GRACE BLOGS COLLECTION
We can begin to clearly see Paul’s writings reflect an opposition to the teachings brought forth from some of those that were associated with the church in Jerusalem, where James was considered a leader. The letter written to the Galatians is centered around the freedom both Jew and Gentile have in the New Covenant, and it was a different gospel than what was coming from the Jerusalem church.
Teachers and ministers begin to feel the need to try and explain that there was no disagreement between the two, and that their views simply complimented each other … as both legalistic and grace teachers put their spin on trying to assure people that Paul and James were in perfect harmony. Both guys use Abraham to make their case for justification but even their context from the Old Testament is different. We attempt to bring a different perspective in considering they were not in agreement at all, and yet it takes nothing away from the truth of Jesus.
Following up on last week’s look at Acts Chapter 15, there was great debate among Jewish believers as to whether non-Jewish people (Gentiles) should be required to follow the law of Moses as they were coming to belief in Christ and getting saved. After all, Gentiles had no relationship with that law and now it was presenting a dissension among those who felt the law was still a necessary component with Jesus added to it. James appears to reach a compromise which was accepted between both parties … or was it? We’ll discover the possibility this controversy would continue and the debate between law and grace was just beginning as we look at various passages in the weeks ahead.
The debate was about choosing whether salvation is by grace through faith alone … or whether works of the law needed to be included. In the end, James spoke on behalf of the church board with a surprising change of opinion—or judgment—by saying the Gentiles should not be troubled with keeping the Mosaic law. Although not everyone agreed, the revelation being brought forth was that Gentiles would not be brought into the old way of law, but that Jews were also freed from it. It couldn’t be a grace/law mixture for one group (Jews) and not the other (Gentiles).
As believers, the promise of sharing in the abundant (Zoe) life of God and living in His fullness is a great privilege. It’s not some future goal. It’s reality because we are seated together with Christ in heavenly places.
Jesus said,
“… the person whose ears are open to My words who listens to My message and BELIEVES and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has POSSESSES NOW eternal life….” —John 5:24 (AMP)
“And this is the RECORD that God hath given to us ETERNAL LIFE, and this LIFE is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath LIFE; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have ETERNAL LIFE, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” —John 5:11-13
John assures us that we already have the very life of God.
Peter said,
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Pet. 1:3).
Few things are more frustrating than knowing the promise of abundant life, but experiencing little or none of it daily. To experience it, we must interpret the gospel correctly.
Paul’s prayer gives us insight in Ehesians 3:14-20
“…to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (v. 16).
He emphasizes being empowered from the inside out. The Kingdom of God is inward, and everything God does is through our hearts from the inside out.
Then Paul tells us how God empowers us from the inside out. Paul says,
“…that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (v. 17).
When we receive Christ, He comes and dwells in our hearts, but I also believe he’s saying we should consciously focus our hearts on Christ and Him crucified—to allow Christ to dwell in the deepest, most intimate recesses of our hearts (our belief systems). Paul then says,
“…that ye, being rooted and grounded in love” (v.17).
When we focus on Christ, we discover that we’ve always been the focus of God’s love—an unending, unconditional love. The Kingdom of God is inward, and everything God does is through our hearts from the inside out.
Verse 18 says, “… to comprehend … what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.”
Comprehend means to lay hold of so as to make one’s own. When we focus our attention on Christ, we are able to lay hold of God’s fullness.
Paul says,
“…that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (v. 19).
This happens effortlessly when we focus on Christ and become established in God’s unconditional love. It doesn’t come through effort—only through right believing.
God is the One who is able.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (v. 20).
Able means to have the ability and power to do. It’s the exhaustive power to perform, carry out, fulfill, bring to pass, and produce. It’s not only God’s intention for us to live in His fullness; He will make it happen!
Exceeding abundantly means superior in quantity or excessive. This term is a super superlative— something that is beyond expression.
The idea behind “above all that we ask or think” is to ask for a bucket full, but there’s still an ocean left over. God is able to do what we think, and then over and above! According to the power—miracle working power (ability, energy, and might) of influence, and enablement—that works IN US.
Living the abundant life is the influence of God’s unconditional love working in our hearts. Receive what He did by grace, and realize that His finished work is active in you, right now!
– Arthur
As a believer, you already have the very life of God right here and now! God preplanned for us to have His life from the beginning of time (Eph. 2:10).
Before we were saved, our hearts were established in a belief system based on worldly views, self-effort and performance. But when we accept Jesus, we are regenerated in spirit and in heart!
“A new HEART also will I give you, and a new SPIRIT will I put within you: and I will take away the stony HEART out of your flesh, and I will give you an HEART of flesh.” —Ezekiel 36:26 (KJV)
Something supernatural and spiritual happens IN and TO us; we are recreated in Christ and given a new heart. But unfortunately, many people continue to re-establish their hearts in the same old belief system that they had before.
Proverbs says, that we are to incline our ears to the Word, keep them in the midst of our hearts (Prov. 4:20-27). Why? Because the Word will never be life and health to us unless it works from a believing heart!
Proverbs also tells us our hearts are like the human equivalent of a computer operating system!
“Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts!” —Proverbs 4:23 (MSG)
When the Bible speaks of the heart, it’s talking about our deepest convictions, persuasions, and belief-system.
“For as he (man) thinketh (BELIEVETH) in his heart, so is he….”—Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)
Thinketh means to calculate; to estimate the price or market value.
It’s clear that what we believe, esteem, and value in our hearts determines who and what we are! If a man’s “default” belief system is not correct, he won’t think or function correctly.
God ministers to your spirit through the Holy Spirit. As a believer, you have already been made fully complete and mature in the spirit through Christ— wanting and lacking nothing (Col. 2:8-10). You cannot grow or mature spiritually any more than you are already!
When we accept Jesus, we are regenerated in spirit and in heart!
God has established the five-fold ministry for the perfecting of the saints (Eph. 4:11-13).
Perfecting comes from the root word meaning to mend. Thayer’s defines it as: to render, complete, to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair or to complete and make whole!
The five-fold ministry ministers to the soul of a believer to repair his mind, will, and emotions.
Mark Twain said, “It’s not what you don’t know that’ll kill you. It’s what you know for sure that isn’t true that will kill you.”
Others cannot guard, protect, and minister to your heart for you.
Today, many people have stopped taking responsibility for their own lives, blaming someone or something else for their circumstances. Anytime you blame someone else, you unknowingly sabotage your life and hinder your success.
It’s not so much about what is right or wrong. What’s more important is whether what you are exposing your heart to is going to bring life or death. Only you can guard your heart.
There is a way that seems right, and all things are lawful, but how is it affecting your heart? (1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23)
Throughout Scripture, we find those who were chosen and anointed by God, but because they didn’t guard their hearts, they lost their ministries, kingdoms, and some even their lives!
Guarding your heart is one of the most important things you can do on a daily basis!
Jesus explained that the degree of attention we give to the truth we hear will determine what we get from it (Mk. 4:23-25). He was saying that whatever we listen to and focus on will increase, grow, and multiply in our hearts and lives.
The condition of your heart determines how much you will live and enjoy the abundant life!
Blessings,
Arthur Meintjes
