Coming Into Christ Consciousness by Gary Sigler

Read more by Gary Sigler at Sigler.org

There is a verse in Hebrews that says Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith. We know that God drew us to Himself. He authored the birth of His seed within us. We had nothing to do with it. Anyone who thinks they had anything to do with his salvation and it was their goodness that brought them to God is a person most deceived. If you didn't bring yourself to God, if you had nothing to do with your redemption and your acceptability before God, then why do you think that you have to take Adam and perfect him? If God truly is the finisher of our faith, as the Word says, then when Adam rises up we simply realize that that is an opportunity for me to forgive myself. We should all walk in forgiveness. You must learn to forgive yourself when the flesh rises up.

How could I not be conscious of my sin? When I begin to walk in these truths that I am telling you tonight, not only did I lose a sin-consciousness, but I gained a life of peace. That's why I say, in reality, folks, there is only one reality. Seemingly there are two. But there is only one, and the reality; the truth of the matter is sin is no more. It was dealt with.

Because we haven't been living out of the right consciousness and we haven't been focusing on Christ, to us our carnality is very real. A lot of people say there is no sickness; there is no death. In Christ this is true. There is a lot of suffering in this world. There is a lot of pain in this world. How can we deny that? Yet, there will come a day when everyone of us will experience that death is no more. Sin is no more. Sickness is no more. Christ will come forth in us in all of His glory and then we will experience these things in their fullness.

If we are waiting for this like a fairy tale, that someday this is going to happen, we are missing the joyous journey of walking into it. If you are not walking into it, you will miss it until you do walk into it. We are so close today, and I am sure we all feel this, to see a group of people rise up on this earth that will absolutely bring the dominion and the kingdom of God onto the earth

Some of you have probably heard me share before how that the traditional Christian mindset is that someday Jesus is going to come back and we're going to rule and reign with Him. Are we? Not if He hasn't been ruling and reigning in us right now. The only way that we can bring the kingdom of God to earth is to recognize everything that should not be in His kingdom and make sure it isn't in us. If each one of us will do that individually, without making it a performance, we will succeed in bringing the kingdom to our earth.

If we soak ourselves in the presence of God and meditate in these truths we will begin to walk in the reality and freedom of not having the bondages of sin in the flesh. It is so wonderful. Nobody really knows except one who has been in the throws and bondages of the flesh how wonderful it is to wake up in the morning and to know that once again Christ is going to flow from your being. You don't have to worry about the pull of the flesh and make all of the resolutions and false promises to yourself. You just know that God is able to do that in you that He has promised to do.

 Paul says that this is so important...to be renewed in the spirit of your mind. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but He humbled Himself." Phil. 2:5 A lot of people like that phrase "equal with God" but they forget about the humbling of themselves. Jesus said, "He that will be the greatest among you, let him be the servant of all." Mark 10:44

A lot of people want to preach the Word today. A lot of people want to get in pulpits. A lot of people want to do a lot of things. But when Christ really gets a hold of you, and you begin to understand who God has really made you to be, then you will become...not out of performance...but out of character one who serves. You will find it very easy to prefer others before yourself. It's your nature.

God is love by Barry DuPont

God is love. At first glance one might see a contradiction is scripture between some statements about love and the growing threat of condemnation and separation that was being communicated to the old covenant adherent.

In fact this "first glance" should not be ignored. When we read about "loving your enemy", and so then being perfect in the way like God is perfect (or mature), and when we listen carefully about what Paul said about love in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 we should be surprised by the simultaneous message of destruction and perishing.

Often in biblical futurism this is addressed in either some form of Universalism or by just ignoring the "love" verses and embracing the "judgment" scriptures.

The fulfillment approach offers a viable alternative to the "duality" of message that so often is embraced in some form or another. That alternative is that salvation was either through belief and holding fast until the end, or through destruction and perishing, where the perishing is simply the end of the old covenant creature.

This works very will with 1 tim. 4:10 for example. And also many statements in Corinthians chapter 3 and 5. Which paint a destruction "in the flesh" or the the glorying in the flesh and so then a salvation in the spirit. Not to be seen in a physical verses spiritual dichotomy but rather as a fulfilled revelation in human history. Where "the flesh" is a mind set in the standing of types and figures.

In this way then the threat of "punishment" also corresponds to the "law" mindset or the "consciousness" in the ending of types and figures.

All of this info then begins to fit together with forcing the puzzle pieces into places that they don't rally seem to belong.

So then God is love. But God did chose to speak with the defiled conscience of man in "religion". A "religion" of types and figures.

This matches also like glove the statement we see in 1 John. Especially chapter 2-4.

So we see then that those of "the faith" were being perfected in love in anticipation of the day of judgment so that they could have boldness in this "day".

Many more "parts" and "pieces" do fit together in this whole "picture". More than can be brought up in a little post.

One of the things that this approach answers is the problem of soteriology being linked directly to eschatology. It would be hard to dismiss the "perfection" the "completion" of the faithful in this very eschatolgical time restraint.

In other words we can have neither one or the other. Both are behind us. For both are framed in fulfillment. Both are framed in their holding fast until the end with the promise of their faith and hope being actualized.

This then fits perfectly with the whole concept of a fulfilled revelation. One of a love of God revealed. A love so deep that even through destruction there was life given. A revelation that man does not stand in any independence whatsoever. Types and figures removed! Yes God is love. No contradiction no glossing over passages of scripture or pitting some verses against others.

Where the severity of God in ending the old was for the benefit of all. Where we cannot brake love we can frustrate it. And while there is no condemnation there is consequence. But in all of this what we see is an inherent Union. God is inescapable. That simply cannot promote a mind set of exploitation of others in what we can get away with. No that's senseless in this scenario. Rather God is inescapable. So stop trying! It's fruitless.

Love is the meaning of life itself. Love is it's own reward.

Barry DuPont
http://infinite-grace.com/
https://www.facebook.com/barryj.dupont

Heaven Is An Experience

Most churches teach that heaven is where Christians go when they die... but let's take a different look.

Matthew 23:13
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

Here we have Jesus talking to the Jewish religious leaders of his day, telling them that they do not enter into into heaven, nor do they allow their fellow Jews to enter in.

Did you catch that???

Jesus didn't say that they wouldn't enter heaven when they died, but rather that they weren't entering into heaven right then in their present time! If heaven is just a place where people go when they die, then what Jesus says here makes absolutely no sense.

It is rather clear here that heaven (the Kingdom of God) isn't a place, but rather a mindset. Paul describes the Kingdom of God in Romans 14:17... is having the joy, peace & righteousness (righteousness means having a clear conscious before God) in the Holy Spirit!

Babylon in Revelations by Phil Liszewski

1) The only references to great city in the Greek are in the Revelation. The first reference definitely refers to Jerusalem "where their Lord was crucified."

Revelation 11:8 "and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which is allegorically called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified."

Revelation 16:19 "The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered great Babylon, to make her drain the cup of the fury of his wrath."

Revelation 17:18 "And the woman that you saw is the great city which has dominion over the kings of the earth."

Revelation 18:10 "they will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, "Alas! alas! thou great city, thou mighty city, Babylon! In one hour has thy judgment come." 16 "Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, bedecked with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?" 19 And they threw dust on their heads, as they wept and mourned, crying out, "Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! In one hour she has been laid waste. 21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So shall Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and shall be found no more;"'

Jer 4:30 "And you, O desolate one, what will you do? Although you dress in scarlet, Although you decorate [yourself with] ornaments of gold, Although you enlarge your eyes with paint, In vain you make yourself beautiful; [Your] lovers despise you; They seek your life."

Also compare:
Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate."

Revelation 17:5 "and on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, mother of harlots and of earth's abominations." 6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her I marveled greatly."

Revelation 18:21 "Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So shall Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and shall be found no more... 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of ALL who have been slain on earth."

Revelation 19:2 "for his judgments are true and just; he has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants."

Notice also...
Isaiah 1:1 "The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem... 21. How the faithful city has become a harlot, she that was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers."

Ezekiel 16:2 "Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations..."

Jeremiah 2:2 "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown... 20. "For long ago you broke your yoke and burst your bonds; and you said, 'I will not serve.' Yea, upon every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down as a harlot."'

Revelation 21:9..."Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10 And in the Spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem..."

There are two Jerusalems. There are two covenants. There is physical (shadow) and there is spirit (reality in God.) John in Revelations is concerned with the passing of the covenants...the judgment on the old and the installation of the new.

by Phil Liszewski
Phil's Facebook Page

You Were Born Perfect by Robert Rutherford

Robert On Facebook

Time for a Christian Revolution by John Pitts Jr

John's Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pittsjr.john

I received an email from a minster who is embraced by the mainstream platforms of Christianity. The minister will remain anonymous, because he sent me the email in confidence, stating that due to his affiliations, which have been established over many years of labor, he is are unable to openly declare the things that I do. This man of God went on to encourage me to continue to boldly declare truth and let truth dismantle every erroneous tradition we’ve held and worshiped for ages, no matter what. I love the nick name that developed from that dialogue, “Johnny the Butcher” for I am called to slay as many sacred cows as I can get my hands on! Lol Worship, in the simplest of terms, is to ascribe worth to a thing, just talk to a Christian today and several worthless idols will surface… “Child the devil sure is busy!” “I just don’t want anyone to go to hell” “Those demons where so busy, I got sick!” The problem is Christianity has several gods, but that is another subject for another note! Lol

Today I want to share with you what the Lord has shown me is presently taking place across the globe. We are in the midst of an awesome great awakening and it is happening outside the institutionalized church, this is so exciting! Listen to them on mainstream Christian networks, you hear the panic in their voice, for they feel their influence slipping away and they can’t explain it… Many of them have resorted to fear tactics, telling the saints that they have no covering, when they leave their institutions. Others are peddling 24 hour miracles for a seed of $24 and 24 cents! Lol there is a new generation rising up who wants nothing to do with their BULL, (1 Kings 18:33) like Elijah we’ll cut it up and lay it out to be consumed in fire!

Let me tell you, people are so desperate to preserve their LIE, that they’ll warp the very scriptures they reverence ABOVE His innervoice! A friend of mine, received an email from someone he knows personally, asking him if he was a Universalist. We refuse to be labeled by anyone by the way, when asked what sect do we subscribe to, our reply is I am! Well, my friend quickly discovered that the woman was not trying to hear him at all, she simply felt it was the leading of the Lawd to warn him from deception and hell’s fire, for surely they are more powerful than Christ! Appalled at the fact that my friend did not waiver, and when she discovered that my friend, could NOT BE MOVED by her fears, I’ll address the bold print later, instead of agreeing to disagree, in one last desperate move, she sent him a scripture with words added, as if he would not read the text himself … Below is the text with her addition copied directly from the email…

“2 Peter 2:1-9 Beware of false prophets and teachers who teach there is no eternal Hell ... God will not spare the unrighteous, did not spare the angels, did not spare the ancient world of Noah, Sodom and Gomorah, to make them an example to those who would live ungodly, and will keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment ....” When we read this, I mean we laughed for about 20 minutes or so, people are so desperate to preserve their LIE that they will do anything, even, not expound upon, but add to the text.

Listen you guys, Mainstream Institutionalized Christianity will soon be just like the Klu Klux Klan, no threat at all, a delusional group; they will be the only ones unaware of their insignificance! There is a revolution happening as we speak, all of humanity is awakening to the true nature and Love of God, and the fact that not one will be lost. You are not alone, God has kept to Himself seven thousand, there are thousands of us and we are uniting as we speak!

Some of us are coming out the closet now, but it is not time for everyone to come out of the closet, stay in their pews for a season, stay in their worthless schools of ministry for a season, let their prophets continue to prophesy over you confirming what you already know, let them continue to ordain you in their empty ordination services… Take a note from my friend, Rob Bells life and let them set you up as pastor of their ‘Mega Church’ and when the time is right… *BOOM* we will implode the whole worthless structure that has been keeping men from entering the kingdom (Matt 23:13)! Joel’s Army is getting in formation, we are the Josiah generation, and we’re tearing down the high places! For those of you who are out, cry loud and spare not, let the Pharisees throw stones, let them cut you off and label you false! Is it better to please God or man?

Let it be known, we are not Evangelical, we’re not in a race against time, rescuing people from an angry God or an imaginary hell! We are not Pentecostal or Charismatic, stuck in one place, seduced by their very own gifts and hypnotized by outward manifestations, living life from one encounter to the next! We are not kingdom now, delusional, caught up in authority as if His Kingdom is an earthly one! When asked what are you, simply shout, “I am that I am and that’s all that I am!” We’ve entered the Most Holy Place, we’re no distraction live! This is a place of rest, and from this perspective, it is finished! We are ministers of RECONCILIATION, compelling all men, Christian and Non, to simply BE reconciled to God! (2 Cor 5:18)!

In a statement above I placed the words NOT BE MOVED in all caps and bold, because a friend of mine quoted this text as a status, and I liked it, because it is one that I preach from often. The funny thing was my friend stated in the comment thread that this scripture was an anti-universal scripture. Listen, anytime you see someone try and use a text to discredit another’s position, they are carnal and that is a Pharisee spirit! The letter kills, but it is the Spirit that brings life(2 Cor 3:16)! The scripture that was quoted was Colossians 1:22-23 which states,

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard,and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Now, here is why we all must study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman not ashamed, “rightly dividing” the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15) Because if not, you may take heed to tradition, which is nothing more than profane and vain babbling which only leads to more ungodliness (or un like Godness!)

My response was… “Though I am not a Universalist, I do believe in Ultimate Reconciliation, and this scripture when used in context with the whole, would support what many may call Universalism. I can inbox you more on that, if you are at all interested?.. If not, I understand and will say that your point has been made, and will cease from responding... Love you”

The tradition of the Pharisees will always point out how much you are not like God, (serpent’s voice) placing conditions on your identity in Christ (If you eat of this tree)! Look at the above scripture carefully and silence the serpent’s voice (the carnal MIND)! God never separated from us, we separated from HIM, not in spirit, for that is impossible! We were alienated or separated from God in our own MIND, and that is wicked! The good news is that God, reconciled us ALL (2 Cor 5:19) indicated above by the statement NOW has He reconciled (past tense).

Now, here’s the kicker, the condition presented in the text! Many who have a presupposed inclination toward the afterlife, heaven and hell, see this scripture referencing those three somehow, I am personally not sure how, other than the possibility that they are filtering the text through the years of erred teaching. This text is not speaking of the afterlife, it is speaking of the Here and Now, speaking of how we presently present ourselves before God (His Sight) in every moment! Either you will embrace what your “carnal mind” speaks of you and present yourself before God in flesh (where there is guilt, shame and condemnation) or you will continue in faith (mind of Christ), and not BE MOVED away from the Hope of the Gospel which you heard and was preached to every creature under heaven, my God this is good stuff!!!

What is the HOPE of the Gospel? Well, when we read further down the text my friend quoted, you will read in verses 26 and 27 that the mystery which was at one time hid from ages and from generations, is now made manifest (or is being revealed) to his saints. And that God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the Hope of glory! You see, this is the earnest expectation of all creation, this is what creation is waiting and travailing for (Romans 8:20)! The seed of Christ is in all man, the problem is in the mind (John 1:9)! It is our job as ministers of reconciliation to Harold this good news until all humanity is awaken out of its sleep! Shout it from the roof tops, let them call you whatever they want to call you, Inclusionist, Universalist, Ultra Grace Preacher, even false prophet, you simply respond by saying, “I am that I am and everything He is, I am!(1 John 4:17)” The Truth will prevail, God is shaking everything that can be shaken and He is burning up everything not like Him! Let’s be a part of this Revolution!!!!

Hebrews 12:24-29 (KJV)
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not weescape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.

No matter how this may appear to some, it is all in the love for all humanity (for the Love of God)!

John Pitts Jr on Facebook

Congratulations! You're not perfect!

It's ridiculous to want to be perfect anyway. But then, everybody's ridiculous sometimes, except perfect people.

You know what perfect is? Perfect is not eating or drinking or talking or moving a muscle or making even the teensiest mistake.
Perfect is never doing anything wrong - which means never doing anything at all. Perfect is boring!

So you're not perfect! Wonderful! Have fun! Eat things that give you bad breath! Trip over your own shoelaces! Laugh! Let somebody else laugh at you! Perfect people never do any of those things. All they do is sit around and sip weak tea and think about how perfect they are. But they're really not one-hundred-percent perfect anyway. You should see them when they get the hiccups!

Phooey! Who needs 'em?

You can drink pickle juice and imitate gorillas and do silly dances and sing stupid songs and wear funny hats and be as imperfect as you please and still be a good person.

Good people are hard to find nowadays. And they're a lot more fun than perfect people any day of the week.

~Stephen Manes, Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days!

Heretics Don't Fast by Jacob Israel

Jacob's Blog: Jacobisrael71.wordpress.com

Jacob's Website: jacobIsrael.org

Adam, Don't Eat of THAT Tree...

God told Adam to not eat from the tree of the KNOWLEDGE of good and evil... likewise, I stay far far away from that "tree" nowadays... yet when I tell Christians that I am completely dead to the Law (as Paul told his listeners to die to the Law), they look at me like I'm the devil himself. LOL

The Tree of the KNOWLEDGE of good and evil is of course a metaphor for the Old Covenant Law... for that is what the Law does, it discerns between good and evil... and the sin mindset / good / bad / guilty conscience / judgement / self-righteousness pride / ego... is the fruit that the tree produces.

How cunning is that devil we know as religion... it tells us that if we try really hard to be good, to shun evil, to point out faults in others, etc... then we will be close to God or should I say, we'll be just like God... just as the devil told Adam in the Bible narrative.

Religion sounds so right to the human mind, yet it does not produce the fruits of God, but rather it produces death (lack of peace, joy and unconditional love)...

But all of this is designed by God Himself... His own little smokescreen to hide the mystery that He is... yet He reveals Himself to the persons who are humble and gentle of Spirit and hides the true from those who are learned and wise in their own eyes.

Blessed / Happy are those who seek after Christ... not after Christianity.

Mega Grace Revealed by Jath van der Westhuizen

Catch Jath van der Westhuizen on Facebook

Since the beginning of Christianity did church fathers, theologians and devoted Christians compile endless volumes about this amazing theme. Divinely inspired words of song writers still echo as we celebrate the splendor of grace during worship meetings. Every Christian has either played, hummed, whispered or sang 'Amazing grace' countless times in his or her life. Yet, despite all the existing libraries of valuable material and resources, not many believers operate in the sphere of grace.

Often, feelings of condemnation and inferiority along with judgmental legalism and performance-based attitudes still dictate their way of thinking. This fundamental lack of understanding what grace essentially means has paralyzed the body of Christ to a great extent. Another crippling argument that demonstrates this blankness is that we must be careful to put too much emphasis on grace. 

Recently somebody warned me that I must stop riding on the back of grace. My response was that it is impossible to ride on its back. It is actually the other way around in the sense that grace is working in us. As grace is not a license to sin, it produces and reveals the Christ-life.

There is, however, a warning to potential readers: 'Mega grace revealed' highlights dimensions of grace that will certainly not fit into the framework of a comfortable religious mold. This revolutionary message will touch your life in a mega way. Spiritual Parental Guidance is therefore advised!

Learn more at: https://www.createspace.com/3606039
ISBN/EAN13: 1461143144 / 9781461143147

Raising Hell: Christianity's Most Controversial Doctrine Put Under Fire

Raising Hell Book On Amazon

Have you ever wondered...do earthly parents love their children more than God loves us? Does God ask you to forgive your enemies—as many times as necessary—when He is not willing to do the same? Is being punished forever for sins committed in a short lifetime really a demonstration of justice? Does everybody get the same fair chance to believe in Jesus before they die?

Most of all, if hell is mankind's worst possible fate, and if God is truly loving, then...

- Why does He fail to mention hell in Genesis as the price for sin?

- Why doesn t the Old Testament ever speak of hell?

- Why does Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, never once mention hell?

- Why was hell not part of early Church established doctrine?

Dare to question. What have you got to lose? If you've ever had doubts or questions about the justification for eternal torment, Raising Hell will open your eyes to a radical new look at God's love for all mankind—and what the Good News is really about. Picking up where Rob Bell and others leave off, Julie Ferwerda offers compelling evidence as to why she now believes the doctrine of eternal torment is the biggest deception of the modern Church.

What people are saying about Raising Hell...

"Mercy triumphs over judgment...brilliant reminder!" —Saint James

"Ms. Ferwerda dares to believe in a victorious gospel, where God actually wins and Satan loses. The author promises much more than God possibly can or will deliver! If you read this book, you may be putting your soul in danger of eternal hellfire!" —Pastor Todd Doubter

"This book fully explains what was meant by the famous declaration of long ago: 'Good news of great joy shall be for all the people.' I love it and will buy it for eleven of my friends!" —A. Fisherman

"Julie has not been to seminary and therefore her message is rife with the ignorant heresies you would expect from a regular lay person with no formal training." —Dr. Theo Logian PhD, M.Div., D.Min.

"My opinion? Julie Ferwerda is going straight to hell with Rob Bell!" —The Church Lady

About the Author

Julie Ferwerda is recognized for making the Bible exciting and relevant to everyday life through her writing. She has authored several inspirational books and many articles, encouraging people of all ages in their faith journey.

Product Details

Paperback: 302 pages
Publisher: Vagabond Group; First edition (July 15, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0984357815
ISBN-13: 978-0984357819

The Idol by Jacob Israel

Blog: http://jacobisrael71.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jacob.israel1?sk=wall

THIS VIDEO WILL SHOCK YOU! I don't think many Christians are ready for what I do in this video, but it had to be done, and at the end of the video you will see why. Buckle up and feel free to share if you dare.

....

The Yoke of Christ is EASY.... It's Religion that's Hard!

"Taking the yoke of Jesus is not about signing a doctrinal statement or making an intellectual commitment to a set of propositions. It isn’t about being right or getting our facts straight. It is about loving God and loving other people. The yoke is hard because the teachings of Jesus are radical: enemy love, unconditional forgiveness, extreme generosity. The yoke is easy because it is accessible to all..."

"It seems that a whole lot of people, both Christians and non-Christians, are under the impression that you can’t be a Christian and vote for a Democrat, you can’t be a Christian and believe in evolution, you can’t be a Christian and be gay, you can’t be a Christian and have questions about the Bible, you can’t be a Christian and be tolerant of other religions, you can’t be a Christian and be a feminist, you can’t be a Christian and drink or smoke, you can’t be a Christian and read The New York Times, you can’t be a Christian and support gay rights, you can’t be a Christian and get depressed, you can’t be a Christian and doubt."

~ Rachel Held Evans

Perspectives of Jesus Christ by Jon Berg

Visit Jon Berg on Facebook

I know alot of people who claim to try to walk in Jesus' footsteps. Try to live and see as he saw the world.Culturally speaking, The Jews come the closest, and not even just the religious Jews. I was thinking today about how following someone like Jesus could lead to hating someone for some reason. It really depends on WHO you thought Jesus was, and how his behavior reflected his own decisions on God. If you think Jesus hates gays, then you hate gays. Not always, I know. Some people get to Leviticus, where they believe that God is saying gays are worthy of death, and they close the book. Never look back to that verse. Never think about it again. 


Here's my point... It MAKES a difference if you KNOW the culture or not. It makes a difference whether you believe Jesus got mad at some moneychangers cause they were workin in the church, or whether you believe he was simply having a family argument with his Jewish brothers about the way they were running a cultural service to God. 


A conversation that as Gentiles, we are merely eavesdropping into. We do not usually have the cultural understanding to realize this could be an internal family argument. You've probly had some of them i'm sure, and wouldnt want your entire lifes views to be focused on what you may have said to your family in a heated discussion...Just sayin...  


Some things DON'T translate well. You would have to have lived them. Don't forget that Jesus forgave and even willingly sacrificed himself to those who killed him.That is the message I take from Jesus. Loving God, and Loving your enemies, as much as you love your friends.That was the example he gave to me. I hope my footsteps follow accordingly.

Visit Jon Berg on Facebook

The Call Of Jesus by John Shelby Spong

Short but very sweet video that summarizes what life is really all about...

No Condemnation For Those In Christ

One of the more popular verses within Christianity is Romans 8:1

Romans 8:1-2

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Great verses, I agree... but let's take a deeper look into them, as I don't think to many Christians realize just what and who these verses are really about. 

Let's look at the word condemnation, ok... what is Condemnation? Condemnation simply put is guilt... if you've been a Christian for any length of time, you've no doubt felt condemned by something a pastor or preacher has said in church. Like when they tell you... You're a Christian now so you can't smoke, can't drink, can't look at porn, don't lie, etc... and then you do whatever they tell you not to do. You instantly feel guilty, fall to your knees and beg God for forgiveness and promise you won't do that ever again... but you do it again, and go through the same "ritual" over and over again.

While this scenario plays out, you feel condemned inside... you feel scared that God is gonna get you... and sooner or later you just give up and many walk away from God. We've all been there... every last person Christian has gone through this.

Ok, so now we have a clear understanding of what Condemnation is and what it can do to our walk with God / Jesus. This scenario is also what is meant by "walking according to the flesh" in the verses above... trying to be right with God based on our self efforts. This is what the Law did to the ancient Jews, as well... it's why they sacrificed animals and did all the other religious rituals they did. It's not that God needed animals to be sacrificed really, but rather that through the sacrifices the guilty conscience of the people was made clean, so they wouldn't walk around condemned.

So when we read Romans 8:1-2... there is now no condemnation for those in Christ who walk not according to the flesh (self efforts to be perfect in God's eyes), but according to the Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you (them - those under the Law that brought condemnation) free, from the Law of sin and (spiritual) death. 

Something to ponder... before you became a Christian... did you feel guilty for doing all the things the church tells you not too? Most likely not... why??? Because you weren't trying to obey a set of rules and Laws... it is by the knowledge of the Law that we feel guilt / condemnation... not by the "sin" itself!

So who are these verses talking too? They are talking to those who felt condemned... ie... religious people!!! The Jews specifically, because they were the ones in covenant with God at the time and obligated to the Old Covenant Law!

While I'm all for walking by the Spirit... God's changing us, as opposed to us trying to change us... the fact of the matter is that you are not under the Law... even the Jews today are not under the Law... here check this out:

Ephesians 2:14-16

 ¹⁴ For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. ¹⁵ He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. ¹⁶ Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

There's the Gospel in a nutshell... the true Gospel, not the fake one taught in most churches! 

STOP trying to please God... an interesting thing happens when we stop trying to please God through our own efforts and we stop judging other people based on how good or bad they are... God starts changing us inside and we grow in love for God and all other people, which in turn is actually the true meaning of obeying the Law in the first place! Don't believe me... look at what Jesus said:

Matthew 22:37-40

 ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘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.”

Stop letting religious minds make you feel condemned... God doesn't condemn, He loves... for rules and Law never changed anyone, but rather LOVE changes our perception and as a result changes us... and God through us, changes the world we live in!

Go in PEACE!

A Day Is With The Lord As A Thousand Years...

2 Peter 3:1-8

“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, where is the promise of his coming: for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.

Verse 8,  But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Verse 9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Verse 10, But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, almost everyone I hear preaching on the return of the Lord uses verse 9 to substantiate that the reason  Jesus has not returned is because one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. They also say that no man knoweth the day nor the hour of His return.

The problem with using the “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years” for their defense of why Jesus has not returned, is that they have taken this verse completely out of it’s biblical context.

This scripture is a reference to Psalm chapter 90 verse 4, “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” In this Psalm, the author is talking about God faithfulness and how God is always faithful, it is not an allusion to make up some sort of time statement concerning the delay of Christ’s return. This is the same as Peter’s remarks.

Let me put it into its proper context. Let’s use the who, what, where, and when principles.

Who is speaking: It is Peter . How do we know that? Verse one in chapter one says this:

“I Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ..grace and peace unto you. This has identified who is speaking and writing.

Secondly, who is Peter speaking to the first century Christians of his day and his generation.

What is he talking about? There were some Christians departing from the faith and becoming scoffers concerning the immediate return of Christ which Jesus promised to them.

Scoff means to be scornful or to reject or make fun of or sneer at.

Peter is using old testament scriptures to refute their scoffing that Christ was not going to return in their generation.

There are a couple of things we must look at in verse 3. Notice it says, knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers. Let us see if we can identify the “last days”. Most folks think that the last days are the days you and I live in now in the 21 century, but this is false and the scriptures will substantiate that.

Lets go to the book of Acts, chapter one verses 15-17: “for these are not drunken as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. This is exactly what was happening on the day of Pentecost and Peter plainly says that this is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel  chapter 2 verse 28-32. Furthermore, Peter calls it the last days. Peters’ generation lived during the last days of the old covenant.

Hebrews chapter one verse one and two says: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days

Spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds:” Notice two things, here..these last days and the worlds which in the greek language does not mean more than one physical world but  world here again is the greek word aion or ages.  The ages are the old covenant age and the new covenant age.

Now, it is true that Jesus said in Matthew 24:36, that “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Jesus did not know the hour nor the day, but in verse 34, Jesus did know the generation because he said, “verily, I say unto you, this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled.”

Folks, Jesus plainly gave the disciples the signs of His coming and the end of the age in Matthew chapter 24.

However, in John  chapter 16, Jesus told his disciples that there were many things He could not yet tell them, but that the Father would send the Spirit. When the Spirit came, He would reveal to the disciples “things to come” John 16 verse 13, the Bible says, Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.. and he will show you things to come.,”The Spirit was to show the disciples when the end of the age was going to take place.

An example of this can be found in 1 John 2:18,  “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” John is plainly saying this is not only the last days of the old covenant age, but now John is saying that it is down to the last hour. Folks, this was the last days of the old covenant world which was being replaced by the new covenant.

Secondly, to use this verse of scripture as a defense as to why Jesus has not yet returned is an attempt to cover up one’s lack of understanding of the “second coming of Christ”.  But this makes matters even worse.

If this verse of scripture is used to say that since there has not been a physical, eyeball seeing , earth destroying return of Christ in the clouds in the air, thus he has not returned and it means it is still yet future, then we are calling Jesus Christ a liar and a deceiver of men, because Jesus plainly told his disciples that he would return in their generation and that there were some standing there that would not see death until they see him coming in glory or judgement, even those that pierced him.  It not only discredits Jesus Christ himself, but it discredits the whole Bible as the Word of God! 

Allen's Facebook

Digging Deeper Into The True Meaning Of Fornication

Christianity tells us that Fornication is any sex outside of marriage...


Now I'm a very sexually oriented guy, always have been and God has done nothing to squelch my hormones since I started getting to know Him. Personally I believe that we are not under Law (Gentiles never have been) and as Paul puts it, "All things are allowed me, but not all things are beneficial". 1 Corinthians 10:23


Now, Christianity puts great guilt trips on people with the no fornication bit and since this blog and myself in general are all about researching digging deeper into what the Bible actually says in it's original languages, I decided to start digging deeper into the meaning of Fornication.


Why... well two fold... one because I'm a truth seeker... I like to know what the Bible really says, not what preachers say it says and two, well to be blunt, I'm searching for a girlfriend and yes I'd like to get laid without having to get married to do so... not that I'm against getting married, but the last thing I want to do is get married to the wrong lady just because  my body needed sex, ya know. Far too many Christians do that as is... have a short relationship and go get hitched and find out soon enough they aren't compatible in all the real areas of importance. You know Christians have a higher divorce rate then non-Christians??? Yea, it's true... research it for yourself.


Well, back on topic... so I started looking up the keywords of fornication and Jewish meaning on Google... it was the Jewish Old Covenant Law whereby we discern sin, right? So I'm looking and I find the Hebrew word Zanah is the one that is translated into the English word fornication - 33 times by the KJV (the NASB by comparison uses the word fornication only 4 times in the entire Bible... interesting, huh?)


So I look up the Hebrew word Zanah in a reliable Lexicon and find something pretty interesting... the word is a verb first off and it has to do with committing adultery (cheating on your spouse), having sex with prostitutes and having sex with prostitutes in pagan religious worship.  (Dig deeper for yourself... I linked to one Lexicon, I used 3 of them though to get the full meaning)


Hmmmm, sounds just a tad bit different then 2 single consenting adults having sex before they get married, doesn't it? In fact, sounds just a tad bit different (sarcastic) then all the stuff that churches teach us it means. What a surprise, huh?


Dig deeper folks... what you hear from the church is often not what the Bible says, but rather is traditions that are handed down from generation to generation... and unfortunately very very few people bother to dig deeper for themselves!


Till next time... peace!


Dave

Love is My Religion - Ziggy Marley

Some Body Part Metaphors and Euphemisms in Biblical Hebrew

The Old Testament is filled with 100's of Hebrew metaphors and figures of speech, that when translated into English or any other language, have lost their true meaning... It's like the English saying that it's raining cats and dogs out there... translate that into Chinese and a Chinese person will think we have some really strange weather! LOL Most Christians are completely unaware of these metaphors and as a result are believing things in the Bible that really aren't what was meant in the original scriptures. 


Here's a few...
http://www.adath-shalom.ca/body_metaphors_bib_hebrew.htm