WordSword

When we read the epistles to the Romans and to the Ephesians carefully, we cannot but see the difference between where the Gospel places us on earth, and where knowledge of our position puts us. In Romans I am a justified man going on to glory, fulfilling (because walking is the Spirit) the righteousness of the law (Rom 8:4)—all that God had required of a man, magnified in our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence such an one presents the body as a living sacrifice, and serves according to the gift given him of the Father, known by the measure of faith (Rom 12:3). As a believer, he is hated by the world (Jhn 15:18, 24). There is nothing of position in all this, though no one could walk in the truth of the mystery (concerning Christ and the Church - Eph 5:32—NC), if he had not all this. I am through grace as much an Ephesian saint as I am a Roman saint; but I must be the lesser, or I could not be the greater (Mat 23:12). In Romans I am a delivered one on the earth, walking in the Life of the Lord Jesus (Col 3:4), by the Holy Spirit dwelling in me (Jhn 14:16; Rom 8:11; 1Co 3:16). In Ephesians I am a member of the Body of Christ, in union with Him who is the Head in heaven (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23) and a member of His Body set there where He is, by the same power that placed Him there (Eph 2:6). The power that positioned me there works in us here (Eph 3:20), and now I am united wih the exalted Man: and by His Life I grow into a manifestation of Him where He has been rejected. The Body of the glorified man is down here on the earth is to “grow up unto Him in all things” (Eph 4:15), “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” (Eph 4:13). Now we are not only opposed by the power of Amalek, who cut off the weak ones (Deu 25:18), but the whole subtlety of Satan is arrayed against us, in order to prevent our being in heavenly beauty down here (the devil can delay a believer’s growth in the faith in Christ, but never effect salvation, nor prohibit faith—NC). The Enemy cannot deprive us of our heavenly position, but he tries to prevent the manifestation of it from us. This is the scope of the grace given to us in the whole, though we grow into it in parts (in position saints are everything Christ is - 1Jo 4:17, but are learning its application and fullness gradually—NC). The only way to grow is to be conscientiously true to what we so see. “He that hath, to him shall be given” (Mar 4:25). The more separate I am from the world (some separate themselves more than others—NC), and the less I am conformed to it, the less am I warped, and the better I can “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom 12:2). Every true heart knows its own world. My world may not be the world to you. Music is one man’s world; painting, another man’s world; politics another’s, riches another’s, his family another’s and so on. Whatever is most difficult to surrender is your world; (“surrender” - place after God—NC) and as you advance, according as you seek separation to the Father, you have to separate from what you are most bound by (“bound” worldliness that means too much to you—NC), for it is that which influences you the most. It may even be a paltry thing. Isaac was warped by his son’s deception. Peter wanted to stand well with those who “came from James” (Gal 2:11-14 - these were Judaizing Christians believing in Christ, but were zealous of the law - Act 21:20—NC). The Lord give you to see the whole scope of His grace, and give you grace to lay aside every hindrance, dealing honestly and truly with the one next to you. Many occupy themselves with the branches instead of with the root. The root is the seat of the evil, and the Spirit of God always leads to it (to put it off at the source—NC). —J B Stoney MJS daily devotional excerpt for November 27 “The Lord Jesus Christ is the only object for faith, the only One that satisfies us, as indeed He is the Father’s Object; and if we have got but one mind with the Father about Him, our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” If you are walking in the Spirit, the Lord Jesus is the Object before you; when you are walking in the flesh, yourself is your object.” William Kelly (1821-1906) http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/

Note: Please let me know if you ever decide you would rather not to continue receiving these messages. I realize viewing something that may be difficult to understand might not be very encouraging, so I don’t want to chance confusing anyone. Thanks and God bless. -NC Clear Communion There is often only occupation with Christ for the relief of the conscience, and if so, where does it stop? It stops when the relief is met. But if He is the Object of the heart, you will never be satisfied but in association and fellowship with Him where He is. If there is simple occupation with Christ, you cannot enjoy it but in association with Him where He is, and in communion with Him about things here. In Psalm 23, there is lying down first, and then I come forth refreshed for the responsibilities of life here, and to walk in “the paths of righteousness.” I “fear no evil.” I must first know Him where He is; if I do not know Him where He is, I shall not rest in Him for my life down here. True, He accomplished everything down here, but you never get satisfied rest in your soul until you know that the Father has glorified Him up there. You never find a truly restful soul who does not raise the question—where is He? Mary Magdalene says, “They have taken my Lord” (Jhn 20:13). The two disciples in John 1 asked, “Where dwellest thou” (Jhn 1:38). The heart is set on the discovery of where He is. It is vain for a man to tell me his heart is on a person, if he is indifferent as to where that person is. “If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth” (Col 3:1). I stand on simple grace. I am entitled to nothing, but I count on what is in my Father’s heart for me. When I come to discover what is in that heart for me, that is grace. It is an unspeakable comfort to my heart to say I know He will do something, though what He will do I know not. I would not venture to dictate to Him what He should do, but I know my Father’s heart. The Lord says to me, if you come to Me, you will find My Word working in you to remove the shade of reserve that has come between you and Me; the first great desire of My heart is that there shall be nothing between you and Me. I will make it My business that there shall be no break in our intimacy (there’s never a time when we are not “forgiven”—NC). He wiped the disciple’s feet after He had washed them; the towel is to give the soul the sense that there is nothing between, nothing of defilement left. The moment I begin to walk in His path (1Jo 2:6 – concerned only of the Father’s will—NC), I find out all my contrarieties. For the right road there are ninety-nine roads wrong, and the heart is ever inclined to go up one of those roads. When it does, the Lord says, I will send My Word after you and draw you out of it. The washing of my feet sets me free from the wrong road, and, the moment I get on the right one, I have the confirmed sense from the Lord Himself—I am with you, I bear you company. If I am not aware that the Lord sympathizes with me, that He is looking after my concerns, I cannot turn around and think of His affairs. But if I have the sympathy of the Lord Jesus I shall not be worried (John 14:1, 27), I know that He is thinking about me and my affairs, and I leave them all to Him (Mat 11:28). —J B Stoney MJS daily devotional excerpt for November 20 “It takes us a long time to realize that all is darkness outside the Light of heaven and earth.” -MJS “The moment we begin to rest our peace on anything in ourselves, we lose it. And this is why so many saints have not settled peace. How can you have settled peace? Only by having it in the Father’s way. By not resting on anything, even the Spirit’s work within, but on what the Lord Jesus has done entirely outside you. “Then you will know peace—conscious unworthiness, but yet peace. In the Lord Jesus alone, the Father finds that in which He rests; and so it is with His saints. The more you see the extent and nature of the evil that is within, as well as that without and around, the more you will find that what the Lord Jesus is and did, is the only ground at all on which you can rest.” “When the eye is turned away from the Lord Jesus, darkness must set in. It is only as the eye is single that the body is full of light. And what is a single eye but having Him for our Object? It is thus that light divine pours in upon us, until every chamber of our moral being becomes lighted up, and we become light for others. In this way the believer is kept happily free from obscurity, perplexity, and anxiety. He finds all his springs in the Lord Jesus.” “It is having the Lord Jesus as our Object which alone gives us the power of truth. When we have anything of our own as an object, so far we slip aside, for the Lord Jesus alone is the full truth. It is only in proportion as we are filled with Him, and have Him to the exclusion of our own evil, that we ourselves walk in the truth. Let us have our hearts fixed on any one thing or person save the One who is our life, and evil results.” William Kelly (1821-1906) http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/day/2024/11/20/

The most difficult thing Christians go through are the “temptations” they are to endure—and a Christian will endure every single one. Know that God uses everything—especially the trials, for the benefit of believers (Ro 8:28). This promise alone is enough to use to deal with the hardness from a trial, but God goes further, in that “God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1Co 10:13. No matter what the hardness, God will cause you to endure it, esp. when you don’t know how or what to feel, for His “grace is sufficient” (2Co 12:9); and trials are tests that will manifest whether or not one is reborn, so you will eventually know for certain. There are three promises here that God uses to take one through the difficulties that will “suffice.” 1. God doesn’t allow the trail to be beyond the believer’s ability to endure it. If one thinks it’s too much, then you have yet to believe and learn this lesson, but He will always take you through it anyway. 2. God “makes a way” we can endure it, but it requires the trust and faith to use it. It just requires being patient as possible while you are waiting for the resolution (Rom 12:12). 3. This promise is part of which one receives when waiting, even if you can’t learn patience in it yet, He will take you through it regardless. Our Father knows the extent of our ability, and keeps it within one’s level of maturity—so that you will “be able to bare it,” that is, the ability to deal with it. Again, it just requires patiently waiting on, and trusting God for the deliverance. Even if one doesn’t know what or how to think or feel concerning the difficulty, He will still deliver you through to its end; and you will learn something after the trial. Often the trial involves the Enemy attempting to bring you to an agreement of guilt concerning something—when you fully know you have not intentionally sinned anywhere; or the trial might just involve a feeling of not caring about anything. Nothing means anything to you, even eating and sleeping, one is just empty—except for loving and trusting God for everything, which is the main purpose of the trails! It’s my belief that believers learn most of God’s love through the trials, because these are the hardest times, which is like a fire, that burns away the doubt and leaves the faith; and a stronger faith at that, through every trial! May the Father of all trials guide you to continue “to be conformed to the image of His Son;” (Rom 8:29; 2Co 3:18). NC

The oneness of the Father and Son is in the sense of being in the same accord, or same choices; they agree together and are one concerning everything. To me, "the Father will send in My name" is the same as the Lord Jesus sending Him. Everything Jesus does is from the Father and for the Father, i.e. the will of the Father.; "Thy (the Father) will be done."

Yes, the Lord Jesus is equal to the Father and Holy Spirit in essence and power, even while He was in the flesh on earth. But concerning order, Jesus said the Father is greater than Him (Jhn 14:28); thus the Father sent the Son, and the Son sent the Spitit--from the Father (Jhn 15:26). This means the order of authority is the Father, then the Son, then the Holy Spirit.

Of course it's ok to believe what you choose because it will not affect salvation. God bless!

Amen, God is "working" in all who are saved to cause us to please Him (Phl 2:13).

The Word of God had to become something He wasn't before (Word became flesh). He gained this for us in order to do what He did, and now He is the Word of God (Rev 19:13) and the Son of God. The point here is that the Lord Jesus has always been the Word of God, and now is also, for eternity, for us, the Son of God in the new Body He did not have before. Good insight you have!

Thanks for your replies and comment Friend! How one understands the Trinity will not affect their salvation.

More than anything, I believe the Lord Jesus wants to relate to Christians as the Savior of sinners; the sole Mediator between God and man; the Head of the church. I could continue to relate Him in the sense of Savior, because that's what is most significant to the believer.

The primary word for understanding the Trinity is “representation.” Thus the Lord Jesus is the “exact representation” of God (Heb 1:3), which I believe answers to why Christ is occasionally demonstrated in Scripture as “God” or as the “Father” (Isaiah 9:6). The Word is not the Father and the Father is not the Word; but the Word, or Son of God, is so much the representation of God, Who is the Father—that He can be referred to as God. Christ has from eternity past been the “Word of God.” He came in this world from the Father or God, as the Word of God (John 1:14), and has taken back His place as the Word of God (Rev 19:13). Concerning creation I believe when any One of Them act, it is power of the Three, because Deities though being three individuals, always act as One, thus when They said "Let Us create," it was not just the Word, though He was the One through which They created, thus it being a joint action, as in all They do. Just a few examples concerning Christ being the Creator; “hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” (Eph 3:9 KJV, NKJV); Col 1:16-17; Heb 1:2). Though we may maintain numerous concepts of Scripture in our own understanding (which may not necessarily be wrong), it's only accurate when maintaining Biblical validation. Jesus said the Father is God, and that God is the Father: “My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God” (John 20:17). This also answers to why most of Paul’s Epistles begin with “Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 1:7; 2Co 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Col 1:2; Phm 1:3). This is why we see in Scripture “the Son of God,” “the Son of the Father” (2Jo 1:3), “the Spirit of God” and “the Spirit of your Father” (Mat 10:20); the Son of God, the Spirit of God--but not the Father of God, because the Father is God. Scripture occasionally identifies Jesus as God and Father but this is in relation to Him being indwelt by "the fullness of the Godhead" (Col 2:9), e.g. everything seen, heard, said or done is the same as if it were God, or the Father (John 14:9); hence the passage “I and My Father are one” (Jhn 10:30), i.e. are one accord in everything. The Son is not the Father and the Father is not the Son but They, along with Their Holy Spirit are “one,” i.e. in “one” accord concerning everything (1John 5:7 KJV). Jesus said, for "Ye have neither heard His (Father) voice at any time, nor seen His shape" (John 5:37), but Christ’s redemption mission involved revealing the Father and Himself (John 1:18). Scripture continuously stresses the Father being God, for Jesus said of Him, "He is greater than I" (Jhn 14:28), and “My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all” (Jhn 10:29). We also read, "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things (creation), and we by Him" (1Cor 8:6). To me the significance in this article is in making the distinction between the Father and the Son, and the mandate that both are to be equally worshiped and honored (to be a Christian), for "All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him" (John 5:23). What one believes concerning the Trinity is not salvation-essential, for only what one believes concerning Christ as the Savior is salvation-essential; then after this, God “works in you” (Phl 2:13). NC

You probably mean having a desire, but tantalize means to tease or torment by or as if by presenting something desirable to the view but continually keeping it out of reach. Thanks for your replies and God bless!

Good comments! I agree, we can be encouraged with the thought of knowing our place in heaven. Concerning "heaven on earth," this is for God's people the Jews who believe in God but not the Lord Jesus; believers in Christ will not be on the earth, but in heaven with Him--ruling (judging; teaching) those on the earth (Mat 19:28).

Hi, and yes, that is the dimensions of the New Jerusalem! Good mention concerning motivation for a godly life, which all Christians have! I believe the New Heaven's boundaries will be unlimited!

The theme of this article is knowing the definite possession of heaven for the Christian! Moses could not enter the Promised Land for going beyond what was instructed on him. He could only see Canaan but was not allowed to enter in. Christians can see the New Heaven in the image of their mind, and they are guaranteed their place There. Thus, the believer should have the sense of being there now, and even praying from there to the earth; for God “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6). NC Tantalize, Or Actualize? It is possible, in a way, to be tantalized by the beauty and perfection of the glory, because there is nothing to compare with it here; and yet it may be as seen in the distance, as Moses saw the land from Pisgah, admired and loved, but with no positive possession, no setting the sole of one’s foot solidly on it (nothing physical, with anticipation only—NC). If I only see the glory as Moses saw Canaan from Mount Pisgah, I have no sense of possession there; this is merely seeing a better thing, in which I not only have no present possession, but I am myself actually separate from it, and outside it. This tantalizes, if I may so say. If I were to die then, with this view fully before me, I should be a Stephen, but if I have to live here with a glimpse of it, without any realization of possession, it is only tantalizing. We must know the place and glory into which the Lord Jesus has entered as our present home and abiding place; an actual possession in which the Father has “set us” now (Eph 2:6), in order to be true strangers here (Heb 11:13; 1Pe 2:11). When we realize this, everything here becomes strange to us (even with feelings that you don’t belong here, so don’t allow this to trouble you—NC), because we are here from another realm, a bright and heavenly place. It is not only that we are looking for and expecting this place at the end (we are to know the surety now that heaven is ours—NC). This will not make us strangers here; for we may have this, and still be at home here, and though we may wish to go to heaven, we are as yet strangers there (instead of here—NC), for we have never enjoyed possession there, (we are to realize that heaven is a Christian’s present possession - Luk 22:29, 30—NC). There is often this beholding afar off, and there may be a great deal of true admiration, the heart captivated with the view from Pisgah, which does not help one in one’s path down here, but on the contrary, makes one feel the contrast between what is here, and what one has had a glimpse of. In this case one is more unfitted for remaining here, instead of being enabled, because of moral superiority and elevation, to meet everything here as the Lord Jesus’ witnesses on earth. The fact is, we are not now as Moses on mount Pisgah, nor even as Stephen; we do not see the glory from earth, but we are positioned in heaven (same as being there—NC), and there we see it. Thus we “behold” the Lord Jesus where He is in glory, and as we behold Him and fellowship with Him, we are gradually transformed “into the same image (have the same desires—NC) from glory to glory” (2Co 3:18; 1Co 15:49; Rom 8:29), we are transformed into the condition of the place in which He is, and we in Him there (Jhn 14:20). Then we can walk and serve here (1Jo 4:17—NC), expecting mothing from this scene, but able to contribute to it, as a wealthy man can contribute when visiting the haunts of the destitute. If he were one of them, surely he could not contribute. The Lord grant that we may indeed traverse the haunts of the destitute down here (witness to the lost—NC), with hearts full of the unsearchable riches of Christ; not merely seeing a future of unbounded wealth, but in spirit there now, our cup running over, and therefore not seeking for anything here; but, as opportunity offers, contributing to each according to his need (according to where our faith may be weak—NC). — James Butler Stoney (1814-1897) MJS daily devotional excerpt for October 29 “Rationalism defies God; Ritualism degrades God.” –MJS “With Rationalism’s intellectual audacity on the one hand, which dares to speak against the Word of God; and on the other hand, the outward piety of Ritualism—there is really the same root of infidelity at bottom. There is the supplanting of the plain truth of the inspired Word. Both get rid of it, depriving the soul of that which is the only means of a living link between God and man. “It does not matter what the means or forms may be, whether the negative process of Rationalism, or the more positive claim of Ritualism: if man comes in—whether it be his rites or his reasoning’s—so as to exclude God’s Word, or step between its authority and the soul of man, it becomes pretty much the same result in the end. “Rationalism is the deification of human powers, in which man presumes by his own mind to judge the Word of God, and is therefore the infidelity of the intellect when either carried out to its results or judged in its principle. “On the other hand Ritualism is the infidelity of the imagination, very often with piety underneath it, with a love for the Savior that may preserve from the full consequences of the system, but in itself always savoring of and tending to idolatry. “We cannot know the value of Christ the Truth unless we have the Spirit of Truth. Nevertheless, the test of having the Spirit of Truth, and of not being a prey to fanaticism, is that the soul is attracted and subject to the Lord Jesus Christ—and this cannot be without faith produced and nourished by the Word of Truth.” —William Kelly (1821-1906) http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/