Wonderful Jesus!

Righteousness Revealed

Romans 1: 16-17- “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”’ NKJV

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When my husband left the military we were without regular health insurance as we were getting re-acclimated to civilian life. Of course, being veterans, we both had veteran’s insurance. When we decided to have a second child, we didn’t want to travel the distance to the VA hospital and decided to take care of the medical bills on our own. An insurance agent was given my name as someone who might be interested in purchasing insurance, so he called me up. As he was trying to convince me that I obviously needed health insurance, since we were paying out of pocket for this baby, I started to become annoyed with him. Finally, after playing nice and him not getting the message, I said, “I may not have health insurance, but I have health assurance!” Then I ended the call!

The Greek word for salvation “soteria” simply means safety. The message of the gospel is a message of safety for the believer from the snares of the enemy and the wrath of God, for within it, the righteousness of God is revealed.

Martin Luther felt that the righteous God could only give him what he deserved, punishment for his sins. As a clergyman, he preached the letter of the law, without having any revelation of God or His message. In other words, he didn’t really believe that he was saved. When he finally got the revelation of the righteousness of God, he was freed from the constant bombardment of his sins, his unworthiness, and his need to be punished. After hearing of the experiences that Luther and others have had, many are still walking around with that sense of unworthiness, of being wretched individuals, and just sinners saved by grace. If you are saved by grace, you are no longer a sinner. If you are a sinner, you have not been saved by grace. They are contrary to one another.

Revelation is important. Paul wrote that the gospel unveils the righteousness of God. Why would the righteousness of God need to be unveiled? Simply put, it had not been made known yet. Paul wrote about this in his letter to the Ephesians:

How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets”
Ephesians 3:3-5 NKJV

Paul explained that the revelation of the mystery surrounding Christ had been hidden since the beginning of time. And now, by the Spirit of God, revelation was given to him and others that they might share the message of the gospel.

Martin Luther defined the righteousness of God “as a righteousness valid before God, which many may possess through faith.” This righteousness comes from God and is His way of making a “sinner” right before Him. The Greek word for righteousness is “dikaiosune” which carries more than one meaning within it. It speaks of the character or quality of being right or just and is used to denote an attribute of God.

In the book of Deuteronomy, God’s righteousness was sung about as a part of the song of Moses:

He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.
Deuteronomy 32:4 NKJV

And the psalmist shared this about His righteousness:

Clouds and darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Psalm 97:2 NKJV

Both these verses let us know that God is righteous. His very nature and the foundation of His throne is righteousness. As such, He chooses to impart righteousness to those who believe Him.

Luther was correct in his thinking that a righteous God would punish sin. His righteousness demonstrates that He is neither indifferent to sin nor does He regard it lightly. Which is why Paul continues in this first chapter of speaking of the wrath of God on ungodly and unrighteous individuals:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
Romans 1:18-19 NKJV

There is a whole list of sins following this verse, from being ungrateful, to being a homosexual, and everything in between and all around it. It is all unrighteousness. Paul didn’t categorize the level or depth of those sins, but said that they would cause the wrath of God to be poured out on those responsible for committing those sins. Paul also wrote that there were other ways to be a part of unrighteousness that didn’t fall into the list. Suppressing the truth is unrighteous, he wrote, yet we see more of that in our world today than we want to admit. Ignoring the truth and ignoring those who promote ungodliness, as well as ignoring that which is right, is just as bad as participating in it.

“who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
Romans 1:32 NKJV

When you know better, better is expected of you! As believers, our conduct should be in line with the character of our Savior. One who cannot help but do right, because He is right! So it is easy to understand how Luther and others walk away with a feeling of hopelessness when thinking about all the ways we can and do sin.

However, Luther was wrong in thinking that God would leave us there without hope or assistance. Peter stated that we obtained our precious faith by the righteousness of our God and Savior:

“…to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:”
2 Peter 1:1b NKJV

And Paul made a similar point in the book of Philippians:

“…not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith”
Philippians 3:9 NKJV

Luther finally got what God had been trying to get him to see: not our righteousness, but His!

The last point of our key text that I want to bring out is the fact that revelation from God and righteousness occurs from faith to faith. Nothing about this statement means we get from God once and everything is settled. This righteousness, and the faith to believe it and live in it grows in faith, or assurance in Christ. This assurance is an enjoyment of the righteousness that God provides us with because we have complete confidence that when He said it is so, then it is! Similar to the assurance I felt in regards to my health when the poor excuse for a salesman called me.

Paul concludes this portion of the letter with the phrase, the just shall live by faith. Since we have been declared free, then we are to live that life of freedom by faith! Our feelings will lie to us and tell us that we don’t feel like we are righteous. The devil will lie to us and tell us we haven’t really been made righteous. Preachers may even declare that we are, but yet we aren’t, because we are still in this body. But the just shall live by faith. God said that He makes us righteous through Jesus, and we are going to have to take Him at His word.

As we continue in chapter 2, many of the things that have already been mentioned will be explained by Paul in more detail. I’m looking forward to what all I can learn and share in this study. Wonderful Jesus!

Salvation For All!

Romans 1: 16-17- For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

In August of 1513, a monk lectured on the Book of Psalms to seminary students, but his inner life was nothing but turmoil. In his studies he came across Psalm 31:1: In Thy righteousness deliver me. The passage confused Luther; how could God’s righteousness do anything but condemn him to hell as a righteous punishment for his sins? Luther kept thinking about Romans 1:17, which says, the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “He who through faith is righteous shall live.” The monk went on to say: “Night and day I pondered until… I grasped the truth that the righteousness of God is that righteousness whereby, through grace and sheer mercy, he justifies us by faith. Therefore I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise… This passage of Paul became to me a gateway into heaven.” Martin Luther was born again, and the Reformation began in his heart.
BLB David Guzik Study Guide to Romans

History tells the story of the power of change that came over the Church world as a result of Martin Luther’s encounter with the letter to the Romans. Luther had already found no rest for his soul, no light in his darkness, no relief from the overwhelming sense of being lost. Burdened with the guilt of sin and shame, he was known to be found in prayer 8 times a day, or praying all night, or inflicting punishment upon himself because of the weight of bondage that troubled him daily. Then one day, these words of Paul resonated in his soul, like they had never done before:

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith,”
Romans 1:17

and the Protestant Reformation literally changed the world.

This verse, is the key verse of the book of Romans. As we begin looking at the teachings included in this book, my hope is that we too can have the righteousness of God revealed to us like never before.

Paul mentions that he is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. You would think that this would go without saying since he has been evangelizing all over the Greek provinces, but Paul knew the persecution of the Christians in Rome was real and wanted it to be known that his faith was strong in the gospel message. Paul suffered much because of this message. This is what he said about his trials:

Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
2 Corinthians 11:23-27

Paul went through some serious sufferings for the gospel of Jesus, and yet he was not ashamed of the gospel. Why? Because it was the power of God to salvation for him. He was literally stopped in his tracks as he lived contrary to the gospel of Jesus, hunting Christians down, putting them in jail, even watching them be stoned. He knew the dangers of proclaiming the gospel message, and yet, he was not ashamed of being called to deliver it. He was not ashamed of having believed.

The gospel is for everyone who believes. Calvinism came out of the same Protestant Reformation as Lutheranism did. John Calvin, a contemporary of Martin Luther, also believed in justification by faith, but felt that your election was sure and therefore you need not worry about your salvation again. As the teachings of Calvinism spread, the doctrines began to change. Now, it is associated with predestination, meaning that you are predestined by God to be either be saved or not be saved. This is contrary to what Paul wrote in this verse that the gospel is to everyone who believes. Salvation, Paul wrote, was first to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles. But it was available to all who believe.

Why did Paul mention that it was first to the Jews, then the Gentiles? Jesus answered this Himself:

But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Matthew 11:24 NKJV

Why did Jesus make this statement? A Gentile woman approached Jesus for healing for her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus told her that He had come for the Jews, and not the Gentiles, calling the Gentiles “dogs”. She responded by saying even the dogs get to eat the crumbs from under the children’s table. Jesus was so impressed with her statement, that was spoken from a heart of faith, that He healed her daughter.

While Jesus openly ministered to Gentiles, He brought salvation to the Jews, God’s chosen people. His own special people. But the gospel message was always intended to be a gospel for everyone. He told Nicodemus:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:16-17 NKJV

Then in the book of Acts, Luke tells us of a supernatural event in the life of Peter. He is on the rooftop of Simon the Tanner’s home spending some time in prayer. While there he goes into a trance. In the trance God shows him animals that are contrary to his kosher diet and tells him to rise, kill, and to eat. Peter refuses to do so calling them unclean! This is where we would have said, “Satan, I rebuke you! Or, “get thee behind me”)! God responded by telling Peter that what He has cleansed Peter must not call unclean (see Acts 10). Then God sends Peter to share the gospel with Cornelius, a Gentile!

Well, that’s all I have time for! Thank you for joining me in this study of Romans! It’s such a powerful insight into the theology of the life of the believer. Pray with me that I know by the Spirit, how to navigate this study for those who are really following along with it! And I thank you in advance! Wonderful Jesus!

The Center of It All!

Romans 1:2-4 “God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about His Son. In His earthly life He was born into King David’s family line, and He was shown to be the Son of God when He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.” NLT

I was in Science class today when I had a thought. As our students were learning about the importance of cells, and tissues, and organs I was thinking about Jesus. A fact that resonated with my spirit is that the nucleus is the control center of the cell and it regulates all the activities of the cell. So I looked it up and discovered that the nucleus also carries the genes where our hereditary information is contained. My thought was this: that sounds like Jesus! I got so excited! And isn’t it something that science can reveal the Father, just as Paul wrote in the beginning of his letter to the Romans?

Paul introduced himself to the saints in Rome, a congregation he hadn’t fellowshipped with, but one he had heard all about. As Paul traveled and evangelized the Greek provinces he often ran into other believers, and this is how he heard of the church in Rome. When he wrote:

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world,
Romans 1:8 NKJV

it was because of all the people he had met who originated from that church, or had passed through that church. Those things caused his heart to desire to go to Rome that he might part some spiritual gift to them, that they may be established, and for mutual encouragement (verse 12).

It is believed that Andronicus and Junias were from the congregation in Rome, and since Paul sends them a greeting, they are in Rome at the time of his writing. Priscilla and Aquila were also from Rome, and had been amongst the Jews who were expelled from Rome before they met Paul (Acts 18:2). At this writing, they had a church in their house (16:5). Other people to whom Paul sent greetings at the end of his letter were believed to be people he had met during his evangelistic efforts who had either moved to Rome or had returned to Rome. It is easy to surmise that this church, made of Jews and later Gentiles, impressed Paul, because of the testimony of these individuals, that he wanted to fellowship with them for himself!

After he introduces himself, he then speaks of Jesus. However, it is believed that his characterization of Jesus is intentional and with purpose and that’s why he doesn’t use His name until the end of his description. Let’s look closer at what Paul said about Jesus and why.

Paul first mentions that Jesus is fully man. He speaks of Jesus’ heritage which would definitely be important to the Jews, and would be a strong testament of His messiahship. He was from the seed of David, and as such, was in the lineage of royalty. Also, as He walked on this earth, He did so in the capacity of a human being, which would later bear witness to man being able to live free from the bondage of sin — a topic he later discusses.

Then he speaks of Jesus being the Son of God. A truth that surely they already knew as believers, but a truth he wanted them to know that he also preached and agreed with. Instead of focusing on how Jesus was born, although that is a powerful truth, he focused on how He was raised from the dead. This was proof to Paul that Jesus was who He said that He was, more than anything else. Remember that he met the resurrected Jesus and his life was forever changed! As a matter of fact, encountering that Jesus, changed all of the disciples, and it truly is the crux of the gospel message!

We’ve just celebrated Resurrection Sunday because the resurrection of the Lord is the most important part of the gospel. I like what John Lake said about the resurrection:

“The reason for the resurrection is that the kingdom of Christ is not to be in heaven entirely. It is to be in this world. And the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is to rule in this world. Consequently, while we live in this world we will need a body like our Lord’s—capable of existence here, and capable of existence over there.”
― John G. Lake, Spiritual Hunger, The God-men and Other Sermons

Have you ever really given that any thought? Currently, in our new created state, we are capable of living in this earthly realm, as we are seated in heavenly places in Christ! And when we pray or give Him praise, we are able to transcend this earthly realm and move in the heavenlies. This relationship is truly supernatural!

Paul mentions that it is through Jesus that we receive grace and our calling. As an apostle, he acknowledges that the role he has in the kingdom of God is because of the grace extended to him by Jesus. He didn’t do anything to earn it, and neither can we, but it was extended to him. And all of this that he has mentioned in his introduction, the seed of David, the Son of God, the resurrection from the dead, and grace is in Jesus our Lord!

Now, back to my thought this morning. Just as the nucleus is the center of the cell, Jesus is the nucleus, or center of the gospel. As such, He is the control center not only for the church, but every believer. Paul wrote that He was made to be the head over the church, His body! As we walk in this new life, Jesus regulates our activities as our hearts and minds are transformed by His word. His Spirit on the inside of us, is available to assist us when we yield to Him. In the book of Roman, Paul goes into details about how this is possible. And lastly, in Jesus, is our DNA. All that we are, all that we can ever hope to be, is because of Him living on the inside of us. Jesus, the Christ! (See my blog or listen to my podcast on the DNA of God).

I’m not really a scientific individual and may not have really touched the essence of this truth, but I saw it just as clearly as I see the page in front of me. This verse:

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Romans 1:20 NKJV

spoke to me like never before. This has been radiating in my heart all day long, and I just had to share it. What a powerful testament of the plan of God. As the nucleus is the center of life and function for the cell, so is Jesus to the gospel, our salvation! Then, of course, I kept hearing the song, “Jesus, You’re the Center of My Joy”. It’s been that kind of day!

I googled what happens to the cell if the nucleus is removed from it? I found this truth on several sites:

If the nucleus is removed from the cell then the cell will not be able to function properly, it will not be able to grow. … Gradually, the cell may die.
https://www.jagranjosh.com

Look at that spiritual truth!!! Remove Jesus, remove life! Dead churches have removed Him as supreme, preeminent, Lord of all! And then they looked up and realized that they had died a slow death! And if we were to remove Him from our lives, we would be the walking dead. This is why the sinner is not considered alive until they are born again and given life. They are without their spiritual nucleus, Jesus! He is truly the Center of it all! As we move into the letter that Paul wrote to the believers in Rome, Paul wants us to truly understand this truth. No Jesus, no life! Know Jesus, know life! Yes, I’ve used it before, but it bears repeating! I’m so excited about this study! Wonderful Jesus!

It’s Not a New Message!

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Paul wrote the book of Romans as a letter to the church in Rome. It is said that the epistle was written to the believers in Rome before Paul had ever visited with them. He is not associated with the planting of the church in Rome, but sent this letter as an encouragement to those who were already fellowshipping together.

I was reading the book of Romans this weekend, and had the thought that I would like to go through the book with you as a look at the life we are called to live in Christ Jesus!

If you have a hard copy of a good Bible, that has a chapter introduction, it is easy to see the history of the book of Romans and how it fits in the narrative of the gospel message. For example, our text is considered to be the key scripture of the book of Romans. The theme of the book is the righteousness of God; and the presentation of Jesus Christ is as the second Adam. The book of Romans is considered to be the most important, concise, and detailed information in the word about Christian doctrine.

Some of the most well-known theologians of Church history had an encounter with God through the book of Romans. I came across this testimony of St. Augustine’s conversion:

Some time in the year 386, Augustine and his friend Alypius were spending time in Milan. While outdoors, Augustine heard the voice of a child singing a song, the words of which were, “Pick it up and read it. Pick it up and read it.” He thought at first that the song was related to some kind of children’s game, but could not remember ever having heard such a song before.
Then, realizing that this song might be a command from God to open and read the Scriptures, he located a Bible, picked it up, opened it and read the first passage he saw. It was from the Letter of Paul to the Romans. Augustine read:
Not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual excess and lust, not in quarreling and jealousy. Rather, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. –Romans 13: 13-14
Reading this scripture, Augustine felt as if his heart were flooded with light. He turned totally from his life of sin. He was Baptized by Ambrose during the Easter Vigil April 24, 387. His friend Alypius and his son Adeodatus were Baptized at the same time.
https://www.midwestaugustinians.org/conversion-of-st-augustine

In the church of today, it is presumed that this generation isn’t interested in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have heard it said by many church leaders and pastors that we are losing this generation and have to rethink how we share the gospel. There is truth in that statement!

However, what Paul wrote is a greater truth: the gospel of Jesus Christ doesn’t have power, it is power of God to salvation! And the criteria remains the same: you must believe! The same power that was in the gospel when Jesus saved Augustine is still present in the gospel today! The same gospel that saved me, is available today, to save this generation.

What we may be missing, is that they are not looking for religion any more than we were looking for religion when we came to Jesus! The stale churches, with its lists of dos and don’ts that turned us off, is a turn off to them. The church that finds faults with them and every thing they do is just as unappealing to them, as it was with us. The problem could be that the church we ran from, is the church we have become!

Now! Having said that, I want to also point out, the gospel doesn’t change for any of us! And it won’t change for them. What needs to change is how we view them and how we get the message out to them. As we have experienced this year long, world-wide pandemic, we have had to make some changes in how we deliver the gospel message. In the beginning, things seemed bleak for the church, but after a year, things are actually looking better in many of our churches. Still Jesus’ words remain in affect: “the gates of hell will not prevail against the church”.

When Paul wrote to the church at Rome, he knew some things about the people he was addressing this letter for. He knew that the make up of the congregation consisted of both Jews and Gentiles. With this being the case, he understood that there were things that needed to be addressed in regards to their position in Christ Jesus. He also understood that they came from different backgrounds, with different understandings of the law, and he wanted to address those things to encourage them in their walk as believers. But mostly, he understood that they needed a solid understanding of the righteousness of God.

Paul begins his letter by introducing himself to the Romans. He tells them that he is first and foremost a servant of Jesus Christ. Then he tells them that he is an apostle. Today, we introduce ourselves first with our titles, and then with all that we have accomplished. While this may be church protocol, maybe we can learn from Paul! In both roles, he lets them know that he has been separated to the gospel of God. (God is addressed repeatedly in the book of Romans). Paul explains this gospel message in this manner:

God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about His Son. In His earthly life He was born into King David’s family line, and He was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 1:2-4, NLT

Romans is written in a question and answer format. In order to not to belabor the point, I will seek to point these questions out and discuss the answers. As we move forward in reading and studying this amazing book of Christian theology, I trust that we will grow bolder in our faith, stronger in our convictions, and unashamedly sure of the gospel of Jesus Christ! I’m looking forward to getting into the book of Romans and hope you will join me in my study. Wonderful Jesus!

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

The cross is empty! He’s no longer dead!

Enjoy our Savior as we remember His resurrection! Wonderful, wonderful Jesus!!

DNA of God

2 Peter 1:3-4- “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” NKJV

Creator of the Universe

My husband and I took a cruise to Hawaii for our 25th anniversary. It was fabulous! Every morning I would find him sitting on the balcony, reading his Bible or praying. He found it to be so relaxing. Not being an early riser, I would join him and enjoy the serenity of the morning. For some reason, although I believe God is truly omnipresent, He felt closer to me on the waters of the Pacific.

Paul understood the majesty of creation because he wrote:

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse
Romans 1:20 NKJV

As I conclude my discussion on these verses in 2 Peter, I want to look at the remainder of the verse: “partakers of the divine nature”. Peter clearly states that we, believers in Christ, can partake of the divine nature and power of God. Religion persuades us to believe that we are mere mortals, subject to whatever whims God may have because we can never know what He will do. Yet, Peter wrote just the opposite in these verses: we can know God, we can partake of His power, His glory, and His nature, and it is what He wants us to do!

Let us go back to the beginning.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26 NKJV

God didn’t make Adam a god, although He made Adam in His image. Adam was a genius. He named all the animals of the garden. He was perfect and without sin. He talked openly and freely with God. He had dominion over everything in the garden. His life was a life of peace, joy, fulfillment, godliness, and holiness. He was like God! Until he allowed sin in. As we choose to become Christians, we are spiritually restored to the state that Adam was in, with the intent for us to be more like God and less like man. Not because man is so horrible, but because God is that good to us!

How can we partake of the divine nature of God? Let’s understand what partaker means. According to the Vine’s, one of my favorite resources, it means “a partner, or sharer”. So we don’t get ownership of His nature, He invites us to share in His nature. Therefore, the first thing we most do is, we must be born again! I know! I keep repeating it, but it is ever so true! We must be born again! Once we are born again, we are able to escape the corruption that is in the world. Peter wrote that when we are born again we are called out of darkness into His marvelous light! Paul penned that we are delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of His dear Son. This is the first step in partaking of His divine nature. If we are going to share in His nature, it starts with salvation!

Going back to other parts of the verse, as we get to know Him and embrace His exceedingly great and precious promises, we can share in His nature. We can forgive, because He is a forgiver by nature, and empowers us to forgive. We can love, because He is love, and His divine power enables us to love the unlovely. How many times have you found yourself loving when others didn’t understand it? It His nature you were partaking! Who did you forgive, that you didn’t think it was possible for you to forgive? It was the Divine Nature of the Almighty (DNA) inside of you!

I was in a situation where I overheard a conversation. There was a misunderstanding that caused several people to be at odds with one another. The person I overheard was expressing the hurt that they felt over the situation, but more importantly, the desire to get things out in the open so they could move on. I heard that person’s wisdom in handling the situation. I heard that person speak of making things right so they could move forward unhindered. Forgiveness was extended, and that person even took responsibility for the mix up. When the conversation was over, I told that person, I had just witnessed Jesus! It was the greatest testimony that individual could have shared with me about the genuineness of the faith she had in Him (the Divine Nature of the Almighty God in operation)!

Sunday I went to visit at my former church. When I got there, one of the members was really excited to see me. She had prayed the night before, telling God that she wished she could see me at church so that I could pray for her. God manifests His healing nature at different times when I pray, especially in the area of pain. Sure enough, I was there. She was so excited! I prayed for her briefly and went my way. Later that night, there was no change. (I generally check up on people I pray for). When she told me that, I just said, “Check yourself in the morning”. Sure enough, the next morning was a different story. Did I heal her? No! But God allowed us to share in His nature as healing was manifested in her body, because He’s the Healer! The Great Physician! (Again, the Divine Nature of the Almighty God working as we laid hold to the exceedingly great and precious promise in regards to healing).

And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Mark 16:17-18 NKJV

The part of His divine nature we struggle most with is His supernatural power. We fail to realize that anything we do with Him is supernatural. Forgiveness, love, giving, kindness, serving. Therefore, we tend to separate that part of His divine nature from the other part of His divine nature: releasing power!

As we live this life in Christ, and He lives His life in us, I can assure you that He doesn’t want to be stifled. His greatest joy is seeing the kingdom become a reality in our lives. He left us with many precious promises that we might realize the greatness of the love and grace He has for us, the power He has made available to us, that we can partake of Him! It’s really time for us to dare to believe that every promise in His word belongs to us! As we step out in faith and begin to take Him at His word, we will begin to see things happen. When it doesn’t work, trouble shoot and try again; but don’t ever give up! He purposefully shared His divine nature with us that we may know Him more completely!

It’s the Passover/Easter season! A time to rejoice in all that Calvary, and more precisely, the resurrection affords us! I end with Paul’s prayer for every believer:

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come! Amen and Amen! Wonderful Jesus!
Ephesians 1:17-21 NKJV

Precious Promises

2 Peter 1: 3-4- “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

A Precious Promise

I well remember the day my husband proposed to me. We were on our way to visit my family. Suddenly he pulled off at a rest stop and we got out. Instead of going to the facilities, he went to a picnic bench and sat down. He waited until I sat down and then began talking about our future. The next thing I knew, he was down on one knee asking me to marry him! Needless to say, our trip home was slightly delayed! Years later, he purchased a new diamond band for my engagement ring, as an anniversary gift. However, my rings from the wedding are so special to me, that I found myself ignoring the newer band for my old wedding ensemble. Some things are so precious, they are truly irreplaceable.

I’ve been sharing from this verse for several days now. I started out by mentioning that as we are approaching Resurrection Sunday, or Easter Sunday, it was a good time to talk about our salvation. We all know that we have been saved by grace through faith and it is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). I still rejoice over my salvation, many times with tears. Having said that, as I was thinking about Resurrection Sunday, I read this text and felt a real need to expound on it at this time. If you haven’t read the previous blogs or heard the previous podcasts regarding this text, I encourage you to do so to get the full picture.

Peter wrote that God’s promises are exceedingly great and precious promises. Exceedingly in the Vine’s dictionary is rendered “very great, or greatest”. The definition for “precious” in the Vine’s is “held in honor, especially dear, as of a great price”. That means to me that God’s promises are the greatest, of a great price, held in honor, and therefore are not to be dismissed as if they are of no value. Or as if man spoke these promises and there is no weight behind them. His exceedingly great promises are mind blowing, hard to conceptualize as truth to the ordinary person. But they are also very precious, made with purpose and intent, and signed with the Blood of Jesus, making them extremely valuable. Charles Spurgeon is quoted in the Blue Letter Bible by David Guzik as having said this:

“Many things are great which are not precious, such as great rocks, which are of little value; on the other hand, many things are precious which are not great-such as diamonds and other jewels, which cannot be very great if they be very precious. But here we have promises which are so great, that they are not less than infinite, and so precious, that they are not less than divine.”
Blueletterbible.org

As Christians, we tend to stay with the comfortable topics and messages of scripture. We’re fine with being saved, being blessed, and even suffering. However, when we begin to discuss the gospel message in terms of God really wanting to make us more like Him, in glory and virtue, we turn off. Don’t turn off, turn on, because His promises are both great (hard to believe) and precious (because they are verified in the Blood). And they are made to us!

As noted already, we become new beings when we are born again. Our new life is as supernatural as the birth of Christ, for we are

…born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…
1 Peter 1:23 NKJV

Within the word of God, there are “precious promises” in regards to our life in Christ. Promises that are forever promises. Much, in the same way, as an engagement ring is a promise of marriage, which leads to a promise of forever. (Don’t go cynical on me. We know it is not always so, but it is the premise upon which we exchange vows). Our forever, til death do us part, is different from God’s forever, because His promises are eternal.

When my husband, then boyfriend, made his proposal to me, it was a turning point in our relationship. My yes to him, was also a placing of my faith in him and his word to bring that promise of forever into manifestation. God’s promises are based on his glory and virtue. Every promise that He has made to us He is able to fulfill and bring into manifestation because His Person and His power backs everyone of them!

This salvation that God has promised us is far greater than what we have imagined. Ezekiel spoke of our salvation when he penned these words:

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 NKJV

This salvation sounds glorious! Amazing! Life changing! And yet many, who are saved, struggle in their walk with God and their love for Him. We find it difficult to trust His word, and difficult to trust His love.

Paul shares a precious promise with us who are new creatures in Christ Jesus:

“I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:18 NKJV

Surely God meant what He said! We are His sons and daughters. Adopted into His family in a greater way than a natural adoption. In a natural adoption you become part of a family in every way possible, except DNA. However, in this adoption into the family of God, He places His Spirit within us, allowing our DNA to merge with His DNA. We have watered down the gospel to fit our shabby lives, yet the gospel is a great gospel, delivered to us, through His glory and His virtue. He is personally involved in our salvation through Jesus, and has invested Himself in bringing us to glory.

As a matter of truth, Paul wrote:

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT

Did you hear the first part? All of us who have had that veil removed! What veil? The veil that covers our minds and keeps us from understanding the truth of the what God promises us! The expectation is that as we grow in Christ, we are being changed into His glorious image. If Paul had written that we would be changed into His image, that would have been shocking enough; but he wrote that we would be changed into His glorious image! Wow! Saints, when we as the church gets this, we are going to do some real damage to the kingdom of darkness!

Think about this for a minute! Going back to a previous blog, how can you be transformed into His image, from one degree of glory to another, without knowing Him? You can’t! This is why knowing Him through His word is so important! Not only will you learn about Him, but you will begin to see His promises for what they are, exceedingly great and precious!

We have little difficulty in realizing that we are to walk in love, peace, joy, goodness, and righteousness as Jesus did. But that’s not all He did! He healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, stood against religious leaders, championed the underdog, and loved all people. Of course, we know He did so much more, but my time and space is limited!

Living life, knowing that the omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God is living on the inside of you, has a way of changing how you live. As you come to truly believe that

He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world,
1 John 4:4

your entire attitude about sin and the devil begins to change. Not only are you more easily acceptable to the truth that sin loses it power over you, but you also begin to realize that you have power over it! Now we are getting somewhere!

The greatest thing we can do to celebrate His resurrection this holiday season, is to realize that He is really alive and He lives in us! And oh how He loves us! Wonderful Jesus!

Called to Glory!

2 Peter 1:3-His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of H im who called us to his own glory and excellence” RSV

As believers, we want to experience, need to experience the glory of God. We talk about it, sing about, and preach about it, but for most of us it is as mystical as most things about God. In our text, Peter’s words, in the Revised Standard Version, conveys an important message that I would like to discuss with you.

Years ago, I was studying on the glory of God. As I was studying, I was also fasting and praying about understanding the glory. I distinctly remember reading Billye Brim’s book “the Blood and the Glory”, and Creflo Dollar’s book, “the Anointing”. One night, I had a dream that I have never forgotten. I was standing in the midst of a thick cloud. I began turning around slowly within this cloud. Then a voice from the midst of the cloud spoke, “I have anointed you.” I woke from the dream and I just sensed the presence of God in our bedroom. Not wanting to disturb my husband, but wanting to commune with God, I went into our living room and bowed before the Father. I still sensed His presence as I had when I woke up. I stayed there in His presence until I could no longer stay awake.

Glory, according to the Vine’s dictionary is rendered in this way:

of the nature and acts of God in self-manifestation, i.e., what He essentially is and does, as exhibited in whatever way He reveals Himself in these respects, and particularly in the person of Christ, in whom essentially His “glory” has ever shone forth and ever will do.
Vine’s Dictionary

And virtue is rendered as:

intrinsic eminence, moral goodness, virtue,” of God; the manifestation of His Divine power
Vine’s Dictionary

When I think of being called by God, I think of a special assignment that God may have on an individual’s life. For example, God called Abraham out of Ur because He wanted to establish a people to Himself. He called Bezalel in the wilderness to be the designer of the Tabernacle, and gave him the ability to teach. Jeremiah was called to be a prophet to the nations. Peter was called to be the apostle to Jews. I think you get my point!

Here, in this verse, Peter says that we were called to His own glory and virtue. The many different versions translate this verse using a variety of words, i.e. to, by, through; but for what I believe is the whole point of this mini-series on this verse, this rendition fits my thought the best.

The writer of Hebrews make this point:

For it was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.
Hebrews 2:10 RSV

Jesus, the captain of our salvation, is bringing many sons to glory. Since this principle is true, it is easy to understand how Peter could have been stating that we were called to His own glory and virtue. That’s quite a calling when you think about it. God, the Father, and Jesus, our Savior is calling us to experience or live in their glory.

Consider what the psalmist wrote about God’s glory and man:

What is man that You are mindful of him, and the so n of [earthborn] man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.
Psalm 8:4-5 AMP

In the Young’s Literal Translation, it actually reads that man was made a little lower than the Godhead. For most, that’s hard to wrap our brain around, but it is scriptural, so it is truth. God’s original state of man, when He made Adam, was that He crowned mankind with His glory. With the fall of man, that state was lost. But through Jesus, He is bringing us back to glory, which was His original plan for us.

That’s why Peter’s statement that He called us to His own glory makes perfect sense. Through the years, in a sense of humility, and because the enemy’s hand was in it, we have discounted the truth of what God’s real plan for our lives is. Yes, He wants to save us from hell’s eternal punishment, but that’s a small part of a much bigger picture. In the whole scheme of the gospel message, is a message of reconciling us to rightful place, where we are crowned with the glory of God.

And His virtue, the manifestation of His divine power, is part of what we are being called to as believers. Remember when the woman with the issue of blood encountered Jesus? In the KJV, Jesus spoke these words:

And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned about in the press, and said, “Who touched my clothes?”‘
Mark 5:30

But in the NKJV, the word virtue is translated power:

And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him…
Mark 5:30

As we can see, God’s virtue, is His power. Can you see this? God is calling us to experience His glory and His power! That’s a mind-blowing thought! It doesn’t it seem possible.

Sin is the reason we fall short of the glory of God.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23

But once we have been cleansed of our sin and reconciled to God, we are called to His glory and virtue, or power. Isn’t that what Peter is saying in 2 Peter 1:3? I think so! I think we are a work in progress and we may be in need of more transformation, but it starts with the realization that God’s glory and power is available to us.

I also believe, that scripture backs this truth up. I don’t expect you to take my word for it, that’s why I gave you several scriptures to share my thinking. I’m still studying this, and that is why I didn’t blog on last Friday. I’m gaining some insight into this verse I never really took time to understand.

If you are struggling with the principle, join the club. But as I continue to study, I am finding irrefutable truths in God’s word of His plan and desire for us to accept the call to enter into His glory and virtue. If I was the first and only one to come to this conclusion, I would really hesitate to share it. It’s huge! But I am not! Check out Billye Brim’s book that I mentioned earlier. It’ll bless you and whet your appetite for understanding the glory of God. Wonderful Jesus!

Knowledge is Power!

2 Peter 1:3- “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. NKJV

We can all mark significant times in our lives. I know I can! My high school years were a turning point in my life. I was hungry to know God. As just a casual reader of the Bible I saw many inconsistencies in the lives of those around me, and what the Bible said. As a matter of fact, I asked a pastor about these inconsistencies and he told me that the Bible wasn’t to be understood. I was so sad that day to hear a minister of the gospel say such a thing! But I walked into my Sunday School class of 6 and 7 years old students and declared to them: I believe the God of the Bible can be known, in spite of what others may say!

I know now that I spoke by the Spirit of God! On the inside of me was a desire to know God, and He quickened my spirit and confirmed that truth to my heart. My desire, even today, is to know my God!

Peter wrote about us having a knowledge of God.

For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:3 – AMP

Knowing God, in a personal way, through Jesus, causes Him to bestow on us everything that we need for life and godliness. His power is released is in our life, in a concerted effort to assist us in knowing Him, life, and godliness.

In Ephesians, Paul wrote:

[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. Ephesians 1:17 – AMP

Paul reiterates that the knowledge we have about God, the deep and personal insight into who God is, is as a result of knowing His Son Jesus. Hear what Jesus said to His disciples about this matter:

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father and then we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you do not know Me yet, Philip, nor recognize clearly who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ John 14:8-9 – AMP

To truly know God, you must know Jesus! To know Jesus is to know the Father!

God revealed Himself in the Old Testament, but only to a few. David knew God in a personal way, for God’s Spirit never left him. But it wasn’t until Jesus came that we were given an opportunity to truly know God. He made God alive to common people. He uprooted spiritual hypocrisy and pretentiousness. He demonstrated God’s love for us, and allowed us to see His nature in a way that had never been demonstrated before. Then He reconciled us to God through His blood, satisfying, once and for all, God’s requirement for sin.

Paul prayed that we would grow in the knowledge of God. It’s not just enough to know that God loves us and will save us, but it’s important to know as much about Him as we can learn:

Colossians 1:10 – that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…NKJV

Paul knew that his ability to accomplish so much for God, was done because of his knowledge of God. These epistles that he wrote, helps us to understand God and the life we can have in Him. That knowledge gives us the power to live a life fully pleasing to Him. It enables us to walk worthy of our Lord. We must know our God!

Peter echoed these words of growing in the knowledge of God, when he wrote:

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 – NKJV

Why? Because knowledge is power! When our adversary lies to us about our God, the more we know about God, the more we can refute his lies! When people knock on your door to share a different gospel with you, you can silence their heresy with your knowledge of God. When the circumstances of life try to overwhelm you, your knowledge of God will keep you grounded and sane.

Some Christians are content to be ignorant. Paul said that he wrote his epistles so that we wouldn’t be ignorant concerning things pertaining to God. (We know these and many other writings are called the word of God; written so that we wouldn’t be ignorant!). Hosea wrote that we perish (go to hell?) because of a lack of knowledge. Don’t allow laziness to keep you from pursuing more knowledge of God. The enemy knows that the more you know about God, the easier it is to recognize and stop him! This alone is a great reason to know God.

But a greater, more important reason to know God, is because He is God. Haven’t you heard it said: It’s not what you know, but who you know? Well, that’s even more true in relationship to God. When we know Him, we know all that we need to know, because knowledge of Him, is power! Wonderful Jesus!

New Life! His Life!

2 Peter 1:3-4 -As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. NKJV

prayer-for-salvation

There are times when reading and studying the word, I feel like, this isn’t that complicated, why do people have such a hard time with it. And then there are other times when I feel like, Lord, I need help understanding this. Partaking of God’s divinity is a really tough truth to wrap our brains around. At least it is for some!

Peter wrote in his epistle that God’s divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. It’s scriptural, so it’s truth. But not a new truth for it was first mentioned by John, when he wrote:

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:12 – NKJV

The take aways from these powerful verses are these:

That when we are born again we are the sons of God
His divine power brings this relationship into existence
It’s as supernatural as the birth of Jesus to Mary

Interesting to note that Nicodemus asked Jesus a similar question that Mary asked of Gabriel:

How can these things be?

Jesus had just finished explaining to Nicodemus the supernatural experience of the new birth. He told Nicodemus that when a person is born again, he is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus wanted to know if a man was supposed to climb back into the womb and be born again. Jesus patiently explained that He was speaking of a new birth, a birth brought about by the Spirit of God.

As we enter into the season of the Passover, the Easter season, it is important to remember the significance of our born again experience. For many, they never experience the supernatural because their approach to God is so casual; but something supernatural takes place, just as it did when God’s Spirit planted the Seed in Mary’s womb.

2 Corinthians 5:17-Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God…NKJV

If you are in Christ:

You are a new creation
Old things are passed away
All things are made new
All things are of God

There was, and is, nothing natural about our becoming sons of God. This amazing new birth into the family of God is a result of the gospel. The same gospel that Paul writes this about:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16 -NKJV

His divine power, the power of God, is activated when the gospel is shared and received. That power is sufficient to give us salvation, or new life. This was hard for Mary to understand, and it is even harder for us to wrap our brains around. The gospel message is God’s power released upon our lives to bring about the new birth! That’s beautiful! A birth that makes us a new creature in Christ called sons of God!

Another point that Peter makes is that this power that gives us new life, also gives us all things that pertains to life and godliness. Here’s an even bigger mystery. The power of the old man is destroyed, giving way to the new man and all things that pertain to life and godliness.

Things that pertain to life. When we are new creatures in Christ Jesus, we have eternal life, just as Jesus explained to Nicodemus. This new life is eternal. Paul explained it like this:

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 – NKJV

The life that we now live, we live by faith in the Son of God. His life overtakes our life, giving us the power to live this new life. A life that is pleasing to the Father. A life that’s in Him. A life of sacrifice, peace, love, joy…His life!

Things that pertain to godliness. A life lived in godliness. One that allows His divine nature to be seen in our being. A godliness that chooses His way, His thoughts, His word, His actions, His attitude over our own. A godliness that turns it back on a life of sin, which is no life, to live a life of righteousness.

All of this was obtained, by the divine power of God, when we became born again believers. Many still glory in their old nature, their sin nature. But if you are in Christ, your DNA has changed! You are a new creature! The old is gone, and the new has taken front and center. Begin enjoying the truth that you have really been changed. Wonderful Jesus!