God Unites

God created man in His image; in the divine image He created him; male and female He created them.   Gen 1:27  (NAB)

Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (soul). Gen. 2:7 (NASB)

God takes dust, dirt and creates a human (man). Well, didn’t He do the same thing when He created the animals? In chapter 1 verse 24, Then God said,”Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures…” That’s a different description than the one we get in chapter 2:7. Which is God forming, as a potter would, the man. A personal, intimate molding of this special creation, in His image and His likeness, the crown of all His work, to which he found it to be “very good”. We also see that He did not breathe the breath of life into the animals, which means they would have no soul, or inner being.

What is united, I believe, is very important. The physical world is united with the spiritual world. God brought the two together, and we must live out the two in our own experiences. So how do we, in our own experience, unite the material and physical worlds? When we are born from above (Jn. 3:3) and baptized (Tit. 3:5), we are a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17). We receive the Holy Spirit of God and He is united with our bodies. Technically, this is something that we can not control, as if controlling God, but it is in the decision we make to choose God’s plan for us that we are allowed this control. Acting in His image and likeness.

Paul also tells us in Romans 12:1 that as we present our bodies to God a living sacrifice, this is our spiritual act of worship. See how the two connect here? Living out our faith in the body, is spiritual worship!

And as I have discovered since my conversion to the Catholic Church, the greatest of this uniting is in the Mass. Where heaven and earth meet in the renewal of the new and everlasting covenant. Where again, the physical and the spiritual meet in the Eucharist, a foretaste of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, when we will be in heaven with Him. Again, these things are not things that we can control, except in our decision to participate.

As we decide to act in His image and likeness, we can unite the spiritual and physical worlds. A pure life, prayer, studying scripture, going to church and receiving the Lord in the Eucharist, all things we can do to achieve this.

In His Image:God Moves

And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.  Gen. 1:2(NASB)

What is the formlessness, darkness and emptiness in your life? The darkness of depression? The emptiness of a lost relationship? The formlessness of your life; what’s it all about? What’s my purpose in life? These are questions that everyone asks in life, at one time or another. Some seek to find the answers, while others settle into their circumstances.

In His image and His likeness, we have the ability to look upon the formlessness, darkness, emptiness and move through it. To not be content with the status quo but moving beyond what is considered by most to be acceptable, and desiring completeness.

There are situations in life that call for contentment (Ph.4:11, Heb.13:5) knowing God will supply our needs but if we are not overcoming, persevering, victorious Christians then something is wrong; and what is laking is not allowing ourselves to act in Gods image and His likeness during our trials and tribulations.

Father, grant to us this day the grace to be more like You and less like us. We ask in Jesus name, amen.

More Evangelicals Join Lent Observance

Interesting article here.

In Deed And In Truth

But whoever has this worlds goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him for if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.             I John 3:17-21 

How does the love of God abide in anyone who refuses to help his brother who is in need? The answer is simple…..it doesn’t!

God, who being love Himself, imparts this grace to love as He loves, to His children. For He created all people and we were all created in His image and His likeness. Scripture itself testifies of Him, it is,”…His will that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (II Pet. 3:9)

Why do we have such a hard time understanding this? Or do we understand it, but not act upon our understanding? We can know truth in our minds and deny it, but, if we know the truth in our hearts, isn’t it harder to deny?

This is what St. Paul described in I Cor. 5:14, as “the love of God that impels us”. God’s love is not a dormant love. It is a call to action. Love impels us to do something!

Years ago, when I fell in love with my wife, I was impelled to do something for her, with the love I felt toward her. To marry her, to commit my life to her and to make her happy. Now, I haven’t always done this perfectly, but nonetheless, it was and continues to be, what love impels me to do for her.

God’s love impels Him to do things as well. His love for us, impelled Him to send His Son to die for our redemption. Love is not just a noun, it’s also a verb!

So this is the point, to love as God loves, I must act upon the needs of the people around me. If I close my heart to those around me, what shall become of me?

Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me. And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.    Matt. 25:45-46  

The Truth Will Set You Free

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him,” If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered Him,” We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say,’ You will become free’ ?” Jesus answered them,” Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free.”   John 8:31-36  

We have established that truth in it’s fullness will give structure, direction, purpose and information. But in order for these to work together to establish the fullness of truth, it must be based on reality. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, one of the definitions of truth is, reality; actuality. This is what is so awesome- about God, the Bible and His Church.

God, in reality (His truth) created everything. Then through His revelation to mankind, worked through history (the Bible). And through the Church, still works through history, so that ” none may perish, but all come to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9)

A partial truth then, only partially frees. Jesus did nothing partially! Jesus Christ, fully Divine; 100% God. Jesus Christ, fully Man; 100% human. Nothing partial about that.

Jesus came to free us, not only from the eternal punishment for sin in the next life, but from the power of sin in this life! (Rom. 6:14)

 This is the freedom of which Christ speaks. Total freedom found in total obedience. Jesus warns us to remain in His word, that proves us to truly be His disciple. In doing this, the truth revealed to us, sets us free.

Free from the power of sin, and free to the power of God.

The Old Law in The New Covenant

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Of course not! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience which leads to righteousness?  Rom. 6:15-16 

St.Paul, here states the function of the law (of the Old Covenant) with grace (of the New Covenant). He starts out by asking the ridiculous question,”Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Of course not!” Without the guidelines of the law, how would we know God’s qualifications of righteousness? God didn’t design salvation for His people to be obscure, but founded upon obedience. That is what Paul goes on to say,”if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves you are slaves of the one you obey. So that is the question. Who are we going to obey?

“According to Christian tradition, the Law is holy, spiritual, and good,(Rom. 7:12,14,16) yet still imperfect. Like a tutor(Gal 3:24) it shows what must be done, but does not of itself give the strength, the grace of the Spirit, to fulfill it. Because of sin, which it cannot remove, it remains a law of bondage. According to St.Paul, its special function is to denounce and disclose sin, which constitutes a “law of concupiscence” in the human heart.(Rom.7) However, the Law remains the first stage on the way to the kingdom. It prepares and disposes the chosen people and each Christian for conversion and faith in the Savior God. It provides a teaching which endures for ever, like the Word of God.” CCC 1963

One last thought; Paul in Ephesians 6:2, quotes one of the Ten Commandments as if it was to still be adhered to. One of those things I’ve read a thousand times, and I just came to realize.

The law is still to be followed, for it is the Word of God.

The Truth and The Law

Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of them, it can never make perfect those who come to worship by the same sacrifices that they offer continually each year.   Heb. 10:1  

A recent discussion on how the Old Testament Law relates with the New Covenant, prompted me to present the teaching here, as part of the “What is Truth?” series.

When we look at statements about the Law, we must be careful to understand their context and their purpose.

 As God established the Mosaic Covenant (the Law) He instituted a sacrificial system. Different sins (breaking the Law) carried with them different sacrifices. The people would bring their sacrifices to the priest at the Temple, where it was offered to the Lord. On the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) the High Priest, would go into the Holy of Holies with a sacrifice for the whole nation.

In this interpretation, what we see is that,  Jesus is the “once for all sin offering”. In other words, today when I stumble and break the Law of God, I have a “perfect sacrifice” in Jesus Christ, to cleanse me of my sin. This is done in faith, through the blood of The Lamb, not by the blood of bulls and goats (Heb. 10:4).

Do not think I have come to destroy the law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.   Matt. 5:17  

What could Jesus mean by this? Exactly what He says! He is God the Father’s Law keeper. Being fully Divine, He could keep the Law. Being fully human, He suffered the temptations that you and I do, only He overcame all the temptations, we rarely do! So, not only is He the “perfect sacrifice”, He is the perfect “High Priest”!

The Law is still in effect. Jesus taught that all His life. That is what the “sermon on the mount” is, an explanation of the law and how to live it out (Matt.7:24-27). Particularly, in our day to day lives. What we try to do as human beings is, make God in our image instead of letting Him conform us to the image of His Son.

God’s standard has not changed and, will never change. I must cooperate with His grace, by faith and live a life worthy of the call of Christ.

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment in the law was He answered: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second on is like it: You must love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commands.”   Matt. 22:37-40 

Now, let us go and do likewise!

Amen.

Accepting The Deuterocanonical Books

Click here to read a great article about the deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament.

Speak the Truth

Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members of one another.    Eph. 4:25    (NAB)

So far in our study, we have confirmed that God is truth, Jesus (being God) is truth, His Church is truth and His Word is truth. In fact, we even looked at the rules for interpreting His word to find His truth.

Now, let’s look at speaking the truth.

In God’s covenant with Israel, He gave them certain rules to live by. The most famous of these rules are The Ten Commandments. The Eighth Commandment states: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Ex. 20:16) When we, as children of God, speak or act contrary to the truth, we lie. “Since God is “true” the members of His people are called to live in truth,”(CCC 2465).

” Truth as uprightness in human action or speech is called truthfulness, sincerity or candor. Truth or truthfulness is the virtue which consists of showing oneself true in deeds and truthful in words, and guarding against duplicity, dissimulation, and hypocrisy,” (CCC 2468).

“Men could not live with one another if there were not mutual confidence that they were being truthful to one another. The virtue of truth gives another his just due. Truthfulness keeps to the just mean between what ought to be expressed and what ought to be kept secret; it entails honesty and discretion. In justice,” as a matter of honor, one man owes it to another to manifest the truth”, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sth II-II, 109,3, corp.art.” (CCC 2469).

As a follower of Christ, I am not only obligated, but commanded to be truthful with my fellow man. In my words and my actions. That is my witness. My witness reveals who my “Lord” is, who my “God” is, and it reveals who “I” am. A true believer or a hypocrite.

As it is written; If we say,”We have fellowship with Him,” while we continue to walk in darkness we lie and do not act in truth.”   I Jn 1:6  (NAB)

What Is Truth?

Pilate therefore said unto him,” Art thou a king then?” Jesus answered,” Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” Pilate saith unto him,” What is truth?”   John 18:37-38    (KJV)

What a great question Pilate asked Jesus! What is truth? Man’s search for truth is as old as original sin itself. What’s the big deal about truth anyway? I’ve even had people say to me,” Well, I think we all have a little truth.” (I am speaking in the context of Christianity, and denominational differences.) To me a statement like that is referring to a weak god. And our God is anything but weak! To have a little truth here, and a little truth there, here-a-truth, there-a-truth, everywhere-a-truth-truth, is not the way our God operates. He is about order and structure and purpose. And this is exactly what truth gives us.

 God’s revealed truth gives us: 1) structure, 2) direction, 3) purpose, and 4) information. These dynamics all work together to bring us truth in it’s fullness.

For instance, in the King James version of the Bible, did you know that the word truth is found 234 times. The Old Testament has it 97 times. Of those 97 times, the Book of Psalms has it 40 times. Most of the Psalms were written by King David, ” a man after God’s own heart.”

The New Testament has the word truth in it 137 times. Out of the 137, 27 are found in John’s Gospel. Another 20 are found in his three epistles. John is referred to as ” the disciple who Jesus loved.” The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke only use the word truth 11 times…..combined!

What does all this mean? Well, I find it interesting that God chose these two particular men to write about truth,” a man after God’s own heart” and ” the disciple who Jesus loved.” We know that the truth in God’s word is not limited to just these two writers, He just chose them, to write the most about it. What this reveals is, the closer you are to God, the clearer truth becomes. The more open we are to receive it. The more open we are to share it.

So, where does the Bible say we can find truth? Well, that’s what we are going to investigate.

Blessings through Christ the Lord!