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Biblically speaking, a better example would be a river, but I wanted to give a picture of finite depth. I didn’t confirm this, but this is the deepest pool in the world in Belgium. Its depth can go up to 108 feet. In some ways, the blog will sound similar to Rip Current.

In Ephesians 3:8, Paul speaks of unsearchable riches in Christ. Ezekiel saw a river that could not be crossed because of the current. Jesus spoke of living waters that will flow from our belly. The word unsearchable here means ‘that cannot be searched out’. The riches of Christ cannot be searched out because infinity has no end.

Hebrews 6:19 says, ” Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;” The word anchor here means anchor. Here is the catch. An anchor must connect with the bottom of the ocean floor. The writer of Hebrews says Hope is the anchor. What is hope? Hope hinges on faith. The substance of faith creates hope or a non-stop, constant, all the time, eager expectation. Both hope and faith are not self-imposed or self-imported. If they are then they are not faith or hope. It is self-imposed spirituality which is not part of the true Gospel. This is what Paul may be referring to in Colossians 2:18 when talking about ‘voluntary humility.’ Self-imposed spirituality can frustrate the grace of God, Galatians 2:21.

Back to the anchor for the soul, Hope. Colossians 2:6-7 (similar to Ephesians 3:17) says,

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Friends have suggested I input personal experience. Great suggestion. Thanks.

Lately, when revelation of the Word comes it goes to a depth in my soul I can only describe as ‘eternal depth.’ And this depth gets deeper! It establishes me more in Him! The most awesome thing about this is that I am not the instigator of it! This creates so much assurance in me and peace. I can almost see this Mariana Trench in me with no bottom. It stretches and stretches. In my natural mind and intellect I am waiting for it to hit bottom, but by faith I have understanding that it won’t! Whoa! The anchor will anchor itself across the universe. Personally, I believe the universe does not have an end. It was created by an Immortal, Eternal, Infinite Creator. In my opinion, He doesn’t create small things. I believe in our fallen nature we attempt to apply self-imposed spirituality on an Infinite, Eternal, Immortal Creator.

So, in the ‘biblical river’ we don’t touch the bottom because:

• The current is too strong
• It is too deep
• We are not tall enough
• Eventually, the river will drown you by design. So, you won’t know you touched the bottom because you’re dead or it doesn’t matter anymore.

All of these four bullets agree and say the bottom of the river or pool was not meant to be touched by human hands. In Christ, “…we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” Ephesians 3:12

Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;”

1Thessalonians 2:13, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

Scriptures pertaining to the Word abiding in the believer: 1 John 2:14, 24, 27 and John 15:7

The Greek word for Word is logos. John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with God, and the Logos was God.”

Logos is revelatory or quickened Word. Rhema is revelatory or quickened Word put into action with speaking words or action. Perhaps rhema could be Logos in action. The action is because of the passive effect of the Word. Logos metabolizes and absorbs the recipient according to the blueprint of the Designer. Motivation unto godliness is created or brought into existence because of this Word! It is His motivation in us and our motivation in Him.

In 1Thessalonians 2:13 it mentions, “which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” Sounds like Romans 10:17, “So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

As this faith grows by grace according to Logos in us, the Logos constantly ferments and churns in us. The Logos is alive, Hebrews 4:12. It is living and active all the time. The Logos or Word that is living and active all the time is in present tense. It is Now all the time. Now. The knowledge of this Word is eternal. Eternity does not exist in time, but outside of it.

Time and death have no power over Christ, the Logos or Unction in us. He is the Logos and Unction. 1 Peter 1:25, “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

As the Word ferments and churns it propagates itself also. Acts 1:8 says, “You shall receive power after that the Hoy Ghost has come upon you.” Power is the Greek word dunamis. It is where we get the word dynamite. Dunamis is akin to the nature of a dynamo. In a dynamo, energy reproduces energy like the nuclear power of the sun. Revelation of the Logos expounds, compounds, multiplies, amplifies, and increases eternal depth (if that is possible) with other Logos!

Again, Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;” This in turn creates faith in the inner man. Ephesians 3:16, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;” The unveiled Word attaches and absorbs or imbibes other Word. The other Word that is being attached may have been non-quickened Word, but when revelatory logos touches the non-quickened word by grace through faith that Word is quickened and absorbed. So, the Word grows exponentially as described earlier. It also stretches the vessel in which it abides. It transforms the inner man. ‘Stretching’ could be similar to muscle growth or a plant seed sprouting from the earth, Romans 5:1-5.

As the Word grows in us by grace, we grow also in righteousness by faith unto holiness and eternal life. In Him, we recreate the pattern of the Last Adam as stated Romans 5:17, “”For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)”

Romans 12:1 says,

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.”

One’s whole person, spirit, soul and body, is metabolized and absorbed into Him by the grace and revelation of Him and His grace. The members of our body will grow into and operate as weapons of righteousness. Adam and Eve could not do this prior to the Fall. The Seed had not yet been born into the world to redeem mankind. In Christ, we now have weapons of righteousness. In Christ, our spirit, soul and body are apprehended and transformed to be like Him. In this process of transformation which Paul describes in verse 2,

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

We become a perpetual living sacrifice offering Christ and His true righteousness to whosoever is thirsty. The sacrifices brought to the tabernacle are a shadow of this. Those sacrifices were killed and stayed dead. The sacrifices were burnt and consumed. We are burned, drowned, crucified and dead in Him, but are risen to life with Him by His resurrection. In this resurrection we are transformed by the knowledge of Him to be more like Him.

In verse 1, we are presenting our whole being holy. God says, “Be holy as I am holy.” Holiness in the Greek means ‘to set apart for a specific purpose.’ In Christ, we are who we truly are in Him. We are who we truly are in Him. Our lives are hidden in Him. As we grow in His righteous by faith, we grow unto holiness. The purpose of holiness is passively exercised in us by the knowledge of Him. This knowledge of Him blows the wind into our sails and sets the sailboat of our person in motion. The sailboat is only a sailboat when the force and energy of the wind influences the sails. The sailboat is being set apart unto its purpose, but not of itself.

This is acceptable to God because it is the faith of Christ in us by His grace that makes us acceptable before the Father. The knowledge of Christ’s death is the sacrifice in us. It is Christ in us.

Transformation is analogous with the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly.
https://www.freedomyou.com/fasting_book/Healing_through_Fasting.htm

“The butterfly is a magnificent example of catabolism (tearing down) and anabolism (building up). During metamorphosis the butterfly’s muscles and organs dissolve into a thick yellow solution. All internal structures are torn down and rebuilt. It emerges from the chrysalis, a new creation. The miraculous aspect of metamorphosis as it occurs while fasting. All substances needed for rebuilding come from within.”

This is an example from nature. Another example could be a tadpole growing into a frog.

We are transforming from death to eternal life. In Christ, we will never die. Our bodies may sleep, but not die. The brethren in the New Testament Church would say a brother or sister would fall asleep. The world would say they died. My mother went to be with the Lord over twenty years ago. Only a momentary sleep compared to eternity. Also, she is not dead. She is in glory with the Lord. She is alive! What hope we have in Christ. He has the keys of death and hell, Revelation 1:18.

I remember hearing this song as a child. I checked and discovered it was sung by Paul Simon about some girl who was “♪ Slip Slidin’ Away.”

So, this blog is dedicated to the term “backsliding”. The Hebrew root word means ‘to turn back.’ This blog also builds on previous blogs, Hit the bullseye. What bullseye? and To eat or not to eat the apple?.

2 Peter 2:21-22 says, “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

Peter was the apostle to the Jews, Galatians 2:7.

According to the flesh, I am not Hebrew. Although I am more Jewish than a physical Jew, or Jew by birth.

Huh? Chapter and verse please? Okay. Romans 2:29.

Back to backsliding. Peter wrote his letters to Messianic Jews. They were Hebrews who accepted Jesus Christ of Nazareth as the Messiah in their hearts.

Warning: Gentile Christians need to be careful not to turn letters intended for Messianic Jews into law. Other examples of letters to Messianic Jews are Hebrews and James.

Wait a minute. Paul says there is no Jew or Gentile in Christ. Correct. He didn’t write 1 Peter, 2 Peter and James. Yeah, but he may have written Hebrews. Who was the letter of Hebrews sent to? Do I have to answer? It wasn’t the Gentiles. Can the Gentiles benefit from reading it. You better believe it. It is the Word of God.

So, am I saying, “Don’t read these letters?” NO, they are the inspired Word of God. All I am saying is to ‘rightly divide the Word’ like Paul told Timothy. Keep it in mind.

Okay, back to ♪ Slip Slidin’ Away. I keep hearing the song in my head now.

Question. Where do you find the word “backsliding” in the bible?

Answer. Old Covenant.

What were they backsliding or turning back from? The Mosaic Law.

Backsliding is not a New Covenant term. This sounds like semantics. It could. It could also sound like rightly dividing the Word of Truth according to sound doctrine which is a point of this blog. In my opinion, God is more concerned about people’s lives than semantics. Sound doctrine and other doctrine effects people’s lives. I can attest to that. I prefer sound doctrine. It works. It changes my life daily to be more like Him.

So, if a Christian is doing something like stealing or lying what is it? If the judgment or penalty for sin doesn’t exist anymore according to my conscience (Read Hit the bullseye. What bullseye?), and I steal (which I of course don’t condone) then what is it?

Galatians 5:19-21 talks about what it is. Here is an excerpt from verse 19, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest” This could also read “manifestations of the flesh.” So, if a Christian steals, gets drunk, lies, cheats on taxes, or whatever it is a manifestation of the flesh. The judgment of the law has been abolished at Calvary in the flesh of God’s only begotten Son.

So, now I can go and steal and it’s okay? Great! WRONG!

I had to make that big and bold font. Grace gives us mercy and forgiveness as previously stated. It also gives us power! Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me…”

A witness of Christ does not accept Him as Lord and Saviour and then go and steal or break the law. That is not a witness. A witness receives the power of Christ after the baptism of the Holy Spirit and then grows and walks in the Spirit of God according to the grace and knowledge of Christ in them. Grace teaches us to say, “NO, to ungodliness.”  In Christ, by the revelation of Him, a witness does not have the desire to want to please the flesh anymore according to the faith of Christ in them. This is a total antithesis to works. Works are based on merited-performance and presumption.

At times, I can be hardheaded. It has taken me years to understand this (didn’t have to though.) I would try to be godly and stumble. Try to be this. Try to be that. Then I’d get tired and get back ‘in the flesh.’ What a witness. Then I’d reconcile to God and noticed He didn’t change. He was still the same. He was waiting for me and ready for me to continue in grace unto godliness and not lasciviousness (Jude 1:4). He did not keep records of any wrongs. He did not give up on me. He did not condemn me.

Here is the caveat to greasy grace or living according to the flesh. I was miserable. Galatians says, “Use not your liberty as occasion to the flesh” for a reason. It also says, “God is not mocked.” You will reap what you sow.

Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. Walk in the Spirit by revelation.

I brought unnecessary trials on myself because I did not have a sure, established spiritual foundation in my walk with Christ. My foundation was a mix based on religion and grace. Jesus said in Matthew 9:16,

“No man puts a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.”

When I tried to put the fig leaf (a reference to Adam’s self-strength) upon myself to cover my shame the rent/tear in what I thought was my garment of righteous was made worse.

My hope and purpose in sharing this is encouragement for the believer whom the enemy has lied to or deceived and said there is no hope. Love always hopes. It never stops.

So, if a believer says so-in-so was backsliding, watch out. They are attempting to sew the old garment of works onto ‘the robe of righteousness by faith.’ This is Impossible. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

I am under grace and not law. Romans 8:1,

“[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

To me, when someone says a brother or sister is backsliding, Christ’s heart in me goes out to the accused. I strongly desire to bring them back into the sheep fold where they belong. My heart goes out to them because what I hear is an attempt to put a curse on the brother or sister or ‘bewitch’ them like Galatians says. Instead of putting Love on them.

I do not condone or endorse greasy grace. That is not salvation. That is self-deception, misery, and wretchedness. No life there. I desire His life in me. His life in me is creates desire to ‘not want to’ steal, lie, etc. Sounds like John10:10, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.”

What does Christ say concerning greasy grace? Revelation 3:16, ” So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue (vomit) thee out of my mouth.”

Going to be graphic now. I recall times of vomiting due to food poisoning or dehydration. It is not a good feeling. You want to hold down the food, but can’t.

Captain Kirk would say on Star Trek, “He’s dead Jim” whenever a character would die on the show.

Previous blogs have touched on being dead in Christ. This blog is about being alive and resurrected in Christ. It will briefly touch what it means to the individual believer and Church as a whole.

In Acts 14:19, Paul was left supposedly dead. Supposedly could mean He seemed like he was dead because he wasn’t moving, breathing and had no heart beat which is dead by the way. It could also mean he wasn’t moving, breathing and had no heart beat, but then later he did. This implies resuscitation. The bible calls it resurrection power. Power that raises the dead.

Other examples of dead not staying dead are:

• Elijah and the Widow’s dead son in 1 Kings 17:22
• Elisha and the dead child in 2 Kings 4:17-37
• The Widow’s Son From Nain in Luke 7:11-15
• Jairus’ dead daughter in Matthew 9:24
• Raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11:43-44
• Peter and Tabitha in Acts 9:40
• Paul and the young man in Acts 20:10
• Of course, the Lord in Matthew 28:6, 1 Corinthians 15:6

Something happens to someone when they hang around with this Jesus Christ person (the real One.) Acts 4:13 says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

Paul says, “Mimic or imitate me as I imitate Christ” as a child would their father. The word mimic in the Greek means to “rub off on.” To me, this also sounds like anointing oil. John describes the unction within the believer. Unction can mean to smear on like an ointment.

Fellowship with Christ obviously had a radical effect on the apostles and prophets.

Hebrews 11:5 says, Enoch was translated by faith. He pleased God. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

2 Kings 2:1 says, Elijah was caught up in a whirlwind to heaven.

In 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 the apostle Paul says,

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.”

Ephesians 4:13 says, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:”

Hebrews says by faith Enoch was translated. Hebrews and Colossians refer to the Old Covenant as a shadow of good things to come. Christ is the Body that makes the shadow. He is substance. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. Enoch walked with God for 365 years.

Who did Enoch walk with? God the Father? God the Son? God the Spirit?

I would say not the Spirit. He is Spirit.

I would say not the Father. John 6:46 says, “No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.” So, Enoch did not walk with Him either. This leaves only One person of the Godhead left, Jesus.

I believe Enoch walked with Christ. Death has never had reign over Christ. Jesus says He is the beginning and the end. The first and the last.

Colossians 1:15-18 says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”

If Enoch walked with Christ and death does not have authority over Christ (which it never has, otherwise He’d still be dead) then Christ ‘rubbed off’ on Enoch after walking with Him for 365 years!

Some would say, “That’s great brother. What’s for dinner?” It would go in one ear and out the other. That is why it says in Revelation, “He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

So, the Old Covenant or Testament is a shadow of the New Covenant. Christ rubs off on believers by revelation of Him through faith and grace. Death never had reign over Christ. Christ walked with Enoch (By the way, God is big enough for Christ to have walked with Enoch before Mary conceived Him. This is already mentioned in Colossians.)

Here is the point. I am of the opinion that as the Church grows in the “unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” that as a universal Church death will not have power over us.

We won’t die because of the revelation of Christ in us.

It is not in His nature to ‘stay dead.’ That is why Paul and the others resurrected, or did not die.

Enoch did not die. Elijah did not die. Paul, Tabitha, the Widow’s son, and Lazarus did not stay dead.

Ironically, Enoch means both initiated and inaugurated. The word ‘mystery’ that Paul mentions in his writings means, “that which is known only by the initiated.”

What is ‘that which is known’? It is Christ in you the Hope of Glory!

The Church in Him, are the initiated ones by revelation of Him.

I am of the opinion that in the future existence of the Church that it’s members will grow to a point in revelation of Him that they cannot die physically ever. In Christ, the Church is immovable and eternal. This is also how we can be ‘living sacrifices.’ Usually, a sacrifice is something that dies after sacrificed. In Christ, death has no authority over us. Ever! In Christ, it never did.

Getting there is the next question. How? Ephesians 4:11 indicates how to get to Ephesians 4:13. That is another blog.

“Too close for comfort” is an idiom for “to be dangerously close.” The basis of this blog is soulishness.

1 Corinthians 2:14 refers to soulishness, “But the natural [psuchikos, soulish] man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

1 Corinthians 3:4 states, “For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?”

Galatians 5:26 says, “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

There are various other examples. Here is one more in Galatians 2:12, “For before that certain came from James, he (Peter) did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.” Peter seemed more concerned about what these “certain men” thought than truth that is in Christ. This truth is what Paul describes in verses 11-21. I am not picking on Peter. He was the apostle to the Jews. He was at the Transfiguration. He walked on water with Christ. What he did in verse 12 is an example of soulishness.

To me, the definition of soulishness is when the old nature attaches itself parasitically to people and or things. It does so on the basis of lack of knowledge, insecurity and fear. The above scriptures show partiality when our God is impartial. They also show that the soulish man cannot receive the things of God by the Spirit of God. Periodically, I see this soulishness in church. It contaminates the ministry and sound doctrine of the Word. Paul says, “Quench not the Spirit.” He also says, “Use not your liberty as an occasion to the flesh.” Instead serve one another in love by the faith of Christ in you. Envying, vain glorying, and provoking one another is based on soulishness. Paul addresses this in Colossians 3:5,

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”

Please don’t go and try to crucify your flesh after reading the above scripture. Kicking a dead horse and How to make a zombie are good references concerning crucifying the flesh. If you are dead in Him then you’re dead. Romans 6:10 says, “He died once.” Not one thousand times. If we partake in His death how many times do we need to die on our cross? Once.

In Colossians 3:23 Paul says, “And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

We serve the Lord because we want to from our heart because of the revelation of Him and everything He has done for us. The Metabolized blog elaborates on this.

John says that perfect love casts out fear. Paul says when perfection comes the imperfect disappears. The letter to the Hebrews says the Word of God cuts in half or separates soul and spirit. So, revelation of the Word dissolves this carnal soulishness as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Him.

This brings up a good point. So, if this soulishness is prevalent in the church why is it happening?

Do a search on Google for “sheep off a cliff.” You’ll be surprised. I found this article, “450 Sheep jump to their deaths.” Don’t mean to be graphic. My heart really does go out to these sheep. Their are also sheep in the pews as well. People’s lives.

This is why soulishness is efficacious in the church. Jeremiah 23:1 says, “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.”

Here is an excerpt from How to make a zombie,
“The old man, sinful nature, or old self predicates itself on the law. If you want a mean, ornery, cold, vindictive Christian (should be an oxymoron) then put some law on him or her. As stated in “Worn out?” the law/schoolmaster will slay you or kill you. Read Blue Letter Bible on Rm. 7:11.

One ability of an evangelist is to convince the hearer they are guilty of the law through the unction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Galatians says the law leads us to Christ to be justified by His faith. Once justified by faith after salvation, the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit, continues to convince us by the faith of Christ in us. This knowledge by the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to discern between good and evil. If a believer is justified by the faith of Christ, then he or she does not need to be initiated all over again into the Body of Christ by being convinced they are a sinner. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

The other reason this occurs is false brethren like the ones Paul describes in Galatians 2:4,

“And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:”

That’s interesting. What does that mean, “Bring us into bondage.” They attempt to do so by putting law/legalism on the brethren. In Galatians 5:1, Paul says to “stand fast in the liberty with which Christ has made us free.”

If someone, a brother or sister, anyone says that you have to do something or anything to justify yourself in Christ apart from the righteousness that comes by His faith, they are wrong and let them be accursed.

Galatians 1:8, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

Prior to knowing Christ, we are under the curse of the law either in our hearts for non-Jews or curse of the Mosaic law for Jews. We cannot do anything apart from what Christ has done to make ourself look any better or worse. Christ is our all in all.

Lastly, soulishness is not spiritual, but I have seen some who swear by it. It looks, sounds, walks, sings, volunteers like spiritual, but it isn’t. Colossians speaks of circumcision of the heart. Christ knew all men’s hearts. Christ said, “You will know them by their fruit.” Not works, not clothes, makeup, car, house, bible, knowledge, but their fruit.

2 Timothy 3:5 says, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Also, soulishness will always let you down and disappoint you. Love always hopes, perseveres and never fails. The Proverbs say, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” Soulishness’s deception will betray oneself. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will never leave you or forsake you.

This is a quote from the lyrics to the song, “Charlie Brown”, by Sha Na Na.
This title is somewhat fitting for persecution in the Western church.

The Greek root word for persecution is dioko. It means the following:

1. to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away
2. to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after
a) to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal
b) to pursue (in a hostile manner)
3. in any way whatever to harass, trouble, molest one
a) to persecute
b) to be mistreated, suffer persecution on account of something
4. without the idea of hostility, to run after, follow after: someone
5. metaph., to pursue
a) to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire
For some reason Paul does not call persecution a huge overwhelming monster, but instead calls it a thorn. Read 2 Cor. 12.

Persecution can occur because of the following:
1. Persecution for the Word’s sake.
2. Persecution for His name’s sake or bearing Christ’s name, “Christian.”
3. Persecution for godliness.
4. Persecution for the works of the flesh.
5. Persecution for the Church.

Scriptures regarding persecution for the Word’s sake.

Matt. 13:21, “Yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of
the word, by and by he is offended.”

Mark 4:17, “And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.”

Acts 13:50, “But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.”

Gal. 5:11, “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offense of the cross ceased.”

Persecution for the Word’s sake occurs because of the revelation of Christ in the believer. This is persecution specialized and particular to the individual.

Scriptures regarding persecution for His name’s sake or bearing Christ’s name, “Christian.”

John 15:21, “But they will do all this to you [inflict all this suffering on you] because of [your bearing] My name and on My account, for they do not know or understand the One Who sent Me.”

A non-believer might say, “So, you call yourself a Christian?” Then they go under the microscope of scrutiny. Paul even speaks of “perils among false brethren” in 2 Cor. 11:26, These “false brethren” did not like his doctrine. Yes, the doctrine that wrote 66% of the New Testament. Two out of three epistles of the New Testament were written by Paul. So, then it is not odd if the same doctrine is spoken that similar scenarios occur.

Scriptures regarding persecution for godliness.

2 Tim. 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

As we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, we grow in faith and glory as well. We grow in godliness according to the
grace in our lives. People who are ungodly do not find it very appealing if someone is godly and they aren’t. Carnal
Christians do this. “Since you aren’t carnal like me, brother or sister I’m going to let you have it.” According to the carnal
mind, this makes sense. I persecute you and put you down and therefore I win you lose. Nope, the persecutor really loses. In Romans 5 and 2 Cor. 12, the persecuted grow more in Christ. In other words, they become stronger, resilient, emboldened, fearless, compelled, consumed by Love, joyful, etc. Read in Acts 12. concerning James’ martyrdom by King Herod. In the course of events after his death you would think that would have quited things down a bit. Nope, it says, “The word of God grew and multiplied.” The revelation of Christ in the Church strengthened and grew more! What happened after James was martyred? King Herod was struck dead by the angel of the Lord and eaten by worms. Don’t mess with the Lord’s Church. There can be potentially, critical repercussions. Another example is Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5.

Scriptures regarding persecution for the works of the flesh.

Acts 9:24-25, “But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the
disciples took him by night, and let [him] down by the wall in a basket.”

Paul just accepted the Lord in his heart and was not yet spiritually mature in Christ to minister the Word. He was a “new
born.” In my opinion (and personal salvation experience), his life was turned upside down. He was a new creation and wanted to tell the world. His motive was pure, but sound doctrine was not yet fully developed in him. So, he could have been killed, but the brethren helped him escape. Paul refers back to this experience in 2 Corinthians.

Sometimes the believer’s persecution can be self-inflicted or provoked by self-strength. If the believer is not ready for it
then the persecution could take its toll adversely. In Matthew and Mark above, it says, “They were immediately offended.” (Hebrews talks about not letting roots of bitterness rise up.)

The Word needs to be rooted, grounded and established by grace in the believer. Jesus talks about two houses built on two different foundations in the Gospels. One foundation is sand and the other bedrock. One is dead works, religion, the Old Covenant and the other is grace and Him being the Testator of the New Covenant.

Scriptures regarding persecution for the Church.

Acts 8:1, “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.”
In my opinion, this is the inevitable future of the universal Church. Today, if Chinese or Middle Eastern Christians are being
martyred and Christians in the U.S. and Canada are going to Starbuck’s this tells me it is not persecution for the sake of
the Church, but it is persecution for His name’s sake, revelation of the Word and godliness. Global persecution will occur
for the Church when the Church grows into the full stature of Christ according to Ephesians. The Church will be the actual
Church Christ died for. The Church is a Theocracy and based on Christ as the Head of its government. The government of this world cannot co-exist with the government of Christ. This is when persecution arises globally because of the Church. And yes, other things happen during and after, but I am ending this blog here. That will be another blog. Blogs are great.

This blog poses another facet of “To eat or not to eat the apple?”

The Greek word for sin is hamartia. It is defined as missing the mark. An example of this definition is shooting a bow and arrow at the center target of a bullseye marker. Guess another example could be the precision in putting or shooting a basketball in a hoop.

Here are some supporting scriptures concerning sin, the law, and imputation (charging to one’s account):

Rom. 5:13, “(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.”

Rom. 4:8, “Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

Psalms 32:2, “Blessed [is] the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit [there is] no guile.”

Rom. 8:1, “[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Heb. 10:2, “For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.”

Question. What is the purpose of the Law? What does it do? Answer. One thing in particular it does is expose sin for what is really is to those who are not in Christ who break the law. The eighth commandment is “Thou shall not steal.” So, this would tell me if I steal from my neighbor is it wrong. If the law wasn’t there to make me conscious of stealing I wouldn’t know it was stealing.

What did Jesus do with the Law (that makes me aware of this sin) on the cross? Excerpt from “How to make a zombie”: He became sin and a curse for the penalty and punishment of ALL of the law for us. He nailed this penalty to the cross in His flesh. He abolished it. He nullified the power of the Law over us forever!

My righteousness in Christ does not change ever! It is immutable. It is His faith in me by His grace through the revelation of Him. His righteousness does not change in me. It is unconditional by grace. Otherwise Christ died in vain.

Gal. 2:21, “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

According to scripture, Christ is also our righteousness.

My conscience is aware of the righteousness in Him and only Him and by Him. It is purged from the awareness of the judgment and condemnation of sin. It is a pure conscience in Christ. I am no longer aware of the guilt or punishment of sin because of the abolition of the law, Col. 2:14. If the awareness of the punishment or penalty of sin is absent then so is the consciousness of sin because I don’t know what I am being judged for. 

Rom. 3:20, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.”

So, back to “missing the mark.”

This is what Christ has done. He has removed the bullseye.

What!? Paul says it this way in Colossians 2:11, “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:”

If I try to hit the bullseye apart from Christ in my self-strength this is a dead work. It is an attempt to justify myself. It is a pat on the back in self-righteousness. Romans says no flesh shall be justified by the law, but the flesh so desperately wants to.

I am under His grace. Christ hit the bullseye directly in its center with perfect accuracy in front of all creation and the universe. Only He could do it. I now have revelation that He did this. The faith of this in me (His faith), of Him hitting the bullseye with perfection justifies me and makes me righteous. He also made the bullseye. He gave the Law to Moses.

Isn’t this what Paul says in Phil. 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:“

My conscience is purged, purified and made perfect in Him. The epistle to the Hebrews and other letters show this. I partake of Christ’s nature and grow in it by faith through grace. In this new nature, I do not desire to do the things I used to do (sin) because of the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave His life for me. This is so different than obeying a list of do’s and don’ts.

Obeying a list of do’s and don’ts is dead religion. In my opinion, that is a “feel good” religion based on sensuality and not faith. I feel good therefore I’m okay. It is based on sight and not hope. It is fickle and made of styrofoam. Justification in Christ is not based on tithing, fasting, bible reading, church attendance, witnessing, moving in the gifts, donating to charities, being an ‘overall’ good person, wearing nice clothes, annual salary, or smiling all the time. This is another gospel which really isn’t a gospel at all. Gospel means ‘good news.’ That is not good news.

No picture needed here. This blog should build on Kicking a dead horse or interrelate.

Here is one definition of zombie: the body of a dead person given the semblance of life, but mute and will-less, by a supernatural force, usually for some evil purpose.

Here is another: one who looks or behaves like an automaton.

Both are applicable. So, where’s your Word reference brother? Here it is.

Rom. 7:8-9, “But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin [was] dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” In the previous verse 6, Paul says we are now delivered from the law. In verse 4, he says we have become dead to the law. In 7:1, he is talking to the brethren that know the Mosaic Law. He says according to the Law, a wife is loosed from the marriage if her husband is dead.

Question. What did Jesus do? He became sin and a curse for the penalty and punishment of ALL of the law for us. He nailed this penalty to the cross in His flesh. He abolished it. He nullified the power of the Law over us forever! My faith in who He is and what He has done now makes me righteous. This righteousness is actually His righteousness. Read Rom. 3:22 in different translations. By Christ being crucified on the cross, a New Covenant is created in One New Man. Ephesians 2, Hebrews, Colossians, Galatians, and other Pauline epistles show this. Starting to go on another tangent, but a good one.

Back to making a zombie.
I will give the example of “Wet paint. Do not touch.” Let’s say hypothetically the Old Covenant says, “Wet paint. Do not touch.” Apart from Christ what happens? The rule creates this desire to touch it even though it is wet. Why? The old nature does not have the power to not touch it. Your reply is, “Well, I’m okay because I don’t touch wet paint.” Fill in the blank with the area in your life that eats your lunch all the time. The area that judges you, condemns you and you succumb to. The one that the self-help books make so much money on. Yeah, that one. So, I’m perfect. Wrong, I live in this flesh, but am learning to not use my liberty as an occasion to the flesh. I am not walking on egg shells either. Been there done that. Got the t-shirt. This is what I am alluding to. Apart from Christ, when I desperately try not to do what I don’t want to do, sin will become alive through this self-imposed law/rule I put on myself that Jesus nailed to the cross. This is called self-righteousness or self-justification. It is what Adam and Eve did when they covered themselves with the fig leaves. Adam thinking to himself, “Well, now I’m ok. I’ve got the fig leaf covering my shame.” He doesn’t see (but he does.) God, of course sees it and others may see it too. This is also called Uzzah or self-strength. Read 2 Sam. 6, Uzzah, who was not a Levite, tried grabbing the ark of the covenant because the oxen who were holding it slipped. Uzzah was struck dead by God. Uzzah disobeyed the Old Covenant law. Whenever the believer moves in self-strength he/she will die! This ties into the other blog aforementioned.

Potentially, moving in self-strength creates witchcraft. Whoa brother, now you’ve gone too far. I’d say not far enough. Read about Saul and the witch of Endor. What did they do? Uh huh. So, the next question is as a Christian what do I do? Read “Be a tree.” Here is another heretical answer, “Do nothing.” What?! “Do nothing.” You will notice that the flesh needs to do something. It desperately wants to be justified, but we know what Romans 3:20 says, “No flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the law.”

The old man, sinful nature, or old self predicates itself on the law. If you want a mean, ornery, cold, vindictive Christian (should be an oxymoron) then put some law on him or her. As stated in “Worn out?” the law/schoolmaster will slay you or kill you.

One ability of an evangelist is to convince the hearer they are guilty of the law through the unction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Galatians says the law leads us to Christ to be justified by His faith. Once justified by faith after salvation, the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit, continues to convince us by the faith of Christ in us. This knowledge by the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to discern between good and evil. If a believer is justified by the faith of Christ, then he or she does not need to be initiated all over again into the Body of Christ by being convinced they are a sinner. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Galatians 2:18-19 says, “For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.”

If I attempt to justify myself by the law or what I think it right I make myself a transgressor. I am a transgressor because apart from faith I cannot please God. Only Christ can justify us by His sacrifice. We are dead to the law by being crucified with Him, Galatians 2:20.

The law cannot have power over a dead person and in Christ we are dead. Romans 7:1, “Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?”

Regarding evangelists, I have nothing whatsoever against evangelists. Evangelists are a crucial part of the five-fold ministry, Ephesians 4:11. Evangelists are need to preach the Gospel of Christ to the unsaved and I am totally on board for that.

My concern and heart is for the Church that Christ has given His life for. I am vehemently and passionately against an evangelist, pastor, apostle, prophet, teacher, or any believer that puts law, legalism, or condemnation on undeserving believers. That is unjust and wrong!

1 Peter 5:3 says, “Neither as being lords over [God’s] heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”

The Greek word for ‘lords over’ is katakurieuo. PreceptAustin.org has a great study on this word. In relation to Galatians 2:11, I believe Peter learned something concerning katakurieuo.

So, if I try to be a Christian I could be bringing the dead back to life. Leave the dead in the dirt. Live in newness of life by the revelation of Christ in you by faith through grace. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Him.

So, I do not touch the wet paint. Why? Because I don’t want to. The desire of Christ in me wills me not to. It is my will in Him and His will in me. The old nature that wanted to touch the wet paint was crucified with Him at Calvary. That old nature does not have power to even touch the wet paint much less desire. The desire to not touch the wet paint is in me by the revelation of Him.

It is different to not touch the wet paint because you’re not supposed to. Honestly, that is legalism and not the gospel of grace.

Lastly, if I currently don’t touch the wet paint because I’m not supposed to then is Christ my Lord and Savior? That is the question. If you don’t know ask Him. The throne of grace is eternally open through our High Priest.

Rev. 2:17
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].”
This may be the million dollar question to every person on the planet, “Who am I?” Another similar one, “What is my purpose?” or “Where did I come from?”

The Word says, “We have understanding by faith.” This understanding permeates the soul from our spirit which in turn is quickened by the Spirit of Truth through grace. 1 Cor. 15:45 says, “The last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit.” The epiphanic knowledge of the Last Adam is in the believer now, Gal. 1:16. So, we have understanding by faith.

Paul says in Phil. 3:9-11, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith OF Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

In Col. 3:3, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

In 1 Cor. 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am:“

It seems that when Christ reveals Himself, He is also reflecting the true you. Christ is the tupos for us. Tupos in the Greek means blueprint, example, or pattern. When I see Christ in the mirror, I am seeing my blueprint, DNA, and purpose. Jesus knew and knows all men’s hearts. When He saw Peter He knew who Peter was before even meeting Peter. He knew Peter before Peter was born.

John says in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The beginning here is eons in eternity’s past. An eon in astronomy is equivalent to one billion years.

Okay, I hope you see this like I did and have seen again from time to time. Read this slowly. Let it minister to you. It is easy to intellectualize anything and miss it.

One night, I was lying down about to go to sleep and the Lord told me, “You have always been who you are.”

IN Him, I was and really am. I have ALWAYS been who I am in Him. Well, that’s nice. One more time, I have always been who I am in Him! Before I was born, I am! In the beginning was the Word, and so was I (here come the tomatoes. Throw ’em. I’ll put them in my spaghetti and thank the Lord for fresh tomatoes.) When I began to receive this revelation by understanding through faith it went to an indescribable, eternal-type depth in my inner man. I am rooted, grounded, and established in Him. Growing in this knowledge, I am aware of the Creator and my purpose.

There, the million dollar question is answered. The answer is a gift and free of charge. He said, “Charge it to my account.” So, my name is _______ in Christ.