The Locator (Sons and Daughters)
So have you ever had one of those days? Well all six of us are on antibiotics. It has been one of those stay in bed days. I flipped on the television and there was a show on called The Locator. The pretense of the show is for family members to be reunited after years of absence do to splits at birth, family splits, foster kids, etc. I watched two different segments, one was about reuniting a brother who was seperated by a marriage split when he was two (currently he is 40) the other was reuniting a mother and daughter. Where am I going with this?
Well I found this interesting as turned off the television and opened up the word. I opened up to where I had left off.
Romans 8:15-19 (TMT)
Slavery is such a poor substitute for sonship! They are opposites; the one leads forcefully through fear while sonshipI resppnds fondly to Abba Father.
His spirit resonates within our spirit to confirm the fact that we originate in God.
Because we are his offspring, we qualify to be heirs; God himself is our portion, we co-inherit with Christ. Since we were represented and included in his suffering we equally participate in th glory of his resurrection.
He has taken the sting out of our suffering; what seemed burdensome in this life becomes insignificant in comparison to the glory he reveals in us.
Our lives now represent the one event every creature anticipates withheld breath, standing tiptoe as it were to witness the unveiling of the sons of God. Can you hear the drum roll?
The Locator was all about reuniting lost relationships. All of mankind has lost relationship with God because of Adams sin. We need that reuniting that relationship with our original father. From the moment God created man he was, is, and always will be our original father. Just like any family there are different levels of function or disfunction. Some people walk in that sonship amazingly while others are black sheep, prodigal sons, foster kids, etc. Our father is like that parent on the television show who is continually trying to reunite his family. We were his sons and daughters from the beginning, his death and resurrection brought that ability to walk in sonship full circle. No one who calls themselves a Christian can deny Jesus is the son of God. Jesus is in me and I am in him. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says that we look into a mirror and see Jesus, he uses that same reflection and sees us. If a mirror sees in the present tense the fact that what Jesus sees is him in us and we see him in us. The image seen both ways is sinless, blameless, perfect at that current moment. Jesus calls us co-heirs, sons and daughters. We are Gods sons and daghters. Sure some of us feel like orphans, foster kids, or black sheep but just like the prodigal son we have a father waiting arms open wanting us to run to him. Don’t worry about showering or cleaning yourself up. If yiu think I have to make myself presentable before going to him, get over it. Man will never on their own be able to make themselves good enough, that’s what grace is all about.
Malachi 4:6 New Living Translation
His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
Share via Twitter Facebook etc
Question about Mirrors leads to Grace and Identity
-
I posed a question on Facebook, Twitter,and WordPress last night asking a simple question, “What is a mirror and what does it do?” Below are some of the responses. Some of the replies were humorous to philosophical. But I received the basic response I was expecting.According to Merriams-Webster Dictionary:Mirror:
1: a polished or smooth surface (as of glass) that forms images by reflection2a : something that gives a true representationb : an exemplary model
-
A mirror is an object that reflects light or sound in a way that preserves much of its original quality subsequent to its contact with the mirror, Mirrors are commonly used for personal grooming or admiring oneself -
-
A mirrors tell you the truth
-
A mirror is a vehicle carrier (for sociology folks) it lets one see what they want to see about self and immediate surrounding
-
A mirror is a portal into a magical realm, where my physical self manifests properties that are deemed “attractive” to “ladies” and I have the uncanny ability to talk to people without any regard to my inhibitions…and brush my teeth into my magical toothbrush/microphone.
-
Mirrors: An image reflective device. What they do: Reflect back what they see.
-
A mirror is a man made object to show a reflection. It’s also what John said a portal to another dimension.
A mirror can be used for for different purposes but in fact it is usually a piece of glass with a reflective coating which is used to show an exact reflection of the image of whatever is in front of it. (We are leaving the side show carnival mirrors out of this blog for now)2 Corinthians 3:18 (The Mirror Translation)The days of window-shopping are over! In him every face is unveiled. in gazing at the blueprint likeness of God displayed in human form we suddenly realize that we are looking at ourselves! Every feature of his image is mirrored in us! This is the most radical transformation engineered by the Spirit of the Lord; we are led from an inferior mind-set to the revealed endorsement of our authentic identity . Man Kind is His glory!2 Corinthians 3:18 (Amplified Bible)
And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit
I have read this verse over and over for the past umpteen plus years and never have I put much thought into it. If you look at my previous blogs over the past month you will see that I have been digging into the book of Romans. It has been eye opening. I have spent hours contemplating the cross and grace. I have come to realize I and most Christians I’ve ever known think they are living under the New Covenant when in fact when in reality its most are living in a mix of the Old Covenant (the Law) and the New Covenant (Grace). It is impossible to be in both. you either live under the Law and attain through will power the ability to keep the 10 Commandments and the 600+ minor laws, or you live under the New Covenant and grace. It is one or the other. Jesus paid my spiritual mortgage 2000 years prior to me taking my first breath. He knew me before I was conceived and was waiting enthusiastically for me to be here.
I’m seeing the mirror as a two way street we see ourselves in Christ and he sees him in us, a mirror sees the present time and not the future or past. God is in us now we are blameless and innocent as he took care of my sin issues on the cross 2000 years ago.the ramifications of the cross when realized by the believer radically change ones paradigm. We look into the mirror and see what God sees. He sees us free of sin free of condemnation perfect before him. The vice versa is in effect as well, if he sees that, that is the spiritual reality the mirror should produce for us as well. I don’t have all the words to express this perfectly at this point but the revelation of the two sides the two perceptions of the mirror are liberating. There is now no condemnation I do not have to strive to come to my father. It’s unconditional acceptance. The mere thought of this draws me in to want more of him. This in not some sloppy grace fest. There are some groups out there that take shots at what they term the hyper grace message because they say it licenses the christian to sin. It’s the exact opposite the grace pulls you in to want more. He made man to relate to him on a personal basis. Prior to the fall (Adam), Adam walked and talked with God. The cross brought us back to right standing. a hard reset was done bringing back our original identity and redeemed innocence. He payed my spiritual mortgage.
The ramifications of the cross and what was done for me there are life changing. The realization that grace was poured out unconditionally and I now no longer am bound by the law. I am not bound up with a DIY mindset (work in progress) is freeing. 99% of my Christianity has been based on attaining a level of acceptance that is impossible. A DIY mentality is crippling to a spiritual walk. The epiphany of “looking into th mirror” has been radical to say the least. Not only do we see a reflection of Christ in the mirror but He also sees his reflection in us. Mirrors see the present, not the past or future. He sees me sinless blameless now regardless of how I feel about me. Grace was a total gift. The cross or what was accomplished at the cross should be freeing to anyone who gets it. The realization or understanding that he died and our sin nature died at that moment and our original identity of redeemed innocence was in place 2000 years ago… Woo Hoooooo! HE REALLY REALLY LIKES ME!
Romans 1:17 AMP
For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.
Romans 1:17 TMT
Herein lies the secret of the power of the Gospel; There is no good news in it till the righteousness of of God is revealed. The dynamic of the Gospel is the revelation of God’s faith as the only valid basis for our belief. The prophets wrote in advance about the fact that God believes that righteousness unveils the life that he had in mind for us. “Righteousness by his (God’s) defines life.”
-
.
I’m Trading My Sorrows, Jeremy Camp
Replace trading with the word traded
Share via Twitter Facebook etc
Galations the VS.’s
In Galations Paul contrasts the mans fall through Adam and the redeemed innocence that Jesus brought through his obedience and death on the cross.
These contrasts spotlight the importance of the cross. I’ve posted on this subject before but it is vital to the life of the believer. It brings me into a total paradigm shift. I see the world differently because of this grace revelation.
Galations 1:6 (The Mirror Translation)
I am amazed that you can so easily be fooled into swapping the Gospel for a gimmick! The Gospel reveals the integrity of your original identity rescued in Christ; the gimmick is a conglomeration of grace and legalism. A mixture boils down to a do-it-yourself plan to salvation. 7. There is no other Gospel in spite of the so many so-called Christian priducts branded “gospel.” If any hint of the law remains, it is not good news but merely religious people’s ideas, detracting from the Gospel of Christ….. 9. Let me blatant and clear about this: any gospel that does not emphasize the success of the cross is a counterfeit and produces nothing but the curse.
At the cross we were crucified with Christ, past tense! Do you understand the ramifications? I’m a bit foggy on it myself but it is starting to sink in the more I meditate and marinate in it. Its one or the other its either we fall under the Law or we fall under Grace. There is no fence sitting no taking some law and some grace. Paul states it pretty clear, using words like blatant and he even tells you which side of the fence to land on…GRACE!
The law implies or is founded on a DIY (do-it-yourself) mentality. If we could attain righteousness on our own works Christ would not have been sent down to walk as a man, submitting himself to all the temptations, and taking those sins (blameless and innocent as he was) for us. In a DIY world we wouldn’t need grace. And again we can’t mix the Law and the grace message no more than we allow ourselves to continue to live a life seeking out sinful lifestyles. I choose to live in faith. I choose grace. I know fromy previous history I can’t depend on myself to keep afloat in this world filled with temptations.
Law (vs) Grace
Flesh (vs) Spirit
Works (vs) Faith
I want to live I grace not under the Law, I couldn’t do it!
I don’t want to wallow in the flesh when I could soar in the spirit. I think of William Wallace in Brave Heart declaring FREEDOM!
I couldn’t work enough to gain a level of goodness, that’s not how it works. The pharasees tried and were labeled white washed seplacurs. I chose faith.
Share via Twitter Facebook etc
In a Mirror Dimly (Ordinary Life)
Many people look at God and think hes all about rules and limitations. Heis not interested in controling you. Gods one agenda is to save and set you free to be fully and truly yourself, to be the person he dreamed of. He knew you before you were born. The only reason you are here is because he liked what he saw when he pictured/dreamnt about you before you physically existed. He thinks about you and that thrills him.
Eph 1:4 He does what he likes, he makes what he likes. Your existence is not an accident. Many of us have issues with identity and don’t understand that identity is the root of the problem. Ask yorself this question: do I like who I am, do I like myself? We have gone through confusion because we did not like ourselves. God does not have that problem with us, HE LIKES US AS WE ARE! He does not frown when he thinks of you, he smiles over us and desires to be in relationship with us.
Through the Gospel we have an oppurtunity to see what God sees in us. Gal 2:20 It is no longer I that lives but Christ that lives in me. God sees us through God grace redemption glasses. He sees us atvfull potential even whenvwe are not. Is this faith of Christ in the our incarnation of what he sees in us more important than what we see? Is this faith a human action or a God deal?
I was taught what I needed to believe about God growing up, but he would rather I learn what he believes about me. There is a huge difference in these two lines of thought. I want to know the declaration of what God believes about me! It is not my thoughts about God that defines him, it his thoughts about me that defines me. the Gospel doesn’t come demanding faith it supplies faith.
Matth 11:27 No one Knows the father ecxept the Son, no one knows the son except the Father.
If following laws and precepts were enough Jesus wouldn’t have to have come and died ont the cross.
The law reveals the problems, it reveals the spider web but left the spider. Jesus came to kill the spider.
Jesus is not just an example for me but of me. 2 cor 3:18 We behold Him as in a mirror. We behold Him, is there any fault in Jesus (in the image in the mirror)? We behold Him as in a mirror, if we see Him doesn’t he see us too? He comes to reveal the truth about you! That we may know who we are. He came to reproduce His very qualities that he has in us. The cross was that hard reset that set aside the law and brought the new Adam that wiped out the sin nature. That mirror goes two ways. We put off this transformation saying I’m not there yet, but a mirror is AT THIS MOMENT. It is not in the past or future it is the here and now. God sees us in our best even when we are at our low points. That image in the mirror is our original identity, our redeemed innocence, our victorious overcoming walking in power and miracles persona.
Jesus walked his life without sin. He came to earth and took on mans form. he was made flesh. He went through all temptations that entangles our humanity (Hebrews 2). He was at base flesh. It says he grew in wisdom and knowledge (Luke). He knew his father, he knew his mission, and he knew the outcome while still being man like us. Romans 8 calls his flesh, sinful flesh. He was able to look to his father and see the eternal outcome. He sees the spectacular and has a purpose/mission to see eternal results. In my blog yesterday I asked are we willing to lay down our life for the eternal outcome. Am I willing to lose my life. Jesus laid down his life for us so that we could walk into that same eternal mindset here on earth and eternally.
In Romans makes such an appeal that we see that we can/could die with Christ at the cross and walk in his calling on earth as it in heaven TODAY! Paul looked into that mirror and sam that image of Christ reflected back in him(Paul). That image points to a reality greater than me. I want to experience that reality.
Share via Twitter Facebook etc
Thought I’d try something different, nope it’s like a sequel, (doh!), Christianity, God,
Stepped in the GPR to chill, read, and contemplate. I’ve been in Romans and thought to myself I’d try something different. Half-heartedly I prayed where to God? I was drawn to Hebrews. I opened up The Mirror Translation and started to read the intro and it smacked me in the head like a five year old with a baseball bat…
There it was again, “the revelation of our restored innocence based on the finished work of the cross… ” I am really liking this recurring theme of the cross and its restorative effect on me. The cross and his resurrection made my/mans original identity possible.
I was on Facebook this week and I saw this post:
” Did Adam and Eve have a closer relationship with God than we do? I say NO. In the Garden there was a visitaton. In us there is a habitation!”
I thought about it and replied:
“Yes no yesInitially, yes. Thet walked and talked in the garden, Adam blew that relationship and brought sin into the equation. Man was tied up with dependence on the law, rules and sacrifice (bummer). Jesus by coming to the earth abd sacrificing himself once and for all restored that original identity and redeemed innocence. We now have that same direct access with access to more.”
My original identity has been hard reset, I am walking in pre-fall factory default hard reset. All the garbage from the fall is essentially reset. The message of the Gospel walked out through Jesus ends that dominance of my earthly senses my spirit man is awakened to the relationship with which God has been courting us humans. “What God spoke to us in sonship (the incarnation), radiates his image and likeness in our redeemed innocence.” du Toit, TMT pg.191.
The Gospel in a nutshell is that the mission of the cross was a success! I no longer have to strive to reach a standard and comply to 10 main rules and over 600 minor laws. It’s not about what I have done wrong but what Jesus has done.
Yesterday I wrote on Romans 1:1, Pauls mandate/mantle that same mandate/mantle we walk in 2000 years later.
WOW! THINK ABOUT THAT!
My prayer:
God each and every day show me what you see and what you feel. Lord I want to walk in the spirit not bound by the flesh. Show me how to walk as a man who is already dead. Dead to the things of this world and totally alive to you.
Share via Twitter Facebook etc
Easily overlooked
Personally I know I have had a habit of shot gunning it through the first couple verses in the beginning of a book. Many of the books/chapters of the New Testament are letters to churches. The first verses are often greetings.
Romans 1:1 NLT
This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.
The Mirror Translation words it “… (Paul) identified in him (Jesus Christ) to represent him (Jesus Christ). I have been studying a bit differently lately and taking one verse at a time looking at the verse in multiple versions and taking time to contemplate about it more.
When ever I go to hear a guest speaker, the speaker is often introduced or introduces themselves with a short bio to let you know their qualifications. Paul starts out by stating who he was and giving his credentials. How would you like to have his bio/cred. He was personally called to represent Jesus as a disciple. He carried the same mantle that Jesus did as his disciple to tell of his father, to spread the Gospel, and to bring signs and wonders. Paul walked in that authority.
I read that and thought about it and we are also personally called to represent Him. I had to ask myself am I good representation of him who called and has sent me? I’ve been blogging about grace and the freedom that his death and resurrection have brought to those who choose to walk in it. I’ve gotten some feedback and some are pointing out the errors of the hyper-grace message being preached in many pulpits across America. Many are saying that this hyper-grace leads people into sin, but the true grace message draws one to Christ not away. Now to look at am I a good representation of him? The more I delve into his word the less I have of the temptations that I have had in the past. I am called to be a representation a mirror image.
” chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News”
Share via Twitter Facebook etc
Original Identity and reflection of Redeemed Innocence! Seeing in the Spirit rather than the natural eyes
Romans 1:6-10
In Jesus Christ you individually discover who you are. In addressing you, I am dressed all in room. I am convinced of God’s love for you; he restore you to the harmony of your original design; you were made holy in Christ Jesus; no wonder that you are surnamed Saints. Is Grey’s gift in Christ secures your total well being. The father of the Lord Jesus Christ is ours also, he is our God. My great joy is to realize that your face is announced throughout the entire world. Total cosmos is our audience. I am totally engaged in my spirit in the Gospel of Gods son, constantly including you in my prayers, God is my witness.
When you look at Jesus do you see a man what do you see God? I have always looked at Jesus not as just a man but as a God, I have never been able to separate the two. When I picture him speaking to the children or feeding the 5000 I see a man with the omniscience of God. Jesus saw into the spirit. When Jesus called Peter to walk on the water Peter initially stepped out in faith but immediately his eyes were overwhelmed by the natural and was immediately sunk.
Jesus did not come to the planet not to upgrade the cage of Judaism or to start a new one called Christianity but to totally blow out any paradigm. He came to reveal, reclaim, and redeem the image of God in us. The initial pre Adams fall blueprint was restored in us via his death and resurrection. In Genesis it talks about how Adam and God walked and talked in the garden. There was a relationship there like no other. ADAM WALKED AND TALKED WITH GOD! When Moses asked to see God;
Exodus 33:19 The LORD replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh,c before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. 20But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21The LORD continued, “Look, stand near me on this rock. 22As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.”
Moses was not able to behold Gods face, the glory was so much that I assume it would have killed him. Instead, he was allowed to watch Gods backside after he passed. Whereas Adam walked with God! Let me repeat that, Adam walked with God!
God’s plan before the very foundation of the Earth was that we would walk with Him. Adam messed up and bought sin into the equation but through Jesus, when the stone was rolled away, we were raised together with him, restoring our original (pre-Adam oops) identity and mirror reflect the integrity of their/our redeemed innocence.
Romans announces the truth about the restoration of the Christians original identity and reflection of redeemed innocence!
Walking in the spirit;
We are not of this world, through this restoration to our original identity and redeemed innocence we should not just feel called but compelled to walk away from the carnal man but driven to shed the constraints of this physical life. I am pressing in to see what God has for me. I want more than this life has to offer. Daily it is a process to walk away from sin and into my pre-Adam relationship with God. God has now spoiled me with his grace.
I was driving my daughter to a babysitting job yesterday and it’s about 18 miles one way. On the way there people were trying my Christianity. I seem to be a magnet for yahoo drivers, why am I the guy that people feel lead to cut off? My road rage-omoter was being put to test. I was about 8 mikes from home driving up to the 71 and150th intersection when a mini van pulls out of Sonic cutting across two lanes directly in front of me bringing me from 45 mph to 15 mph with a slam of the brakes. I veerwd into the right lane and cruised by him and my indignation was rising. When suddenly I heard a voice speaking “what world are you in?” Immediately my anger left and put myself into the mindset of “I want to be in original identity. ”
This original identity redeemed innocence is mind blowing.
I walked into church with the above percolating in me. Lloyd Rindels started out in Colossians 3 and was speaking on the new covenant that this grace we are to walk into. I feel it ties into this.
Colossians 3:1-4 NLT
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
I died with Christ my real life is hidden IN Him! I died to the sin life I am daily waking to this new reality, this new freedom.
God redeem my life, free me to see in the spirit, I want to die to me.
Philippians 1:21 NIV
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Colossians 1:3-6 NLT
This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
Kilen's Spot 