Jesus

Its How We Live.

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5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Galatians 3:5-9

 

 

Start by faith.

Live by faith.

Finish by faith.

 

Faith is the means by which we enter into God’s blessings.

Its the way Abraham entered in.

Its the way we enter in.

 

So we enter into friendship with God just as Abraham did, on the basis of what God has done, is doing, and says He will do.

 

Faith is active trust.

 

The object of our faith is personal and real, most dramatically revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ. He gives us HIs Spirit when we enter in “by faith” in the Gospel we have heard.

 

We can say with Paul, “…the life 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

 

Joy is ours in this grace by faith in the finished work of Jesus at the Cross. Peter notes that faith does not require “seeing as believing.” He writes,

 

8Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  1 Peter 1:8-9

 

John describes this faith as a reliance on the love of God shown to us through Jesus Christ. So our faith has its reasons.

 

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

 

The writer of Hebrews notes that “without faith, its impossible to please God.” Hebrews 11:6

 

By faith. This is the way God has called you to live.

 

Natural Spirituality

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12Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

14The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:12-16

The Gospel frames “spiritual” as a condition brought about by the Spirit of God through Jesus Christ. So for the Christian living in my setting of people claiming “spiritual but not religious” some sophistication is required to maintain the beautiful simplicity of the Gospel.

The same Jesus who was present at Creation with the Father, and Holy Spirit is with us. The same Jesus who lived among Israel and died on the Cross is present with us. The same Jesus who was raised from the dead and ascended to Heaven is with us. The same Jesus who will return again some day is with us.

For the “natural” “Spirituality” is the common language that retains the common grace of intrinsic worth emerging from the image of God. Even the “natural” may recognize their need for love, for respect, for righteousness, for power and yet deny Jesus Christ.

Now, In Christ, we have Him and He has us, by the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is working so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.

We have been given the mind of Christ. Now we are no longer “natural.” Now we are made to be “spiritual” in the truest sense by means of the Gospel. Yet we affirm the “natural” in their quest and desires that correspond with the glory of God and His Kingdom.

Jesus is with us. Our spirit is alive to God through the work of Jesus Christ. Now we are truly spiritual as the Gospel frames “spiritual.”

 

Unlimited Access

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1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5

Through my online reader I see headlines from several national newspapers. When I see what interests me I go to it. But after I reach the mark of “ten articles per month” my access is limited. It is so disappointing to click on an article and then see the screen popup with the message: “For only $___ a month you can get unlimited access.” You see my frugality now.

Thankfully, God is not like this. When difficulties and challenges arise we do not run out of access to God. Through Jesus we have access to God the Father. We obtained access to this grace, the peace with God through Jesus Christ, by faith in Him. Access  does not run out. We have unlimited access. This is good news to me because the challenges that produce pain for me have not run out either.

Discipleship through challenges

The text describes a massive feedback loop essential to discipleship: A challenge, and then rejoicing because we have knowledge of a process and the experience of God’s love.

The process: suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

The experience: Love poured into our hearts. Jesus Christ mediates our access to God and has made peace. Our access to God is reality by the Holy Spirit. He has poured God’s love into our hearts. God’s love that takes the shame out of our suffering. God’s love that moves us into a growing, persisting, full, and hopeful life when we are hurt.

To rejoice in our sufferings seems ludicrous and impossible were it not for a firm conviction of God’s love for us through Christ Jesus and our unlimited access to Him.

 

A story of two trees

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9And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Genesis 2:9

 

Two trees were notable among the many in The Garden of their communion. Only one had a boundary built around it: the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And that boundary was built on love. Here’s your freedom; you may choose to be in communion with God even as God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit keep choosing each other.

 

God said, “You may eat of all the trees in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” God intended them to eat of the tree of life. But they chose the tree of knowledge of good and evil instead of remaining in His love and in the dependence of their communion with Him. So then, in this state of separation God gracefully put them out of the garden so they did not eat of the tree of life in this condition.

 

From the communion of God Jesus came to make a way for our life with God. He is the Tree of Life from which we may partake and enter in to His communion. It took at tree, a cursed tree, and there on the Cross we observe the terrible consequence of the tree of knowledge and evil borne by God Himself. Our forgiveness cost.

 

Which tree are you living under? Which do you see as a refuge? Which do you believe to be your life?

 

Jesus says,

1“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;believe also in me.2In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.4And you know the way to where I am going.”5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.7If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:1-7

Jesus is our Tree of Life!

You know you want it.

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4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15:4-5

 

You know you want it: a dynamic and fulfilling life.

 

Quit looking for “the next great thing” to give you a sudden boost of satisfaction and fulfillment in your life with Jesus.

 

There are no energy drinks for the abundant life.

 

A dynamic life with Jesus has no secret formula.

 

Jesus described the life like this: I am the vine and you are the branches.

 

Seek Jesus, stay with Jesus, be with Jesus, follow Jesus, obey Jesus.

 

Abide: make your home with Him; as He is making His home in you.

 

The Holy Spirit creates this desire for us, a sort of holy ambition.

 

Yet, “tapping into” the reality of His life, will require your own set of “little rules” or daily habits that direct your affections, attitudes, and decisions into Jesus.

 

Create patterns of abiding with Him both in solitude and in community.

 

When do you meditate on His goodness?

When do you mediate on His Word?

 

What cues have you put into your living space and day to remind you of His grace?

 

When do you pause to listen to Him?

 

When do you disclose through word and deed your delight in Him?

 

When do you pour out your heart to Him?

 

When do you say “thank you?”

 

When do you limit the the conspicuous consumption of all your position and status allows you because of your respect for Him?

 

The fruitful life Jesus gives is borne out of the intent to stay with Him.

 

A hundred small decisions.