What do we tell the unsaved?

 

Do we preach grace or law to the unsaved?

Wayne's World...(17May09)

"Good Works" vs "Works"

 

Wayne Duncan

 

 

The bible talks about works in a positive and a negative light.

 

How do we know which is which.

 

Ephesians 2 :10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

And...

 

Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

 

So what are the works that are useless filthy rags, and which acts (works), are "good works"?

 

If Christ has good works prepared for me, to walk in, then the new nature that resides in me wants to walk in those good works.

 

God has prepared things for me to do, to see, to taste and to feel. I want to walk in them.

 

Even that desire to do good works is as a result of grace, which is God working in me. It's God Himself working in me. The transformed spirit working with the power of the living residing Holy Spirit

 

Phil 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure ESV

 

13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose NIV

 

 

There is a natural desire in the hearts and spirits of born again believers. We became new creation upon conversion, that new creation loves God. That new creation loves to serve God, to be obedient to God, to do for God, to will and to act.

 

Four points from Phil 2:13

 

1)      The work in us is a work of grace. It's God working in us. We can claim nothing of ourselves. Any desire or work we have is as a result of His work in us. That's why we're His workmanship.

 

2)      We will. We desire. We want. What do we will and desire and want? We want to do His will. He creates that will.

 

3)      We want to work for God. He creates that work in and through us.

 

4)      The will and work that is present, and that results is pleasurable to God.

 

 

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. ESV

 

14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good NIV

 

Grace is a powerful force, it teaches us.

 

Jesus has purified us, now zeal rises up to do what he wants us to do. It's because were pure that desire is birthed!

 

I want to say that this is a very powerful force with in us. It's the type of dealing in our hearts and spirits that can cause some real substance within us. It could look like radical obedience. It could produce faithfulness. It could release a commitment to a cause that is staggering. What makes a person lay down their lives as an act of commitment? When the motive is pure, the work is good.

 

So why the bad rap?

 

Works has become a swearword in the church today. And for good reason.

 

Here are some of the reasons:

 

It's got to do with earning.

 

Legalism teaches that if I do these works, then God will love me more. The truth is that there is nothing that I can do to make god love me more or less.

 

Legalism teaches that the more works I do the more mature I am. The truth is maturity comes with an understanding about the gift of righteousness, and exposure to others gifts, and by the ministry of the spirit.

 

Legalism teaches that if I do works, I can earn favor with God.

 

Legalism teaches that if I do works I can manipulate God into blessing me or answering my prayers.

 

Legalism says…you must work. Take must pleasure…have to be zealous…be eager, do do do.

 

Legalism says "where are your works, are you doing enough, you must do more"

 

Any attempt to earn Gods favor, a reward, a blessing, love, acceptance, reputation, self righteousness etc will make the work a "work" instead of a "good work".

 

When we work for righteousness it is a dead work, or a work that is a filthy rag ofr it denies the work of christ, the only legal calim to righteousness.

 

Can you see the difference? "Good works" flow from a healthy desire to do what you feel you want to do. That want comes from heaven. It's who you are, expressing it's self. It's what gives you the deep conviction to carry on even when it gets tough. It's what empowers and inspires you to keep on until the "good work" is finished.

 

Who I am as a result of His powerful work in me, as a result of His divine workmanship, says..

 

I take pleasure, I want to, I am passionate, I am zealous and I am eager.

 

Look at what Paul said about His driving passion that helped Him endure persecution and torture, stoning and whipping

 

1 Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

 

Ephesians 2 :10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

God has prepared things for every one of us to do. Even if you think you're doing nothing, that's fine, for your still loved, accepted, and righteous. BUT know this you're being prepared, you have been prepared! "Good works" are part of who you are.

 

There is a God given grace inside you just busting to get out! How beautiful it will be, it will be a God pleasing "Good work".

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wayne's World...(10May09)

We were made to be loved!

Wayne Duncan 

Our eternity will be spent in the glory environment of our God. We cannot conceive the splendor of it. There will be no night as the light and life of God Himself will fill all of heaven. The angelic hosts worshipping, all the redeemed celebrating and living in the eternal inheritance. Our wildest imaginations cannot perceive what God has prepared for those who love Him. 

There is an aspect of heaven often passed over. The Glory of God is who he is. All eternity will consist of the experience of who God is. One of the aspects of who God is...is this. God is love. As true as it is that we will spend all eternity beholding the king of Glory, equally we will spend all eternity being loved, and literally seeing and feeling the love of mighty God.  

He will lavish His love on us in supernatural outpouring and demonstrations. We will undoubtedly know that we are loved! 

Well that's a wonderful thought, but what about today? The future hope of Glory does strengthen me, and help me today, in no small way but there is more. 

Look at this quote from John Piper's book God is the Gospel…pg 31 (the gospel-the biblical scope and meaning)

"The Holy Spirit is the down payment, a guarantee of the fullness of joy we will know in the perfected fellowship with the father and son in the age to come (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5). What makes the gospel good news is the end enjoyment of the glory of God in Christ. The Holy Spirit provides the present experience of that enjoyment. Therefore the promise of the spirit in the Gospel is what makes it good news." 

What a stunning picture of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1 says the Holy Spirit is the down payment guaranteeing the full inheritance.  BUT we get to get the deposit now! We get to taste some of heaven on earth through the experience of the Holy Spirit. A bit of heaven on earth. The realm of heaven invading this realm. 

One of the ways the Holy Spirit produces this joy in us, us by convicting and convincing us that we are loved and accecpted. He literally convinces and convicts us to believe we are right with God. This positions our hearts to experience the love of God in an unhindered manner.

Jesus went through great measures to show His love for us. He left the father, and was faithful to death, to demonstrate His love to us.

The father Gave His only son for pain, punishment and separation, so we could know we are loved.

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?  

God gave Jesus, as a demonstration, that there is no limit to what He will do to show us love.

1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are

The bible uses the strongest example know to man to describe His love for us. He speaks of theyoung powerful love of loves expecting marriage….a bride and groom..

He tells us that he has lavished love on us, and loves us like children. 

God has done everything possible to demonstrate, explain and prove His lover for us…but there is more.

There is revelation and experience.

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family(Or fatherhood)  in heaven and on earth is named, 16that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith - that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

God wants you to know His love for you. Not for us, as true as that is, but for you!

He loves you. Knowing this, beyond knowledge will effect and change you in many ways. His love strengthens us, washes us, encourages us. It brings heaven to earth.

More than this could be said, but what I want to do is move out the way, and let the Holy Spirit come and do what he does, and be who He is. As we worship God, let Him love you, and show you His great love. We don't have to wait for heaven to begin experiencing some of heaven!

 Romans 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

 

 

 

Fire Festival

Fire Festival 2009

 

When:              29th-30th May

Where:            Gracelife Church will be hosting the event. (Gracelife meets at St Georges - See directions at the bottom)

 

Last year's Fire Festival was hosted by Coastlands Church in Port Edward, and it was a stunning event. God came amongst us wonderfully, there was such a demonstration of His Goodness and power. We saw so many healings as He came and loved us. Cancer was healed, backs were healed, limbs grew; there were just so many miracles. Some people received gold teeth, and there was a generous outpouring of sparkles and Gold dust. The Father was showing off multiple dimensions of His Glory and Grace. Signs and wonders! Some meeting went on for hours as we enjoyed His manifest presence amongst us.

This year we will focus on understanding, receiving and releasing the presence of God, by pointing to what Christ has done to make our inheritance freely available to all who believe in Him.

Ant and Les Redman will be joining us again. They lead a Northway Church, and both release the realities of heaven in a very real way. They carry a prophetic gifting that follows the leading of the spirit, and results in edifying the body and individuals in many ways.

Wayne Duncan leads Coastlands Christian Church and ministers with signs following, and equips believers to see who they are as a result of what Christ has done for, and to, them. His heart is to see every believer come into a deeper revelation of their inheritance through the finished work of the Cross.

We'll also have Brad Dearlove joining us. Brad is from Dubai, and preaches the kingdom message with a demonstration of power. In the last year he has seen many people healed of cancer, the dead raised as well as dozens of Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims come to faith in Jesus.

Michelle Bass, Craig Glenn and Dylan Lottering are all anointed worship leaders. They will be assisting in our worship times.

Many different Churches will be attending the Fire Festival, and all churches are welcome. The goal is to equip believers and leaders to operate in the anointing, and to "preach the Gospel with signs following", and "not just with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of power".

Were believing for miracles, were believing for demonstrations of power, were believing for Glory encounters, were believing for break through, were believing for deliverance, were believing for healings…were believing that God wants to do these thing more and more, and that this is freely available to believers  through the finished work of the cross!

We believe that in Christ every believer has the inheritance of wholeness in every area of life. This will be a time of revelation of who we are in Christ, and how this positions us for the fullness of life now and forevermore!

 

Programme (as the Spirit leads J).

29th Friday Night                      6:30pm onwards         Session 1

30th Saturday Morning             9:00am-1:00pm           Session 2

30th Saturday Night                 6:00pm onwards         Session 3

 

For further information contact:

 

Wayne Duncan            084 616 3295 or mail duncansportedward@telkomsa.net

Ant Redman                    074 140 1247 or mail antredman@telkomsa.net

Craig Glenn                    082 870 3888 or mail craigglen@telkomsa.net

 

For a you-tube clip of last years Fire Festival see:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxBa3BmUhNk

 

 

Directions to Gracelife:

 

From Edwin Swales, take a left into Bluff Rd.
Follow bluff Rd up the hill and then down the hill, at the bottom of the hill the road forks to the right, take the right, this is now lighthouse Rd.
Come to a set of robots. Go straight.
Travel +- 1km, Come to a T-junction, take a right go straight.
Travel past "Grobbies Butchery" and other shops on your left.
After traveling +- 300m you will come to a stop street (go straight (stop first)), you are now in Admiral Rd
St Georges is on the corner of Admiral Rd and Wellfreer Rd (about 100m past the said stop street)
 

 

 

Wayne's World...(5May09)

Justification by Faith- The heart of the Gospel.

Wayne Duncan

What makes this the great anchor of Christian theology? What is it about this biblical cornerstone that has caused riot and revolution in the Christian Church throughout history?

We see that when this truth is lost the church spirals downward into darkness, the dark ages bearing witness to this fact. Deviation from this central truth will always lead to devastation.

Why is this statement of truth, so crucially important to the world? It's imperative to see this clearly for it is the way in which God had decided to bring, and keep His created into right relationship with Him. Seeking this reconciliation outside of this, is a wasted hope. Attempting to be in right standing outside of this truth is futile.

"The confession of divine Justification, touches mans life at it's heart, at the point of it's relationship to God. It defines the preaching of the church, the existence and the progress of the life of faith, the root of human security and mans perspective of the future" John Piper  in "God is the Gospel" page 44.

Born out His love, God had a council in heaven ( Eph 1:11). It was decided, the terms, the condition of reconciliation unto eternal life. That eternal life was then made available to all who would believe in Jesus. Upon believing, coming to faith in God's provision of life, activates your Justification, you are then given righteousness, and seen as holy, blameless and perfect in His sight ( Eph 1:4), having been made perfect forever by the sacrifice of Jesus ( Heb 7:28). Were saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8). When we come into this life, we are born again (John 3 ). Our dead spirit comes alive, all the fullness of God dwells within this spirit, it's a new creation ( 2 Cor 5:17), alive to God, totally surrendered to God, eager to do what is good ( Titus 2:14) fully in love with God…

"All of the people I've know who have experienced gods peace were those who had a revelation of Justification by faith. That's the only way to ever have peace with God."

Andrew Wommack.

Those who do not believe the message and place faith in Jesus are not made righteous. A day is set where very person will appear before God ( Acts 17:30, Rev 20), and they will be judged ( Heb 9:27 ), those who believe in Jesus, and are therefore Justified ( Gal 2:16), will have eternal life ( John 3:16) in the presence of God. Those who are not reconciled to God, through the acceptance of Jesus punishment, judgment and death on their behalf, will themselves be judged, punished and given eternal death and separation from God.( John 3:16, Mark 16:16 2, Thes 1:6-10 )

"Justification by faith", protects the Gospel from the left and from the right. On the left or those who say we need the law, and works to be justified, even if we have faith. On the right are those who claim everyone (all humanity) are justified already, apart from faith.

A closer look at the definition of Justification.

Please note that as we explore these definitions, you will see the correlation between justification and righteousness.

Definitions:

"Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which he 1) thinks of our sins forgiven and Christ's righteousness belonging to us, and 2) declares us to be righteous in our sight."

"The verb  justify in the New Testament (Gk. Dikaioo~ ) has a range of meanings, but a very common sense is "to declare righteous"

Wayne Grudum…Systematic theology, page 723

" justified. Paul uses the Greek verb for "Justified" 27 times, mostly in Romans and Galatians. It is translated "Justify" in all cased except two ( Romans 2:13, and 3:20, where it is translated declared righteous"). The term describes what happens when people believe in Christ as their Savior: From the negative viewpoint, God declares them to be not guilty; from the positive viewpoint , He declares them to be righteous. He cancels the guilt of their sin and credits righteousness to them"

"The legal declaration is valid, because Christ died to pay the penalty for our sin, and lived a life of perfect righteousness that can in turn be imputed to us. This is the central theme as stated in Rom 1:17 "a righteousness from God"

"The central thought of Justification is that, although people clearly and totally deserve to be declared guilty (vv9-19), God declares them righteous because of their trust in Christ. This is stated in several ways here.1) "freely" (as a gift for nothing) ..2) "by His grace", 3) "through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" and 4) "by faith"

NIV Study bible commentary from Romans 3:24 page 1750

Justification is when we are legally and relationally placed into right relationship with God.

This includes :

The total forgiveness of sins, the absolution of wrath, the imputation of Christ's righteousness, a creation of new life, the entrance into eternal life, the adoption as sons, the receiving of the inheritance, the removal of guilt, the destruction of shame, the removal of accusation, our perfection, our pardon, our freedom, our confidence, the removal the dividing wall of hostility and our hope of Glory. The ultimate prize resulting…His presence now, and forever more.

The "Twins"

Did you see how Justification and righteousness cannot be separated?

If your Justified, your righteous. If your righteous, your Justified. Technically, were Justified and then righteous, but they still accompany eachother.

An examination of the two words in Greek clearly presents this "twinship"…

Justified G1344

Δικαιόω dikaioō dik-ah-yo'-o

From G1342; to render (that is, show or regard as) just or innocent: - free, justify (-ier), be righteous.

Righteous  G1343

Δικαιοσύνη dikaiosunē dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay

From G1342; equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification: - righteousness.

The Greek word for Justified means Righteous, and the Greek word for Righteous, means Justified.

Sometimes you will even find the words used interchangeably in the bible.

Have a look at these scriptures.

Romans 4:5 ESV And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness

Romans 5:1 ESV Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

The above two scriptures show righteousness and Justification by faith.

The following scriptures show justification and righteousness apart from the law.

Romans 3:21: But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it -

Romans 3:28: For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

This clearly shows that although these are different words with different meanings, they both serve to explain what has happened to us when we step into right relationship with God.

So how do we get Justified?

The simple answer is "by Faith", or by believing.

Galatians 2:16-17 ESV yet we know that a person is not justified(Or counted righteous (three times in verse 16); also verse 17)  by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ,(Or through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ)  so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

(note that the foot notes here also include righteous in this explanation)

So here we clearly have it. When we believe in Jesus, we are Justified by faith in Christ. 

Abraham was a shadow of this, he believed God and was declared righteous. (Rom 4)

Galatians 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify(Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24)  the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed."

This is supported by further scripture.

Romans 3:26 ESV It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Rom 3:28 ESV For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Rom 5:1 ESV Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we(Some manuscripts let us)  have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have also obtained access by faith(Some manuscripts omit by faith)  into this grace in which we stand

This is consistent with Jesus appeal to "believe" in Him.

Have a look at what Jesus says about believing in Him in John. All passages are from the ESV bible.

John 1:12: Bt to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 3:15: that whoever believes in him may have eternal life

John 3:16: For God so loved the world,(Or For this is how God loved the world)  that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life

John 3:18: Woever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God

John 3:36: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him

John 5:24: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 6:29: Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

John 6:35: Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 6:40: For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

John 6:47: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

John 6:69: and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."  

John 7:38: Whoever believes in me, as(Or let him come to me, and let him who believes in me drink. As)  the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

John 7:39: Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 8:24: I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins."

John 10:26: but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.

John 11:25: Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.(Some manuscripts omit and the life)  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

John 11:26: and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

John 11:27: She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."

John 11:40: Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"

John 12:46: I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

John 14:1: "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;(Or You believe in God)  believe also in me.

John 14:12: "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

John 20:29: Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

John 20:31: but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 

Jesus spoke a lot about "believing in Him". These passages clearly show that Jesus was the Son of the loving Father God ,come to earth, so that whoever believes and receives Him, shall pass from death and judgment and condemnation, into eternal life, where steams of living water, the holy spirit and power will now flow. When we "believe", these come to us by grace through faith in Jesus.  When we believe, were Justified, and made righteous. It's this Justification that results from believing in Him that positions us for every promise from God.

Is it our faith that Justifies us?

No were justified through faith in Jesus, it's not our faith that justifies us, it's faith in Jesus.

722 grudem

When do you get Justified?

We are justified the moment we believe. It's an instant event.

Galations 2:16 so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ

Galatians 3:8: And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify(Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24)  the Gentiles by faith 

This is evidenced by a new birth, and a new creation by the power and working of the Holy Spirit (and the Father) through regeneration.

Ephesians 1:13: In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,   

Who is Justified before God?

Those who believe in Jesus to be Savior, and trust in His sacrifice on their behalf. Those who have placed their faith in Him. This is clear from the passages we have studied.

No one can be Justified apart from belief in Jesus, there is no other way available to man, this is Gods prescribed, predestined plan of redemption. 

Errors resulting from not understanding Justification. 

1.       A person is justified by obeying the law.                               (leads to legalism)

2.       A person is justified by doing works.                       (leads to performance and ritual)

3.       A person is justified by Jesus' faith.                         (undoes need for personal belief, no free will)

4.       All humanity is already justified.                                                (undoes Judgment day and Hell, no free will)

5.       All will be justified.                                          (leads to inclusion, cancels eternal hell, no free will)

6.       There can be Justification without belief.              (allows 3-5)

7.       Jesus was Just a man                                                      ( Jesus came to show us who weve always been)

 

 

 

Wayne's World...(3May09)

What is the Gospel?

Wayne Duncan

 

Romans 5:19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

John 3:16 ESV For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

These scriptures catch the heart of our Gospel message.

Adam (the first Adam) sinned, and all humanity fell. All mankind bore the consequences of Adams fall.

Jesus came and was perfectly obedient to the Fathers requirements to make redemption available to all. Jesus was perfectly obedient, and as a result all who place their trust in Him will be made righteous right relationship with Him).

John 3:16 ESV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God

This further captures the Gospel message.

God is a loving father, He loved the world so much that he gave His only Son.

Jesus is Gods only Son. Jesus is the Son of God…he is Lord, He is divine, he has always been and always will be. He is worthy of worship, all creation was made through Him…he is the uncreated one.

The heart of the Gospel is not a message of condemnation but a message of salvation.

Salvation means forgiveness of sins, healing, wellness of body soul and spirit. It contains elements of protection and guarding.  It also means we have been declared innocent by the Father through Jesus perfect obedience and sacrifice, through belief in Him.

When we believe righteousness come to us. We are declared righteous. This means we are given Christ's perfect obedience, as a gift, and this is how the father sees us. Righteous, for we have been Justified.

We see too that there is condemnation and perishing for those who do not believe in Jesus. The bible clearly teaches that there is a lost eternity for those who do not believe in Jesus. There is hell awaiting those who do not place their trust in Jesus, and it is eternal.

But for those who believe in Jesus, there is eternal life. All eternity will be spent in heaven with the king of kings and the king of glory.

When we believe in Jesus, we are using faith.  God helps us to have faith but at the end of the day each individual has to respond to the fathers drawing, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. In responding we receive salvation. In that moment we pass from death to life, a new creation is born within us. This creation, this new life is alive to God, and is perfect. This is the core of who we are, made perfect forever. This new creation carries the power of God, the same power that raised Christ from the dead. This new creation is who we are in Christ. Living from this place is our new way of life.

Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment

Every person will appear before God one day on a day called the day of Judgment. Every person will be judged. Those who do not believe in Jesus will be cast into the eternal lake of fire, along with the angels and demons. Those who do believe, will be declared innocent by Jesus, and  will spend all eternity with God, the angels and the redeemed in Heaven.

Friends salvation is available to all who will believe in Jesus. If you do believe in Jesus you are saved, declared innocent and blameless before the father. If you do not believe in Jesus, turn to Him today, and he will receive you. He will declare you innocent and not count your unbelief against you. He loves you, he demonstrated this by the giving of His son. The reward is God himself. We will have fellowship with God in this life and in the life to come. You'll enter eternal peace, eternal rest and be loved by the great lover for ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wayne's World...(20Apr09)

Inheritance of Peace

Wayne Duncan

This is how an inheritance works…

One person lives…this person has something or acquires something during their lifetime. That acquisition is then passed down to who ever that person selects upon death.

The person who now receives the inheritance…the beneficiary, receives the inheritance freely according to the conditions set down by the inheritance giver.

Some characteristics of inheritance…

The inheritance comes available freely regardless of the condition of the beneficiary at the time.

No one can change the details and conditions of the inheritance will.

The inheritance giver can only give away what is his to give.

There must be death.

The beneficiary must receive the inheritance in order to take possession of it.

The beneficiary is now the legal owner of the inheritance.

There is a legal certainty.

The awesome news is that for every believer in Jesus, there is an inheritance from the father through the finished work and death of Jesus, and guaranteed by the Holy Spirits presence, and work in us.

Ephesians 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

In Him we've received the inheritance. Not maybe, but in Him. How do we know we are in Him?

We have the Holy Spirit.

I John 4:13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

This is how we know we are in Him…There are those who are in Him and those who are not in Him. Those who have believed in Jesus sacrifice are in Him.

1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

What happens is that we are born dead.

All of us were born into the first Adam and born in sin…

Jesus the came and undid what Adam did in the garden by becoming a sin sacrifice, a complete and perfect offering that turned away the wrath of God, completely forgiving the sins of the world.

Now those who believe in Jesus will receive eternal life, "to know God", and the complete inheritance.

Belief in Jesus sacrifice is the door to inheritance. There is no inheritance outside of belief in Jesus.

"For God so loved the world that whoever believes in Jesus will receive eternal life"

"if you confess with your mouth Jesus is lord and believe in your heart Christ was raise from the dead, you will be saved"

"all who call on the name of the lord will be saved"

I want to briefly speak about what happens to us when we are born again. What takes place in the moment of salvation. What happens to us?

Our spirits are made alive to God.

The bible clearly speaks about us being dead in our sins. The bible says we are raised to life when we believe in Jesus, this is called being born again. It happens by grace and through faith.

The process of our spirits coming alive is spoken about in many ways..

1 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.(Or creature)  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Condition…if we are in Christ..

Promise…the old passes away, we become a new creation.

This new creation so incredibly glorious. I believe that this new creation is the most underestimated creation in all creation. We radically underestimate the power that was at work in us at the moment of conversion. It is the most significant event that can ever take place in a believers life.

Bill J says "we radically underestimate what happened to us at the point of conversion"

The power and glory that raised Christ from the dead filled our spirits and we were raised to life. Our old sinful nature died, and a new nature was placed in us. A nature sensitive to God, and alive to God. Within this new creation was placed our total and full inheritance as legitimate son of God. This new life releases power and fruit.

Theologians speak about regeneration…

Wayne Grudem defines regeneration as follows  "regeneration is the secret act of god in which he imparts new spiritual life to us."

Regeneration is the power of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit working together to literally produce a new creation.

Now it stands to reason that when a person is changed in such a dramatic way there are resulting effects and changes.

Over time patterns of behavior will change…

Other desires are born too, fresh desires consistent with who we now are..

The results usually include things like…

A heartfelt trusting in Jesus for salvation, an assurance of sins forgiven, a healthy unforced desire to read the bible and pray and a sense that these are meaningful activities, a delight in worship, a desire for Christian fellowship, a desire to be obedient to God and a desire to tell others about Christ. These feelings are birthed with the new creation, and flow naturally from us for this is who we are. Resisting these natural desires now feels strange for the essence of who we are, has been changed.

Were raised to a new life, and this new life has natural expressions of life.

These desires within are also a proof that the Holy Spirit has indeed come to live inside of us. We don't do these things to prove it. It's in us, and that's the proof.

Legalism focuses on the results, without understanding about the event. Life flows from understanding the event, seeing who we are, and understanding the results that follow. Legalism in its extream can be achieved without regeneration!

Without this event of regeneration, there is no altered spirit, and no life imparted. There is no new creation, and no being born again. With regeneration comes faith and believe and a resulting resurrection to a new life and a new creation.

It's this new creation that is qualified for the inheritance of God. Every believers inheritance promised to us, by a promise from God.

Friends if we could only see clearly who we are as a result of who he has changed us into!

If you believe in Jesus…

You are powerful, you have glory in you, you have the fruit of righteousness in you. You have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self control and goodness at the very core of your being, the new you created in Christ Jesus to do good things…

You have been powerfully transformed. When we see this, we position ourselves to live true to who we are. Right believing always comes before right living. See who you are, and you'll be who you are, you are raised to a new life, as a new creation. All through believing the good news that Jesus died, we died with Him, he was raised, we were raised with Him. The glorious fact that we are new creations is part of our inheritance.

Wayne's World...(3May09)

Gifts of the Kingdom

Wayne Duncan 

Romans 14:17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

The kingdom of God. The land where every citizen is a king, lead guided and ruled by "the King of all kings". The place where He is Lord of everything, the place where His rule is the highest, where His power is released and where His love outshines the brightest sun. The place that were born into, the land of inheritance for every soul that has called on the name of the Lord.

In this land every citizen has birth rights. It's been declared by the King Himself.

"Hear he today, I declare by who "I am", that all born in this land, every child of my Kingdom, shall, equally and freely have, righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit. I swear it, with a blood seal, and it is finished!" 

What stunning gifts the father has so lavished on us, His beloved.

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 

Righteousness means to be in right standing with God.

Romans 5:17 If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 

We receive righteousness, freely through grace when we believe in Him.

This is the reason we reign in life, he treats us as righteous, for that's what he has made us. We are holy blameless and perfect in His sight, through the blood of Jesus.

So right standing with God is a gift to every believer in the kingdom. It had huge benefits for us in this life. That's why Romans says we "reign in life through the gift of righteousness and the abundance of Gods grace". We are declared innocent in the high courts of heaven, and this positions us to receive every blessing. His perfect obedience was credited to us, and this forms the basis for our promised inheritance.

So it's a gift, from the King, by grace through faith. 

Peace I leave with you

17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

As part and package, upon entrance into the kingdom, every new citizen is "born" with the inheritance of peace. His peace, freely given.

The peace of the world is temporary, and conditional. But His is unconditional, and permanent.

Phil 4:6 The Lord is at hand; 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

Are you troubled, are you anxious. The King says, do not be anxious…do not be troubled…you are in my kingdom…you are under my care…I am responsible for you.

Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?(Or a single cubit to his stature; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters)  28And why are you anxious about clothing? Con sider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.  

Don't worry, it helps nothing, trust the king, he is in control. Seek His kingdom…receive your peace.

So it's a gift.  

Then there is Joy in the Holy Spirit.

John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.  

Jesus has put His Joy inside of us. His joy and filling with the Holy Spirit work wonderfully together. There is the presence of God, and the filling of the Holy Spirit…they stir up the joy deposited inside of us.

This joy surpasses happiness. It's being truly and deeply happy all the time. This is available.

If I catch a big fish, I have joy…but it fades. When we see the king, and His kingdom clearly, and have time with Him, a deep joy rises up, that is not easily subdued.

When I fish, and want more happiness from fishing, I can go fish again…but I may not catch fish, and be disappointed, but in Him, with this King there is never disappointment, he meets my need every time.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Whatever your need is, the King is available to give you though His mercy and grace. These things come freely, for he loves us, and made a way for these things to be freely given to us. Through Christ we have righteousness, peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit.

What a good king, and what an awesome kingdom.

So what do you need…assurance of your righteousness?...the reality of peace?...the delight of Joy?...a touch of His presence? The king says you can have it now.

If you feel far, if you feel unworthy, the king decalirs you righteous.

If you have lost peace, He says do not let your hearts be troubled.

Do you fear, He says do not fear.

Do you need Joy?...It's yours.

A touch from God? A filling with His presence…fellowship with His spirit…It's yours.

Believe it receive it…the King is Good and this is His Kingdom, the place of our living, moving and dwelling. He is a good King.