Thursday, July 4, 2013

Waking Up to the TRUTH

The last couple of days I have been doing what I can do to cause you to think. I want to challenge you in your understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While there are plenty of people who stand in opposition to this approach, I feel it is necessary for us to encounter the TRUTH and to see past the illusions of religion.

Allow me to start you off with a question. I do have to warn you: How you answer the following question will determine the rest of your beliefs.
The Fall of Adam vs The Resurrection of Jesus - which is more powerful?

While most of us would immediately respond that Jesus' resurrection from the dead is much more powerful, the reality is that their beliefs do not correspond to this fact. All one has to do is stop, look, and listen to how many believers live, how they communicate their understanding of the Gospel, and witness the lack of freedom in Christ. I'm not being judgmental, I'm simply giving an honest assessment of what I have experienced in the church for most of my life. It saddens me to think that many believers are not experiencing the abundant life that Jesus died to give.

1 Peter 1:3, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead". I want you to notice that Peter did not say that we received a new birth because of a choice we made. Humanity received a new birth because of a choice that God made. In most religious circles, the idea of Adam's fall is still infecting the way we live our lives. Our lack of understanding into the finished work of Christ (all that was accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection) has kept many enslaved to the idea that we are carrying his old nature. It's just not true.

Think about it: Jesus came as the Last Adam. According to the Bible we were immersed into His death and into His resurrection. This reality reveals to us that all that was in Adam died with Christ, was buried, and a new creation emerged with Him in the resurrection. It was always God's pre-determined plan to place us in Christ. It was the purpose of His coming. However, despite of all the verses that point to this TRUTH, we have continued to carry some bad theology. And this misunderstanding has kept us enslaved to a religious system that seeks to enslave rather than empower.

Jesus became all that we were so that we could become all that He is. The moment we realize that for ourselves is the moment that we will begin to experience the same quality of life that Jesus enjoys. It's a liberating truth. The more you grow in this understanding, the greater the freedom you will walk in.

It is my prayer for you on this Independence Day is that you will encounter the FREEDOM that is yours in Christ. Don't allow religion to take it from you. Never accept a Gospel that is anything less than what God designed it to be: Good News that sets the captive free. This is your day to wake up and to see past the illusions that have been created. It's time for you to shine.

**********************
This will be my last post for several days. It's time for our family vacation. I look forward to being back with you in a few days. Be Blessed & Enjoy the Journey!!!

No comments: