Lesson 14 Knowing The Father

     In John 10:30 (Amplified) Jesus said that, "I and the Father are One."
     We've been on a journey coming to a clear understanding of who our Father really is.  On this journey, we've encountered many crossroads that have been placed there and many road signs that gave us wrong directions. In the past, there were many conflicting stories about the Father that led us on the wrong paths.  Psalm 23 (Amplified) declares that the Lord is our Shepherd and Verse 3 says that, "He will lead us in paths of righteousness (upright and in right standing with Him) not from our earning it, but for His name's sake."
     When we heed the voice of our Lord (Shepherd), we will always end up in the right place.  All of the road signs on this path of righteousness will always bring us to our Father's House.  Over the years, we've heard many voices and have followed many detours trying to reach the Father's House.  We tried walking by Old Testament rules, but they don't lead us to Father, but only pointed the way to God.
     Many people have found God, but only those who heard true directions could find the Father.  John 12:45-46 (Amplified) says that "Whoever sees Me [Jesus] sees Him Who sent Me."  Verse 46 says, "I have come as a Light into the world, so that whoever believes in Me (whoever cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me) may not continue to live in darkness."  Verse 16 says that, "The Spirit Himself (thus) testifies together with our own spirit (assuring us) that we are children of God."
     Because we know that we're His children and that He's our Father, we should know our relationship with Him has changed.  This new covenant that puts us in relationship with the Father changes how He deals with us and how we see and receive from Him.
     The only things you see Jesus doing are good things.  We never hear Jesus refuse to heal, bless, cleanse, deliver or accept those who came to Him.  You never heard Jesus deny anyone who came to Him.
     We read about how the Scribes and Pharisees trying to trap Jesus by their teachings about God.  But, Jesus always showed the grace of the Father.  Under Law, lepers were separated and declared unclean by God.  Under the grace of the Father, they were accepted and made whole and clean. Under Law, adulterers were stoned by God, but under grace as the Father, Jesus said that none would condemn the adulterous woman and she should go and sin no more.
      Jesus showed us the difference between the God of the old covenant and the Father of the new covenant.  He was our walking, talking example of the difference in our relationship with Him.
     When we do wrong now as Christians, we receive the Father's grace and mercy and our sins are covered when we ask forgiveness.  We try making up for our wrongdoing by punishing ourselves.  We feel like we deserve punishment and set ourselves up tp receive our own payment for sin instead of allowing the Father, by faith, deal with it by the blood of Jesus.  This kind of attitude is displeasing before the Father.
     We try to walk under Law, by atoning for our own sin as Old Testament people when we should be walking in the faith that Jesus paid for our sins and that our Father has met all of our needs through Jesus.  Galatians 2:21 (Amplified) says, "(Therefore, I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose) I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God.  For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through (observing the ritual of) the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain (His death was then wholly superfluous)."
     In other words, if we try to pay for our wrong doings by chastising ourselves for them and walking in guilt because of how we feel, then we've not walked in faith before our Father by allowing Him to deal with it through the sacrifice He sent to take care of it.  Am I saying that it's alright to sin or do wrong?  No!  But, I am saying that when you do sin, then don't allow self or feelings of guilt draw you back into trying to pay for what Jesus has already paid for.  Don't let the things of your flesh (feelings of guilt) pull you back under the Law.  Allow the Father's grace deal with it by His Love instead of by works.
     The Father declared you clean, justified, righteous and sanctified by the sacrifice of His Lamb.  Don't expect to be punished and walk in guilt and condemnation.  Repent, accept the truth of the Blood and then above it.  Jesus is your righteousness and He's still without sin even if you aren't.  Walk in HIM.