I have a lot more to say about this, but it may be hard for you to follow since you’ve become dull in your understanding. By this time, you ought to be teachers yourselves. Yet I feel like you want me to reteach you the most basic things that God wants you to know. It’s almost like you’re a baby again, coddled at your mother’s breast, nursing, not ready for solid food.
No one who lives on milk alone can know the ins and outs of what it means to be righteous and pursue justice. That’s because he is only a baby. But solid food is for those who have come of age, for those who have learned through practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14
Immaturity is why many who call themselves Christian look no different today than when they initially made a confession of faith in Jesus.
Not understanding that it is your heart, not your circumstances that is the battlefield in this war for your soul.
But many Christians’ hearts are more like a black hole than a well guarded fortress. Whatever tickles their fancy, whether righteous or unrighteous, is allowed entrance. Believing they are powerless to control their thought lives, the devil’s lies become their reality. Yes, these Christians may think they truly love Jesus.
BUT
If the devil controls their minds, he is the god of their world.
The American Worldview Inventory 2021 supports this. According to this inventory, only 6% of American adults possess a biblical worldview. Instead, the majority “substitute a patchwork of conflicting, often irreconcilable beliefs and values as they navigate life.”
This correlates with research conducted by The Barna Group. This market research firm specializes in studying the religious beliefs and behavior of Americans and the intersection of faith and culture.
Barna’s research suggests that 88% of American adults embrace an impure, unrecognizable worldview. One that blends ideas from multiple perspectives.
“Knowing a few Bible verses, attending church services, and praying won’t get the job done. Attending a Christian school that offers a chapel service and a Bible class won’t accomplish the task. Going to church services that feature sermons drawn from biblical content is not sufficient to build a biblical worldview. Parents expecting their children to follow the Ten Commandments is not enough to developing a full-scale biblical worldview. All of those are token efforts that have proven inadequate toward developing an integrated body of beliefs and behaviors that enable someone to think like Jesus so they can then live like Jesus.”(American Worldview Inventory 2021 Release #01)
According to the AWI202, the majority of individuals who call themselves Christians espouse unbiblical beliefs such as…
“•95% do not consider success in life to be described as consistent obedience to God
•92% do not believe that the wealth they have has been given to them by God to manage for His purposes
• 91% do not believe that people are born into sin and need to be saved by Jesus Christ
• 88% say they get their primary moral guidance from various sources other than the Bible
• 87% do not believe that the ultimate purpose of human life is to know, love, and serve God with all of their heart, mind, strength, and soul
• 76% contend that good people earn a place in Heaven through their good behavior
• 75% do not believe that God is the basis of all truth
• 74% believe in Karma
• 73% say that having some type of religious faith is more important than which faith is embraced
• 71% do not believe that the Bible is the true and reliable communication from God” (American Worldview Inventory 2021 Release #02)
The result?
The Christian Church in America is overflowing with individuals who are…
Building their personal kingdoms instead of Papa’s.
Seeking personal happiness, not Papa’s righteousness— truth.
Studying the bible, not for enlightenment and transformation but for divine confirmation of self-centered agendas.
Dismissing biblical teachings that contradict personal paradigms or are categorized as teachings of the past— no longer relevant in today’s culture or are only for the spiritual giants— those in ministry.
What can be done to demolish these unrighteous paradigms?
A non-negotiable biblical worldview must be taught along with the expectation that as a Christian you are to process all information, experiences, relationships and opportunities through the filter of Papa’s ordained moral absolutes.
These basic moral absolutes include…
Papa is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe, and He stills rules it today.
The universe was not created spontaneously but at the command of Almighty God. Its very existence testifies to the awesomeness of its Creator. A universe of…
Infinite variety.
Indescribable beauty.
Mind-boggling exactness and accuracy.
Dynamic creative power.
Life enhancing symbiotic relationships.
Insolvable mysteries.
It was Papa’s words, “Let there be light” that created order from confusion— life from nothingness— light from darkness. Like in the beginning, it is His righteousness— truth that has the power today to create in His children new hearts. Hearts that heed His commandment.“Repent— change your way of thinking and turn away from all your transgressions so that sin may not become a stumbling block to you. Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed against Me and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why should you die?” Ezekiel 18:30-31
Scriputure is accurate in all of its teachings.
Paul, the former Pharisee, perhaps knew better than anyone the inmate power that resides in Scripture when Jesus is its cornerstone. The advice he gave to Timothy is advice all should heed.
Continue in the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced. Holding tightly to the truths. Knowing from whom you learned them. How from childhood you have known the sacred writings (Hebrew Scriptures) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Surrendering your entire self to Him and having absolute confidence in His wisdom, power and goodness.
All Scripture is God-breathed. Given by divine inspiration and is profitable for instruction— for conviction of sin— for correction of error and restoration to obedience— for training in righteousness. Learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately. Behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage. So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:14-17
You can trust the truthfulness, validity and reliability of Scripture because God also bound Himself with an oath. So that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind.
So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.
Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. His hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:17-20
The devil is real, and his name is satan.
Don’t let anyone deceive you about this. When people do what is right. It shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning. It shows that they belong to the devil who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God, and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. 1 John 3:7-10
The devil— satan isn’t a …
Mythological creature.
Scare tactic of judgmental Christians.
Theological theory.
The devil is a spiritual entity whose sole purpose is to dishonor Papa by destroying His creation, including His children.
How does satan accomplish this?
Deceptive lies.
Manipulating Papa’s children so they embrace paradigms and behaviors that honor and glorify him, not Papa.
The devil and his army of demons are keen observers. Identifying your weaknesses by the choices you make. Although satan’s power is limited, he is ruthless and persistent. Like a dog with a bone, he won’t let go of you until you defy him.
So submit yourselves to the one true God and fight against the devil and his schemes. If you do, he will run away in failure. Come close to the one true God, and He will draw close to you. Wash your hands. You have dirtied them in sin. Cleanse your heart because your mind is split down the middle– your love for God on one side and selfish pursuits on the other.
Since the beginning, our loving Creator has been pursuing us. Drawing us closer to Him. He invites us to move closer to Him so we can be fully His.
Now is the time to lament, to grieve and to cry. Dissolve your laughter into sobbing and exchange your joy for depression. Lay yourself bare, facedown to the ground in humility before the Lord. He will lift your head so you can stand tall. James 4:7-10
Salvation is a gift from Papa that cannot be earned.
Death plagued all humanity from Adam to Moses. Even those whose sin was of a different sort than Adam’s. You see, in God’s plan, Adam was a prototype of the One who comes to usher in a new day. But the free gift of grace bears no resemblance to Adam’s crime that brings a death sentence to all of humanity. In fact, it is quite the opposite.
For if the one man’s sin brings death to so many, how much more does the gift of God’s radical grace extend to humanity since Jesus the Anointed offered His generous gift? His free gift is nothing like the scourge of the first man’s sin. The judgment that fell because of one false step brought condemnation, but the free gift following countless offenses results in a favorable verdict— not guilty. If one man’s sin brought a reign of death, that’s Adam’s legacy. How much more will those who receive grace in abundance and the free gift of redeeming justice reign in life by means of one other man— Jesus the Anointed.
So, here is the result. As one man’s sin brought about condemnation and punishment for all people, so one man’s act of faithfulness makes all of us right with God and brings us to new life. Romans 5:14-18
Jesus is the Son of God and is the only path to Papa.
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. So how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the only Way to God and the real Truth and the real Life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.
If you had really known Me, you would also have known My Father. From now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and then we will be satisfied.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you do not know Me yet, Philip, nor recognize clearly who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not say on My own initiative or authority. But the Father, abiding continually in Me does His works, His attesting miracles and acts of power.
Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me. Otherwise believe Me because of the very works themselves which you have witnessed.
I assure you and most solemnly say to you. Anyone who believes in Me as Savior will also do the things that I do. He will do even greater things than these in extent and outreach because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in My name as My representative. This I will do so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name as My representative, I will do it.
If you really love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.” John 14:5-15
It is Jesus where Papa and mere mortal become one. Jesus, the Son of God and the son of man, is Papa’s one and only redemption plan. Only in Jesus will you …
Learn Papa’s customs and plans.
Communicate directly with the divine supernatural realm.
Receive Papa’s promises.
Conquer death, sin.
Fulfill your Kingdom destiny.
Jesus lived a sinless life.
Inasmuch then as we believers have a great High Priest who has already ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God. Let us hold fast our confession of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior.
For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted. Knowing exactly how it feels to be human in every respect as we are, yet without committing any sin.
Therefore let us with privilege approach the throne of grace. That is, the throne of God’s gracious favor with confidence and without fear. So that we may receive mercy for our failures and find His amazing grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus, along with the Holy Spirit, has always been with Papa. Jesus, the human representation of Papa, was sent to earth so that all who were willing to see could behold Papa’s face— His holiness— His divine nature. A divine nature that can be yours when you unconditionally surrender your life to Jesus.
For far too long Christians’ expectations regarding their ability to resist sin and live a holy life has been too low. This has been reinforced by many teachers of the Gospel. Instead of challenging believers to live a sinless life, many have taught that all will continue to sin this side of heaven.
What a lie of the devil!
We can be sure that we know Him if we obey His commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, That person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love Him. That is how we know we are living in Him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:3-6
How did Jesus live His life?
Sinless.
Therefore, you are to live a sinless life.
An impossibility you say?
It is if you try to do it without Papa’s mercy and grace.
Jesus had to battle the desires of His flesh so He could obey Papa’s precepts and commandments. Papa didn’t shelter Jesus from sin. Instead He provided His grace— His power to resist sin.
If Jesus could be holy and undefiled, so can Christians because the Spirit of the living God who lived in Jesus lives in repentant believers.
Your heavenly Father sent Jesus to earth so He could love you into holiness. At long last, mankind could all have one heart— the sinless heart of Jesus— Papa’s heart.
Christians have a responsibility to share their faith in Christ with others.
Today, so many are hopeless and discouraged. Their public persona is one of happiness and contentment, but in reality their souls are dying a slow, agonizing death.
I was once counted among the terminal. If it had not been for individuals telling me how Jesus had changed their lives, I would still be in the darkness, alone and afraid.
For many, witnessing— evangelizing is intimidating. Something only spiritual giants can do successfully— another lie of the devil. It’s not eloquent words, a seminary degree or a title that makes your witness powerful. It’s your heart. A heart that is sold out, totally surrendered to Jesus. A heart compassionately extending Papa’s love in word or deed to the lost, the hurting, those imprisoned by sin.
Christians today would be wise to imitate Paul, the master evangelist.
Pray, and keep praying. Be alert and thankful when you pray. While you are at it, add us to your prayers. Pray that God would open doors and windows and minds and eyes and hearts for the word. So we can go on telling the mystery of the Anointed, for this is exactly why I am currently imprisoned. Pray that I will proclaim this message clearly and fearlessly as I should.
Be wise when you engage with those outside the faith community. Make the most of every moment and every encounter. When you speak the word, speak it gracefully as if seasoned with salt so you will know how to respond to everyone rightly. Colossians 4:2-6 voice
Who knows? The next person you meet is crossing your path because it is you who will plant the seed that will yield eternal fruit— the harvest of a soul.
Beloved, if your love for Jesus has waned or never been, join me as we study the book of Hebrews. Rediscovering the exquisite love that is Jesus.
letsloveothers 