Life #20 - When Religious Beliefs are Assaulted

Hawaiian Orange

“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.