repent towards Christ for salvation.

However, changing your mind about your other sins and sinning is a life long process. And even then, it is never really about your sins. If your eyes and mind are fixed by faith on Christ, you will not be sinning. That should be our focus. But, I do cover this in the article, so I will let you read or re-read it if you so desire.

Again, where I believe repentance has been corrupted is defining it as purely “turning from a list of sins” and not emphasizing the scriptural meaning of a “change of mind” or beliefs. Yes, this change of mind in scripture is focused on aligning our thinking with God - not just any change of mind. However, the Greek word does actually mean that. So, if we were speaking ancient Greek today, you could use it for a generic way of thinking - not focused on God. But I don't want to suggest that scripture uses it in a neutral or generic way. An improvement in our thinking about Christ is always the goal.

I mean, this gets into a broader philosophical discussion. Since Christ is truth, thus God is truth, is believing any lie a sin? Certainly seems that way. Much like the Mosaic Law, this fact should discourage anyone from trying to be saved or live the Christian life by rule keeping. I hope you see the impossibility of that manner of living. It will destroy you and your sanity. We are fooling ourselves if we think we can ever be perfect in our thinking. And God requires perfection - because He is perfect. Thus, we must look to Christ who is offering it as a gift.

Conclusion

Thank you for letting me clarify. Certainly since unbelief in Christ is a sin, then the phrase “repent of sin” to be saved is not inaccurate. Yet, it is still not in scripture, as I attest in my article. Thus, I suggest we follow the way scripture puts it so there is no confusion. Using this phrase in isolation can lead to some very bad places. We should avoid this at all costs.

Further, in most teaching about repentance the phrase ‘repent of your sins” (plural) or “turn from sin” is used to define it. If you listen to the teaching, you find that this means a list of sins and is not focused on the sin of unbelief or wrong beliefs at all. This is a legalistic or works based approach to repentance and it corrupts the scriptural concept - especially regarding salvation. As with all legalistic teaching, this turns the focus from Christ to ourselves. This is actually the opposite of scriptural repentance.

Even in the relatively few times some specific types of sinning are in focus in scripture (ahem, Corinth); it still does not change the meaning of the word. Again, this is not about salvation - it is about believers changing their mind about their activities that are hurting themselves, those around them, and the reputation of the gospel and Christ. This is a legitimate concept in scripture - but in all actuality is quite rare. It certainly does not deserve the emphasis it gets by religion.

The focus of repentance is the “change of mind” not the change of action. If you truly repent and thus change your mind, then your actions will follow. Yet, anyone can change their actions for a time. For about two weeks every January this happens world wide! Yet, that is not scriptural repentance. And thus, to make it about activity or behavior improvement corrupts the concept.

But, I'm stealing thunder from the original article, so I will let you read or re-read if you want. Thanks to my dear friend and brother who challenged my thinking on repentance. I hope this makes it more clear. Here is a link to the original article for your convenience. Obviously you can now skip the note at the beginning. Continue to walk as children of Light because you are.

My next faith article will begin to discuss the new covenant promises of God which are the focus of our faith. The first promise of the new covenant, one that significantly distinguishes it from the old, is that there are no conditions beyond faith to receive all the promises. I am still tweaking that article but hope it will be out soon.

In the meantime, I again receive these daily emails from Ed Elliott that are always a blessing. I wanted to share one from this week, and it does apply to my next faith email. I will quote his comments first and then follow up with a deep dive into some scripture that backs up his claims and explains why it matters. Ed also lists some scripture at the end, I highly recommend reviewing those also. I will take no offense if you read what he wrote and ignore mine of course! But, I believe the deep dive will give you food for thought so I pray you will continue if led.

Without further ado, the Morning Coffee email by Ed Elliott that was sent out on Friday January 12th.

“Is love enough?

I often hear people say, "Love isn't enough." I sometimes wonder what Bible are these people reading? Here are a few reasons I believe love is more than enough.

We are taught that as Believers we should walk in love and speak the truth in love. That abiding in love is abiding in God. That love is greater than faith and hope. That love never fails. We can love God because He first loved us. The fruit of the spirit is love. My security in Christ comes from knowing nothing can separate me from God’s love.

Faith works by love. Love is more than just words but a way of life. That we should establish our heart in love. Loving others is how we love God and is the evidence we know God intimately. Love is how we as believers are perfected or come to maturity in the faith. Love keeps me free from fear. It purifies all my motives as well as shapes my life and identity.

I am taught to love my enemies, neighbors and myself. God shed His love in my heart when I first believed. Knowing God’s love is what leads to us being full of God. And finally, God is love and if love isn't enough, then that means neither is God. But God declared Himself to be more than enough in His word, so it is true, His love for us, is more than enough!

Ephesians 5:2, Ephesians 4:15, 1 John 4:16, 1 Corinthians 13:13, 1 Corinthians 13:8, 1 John 4:19, Galatians 5: 22, Romans 8:38-39, Galatians 5:6, 1 John 3:18, Ephesians 3:17, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:18, 1 Timothy 1:5, Luke 6:27, Romans 5:5, Ephesians 3:19, 1 John 4:8, Genesis 17:1”

If you meditate on this truth, and particularly the scripture, that is more than enough. But I exhort you to enjoy my thoughts that flowed from this email as I dig deeper into why love is enough.

Abiding in Love

The topic of abiding opens up a can of worms which I cannot fully get into now. One worm is how folks have turned “abiding in Christ” or “abiding in love” into a work. This is the same Greek word used in scripture as someone “living in a house”, etc. So, under the new covenant gospel, what does it mean when we “live in Christ”? Is this our work? Or is it the work of God through the Spirit of Christ at salvation when we are taken out of ‘Adam’ and placed “in Christ”?

As we will find out in my next article, placing conditions on God's promises based upon our work messes up the new covenant and turns it into something else. If you believe “abiding in Christ” is a work, then your faith is no longer pointing at the work Christ did by causing you to live in Him. A faith mindset recognizes that we already abide in Christ and it is His work. Salvation is abiding in Christ. If you aren't already abiding, then you are not a child of God.

Of course, there are things we do that help us grow that mindset and our faith in what Christ has done. Hopefully reading this article helps with this too! However, we are not helping ourselves abide more. We are simply learning to better trust the abiding that has already happened. But, if we think we must do these things to obey Christ and abide more, then that will actually diminish our faith in the abiding Christ has caused. We need to always trust our being in Christ, even when we have not performed some ritual we think is helping us abide better.

The fact of your life being held in Christ does not depend on you, beyond faith. And it is when you have not had time or failed to perform the so called “spiritual disciplines” that you need this truth the most. We can trust our abiding at all times, especially in times of temptation when we need it immediately. Trusting in your ‘work’ of abiding will fail you when you need it. Thus, we must trust the truth, which is that you already abide in Christ and it was His work, not yours.

The New Covenant “Commands”

The 2nd worm slithering out of the can is the idea of commands or commandments. Because of the old covenant term coined the “Ten Commandments”, or the “ministry of death, written on stone” according to Paul, most people see those words and immediately think of Moses which is the old covenant (2 Corinthians 3).

However, it is foundational to recognize that these Mosaic Law commands are not the new covenant commands. Meaning - it is not the keeping of any of the Book of the Law, the 613 commands including the 10, that makes you or keeps you “right with God”.

You are made right permanently by faith, so the major two commands of the new covenant pertain to faith, and they are still not dependent on our works. And even for the other ancillary new testament wisdom “commands” given to the church, you are no longer following these to “get right and stay right” with God. Obviously, we make choices even as believers, but the reason you don't steal should not be “thou shalt not” and a fear of punishment. The motivation is now “Christ is in me” and “Christ loves me”, and thus “I love others” is empowered by the first two facts.

What are the new covenant commands in scripture?

This foundation is crucial to understand the following passages. If you think of Moses when you read these passages, it will mess you up and your faith will be focused on the wrong things. However, if you recognize and focus on a life based on faith in what Christ has done, not your own works, then the picture will be clear.

John 14:15 - “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

When reading this verse, a Moses focus will think that I must try my best to keep the Mosaic Law in order to prove my love for Christ. However, a Christ or new covenant focus will recognize this as a promise. Christ is not asking us to try our hardest to keep Moses; He is showing that as we grow in knowledge of Him; our abiding in Him; and His love for us; then we will naturally begin to love others in the same way. But, let's continue…

In 1st John, the author seems to continue this same thought.

1 John 5:3-5 - “3-For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, 4-because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 5-Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

I have kind of given it all away by quoting more of the context. The apostolic authors often write in this kind of reverse circular context manner that can be confusing. But they do it to make a point. In this case, John’s point is not to send us back to Moses so we can prove we love God, it is to show that those who believe in Christ, believers, have faith. This faith in God's new covenant promises enables victory over the world. This victory then empowers them to obey new covenant commands.

But, if you get it backwards, if you mix Moses in, then it messes everything up. If you are striving to keep Moses, even in a limited way, to “prove” you love God, then that motivation is no longer of faith. Thus, the admonition of this passage no longer applies to you. You are now walking according to the flesh, not the Spirit. John (and Christ) will soon clear this up, so let's continue…

Abide In Christ and His Love

John 15:9-12 - “9-As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10-If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11-These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12-“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

In this passage, we are beginning to get a clearer picture. Again, if you think the commands are Moses and abiding is a work, then you will get quite a different message from this passage than what Christ intended. Verse 12 clarifies His intention. This is reiterated by Paul in his Epistles several times: we are able to love others because of Christ's love for us. Because we abide in His love already through faith, we can now keep this command. As we will soon see, the abiding by faith and loving others from this place of abiding are the new covenant commands.

The Greatest Command in the Law

John 13:34 - “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.”

I have kind of done the backwards context myself quite by accident. This verse is the context for Christ’s continued theme in chapter 14 and 15. Note the word “new”. Why would He have to indicate this is a new command? If this is a ‘new’ command, what are the ‘old’ commands it is replacing? The answer comes from a challenge the Pharisees gave to Christ.

Matthew 22:35-40 - “35-One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question: 36-“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” 37-Jesus declared, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38-This is the first and greatest commandment. 39-And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40-All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

So, we must set the context of this discussion. The Pharisees were testing Christ about the Mosaic Law or old covenant. This discussion has no connection whatsoever to new covenant believers or the church other than informational. The old covenant is only ‘old’ for the Jews anyway. It was never made with Gentiles. Paul says many times in Romans, Galatians and other places that believers are “dead to the Law” and “not under the Law”. I take him at his word.

The contrast between old and new is extreme.

I don't want to steal too much thunder from my next faith article, but I need to set this context. You need to see the contrast between these commands of the Law and the new command Christ gives. They are not the same. They don't have the same motivation or power. Paul also says “the Law is not of faith”. Thus, faith empowers keeping Christ's new command; while flesh empowers keeping even these ‘greatest’ commands of the Law.

You can see the distinct difference in the “love your neighbor” command. The Law command, empowered by flesh, says to love “as you love yourself”. Now many still corrupt this concept. Notice that even under the Law, the basis for loving others is loving yourself! The idea is that you have to take care of yourself before you can give of yourself to others. This is just logical. Obviously this idea can be abused and create an imbalance where we are overly self-focused; however, this concept is important to understand. Even under the flesh, empowering yourself is the first step to helping others.

Christ’s new covenant command flips everything on its head. Notice, God is love. Christ’s character is demonstrated by love. As believers, Christ indwells us, and has filled our hearts with His love (Romans 5:5). Thus, when He is giving some final instructions to His disciples immediately before His act of love that initiated the new covenant gospel, His point was to emphasis how “new” this command was compared to the similar commands in the Mosaic Law.

The power emphasis within the old covenant commands is “you” and “your”; the power emphasis for the new covenant commands is always Christ.

Christ’s new command is not a repeat of or a way to keep the old commands. It is a new command that completely replaces the old. It is a command based on faith in Christ's power to love, not our own. Notice the emphasis in the two greatest commands of the Mosaic Law. Love God with all YOUR heart, all YOUR soul, all YOUR mind. And I already mentioned how the “love your neighbor” command is also self-focused.

Paul does not pull the concept that the Mosaic Book of the Law is not of faith out of thin air - it is self evident even by the language. Putting yourself under law is putting yourself under flesh power. Putting yourself under grace is putting yourself under faith power. One is dependent on you; one enables dependence on Christ. They are opposing mindsets that govern how we live. Unbelievers must choose which path will save them. Believers must choose which path will empower their walk. In both cases, only the new way of faith will work. The old way will fail every single time.

So, why did Christ bring up these two greatest commands of the law?

I have already covered the context of the discussion, but let's dig a bit deeper. The fact is, Christ knew that the Pharisees who tried to trick Him with this question genuinely thought they were keeping the Mosaic Law, including these two most important commands. They apparently were not self-aware enough to recognize their own deficiencies. They had built rigid structures within their belief system that allowed this delusion. Much of Christ’s interaction with the Pharisees and the Jews in general was focused on tearing down these belief structures that allowed them to ignore the plight of their souls.

The “Good” Samaritan

Many times Christ would use parables to try and penetrate this Pharisee or Jewish thickness of mind. Consider the parable of the “Good Samaritan” in Luke 10. Yet again, the context is a Mosaic Law scholar testing Christ. Perhaps it is even describing the same interaction from Luke's perspective. Or perhaps it is two different scholars with a similar question. This time the scholar admits that those are the two greatest commands. But, he is still trying desperately to keep his rigid belief structure in place that allowed him to think he was keeping it.

When he asked Christ who a neighbor is, then Christ tells him the story of the Samaritan who helps a stranger in a ditch while the priest and Levite - upholders of the law - passed him by.

As with most of Christ’s teaching, there are multiple meanings. However, a major point was that he utterly destroyed the scholar’s belief structure where he thought he was keeping the Law. Those under the Law, like the folks demonstrated in the parable, would avoid the Samaritans due to “contamination”. Frankly, they would even consider the man in the ditch to be an issue. Thus, they would feel content they were keeping the law even while ignoring the man's plight.

Let's set the full context of the good Samaritan parable.

Luke 10:25 - “One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?””

This is a critical point. Salvation was at stake in this conversation. For anyone that thinks this context is for believers or the church, I challenge you to reconcile the gospel message with the fact that Christ told the scholar that by keeping these two commandments he could inherit eternal life. They cannot be reconciled. Christ was not preaching the gospel here. He was destroying their notion that they could ever inherit eternal life by keeping the Law. They must abandon their adherence to the Law to obtain life and come to Him by faith.

OK, What is my Point?

As usual, any study of scriptural concepts ends up touching other concepts that need to be explored, at least gently. Again, this article will continue to feed into my next quite extensive article. But, if we are to have the faith to reflect the love of Christ to others, then we must understand the difference between these old and new commands.

Christ gives the new command because no one ever kept the old - and no one ever could. You cannot love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. You cannot love your neighbor as yourself. You can certainly try, but you will fail, as everyone in history except Christ has done. Especially the Pharisees and anyone else who thinks that keeping the law is a way to please God or have peace with Him.

The only love that will work to both love God and others is God's love. It must be gifted to you first before you can use it yourself. And this is why Christ goes into great detail after giving this new command about how He is the vine that empowers the branches and how believers are connected to the power of the Trinity just as He is. The church is one with Christ who is one with the Father.

Paul and John both emphasize the new commands of the new covenant. They are the foundation of the gospel message.

In 1 John, the new commands of the new covenant are made clearly evident. However, he is only putting together what Christ has already said. Let's review the work of the Father and the new command of Christ.

John 6:28-29, 40 - “28-Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29- Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”

40-For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 13:34 - “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.””

Galatians 5:6b “All that matters is faith, expressed through love.”

In 1 John we will soon see these new commands put together in a clear, straightforward way; yet, Christ certainly spoke these truths Himself. If you want to do the work of God, then you must first believe in Christ. I have written entire articles about this command. It is the basis of faith. Once you have done this, resulting in Christ's love poured into your heart, then the only other command is to love because Christ loves you.

If you realize that loving from any other source is highly inferior, then this will make sense. Again, Paul is clear about what is important. Faith is the foundation. It is what enables us to become a new creation with a heart full of the love of God. The the next step is to express that faith power by reflecting Christ’s love within us. We reflect it back to God and we reflect it to those humans God has placed in our circle of influence. But what we are reflecting was gifted to us in the first place! We cannot live on our own - we are dependent on Christ.

The New Commands are the Foundation of the Church

What the church is supposed to be is a group of people who are growing in their obedience to these commands and reflecting the love of Christ from within back and forth like mirrors reflecting the light. Imagine being in a group like that! However, most church people think they have wicked deceitful hearts that they need to continually work to fix through “spiritual disciplines”. How can they trust Christ’s love and life within if they don't even know it is there?

The second problem is most also don't know the the new covenant commands have changed! Thus, they spend their lives striving in their own power to keep old commands, never realizing their efforts are actually crippling their faith. It is an oxymoron. They want to stop their stealing, lusting, etc, so they can keep the Mosaic Law and please God, yet they have no belief foundation to tap into the power of faith to accomplish this. It is the placing themselves under the very law they want to keep that is preventing them from keeping it!

Once you realize the power of Christ's new commands, and the worthlessness of trying to keep the old, it will change your life (see the book of Hebrews, or read my next article, preferably both). But, let's finish by seeing how John presents these commands in 1 John.

The new covenant commands are not burdensome - they are easy and light - just as Christ promised.

Again, the church has a “commandment” problem. When we see this word in scripture, even in the Epistles, we think “Moses”. We ignore all of the clear scripture saying we are “free from the law”, “dead to the law”, and “not under the law”. If the word translated “commandments” or “command” is used, we still think Moses.

I believe that in the new testament, particularly the Epistles, when this word is used it is these new covenant commands of faith working through love. Unless the context has been set on the “Book of the Law”, this is true. As we will see in 1 John, he doesn't even consider Moses in his language.

New Covenant Law and Commands are the Same Thing

This is the same with the word “law”. We often still think “Moses”. Again read Hebrews. With a new covenant came new laws. Christ is now our priest.

Hebrews 7:11-12 - 11-Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? 12-For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.”

In 1 John, same as all the Epistles, the context of Moses is never set. Thus, when he uses the words command or commandments, he does not mean Moses. The thing is that he clearly states what commands he is referencing if we would actually listen. Yet, so many just hear “Moses”.

In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul laments that his people cannot get this concept. Yet, at least the Hebrews had a decent excuse! The church, particularly the Gentile church, should not have the same blindness! Unlike the Jews, they were never given the law in the first place.

2 Corinthians 3:14-16 - “14-But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. 15-And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16-But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”

The church ostensibly has turned to the Lord! However, much of our teaching feels like we act as if the old covenant Moses veil is still there. By adding to the new covenant commands, by mixing in the old, we weaken their impact because it weakens faith. Yet again, I'm stealing the thunder from my next article. Let's continue with some passages from 1 John, keeping in mind that Moses is not on his mind in the least.

The Plain New Covenant Commands

As I have studied this passage, there is a lot to cover, so fair warning I imagine this finish will take awhile. Yet, this is crucial to properly understand. I'm actually going to comment on each verse as I go through rather than list the entire passage. However, please look it up and read it all together. I'm just trying to save space.

1 John 4:18-24 - “18-Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Right away, in verse 18, we see something that can easily be corrupted. Again, John is doing some reverse logic. As we complete the passage, I hope you will see this. But, there are two ways to view this verse.

1. Flesh based view: we must try really hard to perform loving actions in order to ‘prove’ our salvation. We are not confident in our salvation so we should seek out opportunities to prove ourselves before God and others.

2. Faith based view: because we are connected to Christ and His love fills our heart, then we will be motivated to act out of this love when God places an opportunity before us. However, it is our confidence in our identity of love that enables this to happen, not seeking out good works as proof of anything.

John had a lot of talkers in the Ephesian church he was writing to. Particularly folks proclaiming an early Gnostic heresy. These people were not believers, but they talked a good game. John’s point was not to guilt-trip true believers into a flesh based attempt to prove their identity. His point is that an identity of love, being in Christ and Christ in you, will result in deeds empowered by faith. This is the natural result, easy and light. As we focus on the new covenant commands of faith and love, this will happen.

Proving your faith by good deeds is the wrong mindset and will lead to a flesh based walk; however, a genuine new creation will naturally have good deeds as they grow in faith because they are filled with the love of Christ.

To reiterate, trying to prove something by your deeds is not a faith based mindset. Christ will motivate these loving choices by faith, yet a guilt or obligation mindset will block faith from working and we will move into flesh mode automatically. You cannot follow the new covenant commands by using an old covenant obligation mentality. But, let's continue…

19-By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20-for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

I struggled with these verses for many years. John uses the Greek word “kardia” which is translated heart. In every other epistolic usage of this word it is positive for believers. God's love fills our hearts, we have circumcised hearts that are disconnected from sin, the Spirit indwells our hearts, etc. Only in this passage does it seem that word is used for believers in a negative sense.

When interpreting scripture, also called exegesis, there are methods to use. Now, I believe some have formalized these methods to the point that they lead to error. Thinking they are wise they become fools so to speak. But, there are some common sense logical methods that begin to naturally occur.

One of these is that when you have multiple points of evidence of a certain truth in scripture, then we must judge single points of evidence by the multiple. Once I applied this logic to this passage, while also considering the overall context, it became more clear.

This is quite simple: a believer’s new good heart would not condemn them, so thus John is not referring to a believer’s heart, but an unbeliever’s. Yet, while his audience is mixed, and this line references an unbelieving heart, I believe the overall passage is written to believers to help strengthen their faith. Let me explain.

Again, this is a reverse logic. You will see at the end that the focus of John in this passage is salvation. John's entire purpose in writing his Epistles is to distinguish those who have new hearts full of love from those who don't, and then to reassure those true believers who do. He tells us this plainly:

1 John 5:13 - “I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Notice that the purpose is to “reassure our heart”. This word translated “reassure” has the same root word translated “faith”. Perhaps even the new heart needs reassurance? I'm not going to claim full knowledge of the mysteries of our own existence and creation. I simply know that a believer has a new good heart. No matter how you view it, John’s purpose is to establish and grow faith in our new hearts filled with Christ's love.

Thus, I believe that the condemning heart is an unbelieving heart. As we continue through, John will tie this all together to give believers confidence in their heart as the place to trust because it is filled with Christ’s love. I take issue with the use of the word “whenever” by the BSB in verse 20. That is not in the Greek. There is not a sense of an ongoing condemnation.

This is a situation where an unbelieving heart condemns an unbeliever because of their captivity to sin. This may be through the conscience or the Mosaic Law. And the only remedy for this condemning heart is to believe in Christ and receive a new one. Once this happens, then we must continue to have confidence and grow in faith in this work of Christ within us.

NOTE: some translations use the word ‘conscience’, not heart. Some commentaries suggest that John uses a different word than other passages that indicates the conscience and not the heart. While I disagree, I am fine with this as it maintains the flow of John's point to reassure believers of their identity. What we cannot do is use this one passage to diminish our faith in Christ’s work within. With so many other passages reassuring that we have a new good heart filled with God's love, we can put our faith in this promise and live from our new hearts by faith.

In conclusion, John is saying that when we have naturally occurring loving deeds by faith, not forced by guilt or trying to prove something, then this will assure us that we have new good hearts filled with Christ's love.

However, if you hear this message and your heart (not your mind, your heart) is accusing you that your motivations are constantly false and impure, then you should consider whether you are a new creation or not. The test is have you obeyed the new covenant commands, but we will get there, so let's continue.

21-Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22-and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

Here we see the non-condemning heart of a believer. Another exegetical logic rule: many believe the use of the word ‘beloved’ and ‘brothers’ automatically means believers. This is not always the case and is very contextually dependant. I don't think it matters much in this instance; however, it is something to be aware of. John makes it clear that his focus is helping the true believers avoid doubt egged on by the false teachers in the church.

Notice that recognizing our new good loving heart gives us confidence before God. Later John says that we have this confidence because as Christ is, so also are we “in this present world”. The confidence comes, even now on earth, from the fact that we are connected to Christ. Our new nature; new self; and new heart are re-created by Him and filled and connected to Him. We are learning to trust this truth.

Verse 22 can so easily be twisted, but not if you keep the context of living from your good loving heart by faith. When you are living from this good pure heart, will you be asking for a mansion or Ferrari? Of course not.

John's point is not some blanket statement about asking anything from God and He will just provide - it is an identity statement where as we trust the new creation then our desires will align with God's and we will be asking for those things that align with these desires. Paul says those who suggest the gospel is a means of financial gain have a “depraved mind”. Certainly John would not be indicating differently here.

And now we get to the subject word “commandments”. If you think of Moses when you read this passage, you will get all bent out of shape and miss John’s entire point. Even if you think of other new testament ‘commands’ in the same sense as the old, it will mess you up. Don't miss the reverse logic and get this backward. John is not saying that if you strive hard and keep the Mosaic commandments, even the ‘moral’ ones, then God will be pleased and give you everything you ask for.

John is actually saying quite the opposite, but it all revolves around what he means by the word “commandments”. Thankfully John himself fills us in on what he means, so we don't have to guess. We just have to hear the truth and then believe it.

TA DA - the New Covenant Commands

23-And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24-Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Where is Moses in these final two verses? He is not there. This is not about Moses anymore, it is about Christ. This is so simple and logical, only a great scholar, teacher, or preacher can mess it up. They can read em’ and weap as far as I am concerned. This should be the nail in the coffin of any idea that we need to look to Moses to find God's commands.

John is clear here with what he means by commandments. The first commandment is believe in Christ - which requires faith in His love for us. The second commandment is to now reflect the love Christ has given you because you obeyed the first commandment. These two new covenant commandments work together to encompass the believer’s entire life and walk. All other ‘commands’ mentioned in the Epistles are a product or fruit of obeying these two commands.

In any proper reading of an Epistle, such as Ephesians, you will see this pattern. Before Paul portrays how the loving character of Christ will work its way out of a believer by faith, he establishes these two new covenant commands. If you try to produce the fruit of deeds without a proper knowledge of and trust in these new covenant commands then you will be doomed to failure.

The foundation for keeping these commands is Christ and Christ alone.

1 John 4:10,19 - “10-And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrificed for our sins.

19-We love because He first loved us.”

Notice that John here completely dismisses the “greatest command” of the Mosaic Law! Wow! Do you see this? John is defining love for us, and it is not about how well we try to love God with all our heart, soul, and minds. It was never about that. That law was given so we would try and fail to love in our own strength. That law forces us to confront our deficiencies and recognize we need to rely on Christ and not ourselves. Again, we cannot love God, or anyone else, with a God like love until we are gifted that love by God Himself.

John is establishing these new covenant commands that Christ gave. We already covered where Christ indicated the new commands. In neither case is Moses in view. This is simply heavenly laws. When we have faith, Christ gifts us His love. As we continue to grow in faith in this gift of love, as we learn how deep and wide it is, then we are naturally able to reflect it better and better.

A Child of God Loves Christ by Default

Christ gets at this in John 8. I won't get into the entire conversation, but I highly recommend reading the entire chapter, especially starting in verse 30. Christ is trying to get them to understand they are dead in their sins and the truth of the gospel will set them free. But they are absolutely convinced they are free already because they are children of Abraham. Christ destroys this argument and so they move to the argument that God is their father.

John 8:41-44b - “41-You are doing the works of your father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they declared. “Our only Father is God Himself.” 42-Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me. 43-Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. 44-You belong to your father, the devil…”

Much of Christ's teaching in the gospels is directed at the Jews due to their absolute conviction that because of their heritage and ability to keep the Mosaic Law, they were good spiritually. Yet Christ knows despite all their efforts to keep the Law, their true father is Satan, not God. They are dead in their sins, disconnected from the life of God. Yet, they are ignorant of this crucial truth and fight Him toe and nail.

But, I want to draw your attention to a phrase Christ says in this dialogue: “If God were your Father, you would love Me…” This is a foundational idea for another statement Christ makes later as I have already covered: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

Notice the assurance in this statement - it is a statement of fact. Let's restate it: “When God is your Father, you will love Christ.” One goes with the other. This is John's point in his Epistles and this is Christ's point in His follow-on statement. They are both speaking the same truth. In neither case should we view these statements as obligatory in a Mosaic Law sort of way. These are promises to have faith in, not something that we strive to accomplish.

A child of God does love Christ. Period. This is a fact we can depend on. Our deeds that flow from this faith do serve to grow our faith and further convince us of the promises, but they do not establish or change the facts of our identity in Christ one whit. The deeds come from the identity as natural fruit - they do not insure it or cause it in any way.

Further, I believe there is danger even in trying to measure our deeds to ‘prove’ our faith. We should be seeing a natural faith progression as we grow; certainly this should be shown in actions as our mind is renewed. But an obsession with deeds as we stress about our assurance of salvation will never lead to a place of faith. There is no fear in love. We can rest assured that Christ’s love within will lead to deeds - but if we are more obsessed with having deeds that Christ's love within - then those deeds will not be of faith.

Paul says we have an undying love for Christ.

This truth is what leads Paul to end the letter to the Ephesians in such a confident way.

Ephesians 6:24 - “Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.”

Paul makes this statement in confidence that it fully applies to those who are the children of God. We are not growing in our ability to love, we possess it as a gift of our salvation. The only thing we are growing in is the knowledge and trust of this amazing full gift of Christ's love within us. However, I fully recognize that this side of heaven we will never fully know and trust it.

This is our growth. Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-22 acknowledges this fact. Yet, He is praying for their growth in the knowledge of Christ's love, with a full commitment that as new creations they possess all of Christ and all of His love. Our only deficiency is knowledge and trust - an ongoing growing faith. However, our feeble attempts to be loving out of some false obligation to prove ourselves is not growing our faith - quite the opposite. It is hindering our growth.

We must embrace the new mindsets, leaving behind the old.

Thus, we must focus on these new covenant commands, and leave behind the old covenant fear based obligation mindset. Focusing on our deeds was the old way and will never bring deeds that actually please God. Yet, focusing on growing our faith through a proper knowledge of Christ and His love will quite naturally bring deeds that do please God. When you obey the new covenant commands of faith in Christ and loving based on His love for you then everything else is just a distraction. All the gospel teaching in scripture is given purely to help us focus more on learning to obey these two commands. Once you do this, you will be growing in grace and knowledge of Christ.

Are you “in Christ”? Then you are keeping God's commandments.

I want to bring our attention back to 1 John 4:24 and then add some more thoughts on the verses in 1 John 5 as John continues his thoughts.

1 John 4:24 - “Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.”

Do you remember me mentioning John using reverse logic? Well, this is the beginning point of his logic. Don't get this backwards. That will mess you up. Let's remind ourselves of the very basic tenant of the gospel. Are we saved by keeping the Mosaic Law? Anyone who has any kind of basic knowledge of the gospel should be proclaiming loudly “NO”. Maybe you should say it out loud (if you are alone!)

Ok, let's cover another basic tenant of the gospel. If you are not in Christ (God) and if Christ (God) is not in you, are you saved? Again, we should loudly be proclaiming “NO”. I can give you chapter and verse for these truths but this is so basic I will save the space. It should be common knowledge.

Let's continue with a final basic tenant of the gospel. If you don't have the Spirit of Christ, are you saved? I think by now we should even more loudly be proclaiming “NO”. So, let's put this all together and analyze verse 24.

John is saying that someone, any person, who abides in God, God abides in them, and they have the Spirit of God is also one who keeps God's commandments. But further, it is the very keeping of the commandments that enables being in God, God in you, and possessing the Holy Spirit. Further, many other places in scripture proclaim that we cannot gain these things by keeping the Mosaic Law. Nor do we gain them by our works, related to the Mosaic Law specifically or not.

Now, let's ignore the scholars who strive to complicate this. Forgive my sarcasm. What is the logical conclusion about these commandments? Are they Moses? Are they other new testament church guidance like “be thankful”? If not, what are they? Again, this is quite simple in concept. Are we saved by the Mosaic Law or how consistently thankful we are? I hope by now you are easily answering no since this is the gospel message.

What is John getting at? What commands must we obey to both enact the indwelling of God and show we have His love within us? What commands give us the Holy Spirit when we obey them? Well, he explicitly states them in the previous verse and I have covered them almost obnoxiously in this article: believe and love.

Again, I must emphasize that the “love others” command is not the same as the similar Mosaic command. Our ability to love others does not save us. We must not measure ourselves and think in this way - that is not what John is saying. To convert his words using that old covenant mindset will corrupt them.

The new covenant gospel is an entirely new way to think. The point is that now that Christ’s love fills our heart we will obey this command. We don't have to try to love - we will naturally love as we bask in Christ's love. It is in the trying - from an old fleshly obligation way of thinking - that we quench the Spirit and disrupt the love of Christ flowing from within. A mindset of trying will kill faith. Trying and trusting do not mix. It is one of the other.

At some level, a believer cannot help themselves. We can assist or resist the Spirit as He works within us certainly; but ultimately, He will win. Our only choice is how miserable we want to be during this process. Faith is cooperation because we recognize God's gifts are good. And though we are under no obligation from God to use them, it is truly only logical that we we do. They are for our benefit.

John Further Clarifies Love

I already briefly touched on these verses above, but with my final thoughts and based on the context I have just discussed, I want to review them.

1 John 5:3-5 - “3-For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, 4-because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 5-Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Again, as John further clarifies this truth, we see more reverse and then circular logic. Believing in Christ is keeping the commandments - this enables you to be born of God - faith is what overcomes the world - thus believers keep the new covenant commands by faith which enables the love of God to pour out from them - thus keeping God's commandments.

Another thing to point out is that John assumes the new commands is what he means by God's commandments. Unlike Paul, he feels no need to differentiate from Moses. He recognizes that within genuine gospel Christianity, this is the accepted way of faith. God’s commandments for him are only the new covenant commands. He has no confusion with Moses and no expectations his audience will either.

Since Gentiles had no part with the old covenant, this is no surprise. As we saw in 2 Corinthians 3, for Gentiles to put on the veil of the law is ludicrous. Yet, going all the way back to the Galatians, this has been a temptation of the church. One in which we participate all too readily. But, again, I am stealing thunder from my next article.

Love is Enough Conclusion

Wow, what a journey. I intended this to be a quick homage to Ed Elliott and his quick morning coffee but as I dug into scripture and reminded myself of these concepts I felt led to follow the conclusions to where they went. And as always, I left much on the table due to time and space. If you made it this far, I hope and pray it strengthens your resolve to continue in obedience to Christ's new commands: faith in Christ and utilizing the life and love He gives you to love others because He loved you first.

Realize that with Christ within, you will obey the love command to one degree or another. And that is our daily choice: cooperate with the Spirit of Christ by setting our mind on these gospel truth and learning to trust His promises; or quench the Spirit by believing lies and trying to do this ourselves. These lies can lead to debauchery or legalism - but either way, they hinder your growth in grace and knowledge of Christ - they hinder faith.

This is a perfect setup for my next article about how the new covenant has no conditions but faith. Since the unconditional love of God is the basis for the new covenant, this only makes sense. Until next time, enjoy your obedient pursuit of growing in faith and love. The obedience of faith is the only true obedience to God's commands. And remember, Moses is not of faith. Until next time, walk in faith expressed through love.

(All scripture quotes are from the BSB unless otherwise noted.)

Merry Christmas

My Christmas vacation is the first time in a while I have had any free time; thus, I am finally able to have time to write.

My next ‘faith’ article is nearly done. Jesus Christ had to be born as God, yet incarnated as human, to demonstrate the compatibility of humanity with the life of God. This was necessary in order for there to be anything useful to put faith in; thus, I did not want to neglect the season.

Finishing my faith article would have certainly fit, and been fine of course, but there was another concept that comes directly from the Christmas story that I want to address. And it is a promise we must have faith in, so it fits. It also introduces the promise I will get into for my next article.

This will be nice and short. My next faith article is not, so Merry Christmas.

The scripture under consideration is quite familiar, even to most of the world due to songs and cards. But, let's take a look.

Luke 2:14 - “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” KJV

I have quoted the King James Version since it is the most commonly known version. But, other translations that use older manuscripts translate it slightly differently. I will quote my normal translation, the BSB.

Luke 2:14 - “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”

When you get into the Greek, this translation seems to be more accurate. And it helps describe the corruption of this concept that is rampant in the world. This corruption is reiterated at every beauty pageant as the hopeful ladies proclaim their desire for “world peace”. While certainly a noble cause, this is not what the angels were proclaiming - quite the opposite.

The angels were not describing a generic peace and goodwill to humanity as everyone eventually learns to get along. Certainly, what they are describing could lead to that on a small scale, but that is not the context of their speech. To further portray how this concept is not accurate, let's look at where Jesus Christ Himself uses this Greek word for peace.

Matthew 10:34 - “Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Doesn't this go against the message of the angels? Were they not proclaiming that He would bring peace to the earth? Then why would He then proclaim the opposite? Must be that we are misunderstanding one of the messages. Christ further clarifies in another message about peace in the world.

John 16:33 - “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!””

Clearly, Christ is not teaching “world peace”. He is portraying a world that would hate Christians and that His message would actually cause more world conflict. And has history not proven Him correct?

Peace with God through Christ

Now the message of the angels starts to becomes more clear. They were not proclaiming peace and goodwill or favor onto all humanity or the world in general, though certainly the invitation is open to the entire world. Another famous passage, John 3:16, makes this clear. But, while the invitation is universal, the acceptance is not.

The peace and goodwill promised by the angels was not specifically human to human. It was something entirely new, particularly for the Jews who were their initial audience. The angels were pronouncing that the newly birthed baby Jesus was going to usher in the new covenant, which is based on God's goodwill towards those who seek Him, and how it would bring permanent peace with God - not necessarily other humans. For many, those who accept this new covenant would actually become their enemies - particularly among the Jews.

This would have been a complete mindset change for these Jews. They only expected peace with God when they kept the Mosaic Law perfectly. And none of them did, so peace with God was an elusive objective. The idea it would come as a gift through Jesus Christ was a huge stumbling block for them. And still can be, even for non-Jews today. There were no greater enemies of Christ and His accolades than the Jewish scribes and Pharisees.

In Christ = Peace with God

As Christ said, those who were “in Me”; “Christ in you” and “you in Christ”; would have peace. Now, the way this should work is Christ’s peace within enables peace with other humans, particularly others who have Christ’s peace within. But, the fallen world still interferes, even with fellow believers. Yet, the promise of peace with God remains. It is as steadfast as any promise of God, backed up by His surety. No matter how other folks treat us - even or especially those in the church - God's promise of peace with Him holds fast.

Paul speaks of what the angels were proclaiming in the following passage:

Romans 5:1 - “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

This is the peace and goodwill the angels announced. Those who put their faith in Christ are the ones “on whom His favor rests”. We have been gifted His peace as a fruit of the Spirit in our hearts. Our minds may not always comprehend this truth, and certainly our emotions may not always reflect it, but it is as true as all of God's promises.

Peace with God starts Now

Certainly scripture speaks of a time when sin is no longer an influence and thus God's love reigns supreme for both the general creation and all humanity to enjoy it. This will truly be a time of world peace. But that is not now and that is not this earth. Scripture speaks of a new earth - a regenerated earth. Much like our own spirits are newly born - a new creation - the rest of creation will have a similar trajectory.

Yet, the peace the angels spoke of started the moment Christ died, was buried, and resurrected. It is a peace promised to God's children - His new creations in Christ. If that is you, then it is a peace that indwells your new heart. The gift package of a new spirit, fused and bonded with the Spirit of Christ, is the ultimate gift - including peace.

And that is peace you can experience here and now as you trust this promise. No matter what your mind tries to convince you of, no matter what your emotions struggle with, that promise of peace is a sure foundation we can point our minds at when everything else gets confusing. We can be sure of it.

So, don't let the world water down this angelic message by making it about “world peace”. Certainly, this will come with the new earth, but it will never come with the current one. Yet, peace with God is available for anyone who believes in the good news - the gospel.

And those of us who possess this promised gift of peace should rejoice and be glad. It is a gift beyond comparing. As we move into the New Year, enjoy this gift immensely. Love you all in Christ. Merry Christmas!

(All scripture quotes are from the BSB translation unless otherwise noted.)

I realize I am a bit late with this one, but I woke up on this Thanksgiving Day with the following passage on my mind. I wanted to discuss, so hope you enjoy.

1 Corinthians 10:23-31 (ESV)

23-“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24-Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

25-Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26-For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”

27-If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28-But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—

29-I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30-If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

31-So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Licentiousness VS Legalism

The Corinthian church, as described by Paul in his two lengthy letters, fascinates me. Perhaps because they acted quite opposite of my own fleshly mindsets much of my life. My fleshly mindsets were more like the Galatians - legalistic and prone to an outward show of rule following in order to ostensibly “please God” - but it was mostly to please other people. And thus, any licentiousness was well hidden so they would not judge me.

The Corinthian church was the total opposite. Their fleshly mindset was along the lines of: “We don't care what anyone thinks, we are free to do the most offensive things possible since God has us covered by grace.” Of course, they confused mercy with grace as many do, but either way, their mindset was that their behavior did not matter. Since grace empowers life and love, their thinking was just as warped as mine was, only in the opposite direction.

Of course, both mindsets are not of faith, because neither is based in love. As usual with a false mindset, there is some truth to it. I mean, as new creations, we can do the most offensive things possible and God does have us covered. But, that is a profanely obtuse and stupid way of thinking and acting. You reap what you sow.

A Million $$$ Question

In 1 Corinthians 10:23 (and 6:12), Paul repeats the phrase “All things are lawful” four times. I want to point out that Paul never negates this statement. Meditate on that for a bit. Even in his response he never says that this is not a true statement or that they should be putting themselves under law.

In the original Greek, Paul is actually responding to a Corinthian question or comment which is why many translations have this phrase in quotations. The Corinthians had essentially written to him with the challenge of “because of the gospel, isn't all behavior now lawful?” They were trying to excuse their despicable behavior. Obviously, those who were true believers and had Christ in them were miserable because of this conduct, but too stubborn to admit or understand why.

Again, Paul does not negate this assertion because they were actually correct. For those who are in Christ, we are no longer under the Law. Romans 10:3 - “Christ is the end of the law for all who believe.” However, in answering their question, in all of the passages, Paul's answer is clear. Yes, all things are “lawful” in the sense of the Mosaic Law; BUT…not all things are helpful or work to build up yourself and others. In 1 Corinthians 6, he further clarifies that we should not allow anything to “control us”.

What is Sin?

I will do a CCC eventually on the concept of sin, but the definition of sin has changed under the new covenant. For purposes of this discussion, the old (Mosaic) and new (Christ/gospel) are contrasted. The definition of sin has actually gotten stricter. Of course, the ‘new’ covenant is not really new, it is simply the fulfilment of the only eternal covenant. The way of grace was always the way of God.

Under the Mosaic Law or old covenant, as long as you technically kept the Law, you were not “sinning”. The Pharisees turned “not sinning” into an art form. Christ destroyed them in the Sermon on the Mount (His point - for Law loving Jews, particularly the Scribes and Pharisees - you are not actually keeping the Law.) You think because you haven't literally stabbed your neighbor in the back you are not sinning. Well, hating them in your mind is still sin. And, thus, if you put yourself under the Law, you have no hope. You can never keep it.

In these Corinthian verses, Paul gets at the true meaning of sin: anything that is harmful to yourself and others; that which does not build up, but tears down; and anything that you allow to control you (addiction). As believers, we should seek to follow the Holy Spirit only. Walk by the Spirit. Don't get drunk with wine to excess, but be filled by the Spirit. The following passage is the penultimate description of this life:

Flesh VS Spirit

Galatians 6:16-18 - “16-So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17-For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18-But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

I have brought this up before. Paul says in Romans 8:14 that those who are the children of God are led by the Spirit. A hallmark of a believer is the constant leading of the Spirit. However, it is abundantly clear that we must learn to stop walking by the flesh in order to continue walking by the Spirit. It is only one or the other. There are only two ways to walk for a believer.

An unbeliever can only ever walk by the flesh since they abide in the flesh. They are led and controlled by the flesh - enslaved by the power of sin. This is never determined by the actions they take while they are in the flesh. They can lead a Bible study - flesh. They can rob a bank - flesh. Donate to charity - flesh. Visit a prostitute - flesh.

The hallmark of a believer is they are indwelled by, connected to, led by, and controlled by the Spirit. Unlike the unbeliever, however, who cannot switch back and forth from Spirit and flesh power, the believer can now choose. Once they have chosen to let Christ indwell them, they are now “in Christ” or “in the Spirit”, (in contrast to an unbeliever who is “in sin”, “in Adam”, or “in the flesh”).

Choosing to walk by the flesh doesn't change that. Yes, we can be fooled and tempted into a now foreign way to walk. No surprise - before Christ it was the only way we knew. Salvation is never indicated in scripture to involve a lobotomy. We do get a new spirit and heart, but not a new brain or body. Yet.

Spirit Focused Not Flesh Focused

One quick thing to point out in verse 17 is that a believer has been given a new heart that wants what the Spirit wants. Again, yes, this is often shadowed by unrenewed mindsets that offer us tempting choices that lead us off the Spirit path onto a fleshly one. However, do not be fooled by a legalistic interpretation of this verse: walking by the flesh is when you are NOT doing what you want. At our core, a believer wants the Spirit way.

Walking by the flesh, for a believer, is when you are NOT doing what you want.

But, Paul's point is a simple one. The idea is not that we “fight the flesh”. The gospel is never inherently negative, so a “fighting the flesh” mindset is not the best way to think of it. We should never be focused on “the flesh”. As humans, we often do the very thing we focus on! So, our focus should be on Christ, the gospel, and the leading of the Spirit. If we do that, we don't have to worry about the flesh. It will automatically be taken care of.

That is Paul's point! He follows with a list of attitudes and actions that he calls ‘obvious’ outward manifestations of the flesh. There is no ambiguity with this list. There should be no doubt of the source of these attitudes and actions. These are not things the Spirit will ever lead anyone to do. These things should be obviously harmful to yourself and others. Hatred and rage are on the list. Tell me when those have ever built anyone up? And both are capable of controlling you and causing you to take further destructive actions.

Subtle Fleshly Thinking

Yet, my concern is the even deeper levels of fleshly thinking that Paul is getting at in my main passage in 1 Corinthians. There was a big controversy in the Gentile churches over meat sacrificed to idols. There are many reasons for this, which I won't get into now. But, perhaps, consider this in the same vein as “alcoholic beverages” in the modern church. Many are divided over this topic to the point of even accusations of sinning if you imbibe at all. This is the same idea as the “idol meat” in the early church.

In Romans 14, Paul addresses a similar topic, but pertaining to other believers, not unbelievers. Of course, this was a different problem from the Corinthians, but the point was the same. Immature believer or derisive unbeliever, don't offend with your freedom. Grace through faith does not need to be flaunted.

In Christ, you are free to eat or drink whatever you want.

It is not the partaking of anything that is a sin. Paul calls those believers who have rules and withhold themselves from food and drink “weaker” in Romans 14. Yet, his point was that the mature believer would not deliberately taunt the weaker by flaunting their freedom. You don't correct fleshly thinking by more fleshly thinking. Both the flaunting of rules and the flaunting of freedom come from fleshly thinking.

The Unbeliever Dinner

In this passage in Corinthians, Paul has a different focus than in Romans. Instead of being focused on a weaker believer who is offended by your freedom, this is an unbeliever. What is astonishing is that the unbeliever would even have this as a concern! Why would they care about the meat that they have freely eaten all their lives? It is not explicit in the passage, but they have clearly gotten this idea from somewhere. Obviously there were some in the church making a big deal out of this, to the point where even pagans in the town began to focus on it.

This over emphasis on idol meat could have been negative or positive. Given the tendency of the Corinthians, maybe they were bragging on their freedom. Maybe they were making a big deal in the public market about how those ‘other’ believers would avoid the meat, but they were free to do anything. But, this church was also known for their dissension and factions, so most likely they had a non-idol-meat faction and their clashes had impacted the society around them.

Either way, it had become a ‘situation’. Yet again, Paul does not set an “idol meat” law. He makes it clear that all is the Lord's and you can eat or drink anything and be grateful for it. But, one fleshly idea often leads to another. Because stupidly the issue had become known to the society around the church, then sometimes unbelievers made it an issue.

You got invited to dinner and they gleefully set a plate of “idol meat” in front of you and proclaimed how the Christian was about to give credence to their idols and false religion. Because the church had made a big deal about it, now the world around them were doing the same. And the name of Christ was potentially being defamed.

In that case, Paul says the Spirit will lead you to abstain. Not because it is actually an issue, but the person you are with has made it one. Thus, if you partake, in their mind and conscience you will be marring the face of Christ. This could lead them to minimize Christ and your faith. So, it is best to abstain. However, if nothing is said, then chow down!

Notice the new covenant faith based approach here. The law says to not eat meat sacrificed to idols; yet, unless it is harming someone else, faith shows that you are free to eat. However, in many varying situations, doing something that is perfectly fine normally may become sin because it hurts someone else. And in this case, it is hurting them only because they have some stupid idea that it is wrong for you - most likely given to them by the Corinthian church!

But, this is the law of Christ or the law of love. It is walking by the Spirit. It is freedom to eat or not eat, with a focus on that which is loving and lifts up yourself and others. There is no set of laws that can ever allow us to do this well. Only by dependence on Christ in us can we walk in this way.

Liberty

“Why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?”

Paul is not shy about proclaiming his liberty. Those with strong faith eat or drink freely without issue - unless, of course, it harms themselves or others. Consistent gluttony and any drunkenness are harmful - this should be clear. But the issue is not the eating or drinking. We should be grateful to eat and drink whatever we want.

As many of us have partaken in the traditional Thanksgiving feast today, keep this in mind and enjoy without guilt. Or perhaps the eggnog with a bit of something, something in it. Don't let someone else's hangup give you heartburn. Yet, keep in mind the law of love - don't use your freedom as fuel for the flesh. This is quite simple, be considerate of others. There is no such thing as freedom or grace in your face to others. That is not of faith.

At the same time, don't let other folk’s conscience give you a second thought about you own freedom in Christ. Unless you are hurting someone or causing them to stumble in their own hang-ups, enjoy everything to the uttermost. I believe the Apostle Paul would approve. But, of course, do it in full gratitude for God's gifts. Nothing like passionate partaking to show gratitude! We glorify God by accepting all of His gifts with gratitude.

Happy Thanksgiving to my US readers, but all are welcome to be grateful every single day of course. But, as you enjoy the abundance of food, I will leave you with another Pauline reminder:

Colossians 2:16a, 20-23 - “16-Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink… 20-If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: 21-“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?

22-These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23-Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

I will let Paul speak for himself. He is making my point from earlier. You can never fight flesh with flesh. You cannot fight licentious flesh with legalistic flesh. The enemy is happy with all fleshly thinking.

The way of the gospel and the way of faith is to accept all of God's gift and show our gratitude by enjoying them. And clearly this is not restricted to only the spiritual gifts!

Much like a parent loves to see their child play with their new toys at Christmas or those who spend time cooking a delicious meal enjoy those who eat it with relish, so God is glorified when we enjoy His gifts. As you go through this holiday season, remember to enjoy all of God's gift with abandon. There is no better way to express gratitude!

(All scripture quotes are from the BSB unless otherwise noted.)

My first non-introductory faith article dived into some specific scripture regarding the definition of faith. We learned that a mindset of seeing all of God's promises and gifts as truly good is essential for faith. Keeping the gospel as pure “good news” is necessary for living faith. We must keep rotten faithless beliefs from corrupting the gospel!

We must have confidence that God's promises are sure and good. And good really means objectively good - we don't need to relabel evil as good just because someone says it is coming from God. God does not break His promises. The gospel is never “bad news”. Christ did not come into the world to condemn the world, but to save it. The gospel promises are good for you; and true faith enables you to trust their goodness without any pretense.

The scriptural definition of faith is the concept where we have obtained an absolute certainly that this invisible God, whom we cannot see, is trustworthy and keeps His promise to give us good gifts as His children. True faith enables the reality of those gifts in and through us. Faith causes the promises to become real in our lives. It is the rubber on God's invisible road, so to speak. It is one of the currencies of God's kingdom.

It's Greek to Me!

Following this initial discussion from Hebrews 11, I realized that I never discussed the meaning of the Greek word translated ‘faith’. The actual word is ‘pístis’, but I'm also going to give the word study Copyright 2021 Discovery Bible definition of the root word peíthō:

3982 peíthō (the root of 4102 /pístis, "faith") – to persuade; (passive) be persuaded of what is trustworthy.

4102 pístis (from 3982/peithô, "persuade, be persuaded") – properly, persuasion (be persuaded, come to trust); faith.

It is ironic that I missed this, since this clearly lays out the silver thread of my previous articles! Notice the phrase “come to trust”. I have covered this ad nauseum in my previous articles, but, again, it is not enough to simply believe, you must “come to trust” God's promises. And, even as believers, that is a process. Thus, within the Greek definition, we see the process of faith.

I want to focus on “be persuaded of what is trustworthy”. Faith means we allow God (through many methods, but predominantly scripture) to pursuade or convince us that both He and His promises are trustworthy. Faith means we are convinced that God can be trusted. For faith to be real, this cannot just be a “talking point” or a pithy Sunday morning quote.

Again, I must emphasize that this is inextricably tied to God's nature of love. If you are convinced that God loves you with an ‘agape’ type love -unconditionally - then trusting Him and His promises will be second nature. Faith is not actually the struggle - it is our poor mindsets or belief systems that prevent faith from working. That is the real struggle - repenting - changing our mind - about these harmful beliefs.

“Coming to Trust” Applies Before Salvation Too

A brief thought about this process of faith. If the promise a human is coming to trust is that Christ came to save you - to give you life - then at what moment are you no longer “coming to trust”, but you fully trust? This is important.

There is much apostolic scripture, and even some language in Christ’s letters to the churches in Revelation, that is quite condemning and gives consequences that other parts of scripture reserve for the enemies of God. I touched on some of these passages in James and Hebrews in some of my previous faith articles. I also wrote an entire CCC article about how the apostles were often evangelistic, even when writing to an established church.

It baffles me how many people cannot perceive this simple fact - particularly since the gospel only reaches full clarity in the apostolic writings. Would many of us understand the gospel without Romans? They don't call certain evangelistic techniques “The Romans Road” for no reason. Yet, many still struggle to interpret much of the epistles as evangelistic when they clearly are.

Here, again, even within the Greek definition of faith, we see further evidence. There were many in the early church (just as today) who were still the the process of “coming to trust” Christ. They had heard the gospel; they knew about Christ; perhaps were even active in the church; but they still did not fully trust Christ for new life. Particularly in the Hebrew churches, trusting Christ vs Torah was an immense struggle.

Entering God's Rest

There are many analogies of the new birth and salvation experience in the new testament. In Hebrews, the analogy is “entering God's rest”. It directly calls out that we must “rest from our own works”, clearly referencing old covenant Torah based works. In Hebrews 3, leading up to the discussion of entering God's rest, the author says to not have a “wicked heart of unbelief” and to “not harden your heart” when you hear Christ's voice. He further says it is because of unbelief that you cannot enter the rest.

This is the faith process beginning to work. Later in Hebrew 4, after telling them about the new covenant “rest of God” offered by the gospel, the author further admonishes them to “make every effort to enter that rest”. Again, believing that leads to trust is the process of faith. “Coming to trust” is a process, even before salvation. Many unbelievers, both in and out of a physical ‘church’ location, are at some step in this process.

Once you have come to trust the promise of new life and salvation, then the Christian life begins. And it is a life of discovering and “coming to trust” all the other promises that comes along with that main promise of life. What does it mean to “be alive”? And what else can we expect to happen based on being alive?

Faith is a Gift - Like all God's Gifts

Romans 12:3 - “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.”

Paul indicates that one motivation for any believer to use their gifted humility is because their “measure of faith” is also gifted (given). Now, if you read commentaries on faith, you will find this concept is over emphasized in some ways.

This is because they are coming at it from the perspective of a certain ‘-ism’, and thus it clouds the matter. They are trying to take us completely out of having any role in the process of faith. While faith is a clearly a gift of God, we must still choose to believe in order to receive any of God's gifts - faith included. God has chosen to give us a role in this - both before and after we become His child. Just because living faith is a gift does not make it a “work” to accept the gift.

However, obviously, the verse I just quoted indicates each believer is given a measure of faith by God. No question.

This is a big reason that comparing ourselves to others and trying to measure our or other's faith is a fruitless endeavor! If someone's measure of faith is greater or less than our own, that is between them and God. Really, none of our business, unless we see them getting caught up in harmful sin. Even then, we approach them in love, humility, and gentleness. We certainly don't need to be the faith police, as so many set themselves up to be. Just a quick look on the internet and you will find many of these types.

A Gift Doesn't Preclude Activity

So, one might say, if our faith is gifted by God, then what are we to do? Can we just sit back and wait for God's faith to work? Were you to listen too closely to many commentaries, this would be a logical conclusion (though not one they come to, of course). Cognitive dissonance in theological studies is an all too frequent occurrence. It is odd to me that those who over emphasize God's sovereignty in salvation are often the ones who then over emphasize our sovereignty when it comes to growth! Ironic. But that is a topic for another time.

If you are gifted a fishing pole, in order to use it, you must go fishing! If you are gifted cooking equipment and food, then you must cook to use the gifts. If you are gifted clothing, you must put them on if you are using the gift. It would be a foolish person who owns a gifted coat and yet goes out into the winter without it and gets frostbitten. Paul uses this very analogy of clothing in several places. Because you are already wearing Christ, then “put on love”, etc. In others words, use the gifts you have been given!

If you are gifted a measure of faith, then there will be actions that flow from the gift. Those actions are not legalism - because they are coming from faith, they please God. But the distinction is the source of the actions, not the actions themselves. The coat we try to knit out of crappy fleshly material will never keep us warm like the coat we have been gifted from God. Yet, putting on the faith-based coat is not “works righteousness”. It is utilizing the gifts of the gospel by faith.

It Is Still Our Choice

What is my point? Often, what scripture doesn't say about a topic is as relevant as what it does say. And, what this verse doesn't say is that every believer uses the entire measure of faith they have been gifted. Again, this all goes back to God's nature of love preventing Him from forcing us, and the definition of a gift being that it is never forced upon anyone. You do not have to use the full measure of the gift of faith you have been given. And, I dare say, none of us do. That is why we are also gifted forgiveness!

I do agree with the commentaries I read that faith is not the same as belief, as I have gone over ad- nauseum in my previous articles. However, knowing, understanding, believing, and trusting in God's goodness are prerequisites for us to have a mindset that allows our gifted faith to work in and through us. And again, that is our primary ‘work’ as believers. It is the only work that matters. The attitudes and actions that flow from this come from a place of rest, and thus are not really works at all.

We Have been Gifted Faith - Now We Need to Let it Work

Our main work is to grow in our ability to let Christ work. Again, that takes faith. Letting faith work in us is letting Christ work. This is the foundation for any actions flowing from the gift. And this comes by hearing and believing gospel truth. Such as the following verses:

Romans 8:14 - “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” (NIV)

Galatians 5:18 - “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

I put these two verses together because one leads to the other. As a believer, you must know that you are always led by the Spirit (another great promise to trust). You do not need to do anything to cause the Spirit to lead. He is always leading you. Romans 8:14 says this plainly. It is not a question of whether it is true; it is a question of whether you trust it.

Now, once you have that firmly in your mind, the next question is - are you following? Or as scripture puts it, are you “walking in step with the Spirit”? And if not, what is preventing it? There is a good chance that believing you must jump through some hoop in order to walk in step with the Spirit could be the very thing that is preventing it! Not seeing faith as a gift is one of the main obstacles to our growth.

We do not need to do anything for the gift of faith we already possess to work in and through us; but, we may need to do something to remove the mindsets that are preventing faith from working through us. I'm not sure how well this idea has come out of my writing. But, I'm learning through this process too!

I don't want you to miss this concept. You are a slave of righteousness. Period. The Spirit is always leading you. Period. It is natural for a believer to walk in step with the Spirit as He leads. As Christ promises, it is “easy and light”. Walking in step with the Spirit is the default mode of a believer! We don't have to strive to make this happen in some way.

This is one of the foundational promises of the gospel. One of the new parts of being a new creation and the new covenant is Christ has done the hard part. His work aligns and converges our spirit with His. He not only leads us, but He causes us to walk in alignment with Him by default. It is all His work! We simply believe this promise along with all of the others and relax in the goodness of God.

However, understanding faith as a gift, and knowing that “coming to trust” is a process, is helpful in the work of removing obstacles to faith. I mean, that is why I am writing this! We learn about faith, not so that we enable faith by our learning, but we learn about mindsets that are thwarting our using the gift of faith appropriately.

Don't Quench the Spirit

Where this gets hard is when we make it hard. Either because of current lies we are believing, or past lies that have become entrenched in our mindsets. Many of these lies involve thinking we must do something to ‘enhance’ the Godly gifts we have been given. The hard work is not trying to get faith to work through us; it is trying to remove the mindsets that are preventing faith from working through us!

When Paul speaks of “quenching the spirit” or “let this mind, etc. be in you”, this is what he means. There is nothing we must ‘do’ to cause the Spirit to work in us other than receive Christ and become new creations. However, we can block His work by poor mindsets and beliefs. We need to ‘let’ or allow faith to do its work. This will happen naturally as we get rid of harmful beliefs and relax in Christ - trust His promises. When we trust we are already ‘in’ the rest of God then we will act from rest.

Don't Have a ‘BUT…’ Gospel

We often see this in new believers. There is a radical shift in attitude after they first come to Christ. There is inexplicable joy and peace. There is a realization of God's love that is supernatural. And then they go to, (or back to) church. And they begin to hear the BUT… messages: Yes, now you are saved; BUT… Or, yes God loves you unconditionally; BUT here’s a condition… Or, yes, the gospel is good news; BUT only if you do your part…

These messages begin to reverse the initial child-like gospel mindset of pure trust. They insert doubt into the good news and begin to make it about the believer and their performance, rather than Christ. They emphasize a laundry list of requirements and not God's love. And that initial burst of genuine faith begins to be blocked. The natural faith fruit starts to be replaced by the fake fruit of self-improvement by good activity and the cycle of doubt begins.

If we are honest, in this process the gospel is replaced by the same mindset as the world. The list of activities appear “holy” because we get them from scripture. But the mindset is the same: do these certain activities and thus improve your life. Church becomes a self-help seminar; justified since the list of self-help activities is based in scripture. Thus, it is the same fleshly, worldly mindset - with a gospel or Christ veneer over it.

This is often double-jeopardy for those who grew up with these mixed messages! The ‘BUT…’ message is something they have heard from their childhood. Thankfully, the Lord can break through even in these cases (I am “Exhibit A”). Yet, it can take a long time, and there is often a lot of unnecessary destruction during the process.

Not Only the Church…

This demonstrates that these are not always new messages. Often they are very old - we have heard them from childhood. And I'm not purely picking on the church, though one would hope you could relax there, and sadly often you cannot.

As I alluded to, obviously the world, and society representing it, have messages that directly contradict the gospel. And the enemy will bring these to our minds and tempt us away from the pure gift mindset that infuses the gospel message. The self-improvement message is like Hydra in the Marvel universe - it has tentacles everywhere.

This message is the enemy of faith - whether it comes from the world or the church. And we must fight it constantly.

Led by the Spirit - Not Law

I won't linger here, as I have covered this ad nauseum in many of the other articles on faith. Since legalism is the antithesis of faith, this is to be expected. As I stated however, these two verses go together. One states that all believers are led by the Spirit. The other states that all who are led by the Spirit are not under the Law. Thus, a simple conclusion: believers are not under the Law. Paul states this even more clearly here:

Romans 10:4 - “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

Why would Paul associate these two concepts? Why is it important to know that you are always led by the Spirit, and thus are not under the Law? What is it about putting ourselves under law that quenches the Spirit?

Have To vs Want To

This is best described as a “have to” vs a “want to” mentality. These are diametrically opposed. A “have to” mentality quenches the Spirit; a “want to” mentality is faith. And it cannot be faked - you cannot ever “fake it ‘til you make it”. You cannot pretend to “want what God wants” for show or out of fear. The gospel is better than this! You will never have to fake true faith.

The Law, by definition, indicates “have to”. The Law forces compliance. There are blessings for compliance and penalties for non-compliance. Paul alternately calls this bondage and a curse. This is why it is “not of faith”.

And yes, this includes the “10 Commandments”. All 613 laws are part of the “Book of the Law”. Paul never divides the Law of Moses. It is all or nothing. Again, it is not that the activity listed in the law is bad; it is the attitude of requirement that makes it a curse. We can never do what is required!

The way of faith is the “want to” way. Not because we work to change our “want to” (self-help); but because Christ has already changed our wants and desires. This is another promise! I will cover this in a bit. But faith will recognize that you now ‘want’ to act righteous! You don't have to of course. The gospel has you covered with promises of mercy and forgiveness. But, this gifted change of desire is the full gospel message. We now desire righteousness because we have been infused by it.

You Don't Want Sin

The flesh will try to confuse us. We will often think or feel that we want sin. This is a soulish mind thing; it needs renewing. As Andrew Farley often says - we still have “stinking thinking”. But, when our senses tell us something opposed to the promises of God, what do we believe? Well, faith trusts the promises over our senses. We walk by faith and not sight. Thus, no matter what you feel as a temptation - since you are a new creation - you don't want to sin. A slave of righteousness does not truly want sin. Don't fall for the mind games of the enemy.

Knowing Christ’s Love = Faith

Christ warns the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:4, they “lost their first love”. He recognizes that though they continued to perform good actions, their faith motivation was slipping. They were beginning to substitute their original living works for dead works. Their love motivation was slowly being replaced by something else.

This is why, earlier in history, Paul wrote the following to the Ephesians (ironic? I think not):

Ephesians 3:6 - “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 3:12 - “In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.”

Ephesians 3:17-19 - “17-so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18-will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth 19-of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Faith fills this chapter and culminates in Paul's desire that they comprehend and know the love of Christ. While this prayer starts out evangelistic in nature, (so that Christ may dwell in your hearts), Paul's truth for believers is that the purpose of this indwelling is to root us in His love and give us power that enables the beginning of a deep comprehension of this gifted love.

Notice in verse 6, Paul roots the gospel in the fact that we are now “partakers in the promise”. Much like how the fruit of the Spirit is listed as singular, yet has many components; the gospel promise is singular, yet is composed of many promises. This singular emphasis is focused on Jesus Christ. He is the gift package that embodies all of the promises. It is His indwelling that enables the power to know His love and reflect His love.

You can study scripture and these promises 12 hours a day, but the simple fact remains that “knowing Christ” sums it all up. Yet, as Paul admonishes later in Ephesians 4: “How have you learned Christ?” It is the ways we have learned Christ incorrectly that present the greatest obstacles to faith. And most often we have substituted religion and religious traditions for the genuine gospel of the good news that everything is a gift.

‘Comprehend’ Is Not Strong Enough

The word ‘katalambánō’ in Ephesians 3:18, translated ‘comprehend’, is far stronger than the English word implies. Here is what the word study Copyright 2021 Discovery Bible has to say about this word:

“2638 katalambánō (from 2596 /katá, "down, according to," which intensifies 2983 /lambánō, "aggressively take") – properly, take hold of exactly, with decisive initiative (eager self-interest); to grasp something in a forceful (firm) manner; (figuratively) to apprehend (comprehend), "making it one's own."“

Notice the phrase “eager self-interest”. That is curious. Paul is saying that we grab hold of Christ’s love that indwells us eagerly for our own self-interest! Once again, we utilize faith because it is good for us (and hence: others)! Sin destroys; faith through love builds us up. If God is for us, who can be against us. The gift of Christ is truly good. And we must recognize its goodness for us first before we can use it for the good of others.

The more you trust in Christ's love for you; the more you will be able to love others. The more you hedge on Christ’s love for you; the more you will hedge on your love for others. The more conditions you place on Christ’s love for yourself; the more conditions you will have for others. Scripture portrays this as a inverse relationship: “we love because Christ first loved us.”

Know Is Also not Strong Enough

In Ephesians 3:19, the word ‘know’ is the same word used in the new testament to indicate sexual intimacy. It is also used to describe how you would ‘know’ a tree by its fruit. It is an identity or “state of being” word. You identify (know) an apple tree because it produces apples. There is a certain intimate identity that comes from a sexual interaction. This is why sexual promiscuity is never an element of true love (but that is another topic).

In the end, what Paul is praying for, is that believers become intimately aquainted with Christ’s central identity: agape-love. Yes, just as a lover becomes intimately aquainted with the body and responses of their partner, so we should enjoy Christ. This is only an analogy of course, but scripture certainly connects these concepts. Not only in the new testament: read the Song of Solomon. And make sure and interpret the Hebrew accurately - it is quite graphic. God is not hedging when describing His love for us. There is an intimacy there that a religious mindset seeks to distract us from.

In Ephesians 3, we see the connection of faith in the promise and chasing after and taking firm hold of an intimate knowing of Christ’s love for us. And this is how we allow the power of Christ within to fill us with “all the fullness of God” (verse 19). It is this filling that empowers our walk. Faith in the love of Christ provides this filling. And we need this filling to live well - it is a result of faith.

Let God's Love Fill You

We have our “measure of faith”; it has already been gifted. Because of the promise, we have everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Now we must continue to run after and intimately grasp the love of Christ so that we do not quench the Spirit and block that measure of faith from working. Seek Christ and nothing else. Or as Paul puts later in Ephesians:

Ephesians 5:18 - “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

As Paul wrote earlier, being filled by God through the Spirit is this grasping of the love of Christ. Will you need to find peace through drunkenness if you intimately know the love of Christ? Of course not. And thus we see faith. Let's remind ourselves of what matters:

Galations 5:6b - “All that matters is faith, expressed through love.”

Faith is foundational to enjoy this deep comprehension of Christ’s gifted love filling our hearts so that we may express it outwardly.

What is the “Gospel Goal”?

In my last article, we learned that one goal of faith was to “preserve the soul”. I recognize all these concepts are tied together; but, what is the goal of the gospel message overall?

1 Timothy 1:5 - “The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.”

Notice that the gifted love comes from other gifts. The error would be to look at this verse as something we try to engender rather than simply accept as a gift. The gift of love is composed of these other gifts: a pure heart, a clear conscience, and of course, living (sincere) faith. I believe a discussion of these topics is vital and I will end this article with this discussion.

The wrong way to look at this verse is to think that you must work to have a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. Paul is saying that the reason he teaches the pure new covenant gospel of grace is to enable love in those who believe. And he points to these three gifts - promised by the gospel; gifted by Christ - as the motivation for our love.

If you wonder whether these are truly gifts, consider the following verses. We will start with a “pure heart”. Religion will always try and make a pure heart something we do progressively by making our own heart pure using “self-help” steps. However, the gospel proclaims that only God can make our heart pure and Christ gifts this to us at our new birth. We too often use the world's definition of the ‘heart’; not God's.

The Gift of a Pure Heart

Romans 5:5 - “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”

Philippians 4:7 - “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Ezekiel 11:19 - “And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh,”

Ezekiel 36:26 - “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

Matthew 5:8 - “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

Let's start at the end and work our way up. As a believer, a child of God, will you see God? Is that not promised? Isn't the basic promise of salvation - that ironically pretty much everyone agrees on - is that you will go to heaven? Then Christ says you have a pure heart. You must have one in order to see God. And do you make your own heart pure or is it a gift? Seeing God (going to heaven) means you have a pure heart. Again, only the pure in heart will “see God”. This word ‘see’ is not figurative.

The two passages from Ezekiel are new covenant gospel prophecies. They are portraying what happens at the new birth when believers become new creations - they get a new spirit and heart. The imagery here is that the hard heart of stone we have comes alive again. This is the new birth. A new creation in Christ has a new pure heart.

Then we get to the epistolic descriptions of this event. Paul says that God's love poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit is what makes them new. And the gift of the fruit of the Spirit guards our hearts and minds. Unlike the old testament, we no longer have to guard our hearts. Christ does that for us as a gift. We could never guard them properly anyway!

That is why the great hope, the gospel, does not disappoint! (Unless you are believing a fake, works based “gospel”.) This gift of a new, pure heart filled with the love of God is the basis of our faith. It is the new creation, the center of everything. It is our connection to Christ. There are other verses about our heart, but let's continue with the other promised gifts that lead to love…

The Gift of a Clean Conscience

Hebrews 9:9 - “It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.”

Hebrews 10:2 - “If it could, would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt the guilt of their sins.”

Hebrews 10:22 - “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

1 Peter 3:21 - “And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”

Scripture is clear - the law could never clear the conscience - but the new covenant gospel does - once for all, for all time. As Peter says, the baptism of the Spirit; salvation; new birth; becoming a new creation; this is the promise that your conscience has been cleansed. Read those verses carefully. Believers are the only ones who have a clean conscience as a gift. Yet another promise to have faith in!

Your New Heart enables a Clean Conscience

And we see that these promises are connected - it is the new clean heart that enables a perfectly clear conscience. This is all still a gift - not dependent on our works. As Peter says, it is because of the resurrection. We have been given “resurrection life”. We were spiritually dead; now we are alive. This life is apart from our actions. Just as God does not abort His children; you cannot commit suicide either. Once you are alive, it is eternal life. Period.

Romans 4:25 - “He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.”

Christ's resurrection is directly tied to our own. Because He lives - we live. This is the full gospel. Yes, we are forgiven and cleansed; but further, we are alive. The purpose of our forgiveness and cleansing was so that we could be made alive. That life is Christ’s love indwelling us and giving us His righteousness. If you think that believing and trusting our own new loving hearts will lead to lying, cheating, stealing, and adultery - then you don't understand the gospel. You are believing the lie that you must follow rules to be good. Yet, this is opposed to faith. You are already good as a gift; thus, you act by faith.

We are not coerced or cajoled to love. But the Spirit is always leading us to a recognition that love is the best way. As we learned above, it is in our own “self interest”. But, this is faith based, so it is not selfish. It is faith in God's promises. Again, the faith circle is complete. As the author of Hebrews so vividly portrayed: true faith is defined by understanding God's benevolence towards you. This is simply portrayed by the phrase: “God loves you”.

How religion and the flesh (I repeat myself) want to destroy the simplicity of this concept! How they strive to put conditions on it! How they want us to over think and re-define this love! How they want to use scripture itself to make us doubt. How they want to obscure the face of Abba for us. How much they desire to keep us in a mindset of slavery. How they want to keep the focus on ourselves and not Christ. How they want to measure and nitpick. How they want to convince us that we are still slaves - sinful in nature. Christ put it so well:

Luke 11:46 - ““Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “You weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load.”

The Gift of “Sincere Faith”

A pure understanding of God's love cuts through all of this garbage. Sincere faith is the third gift that leads to this goal of the gospel. And as we learned at the beginning of this article, this faith is also a gift. However, as I covered, there is still ‘growth’. As we learn to trust, we begin to use more and more of that measure of faith. As Paul often puts it when describing grace and faith, it ‘superabounds’.

Faith and Growth

I want to finish by looking at some verses where Paul addresses believers who he deems are utilizing their faith and growing. You will clearly see the connection to love in these passages.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 - “We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing.”

Notice the connection of growing in the use of our gifted faith and an increasing love for one another. This connection is clear. Yet, this growth is fueled by our faith in our pure heart and clean conscience. If you believe you are impure in identity; that you must strive to become pure (an impossibility), then you will never feel as if your conscience is clean as you live in constant failure or denial. Yet, the gospel promises destroy this notion. But, let's continue…

Progress and Joy in the Faith

Philippians 1:9-11, 25-28 - “9 -And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10-so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11-having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

25-Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26-so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again. 27-Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28-in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. (NASB 1995)

There is a lot to unpack here, but I will hit the highlights. First, I used the NASB 1995 translation because of one word in verse 10 - ‘until’. Many translations put in the phrase “for the day of Christ” implying that we are somehow obligated to have good behavior in order to basically prove ourselves to Christ or some stupid idea like that. However, “until the day of Christ” is a better translation.

Paul is not indicating that our behavior impacts the “day of Christ” in some way. Our purity that enables us to experience the day of Christ is a gift. In the “day of Christ”, our response will never be to point to our good behavior, but to Christ's work. Those who point to their own behavior will be told by Christ: “I never knew you”.

However, in no way am I, or the apostolic writers, ever suggesting that behavior does not matter! The source and motivation for the behavior matters more; but there is specific behavior that goes along with a sincere faith. The apostolic writers may have emphasized the root and source more, but they certainly did not ignore the product of righteous attitudes and actions.

What Paul is saying is simple: once the “day of Christ” comes, we will receive a new body that is no longer influenced by sin. The enemy forces will be fully defeated - there will be no more sin influence in our existence as believers. There will be no more shadow filtering out our new creation and pure heart. The struggle will be over. Our faith will be made sight. However, until then…well, let's go back to verse 9.

Love Abounds in Knowledge and Insight

Much like in Ephesians, Paul is saying that he prays their love will abound. However, he categorizes this abundance of love as flowing from “knowledge and discernment” or insight. This word for knowledge is not the Greek word that means a type of “book learning”. It most often describes the intimate connection to Christ we receive at our new birth. This is why this translation says “true knowledge”.

Again, same as Ephesians, Paul is showing the source of love as being our intimate connection to Christ. And yet there is a mental component here as described by the word translated discernment or insight. The root of that word shows that wisdom and logic are involved. We don't just love in a vacuum. This is not some ethereal notion. It works within the realities of our lives and relationships.

Love = Righteousness = Excellence = Life

In Philippians 1:10, Paul shows that the product of Christ's love flowing from us is that we are able to recognize the benefit of the more excellent things of the gospel; this results in a sincerity of living that does not harm ourselves or others. When you investigate these Greek words, they are not the same words used to describe our spiritual state in Christ. They are temporal words. Paul is showing the earthly results of our spiritual state.

Yet, as always, there is a choice, an act of our will involved in these results. These faith themes continue to intertwine and return to one another like an infinity symbol. As we have faith in our gifted love, we see the excellence and benefit of these new covenant gospel gifts from God. This flows back into helping us use our measure of faith even more! And then Paul flows into verse 11 where he portrays believers as being “filled with the fruit of righteousness” as a past event. These are all connected.

Again, I am reminded of Galatians 3:21 where clearly Paul sees life and righteousness as a synonoms.

Galatians 3:21-24 - “21-Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law. 22-But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

23-Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24-So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25-Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”

I wanted to complete the context of verse 21 for your benefit, but I won't get into that fully now, though this is certainly a ‘faith’ passage. I will point out again that “the promise” is mentioned as specifically coming by “faith in Jesus Christ” through belief (our only work). Verse 24 then calls it “this faith”, distinguishing the faith in Christ that comes from belief from other types of faith. And again, “this faith” removes the ‘guardian’ of the law.

Imparted Life = Imparted Righteousness

My focus is that the “imparted life” we received at our new birth is the same as “imparted righteousness”. Much like Paul prayed in Ephesians that they would be filled up with Christ's love, here he is advocating a similar function for righteousness. Being “filled with the fruit of righteousness” is what enables our ability to walk in a sincere and blameless way.

However, just as we already have the gift of love, we also already have the gift of righteousness. We are now alive in Christ. However, our belief system determines how full we are of both love and the “fruit of righteousness”. And this is the role of faith. The work of belief enables the work of faith which enables our filling of love and “life righteousness”.

What is this fruit? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control…you get the point. It is this fruit of righteousness that fills us and empowers our walk. And it all comes back to faith - are you convinced you are righteous by birth? Are you fully assured in your mind that the Spirit birthed you as a good new creation? Do you trust your gifted righteousness?

Again, the point Paul is making is that our faith in these promises is what enables a sincere and blameless walk. And as he references growth, it is this change of belief into a stronger and stronger conviction of the reality of these gospel promises. And yes, eventually this results in a sincere and blameless walk. Not for God's benefit - He knows how He birthed you. He doesn't need anything. But for the benefit of yourself and others - because He loves you and them.

Progress and Joy in Faith

Towards the end of Philippians 1, we find the famous phrase by Paul “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”. The verses following that statement portray Paul's hypothetical conflict towards which plane of existence he truly wants. He concludes with verse 25, that despite his hypothetical conflict, he will remain on earth and continue supporting them as they make progress and grow in their joy in their faith.

He then re-emphasizes his earlier discussion by stating they should “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ”. Again, as we just discussed, there are manners of conduct that flow from faith that are worthy ways for a child of the Kingdom of Heaven to act. No legitimate teacher would ever deny that this is true. But what precedes this statement is key: “progress and joy in faith”.

Progress

This word progress is fascinating and ties into some of my previous discussions in this very article. Let's see what Copyright 2021 Discovery Bible has to say about this word:

4297 prokopḗ (from 4253 /pró, "in front of" and 2875 /kóptō, "cut, chop down") – properly, advance (progress) – literally, "advancement by chopping down whatever impedes progress"; furtherance.

Again, Paul is reaffirming that progress in the joy of your faith is made by removing those obstacles or beliefs that are quenching the Spirit and not affirming the new covenant promises of God. Paul is excited to still be on earth (despite the constant threats of death surrounding him), so that he could participate in helping them remove these obstacles to faith.

As those obstacles are removed, this paves the way for conduct that is worthy of the gospel. And Paul portrays this as unity with the body of Christ. “Bear one another's burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ.”. The law of Christ is not the law of Moses. It is the law of love. It is the obedience of faith. It is the end result of trusting the promises of God. And in Philippians 1:28, he ends by reminding them of the overall gift of their salvation, which the unbelievers who oppose them do not have. We have something better than those around us - we must keep this in our minds.

Conclusion

I could go on and on with examples of faith. Yet, I think we have come full circle yet again. The gift of salvation; becoming a new creation - a child of God - the gift of Christ; informs everything. We access this gift, both initially and in ongoing growth, by faith. As we “come to trust” these gifts, then we trust our clean conscience, pure heart, and sincere faith. This enables our gifted love to be reflected.

As this happens, we join with others who are growing in the same way in the unity of God's family. The goal of the gospel is love - and the gift of sincere faith empowers that love. I hope and pray this study will help you to repent - change your mind - about the ideas you may have towards Christ and the gospel that are interfering with your gifted faith. I pray that you more and more “come to trust” these amazing promises. Then you will be living a life of wholeness that far exceeds anything you could ever dream of.

Not a life free of bad circumstances - but one where those circumstances cease to define your identity. Where the fruit of the Spirit shines forth in every circumstance. This is the promise we have in Christ. Learn Him well. You have already put on Christ - now use that gift every minute of every day. Don't get hypothermia by trying to wear the inadequate clothing of self-help. Learn to wear outwardly the faith clothing you have been gifted inwardly - learn to act as the true self you have now been re-created to be.

Until next time - I love you all in Christ!

(All scripture quotes are from the BSB unless otherwise noted.)

My introductory ‘faith’ articles discussed how faith is the vehicle through which we are gifted the love of God so that we can demonstrate that love for others. I covered how “living faith” is based on that gift, while “dead faith” is based on trying to keep the law of Moses or other rules. When behavior improvement is a primary goal or motivation, it is produced by dead faith by default.

Living faith produces living works; yet, these cannot be forced or compelled. They must happen as a by-product of the fruit of the Spirit (by faith). I emphasized how a gift mentality towards the gospel is crucial for genuine faith. We must have a mindset of receiving the divine gifts, not trying to produce them out of fear or other coercion.

I discussed how James does not oppose the gift of the gospel but emphasizes it. Much (not all) of James’ teaching is for those who do not have living faith, yet pretend or think they do - not for those true believers who possess living faith.

Finally, I discussed how faith is a firm belief (hope) plus trust. People of faith in scripture believed and trusted God's promises (and thus acted). We have these final great and precious promises from God through the new covenant gospel which we need to know, believe, and trust.

Thus, the responsibility of God's children is to place genuine, living faith in God's new covenant promises - in Jesus Christ. The new covenant gospel is a listing of the gift package we receive with Christ. This is condensed down as the fruit of the Spirit. These promises are the focal point of our faith.

Now, I am jumping into more direct scripture passages on faith. I believe scripture will continue to support my introductory ideas, and will help us gain further insight into what genuine scriptural gospel faith really is.

Faith: It Can Preserve your Soul

Hebrews 10:39 - “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

Hebrews 11:1a - “Now faith is…”

I started with the last verse of Hebrews 10 because the author begins 11:1 by using the word 'now' as a connecting word. Thus, chapter 10 and 10:39 are pertinent to the context of chapter 11. Tiny words in scripture are important.

This verse shows that the goal of having faith is to “preserve the soul”. In this nasty world we live in, what a goal!

Soul is the Greek word psuché, from which we get psychology in English. It is the seat of our mind, will, and emotions. This is contrasted in scripture with our spirit (pneuma). Our spirit (or heart) - our core identity - is connected to Christ at salvation and secured by the indwelling Holy Spirit. But our soul can be influenced by enemy lies - it is still in progress - it is where we learn and grow.

When scripture says to “grow in knowledge” and uses the phrase “renewing of the mind”, it is referencing this ‘soul’ based growth. We must understand that we have a core that has been made perfect, yet another aspect of our being is in progress. We can choose to allow our Spirit infused spirit to influence our soul, or other things like the flesh and world (see Romans 6 - present your body).

When scripture references “walking by the spirit”, it is not absolutely clear if it means the Holy Spirit or our new clean perfect spirit. In the end, it doesn't matter since the Holy Spirit infuses our own. The point is that our own spirit is our connection to Christ which can influence the soul.

Given the “mental health” crisis in society today, who wouldn't want a gift that preserves the soul? Yet, many, even in the Christian world, seek soul preservation outside of faith. Not all outside interventions are bad, but when separated from faith they are nearly useless - temporary at best. This verse is important to show us the purpose of faith. God has promised to preserve our soul.

To be clear, this same verse promises that those whose spirit have been made perfect - their souls will be preserved. Christ, “who has begun a good work in you”, will complete it. But a good understanding of the soul during this process helps us cooperate better by faith - and avoid many consequences here on earth. Christ will preserve our soul - but why not use the gift of faith to make it easier for Him, right? Living faith does this.

Does God Abort His Children?

Hebrews 10 is controversial. I may go there one day, but Hebrews 6 and 10 seem to host the majority of verses used by those who say you can lose your salvation (along with Romans 11).

A proper understanding of the new creation squashes that notion. God doesn't abort His children for bad behavior. A new creation cannot die again. God doesn't kill us spiritually then give us life again. The entire idea is ludicrous.

The new creation eliminates any possibility of losing salvation: you are either God's child or you are not. A theology that supports God aborting His children is despicable. I have no patience with this ridiculous idea - it diminishes the gospel - it is not “good news”. Making God a promise breaker is never good news. The enemy's main talking point has always been that God can't be trusted.

Hebrews 10 is harshly warning those who continue to put their faith in the Hebrew religion - rather than in Christ and the new covenant. Because of the Jewish context to the epistle, the language can seem confusing. However, it is not as difficult to figure out as some make it. It cannot be about losing salvation, thus the only option is people who are not believers yet. The language does not allow a middle ground.

Chapter 10 ends by showing that those who’s faith is focused on Christ are not destroyed and their souls are preserved. Thus, the previous warnings of destruction are not aimed at those who have put their faith in Christ. But I'm going to stop there, Hebrews 10 could be many articles, given how it has been corrupted.

My point: as the author transitions into defining faith in chapter 11, he demonstrates the importance of where you put your faith. All humans have the choice of putting faith in their own works (law based living) or in the finished work of Christ.

My main focus: once we have faith in Christ for salvation, we have a choice of continuing to focus our faith on the promises or gifts that come with Him, as opposed to our works. This is where many believers go off the rails.

Faith is a crucial element here - it is defined by a focus on the new creation in Christ as the proper motivation and source of power to do any works. Faith based works naturally flow from our new creation - we are not doing them to accomplish anything - we do the works because the new creation has already been accomplished in us by Christ through the Holy Spirit.

The Object of Faith is Key

Did the Pharisees have faith? I would say they had massive faith. They had faith that keeping the Law, given by God, would keep them in good standing with God. Clearly they had human based faith in Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But ultimately their faith was misplaced.

They thought God gave them the Law so they could please Him. They would not believe He gave it only so that they would realize their need for Christ. Only faith in Christ pleases God. Ultimately, they were self-focused. Their trust was in their ability to keep the Torah, not in God. Unlike pagan religions, they had a form of faith focused on God. But, it was ignorant faith, and thus was not effective - it was dead faith. A God based dead faith is the most subtly destructive idea imaginable.

They thought the Torah would preserve their souls - they refused to believe that only Christ could do that. The Law has always been “weak and useless” at preserving the soul! (Heb. 7:18) No one can preserve their soul by keeping any law. This was the Pharisees identity, and Christ exposed it. And they hated Him for it (as many do today).

Thus, they rejected the very God (Christ) they claimed to have faith in. Their faith was proven false by their treatment of Christ. The author of Hebrews was concerned about those in his audience in the same place. They heard the gospel, but they had not invested faith in it. They may have believed - in the sense that they accepted it intellectually. But they had not trusted it for salvation. Their faith process was incomplete - they were not new creations in Christ.

Their faith was still in the old covenant, not in Jesus Christ and the new covenant. Thus, much like in James, they were pretending. It was like a Christian club to them, but in their hearts their trust was still in the Torah and temple.

In 10:39, the author reassures those who do have faith in Christ and the new covenant: their souls will be preserved. This is his transition to explain living faith to both those who do have it, and those who don't. Christ is the only reliable object of faith - everything else, especially your own works - will fail you. Only Christ has the life you need.

Faith: Assurance and Certainty (or Substance and Evidence)

Hebrews 11:1 - “Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.”

Once the author establishes that the believers in his audience had living faith that preserves their souls, he then defines and gives examples of this faith. The definition is fascinating.

He uses the word ‘hupostasis’ to modify 'hope'. Again, unlike in English, the Greek word translated 'hope' already means that you are absolutely certain. In scripture, hope is a certainty based on God's promises. Yet, this certainty alone is not faith. It is like a mental knowledge - you believe something is true. Faith goes further than hope - it adds reality or substance to hope. In my last article, I described this as trusting what you believe leading to acting on it.

In defining faith, the author adds this word 'hupostasis'. Discovery Bible Copyright 2021 has this to say about it:

5287 hypóstasis(from 5259 /hypó, "under" and 2476 /hístēmi, "to stand") – properly, (to possess) standing under a guaranteed agreement ("title-deed"); (figuratively) "title" to a promise or property, i.e. a legitimate claim (because it literally is, "under a legal-standing") – entitling someone to what is guaranteed under the particular agreement.

The author strengthens the certainty of hope! He says that faith puts reality or substance to the belief we have in God's promises. Believing the new covenant strengthens hope into faith. As new creations, God's children, we have a legitimate claim to these promises. You can consider these promises as legally binding to God. His very nature binds them - He cannot forsake His promises. This assurance, combined with our own certainty or hope, creates faith.

As I have emphasized, faith is receiving a gift (God's promises). You must believe the gift is being offered, it is a good gift, and it was given with good favor. Otherwise, you won't trust the gift. You may never open it (unbelievers); or if you do, you will toss it aside, and not use it properly (many believers). As new creations, we have received all of God's new covenant promises or gifts. Yet, we must choose to trust and use them. It is up to us what we do with the gifts we have been given.

The author of Hebrews gets to this important aspect of faith in a bit, so we will cover more then.

Confirmation of the Invisible

The author realizes that many could doubt the invisible. Thus, he completes the definition of faith as a conviction or proof of that which you cannot see. The word ‘elegchos’ is famously used in 2 Timothy 3:16.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction (elegchos), for correction, and for training in righteousness”

The word ‘elegchos’, translated 'conviction' here, is not exactly what we normally think. Here is what Discovery Bible Copyright 2021 says about the root of this word:

1651 elégxō – properly, to convince with solid, compelling evidence

It is no coincidence that scripture is indicated to assist with being convinced about the gospel. Conviction is often corrupted and wrongfully applied to sin for believers (a future CCC). But you can see that in this definition, it means helping you to believe in God's promises when you cannot physically see them. We walk by faith, not sight. We believe God's promises even when our physical senses don't seem to provide proof.

Thus, faith is what convinces you that things you can't sense with your physical senses are real. 2 Timothy 3:6 indicates that scripture helps with that. Truth from scripture helps to convince us that God's promises are legitimate and trustworthy.

In John 16:10, Christ said the Holy Spirit would convince (convict) believers of their righteousness, so He plays a part in this convincing. We must be convinced we have been gifted righteousness so we will have faith in that promise! If we have faith that we are righteous, then it enables us to act in righteous ways.

Scripture is Useful - It is a Tool

Permit me an important sidebar: scripture is a tool, and like all tools, it can be used to build or destroy - scripture can build or destroy faith. Scripture is good, and I am convinced it is authoritative inspired truth from God. However, how one uses scripture makes all the difference, especially when it comes to faith.

As Paul puts it, scripture is 'useful' or ‘profitable’ for convincing you. It provides a benefit in convincing you of that which you cannot see (God's promises). This is one of the main four uses of scripture listed by Paul. Instruction, correction, and training are the other three. All are focused on helping us believe God's gospel truth - and avoid lies.

The way the Greek word for convincing is used, it does not leave you without evidence! And scripture is useful for helping with this evidence. In scripture, we have eye witness accounts of Christ and assurance that God has inspired scripture and made it authoritative. We have historic proof that it is trustworthy. Thus, faith, though it is focused on the invisible, is not without evidence. Faith is never ‘blind’. We are not left to wonder what God's promises are - scripture makes them clear.

Scripture is an Authoritative, but Not Exclusive, Evidence

I want to carefully make a point about scripture and faith - some may take offense, as this could be a bit of “idol crushing”. Yes, scripture can become an idol, though it is not actually scripture itself, it is our interpretation that becomes the idol. This is tied into repentance (changing our mind). We cannot hold so tightly to any interpretation that we are never open to opposing scriptural evidence.

In Christian circles, sometimes scripture is elevated higher than scripture itself indicates. When God makes a direct promise from scripture, we can believe it. But, the idea that every word of; and especially specific interpretations of; scripture are always truth can be harmful. This should be obvious, but sometimes it is not.

I understand the impulse to idolize scripture; it is often reactive to those who would demean scripture or place their own 'revelation' or experiences above the authority of scripture. There is danger in going to either extreme when related to understanding faith.

Certainly, if scripture is recording something God has said or promised, if it is clear, and not contraindicated by other scripture, then we should believe it. However, this is not always true for what the Christian world touts. God spoke the Torah or Law; yet we see later revelation that His intention was never to have His children put themselves under it. There is much scripture about how we are no longer under the ‘tutor’ of the Law.

Thus, God may have said it, and you may have believed it, but it still may not be “rightly dividing the word of truth”. When God gives new revelation that supercedes past revelation, then we should believe the new revelation. John 1 and Hebrews 1 covers this well. Christ is the final revelation of God: His new covenant supercedes the old.

Thus, great care should be taken when interpreting scripture. Your faith may be improperly placed, even if a concept is in scripture. The Pharisees thought they were upholding scripture to the uttermost, but it was misplaced faith. Don't let the enemy use scripture to diminish your faith, as he tried, and failed, with Christ.

This is my entire reason for writing this ‘CCC’ series. Scripture portrays the enemy using scripture to tempt Christ as a warning to us. It is often the most potent weapon. If we can be convinced that a corrupt concept is actually from God, then we are now in a destructive place. A reminder of my titular scripture passage:

John 5:39-40 - “39-You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me, 40-yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.”

If any study of scripture does not have as its objective or result to strengthen our faith in Christ’s life within, then it is a mostly pointless endeavor. If it points us towards faith in our own efforts, even accidentally, then it is harmful. God can use anything, even sin, and turn it to good. But how much better if we use scripture to point to Christ’s life and the new covenant promises that are gifted to us? There would be much less wasted time, at a minimum. And we would likely avoid a lot of harm.

Other “Proofs” are not Excluded

2 Timothy 3:6 does not leave other ways of convincing us out, with only scripture as the way to convince us. The word translated useful, by definition, doesn't make it exclusive. Something ‘useful’ doesn't imply you must use it (though it would be stupid not to).

Do not get me wrong. As I have pointed out before, I study a lot of scripture. Scripture points to itself as being authoritative for God's truth. We should never go with our own experience, or any other revelation, if it is clearly going against scripture. Scripture should ALWAYS be the measuring stick for God's spiritual truth.

However, my point, in the context of faith, is that Romans 1 says that God's creation is enough to start the process towards saving faith. No one has an excuse. This spark will cause someone to want further confirmation, thus seeking truth from scripture, but it is clear that gospel faith can be engendered by someone seeking God through wonderment at His creation.

As faith begins to allow our union with Christ to transform our attitudes and actions, that proof of His power within will also serve to strengthen faith. The Spirit uses many things in combination to help us grow and strengthen our faith, so don't ignore or miss these other things.

As I reflected on with the Pharisees, there are many who know scripture quite well yet still don't point their faith at the right place. Has anyone in history known scripture better than the Pharisees? Yet, it did not translate into saving faith.

Further, with translations, we have a layer of translational bias, and then interpretation on top of that. Again, the enemy himself used scripture to try and tempt Christ! Thus, scripture can be used as a weapon to damage faith. Like any useful tool, it can be used to destroy. A hammer can hit a nail or a human skull. It is not a distinction without a difference.

Rightly Dividing

My point is not ever to demean scripture, simply to instill some caution. It is a tool, and with any tool, it can be used correctly or incorrectly. It can help or hinder faith. It can be used to confirm faith killing beliefs, since so many times humanity can read what they want into it. Just read some of the historical accounts of religious leaders using scripture to justify slavery.

Or, as scripture itself says, we must “rightly divide the Word of truth”. The “Word of truth” is the new covenant gospel. This Greek word literally means to “cut straight”. We cannot mix the gospel with teaching that diminishes it. We cannot mix law and grace. We cannot mix old and new covenants. We cannot mix lies and the truth. We must cut straight and divide these things.

I am only warning that we be diligent to make sure that in our own study - and while taking in other's teaching - we allow scripture to strengthen our faith, not weaken it. Again, Christ and the gospel are the proper lenses through which we view all teaching. Anything that waters down the gospel or turns it into “bad news" is suspect.

As Hebrews 1 instructs, keeping Christ, and hence the new covenant gospel, as our lens is the only sure way to rightly divide and build faith. Any other use of scripture, including a focus on behavior improvement, will mess this up.

Don't Idolize or Legalize Scripture

My final point here is don't idolize or legalize scripture. If you miss your “quiet time”, it should not diminish your ability to have faith throughout your day. Scripture should never replace the indwelling Christ in our mindset. I wish I could communicate this well without misunderstanding! It is such a subtle lie of the enemy.

The idea that you must read scripture daily in some ritual in order to have faith is a faith killer. Again, as Christ reminded us in John 5:38-40, don't search the scriptures for life, come to Him! Consider how destructive this idea is - if you don't perform a daily ‘work’, then your ability to live life from Christ's power within is minimized! Can you see how this idea can kill faith?

Our power to bear fruit and live life well comes from our new creation - our connection to Christ. While scripture helps us believe this truth, we should not view it alone as any source of power. It can help us have a mindset of trusting Christ’s power within, but not if our actual trust is in our scripture reading rather than the living Word - Christ. Again, point your faith towards Christ and nothing else. Certainly not your scripture reading ritual!

If you must have your “quiet time” to have a good walk, then perhaps that is a bad sign that your quiet time is hurting your faith, not helping it. It is never the volume of knowledge that helps: better that you have a small amount of genuine knowledge about Christ that builds faith than a large amount of scriptural knowledge focused on other things that helps destroy it.

Thank you for reading this sidebar - it is essential in this discussion of faith. It is easy to get distracted from the main objective: pointing our faith at Christ and His work. Scripture is the most valuable tool in existence to help us with that objective. But, it does not replace the objective. It is a means to an end - the end is Christ. I pray you understand my point and will be mindful to use scripture well.

I am never discouraging scripture study! My only point is to keep the proper lens. Use this same principle to judge my writing! If my perspectives are causing you to take your eyes off Christ, then you should no more listen to me than anyone else.

Back to Hebrews 11

So, faith is a power that helps to convince us with solid evidence of the truth of God's promises and other things which we cannot see, but yet are as real as the world around us that we can see. The author of Hebrews continues refining the definition in verse 6:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

The author is writing to Hebrews - some who think that keeping the Torah to the best of their ability is pleasing to God. And the author blows that idea to smithereens. Again, Paul explicitly states that the Law is not of faith. (See Galatians 3:12). Thus, putting ourselves under law cannot please God.

That is not what I want to emphasize here - I want to continue the definition. The author describes faith in this verse at a more basic level that he did before! This gives us valuable insight into faith.

Pleasing God by faith means you are willing to approach Him because…you believe that He exists! Did you pass that test of your faith? Do you believe God exists? Then you have an incomplete form of faith because we have a problem. As I referenced before, James says the demons believe in God. And certainly the Pharisees believed God existed. So, what are they missing?

There is a pesky little connecting word 'and' in the passage. God pleasing faith means you believe He exists AND that He rewards those who seek Him. Notice the positive! The author doesn't say “rewards those who seek Him and punishes those who don't”. This is the most crucial idea for genuine faith. You cannot have living faith without believing God has good gifts. The ultimate gift package is Christ's life infusing our own - the new creation!

Those demons James mentions; who believe in God and tremble and fear Him; don't believe He is good. They believe His gifts are horrible and nasty. This is a very crucial ‘and’. Consider the Pharisees. They also did not believe God's gift of His Son was good. They believed the Law was a better gift than God's own Son. The Law is a curse, not a gift. (Galatians 3:13)

This verse is evidence that faith that pleases God means you believe that He gives good gifts. You believe the gospel is actually good news. You believe that these gifts God offers are beneficial to you in a real way - these are benefits you actually want - that you will enjoy! God's rewards are not drudgery! You will never have to force yourself to pretend to enjoy them once you know and understand them.

Legalism tries to turn bad gifts into good. But in our hearts, we realize this is not true. We don't need to pretend that the real gospel is good. It will simply demonstrate that it is, once faith makes it a reality in our lives. The genuine good news is always good! Once we grasp that, we never need to pretend or be fake again.

About ‘Legalism’

I have had people tell me that I overly focus on ‘legalism’ because it was so destructive in my life. To some extent, I do focus on that which caused so much destruction. However, I am in good company with the apostles, especially Paul. Paul writes how legalism nearly destroyed him too!

Thank God, Paul was never able to keep the coveting commandment as a devout Pharisee (see Romans 7). He was able to hide it, so his contemporaries thought he kept the law perfectly (see Philippians 3:1-10). However, he knew that he had never truly kept it. Thus, when he met Jesus, he was able to see the answer to his problem - it had never been the law. However, as he wrote later, the holy and good Law of God did it's work: it showed him his death and pointed him to Christ.

Thus, he could write:

Romans 7:24-25b - “24-What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25-Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Romans 6:17-18 - “17-But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed. 18-You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

Paul writes that through Christ, (not through the law), we have been set free from sin. His answer to his own Pharisee legalism in Romans 7 was Christ. The answer to legalism is the power of Christ within making us “slaves of righteousness”. It is a power we can trust.

The Epic Struggle: Legalism vs Faith

Legalism is far more than what music we listen to or clothes we wear. Those are Christian distractions that cause us to take our focus off the actual destruction of legalism. Legalism is the enemy of faith. It was Paul's primary fight his entire life. As he put it in Galatians 3:1-3:

“1- O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2-I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? 3-Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?”

Paul's meaning is clear - it is foolishness to think that we “receive the Spirit” by faith and then grow some other way. Especially by our own activities! That is the destructiveness of legalism - it is adamantly opposed to the gospel. It is ANY mindset that makes ANY aspect of both becoming AND living as a Christian anything other than a gift.

Legalism is any mindset where we are trying to make something happen that the gospel already promised has happened. Example: legalism thinks our ‘righteous’ actions make us righteous or help us grow. Faith thinks that we are already righteous because Christ made us righteous, and growth is growing in trust of that gift.

Paul would say that every believer should be constantly focused on rooting out this destructive mindset. And it takes so many subtle forms! The enemy uses the stupid ones, like haircuts or clothes, to obscure the actual destructive mindset of trying to please God using the flesh - without faith.

Mindsets and Motivations are Often Hidden

It is also subtle because mindset and motivation play a key role in determining whether our thoughts and actions are legalistic. These are sometimes difficult to ascertain and to observe. Take the above discussion of scripture - a personal anecdote about that.

I study scripture far more than when my mindset was that it is some kind of requirement to please God! I'm not going to stupidly claim that even now my motivation is purely from faith, but it is much more so than before.

I study scripture so that I learn more about God's new covenant promises. Now that I understand a small part of the gift I have been given through Christ, I want to explore every corner of that gift. Not because God is coercing me - because I see the benefit to those I love and myself; I recognize that God's gift is good; why would I avoid learning about it every chance I get?

In my past, I have read every word in scripture at least 10 times as a legalistic requirement. I can look back and see that my motivation was mostly flesh and little faith.

Can I say God has never used this activity to help in some ways? Of course not. Objectively, that was a far better activity than lying drunk in a ditch. The primary benefit has been recalling the scripture that I now understand from a more gospel focused mindset. But, for the most part, it was a significant waste of time. There was little benefit, and much harm. It did not grow my faith, it mostly entrenched my faithless mindsets.

From an external observation, in a video documentary of my life, my scripture study activities would look similar before and now. However, due to my changed mindset, the time to benefit ratio has drastically changed! A single verse that builds faith is worth more than a thousand that don't. And that is one example of the many harms of legalism.

Legalism: the Enemy of Faith

I believe legalism is the “original sin”. Adam and Eve wanted to know what was “good and evil” so they could be ‘good’ without depending on God for their goodness. And this is another great definition of legalism - trying to “be good” and “please God” by following rules - even God's rules. Any attempt to achieve goodness from activity.

As we read above, without faith it is impossible to please God. If you want to please God, then work on your faith. See everything as a gift! Scripture is a massive gift! Focus on the gift of fruit of the Spirit. Stop acting out of guilt, coercion, or peer pressure. Learn the faith motivation of God’s love within. Learn that the gift of Christ within is amazing. You can trust and rely on it.

Legalism comes in many forms. But, I believe the most subtle and harmful form is the idea that the new creation, Christ in us, our salvation, is not enough to properly live the Christian life. This type of legalism diminishes the power of Christ. Perhaps not intentionally, but out of ignorance of how the new creation works through faith in God's promises.

Consider the logic - if there is any activity that we must do, beyond faith, in order to walk a pleasing walk for God, then what are we saying? The new creation is not enough? What Christ has worked in us is not enough? Our slavery to righteousness is not enough? The gift of the Spirit is not enough? Can you see how subtle this is? I’m fearful I'm not explaining it well enough.

Walking by Faith is Easy - We are the Ones who Make it Hard

The only activities that we should focus on are those that build faith and those that come from faith. But, I have probably made this seem harder than it is, and if so, I apologize.

One of the first promises Christ made is His yoke is easy and burden is light. Walking by faith falls under this promise.

Another of God's new covenant promises I just quoted above is we are a slave of righteousness. There are only two ways to walk for believers - according to the flesh or the spirit. Thus, unless we actively in our mind, using our will, choose to do something from the flesh, then we will be acting from faith as a slave of righteousness. Example: unless we bump our gum and curse God, we always brush our teeth from faith, LOL.

That is why the gift mindset is so important! What happens is - we get freaked out about how we are doing in relation to God, and then decide we need to take action to fix things. We have a false ‘karma’ gospel - our life is going wrong because of “fill in the blank” - usually something we are or are not doing. Example: if only we studied scripture 30 more minutes per day, then we could conquer this “fill in the blank”.

I would say we probably brush our teeth from faith more often than we study scripture! Because we think God is neutral about teeth brushing while He cares about the studying. We think He is neutral about our non-ministry job while He cares about our service in the church. We think He is neutral about us shopping for groceries while He cares about when we feed the poor.

But - Christ is our life! He is our life when we brush our teeth and in everything we do. A faith mindset recognizes this and simply lives. As choices come along, whether hitting our gum, or an opportunity for service, we begin to be more and more informed by Christ within than by the flesh from without - there is no stress.

This growth comes as we learn to trust all of God's new covenant promises. Faith begets stronger faith! And as you see faith begin to work from within, it whets your appetite for more! Sure, the temptation will always be there to try and please God through legalism. That is an existential fight. But when you are able to compare the results of faith to the results of legalism - you will learn to choose faith every time.

The true fruit of faith is so much tastier than the wax fruit of legalism.

Conclusion to Part One

Scripture has given us a vital clue to understand faith. Please ponder and meditate on it as I begin to study further ‘faith' passages for my next article.

A vital component of faith is not only that it is pointed at God, but that it is focused on His goodness to you and others in His family (those that seek Him - believers). It is not enough to believe in any so-called gospel, you must believe and trust it is “good news”. A gospel that is not good news is a fake gospel, pure and simple. Pointing your faith at fake gospels is useless at best, and utterly destructive at worst.

Again, I must emphasize that God's goodness is real, recognizable goodness. The enemy loves to try and use scripture to convince us that God's goodness is not real. I have often heard the phrase that “God's ways are not our ways” to justify describing God in ways that demean His goodness or cause Him to break His promises. Yes, His ways are not our ways; yet scripture - through the new covenant gospel - has described His ways for us, and we cannot ignore that.

Like I demonstrated in my article about love, God treats us exactly the same way He has shown us we should treat others. We love only because He first loved us. One of the first elements of someone's character that helps you judge if they are trustworthy is truth telling. They keep their promises. We certainly cannot expect less of God! If we diminish His promises, then I cannot see how we could then trust Him. The enemy will do anything to convince us God cannot be trusted.

Example: the gospel says believers will not be punished for their sins; they have permanent peace with God. Hebrews says both “the Lord” and the “Holy Spirit” will “remember our sins no more”. Thus, we cannot reconcile messages claiming God is punishing His children for sin, even to the point of taking their life. Those messages imply that God is breaking His promise - thus they damage faith. They are enemy messages - twisting scripture to make them.

The truth is that when we make idiotic choices to participate in destructive thinking and behaviors, God is there ready to save us. As Paul says in Romans 10:8 - “…the Word is near you…”. When the sin in this world brings sickness or other destruction upon us - that we did not choose - God is still there to help us through it.

If you want to know God, get to know Jesus Christ. Not once did Christ hurl sickness or death at anyone. Not once does scripture show Him making the Pharisees sick so they would repent.

Instead, He healed. He would have healed the Pharisees too if they believed that He could. But they thought He was an emissary of Satan - why would they ever come to Him for anything good? By that example, we see the opposite of faith. Believing God gives bad gifts is anti-faith. That is when any transformation of our living becomes based in fear, not love.

The goodness of God, based on His essence of being love, is the basis of our trust in Him. If He cannot be trusted, then we cannot have faith in Him. There can be no inkling of fakery in our belief. We cannot apply a standard to God that, applied to anyone else, would make them a monster, and then claim He is good. This cognitive dissonance will eventually destroy our faith. Simply quoting “God is good”, while believing evil things about Him, is not enough.

God is not Zeus, and it is high time we stop believing messages that treat Him like He is. Yes, evil is abhorrent to His very nature. Light repels darkness. Goodness repels evil. Life repels death. Those who choose these things over God get what they want and deserve. But Christ did not come to condemn or judge, He came to save. He says those who do not choose Him are “condemned already”.

Or as Paul puts it in Romans 5:10 -

“For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!”

If God did this for His enemies, imagine the good gifts He has for His own family! Christ did His work and finished it before anyone was ever saved! He did the work - His death, burial, and resurrection - while the future church, His body, were still enemies. And that is Paul's point.

We must believe God's gifts are good. They are not bad or evil wrapped in a shell of goodness, they are actually good. When we have faith that they are good, we are not trying to be ‘holy’ by pretending bad news is good. We don't have to pretend bad is good, we acknowledge the bad is truly bad, and comes from the enemy. Thus, the good is truly good, and only comes from God.

The enemy gives bad gifts and tries to turn the good news into bad. And then tries to convince us that these bad gifts and news are from God! Sadly, many messages in the Christian world support this effort. They actually have God treating His children worse than an unbeliever! This is truly blasphemy of the worst kind. And it is a faith killer.

Why Is This Important?

Another CCC that I will eventually write about is sin. There are certainly corrupt concepts about sin. Some people get creative at finding sin around every corner, while others justify clearly harmful sin.

My point now is that when Paul's says “whatever is not of faith is sin” and Hebrews says “without faith you cannot please God”, they are pointing at something profound. The root of all sin is unbelief. This is the only sin mentioned in the first 12 chapters of Hebrews. These people were struggling to believe in Christ. The sin that so “easily beset” them was unbelief.

Now that we see that a vital aspect of faith is believing in God's goodness; can you see how NOT believing in God's goodness is the root of all sin? Consider this concept for a moment.

Not Trusting God's Goodness is the Root of all Sin

If Adam and Eve truly believed God had given them good and perfect things, would they have sought more? Would they have wanted the knowledge of good and evil so they could setup their own good by creating a false religion and following rules? Of course not. If they believed what they had from God was perfect, why seek anything else?

When a believer is one of the very high percentage addicted to porn, what is the root? This is crucial to know. All the accountability and other programs are useless to fix this root. Ultimately, we don't believe God's goodness. The life we have, the spouse we have, etc., is not enough. Or, we don't understand or believe that we are new creations, so we think we want the endorphin rush and deserve the guilt, shame, and agony.

Same for someone who steals: God hasn't provided. Or someone who lies: God hasn't caused their reality to be good enough. Any addiction is an attempt to seek fulfillment in an outside source. We desire what the fruit of the Spirit offers but lack the faith to receive it from the true Source. Why do people get drunk? They are seeking peace - a peace the Spirit offers freely as a gift if we only accept it.

Essentially, like Adam and Eve, we believe God is holding out on us - that we need to take action to meet our own needs. But, before anyone condemns those committing these obvious sins, consider the root of religious sin - those who seek to maintain their relationship with God based on legalism or rule keeping.

Again, we don't believe God or trust His promises. We don't believe the gospel is good enough. We don't believe that God, through Christ and His finished work, has taken care of us spiritually. We think we need to take things into our own hands and improve Christ's work. ALL sin has this lack of faith as it's source.

Legalism, in all its forms, is the sin of attempting to gain and/or maintain spirituality, closeness to God, righteousness, fellowship with God, etc., by what we do - not who we are. Christ gave us our identity as a gift, He made us who we are - a child of Light. Yet, if we don't fully trust His work in and to us, then we seek identity elsewhere. This lack of faith is the root of all sin.

The results can be a religious or a depraved performance, but the root is all the same. We don't believe God is good. We believe He is holding out on us. We believe in order for our lives to be fulfilling, we need to assist God to make it happen. His promises and power are not good enough for us. We have an Adam and Eve mentality.

Faith Causes Us to Willingly Receive and Use God's Gifts

A faithless life is one that is not based on receiving God's gifts through His promises because we aren't sure those gifts are actually good. It is a life based on achieving in our own power and means, the good things God has already promised. This definition covers every level of faithlessness from the religious to the depraved.

From the person who never believes the gospel in the first place to the believer who struggles to believe what he has been given - it is all faithless, and it is all sin. And it is based in unbelief. We become convinced the gospel is too good and the promises cannot be true. God hasn't really forgiven me, my closeness to Him depends on me and my performance, etc. And to be fair, this temptation is hurled at us constantly from every corner, from both the “church” and the world. It is often a faithless message claiming to be of God.

As we learned from Hebrews, the first major element of faith is focused on God's goodness. He rewards His children! Thus, if you are not His child, why not become one? How can being His child be bad? It is easy and light. If you believe God gives good gifts, what's the holdup? Most likely, you don't believe His gifts are good, or you would run to Him. It would be the most sensible thing to do!

If you are already His child, then do you know who you are and what you possess? Do you believe God's promises that pertain to you? Do you believe Christ has given you a new good heart? Do you believe you are a slave of righteousness? And even further, does your thinking and actions reflect that you believe and trust these promises? That is faith. Faith is the reality in your life of the promises of God - applied to and for you.

Substance or Reality

“…the substance of things hoped for…” Many times in scripture, the gospel is referred to as the great ‘hope’. Again, this word is not uncertain - quite the opposite. Thus, we are certain we have these things promised to us through the good news or gospel. That is ‘hope’ in scripture.

The substance of this hope is transformed thinking and life. Not because we are trying hard or striving to transform ourselves, but because we trust in Christ's transforming power within. Because we believe we have already been transformed in spirit. Because this is a promise from God through the finished work of Christ. And thus the faith circle is complete.

The tragedy of the Christian world is so many are convinced that their attempts at self-transformation from various motivations like fear, guilt, shame, etc., are from God. These motivations are not rooted in God's goodness; they are not good news. Thus, it is not faith based transformation! And it doesn't last.

This is the root of why Paul says the Law is not of faith. It is ultimately based in fear, not love. Yes, it is righteous and holy, because it came from God. But as humans, we cannot try to keep it without using flesh power. It is automatic! The Law has penalties, thus creating obligation. Unfulfilled obligations, with penalties, creates fear. This fear motivation is always fleshly. The Law is good, yet combine it with humanity, and it always engenders flesh motivation.

God gave us the Law for that very reason! He did not expect us to keep it; He knew we would fail. Thus, through our own failures, we learn to come to Christ for transformation. Flesh power always fails. The law cannot transform, only accuse. It shows us our failures; it does not make us righteous. Thus, we need Christ, and faith is the mechanism through which we access Him.

Galatians 3:24-25: “So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 - Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”

Final Review

1. We learned that faith is believing God’s promises no matter the circumstances. Example: God says we are righteous because of Christ's work in us. Thus, more faith is required to believe that promise after we commit a sin than before. Yet, trusting that righteousness is what helps us recover from and avoid stumbles in the first place.

2. Flesh powered deeds can often mimic faith powered deeds. It is not the results that please God, it is being empowered by Christ through His indwelling Spirit by faith. You must have faith that you have the Spirit and you are a new creation to avoid flesh powered dead works and walk in faith powered living works.

3. Hebrews indicates that if you are a believer, a child of God, you have already had faith that saves your soul. Christ has taken your punishment, you are no longer under condemnation, much less will you ever be destroyed. Now, you must use the same faith that is saving your soul to believe those promises and let them transform your walk and life.

4. This same passage shows us that soul saving faith must be pointed at Christ, the gospel, and His new covenant finished work. Thus, the focus of the faith is important, not just faith itself. Faith in the wrong things is useless spiritually. Example: faith in Law keeping, either as a way to save yourself, or to help keep you in good standing with God and grow, is useless to please God.

5. Hebrews defines faith as something that makes reality out of those invisible things you believe in. We reviewed that ‘hope’ in scripture is actually a firm belief. But faith takes hope and belief further by “fleshing them out”. It makes the conceptual into an active living reality in our lives.

6. We learned that faith also provides proof or conviction of invisible things. This is common sense - once faith begins to make God's promises real in your life, then it becomes easier and easier to believe them. We don't have to “fake it ‘til we make it,”: the gospel will simply become the reality through which we naturally live. Because our faith is convincing us, this convincing then builds stronger faith. Thus, it is a cycle of faith that leads to growth.

7. We learned that the same word “conviction” in Hebrews is used to describe scripture. Thus, scripture is the primary tool God uses to convince us of the proof of His promises and other invisible things. Not the only proof; yet, an authoritative and powerful one. But scripture is only a tool, and can be used to destroy faith as easily (or more easily) than to build it.

8. Finally, we learned from Hebrews that true faith is focused on the fact that God give good gifts or rewards to those who seek Him (His children). Painting the face of God with enemy colors will destroy faith. Making it seem like God is doing the things to us that He is actually saving us from is a major enemy tactic. Again, scripture is often used to make this attack, and many fall for it. It is a faith killer.

9. We must believe that God is truly for us, not against us - in a real common sense way. We cannot turn cancer into a tool inflicted by God on His children to punish them or “set them on the right path”, etc. No, the enemy, using the power of sin, brought the cancer. God will use it, turn it for good, but it is a cruel being that would backhandedly give us what He has promised to save us from. This mentality makes God a promise breaker, and it is from the enemy.

I hope this article has set a foundation for this study of faith. I know it has helped my understanding immensely. I had a gut feeling about these things, but as we learned, it is affirming to have scripture confirm the truth and help to convince us of it. Scripture is an amazing gift from God!

Once you are convinced that God's promises, His gifts and rewards, are truly awesome, and your faith begins to produce the promised results, is there any better motivation to truly seek out all the promised gifts you may not even know about? This is the true faith motivation to study scripture and it kicks the butt of all legalistic motivations. It builds a true excitement to learn about our treasured inheritance. And scripture is the primary and best place to learn.

We have a long way to go! We will see how many articles this takes. My schedule is still crazy, so I will do my best. But I am excited to continue. And I hope that you are also! I pray the Spirit will use this, as with all my articles, to help renew your mind so that you focus on God's good gifts and begin to see, or see more deeply, their reality in your own life.

And in this way, faith will continue to perpetuate itself - the results will be a better life and walk for you. God's gifts are truly good! Until next time, enjoy them immensely.

(All scripture quotes are from the BSB unless otherwise noted.)

NOTE: this is the third part of my introduction to faith. If you haven't read the first two articles, please take a look at them at the end of the CCC index on my home page. Without further ado, I will jump into the final introduction article. I'm sure you will be glad to know it is shorter, LOL. 🙂

“The Hall of Faith” - Hebrews 11

There are few passages of scripture more associated with faith than Hebrews 11. Thus, a great passage to cover. Not only does it give many examples of the people of faith from the old testament (some I mentioned in my last article), it also gives a definition of faith, and continues to refine that definition.

I will actually get into expositing these verses in the next article. My main focus in Hebrews 11 will be the definition of faith it provides. But permit me some broad comments on the ‘examples’ of faith and some other general topics related to this passage and Hebrews in general as part of this final introduction article.

Don't Compare Yourselves Amongst Yourselves

Again, we must be wary of comparing these specific results to our own. The author of Hebrews is not trying to get us mimic the results, but understand that these results - for these people and in their circumstances - resulted from faith. This is an important distinction.

We are not them - our circumstances are not theirs. As God's children, we are a unique instrument, joined to the Divine Trinity in perfect union. God will play us as an instrument in a unique way compared to any of His other children. The music He plays through us will sound different from anyone else. We have our own name (Rev. 2:17) and our own symphony. This is a vital truth (and also common sense).

One of the biggest errors I see in the Christian world today is separating results from the source of those results. The author of Hebrews is not praising the results, he is praising the source of the results: faith. But, of course, the results are still important. Faith will never result in sin. It will always result in victory over sin and circumstances. Yet, it is still faith - the root - that is most important.

Only we can walk our own walk of life. The unique situations and people we will encounter provide the canvas for God to use faith to paint. God is the master artist, we are the canvas, and faith is the paint. The outward reach from what Christ is doing within each of us will be unique. That is the beauty of the “fruit of the Spirit”.

Spirit Fruit is Never Legalistic

I don't want you to miss this point. The fruit of the Spirit can never be legalistic (unless they are twisted in some way.). None of the attributes within the gift package that makes up the fruit of the Spirit are specific actions. Thus, there is nothing to mimic. Loving someone may require a certain action one day, and possibly the near opposite action the next! Walking by the Spirit is a challenging mindset. We must be prepared for anything.

Please tell me the list of things to check off so you experience genuine joy. I want that list! But it can never happen that way. Same with true peace - no matter the circumstances. How Spirit fruit comes out from within you can never be standardized or systematized. That is why it requires faith. And faith will never give you a list. By definition, Spirit fruit demands a faith based reliance upon Christ for life.

If there is any measurement of faith listed in scripture, then it would be the fruit of the Spirit. I still caution against a ‘measurement’ mentality, but if you must have some guide to follow, then let it be the fruit of the Spirit. That is the best lightpost to show if something is from faith or not.

It has been my experience that in spiritual communities that lean towards legalism, the fruit of the Spirit is rarely taught. Or, if it is, it is turned into yet another list that we are supposed to work on and achieve. The point of the analogy is that a tree or vine does not ‘achieve’ fruit. It just bears it - it simply happens. No effort required.

A plant is completely dependent on its caretaker, just as a faith based life is completely dependent upon Christ. Just as a plant has no worries about fruit, it just drinks in the water and nutrients provided by the caretaker; thus believers should live the same way. The gospel does not call us to be fruit inspectors (other than “are you bearing any fruit at all”). It calls us to grow in grace and knowledge of Christ. Let Him worry about our fruit.

Thus, while it is encouraging to see the many feats true faith has accomplished, now and in the past, a direct comparison to our own faith results can be harmful. Particularly since it is difficult to ascertain for anyone else if it was truly faith or not! Only God knows the heart. Fortunately, in Hebrews 11, the author indicates the results were from faith, but still, mimicking results is not his point.

My point is that we can certainly use these examples to gain an understanding of how faith works; but we must be open to any possible ways Christ is working in and through us. Do not just assume that mimicry of an action makes it from faith. That is the trap I am trying to help us avoid (and the one James was also concerned with, as I covered in my last article.)

Mimicry of “good actions” without faith is a good definition of legalism. The way to avoid it is to focus on the fruit of the Spirit. Most of these Spirit fruit components are quite difficult to mimic. We cannot truly bear Spirit fruit without faith - dependence on Christ through the new creation within. We can fool ourselves of course - but truly bearing Spirit fruit requires faith. It cannot happen any other way.

The Law is Not of Faith

Speaking of legalism, another point to make is none of these “feats of faith” in Hebrews 11 resulted from being motivated by the Law. In no place does the author say these people were fervent in their law keeping, etc. Since Paul says “the Law is not of faith” (Gal. 3:12), and this very author of Hebrews says the Law is “weak and useless” (Heb. 7:18), this makes sense. These feats were motivated by believing and trusting God's promises no matter the circumstances - thus faith!

As I covered before, many of these folks did not even have the “Law of Moses”. And the ones that did certainly did not follow it very well. Of course, there were consequences for them, as there always are when we do stupid, harmful things. Yet, they are still listed as having faith that has been credited for righteousness. Even those who were technically “under the law” were not righteous because they kept any of it.

These people had promises from God and they had faith in those promises. This motivated certain mindsets and behaviors. One thing to realize, and certainly the author of Hebrews would want us to recognize (since nearly the entire letter is written for this purpose): the old covenant promises in the OT are not the same as new covenant gospel promises. Nor are they a continuation. Hebrews emphasizes over and over that they are truly new - a full replacement.

The Oath Between God and God

When the apostolic authors reference the “great and precious promises” from God that enables and empowers the new creation, they are referencing the new covenant. A covenant is a set of promises - and God is the only legitimate “promise keeper”. This is why, for both the original ‘new’ covenant He gave to Abraham (where Abe slept through it); and the completed covenant we now have; God made the covenant with Himself.

Hebrews 6:13-18 - “13-When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, 14-saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.” 15-And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.

16-Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument. 17-So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath.

18-Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

Notice verse 17 - we, as believers, are the “heirs of the promise”. The new covenant guarantees the “reward of the inheritance” for us. And that reward is embodied in Jesus Christ.

The two unchangeable things that guarantees the oath of God for us is God and God. Unlike the old covenant between God and humans (the Hebrews), the new covenant is a secure “anchor for the soul” because it is between God the Father and God the Son (Jesus Christ). The “law is not of faith” because it depends on those humans who were under it. Thus, it was doomed to fail. There is nothing wrong with the law itself, but because humans were part of the covenant, it became “weak and useless”.

We participate in the new covenant through our ‘marriage’ to the Son - the universal church is the “bride of Christ”. God swore the new covenant oath against Himself. There is no greater Being to swear against! This is why the new covenant is so much better. And you cannot mix new and old, they have a totally different foundation. Law and grace will never mix.

It is this new covenant oath by God that we put faith in. And these promises are embodied and delivered by Jesus Christ. Thus, the Word became flesh - God's new covenant gospel promises made real by; through; and in - Jesus Christ. And faith in those promises is how we allow Christ to work through our new creation to give us life. Both when we become a new creation and as we learn to walk as a new creation.

The Obedience of Faith is For the New Covenant Gospel Promises

Again, as I emphasized in my last article, the promises of the gospel are what we are responding to now with our faith. Those promises are our faith responsibility. These gospel promises - the good news that everything from God is a gift - are now the focus of our faith. Not the old covenant promises.

Hebrews 11 references that some of the motivations for even the OT examples of faith were these same gospel promises that were far in the future and not well understood by them! They were looking forward to the gospel and Messiah. The gospel was certainly not clear to them of course. The gospel was difficult, a stumbling block, even for those Jews who experienced Christ in the flesh. Yet, many still had faith even in these future promises.

The faith they had, and the author of Hebrews emphasizes, was for the promises they had personally received. This is why they endured so much, and had great feats. And this faith was credited to them as righteousness. But, the main focus of Hebrews is how the new covenant promises are better than the promises for the OT saints. And at some level, these future promises also motivated their faith in their own personal promises from God.

Those future promises are ones that we, as new covenant believers, have now received. Promises that have been enacted in us. We are the new creations they were looking forward to! We have the “something better” that was promised. They could only imagine it in the future. But these new covenant promises are not based on how well we keep the law or behave.

This chapter also brings up the examples of Abraham and Rahab again (used by James as an example of living faith), and adds even more clarity to their stories. I highly recommend you read it, as I will only be touching on a few verses. But, remember the main point that despite their faith in their current promises, our faith should be focused on the new covenant gospel of grace promises. Our eyes should be on Christ - and nothing else.

God's Best Plan: the Gospel

In the last verse of Hebrews 11, verse 40, the author makes quite a statement:

God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.

These great people of faith, after their death, were still waiting on Christ and the new covenant. Their faith in the future promises of God, even though they did not fully understand them, is what has enabled them to join us as new creations. It was never their “righteous” actions that made them righteous, it was always their faith in God's promises. Their actions resulted from their faith; but it was the faith that was credited.

And that is the message of Hebrews 11 - much like the book of James - living faith works and works hard. Yet, it is the faith that is in the spotlight. Never forget that. Our work; our focus, as believers must be on growing our faith, not in the results. If our life is lived from living faith, the results will come. But only if faith is the focus. As soon as we begin to primarily focus on our works, then faith is cast aside and flesh takes over.

Faith is Believing and Trusting God's Promises

At its bottom line, faith is believing and trusting God's promises - past, present, and future. It is always pointed at the Divine - not ourselves. And as 2 Peter 1:4 says, we have “His precious and magnificent promises” which enable us to live as those who are “partakers of the divine nature”. Even the fact of our being a perfect new creation is one of those promises!

While on earth, this reality is truly a “treasure in an earthen vessel” as Paul calls it. Yet, it is still a reality. And one we must use our “earthen vessel”, our mind - to believe and trust - among many other promises! And that is the adventure! Discovering who we are in Christ. And that reality is based in God's promises through the gospel of grace.

Faith = Hope (firm belief) + Trust

We need to make sure we understand God's promises in order to believe and trust them. Under the new covenant gospel, there are many amazing and precious promises that we can depend on. As we begin to understand them, then we can begin to learn to trust them. Obviously the main promise is that Christ will give you His life. That is the first promise to trust. But, there is are so many other promises wrapped up in that one.

Trusting is a step further than believing. As I discussed in my last article, the books of Hebrews and James were specifically written to help demonstrate the idea of true living faith. Belief is the work that leads to faith, but trust is the glue that holds faith together. The Greek word often translated ‘hope’ in scripture means “firm belief”. Thus, we find that firm belief and trust in God's promises combine to make faith.

You can believe that a chair will hold your weight. You see it was constructed well. You have seen others sit in it without it breaking. But until you sit in it yourself, you haven't ‘trusted’ it. Yes, an overused analogy, but there is a difference between belief and trust. Yet, both are vital to faith.

You cannot trust anything without believing truth about it first. Yet, without that crucial component of trust, belief does not become faith. The book of James I just discussed points out the difference! Even the demons believe truth about God (James 2:19), yet they don't have faith. They don't trust in what they believe. They don't believe God is good, so they simply cannot trust Him. The same verse points out that they even tremble before God. We can see that it is not only that we believe truth, it is what we believe about the truth that matters.

Our minds can be full of truth as an intellectual endeavor. Yet, if we only accede to it because of fear or other negative motivations, then is that faith? We must never forget the connection to love that defines faith. And love cannot coerce or it ceases to be love. The reality of the love and kindness of God is crucial to trusting His promises, and thus - faith.

That God is good is something we all struggle to believe if we are honest, especially when we see so much evil in the world, and some of it perpetrated in God's name. Any honest person struggles that God does not step in and stop the many atrocities.

I believe God's nature of love is the answer; however, my main point now is a proper knowledge of truth is an essential component of faith, but it is not enough by itself. You must also believe and trust what you know. Many atheists know scripture - but they certainly don't believe or trust it.

This also demonstrates how knowledge and belief are truly hard ‘work’. Christ was not wrong (obviously) when He called it ‘work’. Yet, again, this is much different from “works of the law”. Our calling is the obedience of faith, not the law. And the obedience of faith requires learning, believing, and trusting God's truth.

Do You Trust in Your Forgiveness?

Here's an example: the new covenant gospel says believers are forgiven by God of all our sins for all time: past, present, and future. This is a gift. No works required (no confession, repentance, penance, etc. needed to be forgiven by God; it is already done and finished.) You are forgiven on the go; the milli-second you sin, you are forgiven. Any healthy actions like confession we might do come from the forgiveness we already have - they dont enact it.

There is nothing we can do beyond the initial faith we had in Christ's finished work that makes us more forgiven. There are not multiple types of forgiveness in scripture as some like to say - that is made up from their imagination. God’s promise is that you are forgiven of all sin for all time. Period. Don't let fancy unscriptural theological terms water down this promise of forgiveness.

As some of my first CCC articles discuss, confession and repentance are smart things to do. They are valuable tools to help us avoid the sting of sin. A humble approach towards those humans we have wronged will do wonders in repairing relationships. Christ will always lead us to do the smartest, wisest things.

Unlike God, those people we have wronged have not promised unlimited forgiveness as a gift. All human relationships are a struggle. Thus, showing God's love in these ways is the wise thing to do. It will bring life to your relationships. It will help your life be a bit better in this harsh world. It will be acting out what the Spirit has gifted you to do.

However, wise as these actions may be, none of them make us more forgiven by God. They don't change our peace with God one whit. They simply help us to live well within the forgiveness we already possess. We love because He first loved us; we forgive others because we recognize our own forgiveness by God. He who is forgiven much, loves much. These gifts we receive from God motivate us to give them out ourselves.

However, for these actions to be genuinely from faith, we must understand, believe, and trust in this promise of unlimited “for all time” forgiveness from God. The difference in how we live and act will be profound depending on whether we truly have faith in this promise.

Faith in our Forgiveness Helps Us Grow

At a minimum, faith in your forgiveness will help you waste less time on dead rituals (like asking for forgiveness God has already gifted.) But I fully believe, and have experienced, that recognizing your forgiveness actually helps you to sin less. And 2 Peter 1:9 says this attitude helps you grow!

In 2 Peter 1:3-7 (please read the entire chapter), Peter notes that faith involves God's promises, and indicates faith is the foundation of everything. He then lists traits, similar to the fruit of the Spirit, in which we should be growing (adding to the foundation of faith). Traits like virtue, knowledge, kindness, and love. And then he writes this:

“But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.”

Note that this hypothetical person is clearly a believer. They have been forgiven and cleansed of their sins. As Peter references above, they are “partakers of the divine nature”. Yet, this believer is not growing in these traits as they should. And Peter gives the reason why. So, does he give a list of 10 ways to express kindness? Does he tell them to follow the 5 step virtue plan?

Of course not. Peter full well knows that only faith will enable true growth. Only the divine kindness of Christ expressed through our new creation will do. And this is enabled by faith. Peter calls out a promise we must have faith in so that we grow.

Scripture, through Peter, specifically points out that forgetting your forgiveness and cleansing of sin is why you struggle to enjoy these genuine attitudes in your life! Remembering your forgiveness is key to these attitudes naturally being reflected in your daily life.

Peter is Not Denying “Once for All Time” Forgiveness

Now, don't get hung up on the phrase “past sins”. First, every sin is in the past as soon as we do them. We can't be focused on whether we are forgiven and cleansed of a sin until we have done it. God may have seen all our sins in the future and forgiven them, but we don't have that ability!

Peter is acknowledging the poor attitude of an unhealthy fixture on past sins, not commenting on future sins. He is not dismissing the “the once for all time” forgiveness truth in the gospel - quite the opposite. His point is as believers you should not be obsessing about any sin. It simply does not help anything, and does a lot of harm.

Second, this is something Peter indicates those with stunted growth have 'forgotten'. You can't forget something that hasn't happened yet. And that is Peter's point. He is saying that faith in our total forgiveness and cleansing from all sin, for all time, is crucial to helping us to grow in those traits he listed.

This is not some special secret from God - it is also “common sense”! Those who are obsessed with their sins cannot be obsessed with Christ, because He has gifted you forgiveness and cleansing. Thus, obsession with your sinning indicates a lack of faith in His finished work. You don't truly trust this gospel promise of God! Thus, your growth will be stunted.

Christ Gifts the Growth

This is also because Christ gifts the growth! (Col. 2:19) Obsessing with sin will stunt your growth because you are no longer trusting Christ who gifts you the growth (and forgiveness). A focus on sin takes the focus off Christ. You cannot be focused on two things at the same time. And if you don't trust in Christ's gift of forgiveness, this leads to mistrusting Him in other things.

A Clear Example of Faith

Thus, we have a clear example of faith: believing - and trusting - the promise of God about His forgiveness. Scripture is transparent about this vital promise within the new covenant gospel. This is a foundational gospel promise that should be easy to have faith in. We should not require much convincing it is true - yet many struggle with this. Perhaps it is due to poor teaching, or taking single verses out of context; but, no matter the reason, it demonstrates a lack of faith.

Because of Christ's finished work, you are forgiven and cleansed of all your sin for all time. Next time you sin, it will be a test of your faith in this promise. How do you react? How do you think or what do you do? Can you see how “living faith” continues to do it's work even after salvation? Our attitudes and actions will reflect our faith in this promise of God. We will make certain choices based on faith in this promise, or make other choices because we don't really believe and trust it.

Faith in this promise will produce an attitude of gratitude that you are forgiven. Even after you stumble, you have peace with God. Faith in this promise will enable a continued trust in your closeness to God. Thus, you will not be fearful, or feel you need to perform dead rituals, before you can go to Christ and ask for wisdom and guidance on how to avoid stumbles in the future.

Trusting your forgiveness is the first step to trusting your righteousness, which is also a promised gift. If you can't even believe you are forgiven, how will you ever believe you are a slave of righteousness? And if you have not been made into the righteousness of God, how can you ever act in a righteous way? Faith in these promises build upon each other.

Use God's Tools to Help Him Renew your Mind

Yes, in some instances, we all will need repentance and confession to get our mind into a place of wanting the wisdom and courage to say no to sin. If you are not experiencing a healthy remorse (also in the mind), if the flesh is trying to convince you your stumble didn't matter, etc., then you will definitely need to repent (change your mind). Sin stinks, and we must be convinced of that. Sin hurts us and others. This is why God despises sin - it hurts those He loves.

Even God's attitude towards sin is a product of His nature of love. I will do a CCC on sin at some point, but this is a crucial understanding. Sin is not some abstract concept for God - it is simply that which is not of His nature - and thus abhorrent to Him. There is no sin that is ever a product of unconditional love. It cannot be. But God is not being arbitrary - He hates sin because sin is opposed to love.

Faith in your Forgiveness

Yet, you are still forgiven by God, even if your mind is not there, even if you don't repent right away. Can you see this? You will be miserable, because you are agreeing with (confessing) something that is at odds with who you are in Christ, but you are still forgiven. You are still at peace with God, no matter how stupid your thinking and acting. This is because your forgiveness is based in Christ, not your thoughts and actions. You should be breathing a sigh of relief! Yet, this idea is difficult for many to accept.

Those whose faith is firmly fixed on the truth of this promise of forgiveness and cleansing will be the first to repent, confess, be remorseful, and say no to sin. I have seen this exact attitude shift in my own life. Thus, again, faith in our forgiveness is crucial. As we will find out, it will put substance to this promise of God as a reality in your own life. The deeper your faith in your own forgiveness, the easier it will be to forgive.

Back to Hebrews 11 - And 'Feats'

Again, I want to emphasize that the feats in this chapter are not meant to be mimicked directly - but you should mimic the faith that led to the feats. Consider the example I gave above: what feats would result from faith in your forgiveness? Is saying no to sin more and more consistently not a “great feat”? Especially when it may be an addiction type sin that has troubled you for a long time, and damaged you and those around you? And what about your own ability to forgive others?

Faith or Flesh Based Messages

Much teaching I read or hear in the Christian world follows the pattern of ‘mimicry’. To follow my example of forgiveness above, it is an easy message to tell a story about how someone, from scripture or otherwise, forgave someone else. Often Christ Himself is the person elevated to mimic! I mean, that doesn't seem like a bad message, does it? Act like Christ. Sounds really holy, right? WWJD - what would Jesus do? Mimic Christ's action(s). Seems legit. Hard to argue against that message.

This same mimicry message continues about how Christ demands you forgive perfectly - like Him. Then, it gives the 5 to 10 steps to proper forgiveness, based on actions others took when they forgived. Finally it says go and do likewise.

A vital aspect of this mimicry message is if you don't forgive properly, it vaguely threatens God's judgment because you are disobedient; or at a minimum you should be guilty and ashamed if you fail to forgive like Christ. And once you are sufficiently shamed at how bad you are failing to forgive, come back next time for more uplifting messages of condemnation about the next thing you need to improve!

What is usually totally missing from these messages, or barely mentioned, is how faith in our new creation - connection to Christ - empowers our ability to forgive (or do anything else). As Christ Himself said, “apart from Me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Empowerment vs Mimicry

There is a vast difference in saying Christ is a “model” for our forgiveness, thus pushing us into using the flesh to try hard to forgive like He did (mimicry); or emphasizing that He forgives us first and then places His forgiveness in our hearts through our new creation (empowerment). Christ does not expect us to be able to forgive; He expects us to have faith in His ability to forgive, which He has gifted to us. Can you see the difference?

Christ is able to forgive perfectly, He indwells us, and we are connected to Him at our core. As Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 6:17:

“But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.”

(BTW, interesting phrasing. Seems like we play some role in “uniting ourselves” with the Lord. But I digress…for now.)

Thus, we can rely on Christ through our new creation to enable forgiveness in our walk. He will never coerce us to choose forgiveness; yet, as we rely on Him by faith, we will see forgiveness as the best way to live. Or, you can rely on your fear of punishment and your obligation to be obedient in order to forgive. This is your choice of course.

Faith vs Flesh

One of these is faith based forgiveness (a gift) and the other is flesh based forgiveness (a coerced requirement). This is a perfect example of a message that seems good, but really pushes us into the flesh. Christ is not a “model” for us to try and follow out of fear, shame, or guilt if we don't.

That is not the gospel! That is horrible news - based in our own ability. God promises He has given us new hearts, filled with His love; and thus: genuine divine forgiveness. Being able to forgive is a gift to receive; not a command to obey. It is for our good; but we simply can't have genuine forgiveness without faith in our own forgiveness through Christ and in our own new creation ability to forgive.

Again, the actions we take as a part of forgiving someone may look very similar whether it is empowered by faith or flesh. Self awareness of motivation, etc, is necessary in this process, of course. Yet, the fruit of flesh based forgiveness will be continued struggle with resentment, etc. While faith based forgiveness will last.

Trying vs. Trusting

The harder we “try” to forgive, the less genuine it will be because it is not based in faith. We may even convince ourselves we have forgiven; yet, when tested and tempted, the struggle will continue. But, trusting - both that we are forgiven by God, and that He has gifted us with His very forgiveness as a part of our essence as new creations - will enable genuine forgiveness that lasts. The only effort we have is faith - that is our only work. The rest will simply happen genuinely and naturally.

Maybe this sounds crazy to you. But, I must ask, how well has trying all your life worked for you? Faith is literally a leap. It is trusting when it doesn't seem logical. This mentality never takes our choice away. We are not puppets with Christ moving us. We are still part of the equation. Yet, there is a miracle involved where faith enables a mindset that allows the flow of the new creation from within to our soul (mind, will, emotions) and body.

We have the mind of Christ already. We have His love in our hearts. We have everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1). We are a new creation. This is all true of us. Yet, our attitudes and actions don't always reflect this reality.

We believe lies about God, the gospel, and ourselves. There are messages coming at us constantly and we tune into bad channels with our mind. Some of these channels we have listened to for so long we think they are our identity! We believe lies and not the truth. We point our faith at unstable things. We take in those messages, not the quiet voice of the Spirit inside.

Knowledge and belief are what we use to tune into God's channel of truth. Then faith is what helps us align our minds with God's reality that we now know and believe. We begin to trust God's reality instead of our own. We begin to align our reality with His.

Many have amazing 'results' or ‘feats’, but they are purely from flesh power. Many who are motivated by their worldly religion have “great works” like charity, etc. Yet, their belief system would make it difficult for these folks to be joined to Christ; thus, the works are likely not coming from genuine faith power. Again, this is the exact condundrum James was writing about.

Many, if not most, of these folks will be standing in front of Christ proclaiming their great works; but, He will say He never knew them (Matt. 7:22-23). It is knowing Christ - being connected to Him by faith - a new creation - that matters. Not any great works. Faith is vital to the equation itself, not only the results. As Paul says, the new creation is what matters.

My point is don't seek great works to somehow prove your faith; have faith in who you are in Christ. Then, if opportunities for “great works” (or small) present themselves, you will be confident and ready to make those choices. But if your focus is on the works; then it can't be on Christ.

More on Flesh vs Faith

It is crucial to understand the difference between flesh based human faith and scriptural God powered faith. As I covered in my last article, this is living vs dead faith. And the works produced are living vs dead works. It is a vital truth that in the spiritual world, all works done by those who are not connected to Christ are dead works. They are slaves of sin. The flesh is their only power source for all activity, good or bad. It is the source that determines the value of anything for the Kingdom of God, not the type of activity.

As believers, we now have a permanent source of “living faith” within, but we still have to choose it as the source of power to live. And the way we choose it is to believe and trust God's promises. Have faith in what God has said about us as new creations. Both the promises on God's side (forgiveness, etc) and the promises for and to us (a new heart; a slave of righteousness; a new creation; etc).

But, as believers, we can still choose the flesh as a source of power. This is the basis for dead faith and dead works. And this happens when you believe lies or twisted truth about the gospel. This happens when you are pressured or coerced into performing. This happens when “behavior improvement” becomes more of a focus than faith.

This happens when you don’t believe or trust in who you are in Christ. The list of lies we can believe is long and extensive - and sadly many of them come out of pulpits and Christian bookstores. Any idea that portrays God's promises as anything other than a gift is a lie. And often these lies are the easiest to believe.

New Covenant Promises

In this article, I have covered how the object for a Christian’s faith should only be God's promises to us, cemented by the oath God made to Himself, and expressed by the new covenant gospel. We should learn about those promises, work hard to believe them, and finally trust them = faith. It is faith in those promises that should guide our daily lives.

I gave an extensive example of one of those promises - forgiveness for all sins for all time - and mentioned several others. I demonstrated from scripture how faith in this promise can impact how you live and grow. Ultimately, faith in God's promises demonstrates faith in the living Christ who indwells you and His power within to enable your walk. Christ does not coerce; thus, in this way, we choose Him. We are no longer quenching and grieving the Spirit and He can then work through us.

But, only by accessing the true living faith we have within can this happen. And learning about that is what these articles are all about. I look forward to continuing this study!

Deeper Hebrews 11 to Come

Let's finally take a deeper look at Hebrews 11 and see if we can dig further into what faith is from scripture. In the rest of my articles on faith, I plan to focus more directly on scripture passages about faith. They are fascinating!

Until then, I hope this introduction has given you some food for thought. Again, the goal is not to add even more of a law type burden where you must achieve “perfect faith based choices” at every moment! I hope and pray that is not how any of you are reading this.

But, the goal is to help you see the value in the living faith you have within, and to grow in grace and knowledge of Christ so that you utilize the gift of faith more and more to your advantage and to those around you. It is that you cooperate with Christ as He renews your mind so that you are believing gospel truth - God's new covenant promises - and learning to trust them.

Yes, all of scripture is useful for this - even in the negative, where we learn that the Torah is not of faith (even though it is in scripture). As Christ pointed out on the road to Emmaus, every study in scripture, no matter where it is, must be about Him. If our study of scripture is not confirming and helping to build our faith in the new covenant gospel, then we are misusing scripture.

Luke 24:27 - “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.”

And this is my purpose and goal: to help us understand what faith is and how important it is that we focus on the new covenant gospel promises that Christ enabled us to share. Ultimately, it is the gift of Christ and His life. Yet, that gift package is huge and full of many things.

Making faith based choices will come more easily as you realize and fix in your mind that these promises are good and true. But, I'm getting ahead of myself - let's see what the author of Hebrews has to say about it. Until then, keep walking well in God's blessings He has gifted you in Christ.

(All scripture quotes are from the BSB unless otherwise noted.)

NOTE: this is the second part of my introduction to faith. If you haven't read that article, please take a look at it first. It will now be located at the end of the index on my home page. I believe there will be a third part to this introduction. There are just too many ideas about faith to introduce! So, be looking for that one soon. As always, appreciate your patience and time to read my stuff.

Faith Introduction Continued: Difficult Faith Passages

There are some ‘difficult’ scripture passages related to faith that I cannot ignore in this discussion. A soft gospel mindset is possibly a key to people making these passages harder to interpret than they have to be; but I admit that the verbiage is challenging and must be tackled.

To me the interpretation is obvious; since I don't believe there are multiple gospel messages in scripture, my context is that all the apostolic authors share the same gospel. Thus, this is a given fact in my interpretation. If this is true, then any seeming discrepancies in their writings must have other causes and/or meanings.

Again, I will repeat, anything that appears to conflict with the clear gospel message must have some other explanation. Period.

Finding those legitimate alternatives is my mission in this article. And, again, we cannot change the essential gospel of grace message. Salvation, becoming a child of God - a new creation in Christ - comes by grace through faith. Period.

However, given that many well known historical figures in Christian history have wrestled with these passages, I must humbly approach them myself. I am no one special, but I will simply call things as I see them (with much prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit.)

Walk Humbly before your God

This is the problem with humans that are Christians and teachers isn't it? Most who would disagree with me will claim they prayed and the Holy Spirit is on their side, LOL. Welcome to the believer’s walk. We must all walk humbly before our God. No one has everything right. Many times, not even a majority are right.

Humanity loves to latch onto things without giving them much thought because others push it. And if they have been setup as experts, even better. And if they are famous from history, then they must have known something we don't, right? This is an easy trap to fall into.

Yet, we still all have the same scripture, and I must forthrightly give my perspective. My goal, as always, is to align all my perspectives with the clear documentation concerning the gospel of grace provided specifically by Paul. A gospel where everything is a gift, as I have emphasized over and over. No one else has written it more clearly than him. Thus, I humbly and prayerfully move forward, with the gospel of grace as my guide along with the Holy Spirit.

Don't Outsource Your Beliefs

In the end, I am presenting a perspective which I believe is scriptural and matches the gospel. But, ultimately what you believe is up to you. I think too many times in the Christian world we try to outsource our beliefs. We latch onto this person or that ‘-ism’; we go to church and just blindly accept the teaching, etc. I definitely don't want to be that person - on either side - though I was for many years - on both.

But, hopefully we all eventually grow in grace and knowledge of Christ - since that is the goal, is it not? Part of that growth is learning which spiritual food to eat is good and which is not.

My goal is to help you to obtain or confirm your own beliefs. Maybe what I write is a bit different from what you have heard. Again, perspective matters. But don't just blindly accept my writing either. Think for yourself! If my writing makes sense, great! Then let it influence you.

My great hope is that it actually helps you to focus and rely more on Christ. But only you can act as the gatekeeper of your own mind. Everything that is accepted there should be analyzed and filtered. And there is no better filter than the gospel of grace. It is the only guarantee that the food is not junk food.

Thus, don't outsource your beliefs to anyone else, including me. As we will find out, faith is hard work. And it is a work everyone must do - it is ultimately pass or fail. (God doesn't grade on a curve as Andrew Farley likes to say). If you possess “living faith” - as we will discuss soon - then you have already ‘passed’. God has given you a 100%. The rest is just icing on the cake (it's the fun part)! Growing in grace as we live and walk.

I'm simply here to help point out the tools with which you must do the work. If the tools I'm pointing at are rusty and broken, don't use them, reject them. But, if the tools you have been using are rusty and broken, then reject them and grab new ones. Any teacher coming from a place of faith should say the same. We are only ambassadors for Christ and the gospel - Christ is the truth and power.

Welcome to repentance - changing your mind about the faith tools you have been using and learning to use new ones! But, go back to my index to read more about that topic. Let's dig into faith and works now - a challenging topic indeed.

Faith Without Works is Dead

There is an elephant in the room with any discussion of faith that I must address. And I will not address it fully here, though I may in the future. I have many other reasons than I will provide now that allow me to come to the conclusions I do, but that would require a complete exegesis of the full text of James. Again, I may do that some day, along with Hebrews, but both of those will be long endeavors. For this discussion of faith, I will hit the highlights.

James, in his letter, makes several statements about faith and works that seem to go against the gospel as taught by Paul. I believe this is because in the Christian world we have the wrong concept of “works”. We often have an old covenant view: works of the law, keeping the law, etc.

But, let's take a look at one of the statements in question:

James 2:17 - “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (ESV)

James is qualifying that there is a type of faith that is ‘dead’ (and thus a different type of faith that is living). And there are apparently ‘works’ that are connected to whether faith is ‘living’ or ‘dead’. So, the main question is what does he mean by the word ‘work’? But first:

Why Would James Say This?

A quick background. Much of the time James was a leader in the Jerusalem church there was famine and other hardships in the land. The people in general were having a difficult time, especially those who were under privileged in society like widows and orphans.

The Jewish Law (Torah) required they be taken care of, but the religious leaders made loopholes that let them avoid actually following the spirit of the law, yet still pat themselves on the back that they were “keeping the law”.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, as they say.

This was influencing the Jerusalem church and frustrating James. He was also fighting these law lovers (Judaizers) coming in the church trying to directly corrupt the gospel. I will not get into the passages directly, but the Torah is a huge context in his writing. He wrote stuff like “if you keep the whole Torah, yet fail in one point, you have failed at all of it”. His church and audience were Jewish, so this makes sense.

I believe he was also fighting his own struggles with his past Jewish beliefs. He influenced Paul at the council in Acts 15 to go along with including some law based restrictions on the Gentiles, including food restrictions, which Paul later said was not a requirement.

Clearly, in this historical (not doctrinal) passage, Paul is compromising with the Jerusalem council over these matters. He is following his own teaching in Romans 14. Like he says in other places, if he had to compromise and act like a Jew under the Torah to win them to Christ, he would. But, this historical account does not change the gospel. Believers are still not “under the Law”.

Further, in Galatians 2, Paul calls out Peter for his Jewish hypocrisy when “certain men came from James”. It was not without cause that Paul mentions they came from James. Anecdotally, it appears James (and Peter) had a struggle to get away from their Jewish religious background and unhypocritically embrace the teachings of the gospel of grace. Yet, as often happens, I believe their struggle helped them eventually embrace it all the more. As James himself writes, “we all stumble in many ways”. (James 3:2)

However, he did have some practical motivation to help his congregation recognize that true faith leads somewhere: love for others. The letters of John have similar themes and I cannot deny this emphasis in James. That will be much of my emphasis going forward in these articles about faith - how living faith impacts believer’s lives and walk. However, we must discuss this seeming discrepancy concerning “faith and works” first.

The Consistent Theme of the Gospel: Living Faith Works

Anyone who claims that being connected to Christ by faith will not impact how we think, live, and act is ludicrous. Several passages in the book of James demonstrate this concept. Faith that does not ultimately lead to loving others naturally is not true, living faith. Again, the letters from John say this directly. A natural Christ type of love is a sign you have Christ.

Living faith has an impact in a believer's life. This should be a given. However, where we often go wrong is when we bring out the measuring stick and try to measure our faith by some volume of works, particularly by comparing our works to others. Remember again, a cup of water given genuinely by faith is enough to prove you have faith - and gain the “reward of the inheritance”. (Mark 9:40; Colossians 3:24 NASB)

One work flowing from faith is more valuable to the kingdom of God than a hundred that flow from trying to perform the works of the law. But, there is a work everyone must perform first in order to gain the kingdom of God; and it is not what you might typically think of as work. And this is where the topic gets confused.

Justification is the Key to this Passage

I firmly believe that James’ focus is not primarily on believers in this passage because of this verse:

James 2:24 - “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (ESV)

This is both the most controversial passage as well as most clarifying. Because James uses the word ‘justified’, he can only mean one thing: salvation.

That word translated ‘justified’ is a salvific word. It describes how we are “made righteous” by Christ. It is the same word used by Paul to seemingly say the opposite. So, do we have a “works righteousness” or not? Are we justified by faith or works? Paul says one; James says another.

Are Paul and James opposed? The verbiage doesn't leave any wiggle room. This is a “yes or no” answer, and you must decide. And how you answer determines how to interpret this passage. Are we justified by faith or works? Choose a side.

But let's read Paul's take:

Galatians 2:16 - “know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

Romans 3:28 - “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”

Hmm. Wow. This seems pretty clear. In Galatians 2:16, Paul manages to say three times that we cannot be justified by “works of the law”. Further, just in case you think there is some mixture of faith and works of the law that saves, in Romans 3:28 he uses the phrase “apart from”. There is no ambiguity in this Greek word - justification is completely separate, disconnected from works of the law. Period.

Should James be Considered Scripture?

For many reasons I won't get into, James has been included in the scriptural canon. I guess scripture is contradictory, so we should throw it all out? It is ideas like this that led Martin Luther to put James in the appendix of his scripture translation. Is that what we should do? Did good ole’ Marty have it right after all?

James is saying there is work, combined with faith, that makes it real. I mean, that is what he is saying. We can't get around this. That is what he says. Period. We cannot ignore this, but should we ignore James altogether? I do not believe we should. But, if James and Paul agree on the gospel, then what does James mean by this verbiage?

A Couple Ludicrous Theories

Scholars, internet ‘theologians’, and everyone in between have struggled with this. I have heard some say “James means you are justifying yourself in front of other humans, not with God” or “James is teaching a different gospel to his Jewish audience than Paul is to the Gentiles”. These are both hogwash, for many reasons beyond what I will mention here.

Paul and James use the same word ‘justified’. And Paul says both Jews and Gentiles are included in the gospel he preached. There are not two kinds of justification in scripture. There are not two gospels. This is just humans making up crap out of thin air.

Of course, many just mostly ignore the seeming contradiction to avoid controversy, but this isn’t fair to a discussion of faith. We cannot simply ignore parts of scripture - it must be resolved. James’ words about faith are helpful to understand it.

Scripture Provides the Answer

If you read Jesus Christ’s teaching carefully, and combine this with the Galatians passage above, this is actually not that complicated. I'm nobody special, but it became obvious to me in a word search about ‘works’. Perhaps it takes scholars to complicate things - or maybe the simple really can confound the wise, LOL. Or maybe I'm off, but hear me out. Again, you must decide what you believe.

Works of the Law

Note that in the above Galatians and Romans passages, Paul specifically says “works of the law”. Twice he calls this out, not simply works, but works of the law. This is not a distinction without a difference. There are dead works that come from a law based mentality and there are living works that come from a faith based mentality.

Paul himself calls out that as new creations in Christ, we were “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” (Philippians 2:10) Notice that the works come from God, He prepared and provides them. We can trust Him to do this. You may have no works today and 10 works tomorrow. This is all part of walking by the Spirit. Stop trying to validate yourself by finding “works”, trust me, God will place them before you, trust Him. But I digress…

Just as James distinguishes living and dead faith; the works that result from dead faith are dead works; and the alternately; the works that result from living faith are living works. As we will see when we get into more scripture - without faith you cannot please God, and whatever is not of faith is sin.

The whole point is whether or not you have “living faith” or not: are you justified - a believer - a child of God? Once that happens, are your works coming from that connection to Christ or from another place? Are they from the Spirit or the flesh?

These are two separate, but connected, topics; James has both in focus, and sometimes seems to overlap them. But for our study, we must see the distinction. And his main concern is that you have living faith in the first place. Because if you do, then the works will come, no matter how much we struggle against them. Christ's love within always pushes it's way out. We are slaves of righteousness - we can't ultimately resist.

Back to Justification by Works

Every other instance where justification and works are mentioned by Paul in a negative sense, that I can find, it is “works of the law”, not simply works. I believe that even in the instances where Paul is contrasting “salvation by grace through faith” with works salvation, he is implying “works of the law”. He uses this phrase too often to not imply that this is what he means by ‘works’. Maybe we are having a Princess Bride moment - I don't think that word means what you think it means!

But let's see what Jesus Christ Himself has to say about ‘work’.

New Covenant Work vs. Old Covenant Works

John 6:28-29 - “28-Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29-Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.””

Ok, so Christ defines new covenant “work” as believing in Himself (this is the Greek word pisteuó that is a verb form meaning the action that leads to faith - thus connected to faith). This is fascinating! Could belief be a ‘work’? Christ said it is.

The Jewish crowds were pestering Him with questions. One of them we just read: they ask the question from an old covenant (law) perspective - notice the plural - works. They mean “works of the law”, just as Paul picks up on later. They want a list of things to do to please God. But they have the Torah already, so clearly they want the supreme list, not just the normal stuff. Ironically, by asking the question, they admit the Torah is not enough.

Christ turns this around on them and makes the work a singular one: believe in the One God sent (Himself) - perform a mental action that leads to faith in Christ. So, clearly Christ sees belief as a work. See how simple this is? Are we to go against Christ and try to say that belief is not a work?

Could the word “work” refer to multiple things at once? Could James be referencing two kinds of work in his letter? In one sense, living faith will lead to faith based and empowered works. Yet, in another, the main work of living faith is belief. We cannot disconnect these two concepts.

Changing our beliefs (repentance) is the hard work of faith. This work is necessary for salvation, and then continues after. And it leads to living faith based works. It is this sequence to which James is referring.

Many of these corrupt concepts are connected. My third CCC was on repentance, and I emphasized that to repent means to change your mind. For salvation, what that change of mind is towards is often different for every person. Each person has a unique struggle to change their mind about Christ being Lord and that He is able to give them life.

Same with belief and the decision faith in Christ requires. Each future believer does the work of changing their mind about Christ and then believing in Him - that is how you become a child of God. These works performed by people that lead to living faith in Christ are not the works of the law. They are not what most would consider work at all. Many don't see belief as a work, but Christ does, and stated so very clearly.

I cannot overemphasize the object of the belief: Jesus Christ. The work is not some kind of generic belief - as many Disney songs herald - everything is magical “if you just believe”. This work is a belief focused on Jesus Christ. Do not miss that focus. However, what work does living faith in Jesus Christ that makes us into new creations do?

Faith Works and Works Hard

As Paul affirms many times, “works of the law” cannot justify or save. Period. However, James is not referring to “works of the law”. By definition, works of the law means you are striving to do something to get brownie points with God (blessings) or avoid punishment. However, works of faith flow from the work of belief - which demonstrates living faith. The results of dead faith and living faith may look very similar - but the power source is vastly different.

Living Faith vs Dead Faith

In James 2, he gives two old testament examples of the “works” that combine with faith to establish it as “living faith”, not “dead faith”. In the example of Abraham, he even says “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.”. It was the work of belief that was credited.

James’ point however is that putting his son on the altar was the choice Abraham made based on his belief (he believed God would rescue his son). Now, I have a question, is there anything in the Law, the Torah, that says “thou shalt place thy sons upon an altar as a test of your faith”. Of course not. Abraham's ‘work’ was not a “work of the Law”. He did not even have the Torah yet! It was a choice that turned his belief into “living faith”.

Same with the example of Rehab the prostitute. Is there a Law saying “thou shalt open your door and protect enemy spies”. Again, of course not. Rahab believed what God said, and thus she chose to act upon that belief. She made a decision to do what that belief required. This ‘work’ had nothing to do with “works of the Law”. Rahab was a Gentile, she had no knowledge of the Law of Moses!

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, James uses these examples specifically: a man who pre-existed the Law of Moses, and a Gentile woman who had no awareness of the Torah. His point is not the works in and of themselves, but the context of living vs. dead faith. What the examples chose in response to their belief in God was not the point - it was the fact they believed and responded.

With a similar context and Jewish audience, Hebrews parallels this concept in chapter 6 where the author references “repentance from dead works” as an elementary foundational concept of the new covenant gospel.

These dead works are works of the law that come from dead fleshly faith. Everything is wrong about these works: the mindset, motivation, and the source of power. Dead works and dead faith are connected, they flow from one another. In the same way, living works flow from living faith. And living faith is not connected to “works of the law” in any way, shape, or form.

I believe James and Paul are in complete alignment on this fact.

The New Covenant Living Work: the Obedience of Faith

This is important: the action that God through the gospel now requires is that we choose Christ. In his letter to the Romans, Paul both opens the letter (1:5) and closes the letter (16:26) with an interesting phrase “the obedience of faith”. This is now the call of God for every human.

Much like Abraham and Rahab obeyed God because they believed, now we need to do the work of believing in Christ and choosing Him over our own way. This is the obedience of faith. The gospel is now what God has spoken to us and that is the new covenant work of belief for us - we must choose Christ.

Just as God spoke to Abraham and Rahab, He has now spoken to us through his Son and said “Believe in Jesus Christ”. God is no longer speaking through the Torah - He is no longer speaking through the prophets (Hebrews 1:1-3). He is only speaking through His Son - Jesus Christ.

John 1:18 - “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” NASB 1995

I deliberately used a translation that says ‘bosom’. Here is what Discovery Bible Copyright 2021 says about this word.

2859 kólpos – properly, the upper part of the chest where a garment naturally folded to form a "pocket" – called the "bosom," the position synonymous with intimacy (union).

Christ, who is “enclosed in the heart of the Father”, is the perfect representation of the trinitarian Godhead as a human. The word translated ‘explained’ is a strong word meaning “provides a narrative”. The epic story of God is fully told in Jesus Christ. For humanity, He is the complete understanding of a difficult to understand God. Christ is the final, perfect, explanation of God.

Thus, if you want to have living faith like Abraham: truly from your heart, give your old life to Christ. Lay your old life down on a spiritual altar (only once though, not daily). Let Him give you new life. If you want living faith like Rahab, open the door of your heart to Christ. He will come in, make you a new creation, and live in you.

The fact that both of these examples parallel the spiritual acts of “opening the door of our hearts to Christ”, and “laying down our old self for a new life from Christ” should not be neglected. These were deliberate choices by James to reflect aspects of the work of believing in Christ.

In the famous words of Jesus Christ:

John 12:25 - “Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

Revelation 3:20 - “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.”

Just like Abraham did with Isaac, lay yourself down - your spirit that is disconnected from the life of God - and Christ will raise you to newness of life: connected to Himself. Just like Rahab, Christ is knocking at the door of your heart, simply open the door and let Him in, and He will transform you into a dwelling place fit for the Divine, and take up residence, abiding in you. Your connected spirit will now be alive.

This work of belief is what is involved in “living faith”. But, as James says in this same passage, even demons are monotheistic and believe there is a God. Thus, it is the choice to believe in Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life that distinguishes living faith from dead faith.

The Only Work that Saves

This is the ‘work’ that combines with faith to save. Christ makes it clear that particular work is belief in Him. James also makes it clear that true faith, combined with the work of belief, results in a change of attitudes and actions. God's love in our hearts produces fruit. Let's look at a follow-on passage:

James 3:11-12 - “11-Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12-My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

In the very next chapter, after the discussion of faith and works, James gives a couple of analogies showing the identity of a water spring and trees/vines. Jesus also gave similar analogies. The point is clear. True faith causes an identity change: we become new creations; children of God; partakers of the divine nature of love.

The fruit produced by this connection to God's nature of love is real and produced by living faith - not dead faith. A dead faith tree produces dead works fruit; a living faith tree produces the fruit of the Spirit and living works.

James’ point is that many who claim to have faith have a dead version of faith - not living faith. Only living faith can save - and James’ grave concern is that his audience truly has salvation - not whether they are performing enough works. In this, James and Hebrews are written in the same context. And it is this evangelistic context - focused on justification - that defines his statement that “faith without works is dead”.

Faith that justifies is “living faith” - they are the same thing. When Paul says we are “justified by faith” - he means “living faith”. And living faith can only come by the work of believing in Jesus Christ - choosing Christ. Certainly there are those who think they have living faith, but their faith is dead. And Christ will say at the end: “Sorry, I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:22-23).

Ironically, they will tout their works as evidence! If that is the kind of works James means, then Christ should welcome them with open arms - right? Yet, their faith was dead, because it was pointed at themselves and their works, not Christ. The “will of the Father” and the work of the Father is that we truly believe and trust in the Son. Period.

James vs. Faith Conclusion

So, we have a conundrum here which we cannot ignore and must make a choice in this discussion of faith: was James teaching a different gospel than Paul? Was he possibly even opposing Paul, confronting his gospel as false? Or, are James and Paul's gospel the same? It must be one or the other. So, which is it?

If the first two are true - they are preaching a different gospel - then Martin Luther was right and we should rip James out of scripture. Gospel means “good news”, and if our salvation depends upon our behavior then we are screwed. That’s not good news at all. We must deny James as a heretic. He was not following the teaching of Christ or Paul.

However, I believe they are teaching the same gospel. James, in his own harsh way of speaking and writing, is emphasizing the result of the true gospel vs a fake one. Thus, when he says “justified by works”, he is not meaning our track record of behavior. He means the “work” of belief in Christ (plural across the church); which if it is true, will be shown by our response to God. The same as Paul, he means the “obedience of faith”.

Notice, Abraham’s faith was shown by a single action; Rahab’s faith was the same. Even the act of helping the widows and orphans James calls out is a single example; as Christ said, a single cup of water truly given to another believer gains the reward. Throughout scripture, the emphasis is that it only takes one choice that is motivated by faith.

Again, this is common sense. Many people who are not justified by God help the needy - that does not save them. In the context of justification, James is simply showing that living faith will work in you to love others.

James never says it is the “works of the law” that provide justification, so he never contradicts Paul. They are talking about the same ‘work’ - belief - the obedience of faith. As we get more into discussing faith, you will see that this continues to be our primary work, even after salvation. But let's take a look at one more passage, if you need more proof.

Romans 4:23-25 - “23-Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham, 24-but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25-He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.”

The same example: Abraham. The same credit: righteousness. The same result: justification. What is the work: believe. I want to emphasize this:

The same example: Abraham. The same credit: righteousness. The same result: justification. What is the work: believe.

This is a abundantly clear and the parallel with James is undeniable. This is like the blind men with the elephant story: Paul and James are describing the same thing: justification by faith. But not every kind of faith justifies: only faith in Christ justifies.

James is one of the apostles Paul met with to confirm the gospel, so I highly doubt they disagreed significantly or Paul would have called him out publicly - just like he did Peter. Paul was no shrinking violet. And given James tendencies, maybe he did call him out at some point privately. But, that was never recorded of course, and for both Peter and James, it was a matter of their walk, not their justification.

As Hebrews 4:11 states, for those who have not “entered the rest” of the new covenant gospel, the author says to “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest…”. I'm not going to argue what the ‘rest’ is. It is clearly entering into Christ at salvation. Nothing else fits. My point is for you to notice the phrase: make every effort. Sounds like work to me! Believing is often hard work. Repentance is hard. If you haven't believed in Christ yet, make every effort to get to know Him and believe!

Thus, how do you enter the rest of Christ? By faith. What is the work of faith? Belief. Almost the entire book of Hebrews emphasizes over and over to avoid unbelief and choose belief in Christ and the new covenant. Thus, every human needs to work hard to believe. That is the only work that justifies - not the “works of the Law”.

The Key to James and Hebrews - Fakers in the Church

James is not reproaching true believers for their lack of works as much as he is reproaching the unbelievers (fakers pretending to be believers) in the church for their lack of faith!

Let me emphasize that, it is vital!

James is not reproaching true believers for their lack of works as much as he is reproaching the unbelievers (fakers pretending to be believers) in the church for their lack of faith!

This is the key to the book of James (and Hebrews). Both authors had a similar audience and context. Their main audience were Jews in the church who were still putting faith in “works of the Law”. Their faith was not pointed at Christ (yet). They were pretenders (whether they even realized it or not).

Faith that combines with ‘works’ as James describes is salvation or justifying faith. James is clear on this when he uses the word ‘justification’. If you don't have living faith, then you are not a believer. Why would James be preaching this to folks he already knows has living faith? He wouldn't. That would be idiotic.

Please, this is so simple. Consider this carefully. Don't let this get complicated. If your faith is dead, are you saved? No. James is clear: a dead faith does not justify. A dead faith does not save. A believer has living faith that justifies by definition. So, those he is cajoling over their dead faith cannot be believers!

Am I being clear? Is this actually difficult? Let me state it again. If you are a scholar, read slowly. I feel a bit of Paul's sarcasm coming out!

James is teaching about dead faith - faith that does not justify. If your faith is dead, you are not justified. If you are not justified, you are not saved. If you are not saved, you are not a child of God or a believer. Thus, these words about “dead faith” cannot be about believers! It is a logical incongruity.

Many (not all) of the admonitions in James cannot be for you - a believer. You either have living faith or you don't. It doesn't come and go. And once you have it, it changes you. Some changes are more obvious than others, but it cannot help but do it. If not, then your faith is dead and your salvation never happened. The key to interpreting James is this simple: if you don't have living faith then you are not saved.

Using James in a Backward Way

Most folks have it backwards for James. They use James to cojole believers because their list of “good works” isn't long enough (or doesn't match their own list). They try to use James as a hammer to guilt themselves or others into “behavior improvement”. That is not James’ point at all - actually the opposite. Again, the living faith he is advocating for is saving faith. He is comparing the results of living faith vs dead faith.

Living faith leads to salvation; dead faith doesn't. Salvation occurs because we are now connected to Christ - new creations. And a connection to Christ bears fruit - demonstrated by loving others. And if a hungry widow or orphan is placed in front of you by God through your circumstances, and you have food to give them, then love will motivate you to do it. This isn't rocket science. And you only need to be motivated by love through faith once for it to be “living faith”.

This doesn't mean you have to feel guilty about all of the millions of starving widows and orphans out in the world that you don't know or have a relationship with so that you end up making your own family widows and oprhans because you work yourself to death trying to save the world. That is not faith. But living faith working it's way out through love will naturally motivate you to care for those God has brought into your circle - the works He has ordained for you!

Will we utilize this faith perfectly? Of course not - we still continue to grow! But it will be there, quietly motivating us. We won't have to force it. It will be obvious. It will be flowing from a heart filled with the unconditional love of God. It will truly be supernatural. One whose heart is filled with the love of Christ cannot help by be impacted by it.

Law Loving Fakers

When discussing faith in James, there is a major theme of keeping the Law (Torah). James is ultimately dealing with two types of fakers in the church - both those who are Judaizers and claim to be keeping the law, and those who claim to have faith in Christ. However, both groups are not actually keeping the law or demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit.

Neither group is truly justified - these are not people connected to Christ - they don't have the Holy Spirit.

This is no different than John saying “if you don't natrually love your fellow family of God, you don't have God's love within”. The love of God that indwells every believer by faith will result in a change of thinking and actions. It will result in your loving others, especially your own family - both physical and spiritual.

But neither John, James, Paul, or anyone else in scripture are advocating for a perfect track record of behavior and good works to somehow prove your status in the family of God! Of course, we should learn and grow in grace and knowledge of Christ. That is a no brainer. We should use the gifts we have been given.

But anyone who uses James to guilt trip believers into some endless list of requirements to prove you have living faith is using it in an enemy way. And all it will do is push you into a fleshly guilt motivation to try and prove something. You will use flesh power to enable works to show off and prove your faith is not dead. Yet, these things will not be of faith! Thus, you would be missing the entire point.

Sadly, many Christian communities encourage this attitude, little realizing that they are actually discouraging living faith, and pushing people into sin. Even feeding the poor can be sin if it is done from flesh power and out of the wrong motivation. Of course, it is a much better sin than many others, but whatever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

Don't let anyone use James to guilt you into replacing a bad looking sin with a good looking sin! It is much better to live by faith! Don't fall for a substitute!

Living Faith Sells Itself

The love of Christ in our hearts does not have to be forced. We simply relax in His love and then it can't help but come out. And we don't have to measure it or compare it to anyone else. When this happens, you will know. You will recognize it.

As you do the hard work of learning, believing, and trusting - faith will do it's work. If you are not a child of God, you will become one. If you are a child of God, then you will more and more bear the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and the like. They will flow from you. And they might even take you by surprise! When you are surprised by your healthy response to others, that is a sure sign it is of Christ and not yourself!

The results of “living faith” are spectacular. The fake fruit of works that are motivated by fear or compulsion simply cannot compare. James and Paul are not in any way opposed in their understanding of the gospel. They are simply describing multiple facets of living faith.

NOTE: The cool thing about the gospel is Christ has us no matter what. We don't have to constantly worry about whether a choice we are making is from ‘faith’ or not. That would be turning faith into law! We are forgiven on the go; there is no pressure to perform, even to have perfect faith.

In Philippians 1:15-18 Paul addresses people who are actually sinning while preaching the legitimate gospel! “Some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry…” Paul concludes “that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice.”.

Paul is certainly not rejoicing in sin of course, but he knows God can turn even our sinning into good. Would it be better for these folks to preach Christ from perfect faith motives? Sure. But is Paul worried? Nope. And this is a good mindset to have - about others and ourselves.

Thus, we can truly relax. Constantly worrying about whether an action is motivated by faith or not can deter faith! My whole point is not to cause that attitude, but to help us recognize the benefits of learning what faith is and how to naturally operate from a place of faith and thus “walk by the Spirit”. It is truly the best way to walk and live.

Faith is the Best Way

I am firmly convinced that James mostly has Judaizers and other fakers in his sights with his message about justification. However, neither he, nor any other apostolic writer, act as if once we have been justified, we can simply ignore what has happened to us.

It would be a despicable message to say that once we have used living faith to get saved, then we just discard it for our daily lives. God forbid. Don't neglect the gift! You were saved by grace through faith - now continue to walk the same way.

Colossians 2:6 - “Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him…”

My focus is fellow believers - my brothers and sisters in Christ - and my writing mostly reflects this, including this article. I assume you already have had the faith that justifies. If not, if you are one of the fakers trying to use human effort to keep God's rules in order to fascimile a “Christian life”, then please stop trying to please God by works and do the main work that does please Him: call upon Christ for life and help.

However, I will continue to write as if everyone reading has done that. This entire article was simply to point out that James was distinguishing saving, living faith that places you in Christ vs a dead faith that leaves you in Adam, a slave to sin. However, we cannot ignore that as believers we still have a choice. That choice makes up the entire life of a believer: walk by the Spirit or walk by the flesh. Put your living faith to work.

This is a whole different topic, but once you have living saving faith, you are now “in the Spirit”. You have oneness with the Divine. But, God's love continues to operate as His nature is. “I AM that I AM”. Love is what love is and it always does what love does. You now have an internal place of God's love in your heart that is a source of power to live, but you must continuously choose it. And faith is the mechanism through which we choose Spirit over flesh.

But, just as God offered your spiritual life as a gift, not under coercion; the gift within - the “treasure in an earthen vessel” - is still not forced upon us. We must learn about the gift and learn to trust it - the work of faith - the obedience of faith! This learning and growth doesn't add to the gift - it doesn't improve the gift - but it does help us use it well. Faith helps us see how good the gift within us is, so we want to use it!

Religion tries to make the “Christian life” an onerous set of requirements to try and make an angry God happy. Only the gospel gives us peace with God as a gift. Thus, it is His goodness to us, and recognizing how the gift of life He has given is so amazing, that motivates us to receive it and use it. As we get into scripture about faith, this idea will become more evident: faith is simply the best way to live.

Thus, I wanted to point out that James should not be used as a cudgel against believers to make them constantly striving to measure themselves and add more and more works to their list. This mindset will actually push them to walk by the flesh and it will damage faith.

However, that does not negate the benefits of continuing to rely upon our living faith to actually live. And the benefits are portrayed by how we love others. As faith works it's way out through love, it will spawn certain mindsets (renewing of the mind), and those mindsets will encourage certain activities. We cannot lose sight of that - as Paul says: it is all that matters.

But, now that I have gotten a difficult discussion out of the way, let's dive deeper into faith starting with an introduction to Hebrews 11 and some examples of promises of God we must put faith in. But that comes in part 3 of this introduction to faith. Until then, keep walking by grace through faith!

(All scripture quotes are from the BSB unless otherwise noted.)

NOTE: Faith is the most extensive topic I have ever written about. Even as I think I have some good stuff, the Holy Spirit brings other ideas before me in various ways. I have written/re-written several times. Faith is a multi-pronged and nuanced concept. However, it is also simple at the same time.

I have spent several weeks trying to pare down these articles; I know, I probably repeat or rabbit trail too much! But, I simply could not find any sections I wanted to remove. So, I'm going to split them up. Thus, the introductiom will be at least two parts, and who knows how many articles the rest will be. The first two are only an introduction, and there is much more I could introduce, but I want to get into the meat of scripture as quickly as possible!

Hopefully, if the beginning is interesting to you, you will read the rest of the articles (and the follow on articles, as they will cover more scripture directly). The intro does bring up some key concepts however. My goal with all my writing is simply your edification, thus I hope if any initial thoughts meet that goal, you will be willing to finish. Appreciate both your patience waiting on these articles and time to read them.

What is Faith?

Faith is a core concept in Christianity, yet I'm not sure many really consider what it is from a scriptural perspective; they take it for granted; or they over simplify it. Of course, you don't have to understand it to have it; but certainly it makes sense as one who has put faith in Christ - thus a Christian; a new creation; or a child of God - to consider what it means.

Since the term faith is used over 600 time in the new testament alone, it is certainly important to understand. There is cohesiveness in it's scriptural meaning; yet still, I think many take it for granted. This set of articles will be a journey in scripture to better my own understanding and hopefully help you along the way.

The other extreme is that there are simply too many ideas about what faith is. Faith is attached to nearly every idea until it becomes so complicated as to lose all meaning. Even in modern American politics; where having a faith based belief system is losing its cachet; in some circles many will still claim to be a “person of faith”; at least until it is no longer beneficial to getting elected.

Of course, a “person of faith” means a hundred different things in modern society. It does not even have to be attached to a concept of the God of scripture. It is a term that could apply to any religious person.

All of this leaves the concept of scriptural faith vulnerable to corrupt ideas; thus, I had it on my list to cover eventually. However, a reader requested it as a topic awhile back, so I am covering it now. I appreciate the request, this is a vital topic! I have thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from this study so far.

A Bit About my Process

Whenever I begin scriptural research on a topic, I usually have an idea of the corruption. Most often this is confirmed in scripture; but not always of course. Yet, there is a common theme in the corruption of ideas.

I have found most, if not all, corruption flows from mindsets that refuse to see and accept that everything from God is a gift. One can usually point to this ‘earning’ mindset as the root of nearly all corruption of scriptural concepts; thus it becomes easier and easier to see over time.

I will list some of my initial thoughts about how the concept of faith can be corrupted in a bit, but let's set a foundation for the gift mindset.

A Gift Mindset is Essential for Faith

Those with a gift mindset towards God and the gospel reflect on passages of scripture and the overall scriptural narrative quite differently from those who don't have it. If you think you need to ‘earn’ anything from God, then you will find scripture that seems to support your position (along with nearly any other position frankly).

Of course, each of us is on a spectrum for nearly every idea. Many accept some promises of God as gifts; yet struggle with others. You may see “heaven” or “salvation” as a gift; yet believe that you must somehow earn forgiveness, fellowship, or righteousness.

Sadly, I rarely see the gift mindset reflected in most preaching and teaching. If it is, it is quite restricted. Most of what I hear is about what we can do for God; not what God through Christ has done for us. The root of faith is what God has done for us; what we do for Him is secondary.

Yet, ninety percent of what is taught, even in Christian circles, would fit just fine in any religious situation. The 10 steps for a better marriage or 5 steps to better obedience to God messages would fit in nearly every religion. Whether scripture is used or not, what distinguishes the true gospel of grace? How is our message different from all the rest?

The gospel declares the good news that everything from God is a gift. Only with that mentality will you ever receive the gift (salvation) and then open it and use it (the Christian life or walk). And this is the focus of living faith.

Why corrupt this truth with messages that practically mimic world religions? I don't have an answer, but it certainly happens constantly. My guess is that it is simply ingrained to walk by sight rather than faith. The only way to avoid this is a gift mindset.

A Gift Cannot be Coerced by Definition

As I covered in my last article about how scriptural descriptions of love are describing God, a gift mentality will also realize that God is not forcing Himself or His gifts on anyone. By definition, a gift is not a gift if you are coerced to accept it.

But, if it is a good gift, then those who recognize it's value will be excited to receive it! (There are multiple parables where Christ demonstrates this concept - portraying the gospel as something to treasure.) By default, teaching that emphasizes the false “Do-Do” gospel minimizes the value of the real gospel. Many cannot understand the treasure we have because it is clouded by the fog of religion.

I want to continue to emphasize this, particularly in regards to faith. It is a key to understanding living faith.

Much of the historical corruption of Christianity through religion has occurred because of an unholy mixture of power and coercion to try and force people to ‘believe’ or ‘behave’. And this continues in various forms today. That is not the way of Christ or the good news of the gospel - that is the evil way of the world!

Love does not seek it's own way by force, fear, or coercion; it requires the other person to choose because they actually want it. As we will eventually see from scripture, a gift mentality is essential for scriptural type faith (again, both to receive and use the gift of Christ). Coercion through threats, either directly or implied, is the enemy of a gift mindset and thus is the enemy of faith.

Quick Note on “Human Faith”

My references to faith in this article are in a scriptural and specifically gospel context. Faith, as a human concept, is powerful all on its own. Even though I am mostly concerned with scriptural faith, and specifically the faith that has been gifted to believers, I don't want to ignore a human or flesh based faith.

Consider the ancient near east pagans who had such faith in their “gods” that they would deliver their children to be burned. Even today, many are willing to die for their human based religion or belief system. Every human, even atheists, puts faith in something. So, faith certainly exists as a concept outside of Christianity and even religion.

However, though human based faith is powerful, it is useless spiritually if it is not pointed at Christ. It is pointing your faith at Christ through the gospel that makes it genuine scriptural faith. As we will soon see, that is the difference between living faith and dead faith. My point is - faith as a concept exists outside of Christianity, but that is not the faith I am discussing.

Christ is Offensive

This seeming exclusivity of Christ is offensive to many. But an idea that C.S. Lewis made famous applies here: Christ is either telling the truth or He is a liar and a lunatic. You cannot accept Christ and ignore His claims about Himself.

Thus, you cannot half-ass the gospel. A half-assed gospel is no gospel at all.

If Christ is the source of true spiritual life - then to become alive spiritually, we must receive life from Him. If there really is a benevolent God, Who exists outside of human time and reality, and gives us our very physical life and breath, then we must rely upon Him for all things, especially our spiritual life.

It is humanity’s choice to avoid this reality and choose their own way that has created all the messes we see around us. And God being love means He cannot simply step in and use a magic eraser on all of it. His nature of love prevents this. That is what a human type of god would do, not the God of scripture.

The “magic eraser” is the gospel. That is God's way of love and through love to help deal with humanity choosing sickness and death. Now, of course, scripture indicates there is a perfect time (that only God knows) when the gospel through love will converge and the ultimate good news will be that sin, sickness, and death will be no more. But we are not there yet…

‘Life’ Should Not be Controversial

The gospel message is what it is. It should be no more controversial than saying you need food for physical life. Saying “humans need to eat to live” is not an exclusive statement - it is simply truth.

Imagine a world where people refuse to eat, they are starving and falling over in weakness. Someone is standing in a public area with a truck loaded with food, offering to give it out for free. But the people drag themselves by like zombies, refusing to believe that food is good for them. Some even spit on the person and call them a bigot because they are claiming that eating food is the only way to stay alive.

They cannot get their own food, so they deny they even need it. The food they are able to make is plastic and has no nurishment. And thus, those offering good food become an enemy to their identity. Eventually they all gather together and kill the person for offending their sensibilities.

Welcome to Christianity

In the spiritual world, saying you need Christ to live is no more exclusive than that - it is simply truth. If you deny the truth of physical food - then you die. If you deny the life Christ offers - then you remain dead spiritually. Both of these statement are as equally true as they are not excluding anyone. And, the gospel is as simple as this concept:

Come to Christ for Life.

A Fake Christ is Worse than No Christ at All

I respect if you consider Christ a lunatic and that there is nothing outside of the physical. I respect a genuine atheist. I think you are wrong, but you have my respect for using your reason and logic to come to that conclusion. However, I have hope based on the many stories of atheists who began to realize their logic was flawed (including C.S. Lewis), that you may eventually come to your senses.

However, don't claim to believe in the God of scripture and then think that you can somehow work your way to pleasing Him without having power that is equal to Him. That is ludicrous.

Good behavior will never connect us to God in any way; since we are not able to be perfect like God. Christ makes that clear in the sermon on the mount. His point in that message is any idea that you can work your way to God is ludicrous. The Jews thought they could keep the Torah and please God; He squashed this notion.

The power you need is Jesus Christ, and He offers Himself to you as a gift to bring you God's life, glory, and power. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I honestly have less hope for someone who thinks they have some ability to please God by works than an atheist. Since this person already thinks they have access to God, they will be reluctant to actually look for Him. A fake Christ is worse than no Christ at all. A dead faith is worse than no faith at all.

Mixing Good and Bad ‘Gospels’ will Fail

There are many concepts in scripture about how a mixture of good and bad concepts is actual as bad or worse than simply going with one or the other. Leavening is used as an example of this because it impacts the ingredients in bread to become something totally different. In Galatians, Paul emphasizes the idea of pleasing God by works as leaven that ruins the gospel.

Again, I respect an atheist more than anyone who would claim faith in God, yet deny the central ‘gift’ aspect of the gospel message. A fake gospel is worse than having no gospel at all. A “bad news” gospel is worse than no gospel at all. At least with an atheist approach, you would not be expecting it to be spiritual. It would be nihilistic.

Fake gospels fool many because they have a veneer of ‘godliness’ without the power. They promise life, yet cannot give it. The power comes from it being a gift. The life comes from the gift of Christ. And receiving that gift of life, and continuing to rely upon it for our walk of life, is what the gospel is all about. And it is all free. As Christ said, it is “easy and light”.

When discussing faith, this is something we cannot forget or neglect.

My Initial Thoughts on Ideas that Corrupt Faith

When I think of faith from a Christian or gospel perspective, there are a few corrupt things that come to mind. I'm curious if these will be confirmed by my study or not. Here’s the list:

1. We often think we must “muster up” faith, thus turning it into a flesh (human) powered work. Scripture indicates faith is a gift from God for believers - like all the gospel promises. As I just mentioned, to have faith, you must have a gift mindset towards God. That mindset is the beginning of gospel based faith. Yet, it also must continue so that we are walking by faith - not sight. The gift doesn't stop giving after salvation.

2. We seem to value size; meaning, we look at someone who does a lot of works and think this is because of the size of their faith. Perhaps it is, but scripture values the location of the faith over the size. A mustard seed size of faith is all that is needed when placed in Christ. A cup of water given in His name is enough to show faith. It is not the size of the faith, it is the location.

3. The follow on to #2 is that we become obsessed with measuring our faith. The first sign a work is not of faith is the existence of a mindset that is trying to measure the work. This idea really bothers some people who want to think their works are more valuable to God than others (think Pharisees). There is no room for pride in a gift mindset - you did nothing to earn a gift. Pride can only cause you to refuse to accept the gift because you want to earn it somehow.

4. We often treat faith as blind - as if there is no evidence. However, while the focus of our faith is towards the 'invisible', scripture never indicates there is no evidence. We can truly experience the results of having faith. We are called upon to review the evidence with logic and reasoning. “Blind faith” is not scriptural faith. Scripture says “taste and see that the Lord is good”. It never requires somehow completely abandoning reason and your own senses. However, we should never make them the final arbiter of truth. We should never reject the invisible simply because we cannot see it.

5. We often avoid pointing faith at ourselves personally. I don't mean at our own ability; but at who we are as new creations. The promises of God in the gospel proclaim good things as truth about us as His children; yet, we struggle to believe the good about ourselves, even when all of it is a gift from God. We continue to think of ourselves as sinners - not saints. We have bought the lie that it is pride to consider our own worth, value, and goodness as people of God's own possession. We let our human failures (or successes) define our perspective towards ourselves, not God's promises about us.

6. We often think our faith must be consistent to be effective. Meaning, when we fail to have faith, our self condemnation is often over-bearing (and often results in judgment towards others as we compare). This ties into the corrupt measuring mindset. However, the examples from scripture of “strong faith” include many failures (Abraham; David; Samson; etc.). It is not the consistency of your faith that matters; it is where you place it when you have it: in Jesus Christ, and the Divine Trinity revealed by Him, with whom we are intimately joined as new creations.

7. When measuring our faith (again, a corrupt idea all on its own), we often do this by comparing the results (our works) to others. This can happen with our peers; but can also happen with historical figures - even from scripture. However, scripture teaches that the impacts and results of faith are unique to each individual. Comparing our results to others is a poor way to measure faith, and can be damaging to faith. We will end up believing the accusation that we are not doing enough for God, which can put us into a flesh powered righteousness mode. Scripture specifically warns against comparing ourselves among ourselves, either as an excuse for stupidity and poor behavior, or an accusation that we are not doing enough.

Those are a few things that have popped into my head. I expect this CCC to be long (ahem) and have quite a few articles. But it is important.

Again, thanks to that reader for suggesting faith as a topic. If any of you have topic suggestions, or general thoughts, positive or negative, feel free to make a comment. I would love to hear from you.

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Faith — Hope — Love

In my last article, I covered a bit of 1 Corinthians 13, aptly titled the “Love Chapter”. My focus was on how the descriptions of love found there are describing God - because He is Love - love is His nature. Thus, we can only love others because Christ, as God, gifts us His love. This description of love is not a list of things we are to strive and achieve, but again, simply receive as a gift.

The last verse in this chapter applies directly to my current topic:

1 Corinthians 13:13 - “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.”

Much like a teepee, these three concepts - faith, hope, and love - are the three rods upon which everything else that makes up the “Christian life” are built. They are the foundation of the Christian life.

Notice the word “remain”. Paul's point in context is that when all our “good works” are burnt up, when all the “great things we are doing for God” go away, only these will remain. They are eternal spiritual concepts. Much of the other stuff is carnal or fleshly (especially in the Corinthian church - it was quite a church.) Earlier in the letter (chapter 3), Paul gives the analogy of how works that don't flow from faith, hope, and love - Christ - will be burned up.

Since I am discussing one of these ‘pillars’ of Christianity - faith - I cannot dismiss its connection to the other two, especially love, since scripture indicates love is the ‘greatest’ of the three. We will find that hope (which is actually firm belief) and faith are closely connected. So, perhaps the teepee is a poor analogy. It is more like love is the cornerstone, and then hope and faith make up the rest of the foundation that leans on that cornerstone.

This would make sense as Christ is mentioned in scripture many times as the ‘cornerstone’, and Christ is Love and Love is Christ. So, this unconditional ‘Agape’ God type of love is foundational to keep in mind for any discussion of faith.

Though not intentional, I can now see that my previous article was needed in advance of this one. If you haven't read it, please stop now and do that. This was purely the Holy Spirit leading, as I now realize. Please go to my CCC index and scroll down to find that article. This is also a link to the full index if any of the other articles should look interesting and you haven't read them.

God's Love Is Preeminent

Thus, as we move through this study of faith and get into the weeds, please keep love in your mind. It is truly the connection that makes any faith real.

Only because “God is love” is He worthy of any faith. There have been many “all powerful” gods in the pantheon of human created religions. There have been many gods who know the future, who are very old, even ‘eternal’, very wise, etc. Some might suggest that humans imagine these gods because they were trying to explain the one true God, but I am not convinced.

I believe as humans conceive a god, these are the attributes they would attain to for themselves - power and other abilities that would help them get what they want - to get ahead of others. A dictator type of power. A god who is essentially selfish.

Only scripture describes a God who literally embodies unconditional love in the form of Jesus Christ. Only the God of scripture deliberately made Himself ‘weak’ to save those so far beneath Him. This is unlike any ‘god’ humanity would conceive. We would see weakness as a flaw.

Yet, unconditional love does what it takes to save the focus of that love. It does not seek it's own way - agape type love is sacrificial for the object of the love. Read the account of Christ in the garden sweating drops of blood and tell me that He really wanted to go to the cross! But His nature of love compelled Him to do it for us - the objects of that love. It was the only redemptive way of love - to sacrifice Himself.

Whether or not the word ‘love’ is specifically mentioned in regards to faith, it is always there. As we will see, you cannot have faith without believing God loves you. If God's love for you is not pure, then any gifts He offers may be tainted. Thus, faith is hindered by a lack of understanding of God's love.

But, we will get to the proof of that from scripture later. I will let Paul have the last word for this section.

Galatians 5:6b “All that matters is faith, expressed through love.”

All that matters! An important topic indeed. And we will see this crimson thread of love throughout any study of faith.

Conclusion of Intro Part One

I'm going to leave off there for now. I have a lot of material already, so the next couple of articles should come fairly quickly (at least compared to my recent schedule, LOL). But, I'm still working on the details. As always, hope this has given you food for thought.

Just remember that faith requires a gift mindset, and a belief in God's love is the foundation for faith. Living faith is faith that is pointed at Jesus Christ. Only He can give life. An ‘earning’ mindset, that is pointed at ourselves, will destroy faith. Faith is how we receive the gift of Christ and continue to use the gifts within the Gift.

Until next time, walk well in God's spiritual blessings He has promised. Looking forward to continuing this study of faith.

In the meantime, there is a recent resource, a short three sermon series about the power of oneness with Christ that I highly recommend. It is worth your time. This is a vital concept.

The first covers the vine and branches analogy that Christ gives in John 15. This touches on a corrupt Christian concept that I will eventually cover - “abiding in Christ is a daily work”. It's not, it's your spiritual location, it is done by Christ as a gift. But, have a listen.

The second covers pretty much my favorite passage of scripture: Christ's prayer in John 17. It holds some spectacular truths. And then finally the 3rd covers some other shorter passages that emphasize how our oneness with Christ is the very core promise of the gospel. It is what gives us our spiritual life.

In any case, here is a link to the series. May it edify you as you patiently wait for my series on faith. Greatly appreciated, and hope this finds you walking with joy in God's spiritual blessings.

https://andrewfarley.org/media/messages/filter/the-power-of-oneness/

(All quoted scripture is from the BSB unless otherwise noted.)

As requested by a reader, I am working on a study of 'faith'. As you might imagine, it is a big topic and I want to do it justice. Also, my personal life is in hyper-mode right now, so there simply is not a lot of time. Thus, as I am working on it, some shorter thoughts may come along for me to share first.

I have been wanting to write about the topic of 1 Corinthians 13 being about God for awhile, as I think it is so important. But, the Spirit made it easier on me as I received one of my daily emails that covers it nearly perfectly. So, I wanted to share it word for word.

If I am being picky, I would not use the word 'heart' like he does. I believe our new heart, as described in scripture, is already established in truth. It is our minds that need to catch up to our hearts and be renewed. But that is really picky, many use heart as a synonym for mind. But, I must point out that scripture differentiates these two.

On the main topic, he hits it out of the park. For most of my life, when I read 1 Corinthians 13, I was taught and thought that it was a list of requirements for me to strive to meet. I treated it like old testament law. Of course, this caused me to use flesh power to try and do it, and I failed spectacularly. But 1 Corinthians 13 was never primarily about me - and having this mindset was destructive.

God Is Love

I finally realized that 1 Corinthians 13 is describing God, who's very being and essence is love, and that massively changed my perspective. There is much scripture that describes God's attributes - like God is all knowing or omniscient. However, there are only a few phrases or ideas in scripture that describe God's being and essence. And LOVE is one of them.

God's attributes flow from His being and essence. An all powerful God who's essence is love will demonstrate that power differently than another being who has power, but who's essence is not love. We see this constantly in history and current events.

Thus, if you want to know God at His essence, then 1 Corinthians 13 is one of the best places to start - as the author I am about to quote makes clear. He does a fascinating thing by replacing the word ‘love’ in the passage with “your heavenly Father”. Since God is love, this is entirely appropriate!

Meditate on this concept and each description. Consider the truth of this idea. How does that impact your view of God and the gospel?

Sovereignty Through the Lens of Love

One of the ideas I have been wrestling with many years, but more in depth recently, is God's sovereignty. Do we have a human perspective on that or are we following scripture? In a human way, sovereign means “absolute power”. From a human perspective, a sovereign gets their way no matter what. Is that God's type of sovereignty?

I don't have a definitive answer yet, but 1 Corinthians 13 gives us a clue. In the middle of verse 5, Paul writes that “love is not self-seeking”. Other translations say “does not demand or seek it's own way”. Remember, God is love.

As the author does that I'm about to quote, replace love with “your heavenly Father. “Your heavenly Father is not self-seeking or does not demand His own way.” Interesting. Yet, God does have a plan and His plan does happen in His timeframe. This He has promised. He also cannot break His promises. These ideas must be wrestled with.

Christ was prophesied and His death, burial, and resurrection happened. Yet, love does not seek it's own way. I will let you ponder on that one. No matter what, we truly have an awesome God. He is love. Whatever He does, it is truly always out of love. He is not selfish, He does not seek His own way. Fascinating.

God Does Not Have One Standard for Us and Another for Himself

The author makes the above statement about love, but I wanted to briefly comment on this for everything! Sometimes it feels like when we are contemplating who God is, we treat Him as if He expects us to behave better than Himself. This is a tragic error.

God is goodness. He is the standard. He is never less than any standard scripture lists for us. This is why we need to have our spirit connected to His Spirit in order for us to be good. The new creation is the only way to be good and holy, and any goodness we have comes from that source. This is the essence of the gospel. Everything else is basically fluff.

God cannot be anything other than good. Thus, this is a limitation on Him set by His very essence, being, and identity. Consider this, it is important. For example, God cannot lie. God does not break His own laws, because those laws are a weak fleshly human way to portray how God behaves. God doesn't give Himself loopholes.

As Christ demonstrated, God keeps His own Law perfectly. It is who He is. This is God we are talking about. You can take it as truth that He meets every standard of goodness. This is why we must learn to depend upon Him and the new creation He wrought within us to behave like the children of light we truly are.

Your Heavenly Father is Love

Here is the email I received from Ed Elliot called Spiritual Morning Coffee about 1 Corinthians 13. Meditate on this, it will impact you.

“When most believers read 1 Corinthians Chapter 13, commonly referred to as the “Love Chapter,” they often feel somewhat condemned or guilty when they compare it to their own walk of faith. Some believe they have fallen short of what God expects of them and this leads to feelings of hopelessness and despair.

Let's take a fresh look at “The Love Chapter” from a different perspective and allow the Holy Spirit to show us something exciting and new that we may not have seen before.

First, let me point out a few very important facts that we must keep in mind while reading this passage. In 1 John 4:8, it tells us that God is love. Love is not just what God does but it is who He is, His very essence and identity. We know that 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 is a definition of how love works or is expressed. So if God is love and the apostle Paul is teaching us how love is expressed and functions, it should be fair to say that this is how God, who is love, is treating us 24/7. God does not have one standard of love for Himself and another standard for us. The love described in 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 is God's kind of love. We are required to walk in that kind of love because we are to be like God.

With that in mind, let me help you see a truth that will empower and transform your walk of faith. I am going to tweak this chapter a little to help emphasize the point by replacing the word “love” in the text with “Your Heavenly Father.” Read it slowly and keep in mind this is how God is treating you at this very moment.

Your Heavenly Father endures with patience and serenity. Your Heavenly Father is kind and thoughtful and is not jealous or envious. Your Heavenly Father does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. Your heavenly Father is not rude; He is not self-seeking. He is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; Your Heavenly Father does not take into account a wrong endured. Your Heavenly Father does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Your Heavenly Father bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Your Heavenly Father never fails [He never fades nor ends]. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP)

When you begin to meditate and embrace this biblical view of how God loves you, it will help you experience the reality of His love that He has always had for you. Let's not forget; it was shed abroad in your heart when you first believed, and it hasn't left you, according to Romans 5:5.

1 John 4:19 tells us that we love God because He first loved us and our ability to love Him comes when we can receive His love first. You cannot give what you do not have, and you cannot lead or bring others into an experience that your heart does not believe is true. Fear can modify your behavior but only love can change your heart.

I would encourage you to copy the above-tweaked passage; keep it with you during the day, and read it a few times daily as a reminder this is how God is treating you right now. Watch what happens in your heart and emotions as your heart gets established in this awesome truth.”

How did reading that passage in that way impact you? I know it impacted me greatly. As always, would love to read some comments if this impacted you. This is just so profound. Even though I realized this was mostly about God many years ago, putting it this way was quite a revelation.

The enemy loves to try and mar the face of God. It is his main objective. And as he proved when he tempted Christ, he will use scripture in his schemes. He will use incomplete old testament revelation about God to tempt us to doubt God's goodness, or think it is a fake goodness - that God has a double standard - one for us and then one for Himself.

He uses religion, “-isms”, sermons, books, etc., in his attempts to mar the face of God for humanity. Unlike God, who takes the bad the world dishes out and turns it for good, the enemy uses good things like scripture to try and harm our view of God. We must take great care to rightly divide the truth in order to avoid these schemes.

Of course, as John 1 and Hebrews 1 makes clear, we have a clear standard to judge all previous scripture revelation: Jesus Christ. What does the sovereignty of a God who does not seek His own way look like? The cross!

Romans 5:8 - “But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The Trinity is not schizophrenic. The Father is love; the Son is love, and the Holy Spirit is love.

The author of Hebrews goes out of his way to indicate in chapter 8 that “the Lord” and in chapter 10 that the “Holy Spirit” will forgive the iniquities and remember their sins no more of those who have faith in Christ through the new covenant.

He wanted his audience to know that the Trinity is in total agreement because they are the same being and essence. In the same way, one manifestation is not less 'LOVE' than the rest.

God Is Love

God is ultimately like the description above. He is, of course, far more than human words can describe even in scripture; however, He is never less than that description of love in 1 Corinthians 13. We must allow this truth to impact our view of Him in all things.

I have written enough, I don't want to take away from your meditation on the adjusted passage above. Please go back and read it. As Ed says, copy it and read it multiple times every day. I pray along with Paul that God would:

“…strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. - Ephesians 3:16b-19

For most of you, Christ does dwell in your heart by faith. You have already been strengthened in your “inner being”. You are rooted and grounded in God's love (Romans 5:5). That is the foundation you have been given by the Holy Spirit through your great salvation.

Now, I hope and pray, this meditation on 1 Corinthians 13 will help with the rest - knowing and growing in that love that resides within you. Only then will you be filled with the fullness of God every single day. And that is a marvelous thing!

Walk in love and light, they are your inheritance. Open the treasure box! God is love - and He has given His love to you - what a treasure indeed.

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(All scripture quotes are from the BSB unless otherwise noted.)

This third and final manifestation of eternal life is the least corrupt and most well known, but still important.

The most corrupt thing about it is that it often substitutes in our mindset for the eternal life we already have. Yet, in scripture, the future is not directly referenced by the term “eternal life”, even though it is the final fulfillment of it.

I, and the epistolic authors, greatly value this promise that not only will the new physical body gain freedom from the ravages of sin, but the heavens and the earth will too.

Paul eloquently describes this in Romans 8:

“18-I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 19-The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. 20-For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope 21-that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

22-We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. 23-Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24-For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? 25-But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.”

Even though Paul doesn't use the word 'life', this is a good introduction, because we have an example of him describing two different manifestations - eternal life now and in the future - in verse 23.

Paul just finished describing how all who are led by the Spirit are children of God; we are co-heirs with Christ; and the Spirit testifies that we are God's children. His point is we have been joined in union with Christ in our spirit and are one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:17). Thus, existing in this fallen world involves suffering. You cannot be a child of God and be at peace with the evil in the world.

I don't mean that you are in some constant state of awareness. Paul is not giving some law where we must always be actively disturbed by the fallen world - that is certainly not fruit of the Spirit - that is not joy and peace. Yet, there is an existential conflict in our spirit where we recognize we are aliens in this world.

I think in modern western society, we look at the suffering of Paul's direct Roman audience and think, compared to them, we don't really suffer. I contend that this is because we don't truly consider the ravages of sin. Just because it is not resulting in someone else physically persecuting us, doesn't mean it isn't there.

Because we are now pure in heart, as we begin to recognize the truth of our own holiness, we will more and more see how the corruption of this fallen world and the power of sin wage war against us. We are children of light…thus the darkness of this world will always cause us suffering, whether we always realize it or not.

For Paul's audience this corruption of sin was truly in their face. It was not something they could easily ignore. Paul is giving them comfort in looking forward to this final manifestation of eternal life where sin is fully removed.

However, the corruption by the power of sin we face in this world, and even infecting our own bodies and brains, means we need to utilize the power of Christ's eternal life within us even more now! Do not focus on the future manifestation to the detriment of faith in the life we now have inside us.

Verse 18 - Our Glory

The main thing I want to point out in 18 is that Paul says the glory will be revealed “in us”. Notice that the glory is already there - in us. If he was referring to the future glory, it would not be within us now. Paul says this is a “treasure in jars of clay” in 2 Corinthians 4:7.

It is important to know that within the eternal life we have here on earth we already possess all the glory of Christ. As He prayed in John 17, He has given it to us now. This glory is the new creation. It is now, not only in the future.

Yet, what does Paul say - it will be fully revealed! The word translated “will be” is complicated. It does mean “what is meant to be”. Yet, it is a “present participle active” adverb. This means that it is something currently happening that will culminate in the action verb - the revealing. Do not read this as if nothing is revealed until the end. That is not what Paul means.

What he is actually saying is that the glory Christ has given us is being revealed now, but the culmination of that revelation will be in the final kingdom. But…he is not implying that we must wait until then to enjoy the glory. It is a complete gift that has already been given to us, yet, we are not fully able to see it for what it is.

In the 'love' chapter, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:12 -

“Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

Notice that we are already “fully known”. How amazing is that!

But, Paul is portraying the same thing as Romans 8. Christ has fully given us all His glory, but until the smoke screen of the world, the power of sin, and our fallen brain and body are removed, we cannot fully comprehend what that glory is or what it means. It has not been fully revealed.

Yet, we cannot let that discourage us from faith in our glory now! That is how we grow and bear fruit. When the glory Christ has given us, the new creation, shines through, and we bear the fruit of the Spirit, we get a glimpse of the full revelation that is coming. The gradual revelation of Christ's glory in us IS growth. As we grow in understanding of the glory we possess, it begins to shine through the fallen world fog as fruit of the Spirit.

Of course, the full revelation will be amazing! But make sure we live where we are - enjoy being partakers of the divine nature now - and show the glory we have been given as much as possible.

Verses 19-21- We Have Freedom the Creation is Waiting On

Verse 19 is fascinating. The fallen world is waiting for the full revelation of the children of God before it will be renewed! And in verse 21, how this happens is revealed.

“…brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” The freedom is written as something we already have! Eventually the creation will be part of it, but we have it now. It is the freedom that is inherent with being a new creation - a child of God. It is freedom from the Law - which enables freedom from sin.

It is this 'freedom' that is eventually transformational even for the extended creation. Clearly in context of Romans 6 and his description of the “bondage to decay” here, Paul is referring to freedom from sin. We are no longer slaves of sin, we are already free. Yet, the rest of creation is not yet.

I know I address this ad nauseam, but this is such a crucial truth for believers. At our core, in our spirit, we are free from sin. Yes, we are trapped in a physical body that is not free from sin, but we are more than our body.

From the moment we become a new creation, at salvation, we are completely free from sin. We are not free from stupidity, but we are free from sin. We can always say no to sin. Being free from it doesn't force us to not choose it, and as believers, we can still choose it, but we no longer have to.

Even in the midst of describing the future manifestation of eternal life, Paul is still emphasizing our current freedom from sin due to having life now. Let's do a review of the death of every believer, it is so important.

While this may seem like a rabbit trail from the future manifestation of eternal life, it is not. Because the future manifestation of eternal life is used to water down the truth of the new creation now, we must be secure in our faith in this truth before we even consider the future. Let's review!

Christ Died TO Sin

In Christian circles, we often say Christ died “for our sin” - which is true. Yet, I have rarely heard it said that Christ died “to sin”. In the great exposition of our freedom from sin in Romans 6, Paul says just this:

“10-The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

11-In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

Notice that Christ died to sin. Why did He have to do that? He never sinned. The mechanism within redemption is certainly a mystery at times. But Paul is getting at a crucial truth.

Earlier in the chapter he says in many ways that our old self died with Christ - we were buried with Him through baptism (not water, spiritual) into his death, and then raised with Him, so we could walk (here on earth) in newness of life. Water baptism is a physical celebration picturing this spiritual truth.

Thus, in verse 10, Paul describes how Christ died to sin and now lives (as fully God and fully human) for God. And Christ did this once for all. Only once. He is our prototype for the new creation.

Thus, in verse 11, Paul brings us into the picture. The NIV actually gets it best by saying “in the same way”. Here is how Discovery Bible Copyright 2021 puts it:

3779 hoútō (an adverb, derived from the demonstrative pronoun, 3778 /hoútos, "this") – like this . . .; in this manner, in this way (fashion), in accordance with this description (i.e. corresponding to what follows); in keeping with; along this line, in the manner spoken.

When Paul switches to describing a believer, he uses that word ‘hoútō’ to say that just as he has described Christ, so also we should view ourselves. Do you view your spiritual state as being the same as Christ's? Thinking this way is crucial to walking well.

Your spiritual state is just as pure and holy as Christ's. Your good works did not give you this state of being, and your bad works don't impact it either. It was a gift. Faith in your new state of being - like Christ's - enables you to walk from that place.

Your Death to Sin is as True as God's Very Words

The word ’logizomai’ or 'count', also translated ‘consider’ or ‘reckon’, is a powerful word. At it's root is the word 'logos' which represents the very creative word of God. When John calls Christ the Word, he uses this word 'logos'. It is stronger than just thinking a certain way!

It is portraying that in the same way the physical creation was originally spoken into existence, so our new creation was caused by God. The new creation is just as real as the physical creation.

Paul uses this word many times in Romans 4 when describing how God accounts righteousness by faith; and also in 4:8 where he quotes David saying “blessed is the man to whom God does not account sin”.

Thus, we see Paul's powerful argument. As deeply as God Himself has made us righteous, in a way as powerful as God Himself, in this same way we must have faith we are dead to sin and alive to God. We are just as dead to sin and alive to God as Christ is. And this is now, not only in the future. We must consider this truth to be as true as God's very existence and creative power.

Dying to Self 'Daily' is Fleshly

I will do a future CCC on “dying daily to self”, but notice that Christ died to sin once, and in the exact same way, we died to sin once. Our old self died and then we were born again; re-created; a new creation.

This happened once. Just like Christ, we will never die again. We are now the new self, and the new self is the mechanism through which our union with Christ empowers our life and walk. If we try to die to the new self, then we are dying to the power that gives us victory over sin. I realize those who teach this may be sincere, but by their unscriptural verbiage, it leads to rejecting the very power we have within.

Often this idea leads to trying to stop sinning using the flesh, which is just another form of sin! Welcome to the trap that the enemy has tricked so many teachers - and hence believers - into. By twisting scripture, we are led into believing a concept that ends up sending us into a fleshly way of thinking.

Yes, we die to the old self - but only once. We then become the new self. So dying to self is a scriptural concept, but only once. Don't spin your wheels trying to die to self when you are new. Reject the flesh when it tempts you with lies, but you are no longer “in the flesh”, so these temptations are not coming from your core - they are of the enemy and to be rejected. Know which team you are on - the new self is on God's team.

Reject lies and stupid thinking - not your new self. Learning the difference is crucial. Scripture never calls on you to reject the new self. Only by embracing the new creation will you ever be able to genuinely reject the flesh and sin. Don't let this subtle enemy lie trip you up! No matter how many teachers teach it.

All That Matters is the New Creation

The power of the new creation is how we live and walk well. And when your faith is pointed at your own new self - Christ's work, of course - but still you, then you have a powerful place from which to live and walk: newness of life. Baptism is an amazing picture of this: raised to walk in newness of life.

I want to be clear - even this is twisted in the world. The idea of “trust your heart” is in the common vernacular. However, only once Christ has re-created you as a new creation should we begin to trust our new self. For an unbeliever, trusting their heart is the worst advice. But Christ has massively changed a believer, so we truly can learn to trust our new heart.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!”

Are you saved? Then you are “in Christ”. There is much scripture that indicates these are synonymous. You cannot be saved unless you are in Christ. Thus, Paul says you are a new creation now. The old you is gone, the new has come. You are not waiting for the new to come - it has!

This is always what is referred to when the phrase “new creation” is used in scripture. Obviously, when the new world is re-created you can call it a “new creation”, but that is not how scripture uses the phrase. It always references human believers.

You are not progressively becoming a new creation as you study scripture or go to church, etc. You are one now. The only purpose for all of these activities is to help you (and others) understand and put faith in the new creation.

As Paul continues to portray, we are ambassadors for this message of reconciliation with God through which we become a new creation. That is our purpose. To walk as new creations and thus be ambassadors for our new family. It's that simple - no hoops. We are secure. And from that place of security, we can be genuine ambassadors for our new family.

Galatians 6:15b - “…the only thing that matters is a new creation!”

Why is this so Seldom Taught?

Perhaps my nearly 50 years in church and Christian culture is unique. I don't want to disparage all teachers. However, until I found this new creation truth myself, and thus deliberately sought out teachers who taught it, I never heard this message. At least not in the way Paul portrays it.

Is that not sad? Something that Paul says is of utmost importance - the only truth that really matters! Yet, it is seldom emphasized or if it is, it becomes something primarily in the future. The enemy has truly distracted us from what is important.

There could be many reasons why, but as I meditated on this, what comes to mind is that a proper understanding of the new creation refuses to feed the flesh. The fleshly mindsets that are often engrained in our brains are opposed by the new creation concept.

What do I mean by this? Consider that as a new creation, there is truly nothing left to do existentially. All the lists of rules to self-improve are utterly useless. We are not becoming a “newer or better creation” by following rules. There is literally nothing left for us to do that will improve ourselves spiritually.

All these Christian rituals or disciplines that many put so much faith into to give value and meaning are thus abject failures at what we think they are accomplishing. The flesh hates this.

The flesh always wants to take action to make us feel better about ourselves. It wants us to find value through our own production. The flesh not only wants us doing bad looking stuff, it also wants us doing seemingly good things for the wrong reasons.

Religious Flesh is Still the Flesh

Often “religious flesh” is touted as the way to be in God's will or please Him! Wow! This mindset is so backwards. You can always tell this fleshly teaching because it follows the “carrot and stick” template. We become the donkey motivated to “work for God” by promises of blessings or threats of punishment.

For believers, this is often trying to achieve things that we already have because we are new creations - closeness to God, holiness, forgiveness, etc. But, we are not a donkey to be driven by reward or pain.

Don't misunderstand. I am not saying these spiritual activities have no value. What I am saying is that their value, as a new creation, is totally disconnected from what mainstream Christian thinking portrays. We are not achieving anything new spiritually by these activities.

We are not being perfected by these things - they are simply helping us grow in knowledge of the perfection we have already been given as a gift - the new creation. We are not becoming newer - but we are gradually recognizing we are new and all the immense implications of that fact.

This is why teaching that does not have the new creation at its core is quite simply a waste of time. It sends believers off on wild goose chases, trying to become something they already are. It causes them to try and create by works something they have already been gifted by grace.

We don't need to try and become something else, we are already new! It is Christ's work! All that is needed is to more and more release that “treasure in an earthen vessel”. Let the “new you” shine! That is our purpose in life.

Don't try to improve the treasure - the new creation. Christ already made you a new creation - and He did a perfect job - you cannot make it better. But do learn about who you are in Christ and point your faith at that work. Or, how have you learned Christ?

The New Creation Removes the Need for Tribalism

In this vein, the new creation removes the necessity of religious tribalism. There are only two 'tribes': those who are new creations and those who are not. Thus, the hidden flesh motivation many of us have to be more right than the other tribe goes away.

As new creations, we are existentially safe from being wrong. Being right or wrong does not impact our “eternal life”. The most ignorant new creation is by default in a better place than the most theologically informed unbeliever. Even the demons believe in God and tremble! But they can never be new creations.

Yet again, don't misunderstand me. Scripture is full of the idea that believing truth is important - even for believers. My entire purpose in writing is to help believers recognize subtle lies and come to a better understanding of the truth. I'm not saying it is good for believers to be idiots - only that it doesn't change your new creation status.

When properly understood, the good news or gospel, through which we become new creations, gives us the freedom to be wrong! We are safe in Christ from the requirements of trying to perfect ourselves. Take a sigh of relief - Christ has given us all the perfection we need - it is no longer our responsibility!

Thus, as new creations, we can relax! The learning is a journey, but Christ has done the hard part - we are in the family, we are righteous, we have peace with God. There is nothing left to do except give thanks and bask in and be motivated by His love and grace as shown through the new creation.

As I covered in one of my first CCC articles, repentance is a “change of mind”. The new creation enables repentance. We are free to have wrong beliefs, and thus repent, and change our minds about them. Wrong beliefs are no longer the threat they once were. We are free to grow in grace and knowledge of Christ. The new creation obliterates the idolatry of beliefs.

Just as you cannot undo your new creation status by sin, you also can't by having wrong beliefs. Don't give into the enemy mindset of condemnation where your value and worth is determined by always being right.

New Creation: A Rejected Truth

For many, this message of the new creation is not welcome. It is certainly not welcome among religious unbelievers, but even for believers, it is often not welcome.

Perhaps this is due to the enemy subduing the message or making it into misinformation. Perhaps many would welcome the freedom of the new creation truth if they understood it. I have certainly experienced and seen this.

However, for others, it is simply not welcome. It challenges their pre-conceived notions. They get offended that all their activities are not bringing them “closer to God”. Rather than seeing the genuine self-worth inherent in being a new creation, they see it as demeaning since their own view of their value is tied up in their spiritual productivity.

Others perhaps are fearful of this new creation truth. They are afraid of “falling into sin” if they abandon their spiritual work based traditions. Like the Pharisees, they see rules as guard rails to keep them in God's good graces. They fear condemnation if they don't have these guard rails. They simply cannot overcome these fears and trust in what God has made them - a new creation.

Yet others walk by sight and not faith. They are physical realists. They recognize that they still submit their members to sin, perhaps on a regular basis. They focus on their addictions and sin, not their Savior.

Thus, they 'see' their own issues, and the enemy has convinced them they are inevitable and they are trapped. They struggle to believe in the scriptural concept of the new creation. How can they be new when they struggle so much?

These are all self-fulfilling beliefs. The lack of faith in the new creation creates the conditions for failure. Then the failure continues to feed the lack of faith. And the answer is to stop having more faith in failures than in Christ's work - the gospel - manifested within us as a new creation.

It is certainly not a coincidence that I will be covering 'faith' next (thanks to a reader for the suggestion). This is a vital concept in order to set our minds on these truth and allow the Holy Spirit to work through our new creation to impact and empower our life and walk.

New Creation Conclusion

The new creation is the silver thread through everything I believe and write. It is truly that important. It is everything that the gospel is all about.

Without the new creation, the gospel, and much of scripture, makes little sense. It is like the cypher that gives meaning to the rest. Paul could not have put it better: “…all that matters is the new creation.”

The new creation is the spiritual package through which we receive all of the new covenant promises of God accomplished by the finished work of Christ. As Peter puts it, we are partakers of the divine nature because of His exceeding great and precious promises.

The new creation is the spiritual embodiment of these promises within every believer. Here is but a sample of the promises fulfilled in the new creation:

Forgiveness - yes, Christ has to take away the sins of the world in order to enable the new creation, but your ongoing forgiveness is tied up in being a new creation. As John says in 1 John 4:17, we do not fear judgment, because in this world we are just like Christ. That is the new creation. Christ never needs to forgive Himself, thus we are as safe as Him as new creations.

Justification - in the same way, yes justification paved the way for the new creation, but being a new creation is what maintains your justified status through eternity. Justification is not simply God's heavenly bookkeeping, it is something He has actually done to us - the new creation. Once you become a new creation, even God cannot change His mind and punish you since he cannot punish Himself.

Sanctification and holiness - as a new creation, you have been set apart and made holy. The new creation is already sanctified and holy. We don't always reflect that truth by “set apart” or holy attitudes and actions, but that doesn't change the fact we are new creations. Any truly sanctified behavior must flow from your new creation heart - or it is not sanctified behavior - “Whatever is not of faith is sin”.

Redemption - the new creation is the manifestation of redemption - the purpose. Redemption and the new creation are two sides of the same coin. The new creation is the result of redemption, and we are redeemed because we are new creations. We are only waiting on the redemption of our bodies. We will get there in Romans 8.

Salvation - unless you are a new creation, you are not saved. Period. It is why we consider ourselves 'saved'. The new creation is pure, holy, and heaven ready. We are God's child because we were birthed as a new creation. Pure and simple, salvation equals being a new creation. You are either a new creation or you are not saved.

Eternal Life - the new creation is caused by God giving us His life and thus making us alive. Our living heart within our living spirit is the core of being a new creation. It is the manifestation of eternal life within us here and now. They go hand in hand.

I could go on, but every concept we associate with Christianity has its fulfilment in the new creation. Yes, there is a final kingdom where the full radiance and implication of the new creation will be released. And that is a wondrous hope!

But don't let the enemy use that to lessen the impact of the new creation now. Scripture is clear: anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. We should be focused on figuring out what that means rather than wasting time trying to pull ourselves up by our own spiritual bootstraps.

A new creation is raised and seated with Christ. There is no more pulling up to do. We can't 'backslide' since we are not climbing a pole to God anyway! We are already there. Our only job is to stop ignoring what Christ has done. Embrace and wallow in it. It is quite an awesome thing.

Back to Romans 8:19-22 - The Rest of Creation is Waiting for the Full Revelation of our Current New Creation

Romans 8:19 indicates that the created world is waiting for the final kingdom revelation of our own new creation. That is incredible to consider!

In verse 20, once again, I struggle with translators adding words to scripture unnecessarily. This pertains to either the implication or direct translation that God Himself subjected the creation to futility, thus creation has lost its purpose and meaning.

I'm not going to get into the truth or not of this concept now. That is not my point. My point is that the translators believe God subjected it, so they add to the Greek when translating into English to make it say what they believe.

However, the Greek only has the word 'the' as modifying ‘subjecting’. Scripture never says who does the subjection. Again, not going there today. I will simply say that the wages of sin is death, even for the non-human creation.

And that is Paul's point here. Because of the power of sin in this world, all creation has become a subject of sin - ruled by it. It has corrupted the creation that God called good. And yet, through our own new creation, through the redemption arc of the finished work of Christ, ultimately all of creation will be redeemed.

Whoever was responsible for subjecting creation to sin - (hint: maybe it was the humans put in charge of managing the creation) - the fact remains that it has been subjected to sin. Notice that creation did not choose this - sadly, only humans would do that!

This subjection is what Paul is emphasizing in verses 21 and 22. I will get to 'hope' in a bit, but it does not mean what it usually does in English. It is not something that might not happen.

Paul is saying that despite the futility, the bondage to decay, and the pain and groanings like a mother birthing, God's plan is for the creation itself to be brought into the glorious freedom we already have as new creations. Yet, that freedom is still yet to be fully revealed.

Verses 23-25 - The Full Revelation of us as New Creations

Paul then compares the groaning of all creation with the conflict believers have with the fallen world. The new creation within is in a full frontal battle with the forces of darkness and the power of sin, which infects the world and our own bodies and brains.

Paul calls us the firstfruits of the Spirit. This is yet another reference to the new creation. Again, the Spirit has birthed us into a new creation, connected to the Trinity. Christ, speaking of believers, says in John 14:23b -

“We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

Paul then makes a curious statement - “we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons”.

Note: at this time in history, it is a historical fact that males took precedence over females in society. In scripture, God demonstrates, especially through the gospel, His true view of the sexes as equal yet different.

However, He used human authors, in their own societal context, to write His truth. As He did throughout history, (particularly in the old testament), He did not try to disavow the authors of every misunderstanding they may have had.

Not considering this is a common error made by both the detractors and the rabid defenders of scripture. If you do not consider this, and further if you do not consider the progressive revelation of scripture, then you will be prone to all sorts of errors.

You must view scripture as a gospel narrative. It is not a science textbook (though it has science), it is not a history book (though it has a lot of history), and most importantly, it is not a rule book (though it does have some rules). The purpose of all of it’s context and narrative is ultimately the gospel, and specifically Christ. This should be the main interpretive lens we use as we read scripture.

Back to adoption. It is clear that Paul is including females. But, he makes this 'adoption' seem future. It is something we are eagerly awaiting. But Paul, haven't you already said we are adopted? I mean only 6 verses before in Romans 8:15 -

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (ESV)

So, what gives? Are we children of God or not? Well, as usual, Paul answers his own dilemma: “the redemption of our bodies.”

To Appreciate Heaven, you Must Appreciate the New Creation

I hope you can see why I started with this passage. While Paul spends more words writing about the new creation now, he never ignores the final completion of the redemption process. I don't want to either.

Paul speaks of this longing for completion as “inward groaning”. The reason I wrote about the new creation is because you cannot truly appreciate what is to come until you have faith in what is now.

The new creation, the treasure within us, longs to be released from the captivity of this body and world. How can it not? It is beauty, goodness, and light - it is purity and holiness. The darkness of this world, and even the power of sin tempting us with dark things in our mind, is repressive and causes suffering.

Again, to appreciate what is to come, you must know who you are now. It is kind of an oxymoron - the more you understand your own new creation - the more successfully you submit to it here on earth - the more light you shine.

Yet, subsequently, you also begin to realize how suppressive this fallen world is. How much more you could be expressing righteousness without the hindrances. As you recognize the light within you, the darkness seems ever more darker. You begin to see it for what it truly is. And the more you long for what is to come.

Lies We Believe

Perhaps you have believed the enemy lie that you have a wicked, deceitful heart as a believer. This is a common twisting of old covenant scripture. The tragedy of this mindset is that it leads you to think you have more in common with the darkness than the light. If many believers were honest, they feel like they belong on the enemy team, not God's. This is because of this destructive twisting of scripture.

You are then tricked into useless rituals, “dead works” as Hebrews 6 calls them, in order to try and reach the light somehow. To get closer to God; to keep yourself in fellowship with Him; to prevent backsliding; to not be living 'in' sin - or whatever other useless pursuit.

Whatever the faithless phrase, they represent the many ways scripture is abused to produce this mindset. They all flow from this same lie:

1. You are not new, you are a wicked person who God is letting into heaven because - you asked Him to?

2. God is overlooking your true self, and putting blinders on - He has not really made you new.

This mindset emphasizes mercy over grace. It is a mindset that aschews the new creation. It leads to thinking that despite this world not being your home, you actually have more in common with it than your real family!

Thus, when the worldly thoughts come, you more easily give in, because psychologically you have been conditioned that they fit your identity better. The bad idea is: “You really want to sin, but you better not, 'cause God is gonna getcha.’” This could not be further from the truth. You don't really want to sin, and there is no condemnation if you do.

Heaven is not a “Church Service in the Sky”

Perhaps, you have bought the lie that the final kingdom will be a stuffy religious place - an eternal “church service in the sky”. This is the other side of the same coin. A legitimate concept of the new creation teaches us that every activity can be holy and set apart to God. There are no special activities that please God - what pleases God is that every activity is empowered by the new creation.

Thus, the activities in the final kingdom that we enjoy may not change much! A believing artist will still enjoy art and beauty in the final kingdom, but what they have been searching for on this earth will be fully revealed. There will be no hindrances to mar their expression of goodness and beauty. And no more arthritic hands to deal with!

A musician will never have a sore throat. A carpenter will never have aches and pains, or knots in the wood (unless they are beautiful). Resources will be plentiful, no concern over depletion. The list could go on and on.

Does this sound like a “church service in the sky?” We will simply exist in a continuous state of connection with God, unmasked by the fog of sin. Everything we do will be worship. Absolutely, there will be learning and singing as part of this worship, but there is far more than just that.

It will be Eden without the threat of sin. Christ has dealt with the threat, once for all, for all time. Yet, enemy mindsets have crept in to dilute our concept of both the new creation now and the final kingdom. We become trapped - if we are honest, we feel more at home in the world, and heaven feels rather boring. This also could not be further from the truth.

Spiritual Peer Pressure

I actually want to emphasize this point, because I have had to face it in my past. I realize I cannot speak for anyone else, but I'm also not sure that many of our spiritual communities foster an environment where honesty can thrive - if it goes against their particular narrative. Perhaps your experience is different, I truly hope so!

But for many, much like humanity in general, there is 'spiritual' peer pressure to conform. It is certainly not of the Spirit, but the pressure exists to never truly question things too deeply lest you seem less godly. Faith is confused with mass adherence to ideas whether they make sense or truly fit scripture or not. The implication is you should conform or you are not trusting God in some way.

Is this my natural cynicism coming out? Consider the concept of heaven as the “eternal church service of the sky”. I am not speaking abstractly. Those who's teaching would lead to this mentality would also say or imply that if this idea is somehow naturally repugnant to you, then you are not spiritual enough or maybe not even saved! I have experienced this first person.

So, let's be honest. Many of us, myself included in the past, have forced ourselves to smile and go along with many notions lest we be considered less spiritual. Perhaps we even eventually think we are good with it. In this case, pushing down the 'worldly' notion that heaven is actually going to be enjoyable (doing things we actually enjoy).

This is not Paul's vision of reality. His vision of a creation liberated from sin is truly living at its best. It is fun. It is not stodgy religious drudgery where we have to fake enjoyment to seem 'spiritual'. Thank God! Since guilt always flows from the enemy camp, we will actually be able to enjoy every aspect of our life without feeling a mental nagging that because we are enjoying it, it must somehow be worldly!

The world, as an enemy, will no longer have influence - thus nothing we will do will ever be ‘worldly’ again. We will finally be able to fully relax and realize that everything we are doing is actually godly. We will no longer have the influence of legalists who thrive on making us feel guilty by defining normal human joys as “worldly”. Even they will be having fun in heaven!

Back to Romans 8 - HOPE

In 8:24, Paul makes an interesting statement: “in this hope you were saved”. Again, he is emphasizing that they are clearly already 'saved' - they have eternal life now. But, again, there is more to come. And Paul says this future hope is a part of our salvation.

Discovery Bible Copyright 2021 says this about hope:

1680 elpís (from elpō, "to anticipate, welcome") – properly, expectation of what is sure (certain); hope.

Unlike English where there is an uncertainty with the word hope, in the Greek, it is “anticipation based on a confident expectation” because it is based on God's promises. Even though it hasn't happened yet, we know it will.

What Paul is saying is that we can have a confident expectation that just like the 1st and 2nd manifestation of eternal life has happened, the 3rd final manifestation will also happen.

Eternal life, or Christ's life joined to ours, simply exists. When it takes effect, it makes our spirit and heart alive. That is the 1st manifestation. Though trapped within this fallen body and brain, it continues helping us to learn and grow and live as being ‘alive’. That is the 2nd manifestation.

And finally, there is the confident expectation that the 3rd manifestation will also happen when we get new bodies and the rest of creation is renewed. Eternal life will have completed it's work and we will enjoy it unfettered for eternity.

Paul is encouraging his audience that despite the suffering a “new creation” experiences living in a corrupted creation, we can have a confident expectation that God's ultimate eternal life promises will happen.

The cool thing is that confidence in Heaven builds your confidence in your eternal life now! It helps you realize that only living people, infused with Christ's life, can ever get into Heaven. Unlike the enemy's twisting of this idea - trying to make believers think victory over sin is only in the future - it helps us have confidence in eternal life now.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the few 3rd manifestation of 'life' verses.

We are a Fragrance of Life to Life

2 Corinthians 2:15-16a - “15-For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16-to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.” (ESV)

I won't belabor this passage, but I want to point out a couple things. First, Paul says believers are an aroma of Christ to others. We are children of light, thus we shine a light. We can choose to dim that light, but we cannot put it out. We can choose to mask the aroma, but it flows from all true believers anyway.

My main point is that Paul's uses the phrase “from life to life” when discussing how we influence other believers. This is a curious phrase. There is not a lot of context - Paul is speaking of him and his fellow travelers who teach and live Christ and the gospel.

This reminds me of the next chapter where Paul speaks of how the ministry of the Law and the ministry of the Spirit are in violent conflict. He speaks of those under the ministry of the Spirit in a certain way:

2 Corinthians 3:15-27 - “15-But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts; 16-but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17-Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18-But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (NASB)

Much like Paul speaks of “life to life” in chapter 2, now he speaks of “glory to glory” in chapter 3. What could he mean?

We know for sure we have eternal life now. Our spirit and heart, though trapped in this fallen body, are alive. And as Christ prayed in John 17, we have God's glory now because we are joined and fused to the Trinity. Paul speaks of those “in Christ” as new creations now, we are not waiting. Thus, we have life and glory now.

Paul speaks of our life and glory now leading to more life and glory! Thus, Paul is speaking of the 2nd and 3rd manifestations of eternal life. We are alive now, but there is more to come once sin no longer fogs up the mirror. As Paul uses a mirror analogy above, we have the full mirror of the Spirit now. We are new creations. Yet, the influence of sin and the flesh can cloud that mirror.

There is a transforming process because we are alive - this is called growth. The Trinity now influences our souls through our spirit that is alive. Our souls are an influence chamber - we can be influenced by sin and the flesh or by God through our own alive spirit. But as we grow, we learn to allow the Godly influence to reign more and more. As believers, we can now choose what influences us.

However…at the same time…see that Paul says this 'tranformation' is from life to life and glory to glory. Do Not Miss This! Though this growth process is described as 'transformation' it is not changing anyone's state of being. You are not becoming more alive - you are not getting more glory. You do not get more of Christ! Period!!

This is the gravest mistaken mindset we can have. We can lose hope and faith in our current life and glory because of the obstacles of sin and the flesh. We can think “victory over sin” is only in the future, perhaps when we get more mature or only in heaven.

THIS IS NOT TRUE!! Do not diminish the life and glory you have now by comparing to what is to come. Do not fall for the enemy lie that victory is always just around the corner. Believe 2 Peter 1 which promises that you have “everything you need for life and godliness”. Do not let the hope and excitement for what is to come damage your faith in what is now.

If you have been a Christian for 5 minutes or 50 years, you are a new creation. You have all of the Spirit - all of the promises of God through the finished work of Christ apply to you. You may not know them all, but when sin comes calling, you don't need more knowledge to say no. Victory is literally living within you. Victory is Christ - Christ in you.

Yes, we should have a confident expectation of seeing the life and glory we have now clearly with no obstacles in the future…but we are free of the obstacles now by faith. Let's live now from our life and glory while still looking forward to when it will be easier! Do not let the future promises diminish the power of the current promises you can experience now.

The Hope of Eternal Life

As I studied this topic, I was surprised to find that life or eternal life is even more rarely used to describe this final kingdom than I thought. We obviously know from other descriptions that this 3rd manifestation of eternal life is true. 1 Corinthians 15 is the go to place describing the final resurrection.

But, the phrase eternal life is rarely used to describe this. Certainly, the very term ‘eternal’ means it continues forever. And Paul emphasizes many places that there is more to come, as I have shown.

As Paul defined in Romans 8, 'hope' means something that is not seen, yet has been promised by God. He uses this term to describe eternal life in only one place that I can find.

Titus 3:6-7 - “6-This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7-so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.”

Elsewhere, Paul describes the Spirit we now have as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come. This passage is similar.

The Fun Aorist Tense

Even though he uses the word hope, I still see this passage describing our current eternal life. All of the verbs in verse 7 are aorist tense.

Scholars are all over the place with aorist tense, and I admit, it is hard to interpret. You can sign up for a free viewing of the following article if you want detail of the controversies.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/3263206

The general idea with aorist tense is a past action that has ongoing action into the future. There is no specific time period used for this tense. It indicates a past action, but it is not an action that ends in the past.

In other words, this is the way I have been describing eternal life. We receive it at a single time, which if we are a believer, happened in the past. Yet, it is not as if we receive it and then it is over and done. It is a past action by Christ within us that continues to work forever into the future.

Greek has a past, present, and future tense just like English. But Aorist is unique. So, past tense would be like I gave you the gift of a cup of coffee and you drank it - in the past. Aorist would describe me giving you a gift of a coffee subscription into eternity. You received the gift of the subscription once in the past but it keeps on giving. Perhaps a poor analogy, but I hope you get what I am saying.

Back to Titus 3:6-7

So, given the aorist tense, what Paul is saying in this passage is because we have been given the Spirit (which makes us a new creation), we have been justified by faith. This justification made us heirs with Christ, with a confident expectation of the eternal life within us (though we can't see it).

Yes, that eternal life means we will end up in the new heaven and earth, but even in this verse, the emphasis is still on the eternal life we have now. Paul is describing the entirety of of our salvation experience, not just a future event.

Future Manifestation of Eternal Life - Conclusion

I have to admit being somewhat surprised that there is little direct reference to the future manifestation of eternal life in scripture. I mean we know this is true, and it is referenced in other ways, as I covered in Romans 8. Paul often speaks of this manifestation.

His famous phrase “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” directly references both the present and future manifestations of eternal life! His life now is impacted by Christ's eternal life within, yet he is still looking forward to the experience of that same life without the hindrances of the fallen world.

Thus, obviously, we should never ignore this future impact of our eternal life.

Yet, it is quite the shame that many believers see this term as only future, to the detriment of living in dependence on their eternal life now.

Certainly, until the fog of sin is lifted from the fallen world, we will struggle to understand and utilize this amazing gift. But having a mindset that all or most of the benefits are in the future will greatly hinder our lives now! The enemy is greatly pleased with this.

So, I implore you, my dear believing reader, yes, have a confident expectation of this future time without the fog of sin. It is truly something to look forward to. There is no pleasure or fulfillment you have now that will not be exponentially multiplied then!

But, please recognize that you will not be getting more of Christ's life then - you already have all of it now. This gives you everything you need for life and godliness. You can get through the fog now by faith and let eternal life impact you in miraculous and wondrous ways.

This is a perfect place to emphasize and end with my point for this entire series. We have Christ's perfect and powerful life within us - we are connected to this power at our core. Don't ignore this truth! We can absolutely ignore it and squash it by not understanding or believing it.

I implore you, choose to learn and grow in the eternal life you possess as a gift. It is a gift package that includes the fruit of the Spirit. As this fruit makes us way from in to out, it impacts everything in your life. And you will begin to enjoy life in a way you may have never experienced before - not based on your circumstances, but based in a confident expectation that you are a new creation.

All of this is powered by faith. Thus, I am greatly looking forward to my next study: faith. Stay tuned!

(All scripture quotes are from the BSB unless otherwise noted.)

I said I would provide my interpretation of John 10:1-16 as a bonus since I wrote on it in my first eternal life article but had to remove it due to lack of space.

Since I included a bonus between the first and second manifestation, I will go ahead and include this between the second and third. I should have space to quote the entire passage.

Because my focus is on verse 10, I'm not going to fully exegete the passage (meaning word for word), but I will do some high points. Also, this was for fun, as I had never actually studied out these analogies. It does apply to the life topic, however, as it contains the key passage (John 10:10) where Christ Himself communicates His purpose and calling - to give life.

So, enjoy. I did. Maybe you won't agree but as always I hope it gives you food for thought. Without further ado!

John 10:1-16 - ““1-Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2-But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3-The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4-When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5-But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.”

6-Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them. 7-So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8-All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9-I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. 10-The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.

11-I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12-The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. 13-The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.

14-I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, 15-just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. 16-I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

The Thief

While some (including myself in the past) have said that the thief here is the ancient enemy of God - Satan or the Devil - in the context of this passage that is not purely the case.

While that description certainly applies, and obviously he is motivating or providing the philosophy behind the actual thief or thieves mentioned in this passage, in context Christ is talking about religious leaders - those who would circumvent Christ as the gateway for life.

If you recognize life in all it's manifestations, then it would include not only those who preach self-effort for salvation but also those who teach or even infer, self-effort for growth. Going outside of Christ for growth is also in focus. We are not justified by faith and then sanctified by works. It is all one package given to us at salvation.

This is best characterized by Paul's castigation of the Galatians in Galatians 3:1-3:

“1-You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2-I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3-Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?” (CSB)

The “finishing” is maturity or growth - our attitudes and actions being conformed to the image of Christ. It is more and more reflecting Christ's character, that we already possess in our Spirit connected to Him, as we learn and grow. It is the fruit of the Spirit being reflected from our new spirit through our soul and body.

There are mindsets which cause us to try and grow by the flesh - Paul is calling those who have these mindsets foolish. And in this sheep analogy, Christ is warning about the same thing - teachers whose teaching ultimately leads to these “grow by what you do" mindsets.

In this passage, He is using sheep analogies but is switching back and forth a bit with the main characters as He tries to get His Jewish audience to understand.

One key to remember is that elsewhere Christ is called the “Chief Shepherd” - meaning there are other shepherds. Remember what Christ asked Peter to do on the beach: “Feed my sheep.” He was inviting Peter to an “under-shepherd” role (John 22:17).

So, let's look at the various characters mentioned in this passage.

The Sheep, The Shepherd, The Gate, The Gatekeeper, The Thief

In verses 1-5, there is the thief, the sheep, the shepherd, the gate, and the gatekeeper. Christ says that the gatekeeper lets the shepherd in, but the thief avoids the gate (and thus the gatekeeper) and sneaks in another way.

The sheep in this first part have already entered the gate and need proper 'pasture' for nourishment. Both the thief and the shepherd claim to have the spiritual answers, but only one has a relationship with the gatekeeper and is using the gate for the flock.

Christ is excoriating the religious leaders like the Pharisees, comparing them to thieves. They are the “blind leading the blind”. In this analogy, God is the gatekeeper and Christ is the gate. They said Christ was of Satan, and rejected Him (the gate) completely.

What is interesting is that they thought they were following God or Jehovah. Yet, by spurning the gate (Jesus), they also were spurning the gatekeeper (God). They were truly blind.

Christ is giving a way to judge your spiritual leaders or shepherds. If they have an obvious relationship with Christ and their teaching points you to Him, then they will be speaking with His voice, and you should follow them.

Yet, a thief may pretend to know Christ but in reality doesn't, or perhaps is immature and there is little knowledge of, or intimacy with, Christ. Their teaching may sound good, but it will have little gospel depth to it. It will be heavy on the rules and regulations and light on resurrection power.

Either way, their hallmark is emphasizing you and your works over Christ and His work. Whether for salvation or growth, they point you to something other than the power of Christ in you. They do not emphasize the new creation. Many may not even know what it is!

For those who are true sheep, there will be something within that begins to long for something more. A voice that sounds like the gospel - that sounds like Christ. For those who are not sheep yet, they may never become sheep, because they will substitute “Christian culture” for Christ.

And that is always the struggle: not allowing Christian culture and traditions to replace a careful understanding of scripture concerning God's gospel truth; putting your faith in the living Christ and not just 'christianity'; and worshiping God and not just our beliefs about God.

The Flexibility of Parables

As usual, the analogies in Christ's parables are quite flexible. Sheep can mean general humanity - scripture has certainly used the term for that. It can also mean those who are believers.

I can see both applications here, however, I believe this first analogy is directly referencing believers and what Christ is getting at overall has larger implications for believers. I will explain why in the next section.

The Sheep, The Gate, The Thief

In 6-10, Christ sees that they are not understanding, so He switches up the analogy a bit. This time He leaves out the “under-shepherd” and the gatekeeper and clearly indicates that Christ is the gate.

He then says “all who came before me were thieves”, clearly indicating the teachers of the Torah and Jewish religious leaders who were rejecting Him. Remember Christ and the thieves are competing over spiritual outcomes. So, thus, those who taught religion without Christ were thieves.

In this analogy, the sheep seem to enter the gate on their own. However, by implication based on the first analogy, the purpose of the under-shepherds was to lead the sheep to the Gate - or Christ. Thus, in these analogies we find information about both legitimate and illegitimate spiritual leaders.

The Goal: to find Pasture

Again, clearly Christ calls them sheep before they enter the gate and are saved. “If anyone enters through Me they will be saved.” Yet, once they do enter the gate, what is the goal: to find good pasture.

And this is where I think this hits believers. You may have entered the gate, but are you finding good pasture? Is your under-shepherd leading you to good food? Or is the food they are feeding you more like thief food - religiously tempting, but ultimately hollow; a form of godliness, without resurrection power.

Good Pasture Feeds off of Life

And this is where verse 10 comes in -which is my focus. Twice Christ has called “works based” religious teachers 'thieves'. So, it follows that His use of 'thief' in verse 10 is referencing the same type of person or teaching.

Teaching that is not Christ centered and focused on His gifts will truly kill, steal, and destroy. If this teaching happens before you are a believer, it can literally kill you, as you could remain dead in Adam if it draws you away from the gospel into self-dependency in order to please God.

However, believers can be damaged by “thief teaching”. It can kill your relationships as you relate to people in a condemning way since you see God relating to you that way.

It can steal your peace, joy, and other aspects of the fruit of the Spirit. It can destroy your life as you run on the hamster wheel of self-produced righteousness and peace with God.

It can force you into walking by religious flesh, which almost always leads to walking by licentious flesh. And both will lead to corruption.

Teaching that is laser focused on Christ's life within you as a believer (the new creation) is good pasture that will help you grow. Teaching that is focused on your effort and obedience may seem good, but ultimately it will lead to taking your focus off of Christ and walking by the flesh.

The 'Good' Shepherd, The Hired Hand, The Wolf, The Sheep

In 11-16 it is the same analogy of sheep, but Christ switches it up again in some ways. This time the focus is on Himself as the 'good' Shepherd. His obvious first emphasis is how He will die to enable union with Him. His death paved the way for His life to be resurrected so we could also be “raised to newness of life” along with Him.

The Hired Hand

This new character is intriguing. This does not seem to be the same as the 'thief' from the earlier analogies. I think this references the under-shepherds. These people were called by Christ to come into the pen and lead the sheep. Certainly Christ would not 'hire' the thieves?

In this final analogy, Christ is comparing all other shepherds to Himself. Compared to Christ, it is as if the human shepherds don't own or care for the sheep. This is a contrast, not a condemnation. No human shepherd could ever match Christ. This does not mean they don't care for the sheep in a human way. However, they cannot replace Christ.

Only Christ was perfectly behaved and made perfect choices while on this earth. All the other human shepherds are fallible - even though they are truly under Christ - not thieves - but, they are also not Christ. They are really just like the sheep, still learning and growing, yet they have taken on a certain role - leading people to the gate or Christ.

What Christ is getting at is that sometimes when the enemies (the wolf) attack the church, even genuine under-shepherds make bad choices that lead to damaging the flock and allowing it to be scattered when the union and fellowship mindset is disrupted.

How often have we seen this. Some non-essential, non-gospel ideas that in the scheme of things are not that important become fire sticks and cause dissension and destruction in the body of Christ. And often the under-shepherds go along with this since tribal tendencies can affect them too.

Again, this is not condemning the under-shepherds. It is simply a realistic contrast between them and Christ. They are human too, the same as the sheep. This is a profound and relieving thought!

How many spiritual leaders, who are genuinely trying to walk by the Spirit, are taken down by condemnation when they stumble? And how many 'sheep' end up worshiping the leader, take their focus off of Christ, and end up disillusioned and destroyed when their leader stumbles? Or they keep following them even when they are walking by the flesh and leading them into failure.

Christ is giving the proper mindset here for spiritual leaders and those they lead. They are human too. Yes, they should always be focused on leading the sheep in and out of the Gate. They should be focused on helping the sheep trust the Head - the Good Shepherd.

But ultimately it is Christ Who enabled the new covenant gospel. It is Christ Who indwells us and empowers us. The under shepherds just help lead us to Him. That is truly their job, lead to the gate. Not to the Law, to rules, to self effort, to self improvement - to Christ.

And when they ultimately fail in some way, if they are genuine shepherds, this should not be devastating to them or the sheep. The gospel is powerful enough to cover failures and the sheep need to know Who is really keeping them. It is not their leaders - it is Christ.

Don't put your faith in the “hired hand”. Put your faith in the Master Shepherd. The hired hand may be doing a great job, but he can never replace Christ.

The Wolf

The wolf basically represents the enemies of the sheep. This is multi-faceted, but I believe this is still relates to the thief in previous analogies. The wolf would not come through the gate where the gatekeeper is guarding it. It would jump over the fence like the thief.

Ultimately, they both serve the same purpose; however, we must not take analogies too far.

To go back to the flexible human analogy, do the wolf and the thief steal the sheep and prevent them from knowing Christ at all? Or is this symbolic of a believer who has their mindset and focus taken off of Christ and onto themselves or other destructive distractions?

My opinion is that if the shoe fits wear it - the analogy supports all scenarios. Often this was the method by which Christ taught. We cannot always try to fit ourselves into every analogy or word picture. Sometime it is not about us!

Snatches

A quick looks at this word translated 'pounces' by the BSB. Snatches is a better word, but it means to “seize by force”. Imagine a wolf grabbing a lamb.

It is curious because this is the same exact word that Christ uses later in John 10:28-29:

“28-I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. 29-My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

This would lead me to think that perhaps the sheep that are snatched by the thief and the wolf were never saved. If Christ says that those who He has cannot be snatched away, perhaps the sheep are simply humans.

As I am reading it, the thief actually steals the sheep, while the wolf scatters them. So, perhaps the thief actually prevents people from obtaining eternal life, while the wolf causes harm to those who already have it. Or maybe there are some in the church who are not actually saved, the wolf doctrine comes in and snatches them away, and then this causes division and trauma among the genuine sheep.

Either way, thief and wolf teaching is that which leads to a self focus on you and your works, not Christ and His finished work.

Also, Christ is comparing Himself to human shepherds. Though all humans can fail you and run away, Christ will never let you go. You can fully trust Him, even if you can never fully trust even the most dedicated, spiritual, and mature human shepherd.

As I always want to emphasize, while I have a special background and my own gifts from God that I feel helps me dig out the truths of the gospel, I am human too. Be a skeptic about my writing as much as anyone. Consider it well, study the scripture, but ultimately rely on Christ's wisdom, not my opinions and logic. And avoid any teacher who is not willing to say the same thing. We worship Christ, not our beliefs.

KNOW

I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, 15-just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father.

The word translated 'know' is quite the word. It is used in Matthew 1:25 to show that Mary and Joseph were not physically intimate until after Christ was born.

This is a shorter description of the union Christ prayed about in John 17. One day I will write about it, but I highly recommend studying it yourself.

It is also used in Matthew 7:23 to distinguish believers from unbelievers. Christ says of the unbelievers He “never knew them” despite their proclamations of all the work they did in His name.

Note: He says 'never knew'. He doesn't say I knew you, but you behaved poorly, so I abandoned you. These are well behaved religious fakes. They are still dead in Adam, they have no union with Christ.

But in this analogy, He says He 'knows' His sheep and they 'know' Him. This is the union with the Trinity I discussed in my article about fellowship. The word 'know' is another way of saying this. It is an intimate union word.

Note: this concept is a big reason why our enemies (world, flesh, sin, and Satan) have such a focus on disrupting true sexual intimacy between husband and wife as God has ordained. It is a shadow or picture of our spiritual intimacy with Christ as His bride. Ultimately, disrupting the idea of intimacy with Christ is the goal. Making love cheap is the goal. Since God IS love, it ultimately cheapens a person's concept of God. Even for believers, what you believe about God's love often defines your walk.

The 'Other' Sheep

In the final part of this analogy, Christ mentions “other sheep”. His audience were all Hebrews or Jews. This is a prediction of how the new covenant would include all humanity, not only Israel. This is the mystery predestined by God before the foundation of the world. That He would call a people who were not His people - His people. That Abraham would be the father of “many nations” through Christ.

“There will be one flock and One Shepherd.” What a declaration of unity and the union of the fellowship of Christ. I had no idea the concept of fellowship would be implied so much in this article about life, but Christ's life is the foundation for union and the fellowship.

I mentioned this in my last article discussing when Paul use the Greek word meaning 'ethnic' and translates Gentile. Believers have a natural union because we are all alive. We are in the fellowship because we are all alive - our life is what we have in common.

The thief and wolf doctrine will never emphasize the life we now have. Oh, they may mention it in passing, but it will not be a major emphasis. This lack of emphasis leaves out the major reason we are unified. Christ's life within us is the unifying mechanism.

Without emphasizing that, all we have are some lists of beliefs we agree on. And that is a poor foundation for union, as it just becomes another tribal reason to throw stones at other tribes. And if those tribes happen to be our brothers and sisters in Christ, how sad is that?

Conclusion

“Eternal life” is the central beating heart of Christianity. No wonder the enemy has tried to weaken it's meaning and make it all about the future.

He knows that once we go to Heaven we are out of the reach of his temptations, so with all the cunning he can muster he infiltrates our churches with a weak, watered down gospel that has no power here on earth!

And if he cannot get actual wolves and thieves into the church to do it, he tempts the under-shepherds with a weak gospel that is still primarily based on pleasing God by pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps.

We are so easily fooled because good behavior has replaced faith. This has always been the enemy playbook. The knowledge of good and evil is good behavior. Adam and Eve substituted that for their easy going faith in God's love for them.

We mistake the Law, or parts of it, for faith, even though Paul is clear in Galatians 3:12a:

“The Law, however, is not based on faith…”

Ultimately this is what Christ is warning against. The thief and the wolves are not easy to spot. They are very religious. They are all about “doing good". They have to be in order to fool the sheep or potential sheep to follow them.

The good news is that genuine sheep ultimately end of following Christ's voice. But how much destruction and corruption does the church deal with because of this wolf and thief teaching!

Wolf Doctrine Feels like it Works

The problem is that wolf doctrine seems to work! Even unbelievers often break away from addiction when put under discipline and accountability to other humans. But what happens when the discipline and accountability are gone?

Only by having an empowering life within that motivates even when we are all alone and no one is watching or holding us accountable can we truly live. We must learn to trust our gift of eternal life!

Discipline, accountability, lists, shame, fear, etc. are all the world has to make their life better. But Christians have more! We should not accept a 'gospel' that is in essence not much different from what the world has.

Every world religion has a leader, a book, participation requirements, and a list of good things you get from their deity by following the rules, and bad things that happen from the deity when you break them. It is a travesty when we turn Christianity into the same thing. It is the paganization of the gospel when this happens.

Learn to Distinguish the Voice of Christ vs. The Voice of the Thief

Christ's voice and the gospel are the same thing. His voice speaks of a union wrought by God (see John 17). His voice speaks of a new creation, a child of God - recreated to be holy, righteous, and perfect. And created to reflect that perfection to the world in a genuine, natural way. His voice speaks of the gift of His life. His voice speaks through unconditional love - love that requires nothing in return - yet inspires great feats. Feats like defeating addictions forever and responding with grace and love to others. The innumerable blessings of eternal life!

The wolf and thief speak of rules and lists. They speak of obligation, requirement, self improvement, dutiful obedience, staying in God's will as a requirement for blessing, maintaining fellowship with God and becoming more righteous through works, condemnation, guilt, fear, stress, and shame. They speak of a Zeus like deity who kills His children of they don't follow the rules. And the list goes on and on. This is not the God portrayed by Christ through the gospel!!

As I recently covered, this doctrine is a form of godliness without the power.

The Hired Hands

I want to go back to the “hired hands”. I focused on the positive side of their failures above, which is true. They should not feel the pressure of trying to replace Christ nor should we view them that way.

At the same time, they should still be held accountable. If they are pushing wolf doctrines or emphases, however innocently, we need to recognize what is happening.

Again, this happens when they focus on what to do, how to do it, and how much to do it vs. simply pointing people to Christ and His motivating life within. They treat the gospel the same as law. Law and grace are not presented as competitive ways of living, they are made to seem equitable, as if we need a balance. The gospel is presented as if we need grace to get us to heaven, but rules to help us live now.

We can never judge anyone's salvation, but we must judge their teaching. If the full radical implications of the gospel are watered down in any way, it is not good pasture. Run from it and find the voice of Christ. Know what Christ has done. Put your eyes on Him. That is how to avoid both the thief and the wolf.

22 Things Jesus Has Done for You

I received this list from a resource named Clint Byers. I don't always agree with everything he teaches (again, be wary even of the under-shepherds), however this list is stellar. And I have seen him and his teaching grow through the years. I will put a link to his original post at the end, but here is a copy for your convenience:

Jesus became our sin so we could become righteous. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Jesus was cursed so we could be blessed. (Galatians 3:13-14)

Jesus was wounded so we could be healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

Jesus was made a curse so we could receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:14)

Jesus died so we could live. (1 Thessalonians 5:10)

Jesus became a servant so we could be free. (Philippians 2:7)

Jesus was made sin so we could become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Jesus took our shame so we could receive honor. (Hebrews 12:2)

Jesus was made a curse so we could inherit a blessing. (Hebrews 9:15)

Jesus became poor so we could be rich in faith. (James 2:5)

Jesus was made low so we could be exalted. (Luke 14:11)

Jesus was rejected so we could be accepted. (Ephesians 1:6)

Jesus was made a curse so we could be forgiven. (Colossians 1:14)

Jesus was made sin so we could become children of God. (John 1:12)

Jesus took our punishment so we could have peace. (Isaiah 53:5)

Jesus was made weak so we could be strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Jesus was made a reproach so we could be honored. (Psalm 69:9)

Jesus was made a sacrifice so we could be reconciled to God. (Romans 5:10)

Jesus was made a curse so we could have access to God. (Ephesians 2:18)

Jesus was made sin so we could be made holy. (Hebrews 10:10)

Jesus was made a servant so we could be made kings and priests. (Revelation 1:6)

Jesus was made a curse so we could have eternal life. (John 3:16)

As Clint himself says, the list could keep going. But meditate on what Jesus has done for and to you. And that will keep you away from both the thiefs and the wolves. And it will help you to distinguish when even the under-shepherds are mixing in thief and wolf doctrines and emphases.

May you continue to walk well in your newness of life!

https://www.clintbyars.com/blog/22-things-jesus-did-for-you?mc_cid=32c7944271&mc_eid=03ddffa088

(All scripture quotes are from the BSB translation unless otherwise noted.)

I recently wrote an article on how receiving the life of Christ - eternal life - is in the past of every believer. This happened at the new birth or salvation. Our spirit was reborn - connected to God by the Holy Spirit - we are now spiritually alive.

That article has been added to the index if you missed it.

Come to Jesus Christ for Life

CCC Series Index

I greatly appreciate my Substack platform for many reasons, however, it does have some weaknesses, like no automatic or easy index. Thus, I would like to provide this manual index of my Corrupt Christian Context Series. As I add articles, I will go back and update this post so there is a central location to go back and …

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3 years ago · Nuntius Vitae

Eternal life is enabled by the finished work of Christ - His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. It is enacted through the new covenant. We are now alive because we are infused with Christ's life at the core of our being. This is a genuine state of being - not enacted or redacted by behavior.

However, scripture does not leave it in the past or restrict it to the future. This eternal life - Christ's infused life - continues to work within us while we are living here on earth. In this article, I would like to explore some scripture describing this concept.

I believe of all the manifestations of eternal life, this is the most ignored. Eternal life is a powerful force within us that can be used to walk by the Spirit and live well; or ignored, causing us to walk by the flesh and reap corruption.

There is no better time of the year to be writing this article. Eternal life is also known as resurrection life. It is only possible because of the resurrection of Christ. We are truly saved by His life.

As we go into this most cherished Sunday celebration for Christians, consider the Easter message you have heard or will hear. It is great to teach about the resurrection of Christ; however, it is useless without discussing your resurrection to new life.

Christ died, was buried, and was raised so that you could be too! Easter Sunday is the perfect time to emphasize that truth. I personally feel that if it is not, perhaps the teacher or preacher does not understand the gospel very well. I can't imagine why they would not take this opportunity to emphasize this truth otherwise.

Without your own resurrection and you becoming the new self - alive - then Christ died in vain. Christ came to bring life; thus, scripture is full of this concept - I will barely scratch the surface. But, let's take a look at what I have found.

Crucified with Christ: the New Self

Galatians 2:20 - “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

This is a perfect verse to begin the present manifestation of life discussion. This is one of the rare occasions where 'life' in scripture means temporal or earthly life. Paul is clear - “the life I live in the body”.

Paul shows the past manifestation of eternal life - the old self died (crucified) and we became the new self - characterized by Christ coming to live in us (and us in Him, a connected union). Paul then shows that our temporal life is impacted by our now living spirit - connected to and indwelled by Christ.

We must take great care with the phrase “I no longer live”. Paul is referring to the “old self”, that part of us that was “crucified with Christ”. It is specifically the old self Paul says is no longer living.

This does not mean our “new self” is not living! We are now truly alive - life caused and empowered by Christ and His indwelling Spirit. But the new self is still us. It is an alive version of us, but it is still us, as I emphasized in my bonus article.

We are not some hollow vessel only filled with Christ. We are joined to Him, in union, but we are still part of that union. When the Spirit births us, we still retain our personality and everything that makes us unique. We also retained out 'chooser' as we will cover now.

You Must Choose Life

Romans 6:18-23 - “18-You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

19-I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.

20-For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness. 21-What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.

22-But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. 23-For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I could write multiple articles just on this passage. But let me summarize the main points.

1. This is written to believers, it is not evangelistic.

2. The purpose of Romans 6 is to demonstrate the benefits of eternal life now and how to use it well.

3. As a believer, you have been set free from the power of sin. Period.

4. You are now a “slave of righteousness”. This is Christ's life - it now empowers you.

5. On a daily basis, we must offer our body (and brain) to God for Christ's life to empower our attitudes and actions.

6. Our motivation for this mindset is the benefits! This is the best way to live! The outcome of offering our bodies to sin is death (not spiritual death, but corruption in this life).

7. The new self does not want to sin. When a believer sins, it is hard work - it is earning 'wages'.

8. Eternal Life (Christ's life) is a gift. We must treat it like a gift to be enabled by it's power every day.

Such a Simple Word: ‘In’

As often happens, I have a translation issue with verses 19 and 22. The Greek word translated “leading to” in verse 19 and “leads to” in verse 22 referring to holiness can mean “in, into, of, to, unto, etc.”. We must take care to not think that our behavior is making us more holy.

This word is so common, it is difficult to determine its true meaning. However, in these verses it can mean the difference between a works holiness vs. faith, which is the truth of the gospel.

Scripture is clear. We have been made holy when we become the new self. Our behavior is not making us more holy. We simply begin to reflect the holiness that we already have. Hebrews 10 is quite clear: we have been sanctified (made holy) and we have been made perfect.

What Paul could mean is it leads to “holy behavior”. This is a possibility. 1 Peter 1:5 gets at this (in Peter's abrupt way):

“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,”

Paul could be saying the same as Peter, encouraging “set apart” behavior. Knowing you are already holy as a new creation will lead to holy behavior.

However, I think he is going deeper here. How you translate this word once again is determined by your view of the gospel.

Every single time an epistle calls Christians 'saints', it is this exact same word meaning 'holy'. Clearly we are already holy, yet that does not always reflect outwardly. Thus, we do grow in our behavior, but that growth doesn't make us more holy.

My Opinion of What it Means

I think he means that the “fruit you reap in (or from) holiness leads to eternal life”. Meaning that, because you are holy, you can have fruit that gives life to your mortal body and enables eternal life to happen in your mortal life.

Paul says this exact thing later in Romans 8:11:

“…the Spirit…will also give life to your mortal bodies…”

Several verses use the exact same word for 'in' and show this possible usage. Matthew 2:23 has this phrase: “He dwelt in a city called Nazareth…” 4:13 is similar: “He dwelt in Capernaum…”.

Matthew 10:9 says: “…don't take copper, silver, or gold in your belts…” and 10:41 says: “…receive a prophet in the name of a prophet…” 12:18: “…My Beloved in whom I have found delight…”

And a non-Matthew usage in Mark 5:34: “…go in peace…” In the epistles; Romans 8:18: “…the glory that will be revealed in us…” 10:14: “…how can they call on someone in whom they have not believed?” Galatians 2:16: “…we have believed in Jesus Christ…”

There are many more examples, but my point is that this is a multi-purpose word in the Greek. There are 1774 uses of this exact word in the New Testament. It can mean many things.

We Don't Become Holy by Actions

I firmly believe Paul means that “in holiness” or “in sanctification” - just as other usages of that word in the New Testament. Thus, 6:19 would say: “…give yourselves as slaves of righteousness in holiness.”

What he means is that because we are slaves of righteousness and holy, now we can offer our body to God. Holiness encompasses being a slave of righteousness. They are not exactly the same, but they are a part of our new creation package.

Verse 22 would be like this: “Now that you are free from sin and a slave to God, you can bear fruit in your holiness that leads to eternal life.” Do you see the difference? One bases your fruit bearing in your already finished holiness, while the other bases your holiness in your fruit bearing.

The gospel clearly states you are holy already. So, only one of these fits the gospel. I realize commentaries will say this word means “moving into”, but I have several illustrations where that doesn't make sense. And there are other meanings that portray a more complex usage.

There is another word for “in” that has a slightly different twist. Greek is fun. The one I have been discussing does have the implication of forward action. But it simply means that our current holiness continues to act upon us externally as we submit to it. We can bring our inside life to bear on our outward.

Thus, I will stick with my interpretation as it fits the gospel, which is always the best test. Interpret the unclear with the clear. And we can only bear fruit and offer our bodies because we are already holy as a new creation. Bearing fruit proves our holiness, but it does not make us holy.

And that would flow right into verse 23, which doesn't mean what many people think.

Romans 6 is Not Evangelistic

Many people mistakenly think that Romans 6, and specifically 6:23, is describing the first manifestation of life (salvation) or the third manifestation of life (glorification).

To an extent these are both related within the context. Obviously you must become a slave to righteousness before you can submit your body to righteousness. And becoming a slave of righteousness is what gets you into Heaven. Only people who are alive get in (I would argue being made alive is your spiritual entrance.)

However, Paul's primary point in Romans 6 is the second manifestation of life: the impact of the fact our spirit is alive now here on earth, and the benefits of Christ's (eternal) life now. It is vital that we do not miss this context.

The previous verses were leading up to this. He was reminding them that they are already slaves of righteousness within their holiness. This is the foundation for submitting their bodies to God. And when they do, they have the fruit of eternal life.

Now, we know that this is not salvation - that is the first manifestation. We did not obtain salvation by submitting our bodies to God - that would be “works salvation” or righteousness. But this is infusing eternal life into our current lives. This is the external fruit of our eternal life that infuses us spiritually.

This is quite the gift! Because we are alive, we can do living things. These living things are the fruit of the Spirit: unconditional love; true internal peace; joy that is not ginned up; patience that just happens; kindness that is second nature; self-control that is not based on self-improvement lists.

These types of natural attitudes are the product of the gift of eternal life. These naturally flow from Christ's yoke that is easy and light. But they are a gift, not wages.

Sin Is Hard Work for a Believer

The enemy mindset is that sin is natural for the believer. Sin is defined exclusively by “bad looking actions”, not by faith. The enemy then convinces us that we really want to do these “bad looking actions”, that at our core we are bad and want bad things.

And this often seems to be upheld by evidence. We feel like we want to sin. We feel like it is easy. We feel like we stumble more that we do good. But are we going to go by feelings or faith? What does God say about us?

The truth is that even “good looking” actions can be sin, if they are not done by faith. If the enemy can't get us to put on bad looking flesh, then religious flesh is just as good. The enemy's goal for believers is to push self-effort. And self-effort always leads to sin, whether religious or licentious.

My point is that much of the Christian world is convinced they have a “wicked heart” - are bad at the core - but they trusted Christ so He is letting them into Heaven despite how bad they are. But this is an enemy lie, it is not the truth of the gospel!

A “slave of righteousness” is not bad at the core. Paul does not mince words. We either believe the truth or we accept the enemy lie that is “Christian tradition”. We are truly alive now. Period.

Someone who is alive wants to do living things in their core - their nature. Of all the lies of the enemy that have permeated the church, this is possibly the worst. How can a bad tree bear good fruit? It cannot.

For the believer, it is hard work to sin, no matter how much we have believed the lie of the enemy that it is easy. Wages are not easy - anyone who has truly worked to earn wages knows this. Paul is getting at a profound truth - now that we are slaves of righteousness, sinning is hard work.

Christ's yoke is easy and light. The most restful thing for our souls is to submit to Christ's life within - to live and walk from our new living spirit where Christ lives. This eternal life is a gift that keeps on giving forever.

But as long as we believe the lie that sinning is still our natural condition - that we truly want it and it is easy - you will find it extremely difficult to submit to Christ's life. It will still be there, but you will resist it at every turn as your mindset leads you to walk by the flesh.

Walking by the Spirit is believing and trusting in the life we now have and allowing that to manifest in our attitudes and actions. You cannot sin and reflect Christ at the same time.

But you must be utterly convinced that you are truly alive now - it is not some kind of bookkeeping exercise by God. This is a most subtle enemy lie.

Your new life is real, and it can impact your daily living. The Spirit within truly can bring life to your “mortal body”. This is a promise of God that we can be fully confident in. And when we are, the results are incredible!

Reign in Life

Romans 5:17,20-21 - “17-For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

20-The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21-so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I have covered this verse before, but it is spectacular and deserves to be a part of this article. Again, this is another reference to our physical 'life'.

Of course, as we have seen, the “gift of righteousness” and “life” are the same thing. So, what Paul is saying is that you can reign in this physical life through Christ's life He has gifted you at your core.

This fully exemplifies the second manifestation of Christ's life now. Because our spirit is alive, we can reign in this mortal life. What does reigning look like? The fruit of the Spirit.

When this fallen world hits you upside the head with betrayal, sickness, ruin, or anything else and you are able to draw from an inner joy and peace, then how is that not reigning? Again, there is no better way to live.

Notice that the purpose of the Law is so that the trespass (sin) would increase. The Law is a light that shines on the problem, yet that is all it is. It cannot ever help the problem. It only makes the problem seem worse.

Galatians 3:24-25 - “24-So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25-Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”

As a believer, you are no longer under the law. Yet, you have a choice: let grace reign by trusting the gift of righteousness you have been given or put yourself under the obligation of law.

It is grace that teaches us to say no to sin, not law (Titus 2:12). The attitudes and actions that please God are those that naturally flow from being alive in Christ. Living actions please God - not dead works.

Dead works flow from obligation, duty, “obey or else”, and other law type coersions. Actions flowing from our life within will never be forced or fake - they will be genuine fruit of the Spirit of life. You won't have to try to bear fruit any more than an apple tree tries to make apples. It will just happen.

Sowing and Reaping

Galatians 6:8 - “Whoever sows to the flesh reaps destruction from the flesh, and whoever sows to The Spirit shall reap eternal life from The Spirit. (Aramaic Bible in Plain English)

I used the best translation I could for this verse. Yet again, there are a lot of words added in to make it make sense in English, yet bias can affect the order of these words.

I will have to do a CCC on “the flesh” since this is easily confused in scripture. It is easy to think that the flesh is “human desire”. While human desire can be corrupted and conscripted by the flesh, they are not the same thing. The flesh is a manifestation of the power of sin that tries to act upon our desire.

The flesh is a way of thinking from a human or earthly perspective - not a Godly one. It is a way of living that tries to get life from things on this earth rather than living from Christ's life within.

The flesh is like sin, it is something that impacts us, tempts us, but it is not us. Thus, translating this verse so that it seems to be our own flesh, as in our body, is simply not accurate.

The translation I used gets it right, but the majority say “sow to his own flesh”. Honestly, in the Greek none of these phrases are there - it is a choice. But it makes a huge difference if you and the flesh are the same vs. the flesh being an enemy.

Scripture always portrays the believer in opposition to the flesh. A house divided against itself will not stand. (I believe a Truth Teller said this, LOL).

Thus, while “the flesh” is a way of thinking and acting that we have been trained in since we were born, it is not an intrinsic part of a believer. It is an enemy we can resist. This happens by “renewing of the mind”.

You and the flesh are not on the same team. It is a key truth to know so you are not fighting your own “new self”. Know the true enemies - know which team you are on (God's team).

Back to Sowing and Reaping

I say all that to say that this verse is a slightly different way of saying what Romans 6:23 says. This clarifies that verse. When we sow to the flesh - we are sinning.

This reaps 'destruction' or 'corruption'. This word is a death word, it is decay or that which is dying. Rottenness. This is the same word Peter uses in 2 Peter 1:4 to say that we have escaped it.

But Galatians 6 is quite clear - it is for believers. We have a choice: two ways to walk and two ways to sow. Choose enemy mindsets or Spirit mindsets. Choose corruption or eternal life.

Peter is describing the first manifestation of life: being born again. We have escaped the corruption - it cannot prevent our connection to God. We are alive. Paul also describes this in Romans 6. Because we are alive we have peace with God. We are His kin!

Yet, in Galatians 6:8 and Romans 6:23, Paul is describing the second manifestation of life: walking by the Spirit. If we make this purely evangelical, then we miss out on the truth.

Our connection to Christ, the fact of our being alive, has an impact now. The epistles are filled with this impact. We are not simply trying to get by in our own power while we wait for heaven.

Don't Walk Like Dead People

Ephesians 4:17-24 - “17-Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.

18-They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

19-They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

20-But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21-assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,

22-to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23-and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

24-and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (ESV)

There are so many more life verses to discuss, but this passage is going to take some time, and I think you get what I am saying by now. We receive eternal life at salvation and that life empowers our walk here on earth.

So, this will be the last passage I discuss in this article. But it is a powerful one.

Paul comes at the subject of walking according to life from the negative. Instead of saying “you are alive, now walk like living people”, this time he is saying not to walk like people who are “alienated from the life of God”.

He then describes the process by which believers are made alive. And here is where the passage gets confusing. It can be read as if we have a daily task of “putting off” the old self and “putting on” the new self. But that is not what Paul is saying at all.

Paul is saying to not walk like the old self, but that is because we have already put off the old self and become the new self. We are already alive, so we can now walk like living people. We are righteous, so we can walk righteously. Our state of being enables our activity, it is not our activity that enables our state of being.

But if we are not careful with this passage, we can come away with the idea that our walk is how we “put on” the new self. This is works righteousness. Putting on the new self (state of being) and putting on actions that fit the new self (walk) are two very different things.

But let's dig deeper. I will go verse by verse and re-quote them for convenience.

Don't Walk like Unbelievers

17-Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. (ESV)

Paul argues that this discussion is coming from his position as a believer “in the Lord”. He is confirming his status and authority to make these statements. He is testifying to gospel truth.

The Greek word translated “Gentile” doesn't exactly mean that specifically. It is the word “ethnos” and from where we obviously get the word “ethnic”. It simply means another tribe or family group. When a Jew speaks or writes using this word, Gentile is implied. Paul is a Jew, so hence the translation.

Paul's use here is interesting because he is clearly describing believers and unbelievers. Those who are children of God and those who are not. Much like Christ did, Paul is separating the “sheep and the goats”. He is indicating the spiritually genetic separation of these two groups. These are two different spiritual ethnicities.

Thus, even though Paul is a Jew, he does not mean humans genetically distinct from Jews. If he did intend to use Gentiles, then he is going back to how believers are the true Jew by circumcision of the heart. Either way, he means unbelievers - Jews or Gentiles.

So, what is Paul's argument for not walking like an unbeliever? The “futility of their minds”. Interesting! This word futility means useless. Paul is using some really strong language here! He is saying that the way they think is useless and of little value.

As usual, Paul is greatly emphasizing the way one thinks. He will get to some actions in a bit, but his first foundational thought is that we should not walk like unbelievers because their thinking is warped.

More Reasons not to Walk like Unbelievers

18-They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. (ESV)

Paul continues portraying the condition of an unbeliever in his argument about why a believer's walk should be different. Every word he uses here indicates a state of being.

He even used the word 'eimi’ which means “I am” or a state of being. This word is notoriously hard to translate in the sentence, but it's usage indicates that Paul's descriptions are intrinsic to their nature. Unbelievers are spiritually dead while believers are alive.

Paul indicates that the deepest level of their comprehension is dark. He then indicates that their state of being is alienated or estranged from Christ's life. They have not turned to Christ for life. They seek life elsewhere.

This can be sought through religion or paganism - they are both fleshly. And often, they both lead to where Paul takes us in the next verse. Consider all the public scandals within various formal religious circles.

This is due to willful ignorance or blindness which causes hardness of heart. These people deliberately choose their own way over Christ. They have a dulled spiritual perception. And again, religion or paganism can equally dull the heart. We must get over the idea that a religious zombie is better!

In 2 Corinthians 4:4, Paul essentially says the enemy has blinded them:

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

The Results of Blindness and Death

19-They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. (ESV)

The word translated 'callous' is the only time this word is used in the NT. It is an interesting word. It basically means they have given into their condition. It literally means “cease to feel pain”.

These people realize their condition - that they have no hope - they know deep inside they are empty, yet they are in a state of denial. They refuse Christ so they have to keep putting up the front, whether religious or otherwise, and pretend they are happy.

They are full of pain, yet they no longer feel it. They have made their own life and it's as if their brain has adjusted to make them unaware of their condition. This state of mind causes them to operate from flesh power continuously.

Sensuality is not Always Sexual

It is easy to take words like sensuality and uncleanness and come at them from a worldly perspective so that they almost always have a sexual overtone.

The church is sadly really good at sexualizing everything. I believe this is a reverse take on the way the world sees sexuality. There seems to be some perverse desire to spotlight these particular sins. But that is another CCC.

Certainly, sexual deviancy and misconduct are a part of this. Again, reference all the scandals in the church. Sex is definitely related to the human senses - thus sensuality. Paul directly calls this out multiple places.

Yet, sex is not the only way to be sensual. By overly focusing on that, we miss all the other ways we try to live by our senses.

Religiosity is actually sensual in nature. When you walk by sight, not faith, you are using your senses to enable life. It is easy to pick on a pagan lifestyle while letting the religious have a pass. They are both still spiritually dead. They are both living from their senses.

What is it impure or unclean? That which is not of God. Obviously this includes sexual sins, yet, again, a religious spirit that flows from works righteousness is just as impure. We cannot highlight one and give the other a pass. All walking by the flesh is ultimately sensual and impure - whether it looks religious or not.

Paul does not call out specific sins in the immediate context of this verse. Later in the passage he calls out several non-sexual sins like anger, slander,and stealing.

Paul's point is that these people live from the flesh - a way to live where they have figured out life from their senses - what they see, hear, think, etc. And the life of Christ plays no part. Whether this manifests in religious flesh like the Pharisees or sexual flesh like the pagan temples, it is all from the same source.

A Contrast of Minds

20-But that is not the way you learned Christ!— (ESV)

This is fairly self explanatory, yet I want to point out what is implied: there are many ways to “learn Christ”.

1. You can learn Christ in such a way that you never get life in the first place. Church is just a good behavior club where the rules nominally come from scripture.

2. You can learn Christ in such a way that you are rarely empowered by His life, even though you have it. Often this happens the same way - by varying degrees of legalism.

3. You can learn Christ well and live much of your life empowered by His connected life. This only happens by a gift mindset with no obligation or coersion.

What Paul is implying is that when believers act sensually (either religiously or paganly), then it is because they haven't learned Christ well. When believers walk by the flesh, it is because they don't know who they are or have forgotten in the moment of temptation.

It is a great question to ask: how have you learned Christ? Let's see what Paul means by “learning Christ “.

The Grand Assumption

21-assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, (ESV)

Paul uses an interesting word - 'if' (translated assuming here). What he is implying is not everyone in his audience knows Christ or learned of Him. They are in my first category above where they learned Him so poorly that they are not God's child.

Paul chooses his words with care - “taught in Him” and “the truth that is in Christ Jesus”. He chooses the word 'in' on purpose. Only because we are in Christ and He is in us do we have life. Only because we have life can we walk in a living way.

But in order to walk well, you need to be taught these truths about Christ.

Note: the tense in this verse is very important. It plays into the verses immediately following. These verses portray the teaching about Christ Paul is referencing that needed to be taught - in the past - for this to be true of them. For the next verses, the teaching is implied to be in the past.

The Old Self Dies and We Put On the New

22-to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, (ESV)

Paul is yet again describing the salvation experience from another perspective - putting off the old self. Different translations translate this better or worse, but Paul is describing something they should have been taught properly in the past.

We only put off the old self and put on the new self once - when we are born again. Paul is saying that if you were properly taught this, and if you understand this, then avoiding walking like an unbeliever should be easy.

If you don't believe me, then head to Colossians 3:9-10. Here Paul is discussing the same topic in a slightly different way.

“9-Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, 10-and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

Whether you tell a lie or not is part of your walk. So, his reasoning goes, you walk well because you have already “taken off the old self…and have put on the new self”.

Notice how the new self grows - renewed in knowledge. Just because we are the new self doesn't mean we understand everything - especially the implications of “Christ in us” or the gospel. We grow in grace and knowledge of Christ. We do not grow in holiness or righteousness however.

Back to Ephesians. Paul is speaking a certain way here because he is almost being hypothetical. He is acknowledging that many, of not most, of his audience have already done this. They are believers.

Yet, some may not be believers. And others, may be believers, but they just don't get it. They don't understand the concept of the “new self”. And thus they struggle with knowing how to walk well. I think it is this group that is his main audience.

Notice it is the “old self” that is corrupt with deceitful desires. Some, who are smarter than their own good, will point to the present tense and act as if this still means believers.

No! In Paul's hypothetical he is saying that if someone in his audience did not learn Christ well enough to put off the old self, then they are still the same old self that is (present tense) corrupt. He is still speaking of the “old self”.

Paul is making sure they understand the reason they can walk well - because they are already the new self. They don't walk well to somehow enable the new self. The new self gives them the power to walk well.

It is an utter shame and a crime that this passage is often used to push the very opposite idea.

Our Spirit is Made New - This Impacts the Mind

23-and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

Once again, great care is needed. The renewing of the mind is an ongoing process. It is what Paul described in Colossians 4 and Romans 12. It is not what he is describing here.

Again, Paul is describing salvation, not growth. He is describing the foundation for a good walk and growth, not the walk and growth themselves.

What is the ”spirit of the mind”? In 1 Corinthians 2:16 Paul makes a confusing statement:

““For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

So, wait Paul, I thought you said our mind needs renewing? Now you are saying we have the mind of Christ? Does Christ's mind need renewing? Which is it?

Well, it is both.

When we get saved, our spirit is renewed, made new and alive, and as part of that package we receive the “mind of Christ”. But His mind is in our spirit, not our own mind. Our mind still needs renewal.

But when Paul describes the renewal of the ”spirit of the mind”, that happens at salvation. It is that renewal that enables the renewing of our minds. It is the same thing as receiving the mind of Christ. It happens at our new birth. Our renewing of the mind doesn't make us more holy, but being holy is what renews our mind.

Again, our state of being doesn't change. But our knowledge of our state of being and Christ, obscured by this fallen world, does change.

Created in Righteousness and Holiness

24-and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Remember the context: Paul is saying that IF those in his audience were taught Christ properly, this would be what they were taught. The implication is that if they did not learn Christ in this way, then they are either not saved or they are walking poorly, because they have not been taught Christ properly.

This is something they should have been taught to do in the past - this is a past work of God through Christ with their cooperation. Do not be confused about the “put on” language, this is not works. It is faith - putting on Christ and the new self is faith.

Putting aside the timetable, I want you to pay close attention to what the “new self” looks like: created like God in true righteousness and holiness. Do you realize, if you are a believer, this is you?

Paul is not content to use only the word righteousness because it can so easily get confused with an outward behavior 'righteousness’ shell. So he adds in the word 'true'. He wants to make sure that they understand the difference.

This is what Peter means by “partaker in the divine nature”. This is the new creation. This is what eternal life has wrought. This is what being alive means. At our core, we are created to be like God (not God or a god, but like God) in true righteousness and holiness.

It is the fact we are holy and righteous that makes us like God. He has done this. We cannot boast that we did it, but we can brag on what was done to us by God through the Spirit enabled by the finished work of Christ! And we can revel in this eternal life we have.

Ephesians 4:17-24 Conclusion

Want to walk well? How have you learned Christ? Let's review:

1. Do you know that you have already put off your old corrupt self? Do you know your old self died?

2. Do you know that the spirit of your mind has been renewed? That you have a new way to think? That you have a place at your core where the mind of Christ informs you?

3. Do you know that since your old self is gone, you have put on or become the new self? Do you know you are a new creation? Do you know you are alive?

4. Do you know that the new self looks like Christ? Do you know the new self is already fully righteous and holy, even if you do no other righteous and holy actions?

This is how Paul says we all should have learned Christ. I dare say if this is all you learn about Christ, it is enough to live by and empower you. If you truly put faith in these truths of God, you will realize you have everything you need. You are alive in Christ. Period.

The new self is a living self. It is the direct product of eternal life. And realizing you are alive, with all it's implications, is the key to a healthy growing believer.

All other perspectives, even using scripture, are just a re-hash of worldly religion. At best, they are a distraction, a waste of time. At worst, they will make you walk like a zombie. You are not a zombie, you are alive!

You are not half alive and half dead, you are fully alive. Paul's point is that if you recognize this fact, then your walk will take care of itself.

One Final Point

It is easy to get overly focused and turn a spotlight on when Paul and other apostles portray the results of life and then get into a legalistic mindset about them. In the above passage, Paul goes out of his way to avoid this.

Yes, we all make choices every day. And I will always emphasize that not lying or stealing is always the best choice - no matter the motivation or power. But my point, and Paul's point, is that even unbelievers can make the same choice based on fleshly motivation.

As believers, we have a better path. We don't have to act like religious zombies or licentious zombies. We are alive, connected to Christ, so we can do living righteous things from our new heart, genuinely motivated by our own identity. There is no pressure or compulsion - no coersion. A gift by definition has no strings attached - that is the gospel.

This is a good definition of legalism: motivating good behavior by pressure and compulsion - carrots and sticks.

This type of teaching avoids emphasizing the new self and tries to motivate by other means. The gift of eternal life doesn't feel like a good enough motivation to these teachers. They use fleshly motivations like fear and threats.

Any teaching that has implied threats by God for believers or puts conditions on God's goodness to His children is an evil doctrine. Do not learn Christ in this way! And if you have, repent, and ask God to show you the true gospel!

Knowing you are alive is the key to walking well. A living walk is a confident walk. A living walk recognizes the power of the life within and it's natural motivation.

You are new - holy and righteous - re-created in Christ Jesus to be like Him. Meditate on this; know it; trust it. Now go be yourself and act like the new self.

I guarantee if you get to know the new self - it doesn't want to lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery, etc. It is full of joy, peace, love, kindness, patience, goodness, and self-control. When that fruit within you is let out, the results are not sin.

So, if you are struggling in your walk, take a crash course in Christ. Don't get confused by all the fake news out there about Him. He is a gift with all that implies: only benefits, no coersion needed.

Listen to Paul - all you need to know about Christ is that because of His finished work you are like Him - the new self, created in holiness and righteousness.

And the new self, holy and righteous, doesn't want to walk in a sinful way. This is a truth you can fully trust. You are alive - now walk like it! Stop doing the zombie walk! It is a dead end.

Happy Resurrection Celebration - we must celebrate the results of Christ's resurrection and our own every single day. Walk in resurrection life!