I BELIEVE

"The Working Out Of 

My Salvation"

The above quotation is from a saying which Paul coined in Philippians 2:12.

For me it ties ever so beautifully with the idea of  

continuously "seeking the LORD."

In today's blog, I want to post some additional parameters that I have come to believe.

As an aside, I would encourage you to take an inventory of your Faith...that is take some time to put into writing what you REALLY have come to believe.

What I am about to relay, is in addition to the basic tenets I hold as a follower of YESHUA the MESSIAH.

• I.E. Virgin Birth, death and resurrection, Salvation through JESUS alone, etc.

Let us begin:

• I Believe that HELL is a place for the UNBeliever - John 3:18 & Matthew 12:37

As opposed to the idea of HELL being a destination for the "sinner."  

If that were the case, WE ALL would be condemned to an eternity in HELL.

1 John 2 is NOT suggesting that we will never sin nor that it is possible not to sin.  

If that were the case, HE would be contradicting himself from the earlier verse, and thus making him a liar.

It is generally accepted that John's epistle was directed at thwarting the emergence of "Gnosticism" within the Church.

One school of thought embraced by early Gnoticism was the idea that sin did not exist.

• I Believe that SIN means what it means [both in the Hebrew & Greek] - "to miss the Mark" 

This definition lines up with JESUS' concept of sin; which is FAR more encompassing than the "willful disobedience towards GOD" definition that some have created and seek to ascribe.

• I Believe in preaching INTIMACY over Religiosity - which JESUS himself condemns.

Religiosity boasts of what I can do whereas Intimacy is a humble mindset of  what HE has done for me.  

[It is the Peter versus John mentality]

What is My/Our/Your motivation for following JESUS?

A fear of HELL or a compulsion to Follow HIM because HE first loved me and that only HE can lead me to Eternal Life?
 

I have to ask myself, do people see my relationship with JESUS and say 

"I NEED/WANT THAT!"

or Do I have the opposite effect and act as Spiritual "Bug-spray?"
 

• I Believe that the FATHER saved the best for last, and that the NEW Covenant is a far better Covenant than the Old.

Hebrews 8

• I Believe RIGHT Believing leads to RIGHT living NOT vice versa.

Abraham is a perfect example - Romans 4                        

• I Believe "for by GRACE we have been SAVED through FAITH, and that this is not our own doing - it is the GIFT of GOD, NOT a result of works so that no one may boast. " 

~Ephesians 2:8-9   'nough said!

• I Believe we have yet to see the full effects of the Fruit of GRACE, but we are in fact seeing the Fruit of "mixing new wine with old wineskins" ripening in our generation.

Or to put it more plainly the mixing of OLD Covenant laws with New Covenant principles.
                        

• I Believe in the LAST DAYS knowledge will increase.  Daniel 12:4

This increase in knowledge will affect both the believer and skeptic alike.  

                          

For the believer, it will add a freshness to the way we approach the Scriptures.

Not changing who JESUS was, but allowing for greater clarity and thus deeper intimacy with HIM.

As for the world, their increase in knowledge based primarily on technological advances will serve to only drive them further from the Truth and deeper into despair.

I appreciate you taking the time to read, and please feel free to leave me any comments.

Abundant Grace & Mercy to you,

Jason

The UNFORGIVEABLE Sin

~ A Sin of Disbelief ~

In ALL THREE Gospel Accounts, we read of YESHUA's account of the "unpardonable" sin.

[Matthew 12 : 31 -32 // Mark 3 : 29 // Luke 12 :10]

Seeing that all three gospels found it necessary to record these words of YESHUA, I think it might prove beneficial to study it a little further.

To be sure, some believers get nervous at the mere thought that there could be a "sin" that not even GOD-HIMSELF could forgive.

Hopefully after we are done with this study, you will notice that this is not so much a GOD-issue as it is a human one.

It may be helpful to remember that 

GOD is FOR YOU, 

and HE LOVES YOU 

so do not be fearful of HIS Truth!

Now on to our study . . .

Matthew 12 : 31 -32

[31] Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the SPIRIT will not be forgiven.

• SIN in both the Hebrew and Greek means literally to "miss"
• i.e. to miss the mark - as an arrow misses its target.
• An arrow only needs to be off a fraction to miss its designated target.
• Blasphemy is evil speaking with the intention of "hurting" the reputation of the intended person or thing. 

[32] And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the HOLY SPIRIT will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Why is JESUS so passionate when speaking of the HOLY SPIRIT here?  

And WHO is this HOLY SPIRIT of which HE speaks?

I think once you begin to understand the importance of the HOLY SPIRIT, you will agree that this is the only logical assessment JESUS could have made.

John 14 : 15 - 17 ; 26

[15] If you love ME, you will keep MY commandments. 

[16] And I will ask the FATHER, and HE will give you another ADVOCATE, to be with you forever, 

[17] even the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees HIM nor knows HIM. You know HIM, for HE dwells with you and will be in you.

John 15 : 26

[26] But when the ADVOCATE comes, whom I will send to you from the FATHER, the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, who proceeds from the FATHER, HE will bear witness about ME.

• It is impossible to deny or blaspheme the HOLY SPIRIT and accept JESUS as the Messiah, because one cannot deny the other...they are of the same SPIRIT!

~ IF there is a SPIRIT of TRUTH then there must be a Spirit of Error at work as well ~

1 John 4 : 1 - 6

[1] Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from GOD, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

[2] By this you know the Spirit of GOD: every spirit that confesses that JESUS CHRIST has come in the flesh is from GOD, 

[3] and every spirit that does not confess JESUS is not from GOD. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 

[4] Little children, you are from GOD and have overcome them, for HE who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 

[5] They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.

• The World derives their information through Sensory Processing Or to put it another way via Empirical Data collected through the senses.
• Taste, Touch, Sight, Hearing, Smelling.
• The Epitome of this belief system is ATHEISM
• Seeing is Believing philosophy

[6] We are from God. Whoever knows GOD listens to us; whoever is not from GOD does not listen to us. By this we know the SPIRIT of TRUTH and the spirit of error.

GOD's Process Works Differently

• Believing is Seeing philosophy.
• The HOLY SPIRIT or SPIRIT OF TRUTH is to be the lens through which we view things.
• By seeking a relationship with JESUS the MESSIAH, the SPIRIT of TRUTH resides within us!
• In relationship with HIS WORD - The BIBLE - we can learn to discern what is of the world and what is of HIS Kingdom!

~ Have you been RENEWING and TRANSFORMING your MIND To HIS TRUTH ?

I love the charge of  ROMANS 12 : 2

[2] Do not be conformed to this world, but by being transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of GOD, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

• When you became a believer did you commit to renewing and transforming your mind?
• Are you still being renewed and transformed?

This is not a one and done, check it off your list activity . . . This is a continual process!

Just as you are a work in progress!

Only the HOLY SPIRIT can move a person to a place where they REALIZE they are in NEED of Saving!

You see it is quite simple, actually. . .

A "blasphemous" mind-set towards the HOLY SPIRIT [a.k.a. the SPIRIT OF TRUTH] is one that is SELF-condemning.

In order to be saved you must put on a NEW Mindset - one of FAITH in JESUS!

Be Blessed today!

~Jason
NOtW

What Is The Church?

In Pursuit of Man or the Messiah?

I want to discuss one of the more controversial verses found in the Scriptures.  To be sure, there are many controversial statements buried within our Bible.

For me, it is these very verses that not only add to the legitimacy of the WORD, but also provide the greatest amount of spiritual growth.

Let's take a look at Matthew 16 : 13 -18

As a side note, Caesarea Philippi was very hostile territory. Let's be honest, nearly every territory was hostile towards JESUS and HIS disciples - even JESUS' hometown wasn't exactly a picture of acceptance.  It was a Roman City that basked in the worship of Baal and Pan.



13 When JESUS came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

   Let me ask you . . .

• What do men say about JESUS?  Who do they say HE is?  
• What is your experience with sharing/discussing JESUS...at home or at work?  
• KEY : What are you hearing and how does that affect your view of HIM? 

14 And they said, Some [say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.

• All of these individuals played a part in ushering in or heralding the Coming Messiah - JESUS.
• Part of me has to wonder, if they were simply telling JESUS what they thought he wanted to hear.
• To be sure, the Pharisees and Sadducees were not as "kind" in their descriptions. 

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

Here's the kicker . . .

• BUT "Who do  Y O U  say that I am?
• So who do YOU say that HE is?  
• Are you letting those around you influence your understanding of HIM?
• More importantly JESUS wants to know what your understanding of HIM is!

In hostile environments, even hostile times [and I believe these are certainly hostile times] WE as HIS followers NEED to be absolutely sure of who HE is!

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living GOD.

Here is the right answer!

• JESUS is not only the Christ or Messiah - literally "anointed one" BUT HE is also or equally the SON of the Living GOD ! ! !

17 And JESUS answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my FATHER which is in heaven.

• It was the HOLY SPIRIT at work here...revealing to Simon this very TRUTH.
• Interestingly enough it is this very declaration in Acts 2:22-47 that brought people to salvation!
• Focus on the message not the messenger - does it point to JESUS?
• Note 3000 thousand souls were saved that day! 
• And some would say the "Church" blossomed that day : )

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build MY Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

A lesson in Greek Grammar

• Peter here in the Greek is PETROS - it means rock.  Grammatically it is Masculine.
• Strong's Greek #4074
• This rock [which JESUS is referring to] is PETRA - it means a literal rock as in a rock foundation.  Grammatically it is Feminine; therefore it CANNOT be referring to Peter himself or literally.
• Strong's Greek #4073.
• It can however refer to the declaration that Peter made about JESUS - that HE is not only the Messiah but also the SON of the LIVING GOD!

Now for the obvious . . .

• Who is promising to build the Church?  JESUS said HE will build it!  Not Peter!

A side note of the "Church"

• We get Church from the Greek word "EKKLAYSEIA"
• Strong's Greek #1577
• In a literal sense it means an assembly of people "who are called out"

So it is not what is the Church, but WHO is the Church . . . ? 

It is YOU and I declaring JESUS ! ! !

The purpose of the CHURCH is quite simple

TO KNOW JESUS and to make HIM KNOWN

Funny how simple things become when we keep our eyes on HIM . . .

in the midst of controversy there is Peace!

I found this video and it says in 2 minutes what would probably take me 2 hours to explain . . . enjoy

"click on What is the Church"

What is the Church ?

May you be Blessed and encouraged by this teaching!

JESUS really does LOVE you . . . HIS Church!