In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. [John 1.1]
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. [Psalm 119.105]
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. [John 1.14]
From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. [John 1.16-18]
He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. [Psalm 103.7]
If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” [John 14.7]
Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. [John 14.11]
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]
Jesus was identified by the Father's works done through Him.
Who are we identified by?
There is a great disconnect when, instead of giving up our way of idolatry, we hold onto it.
There is a great disconnect when instead of taking up our cross we do everything in our power to "live" ...the self-centric essence of all idolatry.
There is a great disconnect when instead of following Jesus... we don't.
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ [Matthew 7.21-23]
God's laws??? Can we please narrow that down just a bit?
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. [Matthew 22.37-38]
Jesus effectively narrowed down the first three Commandments in Matthew 22.37-38. It is not ironic what the first three Commandments deal with:
“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7]
I am not so concerned with making my theology match the popular and powerless - and therefore faithless - "grace" religion of today. But what I am concerned with is making my theology match God's Word - and, in particular, Jesus Christ, Who said I must abide by the greatest commandment. I do not deny the grace of God. However, there is no grace where there is no faith no matter how much we "claim" otherwise, because faith without works is dead (James 2.17).
No one holding onto worldly idols will enter the Kingdom of God. Too harsh??? Well then, do we suppose Jesus was too harsh?
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]
Yes, the will of the Father is found in performing all manner of miraculous works, but, the will of the Father is not complete in performing all manner of miraculous works... There is the matter of keeping God's laws that Jesus narrowed down in Matthew 22.37-38 above - which, in plain language is to trust/love only God and not a single idol. One cannot love God and trust man-made idols.
We should stop trying to make God's Word fit our theology and spend more time making our theology fit God's Word - Jesus Christ!
Today's popular (but cheap) grace is greatly disconnected from Jesus and attached instead to all manner of idols, the absolute worst of which is the idol of religion. Religion is the greatest offender because religion "allows" God's people to adulterously trust a plethora of man-made idols named under the broad categories of finance, insurance, medicine and technology.
The Bible is clear. Religion is clouded. We must trust the Bible. We must trust the Word of God. We must trust Jesus.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [John 14.6]
Father, I have a Bible-inspired desire to give up my own way - the way of idolatry - I have a Bible-inspired desire to take up my cross - the way of total God-centeredness - and, I have a Bible-inspired desire to follow Jesus... Help me take the first real faith-step (and every subsequent faith-step) to genuinely connect with You as I genuinely and realistically follow Jesus. So be it.
