Life #37- Perfect Hearts and Zōē-Life



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The heart is regarded as the sphere of divine influence. When God activates his divine prerogative, the heart becomes an instrument through which he directs humanity to will and to do according to his good purpose (Proverbs 3:5, 6; 2 Thessalonians 3:5; Philippians 2:13). Thus, God may choose to influence the hearts of believers and non-believers alike (1 Kings 10:24; Exodus 4:21).

Proverbs 4:23 informs us that life exits from the heart. Though some of the kings of Israel and Judah had perfect hearts (1 Kings 15:14; 2 Kings 20:3), God looked toward his own people, hoping they would pursue and obtain perfect hearts (1 Kings 8:61). Yet, when he spoke to Moses, he grieved over their slow willingness to do so: 

“Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!” (Deuteronomy 5:29 NKJV).

When God sets out to find a perfect heart (1 Samuel 13:14)—whether it beats in the body of a shepherd boy, or in the chest of a humble Son, or in Christians filled up with Christ’s fullness—he finds one. Besides, anyone who accomplishes all of God’s will is known as people “after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22).

Unencumbered by sin’s corruptions and the heart’s deceptive workings, the perfect heart allows zōē-life to freely and abundantly flow.

May God find perfect hearts among his people today—a remnant reserved for this time!

Scripture quotations from the King James Version (KJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts are taken from our book to be released next year.

Life #36 - Love is the Heart's Guard



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Existing within the heart are two great extremes, love and hate. We’ve just learned in Blog #35 how love can strengthen us in the face of prolonged difficulties; how love, if maintained, neither diminishes with passing time, nor collapses under escalating challenges and stresses. Yet, if left unguarded, the heart, which is a source of power, also has the capacity to hurt!

For practicing Christians, love can be a guard that prevents the heart from deliberately hurting anyone. Still, it will require a lot of effort on our part to continue to love and remain loving. Isn’t it difficult to love someone we don’t like? To try to replace hate with love not only irritates us, it confuses our mind. It even agitates our sin-nature, which treats love as a foreign object, to be thrown far away. However, until we get rid of our hate, we will always fail at love. If we fail at love, then we will also fail at life. That’s why, after we clean the heart, Scripture advises us:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23 NIV).

Proverbs state that those who keep words of wisdom and understanding within their hearts will find life and health for their bodies. Furthermore, and most important for those who want to remain alive until the Lord’s return, Christians who guard, protect, and maintain their hearts in an environment of love, will enjoy an unending flow of life (Proverbs 4:22, 23 NIV)!

Scripture quotations from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts are taken from our book to be released next year.

Life #35 - Power of the New Heart

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The Gospel of Mark (9:14-30 NKJV) is preached with the focus on faith. While that is true, we are given an inside look at the heart of a deeply committed father. He did everything to get his son delivered of a mute spirit, which his son had since infancy. Is something deeper being revealed to us concerning the heart's power?

The father’s actions show us the measure of love the heart contains:

Love believed there was a miracle with his son’s name on it. Love helped the father be patient for results. Love kept him humble, being never too proud to ask for help from anybody. Love persevered throughout time, overcame the hardships, and did not count the number of failures. Love protected, trusted, and hoped for his son. Even when Jesus’ own disciples failed to deliver his son, anger had no place in his heart because love never failed him (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13 NIV).

Though love motivated his actions, it remained the father’s responsibility to see that the love for his son never grew cold (Matthew 24:12). He could have given up; thrown a pity-party for himself; become frustrated and abuse his son; or put his son aside and not deal with the problem.

Instead, the father reaped love’s reward when Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and the young man was healed (Mark 9:25, 27 NKJV).

Love, from the power of a new heart, makes an extraordinary difference in ordinary lives. Love always produces a life-giving impact! Always.

Scripture quotations from the King James Version (KJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts are taken from our book to be released next year.

Life #34 - A New Heart with Washing and Cleansing



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Is there any hope for a depraved heart? Jeremiah, the disillusioned prophet, thought so. He said the heart could be washed of its wickedness (Jeremiah 4:14). Accordingly, Jesus washed us from our sins (Revelation 1:5 NKJV) and continues to wash the church by his word for our perfection.

• “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word…that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:26, 27).

We are not by-standers in our cleansing. For the sake of God’s promises the Scripture urges us to wash ourselves. This washing is from all “filthiness of the flesh and spirit” that we might perfect holiness out of reverence for God (2 Corinthians 7:1 NKJV).

After the heart is cleansed, or made new, it becomes a container for good treasure. The heart is honest, rejoices, and believes. It is steadfast, pure, true, and unblameable. The heart knows God, just as God knows the heart. God’s laws are contained in it, as well as the love of God, the earnest of the Spirit, and the Spirit of his Son. Finally, the peace of God rules there*. More importantly, Jesus dwells in our hearts by faith (Ephesians 3: 17; Galatians 2:20 and 1 John 3:24; Colossians 1:27).

We are to have “hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:13). Are we washed? Are we holy? The Lord is returning for unblameable hearts.

Scripture quotations from the King James Version (KJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts are taken from our book to be released next year. *(Matthew 12:35; Luke 8:15; John 16:22; Acts 8:37; 1 Corinthians 7:37; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Jeremiah 24:7 and Luke 16:15; Hebrews 10:16; Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Galatians 4:6; Colossians 3:15; respectively).

Life #33 - The Corrupt Heart, an Obstacle to Life

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The prophet Jeremiah wrote a lot about the workings of the heart and it was pretty grim. He said the “heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). He questioned if anyone could even know such a heart because of its evil nature. He called the heart revolting and rebellious, filled with pride and haughtiness (Jeremiah 3:17; 5:23; 48:29 KJV).

The apostles in the early church agreed. They wrote that the heart is ineffectual when it doubts, is slow to believe, and is troubled and afraid (Mark 11:23; Luke 24:25; John 14:27 KJV). The heart is full of lusts, is foolish and darkened (Romans 1:24, 21 KJV). Even Jesus revealed the place where adultery is committed—and it was not in the bed—“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28 NIV).

What’s more, the heart is depraved because sin resides there and defiles the whole circuit of our actions. Jesus said, “…those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies; These are the things which defile a man…” (Matthew 15: 18-20 KJV).

Yet, worst of all, when Christians harden our hearts (Hebrews 3:15), the resulting unbelief prevents us from entering into any of God’s promises (Hebrews 3:19 KJV)—even the promise of life (John 11: 26 NIV)!

Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts are taken from our book to be released next year.

Life #32 - The Heart's Emotions, Reason, and Will

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Mature Christians, who follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, have early learned the importance of the human heart in the affairs of God and in his contact with humanity.

According to W. E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary (“Heart, Heartily”), he said that the heart eventually came to stand for humanity’s “entire mental and moral activity”.  In its moral significance in the Hebrew Bible, Vine writes that the heart “includes the emotions, the reason and the will”.

·       The heart’s emotions: “Then Hannah prayed and said: My heart rejoices in the Lord…” (1 Samuel 2:1 NIV).

·       The heart’s reason: “…consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other” (Deuteronomy 4:39).

·       The heart’s will: “Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze;” (Exodus 35:5).

Through our heart’s emotions (feelings), reason (working out dissimilar thoughts), and will (a deliberate resolve through strong desire), we understand ourselves as expressive, rational, and determined human beings.

However, the early prophets and apostles did not trust the actions of the heart in its raw state; so they urged us to clean the heart. The cleansed heart then becomes the most versatile and powerful instrument of God’s creations.

Who knew that out of the heart zōē-life would flow and influence our total salvation of spirit, soul, and body? Jesus.

Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testatment Words (1981); excerpts taken from our book to be released next year.

Life #31 - A Clear Sign that the Rapture is Imminent

Recent controversies in the news this year require us to bring clarity to the Rapture. First, the “Rapture” is not a biblical word. The apostle Paul referred to it as “the day of Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2 NKJV). Second, this is an event that occurs at Christ’s return, when Christians are seized, caught away, taken (by force) to be with their Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Even the early church at Thessalonica had their difficulties over the timing of the Rapture. They expected “the day of Christ” to occur during their lifetime. It wouldn’t, the apostle Paul informed them. In his second letter to the Thessalonians, he corrected some false ideas about the Lord’s return. Paul also assured those who thought they had missed “the day of Christ” that they hadn’t—because all the signs had not manifested (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 NKJV).

Note that Jesus said all occurrences surrounding his return would complete themselves within the span of one generation (Matt 24:27, 34).

So, although we cannot know the specific “day or hour” of Christ’s return (Matt 24:36), we can know when the Rapture-event will occur:

And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 NKJV).

When we see our dead friends and relatives stand up from their resting places, know that our Rapture is imminent because they join us in the event!

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definitions from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: caught up #726 – harpazō, har-pad’-zo; to seize:—catch (away, up), pluck, take (by force) [like Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:2, 4]; rise #450 – anistēmi, an-is’-tay-mee; to stand up:—raise up (again); rise (again); Connected with Blog #6; excerpts from our book to be released next year.  

Life #30 - Three Life Choices...and Counting



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Enoch pleased God by faith (Hebrews 11:5). But what faith did Enoch have that separated his faith—and gained him translation—from the faith of his generation, who did not please God?

More than Enoch, Christians are placed in a better position to please God. Our advantage is Jesus, of whom God said, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). Since the Spirit is changing us into the Lord’s image, at some point we too will participate in Jesus’ blessing—in the same way we are jointly-formed with Christ in his death and resurrection (2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 6:3-5; Ephesians 2:6). But to be thus changed, we must give up the works of the flesh and become spiritual because those who walk to please God are spiritual (Romans 8:5-9; Galatians 5:16-25).

So, why aren’t more Christians spiritual? Why aren’t more of us translated today? Why do we insist on ignoring faith that pleases God before death comes?

So far, we’ve discovered that God has displayed three life-choices—which he never reneged on—and they require differing levels of faith on our part before we see divine movement on his. We only need to choose to:

1)      please God in Christ Jesus and individually get translated like Enoch; or,

2)      maintain zōē-life and aphtharsia-incorruption in Christ Jesus so together we remain alive until the Lord returns for us; or,

3)      live a good life, die in Christ Jesus, and be collectively raised at the resurrection.

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year. 

Life # 29 - The Ministry of the Spirit of Life



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’Ĕlôhîym made a people in their image (Genesis 1:26). After ’âdâm marred the image, God’s intention did not change. Thus, the Son became the plan of redemption and the Holy Spirit its guaranty (2 Corinthians 5:5). The glory that mĕtamŏrphŏō, transformed Jesus (2 Peter 1:17), is the same glory that mĕtamŏrphŏō believers today:

“…we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The ministry of the Spirit mĕtamŏrphŏō us into an incorruptible image, thereby surpassing the ministry of death (2 Corinthians 3:7). Although Christians often quote Hebrews 9:27—we are all "appointed" once to die—the psalmist prophesied that for “a people yet to be created” the Lord would “release those appointed to death” (Psalm 102:18, 19). Christians are new creations in Christ Jesus. And he kept our appointment with death.

The result is “what remains is much more glorious” than what is passing away (2 Corinthians 3: 6-11). We, who “are alive and remain” (1 Thessalonians 4:17), have participated with the glory by works of faith. Otherwise, our faith is dead (James 2:17, 20-22, 24) and the present ministry of the Spirit profits us nothing.

Jesus said, “…He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25, 26 NIV).

Where are his believers now?

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; see Blog 17- (2 Corinthians 3: 6-11); excerpts from our book to be released next year. 

Life #28 - Toward Life and Incorruption: Levels of Faith (3 of 3)

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We progress in our salvation from faith to faith: from “born again”, “born of God”, to “born of the Spirit”—free as wind to come and go as we wish (John 3:8).

Christians display two levels of faith:

• One faith believes we have sin; but if we confess our sin, Jesus forgives us and cleanses us of it (1 John l: 8); another faith believes we are born of God and therefore cannot go on sinning because it is Christ in us who no longer sins (1 John 3:5, 6, 9 NIV).

• One faith confesses if we believe in him we will live, even though we die (John 11:25 NIV); another faith confesses if we live and believe in him, we will never die (John 11:26 NIV).

• One faith walks on the broad way that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13); another faith walks on the difficult way which leads to life (Matt. 7:14).

• One faith follows Jesus (Matt. 8:22); the other faith denies their soul-life, takes up their cross, and follows Jesus (Matt. 16:24-26).

The two and a half tribes of Israel took faith for their inheritance this side of the Jordan, but helped their brothers, who took faith for the inheritance that lay beyond it (Joshua 1:12-16).

At this point why not give esteem and honor to all God’s people, who display operative faith at both levels? After all, operative faith pleases God (Heb. 11:6 NKJV) while faith without works is just dead (James 2:26).

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.

Life #27 - Toward Life and Incorruption: To Gain is a Work of Faith (2 of 3)

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Christians will say we received our salvation as a free gift; we did not work for it. Yes, that is true! To “receive” is a free gift, which salvation is. But, to “gain Christ” is a work that accompanies faith (James 2:17)!

• But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him (1 John 2:5 NKJV).

To keep his “word” takes effort on our part until by incremental adjustments, God’s love is perfected in us. Thus we know we are “in him”.

• And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him (1 John 3:5, 6 NKJV).

To abide “in him” takes staying power on our behalf so that we do not sin—because he has no sin—then are we able to see and know him.

• If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him (1 John 2: 29 NIV).

Do we do what is right? That sounds like work on our part.

If we continue to keep “his word”, abide “in him”, and do what is right, then we no longer sin because the inherent truth that Christ in us has no sin is gradually revealed in us.

To “gain Christ” is to gain life.

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.

Life #26 - Toward Life and Incorruption: Are We Born of God? (1 of 3)



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• No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God (1 John 3:9 NIV).

Christians have great difficulty applying this truth personally. We are doubtful that a time will ever come when we will stop sinning and admit to it. Why?—because there are counter-scriptures that appear to support us in our very doubts!

• “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John l: 8).
• “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:10).

No Christian would ever knowingly want to be deceived, or make God out to be a liar. Therefore, you won’t hear us saying “we have no sin”. Instead, we safely admit to sin…after sin… after sin…after—.

Then do we continue to ignore the Scripture that says “we cannot go on sinning”? No. If God’s seed remains in us, then we cannot continue to sin. We share in the Apostle Paul’s desire to count on Jesus to complete our salvation:

• “…that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ” (Phil. 3: 8, 9 NIV).

We are to “gain” Christ through faith in him and in his completed work.

Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.

Life #25 - Learning to Hear God's Voice through Sound and Meaning

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               Scripture says there are many voices in the world and they all carry meaning (1 Cor. 14:10 KJV). The Greek word for “voice” is phōnē, fo-nay’ which means a sound or a tone. Mothers learn to recognize their baby’s sound or tone, as well as the meaning behind it: “That cry sounds like he’s hungry; that one like she’s ready for a nap.”

Christians must learn to recognize God’s sound and the meaning behind it. Additionally, we also learn to differentiate God’s Voice from among other voices, who also have sounds and meanings of their own:

·         The devil’s sound is temptation, aimed at our ego, meant to use us to frustrate God’s power, purpose, and sovereignty (Matt. 4:3, 6, 9).

·         The world strikes a tone of pleasure, aimed at our lusts, meant to make Christians enemies of God (James 4:1-4; 1 John 2:15, 16).

·         The stranger’s voice is the letter of the law, aimed at the sheep, and is meant to steal, to kill, or to destroy the sheep (John 9:14-16; 28; 10:5, 10; Mark 2:24, 27).

Otherwise, God’s Voice is a sound of change, aimed at the incorruptible seed within us, meant to grow us up into Christ Jesus.

Yes. God’s voice sounds like our voice, our thoughts, and our feelings.

Let’s spend time with God and get acquainted with his sound and meaning, especially so we can hear the Voice of life.

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definitions from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: Voice #5456, phōnē, fo-nay’; a tone:—noise, sound, voice. And from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (1981): “voice” - “a sound”.

In John (Chapters 9 & 10), Jesus alluded to the Pharisees as strangers, thieves, robbers, and hirelings.

Life #24 - An Immortal Destiny

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“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will…“ (Eph. 1:11 NIV).

Jesus invited us to follow him. Eventually, our journey stops in a Garden containing the winepress of God. Here, the strength of our will has an opportunity to die to all of its limitations and fears, even of betrayal and abandonment. Jesus experienced betrayal by one of his disciples; and ultimately, abandonment by his God, as he cried, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Afterwards, he was raised in glory!

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve chose their will over God’s. Are we going to do the same, or, choose the way Jesus did? “Not my will but yours be done”.  If we follow Jesus even in this, then our will—like his—conforms to God’s will. Now, God “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” so that we might “be for the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:11 NIV)!

It is Christ in us, “the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). Only “in him” are we predestined according to God’s plan. The result is that we who live, no longer live for ourselves, but for him (2 Cor. 5:15 NIV).

Our destiny is an immortal one because of whose image we are predestined to transform into (2 Cor. 3:18). We are, after all, saved through his life (Rom. 5:10 NIV).

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.  

Life #23 - To Live "Now" is to Hear His Voice

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Children are taught, or threatened, to listen.  By the time they grow up, they’ve managed to construct an inner schematic that shuts out, or mutes, aggravating noises—mostly adult voices. This selective hearing is the type of schematic Christians erect within ourselves that prevents us from hearing God.

How did we do that? Churched Christians have a difficult time distinguishing God’s voice apart from the church’s voice. Often we convince ourselves that when we do what our church says to do, we’re hearing God’s voice. In the process, we neglect our family’s needs and we negate our own thoughts and feelings, which is Christ in us, until we’ve erroneously muted the voice of God. As a result, our witness of Jesus suffers within our own families and within our own psyches.

Scripture says there are many voices in the world and they all carry meaning (1 Cor. 14:10 KJV). However, Christians have only one Voice we should be listening to because the meaning from that Voice holds significance:

“Most assuredly I say to you,  the hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live” (John 5:25).

If churched Christians are dead because we cannot hear the voice that “now is”—so that we can live today—then how can we expect to hear that same voice at the resurrection, so we can live again?

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.  

Life #22 - Life on Faith's Terms

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A dear friend and brother-in-Christ fell asleep last month. He had thought about Jesus’ promise, “…whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:26 NIV), but the process to mĕtamŏrphŏō into the Lord’s image and to transform his mind (2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 12:2) was going to take time, which our friend did not have. For the rest of us, however, there is still time.

God’s promises come by faith to each of us (Romans 4:16 NIV). And although Jesus gave us the promise of life, like Abraham we receive the promise by works of faith—for faith without works is dead faith (James 2:17). Thus corruption—in the forms of aging, disease, and death—will continue to assault our mortal bodies until the promise of unending life becomes our reality, our Isaac.

Our works of faith are to participate in the Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:3, 4 NIV) and—because of Jesus’ life and godliness—to live by, and keep in step with, the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:13-25 NIV). That’s how we escape the world’s corruption!

Corruption took at least 900+ years to gain the victory over Methuselah (Genesis5:27), but for us the reverse should not take so long. In fact, the mĕtamŏrphŏō process completes itself within our lifetime—all because Jesus abolished death and brought life and incorruption to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:10).

So why aren’t Christians receiving Jesus’ promise that we "will never die"?

Perhaps our hearts are slow to believe.

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.  

Life #21 - A Promise of Life in Two Timelines

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If we are to apprehend life, then we are wise to apprehend all those things that pertain to life. The bible informs us that holiness and righteousness are characteristics that lead to life. A third characteristic is godliness.

“…godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8 KJV).

Yes, godliness holds a promise of life in two timelines.

The first timeline is the present. Zōē-life believers partake of the promise of life “that now is”. We are few, but we’re here. The world laughs at our holiness and derides our godliness, but these characteristics qualify us to boldly apprehend zōē-life "today", "now", "currently", "in the present"—while we are alive—so that whoever lives and believes in Jesus will never die (John 11: 26 NIV).

The second timeline is for the future. The majority of Christians will die because we live to partake of the promise of the life “which is to come”. This means “later”, “not now”, and “in the future”. We all know the promise of that life, called the resurrection of the dead.

Although God is a generous God, much of our Christian walk depends upon how we choose to appropriate faith to access his generosity. Our faith-choice determines the timeline we end up in: to live now and not die; or, to die now and live later.

Godliness holds the promise of life for now or for the future.

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.  

Life #20 - When Religious Beliefs are Assaulted

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“The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe” (John 6:63, 64).

Some who heard Jesus' words did not believe him. It would have been easier to understand 'why' if he was speaking to a crowd of people. But he wasn’t. Sad to say, Jesus was speaking to his very own disciples! They followed him everywhere he went, from daybreak to sunset. They witnessed his miracles first-hand. They were special enough that he shared behind-the-scenes revelations with them that he never shared openly with the crowds. Yet for the disciples, as for Christians today, some teachings will offend because of their inherent mystery (John 6:61).

Offenses occur when we perceive that our religious beliefs are being assaulted. Jesus’ disciples felt that way when he said they had to drink his blood and eat his flesh in order to have life in them (John 6:53-61). Quick to react, the disciples abandoned him. Their reaction was understandable. But given their past history with him, perhaps they should have asked him to explain what he meant before they left.

We are quick to condemn—or flee from—teachings that upset us. That’s probably a good thing because it reveals our limitations as “believers”. Jesus’ teaching on life separated disciple from disciple (John 6:66). Will his promise of life also separate believer from believer?

Our little faith must not waiver when assaults upon our religious beliefs occur, especially by brothers or sisters in Christ who reveal different ways to see time-honored scriptures. After all, to whom shall we go, if the Lord puts spiritual words of life on their lips and in their hearts for us?

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.  

Life #19 - Tangible Life Provisions

Christians worldwide receive communion in the form of a round wafer or piece of bread. We do so to remember what Christ did for us (Luke 22:19).

Jesus spoke about the children of Israel, who ate of the heavenly bread God provided in the desert—yet they still died. Christ compared his body to bread, which also came down from heaven. But this time, his body would serve as God’s heavenly provision to the church—that Christians may have life and not die (John 6:50).

A number of us, however, have received the Lord’s body and blood unworthily (1 Corinthians 11:27-31 NIV):

“For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 11:29, 30 NIV).

The Bread of Life, Jesus, was meant to keep the church in life. But, that provision is dependent upon our self-examination. Thus, the body and blood of the Lord works as a two-edged sword for Christians: we will have life and not die—or get weak, sick, and “fall asleep”. The choice to choose carefully is ours—always.

Yet, life is what God intended for the human race from the very beginning. Although Adam lost it all for us, Jesus restored it. Christ gave us a tangible way to receive his life and not die—through the passing of the cup and the breaking of bread.

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Scripture quotations from King James Version (KJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.  

Life 18 - The Glory of One

pink torch ginger

Jesus gave his followers God’s glory that we might be “one”:

• And the glory which you gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one (John 17:22);

In referencing John 10:30, Vine’s Expository Dictionary defined “one”, hĕis, as the “union and concord” that exists between the Father and the Son. Likewise, the glory Jesus gave us is meant to bring about that same “union and concord” among believers.

“Children”, tĕknŏn, however, often take faith for God’s future glory; so it is unlikely that tĕknŏn will apply the present glory in the here and now. It follows that they will not undergo a change until after death and resurrection.

“Sons”, huiŏs, on the other hand take faith for the present glory, and accompany our faith with works; otherwise, our faith is dead (James 2:17, 26 KJV). Today, among the fellowship of “sons”, the “glory of one” can be seen in operation by our changed conduct, which gives evidence of the dignity of our relationship and likeness to God’s character.

When the “glory of one” is displayed among believers, the world sits up and takes notice. They come to know, recognize, and understand completely that the Father loves them in the same way he loves Jesus (John 17:23).

The Captain of our salvation continues to bring many huiŏs-sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10; 2 Corinthians 3:18) that the world might have a life-saving knowledge of Jesus—not just by our words—but by our deeds!

Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definitions from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible:

• ONE #1520. hĕis, hice; one. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (1981): with respect to John 10:30, metaphorically hĕis stands for “union and concord”);
• CHILD, CHILDREN #5043 - tĕknŏn, tek’-non;
• SON #5207 - huiŏs, hwee-os’;

excerpts from our book to be released next year.  

Life #17 - Future and Present Glory

honeycomb ginger 012

The future “glory” is for all Christians who resurrect from the dead (1 Corinthians 15: 42, 42); while the present “glory” is for all Christians to transform into God’s image (2 Corinthians 3:18).

In Genesis 1:26, God made a people in his image. Though the people ruined the plan, time and failure did not diminish or alter it. Thus, the same glory that mĕtamŏrphŏō, transformed Jesus on the holy mountain (2 Peter 1:17), is the same glory that mĕtamŏrphŏō, transforms believers into God’s image.

• “…we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

“From glory to glory” is the present ministry of the Spirit, of life, and of righteousness. Glory transforms believers into God’s image, so that what remains is more glorious than what is passing away (2 Corinthians 3: 6-11).

Jesus’ death reconciled us to God, but his life saves us (Romans 5:10). Thus, the Son promises to those who die and to those who live: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25, 26).

Being made in his image, we are equipped with his life. Thus, the Son of God insures that we neither frustrate God’s grace nor fall short of God’s glory (Colossians 1:27).

Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definitions from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible:

• Transfigure #3339. mĕtamŏrphŏō, met-am-or-fŏ’-o; from 3326 and 3345; to transform (lit. or fig. “metamorphose”):—change, transfigure, transform.

excerpts from our book to be released next year.

Life #16 - Who are Full-Statured Christians?

There is no other way to accomplish full-stature unless we, the body of Christ, grow up into the Head, which is Christ (Ephesians 4:15 NIV). Full-stature means we are tĕlĕiŏs, complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); of full age.

According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, “children”, tĕknŏn, of God are heirs and joint-heirs with Christ, which stresses the fact of our spiritual birth. On the other hand, “sons”, huiŏs, of God—through our conduct—give evidence of the dignity of our relationship and likeness to God’s character.

All Christians, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, undergo the process of mĕtamŏrphŏō, to transfigure, change, transform. Additionally, Vine states that we undergo a complete change which, under the power of God, will find expression in [our] character and conduct. So, when Jesus mĕtamŏrphŏō on the Mount, could we also say that he changed into the expression in character and conduct of his Father (John 14:10, 24)?

It appears that only “sons”—in Christ there is no male or female (Galatians 3:28) —will stick it out until they are tĕlĕiŏs, complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); of full age. Thus, we can propose that the level of maturity in “sons” differ from the level of maturity in “children”.

The Lord’s image, at its basic level, is life and incorruption—displayed through lives of holiness and righteousness. Has God found these expressions through our own character and conduct? Are we huiŏs? Or tĕknŏn?

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definitions from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: COMPLETE #5046 - tĕlĕiŏs, tel’-i-os; CHILD, CHILDREN #5043 - tĕknŏn, tek’-non; SON #5207 - huiŏs, hwee-os’; TRANSFIGURE #3339 - mĕtamŏrphŏō, met-am-or-fŏ’-o; Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (1981); excerpts from our book to be released next year.  This blog connects with blog Life #12 – Do You Measure Up?

Life # 15 - Life Began as a Chicken

Milo tree

Every living seed carries within itself a blueprint of its fully mature form. In the natural, seed’s fully mature form is a flower, a plant, or a tree. In the spiritual, sin has a fully mature form. It begins with lust, which births sin; when sin is full grown, its fully mature form is death (James 1:14, 15 KJV and NIV). Even the incorruptible seed from which we have been born again, must develop into its fully mature form (1 Peter 1:23). But what form could that be?

Christians are exhorted to 1) get rid of our corrupt self, 2) put on the “new creature” which is created to be like God in holiness and righteousness, and 3) grow up into him, the Head, who is Christ (Ephesians 4:15 NIV). Isn’t it strange that the church stagnates at his “body”, failing to grow up into him, “the Head”? His image is our incorruptible seed’s fully mature form (2 Corinthians 3:18).

As sons, huiŏs, all he accomplished for us—his transfiguration, his death, resurrection, his everlasting zoe-life and incorruption (2 Tim 1:10 NIV)—are ours!

As for the chicken and the egg. The Adamic race began life fully grown. They were not embryos. Not until after sin entered, did Adam and Eve begin their “begetting”—and by implication, so did the rest of God’s original creation. The chicken, and not the egg, redirects us to our fully mature form.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image…” (Genesis 1:26).

Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; this blog addresses Life #4 – To Live is Christ, item 7; excerpts from our book to be released next year.

Life #14 - Faith to Live

• “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God…” (Galatians 2:20 KJV).

“I live by the faith of the Son of God”. Hmm. Other bibles state that we live by “our faith” in the Son of God. Please! Jesus had something to say about our faith and it wasn’t pretty. He called it ‘little’ because little faith succeeds only in calm seas! The disciples quickly learned this distinction when the winds started to blow and the waves covered their boat (Matthew 8:24-26).

So how can we expect our little faith to prevail when the winds of death and the waves of disease begin to shake and overwhelm our earthly tents? If our faith were enough to get us to live and never die, wouldn’t we all be immortal right now? Instead, the opposite is true. Our faith is insufficient and carries with it a pattern of failure.

We are justified by the Lord’s righteousness, washed by his blood, cleansed by his word, quickened by his Spirit, etc. After all he accomplished, does it make any sense to live by our faith—a faith that has failed to walk on water, cast out demons, raise the dead, and accomplish greater works?

To “live and never die” is to make “life unto life” (2 Corinthians 2:16) “by the faith of the Son of God”. Period.

  

Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.  

Life #13 - Two Ways to Love

The Bible records two ways to love.

First is to philĕō—to “love” from the feelings—owing to favorable inclinations. Since most of us easily philĕō, have “tender affection” for anyone or anything that we like, let’s move on.

Second is to agapaō—to “love” from the will—especially when disinclined to do so. To agapaō is difficult because it requires that we love against the current of our intense dislikes, thoughts, and feelings for those whom we have absolutely no philĕō.

That’s because when we love from our will, we love from the mind that is not yet renewed, so it’s going to be difficult to agapaō those we don’t like. Our minds remember how badly “they” treated us, so we pursue emotional supports from others. These social-emotional benefits will gratify us temporarily, but the cost to our freedom is great because our actions show we are held captive by our mind’s mental-emotional pull!

Instead, let’s use every negative situation to work for us:

• Love is patient. (Where are we most impatient?)
• Love is kind. (Are we making cruel remarks about someone behind their backs?)
• Love keeps no record of wrongs. (In families especially, how long is our list?)
• Love always perseveres. (Giving up on ourselves already?)

When we agapaō God, our neighbor, ourselves, our enemies, and the household of believers, then we’ve fulfilled the two great commandments (Matthew 22:37-40).

By the way, agapē-love, not philĕō-love, is required to enter into life (Matthew 19:16, 17).

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definition from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: love-philĕō - #5368; love- agapaō - #25; More agapē-love guidelines can be found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV; Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (1981); excerpts from our book to be released next year.  

Life #12 - Do You Measure Up?

Crown of Thorns 015

To maintain all that we inherit from Jesus, even his zōē-life, we are exhorted to conform to his image (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). His image is that of a full-stature Son—not an infant, a child, or a teenager. When we come “to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”, then we know that the church has grown up “in all things into Him” (Ephesians 4:13, 15).

To be a “perfect” human being is to be tĕlĕiŏs (tel’-i-os), complete in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc; of full age. Even the apostle Paul labored to present us “perfect”, tĕlĕiŏs, complete—and only “in Christ Jesus” can that ever be our reality (Colossians 1:28).

Jesus is the one who “…abolished death and brought life and immortality [incorruption] to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10), so the difficult way which leads to life is to arrive at Christ’s fullness.

·         God planned for it (Romans 8:29).

·         Jesus made it possible, “Follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

·         The Holy Spirit does transforming work in us (2 Corinthians 3:18).

·         We do our part by works of faith as the Spirit and Scripture give guidance.

The way to life is difficult and the Lord admits that few will find it. However, the full statured Christ in us will not fail. If we’re up for the challenge.

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definition from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible – perfect #5046; This blog addresses Life #4 – To Live is Christ, item1; excerpts from our book to be released next year.

Life #11 - Qualities of Life and Incorruption



yellow heliconia 002

Life and incorruption belong to Christians who follow Jesus (John 8:12; Matthew 16:24). If that is true, then our lives should display recognizable qualities evidencing life and incorruption. The obvious ones are righteousness and holiness.

Righteousness contains a life promise upon whose path even death cannot step foot:

• "In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death" (Proverbs 12:28).

Our faith in Christ determines all that we could never be in ourselves (Vine). So, since Jesus met all of God's requirements, the outworking of our inward salvation is to grow up into him because only in him might we become the righteousness of God (Ephesians 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Holiness is a quality that manifests because of a behavior built on incorruption:

• "...but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:15, 16).

Holiness is part of God's divine nature. If we are partakers of that nature, then we have already escaped the corruption that is in this world due to lust (2 Peter 1:4).

Since righteousness is life's path, and holiness negates corruption, let us remove the "old man" which grows corrupt, and put on the new "which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24).

If our life currently displays righteousness and holiness, then we have successfully put on the "new" human being that God created. Congratulations!

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (1981); this blog addresses Life #4 - To Live is Christ, item 2; excerpts from our book to be released next year.

Life #10 - A Song of Freedom

Paddling on dangerous waters, Makapu`u 2011

Perhaps, when Marcus Garvey gave his speech, he may not have realized how closely and wonderfully united a life of Redemption was to the next step, a life of Freedom.

If we are indeed prisoners of our unruly minds’ constructions, then mental health professionals will counsel us to stop construction every time. But, just like running on a treadmill, even that gets exhausting, doesn’t it? 

The alternative is to transform ourselves by “renewing” our “mind” (Romans 12:2). In this verse, “mind” is intellect. To “renew” is to renovate, remodel, repair, restore, mend, and fix up.

Through redemptive mental actions based on love, we begin to make renovations toward how we think and feel about ourselves and others. Forgiveness is a good place to start—and remain—because we all make mistakes! Added to that we re-train the intellect to consciously reflect upon “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Phillippians 4:8 NIV).

Gradually, our mind will form new perceptions and understandings about ourselves and others. Our intellect re-sets to a new standard of feeling, judging, and determining. Now, we think and feel as Jesus did because we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

We are transformed people with renovated intellects. At last, our emancipated minds are free to love, to hope, to have faith. Free to embrace life (John 11:26 NIV). We are a Song of Freedom!

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definition from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: mind - #3563; renew – 341; renewing - #342 This blog addresses Life #4 – To Live is Christ, items 3 and 4; source on Garvey from Wikipedia; excerpts from our book to be released next year.