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First Corinthians Chapter One
1.This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes.
2. I am writing to God’s church in Corinth,to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
Colossians Chapter One
1.This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
2. We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. May God our Father give you grace and peace.
3. We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people,
5. which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
6. This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
7. You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf.
8. He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
9. So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
10. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
11. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,
12. always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.
13. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
14. who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
15. Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16. for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see,
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
17. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
18. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body.
He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
19. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,
20. and through him God reconciled everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
21. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.
22. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body.
*As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. 23. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. *
Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.
As I was reading this chapter over and over today I realized just how far we are from the original message of the good news in Christ. The early church understood that they were redeemed and they were perfect in God's sight. Holy and blameless without a single fault. How did we fall so far from this message?
I know at least a dozen times a week I hear someone say “oh we are just dirty sinners saved by grace.” What an insult that is to the blood of Christ. If he is God, and he is, and he gave his life and poured out his blood to save you and you still think you are just a dirty sinner then you don't think much of what was paid for you. This is a lie and it is false humility. Did Christ pour out his precious blood so you could be a better sinner?
As I was reading this chapter over and over today I realized just how far we are from the original message of the good news in Christ. The early church understood that they were redeemed and they were perfect in God's sight. Holy and blameless without a single fault. How did we fall so far from this message?
I know at least a dozen times a week I hear someone say “oh we are just dirty sinners saved by grace.” What an insult that is to the blood of Christ. If he is God, and he is, and he gave his life and poured out his blood to save you and you still think you are just a dirty sinner then you don't think much of what was paid for you. This is a lie and it is false humility. Did Christ pour out his precious blood so you could be a better sinner?
This lie is also an excuse to live a sinful life because we assume we are powerless to live holy. We are made holy by the blood of Christ and just need to learn to live in the holiness he provided. We are not sinners, we are holy people learning to put sin far behind us and stop the old habits of sin.
I believe this is the crisis in the church. We don't know who we are. We don't know that we are not trying to obtain perfection, we are starting there and learning to live in it. As long as we hear the lie and we don't believe the true message then we will never learn to live as Christ lives.
We were washed in the perfect blood of Christ and we were once and for all perfected in the spirit and in Father's eyes we are just as perfect as Christ. If we only didn't have lying preachers always telling us different. Being a dirty sinner is not good news. Being born again in the image of God and in the likeness of his son is Great News!
Isn't it strange how believers will tell you they have been born again and then tell you they are dirty sinners saved by grace. So you were washed in the perfect blood and baptized into Christ and you were raised in him and you are still a dirty sinner? So what was the point of believing if nothing changed? Once again, did Christ die to make you a better sinner? Did he redeem you from sin or didn't he?
It's time we preach the good news again. You have been born again in the image of the risen Christ. We don't have to become that by works and struggling. We are that by the new birth. All that is necessary is to learn who we are and learn how to live as who we are and put away this identity crisis.
We as a church have been kidnapped by religion and led to believe we are no different than anyone else. This is why we are powerless. We have believed a powerless gospel. We have believed the lies the religious leaders tell us that we are hated in our Father's eyes and that the best we can do is live a pure life so we can appease his anger. This is so wrong.
I believe this is the crisis in the church. We don't know who we are. We don't know that we are not trying to obtain perfection, we are starting there and learning to live in it. As long as we hear the lie and we don't believe the true message then we will never learn to live as Christ lives.
We were washed in the perfect blood of Christ and we were once and for all perfected in the spirit and in Father's eyes we are just as perfect as Christ. If we only didn't have lying preachers always telling us different. Being a dirty sinner is not good news. Being born again in the image of God and in the likeness of his son is Great News!
Isn't it strange how believers will tell you they have been born again and then tell you they are dirty sinners saved by grace. So you were washed in the perfect blood and baptized into Christ and you were raised in him and you are still a dirty sinner? So what was the point of believing if nothing changed? Once again, did Christ die to make you a better sinner? Did he redeem you from sin or didn't he?
It's time we preach the good news again. You have been born again in the image of the risen Christ. We don't have to become that by works and struggling. We are that by the new birth. All that is necessary is to learn who we are and learn how to live as who we are and put away this identity crisis.
We as a church have been kidnapped by religion and led to believe we are no different than anyone else. This is why we are powerless. We have believed a powerless gospel. We have believed the lies the religious leaders tell us that we are hated in our Father's eyes and that the best we can do is live a pure life so we can appease his anger. This is so wrong.
Here is the truth. For God so loved the world he sent his son. While we were yet sinners God loved us and sent his son to save us. This is not the work of an angry God. It the the work of a loving Father who loved his children so much he had not choice but to give all he had to save us. While we were his enemy he loved us and saved us.
It's time to wake up. We were adopted into the family of God. We are his beloved children. We don't need to be re-adopted. We don't suddenly get thrown out of the family each time we make a mistake. We need to wake up and grow up. Remember the scripture we read above that Paul wrote to the Corinthians? Do we not all agree that they had some issues but they were still called holy. Holy is not what you do it is what you became by the blood of Christ. It is how Holy Spirit lives in you.
I don't have to struggle and strive and try to live holy. Holy Spirit came to live in me to make me holy. Holy Spirit came to lead and guide us into all truth. The truth is that if you believe and are born again then you have been translated from darkness to light. You are no longer a citizen of this world but a citizen of heaven and a child of God. You are holy because you were born into holiness.
By believing the lies of the enemy that we are just sinners we have lived up to what we believe. If you kidnapped the baby of a king and you told him that he was a poor, useless person who has no inheritance and no family name to live up to then he would grow up to be what he was raised to be. You could tell him that he came from a long line of sinners and thieves and immoral people so that he would never expect to be anything else. He would never live out his royalty because he didn't know who he really was.
This is what religion has done to the church. They want to stand between us and God when scripture plainly says that there is only one mediator between mankind and God and that is Christ.
It's time to wake up. We were adopted into the family of God. We are his beloved children. We don't need to be re-adopted. We don't suddenly get thrown out of the family each time we make a mistake. We need to wake up and grow up. Remember the scripture we read above that Paul wrote to the Corinthians? Do we not all agree that they had some issues but they were still called holy. Holy is not what you do it is what you became by the blood of Christ. It is how Holy Spirit lives in you.
I don't have to struggle and strive and try to live holy. Holy Spirit came to live in me to make me holy. Holy Spirit came to lead and guide us into all truth. The truth is that if you believe and are born again then you have been translated from darkness to light. You are no longer a citizen of this world but a citizen of heaven and a child of God. You are holy because you were born into holiness.
By believing the lies of the enemy that we are just sinners we have lived up to what we believe. If you kidnapped the baby of a king and you told him that he was a poor, useless person who has no inheritance and no family name to live up to then he would grow up to be what he was raised to be. You could tell him that he came from a long line of sinners and thieves and immoral people so that he would never expect to be anything else. He would never live out his royalty because he didn't know who he really was.
This is what religion has done to the church. They want to stand between us and God when scripture plainly says that there is only one mediator between mankind and God and that is Christ.
They tell us that we are sinners and say things like “you know brother, no one is perfect.” “One day when we get to heaven we will all be perfect.”Well that is not what my bible says. It says we were sanctified, justified and glorified already. We are accepted in the beloved. Not only that, but it says that we were chosen to be in Christ before the world was created. We are not poor orphans and we are not accidents. We are God's children on purpose because of his will.
The scripture plainly tells us that we are what we believe we are in our hearts. It plainly says. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” This is why religion has told us how terrible we are and how useless we are to heaven. They want us to believe that lie because when we believe the truth we will grow up into our head which is Christ. When that happens we will have no use for religion anymore.
Once we awaken to who we are and why we are here then things will change. No more living like we are accidents. We will carry out the mission and plan of God just by being who we are. Jesus said “my Father in me does all the works.” So it's not striving and trying to be good that produces good works. It's just Father's nature empowered by his Spirit coming out of us naturally. Once you realize you are a good tree then you will bear good fruit.
Once we awaken to the fact that we were born into perfection we will live in it. It's not something we have to attain. We started with perfection and are headed towards glory. I am not a sinner trying to become righteous. I am a righteous man learning to stay righteous in a sinful world.
I am not trying to get clean, I was born clean. I was given a great white robe of Christ's righteousness to wear and I am keeping it clean through fellowship with him. This is what it says in First John Chapter One. It's by walking in the light of who we are and walking with each other in the truth of who we are that keeps the spots off our robe. As we walk in light together the blood of Christ keeps our robe spotless. I don't try to hide my mistakes from him. I run to him and he reminds of who I really am and I shake the lies of sin out of my life like shaking dust off my robe.
At church we sing the old song “Just as I am” and tell sinners to come to God just as they are. Then we tell them they better change because God hates the way they are. No wonder the world doesn't want anything to do with the church. We are schizophrenic. Which is it? I am washed in the blood or a dirty sinner. Can't be both at once. If any man be in Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away and all things are new. So how can we be in Christ and yet be sinners? This is how we put sin out of our lives. We realize that that old life is not who we are and we no longer want any part of it.
My beloved brothers and sisters we have to choose. Do we believe the gospel or don't we? The true gospel of Christ has not lost it's glory. It's still the best news ever. The problem is that it has become mixed in with all manner of paganism and worldly beliefs. We must once again believe the truth. I was crucified with Christ but I am alive. He lives in me. My old man died on that cross with him and I was raised to newness of life. The dirty sinner died that day and a holy man came out of that tomb with Christ. We are in him. He is in us. We are children of God and it's time we believed the truth and lived the truth. We can put off the old man because that man is dead. He is not alive and fighting with us. He is dead and should be left in the grave.
Here is the truth from Romans Chapter Eight:
29. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified
All these things are in the past tense. This is who we are. We are not dirty sinners. We are beloved children. We are children chosen of God to bring forth glory to him in the earth. We must believe this truth and hold on to it. Don't be defined by what religion tells you. Be who God made you to be. Be holy, be righteous, be justified, sanctified, glorified. Be the beloved children of God that you are and lets fill the earth with the glory of our God and his Christ.
This is what our savior died for and rose again for. Not so that we could be struggling sinners, but so that we could be glorious children who demonstrate his loving-kindness to all that are lost. Then they will want to be adopted also.
The scripture plainly tells us that we are what we believe we are in our hearts. It plainly says. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” This is why religion has told us how terrible we are and how useless we are to heaven. They want us to believe that lie because when we believe the truth we will grow up into our head which is Christ. When that happens we will have no use for religion anymore.
Once we awaken to who we are and why we are here then things will change. No more living like we are accidents. We will carry out the mission and plan of God just by being who we are. Jesus said “my Father in me does all the works.” So it's not striving and trying to be good that produces good works. It's just Father's nature empowered by his Spirit coming out of us naturally. Once you realize you are a good tree then you will bear good fruit.
Once we awaken to the fact that we were born into perfection we will live in it. It's not something we have to attain. We started with perfection and are headed towards glory. I am not a sinner trying to become righteous. I am a righteous man learning to stay righteous in a sinful world.
I am not trying to get clean, I was born clean. I was given a great white robe of Christ's righteousness to wear and I am keeping it clean through fellowship with him. This is what it says in First John Chapter One. It's by walking in the light of who we are and walking with each other in the truth of who we are that keeps the spots off our robe. As we walk in light together the blood of Christ keeps our robe spotless. I don't try to hide my mistakes from him. I run to him and he reminds of who I really am and I shake the lies of sin out of my life like shaking dust off my robe.
At church we sing the old song “Just as I am” and tell sinners to come to God just as they are. Then we tell them they better change because God hates the way they are. No wonder the world doesn't want anything to do with the church. We are schizophrenic. Which is it? I am washed in the blood or a dirty sinner. Can't be both at once. If any man be in Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away and all things are new. So how can we be in Christ and yet be sinners? This is how we put sin out of our lives. We realize that that old life is not who we are and we no longer want any part of it.
My beloved brothers and sisters we have to choose. Do we believe the gospel or don't we? The true gospel of Christ has not lost it's glory. It's still the best news ever. The problem is that it has become mixed in with all manner of paganism and worldly beliefs. We must once again believe the truth. I was crucified with Christ but I am alive. He lives in me. My old man died on that cross with him and I was raised to newness of life. The dirty sinner died that day and a holy man came out of that tomb with Christ. We are in him. He is in us. We are children of God and it's time we believed the truth and lived the truth. We can put off the old man because that man is dead. He is not alive and fighting with us. He is dead and should be left in the grave.
Here is the truth from Romans Chapter Eight:
29. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified
All these things are in the past tense. This is who we are. We are not dirty sinners. We are beloved children. We are children chosen of God to bring forth glory to him in the earth. We must believe this truth and hold on to it. Don't be defined by what religion tells you. Be who God made you to be. Be holy, be righteous, be justified, sanctified, glorified. Be the beloved children of God that you are and lets fill the earth with the glory of our God and his Christ.
This is what our savior died for and rose again for. Not so that we could be struggling sinners, but so that we could be glorious children who demonstrate his loving-kindness to all that are lost. Then they will want to be adopted also.
Listen to Holy Spirit giving witness to your spirit that you are a loved child of God. Live in his love. Love with his love and be who he made you to be. God is love and you are created in his image. Live like it. Don't try to live in your own holiness. Accept the holiness he provides as a free gift of his love and walk in it. He is our righteousness, he is our life. He is our everything and we are his beloved.
Remember to live in love and love on purpose. You are precious in his sight. You are holy and righteous and blameless. You are perfect because he made you that way. Wake up to who you are and wake others up also. Arise and shine for your light has already come.
Thank you for hearing with your heart. Be blessed and thanks to all of you for your prayers and your kind words. It is truly a delight to share this journey with each of you.
I hope you are encouraged by these words.
Until next time,
Grow Rich in His Grace,
I love you all,
michael
Remember to live in love and love on purpose. You are precious in his sight. You are holy and righteous and blameless. You are perfect because he made you that way. Wake up to who you are and wake others up also. Arise and shine for your light has already come.
Thank you for hearing with your heart. Be blessed and thanks to all of you for your prayers and your kind words. It is truly a delight to share this journey with each of you.
I hope you are encouraged by these words.
Until next time,
Grow Rich in His Grace,
I love you all,
michael
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