tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52009225519746976112024-03-05T03:59:00.474-05:00Loved by God, Loving OthersTo party is life. To perform is death.Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.comBlogger426125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-30881401487441766862019-02-28T12:52:00.000-05:002019-02-28T12:52:13.382-05:00The Good News of Living in God's Kingdom There are so many assumptions people make & so ma<span class="text_exposed_show">ny
assume the existence of paradigms that aren't there. You can rarely
fruitfully discuss with someone who refuses to consider things outside
of the paradigms (& doctrines) they believe in. People's paradigms
are their perceptions of reality. Challenging someone's paradigm is like
saying to them, "We've actually been living on Mars this whole time."
It is a Truman Show/The Matrix scenario.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
Jesus challenged people's perception of reality because He had to, He
changed reality!<br />
<br />
God offers us a new reality in the Spirit realm in a
relationship with Him. It is a reality where there is no favoritism, everyone is equally loved. The very word that is
mistranslated as "repent" actually means to "change your mind." God
challenges us to change our minds about what is "real." Jesus said,
"Change your minds about what is real. The kingdom of heaven is here in
your midst." His kingdom is not of this world, it is of the spirit
world. It is a kingdom we are born into to participate in just as we
were born into the kingdom of this world. It is a spiritual kingdom that
we can "walk in" if we "set our minds on the things of the Spirit."<br />
<br />
The opposite of walking in the spirit is to cling onto this world by
holding onto our identity as "in the flesh" & the consciousness of
sin. If you think "we won't be perfect or free from sin until we reach
heaven" you are setting your mind on the wrong kingdom, the flesh based
kingdom of "the world."<br />
<br />
Sadly the majority of Christians choose
to walk almost exclusively in the wrong kingdom. Why? Because they
haven't heard the "good news of the kingdom." The main news they've
heard is that God loves you sometimes, He'll try to help keep you acting
straight, & you get to go to heaven when you die.<br />
<br />
Jesus proclaimed
"the good news of the kingdom of God." How often have you heard that
good news, that there is a new kingdom to live in & you get to hang
with the king all the time?</div>
Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-44744792339893828652018-04-24T09:30:00.001-04:002018-04-24T09:30:15.225-04:00"You can't serve God & money" was said to the poor.<br />
"“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."<br /><i>(Always see what the therefore is there for)</i>.<br />THEREFORE I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?<br />
...<br />
<span class="text Matt-6-31" id="en-NIV-23314"><span class="woj">So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’</span></span><span class="text Matt-6-32" id="en-NIV-23315"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-6-33" id="en-NIV-23316"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-6-34" id="en-NIV-23317"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.</span></span>" <br />
<br />
Interesting that when Jesus said you cannot serve two masters he was talking to poor people about not worrying about money because God would provide for them. He wasn't talking only to rich people seeking more & more as we are always taught.<br />
<br /> “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."<br />If you're poor & serve money & God you'll hate money & love God, & you'll be devoted to God but hate money (because you always have to think about it & try to get more because you legitimately are always on the edge of not not having enough). Worry. You have it as a master because you depend on it. You can still serve money while not loving it!Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-38653834688025451512015-11-14T11:16:00.001-05:002016-08-11T23:35:31.918-04:00Jesus' Victory Over SinMost think of sin as actions. Stealing is a sin, etc. But sin is not
the actions themselves but the tally of those actions. A sin is a record
of a negative action. Sins are scores & statistics that are kept.
Sin is defined in both Hebrew & Greek as "a missing of the mark as
in an archery contest."<br />
<br />
2 Corinthians 5:19 says God is no longer
charging anyone with sins. That means God is no longer keeping score.
Jesus took away the sin of the world, meaning the score card, the record
book. So people can still steal & lie, etc. but those things are no
longer defined as sin because the game is over & Jesus has won for
everyone! Because He won for everyone it was just for Him to throw
away the record book. The consequence of the game was that the winner
gets life & the loser gets death. Jesus just wants people to join in
His victory party so they may live.<br />
<br />
Do people still do bad
things? Yes. Do people still sin? Only if someone other than God is
keeping score. You do have the option to charge yourself with sin &
feel like a loser or charge others with sin & make them feel like
losers.<br />
<br />
Adam lost the game for all mankind thus dooming their
flesh & spirit to death. Jesus took Adam's place in the rematch
& won eternal life for the spirit. One consequence for losing the
first game still stands, death in the flesh for all. Since we ourselves
didn't win & Jesus stepped in & won life for us we have to join
in His victory party to receive life for our spirits. "Anyone who comes
to God must trust that he exists and that He rewards those who seek
Him." So getting saved is saying, "Hey Jesus where's the party? Auooo!"
Remember the father threw a party for the prodigal son & angels
party when someone is saved. "The Kingdom of God is at Hand" aka "It's
Party Time!"<br />
<br />
Game 1: Adam vs. The Serpent<br />
Winner: The Serpent<br />
Losers: Adam & all mankind after him<br />
Stakes: The winner got control of the world. The loser dies physically & spiritually.<br />
<br />
Exhibition Game: God's People, The Jews vs. The Law<br />
Purpose: To exhibit, by keeping score, that mankind, on their own, cannot win back what Adam lost.<br />
Winners: Those who realized the purpose of the exhibition<br />
Losers: Those who defected to The Law's team<br />
Notes: The only time in history score was being kept by God was while
the law was in effect. Romans 4:15 says, "Where there is no law there is
no sin." Romans 5:13 says, "Sin is not charged when there is no law."
The law was the opponent, Colossians 2:14 & Ephesians 2:15 say the
law was "against mankind" and "stood opposed to mankind."<br />
<br />
Game 2: Jesus vs. The Serpent<br />
Winners: Jesus & whoever wants to join in His victory party<br />
Loser: Satan<br />
Stakes: The winner can spiritually resurrect losers of the first game
& give them eternal life in the spirit. The winner also regains
control of the world when He desires to. The loser suffers forever.<br />
<br />
Results for mankind of the 2 Games<br />
Mankind can live forever in the spirit because of Jesus' victory if they join in His victory party.<br />
Mankind still dies in the flesh because of Adam's loss.<br />
Losers of the first game can still die spiritually in what is called "the 2nd death" if they never join in Jesus' victory party.<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><i>Clarification on what sin is. </i></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Hebrew words tend to have one meaning but many applications. For example the word iniquity means twistedness. It can refer to
a twisted personality/heart, twisted actions, guilt because of twisted
actions, or punishment for twistedness. I presume sin is the same way.
We typically know sin as: a spiritual condition, a fleshly condition,
& sinful actions. I believe sin is also the record of those actions
(as well as the burden/guilt/shame from those actions).<br /><br />Scripture
says, Christ took away the sins of the world WHEN He came in the flesh
BY the sacrifice of Himself. He has already taken them away. We know
people still perform actions that we would call sin & we know people
still carry the condition(s) of sin. So the sense of sin that Jesus
TOOK AWAY for THE WORLD is the record of sins. 2 Corinthians 5:19 says
God is no longer charging anyone with sins (recording anyone's sins)
& He has reconciled the world to Himself.<br /><br />The
word forgive in the bible does not mean "to stop being mad" or "to
accept an apology." It is another word that means "take away." When you
are experientially "forgiven" as you are when you are first saved (described in 1 John 1:9) God takes away the condition of sin from your spirit &
you are given a new spirit/identity. He also removes the
burdens/guilt/shame of sin, at least in the moment before you are
tricked into believing it is still there by thinking God still charges
you with sin. I remember feeling the burdens of sin months & months
before I got saved & I remember feeling Him removed those burdens
when I got saved.<br /><br />God did take away the record of sins for everyone so there is no barrier to keep mankind from approaching God. God
never takes away the actions of sin because that would mean He would
override people's freewill. But because He no longer charges people with
sin, He no longer identifies actions as sin.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><br />God can't take away the condition of sin in the
flesh because of the fall & the flesh is destined to die, though
through the willful renewing of the mind the condition can be improved.</span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><br />God
will take away the condition of sin in the spirit from those who trust
(have faith in) Him. He will separate them spiritually & in their
identity from sin & the flesh, freeing or delivering them from sin.
Thus they, in their identity, their spirit, are not able to produce
sinful actions (1 John 3:6,9).<br /><br />God still deals the
people's actions. He isn't blind to helping us but He holds nothing we
do against us. He only wants to work things to people's good. God is not
keeping score. The game/war is over. God doesn't care about your
performance, He only cares about your person. He knows that your actions
can harm your person. Remember he is our "Father" & our "Wonderful Counselor." <br /><br />The actions of sin point to
the condition of sin which points to God as the solution. The good news
is God is not counting your actions of sin against you & He is
willing to remove the condition from your spirit by giving you a new
everlasting spirit.</span></span>Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-83276306690268478002015-10-26T11:28:00.001-04:002015-10-26T11:28:21.146-04:00Meanings of Fear & ShameHebrew letters started as pictographs where each letter was a
picture. Those pictures can give us insight into what Hebrew words mean.<br />
<br />
The Hebrew word for shame (or ashamed) is represented by 3 letters
picturing family, security, & destruction. Shame is "family security
destroyed." Adam was a "son of God," and his shame destroyed the
security he had felt with God. "The man and his wife were both naked,
but they were not ashamed" (Genesis 2:25). Their family security was not
d<span class="text_exposed_show">estroyed before the fall with God or
each other. Shame also carries the idea of fear. Adam said in Genesis 3:10,
"I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I
hid."</span><br />
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
The Hebrew word for
fear is represented by 3 letters picturing work, man, & strength.
Fear then is "work by man's strength." The first occurrence of fear in
the bible has Adam & Eve picking fig leaves to cover their selves.
Fear causes you to try to cover yourself by your works whether you need to or not.<br />
<br />
These are some deep messages from God in only six letters!<br />
<br />
<span data-reactid=".1h.1:5.1:$comment10151308582824319_28783514/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".1h.1:5.1:$comment10151308582824319_28783514/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" data-reactid=".1h.1:5.1:$comment10151308582824319_28783514/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".1h.1:5.1:$comment10151308582824319_28783514/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2.$comment-body.0.0"><span data-reactid=".1h.1:5.1:$comment10151308582824319_28783514/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2.$comment-body.0.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">Each
letter can have multiple meanings or synonyms. The positive fear of God
would take the same letters & symbolize hand, head, & leader.
God's Right Hand, the Head of the Assembly, Our One Leader Christ.</span><br data-reactid=".1h.1:5.1:$comment10151308582824319_28783514/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2.$comment-body.0.0.$end/=1$text1/=010" /><br data-reactid=".1h.1:5.1:$comment10151308582824319_28783514/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2.$comment-body.0.0.$end/=1$text3/=010" /><span data-reactid=".1h.1:5.1:$comment10151308582824319_28783514/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2.$comment-body.0.0.$end/=1$text4/=010">The literal meaning of the Hebrew word transl</span></span><span data-reactid=".1h.1:5.1:$comment10151308582824319_28783514/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".1h.1:5.1:$comment10151308582824319_28783514/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".1h.1:5.1:$comment10151308582824319_28783514/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.2.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">ated
fear is a "flowing of the gut," which can be applied to "fear" or
"awe." Have you ever been so scared or been in the presence of
something so amazing that you could feel it in your gut? This "feeling"
is the meaning of this word. The bad feeling of fear makes you try to
compensate for whatever you are feeling badly about. The good feeling of
fear (awe) makes you stand still in awe, to where you can't do
anything but focus on Jesus who is God's Right Hand, the Head of the
Assembly, & Our One Leader!</span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-59009825515326858812015-10-24T21:06:00.001-04:002016-05-09T22:41:12.283-04:00The Humble God of Rest<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Most Altar Calls:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
"You're in
danger of hell. Repeat this prayer after me.."</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Equivalent to</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
"The plane is
going down. Take this Jesus parachute.."</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
"Now that
you've prayed that prayer here is what God wants you to do/here is how you can
get involved in our church/etc."</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Equivalent to</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
"Now that
you've got your Jesus parachute go fly the plane & save everyone
else.."</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Jesus' invitation to
mankind was an invitation for Him to give us rest. Most altar calls stop
offering you grace before the prayer is even over. "Here's the gift, now
God wants you to get to work!" No time for rest. Jesus often told people
he healed to not tell others what he had done. We need time to soak in the
cure, to rest & be loved by Him, to learn His love for us by experiencing
it. Scripture never calls us "God's missionaries" it calls us
"God's children." Children aren't forced to work 3 seconds after they
are born, likewise God's children as they are reborn are not commissioned by
God to work but invited by Him to rest.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Jesus also described
himself as "gentle & humble." For many God is rarely seen as
gentle. Someone who needs to forgive all the time because he is perpetually
offended & angry is not gentle. Even rarer & in opposition to all religion
is a God who is humble. God is pictured as doing everything "for His own
glory" & we are supposed to do likewise. Jesus who perfectly
represents Our Father is humble, humble in His heart. God's mindset is not
works based, sin based, or ego based. Yet He has been taught to be all of those
things to the uttermost where almost all He thinks about is people's works
& sins & how much he should be praised.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So if we view God as
ungentle & unhumble we will not be able to rest. How could anyone rest
thinking there is a harsh conceited egomaniac "lording" over them
24/7? If you are put off by me opposing the idea that the purpose of everything
is to bring God glory consider that "Love is not self-seeking" &
"God is love." </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Here are some things
you cannot rest with:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Shame</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Guilt</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The need to be
repeatedly forgiven</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The call to
constantly work or grow or improve or act "right"</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The idea that sin
has any power over you</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The pressure to
"get out of your comfort zone"</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The command to be
holy or perfect </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The pressure or
responsibility to change or save or evangelize the world</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The idea that you
have to constantly gain your Father's approval</div>
Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-77256904740004720802015-07-17T20:08:00.001-04:002015-07-17T20:08:07.630-04:00The Fruit of the Spirit: God's Fruits<br />
The fruits of the Spirit are fruits that God produces. He is the Spirit & His character will not contradict His Spirit's fruits.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you ever feel like God doesn't love you He is not the source of that feeling.<br />
<br />
God will never make you feel unloved by Him.<br />
God will never decrease your joy. God is never the reason you lack joy. <br />
God will never decrease your peace. God is never the reason you lack peace.<br />
God will never be impatient with you nor will He cause you to become impatient.<br />
God will always be kind & good to you.<br />
God will always be trustworthy & loyal & faithful to you.<br />
God will always be gentle & compassionate towards you. He will always be considerate, sympathetic, & empathetic. <br />
God will always control Himself. He will never lash out at you. God will not seek to control or manipulate you.<br />
<br />
You are believing something false about God or yourself or others if you feel God Himself does not live up to the fruits of the Spirit in His relationship with you.Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-37527793962065293222015-07-17T20:03:00.002-04:002015-07-17T20:03:53.154-04:00Our Father's Love Decides our Infinite WorthIf you see human worth as a matter of behavior or works you are looking through the eyes of sin. Human worth is determined by our Father in heaven. His love is not based on conditions we meet or fail to meet. You are worthy & you are deserving because your Father says so. Never look down upon yourself & talk about how undeserving or unworthy you are of God's love, grace, or salvation.<br /><br />No good parent wants their child to think they are unworthy of their parent's love. No good father or mother who saves their child's life wants their child to think, "I didn't deserve to be saved." God is the most loving parent of all. If we who are parents don't base our ultimate love for our children on their behavior why would we possibly think God does?Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-20939687297743998042015-05-22T16:01:00.000-04:002015-05-22T16:01:13.290-04:00No ButsI still haven't come across a bible verse that says, "God is love AND.." or God is love BUT.." I've heard plenty of people say it though.<br />
<br />
"God is love BUT God is also just."<br />
The words just & righteous in the bible are translated from the same word. Righteousness is defined by love. There is no but there.<br />
<br />
"God is love BUT God is also holy."<br />
What typically follows this statement are reasons why God is not loving or holy. As if holiness is a pass on love. They will say, "A Holy God must punish sin." But the bible says, "Love keeps no record of wrongs" (1 Corinthians 13:5) & "God does not count the world's sins against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19).<br />
<br />
<br />
In their minds God's offer is this, "I love you BUT I hate sin so much that I need you to apologize to me for all of your sins. If you don't I will not forgive you & I will torture you FOREVER." They'll also say that 1 sin is worthy of eternal punishment by God. I can forgive someone of something without them even having to apologize to me by coming & asking for my forgiveness. But "HOLY" God cannot. He is so "good" & "righteous" & "holy" that he has to punish you FOREVER if you don't apologize to him. A good man wouldn't kill someone for not apologizing. This idea makes God out to be worst than a rapist. God says, "I love you." But if you don't say it back he kills you. That is one of the most loveless things imaginable.<br />
<br />
But that is the "gospel" most Christians spread. "God loves you but he also hates you" or "God loves you but He hates sin EVEN MORE than He loves you." This supposed gospel's message is "HATE TRUMPS LOVE." In softer words, "your actions mean more to God than YOU as a person." Its message is God offers to "save" you from HIMSELF. In it God says, "Ask me for forgiveness or I'll burn you forever," "Love me back or die," "Agree to be my servant or suffer the endless consequences."<br />
<br />
So to them God's holiness is defined as "God cares more about what people do than about the people themselves." That is how holy people live right? That is how God wants us to live right? To judge & shame & condemn & look down upon people.. oh & to torture them or murder them. That is how Christianity has played out for hundreds of years, killing & shunning & shaming & bossing.<br />
<br />
Sadly for many people it is more important for them to feel like they've been right all along than it is for them to care an ounce about their idea of God not even remotely resembling basic love.<br />
<br />
<br />The truth is God doesn't save you from Himself, Jesus didn't save you from the Father. What sense would that make? What kind of good news is "God loves you by saving you from his hatred of you." Even if He saves you who wants to spend time with someone who wants to kill you to begin with?<br />
<br />
God will never forgive you because God is love & He never kept a record of your wrongs in the first place. The word "forgive" in the bible has been mistranslated. It actually means God takes away your burdens & the weight sin has pressed upon you. It has nothing to do with a "holy" God being angry & needing an apology from us.<br />
<br />
All these people seeking to "glorify God" by spreading the false gospel of "God is love but.." & the false gospel of forgiveness have been suckered into believing God is the greatest monster ever imagined yet claiming all of his monstrosities are actually his holiness.<br />
<br />
"What a sorrow it is for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that
dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is
bitter" (Isaiah 5:20). And yes I've felt that sorrow & know many who have & still do feel the sorrow caused by believing in a false idea of God. One that we are forced to believe is good & holy because we've been told "the bible says.." But there is no "but" after "God is love."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="p"></span>Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-24469715242339933252015-05-03T22:55:00.002-04:002015-05-03T22:55:56.028-04:00Infinite LoveWe've likely heard, "There is nothing you can do to cause God to love you any more than He already does—and there is nothing that will cause God to love you any less."<br />Let's unfold that.<br /><br />This is no way God will love you any less. Why? Because His love is pure love, real love, unconditional love.<br />His love is not based on what you have done or what you could do. His love is the perfect version of a parent's love for their child, a parent's love for their adopted child, a sibling's love for their siblings, a friend's love for their friends. You & Your Father's love for you are inseparable.<br /><br />There is no way God can love you any more. Why? Because He loves you an infinite amount. <br />Jesus Himself said that God your Father loves you as much as He loves Jesus and Jesus loves you as much as the Father loves Him (John 17:23,15:9). That is an infinite amount. An amount beyond "amount." Ephesians 3:19 tells us that God's love surpasses all knowledge. That means if you literally knew everything about everything all of that knowledge would seem minuscule compared to the unlimited love God has for you, YES YOU!Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-1678256202021428502014-12-24T00:10:00.000-05:002014-12-24T00:13:51.658-05:00I was quoted in a bookI was quoted as one of 23 identified "modern grace teachers" in Michael L. Brown's book <i>Hyper-Grace: Exposing the Dangers of the Modern Grace Message</i> released January 2014. I found out about this over Thanksgiving & yes I am very thankful for it. I still stand by the 3 quotes of mine that he quotes (originally from my post <a href="http://love-god-love-others.blogspot.com/2013/02/hyper-grace-is-true.html">"Hyper-Grace" is True!</a>, February 19, 2013). I feel like God allowed 3 short megaton bombs of truth in a book that speaks against the fullness of God's grace.<br />
<br />
Here I am being addressed on page 229 (footnotes included).<br />
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<br />
I said, "God is not blind to how the deeds of my flesh affect myself & others." After quoting this he then claims my concept carries the idea of, "God, You know that wasn't really me. It was just my flesh!" So I would like to be clearer.<br />
<br />
Scripture teaches SELF-control. If our selves were bad, wretched, evil, or even our flesh God would not have told us to have self-control. Our selves, as the scriptures I cited above teach, are our spirits. Ephesians 4:24 says that our new self/man/creation/spirit has been created in God’s image & is truly righteous and holy. SELF-control is SPIRIT-control. Our spirits take responsibility for our flesh's actions. <br />
<br />
In my post, <a href="http://love-god-love-others.blogspot.com/2012/10/our-new-creation-in-christ-sin.html" target="_blank">Our New Creation in Christ & sin</a> from October 4, 2012 I wrote,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The love of the spirit, through renewed parts of the
mind, takes responsibility for the unloving actions caused by the flesh
& makes amends with the parties harmed.<br />
<br />
Our spiritual identity in Christ isn't a false excuse to
"get off the hook" for how we behave. It is our reborn identity
perfectly loved by God that, given the opportunity, flows out only good
things. It is our true self, our eternal self. It is not self-centered
nor does it make excuses for the flesh's behavior. It is one spirit
with God (1 Corinthians 6:17 & Ephesians 4:4). It is God living in
us, & with us, & through us. I will accept nothing less than
the identity I know I was born into by the Spirit of God. I am not a
sinner. I am perfected forever. I am perfect as my Father in heaven is
perfect. I am one with God because He wanted to love me & I let
Him. The fact that nothing can separate you from His love means you are
already in His love. Absolutely nothing ever stands between you &
His love. Trust Him & let Him love you as He wants to love you. </blockquote>
I noticed that Mr. Brown said it was a "dangerous concept" to separate your actions from your identity. Which to me pictures God putting us "on the hook" when we misbehave. But that is not our Father. No good father is "dangerous" to his children. God is not looking to accuse us. Satan is the accuser, not our Father. If we feel like we even want to make excuses for something we've done we aren't understanding our Father & His love for us. Why would you want to pass the buck or make excuses or weasel out of something unless you fear punishment or abandonment or shame?<br />
<br />
So I wasn't saying "here's my excuse to not take responsibility for how I treat myself & others." I'm really not sure why that is the conclusion that so many jump to. But I am also not on board with the idea of a Father we'd want to make excuses to being our true heavenly Father. If we have any trepidations regarding relating to God we are believing a lie about Him. Our true Father, in His perfect love, is never someone we'd want to avoid, His perfect love for us never inspires fear.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you feel like it you can check out the book <i>The Hyper-Grace Gospel: A Response to Michael Brown and Those Opposed to the Modern Grace Message</i> by Paul Ellis.Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-53256663637494774182014-11-13T13:05:00.000-05:002015-05-25T09:57:14.557-04:00Doctrine Trouble<span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$text0:0">Very few things people claim are true are explicitly stated in scripture in a single context.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$text0:0"> </span><br data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$text1:0" /><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$text2:0">"Look
Jesus said this mysterious thing at the end of a parable & Paul
briefly mentioned something that sorta sounded like it had something to
do with what Jesus was talking about & bam! Now we have a doctrine
that we can write 100s of books about & that we must hang our lives
upon."</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$text2:0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text0:0">Even the idea of having doctrines is shady.</span><br data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text1:0" /><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end:0:$text2:0">"Here
is some prepackaged truth that makes you feel like you should get
closer to God but in all practically prevents you from relating to Him
because Jesus is The Truth means the truth is Jesus! You have no </span></span><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text0:0">use in knowing the Father. Just learn crap & try hard so you can feel better about yourself."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823129117709913:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$text2:0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text0:0"> </span><br data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text1:0" /><span data-reactid=".2.1:4:1:$comment823128957709929_823134854376006:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$text2:0">Jesus
didn't hire scribes to write books for Him. Jesus wasn't coming to give
us another religion of how to get to God. Jesus' message was
essentially, "God our Father loves you. Trust me so you can experience
His love from my Spirit." It was "Know God & his love for free!" It
wasn't study & serve & strive to know God.</span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span>Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-80249257494939254402014-10-31T11:03:00.000-04:002014-10-31T11:07:54.360-04:00More Father than LordIn the old testament God's personal name is replaced with the word "LORD." In the new testament the culture no longer said God's name but used the word "lord" in place of His name.<br />
<br />
Jesus used the word Lord when quoting scripture or when quoting other people. But on His own if He ever referred to God as "lord" he would say His Father is the "lord of.." something. Jesus said in Matthew 11:5, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth."<br />
<br />
Some have claimed that the only time Jesus called His Father "God" was on the cross while He felt forsaken. That is only true of the direct prayers of Jesus to God, though He does call His Father "the only true God" in a prayer in John 17. However Jesus calls His Father "God" many times while speaking to others. But He does not call His Father "Lord" in this same way.<br />
<br />
Jesus wasn't referring to God as "Lord" nor did He teach people to pray to Him as "Lord." "The Lord's Prayer" doesn't even have the word lord in it, there God is called "Our Father." Perhaps this is because scripture would refer to Jesus as Our Lord. Acts 2:36 says, "God has made Jesus Lord & Christ."<br />
<br />
It is clear that Jesus wasn't out to paint God as a demanding authoritarian lord, master, ruler, sovereign, boss, commander, controller, etc. Jesus came to reveal God as Our Father. But not just as a father but as a better father than anyone on earth, one who freely gives His very own Spirit to live within us (Luke 11:13), & who loves us as much as possible (John 15:9 & 17:23).<br />
<br />
In John 17:26 Jesus said the reason He came to earth, what His mission towards all mankind is, "To make My Father's character known so that the same love My Father has for Me may be shown to be the same love He has for all of you. I have come so My Father's love for you & My love for you may be in you, known by you, & experienced by you."Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-49661747474394076592014-10-20T11:05:00.001-04:002014-10-20T11:05:34.768-04:00Why We Can't Earn ItA father can deem his children worthy of gifts either because of works they do or simply because he loves them. Does an infant "deserve" his or her parents' love? The parents think so!<br /><br />Likewise everyone deserves to be saved because God loves the whole world & is not judging the world by sin or works or law. Jesus took away the sins of the world. The reason people cannot earn salvation is not because they fall short of keeping commands. The reason salvation cannot be earned is because God will not accept payment for it. It is a gift!<br /><br />You can reject His gift but the gift has already been bought for you, waiting to be unwrapped. WE DO DESERVE GOD'S LOVE but we can never earn God's love because love doesn't demand payment. God doesn't need to be bribed to love, His love is already there.<br />
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"For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD..."Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-57697932764160002482014-10-17T23:43:00.000-04:002014-10-17T23:43:12.759-04:00Jesus Paid?People always talk about Jesus "paying" for our sins but the words payment, pay, paid, & pays aren't used directly in scripture with any regard to Jesus, the cross, or salvation.<br /><br /><b>Ransom</b><br />The language of "ransom" is found a few times in scripture. Ransom could regard buying someone from slavery. Romans 6:20 says, Before we trusted Jesus, "we were slaves of sin." Hosea 13:14 says, "Shall I ransom them from the power of the grave? Shall I redeem them from death?" The word redeem is sometimes translated as ransom & can also mean "buy back." Jesus "paid a ransom" to accomplish what was needed for our freedom. He bought us back from sin & death & the power of the grave.<br /><br />There is no language in scripture regarding the Father demanding to be paid. God is love & love does not demand His own way. God rescued us from being reaped by sin & death. The Father did not demand we die unless He was paid. God does not desire to be paid a sacrifice (Psalm 40:6, 51:16). Jesus was not a sacrifice to a "holy god" because that god needed to be "appeased" to withhold "wrath." Jesus sacrificed Himself, He "laid down His life for His friends" like someone taking a bullet for you. He "condemned sin in His body on the cross" & "destroyed death and brought life & immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Timothy 1:10). And of course you don't pay a ransom to a loving father or a loving friend.<br /><br /><b>Bought with a Price</b><br />There are 2 verses that talk about us being "bought with a price."<br /><br />"You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men" (1Co 7:23). This uses language of Jesus buying us out of slavery.<br /><br />"You are not your own. For you have been bought with a price" (1Co 6:20). Here it talks about us becoming one Spirit with God & how our bodies are "members of Christ." We are "not our own," not in the sense the God bought us to dominate us as our master, but because we are part of a greater whole, the body of Christ & the Holy Spirit of God.<br /><br />By "price" I assume it means that Jesus suffered intensely to free us from sin & to defeat death to give us eternal life. But it could also be translated in both places as, "You have been bought with honor."<br /><br />Bought from who? Most would say from the Father. That Jesus paid the price that the Father demanded for sin. And the only price good enough for the Father was the blood & death of His perfect Son. That paints the Father as the most despicable & the sickest father ever. Nowhere in scripture have I found the idea of God demanding "payment" for sin/disobedience. We were not bought from a father demanding payment as if none of this had to do with love. This wasn't about making an irritable God feel better & cool off. Again Hosea 13:14 says God buys us from the power of the grave.<br /><br /><b>Appeasement</b><br />The idea of appeasement holds that God saved us from Himself making him double minded. God didn't want to curse us, sin/law/Satan/shame wanted to curse us. I hold that God as love "doesn't take into account wrongs suffered" therefore the cross wasn't about God saving man from his own wrath/judgment/anger but from the powers of sin & death.<br /><br />The Father did not demand we die unless He was paid. Love does not demand payment. God does not desire to be paid a sacrifice. In Psalm 40 & Hebrews 10 God said that He took no pleasure in sacrifices & offerings & in fact He did not desire them. <br /><br />Jesus wasn't a substitution in the sense that God demanded a sacrifice or in the sense that God wanted to do to us what Jesus suffered. But He did take our place in suffering under sin as sin desired we suffer.<br /><br /><b>Atonement</b><br />Our idea of atonement is "making amends for wrong" but the Hebrew word atonement means "to cover" & we know that Christ took our sins away on the cross rather than just covering them. Do a bible search and see that "atonement" is never related to Jesus in the New Testament.<br /><br />In the old covenant there was a "sin offering." It wasn't an offering to God to appease Him. Instead it was an offering toward sin (the devil) to keep him from killing people because of sin. Satan had the power of death (Hebrews 2:12-15), the power to kill anyone he wanted to. Jews had to give sin offerings to protect themselves from Satan, not from God. God is always about life & saving lives.<br /><br />Those sacrifices "covered" sin. Why did sin need to be covered? Because Satan demanded payment for sin, which is death. Covering sin threw Satan off the scent of people's sin (notice OT offerings had scents). In Psalm 40 & Hebrews 10 God said that He took no pleasure in sacrifices & offerings & in fact He did not desire them. That means they weren't for Him. Hebrews 10 says sacrifices could not clean people from sin & that it was impossible for them to "take away sins." If you can't get clean & you have a scent then you must cover up the scent. Satan is described as a lion seeking to devour. While it is easier for lions to hunt by sight & sound they can also hunt by smell. Thus someone who had sinned but was not openly sinning at the moment still "smelled" like sin. God wanted to take sin away so people could be clean & perfect. He eventually did so with Jesus' sacrifice.<br /><br /><b>Let Freedom Ring</b><br />Interestingly these words:<br />Redeem, forgive, ransom, redemption, save, free, deliverance<br />all have the potential meanings of:<br />Set free, save, deliver, rescue, release, liberate<br /><br />Perhaps God was using a lot of synonyms for the same thing to get a strong point across but we've translated them by their dissimilar meanings.Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-8893185876783541322014-10-17T11:08:00.001-04:002014-10-17T11:08:52.016-04:00Meanings of Words Translated from Hebrew PictographsHebrew letters started as pictographs where each letter was a picture. From these pictographs we discover hidden messages & meanings of Hebrew words. Below are some words & those meanings.<br /><br />Love: "The Father breathes His family."<br />Life: "Look, for the separation I give two bloody hands."<br />Knowledge: "The man with arms raised is The Way. See Him on a cross."<br />Good: "Surrounded by security & nailed together as one family."<br />Evil: "The head twisted."<br />Die: "blood, nail, cross" or "Blood secures covenant."<br />Man/Adam: "Learn about The Door's blood."<br />Jesus (Yeshua): "Look & know the two nailed hands."<br />Covet: "Outside is unknown weakness."<br />Day: "Hand, nail, blood"<br />Word/Speaking: "The entrance inside a person's head."<br />Forgive (Lift Up): "The Father picks off the sin that has grabbed you & yokes you with Himself."<br />
<br />Elohiym is the Hebrew word translated to God. Here are 3 translations of the Hebrew pictographs of that word. <br />"For power, protection, & security look at the bloody hand."<br />"The Father's yoke adds breath, His work is massive!"<br />"The Father yokes & ties together, behold His mighty work." Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-55846322634697726362014-10-17T11:00:00.000-04:002014-10-17T11:00:37.310-04:00Wisdom AND Understanding"The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. But get no wisdom without also getting understanding alongside it." (Proverbs 4:7)<br /><br />We've sought knowledge without wisdom & wisdom without understanding. Understanding is not something you can get from a book. Understanding is something you can only get from another person's heart. "Knowledge temporarily inflates, but what love builds lasts a lifetime."Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-61717098520155794332014-10-17T10:42:00.000-04:002014-10-17T10:42:32.543-04:00To party is life. To perform is death.
<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Jesus is our savior,
our liberator. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2
Corinthians 3:17). Our victory doesn't come from trying to obtain or abstain it
only comes from trusting in the victory Christ has already won, what He has
already obtained for us. "The victory that overcomes the world is made
evident through our faith, our trust in Christ's victory" (1 John 5:4). </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
To PERFORM (try to
obtain the victory that Christ has already won) leads to death (living by the
flesh & the letter). Instead we are to trust in Jesus, to believe in His
finished work, in His victory. When we do that we are celebrating in His
victory PARTY.</div>
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So to party is to
trust in Jesus & rejoice in Jesus, which is walking by the Spirit. To
perform is to walk by the flesh.</div>
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"The mind set
on the flesh is DEATH, but the mind set on the Spirit is LIFE and peace"
(Romans 8:6)</div>
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This page has my
posts that speak more about this: <a href="http://love-god-love-others.blogspot.com/p/jesus-victory-party.html">Jesus' Victory Party</a></div>
Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-76740045766544940222014-10-17T10:40:00.000-04:002014-10-17T10:40:12.883-04:00The Real Reason We Can't Earn Righteousness
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"If a law had
been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come
by the law." (Galatians 3:21)</div>
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The reason you can't
earn righteousness has nothing to do with your failure to behave perfectly. The
reason you can't earn righteousness is because God doesn't demand payment. He
only seeks to give freely.</div>
Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-88689005742846257002014-10-17T10:23:00.000-04:002014-10-17T10:23:59.002-04:00Good Does Not Need Evil
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Love isn't the
"lesser evil" that you only appreciate when you experience greater
evil. Love & goodness can stand alone. Light does not need darkness.</div>
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Do I need to harm my
child or expose her to evil things in order for her to appreciate my love &
affection? Of course not. Love is good, & obviously good, regardless of if
there is evil.</div>
Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-76759687798803155462014-10-17T09:59:00.003-04:002014-10-17T09:59:32.450-04:00God The Holy Punisher?We get it wrong right from the start saying, "God is holy so He must punish sin." Most take holy to mean good, moral, righteous.<br /><br />Does a good man punish those who offend him?<br />Does a moral man have to kill someone to satisfy his anger (wrath) so he can be able to forgive others?<br />Does a righteous man get so offended at his children that he kills his oldest to diffuse his anger so he won't kill all of his kids?<br /><br />The problem is God has been painted foremost as a judge, not as a Father. Jesus came to show us the FATHER!Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-244604682333107722014-10-17T09:43:00.001-04:002014-10-17T09:51:38.185-04:00The Depths of His ForgivenessI heard someone say they were able to forgive people who abused them as a child because of Jesus' amazing forgiveness for us.<br />
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That sounds amazing until you think that "depth of forgiveness" implies depth of hurt. If Jesus' forgiveness is so amazing that pictures Him being as hurt by our sins as we would be by someone who abused us as a child.<br />
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That is a petty, sad, sick picture of Jesus. It claims that the littlest thing we would do to Him, who we cannot even see, hurts Him so deeply in His holiness that it is as if we'd raped Him repeatedly.<br />
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That just makes Him out to be a self-centered drama queen idiot, at best! Which of course the real Jesus is not. <br />
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2
Corinthians 5:19 says, "God no longer holds the world's sins against
them." God is love & 1 Corinthians 13:5 says, "Love does not take into
account wrongs suffered."<br />
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Learn more about the real biblical meaning of forgiveness from this post: <a href="http://love-god-love-others.blogspot.com/2013/05/god-never-forgave-you.html">God NEVER Forgave You</a> <br />
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<br />Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-19365042388459966812014-10-17T09:37:00.001-04:002014-10-17T09:37:57.820-04:00Better than the Right Hand"Whoever trusts in me HAS VICTORY OVER SIN & DEATH, he will not be hurt by the second death. I will grant to him to sit down WITH ME on My throne, as I also was victorious and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Revelation 2:11, 3:21).<br /><br />Jesus doesn't have a "he sits at my right hand, he sits at my left hand, but the rest of you sit over there" mentality as some thought he would. We all get to sit on His throne WITH Him!!Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-26388793495113100192014-10-11T22:26:00.002-04:002014-10-11T22:26:23.362-04:00What is Grace? Is it merely enough or is it more?People love quoting, "God's grace is sufficient." Sufficient means "enough; adequate." The Old Testament word that closest resembles grace is lovingkindness. God introduced himself to Moses by saying, "The Lord God is abounding in lovingkindness." Abounding means overflowing, so great it is more than we need. So yeah His grace is enough but it is at the same time far more than enough. It is "beyond all we could ask for or imagine."<br />
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So when I hear God's grace is "enough" or His grace is "sufficient" it makes me think "Life sure sucks & is brutally hard but God will help me barely squeeze by." In my mind, in today's word, to the common man, saying God's grace is "enough" or is "sufficient" doesn't picture the abundant life Jesus said we'd have.<br /><br />So I don't care if it is a "quote from scripture." In today's language it makes grace sound like living paycheck to paycheck instead of basking in the abundant riches in Christ Jesus. For some of us that is the grace we've bought into, the kind that makes life barely tolerable, the kind that is at least better than what we believed in before, the kind that still leaves us feeling poor & broken. Grace is far more than "just getting by."<br />
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"Grace" comes off as some over spewed empty & vague religious word. It also comes off as some disconnected impersonal power of God. But grace.. what grace really is.. Grace is God's fatherhood. Grace is your Father's endless & perfect love for you.<br />
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Jesus never said the word grace. Jesus said in John 17:26 that His mission, the reason He came to earth was to "make My Father's character known so that people can have the same love My Father has for Me in them." Jesus came so that YOU could experience our Father's love to the same extent that He does.<br />
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Grace is your Father's love for you. There is nothing more & it is nothing less.Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-50315453526865731102014-10-08T14:53:00.000-04:002014-10-08T14:53:56.091-04:00The Bible Tells us What God says to Mankind on Judgment DayRomans 14:10-12 says, "For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God”<br />
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<br />Where is that written? In Isaiah 45. Paul reveals that what God said in Isaiah 45 is in fact God's speech to mankind on judgment day. Here is God's speech in full.<br />
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<br /><i>“Thus says the Lord, who created the heavens, “I am the Lord, and there is none else. I have not spoken in secret, I, the Lord, speak righteousness, Declaring things that are upright. Gather yourselves and come; Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations. They have no knowledge, Who carry about their wooden idol and pray to a god who cannot save. Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. They will say of Me, ‘Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength."</i><br />
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<br />God gives "all the ends of the earth" one final chance to "turn to Him & be saved."<br />
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Read more about this in these posts<br />
<a href="http://love-god-love-others.blogspot.com/2012/10/eternal-torment-annihilation-ultimate.html">Eternal Torment, Annihilation, Ultimate Reconciliation? How about a little of each?</a> <br />
<a href="http://love-god-love-others.blogspot.com/2012/11/second-chances-why-god-killed.html">Second Chances & Why God Killed</a><br />
<a href="http://love-god-love-others.blogspot.com/2013/04/come-choose-life-live.html">Come! Choose Life & Live!</a> Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5200922551974697611.post-73028862502286677002014-08-18T11:49:00.000-04:002014-08-18T11:49:10.685-04:00The New Testament Focuses more on Righteous Identity than Righteous BehaviorThere are 33 Verses in the New Testament that tell us WE ARE RIGHTEOUS, that we have righteousness.<br />There are 13 verses in the New Testament that tell us to behave righteously. With five of those reminding us that we are already righteous.<br /><br />"God gives us righteousness regardless of our works. We are blessed! The Lord will never charge us with sin!" (from Romans 4:6-8)<br /><br />We pursue righteous deeds because our spirits produce the fruit of love. We do not do righteous things to become righteous or to "get right with God." We are already & irrevocably both! We are new creations. We are born of the Holy Spirit. As Hebrews 12:23 says, "We are the Spirits of righteous people made perfect!" Michael Reyeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415153325107878247noreply@blogger.com0