God Has Been Giving Since the Beginning!

God had been giving from the beginning! ...and that includes wise and good commands - keeping us from harm, aiming us toward life…  So often, we ask about the tree in the middle of the garden and why God would put it there and then prohibit us from eating from it, as if He was depriving us of something, and then our next thought is that it was His intention that we fall. The fact is, God has been giving from the beginning - His generosity beyond imagination, beyond finding out.

We must come to understand that God was not trying to deprive us of something, neither was he trying to prohibit us from something, but in fact was guarding us from something that he knew would not be beneficial for us – that was His to have and hold, that we would know Him and His, and that we would love, respect, honor Him enough to trust Him and His commands – that they are life and good and good for us – that the fruit of His wisdom is pleasing and good for wisdom.

The fact is, we are not like God that is, having the same constitution – suitable and well-fitting, equal and opposite (thus the man, Adam, needing a more suitable partner – Gen 2:18-19) the same capacity or ability or faculties. In fact, there are things that our Humanity cannot contain or handle or reign in - things that are truly “too wonderful for me”.

God’s been generously giving from the beginning… but, we tend to focus on what we perceive as a slight.  What did He give us? 

· The Garden - Genesis 1:29; 2:16 (Gen 1:26-31; 2:15-25; Ps 24:1; Ps 115:16)

· “Fruit from ALL these trees”

o  1:29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

o  2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden...

· Work that was satisfying and profitable 

· Companionship

o  First with God

o  Then with a good partner… AND God

· The fruit of the spirit “self-control”, enough is enough…

· Safety from His wisdom… do not eat from this, one, tree…

What makes life and relationships good?  Is it not when you find someone who is real?  Good is real, real is good, good is really good, because it’s really real.  

God, our Father, continues to give… good things.

· Matt 7:11 “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

· Luke 11:13 “So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

· Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?

· James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.”

What is good?  What constitutes good?  What does good mean?

What did Jesus say about what was good? Luke 9:25

· “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”  NIV

· “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” NLT

Or 

· Matthew 16:26 and Mark 8:36 “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Is it not life that we want – life, a good life, a life of good?  Jesus knows this! (John 10:7-18)

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  NIV

Life - ”a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last forever"

· a happy life and every kind of blessing (Deuteronomy 30:15, 19; Malachi 2:5; Psalm 33:13 () 13; Proverbs 8:35; Proverbs 12:28, etc.): John 6:51, 63; John 14:6; Romans 7:10; Romans 8:6, 10; 2 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:16; (Colossians 3:4); 2 Peter 1:3; 1 John 5:11, 16, 20)

· supplied by God (Eph 4:18)

· obtained in fellowship with Christ, (2Tim 1:1)

· the grace of God evident in the life obtained, (1 Peter 3:7)

· the Spirit, the repository and imparter of life, and which is received by those united to Christ (Romans 8:2)

In abundance - More, greater, excessive, abundant, exceedingly, vehemently…

· "I came in order that they [believers] might continuously have life, even that they may continuously have it all-around - 

· beyond what is anticipated, exceeding expectation; "more abundant," going past the expected limit ("more than enough . . . ")

· over and above, more than is necessary, superadded

Luke 12:13-21 (Ecc 2:17-26) Life is not in the abundance of your possessions - the parable of the barns 

Life is living and walking within the confines of our good and generous life-giving God

Attributing to God all things good.  Will He not give you good things?  God’s generous generosity.  He is good and the giver of good things - in fact, because He is good, He cannot give anything except what is good.  He, God, even gives us permission - to enter into His presence - not only permission, but, a way. (Heb 10)

How wonderful is God?  How unsearchable are His good and wise ways?

Job 5:9 the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.

Job 11:7 Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

Job 15:8 Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?

Job 37:23 The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress.

Psalm 36:6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains; Your judgments are like the deepest sea. O LORD, You preserve man and beast.

Psalm 92:5 How great are Your works, O LORD, how deep are Your thoughts!

Psalm 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Psalm 145:3 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.

Proverbs 25:2

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 7:24 What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it?

Ecclesiastes 8:17 I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

Isaiah 28:29 This also comes from the LORD of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.

Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.

Romans 2:4 Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you to repentance?

1 Corinthians 2:10 But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Ephesians 3:8 Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Ephesians 3:10 His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

Colossians 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Psalm 104 - God in action | June 6th

I will see what I allow or enable myself to see - will I attribute to God what He does? 

Or… as Romans 1:19-20 warns us...

...what may be known about God is plain... because God has made it plain... 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.  

So His Divine power, also, gives us, everything we need for this life and godliness!

His divine power not only gives us everything we need for life and godliness - but a practical religion that is born from seeing and having experienced God in action - seeing God, experiencing God, I cannot help but be thankful to and reverent toward Him.

And He has made me, us, righteous! (2Cor 5:21)

God made him who had no sin to be sin b for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

As His righteousness, by that righteousness, He has made us righteous and this righteousness sees and does what is right (Isa 58) - the power of Christ gives us the nature of Christ that we might live, love, and act like Christ, and that is not merely be our speech, but, should shape our actual and daily lives. 

This is practical religion to live and love as Jesus did is what we are and are becoming - as... 

we are “created in Christ Jesus TO DO GOOD WORKS prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:8-10)

and...

“who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood…

...Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.” (1Peter 1:2,22)

What does this righteousness look like?  What are these works we have been created to do? How does the power of Jesus, by His Spirit, make us righteous and live, love, and act according to that righteousness?

We were made with the potential to be like Jesus, being born again, Jesus’ power makes it actual… and in so, gives us… 

• Eyes to see

• Ears to hear

• Compassion to sense and feel and empathize with

• Experience to draw from

• Insight and discernment to understand

• Resources to comfort

• Willingness to give or hold back

• Eagerness to serve

• Compulsion to pray

• Patience to remain, return, or let them walk away… 

And this power enables us to live out Jesus, our righteousness, in some of the following ways:

• James 

  • 1:27 religion that God consider pure and faultless

  • 2:16 be warm and well fed… what good is it if…? (Matt 25:35-36)

  • James 5:13-18 Confess your sins, anoint, pray 

13Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  

• 1John 

  • 3:17 Seeing or hearing of need, give of what you have (4:20; Prov 19:17; Is 58:7-10)

  • 5:16 if you see someone sin… Pray (Gal 6:1-10 and do good)

• 1Peter 

  • 4:7 Pray

  • 4:8-11 Cover with love

Effectiveness and sensitivity increases with the effort we put into 

God’s Divine Power: Psalm 104; Romans 1:16-20; Job 38; Ephesians1; John 14

Romans 1:16-20

“For in the Gospel…”, the good news of God’s love expressed by mercy, through grace, and is by faith - IS the power of God that brings salvation - God’s power is exerted, miraculously, in the hearts of people to make them righteous, right with Him!  This is the power that brings peace - and this is all grace, a gift!

• The Righteousness of God (Romans 3:21-22)

  • Romans 10:2-4 “...they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”

• “A Righteousness that is by faith”

• “The righteous will live by faith”  (Rom 4:11-13; 8:10; Col 1:21-22)

His, divine power…

This gloriously divine power, (that God) exerted in the raising of Jesus from the dead, has now, at our adoption, become our comforter and advocate, our prompter and director - the One who is close to us, who knows us, whispers in our ears and produces in us the good fruit of Jesus and His goodness - His righteousness.

Job 38:18 “18Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?  Tell me, if you know all this.”

It is a matter of perspective, a right perspective, a true perspective…

So when we measure the divine, we can utterly underestimate the power of the living God who “holds all things together by his mighty word“, because much like how we too often see and read the Scriptures, we read a story like that of Noah in 15 minutes, that took 100 years to be told - and think “why doesn’t God do… now!?”.  In like spirit, we believe because we have seen the globe on a screen, a picture taken from a distance in space, that we comprehend the expanse of the earth, the depth of the seas, the height of the skies - the expanse of the universe.

Making God, small…

In doing so, we lull ourselves into thinking we know, that we have seen, and that we understand. But in doing so, we shrink the glory of God in our minds and hearts, our souls and spirits stand haughtily before the living God who has made and created, who holds and nourishes the earth and all that live on it. The universe and all that that sings to him.

When in fact… He, and His ways, are unsearchable by the finite human mind - and we shrink His glory, we put is a small box the Divine, we tame His fury, we utterly underestimate the Spirit’s power - at all - let alone in us and through us!

Glimpses of God’s divine majesty...

• Genesis 1:11, 29; 2:9; Job 38:27; 40:20; Ps 36:6; 136:25; 145:15-16; 147:8-9; 

• Colossians 1:15-20

• Hebrews 1:1-4 (Phil 2:5-11)

• Revelation 4

https://www.system-sounds.com/song-of-the-stars/

Everything We Need for Life and Godliness

His Divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness – practical religion - if Jesus is beautiful and He lived His life beautifully, then, in Him, our life is and should be beautiful, too and when we obey Jesus, our lives rea beautiful

1Peter 1:4 “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” New Living Translation

Life: real and genuine, actual

"a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed 

this portion even now in this world of those who put their trust in Christ.  And the next portion life eternal, the resurrection

Godliness: reverence, respect

Promoting godliness - as to reflect or imitate, God; Aims and acts of godliness - holy conduct toward God and others.

This life, this godliness, the fruit of our relationship with God, in Christ, by His Spirit – that Divine power, should result in something beautiful, that increases in its effectiveness and productivity:  Life and godliness.

How are we to express this godly life, this goodness?

James 3:13,17-18 “13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom… 

James 3:17...the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

• Good, beautiful - beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble, honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so.

• Beautiful, praiseworthy; beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble, honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so.

• Beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence praiseworthy; morally good, noble

• This is not “good”, as unto righteousness (as to prove to, or appease, God.  But, “good” as an expression of one’s righteousness in Christ as to imitate and please, that good which is done because one has believed in Jesus, been justified by that faith, and have had the righteousness of Jesus imputed in them, by and with the Holy Spirit.  

**So this godliness Peter speaks of ought to result in an “A beautiful life is lived beautifully, a life lived beautifully, does beautiful things.”  This IS good. What is godliness?  It is a life lived to God, for God, as God does.

Our being saved “to obedience”(1Peter 1) is our life being saved and preserved, conditioned and equipped, empowered and enabled, created - beautifully, to be beautiful, that in doing what it, what we, were created to be like, we do, beautifully. 

And that is beautiful.  That is Jesus in me, living life with me, in a godly, or practical way - being good and beautiful, we do beautiful things. 

God is love, God's love does; as we have been loved, and been made love, our love must also, do - and this is good and this is beautiful and this is “practical religion”.**

• This is the “good” Jesus’ commends us to do that brings, that when seen, brings glory and praise to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5); Mary’s loving and gracious gesture of anointing Jesus feet (Matt 26:10; Mark 14:6); and that which Paul describes as that good which should grow weary of doing (Gal 6:9).

So, this life with live in Christ by faith, in the knowledge of God, this is a vigorous life, marked by practical religion and is best expressed by mutual concern for one another, and mutual concern - does.  (Isa 58:6-12; Gen 3:10,21; Matt 25:35-38; Mark 10:51; John 3:16; 5:19; 13:5; Rom 1:5; 6:17-18; 12:1; Eph 2:8-10; 1Pet 1:2; Acts 2:42-48; Ja 1:26-27; 2:16; 1Jo 3:17)

As God in His love, by His mercy, in His gracious faithfulness, did (and does). In the beginning, God, “did” for His beloved

Oftentimes, a beautiful act, have a good deed, done in humility and wisdom, in reverence for God, and subjecting ourselves to his prompting, directing, and empowering, will be at our own expense. Remember, God never asked us to do anything that he himself was willing to do. When we think of God loving I said his expense, we go right to the cross, but I began far before that. God would love Adam and Eve enough to sacrifice one of his beloved creatures, for their sake, (do not to sparrows…), Love does cover… Is Adamson, singular in the moment, would be the beginning of many sins, that an animal skin could not cover, but the skin of the sun would…

Gen 3:10, 21 “10He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid… 21The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

•  So, we, having experienced this love, now, do 

1Peter 5:7-10   “7The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

James 1:26-27; 2:16

• 1:26-27  “26Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

• 2:16  “14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”

1Jo 3:17  “16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

What has been done for us, we now get to return. In the practical religion and would be willing to practice and a half of the most beloved, we now have the privilege to join him in that righteousness, to participate in the divine, and love him as he has left us, by loving others as he has loved us. “As you’ve done it to the least of these, you’ve done it unto me. “

Matthew 25:34- 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  ; ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Jesus’ godly life, His practical religion in action. Jesus expresses this vigorous life, this fervent bubbling love, with real religion - love and concern expressed in practical help, the fruit of His love, His (mutual concern), in this case, at a wedding of a friend, for the bride and the groom, the hostess - His mother Mary - and the parents of the couple. Not to mention, the participants in the party.

This is the life that Jesus came to give - as represented in John 2.  For us to get, have, and live this life, Jesus willingly laid down His life that He might give it - to have and live this life we must drink the wine of the Kingdom - which is Jesus, His blood, shed for us - His life, in us. (John 6:26-58) 

Love is, this new and vigorous life, for which we have been given everything we need to live, expresses itself by mutual concern.

So, this a vigorous life, marked by practical religion and is best expressed by mutual concern for one another.  (Isa 58:6-12; Gen 3:10,21; Matt 25:35-38; Mark 10:51; John 3:16; 5:19; 13:5; Rom 1:5; 6:17-18; 12:1; Eph 2:8-10; 1Pet 1:2; Acts 2:42-48; Ja 1:26-27; 2:16; 1Jo 3:17)

John 2:1-12

The reflection of this life now in us, more than just animated, but a life vigorous in Christ, that reflects the kingdom AND its divine power, is how we live - now - especially, among ourselves, Jesus’ disciples - it is to be as concerned for one another as Jesus was and is for us, me.

His Divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness – practical religion - if Jesus is beautiful and He lived His life beautifully, then, in Him, our life is beautiful, and when we obey Jesus, our lives a beautiful.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. New International Version

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. New Living Translation

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence... ESV

Life: real and genuine, actual

• "a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed 

  • this portion even now in this world of those who put their trust in Christ

  • Next portion life eternal, the resurrection

Godliness: reverence, respect

• Promoting godliness - as to reflect or imitate, God

• Aims and acts of godliness - holy conduct toward God and others

This life, this godliness, the fruit of our relationship with God, in Christ, by His Spirit – that Divine power, should result in something beautiful, that increases in its effectiveness and productivity:

Life and godliness.

Jesus’ godly life, His practical religion in action

John 2:1-12

James 3:13,17-18 “13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom…  17...the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

• Good, beautiful - beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble, honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so.

• Beautiful, praiseworthy; beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble, honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so.

• beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence praiseworthy; morally good, noble

• This is not “good, as unto righteousness (as to prove to, or appease, God.  But, “good” as an expression of one’s righteousness in Christ as to imitate and please, that good which is done because one has believed in Jesus, been justified by that faith, and have had the righteousness of Jesus imputed in them, by and with the Holy Spirit.  

• This is the “good” Jesus’ commends us to do that brings, that when seen, brings glory and praise to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5); Mary’s loving and gracious gesture of anointing Jesus feet (Matt 26:10; Mark 14:6); and that which Paul describes as that good which should grow weary of doing (Gal 6:9).

So this godliness Peter speaks of ought to result in an “A beautiful life is lived beautifully, a life lived beautifully, does beautiful things.”  This IS good. 

What is godliness?  It is a life lived to God, for God, as God does.

Our being saved “to obedience” is our life being saved and preserved, conditioned and equipped, empowered and enabled, created - beautifully, to be beautiful, that in doing what it, what we, were created to be like, we do, beautifully.  And that is beautiful.  That is Jesus in me, living life with me, in a godly, or practical way - being good and beautiful, we do beautiful things. 

God is love, God's love does; as we have been loved, and been made love, our love must also, do - and this is good and this is beautiful and this is “practical religion”. 

So, this life with live in Christ by faith, in the knowledge of God, this is a vigorous life, marked by practical religion and is best expressed by mutual concern for one another, and mutual concern - does.  (Isa 58:6-12; Gen 3:10,21; Matt 25:35-38; Mark 10:51; John 3:16; 5:19; 13:5; Rom 1:5; 6:17-18; 12:1; Eph 2:8-10; 1Pet 1:2; Acts 2:42-48; Ja 1:26-27; 2:16; 1Jo 3:17)

As God in His love, by His mercy, in His gracious faithfulness, did (and does). In the beginning, God, “did” for His beloved

• Gen 3:10,21 

  • 3:10 “10He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

  • 3:21 21The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

So, we, having experienced that love, now, do 

• 1Peter 5:7-10   “7The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

• Ja 1:26-27; 2:16

  • 1:26-27  “26Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

  • 2:16  “14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”

• 1Jo 3:17   “16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

• Math 25:34-40  “34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Jesus is the light and life of all men, His life and life are our light and life and how He lived this life is how we are to live…  Jesus expresses this vigorous life, this fervent bubbling love, with real religion - love and concern expressed in practical help, the fruit of His love, His (mutual concern) for the bride and the groom, the hostess - His mother Mary and the parents of the couple. Not to mention, the participants in the party.

This is the life that Jesus came to give - as represented in John 2.  For us to get, have, and live this life, Jesus willingly laid down His life that He might give it - to have and live this life we must drink the wine of the Kingdom - which is Jesus, His blood, shed for us - His life, in us. (John 6:26-58)

John 2:1-12

The reflection of this life now in us, more than just animated, but a life vigorous in Christ, that reflects the kingdom AND its divine power, is how we live - now - especially, among ourselves, Jesus’ disciples - it is to be as concerned for one another as Jesus was and is for us, me. 

Love is, this new and vigorous life, for which we have been given everything we need to live, is expressed by our mutual concern.

How has God ordained that we express this “practical religion”, the “godliness”?  Love and serving the “one-another” within the body of Christ. 

1Cor 12:12-26

 Unity and Diversity in the Body

12Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by c one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Why does God have to command us to love this way?  Because we have a propensity to not.

 1Cor 11:17-34 Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper

17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

33So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come I will give further directions.

God Loves You

• John 3:16  >>> God so loved the world that He gave His only son

• Psalm 139 >>> God created you - you were made in the image of God

• Romans 5:8 >>> Christ demonstrated his love for you – He died for you 

• Ephesians 3:20 >>> God gave you the Bible – He tells you over and over that He loves you – He wants you to have an abundant life

• Jeremiah 33:3 >>> God wants to have a relationship with you – He will answer us when we call to Him

• Hebrews 4:16 >>> God wants to have a relationship with you – He tells us to come boldly before the throne

• John 10: 14-15 >>> God wants to have a relationship with you – I know my sheep and my sheep know me – I lay down my life for the sheep

• Romans 8: 38-40 >>> God loves you – nothing will be able to separate us

Life and Godliness - A Life of Mutual Concern: John 2; 1Corinthians 12:25: 1 Peter 3

Remember, of what Peter speaks of here is the result of:  Faith received; Knowing God, now, personally, experientially, more and more;  Then, having God’s Divine power, in the midst of all of this, everything we need for life and godliness - life and godliness are the fruit, the result, of the gift of the relationship – Life in and with Him: to be as effective and productive in Him and then to recognize that we will be as effective and productive in the relationship as the effort we put into the relationship - though there, we must take responsibility for their strengthening (further) and practice. 

Faith: received and precious; authored, pioneered, and perfected by Jesus Himself and given to those who believe, to believe and entrust self to by trusting love in response to being loved.

Knowledge: this incredibly up-close, interpersonal, and experiential relationship with God Himself, initiated, energized, and kept, by God, and enjoyed by His children. This with… God, the Father and Jesus,, our Lord

Grace and peace – in abundance, increasing measure, and that, lavishly given and given some more: the resulting experience of that relationship - its fruit

Abundance: a reflection of God’s generosity and the call to us to respond – generously (Jam 1:5;  Rom 10:12)

• Toward God (Luke 12:21)

• To or toward, or, on behalf of, (Acts 2:42-48; 2Cor 9:13)

  • One another: the brotherhood - according to their need - with ALL that we have been given

  • Others – those who have yet to receive –the hope of the gospel, life in Jesus, the Life.

This is a foreshadowing of where Peter is leading: to increase in Jesus and our relationship with Him

• “Make every effort to…” out of: Gratitude and Appreciation

• “…add to your faith, goodness…” or courageous and generous service - which is a perpetual energizer.  We serve out of the energy of gratification (saved and made/created to obedience to Jesus (out of love) and to good works – out of this love.  This service fuels our spirit and soul - serving breeds and stirs fervor (Rom 12)

This life, this godliness, the fruit of our relationship with God, in Christ, by His Spirit – that Divine power, should result in something beautiful, that increases in its effectiveness and productivity:

Life and godliness.

Life: universally, life, i. e. 

the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate, earthly life, while living on the earth - then - there is the progression of God’s true and real intention for life and the giving of life::

• a new mode of life, dedicated to God, Romans 6:4

• a promise looking to the present and the future life, 1 Timothy 4:8

• of a life preserved in the midst of perils, with a suggestion of vigor, 2 Corinthians 4:10-12

Life emphatically!!  As intended by God - AND THIS IS THE LIFE OF WHICH PETER SPEAKS - THAT WE HAVE AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN EVERYTHING WE NEED TO LIVE!

• God - the Light and Life of mankind - of the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both

• real, genuine life is - then for us, now: 

  • a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last forever - (the life the writers of the O. T. anticipated the conception of as they pointed to the Messiah and the Kingdom to come - a happy life (with God) and every kind of blessing: Deut 30:15, 19; Mali 2:5; Psalm 33:13; Pro 8:35; 12:28): Jo 6:51, 63; 14:6; Ro 7:10; 8:6, 10; 2 Co 2:16; Phil 2:16; (Col 3:4); 2Pe 1:3; 1 John 5:11, 16, 20)

    •  Supplied by God

    • Obtained in fellowship with, or relationship with, or “the knowledge of” Jesus

    • the Spirit, the repository and imparter of life, which is received by those united to Chris

Godliness – practical religion

Mutual consideration. Are there times in our lives, when our own personal cares become so dominant in our lives, that we truly lose sight of the interests of another?  The needs of another? The value of another?

Are there times in our lives, when we’re working so hard to prove our point, to preserve our rights or privileges, to make a statement that we believe is true or necessary, to get done what we need to get done, that we are blind to the needs of another? The concerns of another? The interest of another? Even to the point of refusing to act on their behalf, in servitude, in care and consideration, and meeting their specific needs in their time of acute need?

So, this a vigorous life, marked by practical religion and is best expressed by mutual concern for one another.  (Isa 58:6-12; Gen 3:10,21; Matt 25:35-38; Mark 10:51; John 3:16; 5:19; 13:5; Rom 1:5; 6:17-18; 12:1; Eph 2:8-10; 1Pet 1:2; Acts 2:42-48; Ja 1:26-27; 2:16; 1Jo 3:17)

Jesus expresses this vigorous life, this fervent bubbling love, with real religion - love and concern expressed in practical help, the fruit of His love, His (mutual concern) for the bride and the groom, the hostess - His mother Mary and the parents of the couple. Not to mention, the participants in the party.

This is the life that Jesus came to give - as represented in John 2.  For us to get this the life, Jesus laid down His life that He might give it - to have and live this life we must drink the wine of the Kingdom - which is Jesus, His blood. 

John 2:1-12

The reflection of this life now in us, more than just animated, but a life vigorous in Christ, that reflects the kingdom AND its divine power, is how we live - now - especially, among ourselves, Jesus’ disciples - it is to be as concerned for one another as Jesus was and is for us, me. 

Love is, this new and vigorous life, for which we have been given everything we need to live, is expressed by our mutual concern.

1Cor 11-12

Knowledge, knowing intimately, more and more – this is God’s desire for us!

Knowledge, knowing intimately, more and more – this is God’s desire for us!  

2Peter 1:1-2; Philippians 3:3-11; Eph 1:15-23; John 17:1-3, 20-26

In what does God want us to be most effective? If faith is the knowing, it is by this faith and we are escorted into the knowledge of God, experience with God, that we now know God, and not only know God, but know Him more and more, more deeply, richly, really. 

Knowledge, in this sense, is our knowing God, together with God - not a distant ascent to the truth of His being and existence, but something more unimaginable - that that God, that fearful, awful, all-powerful being, from whom we stand at a distance, afraid - we come to know, in Jesus, that this God actually loves us, longs to be known by us, and that as our loving Father, and desires, even longs, to be loved in return, by us - and has proclaimed, in Jesus, that that love is available to any and all who would receive it!

And then, for those who are now in this love relationship - He longs for us to be effective and productive in our knowledge of Him, with Him - because this is what produces in us righteous acts from the righteousness that He has imputed to us in Christ Jesus - creating us to do good and beautiful works of the kingdom among the lost - revealing this true and real knowledge, the growing knowledge, knowing of, God and having first-hand, contact, real and true, knowledge of, relationship with - me and Him - my creator, God and Father, savior and friend, power and enablement, comfort and encouragement… our love. 

We talk a lot about having effective in:

• Life - in particular 

  • Life in Christ: real and genuine:, "a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last forever" (the writers of the O. T. have anticipated the conception, in their way, by employing חַיִּים to denote a happy life and every kind of blessing

• Character

• Witness and testimony

In what does God want us to be most effective?   Our knowledge of him

• It is our fear, being converted to our reverent awe, of Him that is the beginning of knowledge – Prov 4:7

• It is our fear, converted our reverent awe, of Him that is the beginning of wisdom – Prov 9:10; Ps 111:10

• It is our deeper knowledge of Him and His love expressed in mercy and grace, by faith, that enables us to live this life with Godly character or godliness.  John 1:14-17; Ro 8:29; 2Cor 3:18; 2Pet 1:4

• This knowledge, this love experience, by faith, and the power of the Holy Spirit, is to know Him more and more, deeper and deeper, even more intimately as we are known.  1Co 8:3; 13:12; 1jo 3:2

John 17:1-3, 20-26 - Jesus prays this - He wants us to know Him as He knows us - inside out 

Philippians 3:3-11 - Paul gushes this desire - to know more deeply, personally, intimately

Ephesians 1:15-23 - this is God speaking through Paul as to what He wants for us, with us
 

On, fitting, which intensifies gnosis - academic, scientific knowledge - and experience that fits what we know or have ascertained

• First-hand knowledge - this knowledge is (now) mine

• Contact knowledge - that is appropriate, fitting of, first-hand knowledge, experiential knowing - this is defined by the individual context.

  • Though this experience be universal to all who know, it is individual to us for our knowing

    • God knows me

    • God has made Himself known to me

    • I now know God because He “sees me” and has made Himself known to me

    • This is best seen, evidenced, and experienced by our relationship with the Holy Spirit, or paraclete - the One who is in me and knows me -  the Holy Spirit as advocate or counselor (John 14:16, 26)

God gives us everything we need for this life and the development of our character - godliness – by and through this knowledge of him

And it is God who provides this knowledge - this knowing Him

• This experience, this thing he calls faith -  and he reveals His Faith progressively by his self-revelation

  •  Through what has been made - creation

  •  The touch of His finger, that is His Spirit - the Father draws (John 6)

  •  His Self Revelation by the Spirit to the heart and mind of the person pursued

  •  By Jesus – the Incarnate one

    •  His actual self as seen throughout the scriptures and in particular the Gospels

    •  His risen self – by the testimony of those who have heard and seen and touched

    •  His, now, real existence

      • Through the miraculously – by Mercy, Grace, faith, and perpetually changed lives

        • God's giving

        • God's do

        • Our joining in with every effort

      • Changed lives – our perpetual expression of and growing into the person of Christ 

        • In life, to whom and for whom we live - no longer of this world

        • In godliness

          • How we speak and act, no longer of or like this world

          • how we live and love God, self, and others no longer as this world

            • For selfish ambition and vain conceit

            • In fear and anxiety how we will live, living as one world as if this world is their home

      • By Us - we are the testimony of God, Jesus’ grace, and faithfulness, lavished on us, a His most prized possession.

How does “knowledge” or knowing more deeply change our life, make us godly?  

We experience His love and love Him in return, we become like the one with whom we spend our time, learn from, imitate.  We are overwhelmed by His presence, but because we have seen Him, experienced Him by His choosing, we respond in awe and God invites us into His holiness, making us holy, that we might know Him and know Him more and more, that we might than make Him known… 

Isaiah 4

Power - Baptism Sunday

..to those who have received a faith as precious as ours… looking forward to what’s to come, those before Christ believed God for what He had promised, for those of us on this side of the cross, we believe too, on those promises fulfilled - and what He still promises for those who believe. 2Peter 1; Heb 11; 12

By this faith, with this faith, God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness… to rise above the corruption 

This divine power… by His divine power we have received, we are the recipients of...

• The ability to believe all that God is and has for us - John 6:26-29

  • 26Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”  28Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

• The joy of salvation and sanctification which is our strength 

  • Nehemiah 8(:10) - the merciful, gracious, and good conviction of sin by the word, and with it the forgiveness of sin, which brings into focus God’s love for us - and the knowing of this love’s inherent joy - and the glad obedience that stems from seeing God’s mercy, grace, and goodness in His word (and the good fruit it produces - righteousness).

    • Ps 28:6-9  6Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy.

7The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.  My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

8The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.  9Save your people and bless Your inheritance;

be their shepherd and carry them forever.

• 1Peter 1:8-9 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

  • John 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

  • Ephesians 3:19 of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

  • 1 John 4:20  If anyone says, "I love God," but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

• That joy is being competed: as our faith in Jesus, though He is unseen, is faith in One that has been testified about by those who did see…

  • That joy is complete

    • 1John 1:1-3 1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete.

This power… 

• Has transformed us into a new creation

  • Born again (John 3:

  • Children of God (John 1; Romans 8; 1John 4) 

  • A new creation (Rom 6:4; 2Cor 5:17; Eph 4:24; Gal 6:15)

  • Created in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:29; 2Cor 3:10,18; Eph 2:10)

Galatians 3:26-29 26So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

• The transformation of the mind (Prov 4; Rom 12; 2Cor 10: Eph 4:23; Phil 4:4-8) 

...that you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

• Participate, “share in”: a participant who mutually belongs and shares fellowship; a "joint-participant."  

  • (koinōnia);  stresses the relational aspect of the fellowship.

  • koinōnós (a masculine noun) more directly focuses on the participant himself (herself).

• Divine:  manifesting the characteristics of God's nature, character

• Nature: inherent nature, origin, birth; inner nature, the underlying constitution or make-up of someone 

  • the sum of innate properties and powers by which one person differs from others, distinctive native peculiarities, natural characteristics

  • the holiness distinctive of the divine nature is specially referred to

This power, this new birth, this transformation endowed us with… 

• The power to testify - Acts 1-2

• The nature of Jesus, and makes able to 

  • Love rightly (Matt 22; Gal 5:22)

  • Be good and holy - do good (Eph 5; Gal 5:6; Col 3:12; Titus 2:14)

• The power to persevere - Heb 11,12

Homework: go back and look at the lives of those mentioned here.

Palm Sunday: 3 Kinds of Faith | Jesus on Mission

Matthew 21:1-11; Lev 23:40; Neh 8:14-15; Psalm 118; Rev 7:9 Jesus’ faith in His Father and His mission with the Father, for His Father compelled Him to go into Jerusalem

Why the “Feast of the Tabernacles”, the Passover, the palms: the remembrance, the experience, the vision of what’s to come - the promise. 

This is our faith’s building...

Faith: remember: looking back to what God has done - rescued from a life of bondage (Deut 8:1-5; Neh 8:9-15; Isa 61:1; Luke 4:18)

Faith: experience: realize what God is doing now - taking us through the wilderness (Deut 6:6-19; Neh 8; Rev 3:14-22)

Faith: anticipate: be confident in what God will do - bringing us into the promised land - eternal life, salvation, the Kingdom which the coming King will establish and is even now making (Joshua 1; John 14:1-4)

It is with all of this in mind that Jesus enters the way He enters riding on the foal of a donkey.- this IS Jesus’ declaration is to all who might see since they would not hear, in essence, “I AM, who I say I AM… so see, look, and understand”

Hallelujah! This is Jesus, the Messiah, the One who is to come, is here, seeking to save, now: the author, pioneer, and perfecter of our faith - demonstrated that faith in His Father and that faith is what enables, compels, propels Him to enter in, courageously. 

Jesus’ faith produced in Him…

His courage: I come, I enter in courageously, trusting the Father’s plan, intention, mission - this is why I have come - John 12:23-29

23Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

• John 13:3 He knew from whence He came and to whom He would return. He trusted the Father for everything in between and placed Himself in His hands - and so ought we 

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God”

• And we can know, too

  • What gives us the courage to enter? 

    • Courage to surrender our loves and lives

    • Courage to daily go forward in faith

    • Courage to approach the seeking heart on peace, with peace  

  • It is our God-provided faith. (John 1:12; 17; Eph 2:8-10; Phil 2:13)

    • Belief, a budding trust, faith that He is who He claims to be and in turn entrusting ourselves to Him by that faithm

    • Written and conceived and born in and through Jesus that is now in us who believe

His claim: “I am laying claim to being who I AM”

• Jesus had earlier asked: “Who do you say that I am?”

29“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”  Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

And at that time… 30Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

But, now...

• Jesus declares “I AM” He of whom the prophets speak (Zech 9:9; John 12:15)

15“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

• As He lays claim to us, we in turn lay claim to Him and what He has made us be and has created us to do (Rom 1:5; 2Cor 9:13; Eph 2:8-10; 1Pet 1:2; 2:21)

• We now courageously go in… (Matthew 28)

He is declaring His heart’s intention: “I come in peace, to make peace, to give peace to the hearts of men”

• Luke 12: Do not be afraid, for the Father is pleased to give you the kingdom 

• Do not be afraid, do not let your hearts be troubled

• My Father is pleased to give you the kingdom”

• And we can truly now cry out in truth “hallelujah… God saves!”

• And lay down the palms of our hearts and receive and honor Him as Lord and king

This is not only a statement of the moment, but a foreshadowing of what’s to come...

Much like Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, Jesus now courageously approaches the reluctant, the broken, the misunderstanding heart at the risk of denial and rejection, but come, He does, He enters and lays claim to be who He says He is, to lay down the gauntlet, to say to all the princes, lords, kings, of our hearts I am here, the “I AM” is here, what will you do with me? All others have come to steal and destroy, I have come in peace, to being peace, to make peace.  I AM the Prince of peace.  Will you receive me?

And now, once you’ve received me, will you take me to the ends of the earth?

Matt 28:19 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,

And so it is that we meet Jesus this way, or, He meets us.

And so it is that we, bring Jesus…

• Courageously - knowing from whence we came and to whom we are going

• Laying claim of that which we have been laid claim - taking hold of that which 

• Coming in peace - not to condemn, but to bring the life  that had mercifully, graciously given us life - Jesus 

And our faith is built… 

• Looking back to the Prince of Peace, and His entering in on the foal a donkey

• Realizing now the salvation He brought with Him - to save and not condemn (John 3:12-18)

• Looking forward to His coming, but this time, on a horse, to a final and eternal defeat the enemy and bring us home to the place he has prepared for us, that we might be with Him (Matt 24:36-47 25:21,23,34; 1Thes 4:15-17; Rev 6:2; 19:11; 21-22))

And this, by Faith