No, I'm Not Going Heretical

"I have been crucified with Christ (literally, 'together with'); 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 that faith of the Son of God, the One having  loved me, and having given up Himself for me."  (Galatians 2:20, NKJV & Interlinear)

Paraphrase?  Our salvation is a "done deal."

I know the popular statement is that Jesus died for our sins, or that "Jesus paid it all."  Yet our text says that, "I am crucified together with Christ."  This is not just, "Oh, well, the 'old man' in me has to die."  No.  The old nature did die when Our Lord Jesus died, "I am crucified together with Christ", and, wonders of wonders, now that, "....Christ lives in me",...the life which I now live in the flesh I live...in the Son of God...."

No, it is not that we shed our blood for our forgiveness, nor anything else we could have done to "purchase our salvation."  But I repeat:  We still died, "together with Christ."  The "sin issue" was dealt with in the Cross of Jesus, His Shed Blood, His Death and Resurrection.  The Bible calls it, "once for all."  Can I say that since you and, "I have been crucified together with Christ," our sin, our "flesh," our every malady is dead in Christ Jesus?  "For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God."

Perhaps we should stop the talk of "dying to the flesh" or "crucifying the flesh."  That all "happened" when, "I have been crucified with Christ", was fulfilled in Jesus' Blood, Death, and Resurrection. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that all I needed and need you did in the, "Blood of His Cross."  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....God, Working In The Midst Of...."

"For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth." (Psalm 74:12)

Jesus is, "working salvation in the midst of the earth," not just our local churches.  Jesus is, "working salvation in the midst of..," the governments of the earth, "....in the midst of..," schools, businesses, families (whether we see it or not), "....in the midst of..," well, need I repeat?--"in the midst of the earth."  This is not primarily dependent upon what you and I see.  This is stating the Eternal, Kingdom reality.

The Church of Jesus Christ needs a continual call to "break out" of its meetings, programs, seminars, etc., and see the Church, surrendered to Jesus, "....working salvation in the midst of the earth."  Over the last two days, I was not in "church meetings."  I was in Washington, DC, as I watched, and I can say, participated in Jesus as He was, "....working salvation in the midst of..," the American Government.

Where is Jesus, "....working salvation in the midst of..," your "world" today?  He is, you know.  Look around.  Everything you see, everything occurring is the Blessed Trinity, "....working salvation in the earth," no matter if it seems glorious or hopeless.  Let Him ring His Words in our hearts today:  I Am indeed, "....working salvation in the earth."

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me and my friend to really see You, "....working salvation in the midst of the earth," in the very "midst of" our lives.  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Verb Love

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."  (John 3:16, NIV)

Yes, it is John 3 day in my quarterly Gospel reading.  I wrote a note some years ago that the word for, "loved," here in the Greek is in the verb form.  God's love manifested in the Cross of Jesus is "doing-for-us" love.  I repeat what I have said and written many times that the best translation of John 3:16 is:  "For God thus loved the world:  He gave...."  It is very much akin to the passage in 1 John 4:9, "In this the love of God was manifested, that God has sent His Only Begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."  Verbs rule.

Again, most people think it is, "God sooooooooooo  loved the world."  There is no degree in, "agape."  When the KJV writers chose, "charity," to translate, "agape," in 1 Corinthians 13, they made a good choice.  Too many think of love as all the songs and Hollywood, an emotional feeling, swooning over someone, warmth.  I'm sure there is something of this in the Love of God.  But if you and I and the world want to understand something of the "nature" of the love of Jesus, think of what, "charity," means.  Webster's defines it as, "a gift for public benefit purposes."

So, since I am called today to fulfill, "In this the love of God was manifested...," I must not just say love, but manifest love.  We could say: This is how the Followers of Jesus love the world:  They give.

Father, in Jesus' Name, may my love always be a doing love.  Amen. 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2