Lesson 38 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another, and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     Jesus prayed for His followers in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying to the Father in John 17:16-18 (Amplified), "They are not of this world (worldly, belonging to the world), just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them, purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."
     We can see the tools (weapons) that God granted to Jesus, in order to do God's work and will, in John 1:16.  The Word says that, "Out of His fullness we have all received."  Jesus received God's fullness (abundance) and has now transferred it to us, so that we can continue doing God's will on earth.  Let's learn exactly what tools we've all received, been supplied with and all had a share in.
     We all have His abundance.  Jesus said in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy Life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."  We would mostly all agree that we have "the Life in abundance," that Jesus has and came to give us an we were all supplied with one Grace after another.  Do we see the Grace Jesus supplied us with, operating in our lives, so that we can do what He sent us to do?
     John 1:14 (Amplified) says, "And the Word (Christ), became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile among us); and we actually saw His Glory, His honor, His majesty, such Glory as an Only Begotten Son receives from His Father, full of Grace, favor, Loving Kindness, and Truth."  We have all received and were all supplied with one Grace after another."
     We've also all received Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing through Him.  John 3:34 (Amplified) tells s, "For since He Whom God has sent speaks the Words of God, proclaims God's Own Message, God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the Gift God makes of His Spirit."  Jesus was, "full of Grace and favor heaped upon favor, according to John 1:14 (Amplified) which tells us that, "Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
      Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "For it is by free Grace, God's unmerited favor that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation, through your faith, and this salvation is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came not through your own striving), but it is the Gift of God."  John 1:14 tells us that Jesus is full of Grace, favor, Loving Kindness and Truth.  Romans 5:5 (Amplified) says, "Such hope never disappoints or deludes us or shames us, for God's Love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given us."  We've all been supplied with the Gift of God's Loving Kindness, through Jesus. 
     Jesus is the Prince of  Peace and has peace with God, according to Isaiah 54:13 (Amplified) which says, "And all your Spiritual children (Spiritual Blessing) shall be taught by the Lord and obedient to His will, and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children."  So, as He has peace with God, He has freely given this Gift heaped upon gift to all God's children.  Jesus was the Righteousness of God, in this earth.  Jesus prayed for His followers in John 17:18 (Amplified) saying, "Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."  Jesus was the Righteousness of God and sent us into the world, just like He was.  Are we righteous?  Romans 8:30 (Amplified) says, "And those Whom He thus foreordained, He also called, and those whom He called, He also justified, acquitted, made righteous, putting them in right standing with Himself. And those whom He justified, He also glorified, raising them to a Heavenly dignity and condition or state of being."
     Are the things listed in the above scripture like justification, acquittal, righteousness, glorification, and Heavenly dignity, Gifts heaped upon Gifts?  You might answer, "It's different with Jesus, He had these things, because He was God."  Romans 8:14-17 (Amplified) says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God, For the Spirit which you have now received is not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption (the Spirit producing son-ship), in the bliss of which we cry, Abba, Father, Father. The Spirit Himself thus testifies together with our own spirit assuring us that we are children of God. And if we are His children, then we are His heirs also; heirs of god and fellow heirs with Christ."
     You might also say, "Jesus was different, because He had unbroken fellowship and entrance to the Father."  Let's read Romans 5:2 (Amplified), "Through Him also we have our access, entrance, introduction by faith into this Grace (state of God's favor) which we firmly and safely stand, and let us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the Glory of God."
     Paul goes on in Romans 6:11 (Amplified) saying, "Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God, living in unbroken fellowship with Him in Christ Jesus."  Jesus said that, "It was not Him, but the Father in Him Who did the works."  Did Jesus really mean that as the Father sent Him, He has sent us?  If if is the Father in Jesus Who does the works, then is this the Same Father in us too?  1Corinthians 6:19 (Amplified) says, "Do you not know that your body is the Temple, the very sanctuary of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received as a Gift from God, you are not your own."
     It is still the Father in us, Who does the works and we are sent into the world, just like Jesus was.  Jesus equipped us with everything the Father equipped Him with, in order to do the same job of preaching the Gospel, setting the captives free, preaching deliverance to those who are bound, and preaching the Acceptable Year of the Lord.  Jesus said, "Just as You have sent Me, I have sent them."
    

Lesson 37 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing, and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     Nearly everyone can read these Words, but most believers have little understanding of them.  Not everyone has the Spiritual understanding and Revelation of what they truly mean.  These scriptures convey no meaning or change the lives of the carnal minded Christian, who hasn't renewed his mind by the Word.  Throughout our unsaved lives, we were trained by the culture and teachings of the natural man.
     Our mind still thinks like it did before we were born-again, when our spirit was dead unto God and our natural man was the only guide we had to lead us, on this earth.  Satan is the god of this world and we were trained and taught by the ungodly influence of this fallen, outlaw spirit, until we received Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  When Jesus ascended to Heaven, He restored authority back to those who follow Him.  Before then, we mostly walked like those who were under the Law.  We could read The Bible and recognize it's moral value for us, but we had no Spiritual ability to receive it into our own spirit.  We tried governing our unruly mind and body, using willpower and natural strength.
     Under the Law, the people were natural men and women who were placed under a Spiritual rule, but they didn't have the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen them.  Before receiving Jesus as our Savior, we were in the same condition.  We memorized scriptures, but didn't deposit them into our spirit.  We didn't renew our minds with the Word, because we could understand the Words, but we had no Spiritual Revelation of the Truth they had in our spirit man.
      Interpreting the Word with a carnal, unrenewed mind, only brings man to recognize his shortcomings than he previously did and leads to condemnation and guilt.  The constant struggle to "become righteous," was a never ending fight, for the believer.  Revelation knowledge or the Light the Holy Spirit shines on the Word, reveals Truth into the new creation spirit and renews the mind.  The Truth reveals to us, that our Sacrifice Lamb hasn't just covered sin, but removed it before the Father.  This brings peace with God and peace in our hearts.
     Renewing our mind is training our soulish portion to receive from our spirit and take authority over the lusts of the flesh.  Man was created a spirit, was placed into a natural body and was given a soul, that would receive from the Spirit of God.   The soul (mind, will, emotions) would transmit guidance from the Spirit of God, to the brain of the natural man, allowing us to walk in the Super-natural Presence of God.  This is completed communication with God, without any lack in the three realms of man.
     Adam's fall caused man to be cut off from the Life of God, causing mankind to die in his spirit.  Man was disconnected from the Spirit of God and only lived by the soulish part of our lives.  We had to depend on our own ability to know "how to live on earth," because our spirit was dead to God and we possessed no compass to guide the flesh.  We only had the soulish identity that was corrupt in it's thinking.  Mankind fell into such a decline that caused horrific, terrible things to happen to and through us.  This was never God's will or plan for our lives.  The Curse of the Law was an act of God's Grace and allowed Spiritual Laws and consequences to operate in the earth and man's lives.  This is why the Law was so exact in its compliance.
     The only way God could get His Blessing and mercy into man's lives, was to make the natural man conform to the Spirit, by the natural things.  God put Laws in the covenant, that natural men could follow, thus allowing the Spiritual Laws to operate in their lives.  When man disobeyed the natural things like sacrifice, dress codes, codes of cleanliness and codes of conduct, it stopped the flow of the Spirit.  The Curse that came through Adam's fall then came into play, in their lives.  The Law was Spiritual, man wasn't.  Man could only receive spiritual things, by natural means.
     This isn't so for the new creation people of God.  We've been infused with God Himself and made alive unto God, through the Life of Jesus.  Through Jesus, we have the ability to govern our soulish man (our mind, will and emotions) by our new creation spirit and by the Holy Spirit.  Our minds that were programmed by the world and fallen man, but when we renew our minds by God's Word, we can take control over our mind and be led again by the Holy Spirit.  This sounds complicated when we first hear and try to do it, but we have the Mind of Christ.
     We can plainly see what Paul was saying in 1Corinthians 2:13-16 where he spoke about the "renewed and unrenewed mind."  These two minds are one and the same.  Our brain is the control center of our fleshly body and moves the body.  The mind of the spirit transmits the Word of God to the soul.  When the mind (soul) is unrenewed, it can only transmit or relay the things it has learned from the world, instead of the Holy Spirit.  Everything we had learned wasn't wrong, it just wasn't all Spiritual.  When we are born-again, our spirit becomes alive to God again and our new alive spirit can speak Revelation into our soul, from the Holy Spirit.  From a renewed mind, the soul can transfer new orders and information into the brain, which tells the flesh how to act and not act. The control of the flesh is now back in the confines of the Spirit.  We once again live from the inside and not from the outside.  We're lead by the Holy Spirit, like Jesus was.
     Today's Church is still being led by the soulish portion of man, the unrenewed mind, which is the soul.  When we use the Spirit to renew the soul,we will think differently and our body will respond differently.  Our flesh can only do what our brain tells us to do.  The brain can only tell it, what it knows and it only knows what is has learned either from the Holy Spirit or a fallen spirit.  If we fail to renew our minds b the Word, after being born-again, then the body will continue to act, think and respond to what it knew previously.  This is in direct opposition to what we want to do now as Christians and we'll fight our unruly flesh by only the things of the flesh.  This will lead to frustration and despair in our walk with God.

Lesson 36 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another, and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor, and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     Many feel like they're "taking advantage of God," by receiving these favors, Graces, Spiritual Blessings and Gifts we've been given through Jesus.  For years, we've been taught that "we're only here to struggle and suffer, so we can earn a rewarded place in Heaven.
     We've been taught that we're supposed to have very little here on earth and then we'll be rewarded in Heaven.  We need to remember that it was the Father's plan and will that we have these Blessings, favors, Gifts, and Graces through our union with Jesus.  The Father gave these things, because He thought we'd  need these things in order to accomplish the works He sent us here to do.  God gave these Gifts, Blessings, favors and Graces, so we would have an advantage over the enemy and could do what God has called us to do as more than just mere men, in the world run by satan.  These advantages make us an elite group of people, who are above the weapons and strategies of the enemy.
     We've missed the Truth of Jesus' prayer on our behalf, in John 17:16-18 (Amplified) saying, "They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them, purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, Make them holy by the Truth (Your Word is Truth) Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."
     When the Father sent Jesus into the world, He supplied Jesus with the fullness of one Grace after another, Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing, favor upon favor, and Gift heaped upon Gift.  God didn't do this just "because He was Jesus," but because Jesus had a mission to accomplish.  The Father equipped Jesus with everything needed to overcome the world and the enemy.  If Jesus needed all these favors, then do you really think we don't need to appropriate them in our lives so we can overcome?
     Satan (the liar) has sold us a "Bill of Goods," that we're being carnal and selfish when we desire these Spiritual Blessings and favors from God.  There might be some who desire these Gifts, because of selfish or wrong motives.  That doesn't mean though, that the rest of us should disregard these inheritances from the Father.  Without Grace, favor, and Spiritual Blessings, we cannot accomplish our mission.
     We've been successful in getting people born-again, but we leave them subjected to defeat and failure and issues that confront us in this world.  The very things that afflict the world, afflict the Church.  We seem to lack the favors, Spiritual Blessings, and Grace needed to overcome the world.  We're not setting the captives free and have become captives ourselves.
     We've witnessed many men and women who've been given an assignment from God, encounter conflict and destruction from satan, in order to stop their fulfilling their mission.  None of these persons retreated in the face of opposition, but held fast to the Truth of their mission and completed the Race.  Joseph received a vision from God in Genesis 37:5-10 about being made a ruler and being lifted up above his father and brothers.  God showed Joseph that his brothers would bow before him, but when he retold this vision to them, Joseph's brothers rebuked him and put him into a pit to die.  They envied Joseph's Spiritual Blessing.  Many today, have become discouraged and stopped trying to fulfill the vision God gave us.  In Genesis 39:1-2, 21-23 (Amplified), Potiphar purchases Joseph as his slave, but in Verse 2 (the very next verse), we read these Words, "But the Lord was with Joseph, and he, though he was a slave, was a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian." 
     Joseph is thrown into prison, because he wouldn't go back on his integrity and calling  (vision) he received from God in Verses 21-23 which say, "But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy and Loving-Kindness and gave him favor in the sight of the warden of the prison. And the warden of the prison committed to Joseph's care all the prisoners who were in the prison, and whatsoever was done there, he was in charge of it. The prison warden paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, for the Lord was with him and made whatever he did to prosper." 
     Genesis 41:1,46 (Amplified) continues saying, "After two full years, Pharaoh dreamed that he stood by the River Nile."  Pharaoh had a dream that no one could decipher, but God gave Joseph the meaning of the dream.  Pharaoh promoted Joseph to Prime Minister over all of Egypt in Verse 46 which says, "Joseph, who had been in Egypt thirteen years, was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh King of Egypt, and went about his duties through all the Land of Egypt."
     Joseph was beset by many afflictions for thirteen years, but he never back away from the vision God gave him and it came to pass, just like God had stated.  Joseph was a "prosperous man," even in prison, because God was with him.  When God gives us a revelation or vision today, do we quit when afflictions and persecutions arise?  Do we say, "It must not be God's will for us" or "God is trying us," when it's really satan who is trying us?
     When we fail to receive the things from Jesus in John 1:16-17, we have no more to function in, than the world does.  Without God's involvement, we don't have strength to continue and stop in our calling as Ambassadors for Christ.  It might take awhile for the vision to come to pass, but if we hold fast to what God has called us to, then it will come to pass.  God doesn't change His mind every time a problem arises, like we seemingly believe.  When we get discouraged, detoured or influenced by someone else, then we exchange what God has called us to do, for what everyone else is doing.
     Many in today's Church have substituted what the Father had for them, for what they wanted to do.  God may have called and anointed you for one thing, but you wanted to do something different.  We can choose to do this and still be saved and be His child, but it can be costly when we don't do what God has called us to do.  I'm not talking about sin, but obedience to the Father.  We're defenseless when we don't accept the things given through Jesus in John 1:16-17.  We're mere men and women in this world, without these things.  If God wants you to have these things, then they must be important and needful for what He's called us to do  Our success will depend on our having them.
    Remember when you get discouraged, Joseph was a prosperous man even in prison, while he waited on the vision God gave him.  Joseph didn't blame God or quit.  He was prosperous, because God was with him.  Don't settle for what the world thinks, but stand fast in your calling from God.  Don't be side-tracked by what others seem to have settled for.

Lesson 35 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     We read in John 1:16-17 (Amplified), "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another, and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     Romans 4:15-16 (Amplified) says, "For the Law results in Divine wrath, but where there is no Law there is no transgression of it either. Therefore, inheriting the Promise IS THE OUTCOME OF FAITH and DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON FAITH, in order that it may be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants; not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham who is thus the father of us all."
     We have received everything given through Jesus in John 1:16-17, as his fellow heirs.  There are no longer "merits," of the Law and keeping it's rules and sacrifices, but now all the Promises are ours in Christ Jesus.  These are already ours to enjoy and receive, because we all share these things in Jesus, all have a share, and were all supplied with these things.  In order to activate the Blessings in our lives, we must accept and receive them by faith.  Even the salvation God offers to the world, is of no use to the unsaved, if they don't accept it by faith and receive what Grace has made available to them.  Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "For it is by free Grace (God's unmerited favor), that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation through your faith And this salvation is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came not through your own striving), but is the Gift of God."
     The Grace upon Grace, Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing, favor upon favor, Gift heaped upon Gift and Truth are all ours, but like everything else in the covenant, we must receive and accept them by faith and not works.  Too many in today's Church, are striving to become attain the place where they can receive these things.  The harder one strives to "deserve" them, the farther from Grace he gets.  I'm not saying we shouldn't do good works, but that we cannot earn or deserve God's favor.  We already have these things in His Promise and His salvation.  If we don't, by faith, activate God's favor and don't know we are favored, then we try to do whatever we believe is required to have favor with God.  These things in our inheritance are received by faith and must be activated by faith.
     We've been left these things in His will, but we must believe they are ours in order to enjoy and walk in them.  This is faith.  Galatians 4:1 (Amplified) says, "Now what I mean is that as long as the inheritor (heir) is a child and under age, he does not differ from a slave, although he is the master of all the estate. But he is under guardians and administrators or trustees until the date fixed by his father."  Paul is speaking about the Jews, who were not under Grace, but under Law and couldn't receive their inheritance of Christ yet.  This is also true of the baby Christian, who doesn't know his place in God's family, according to 1Corinthians 3:1-2 (Amplified) where Paul writes, "However, Brethren, I could not talk to you as to spiritual men, but as to non-spiritual men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates, as to mere infants in the new Life in Christ, unable to talk yet. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough to be ready for it, but even yet you are not strong enough to be ready for it."
     We've never been taught to expect the things God has so freely given us,  as the children of the Kingdom.  Most of our expectations are for after we leave this earth and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus says in Luke 11:20 (Amplified), "But if I drive out the demons by the Finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has already come upon you."  Where the King is, the Kingdom is also.  We've failed to allow the Spirit of God, Who is now living in us, to express the Kingdom forth from us to the world.
     The Pharisees asked Jesus, "When will the Kingdom be restored to us?  The Jews leaders were really asking, "When will the Roman occupation end and the Kingdom be restored to the Jews?"  Jesus answered them in Luke 17:21 (Amplified) saying, "Nor will people say, Look! Here it is! or see, it is there! For behold, the Kingdom of God is within you, in your hearts and among you, surrounding you."
     Many differing teachings about faith matters, are being disputed in today's Church, because we're still on the milk, instead of the meat of the Word.  We're a House divided by doctrines and traditions.  The Church isn't operating in the unity of faith as a whole.  We're fragmented by our own ideas of "What and where is the Kingdom" and "What is really God's will and nature for us at the time."
     Through the centuries, we've seen many women and men of God facing and accepting the persecution and arguments that surrounded their ministries.  Many were rejected by the "mainstream" denominations and were considered to be "strange."  The Lord persisted, however, to send preachers, teachers, and evangelists who would teach the people about the inheritance that is theirs already by Christ.  Only the Holy Spirit can bring unity in the Church, but it will only come to those who will accept it in their lives.
     Over the last four decades, there have been so many teachings that differ from the "standard" teachings of religious traditions of the past.  This has left the Church wary of anything that is considered "different."  We've become intent on holding onto what we know, rather than expanding on what we know.  The old saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water," applies here.  Some things are Foundation Stones and should not be changed, but other things are things we've built upon the foundation and need to be changed.
     We are all born of the Spirit of God and we all have the ability to read, listen, judge and understand by the Same Holy Spirit, so we should know what is Truth and what isn't.  1John 2:19,27 (Amplified) tells us, "But you have been anointed by, you hold a sacred appointment from (you have been given an unction from), the Holy One, and you all know the Truth, or you know all things."  John goes further in Verse 27, saying, "But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction), which you have received from Him, abides permanently in you; So then you have no need that anyone instruct you. But just as His Anointing teaches you concerning everything and is True and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in), never depart from Him, being rooted in Him, knit to Him, just as His Anointing has taught you to do."
     This doesn't mean we're never to listen to teachers and disregard everything we've learned, doing our own thing.  We are to listen to the Holy Spirit in our own spirits, and discern things we've been taught and preached.  The Holy Spirit will tell us whether or not these are from Him.  John isn't saying you're to go start your own denomination (God forbid), but that you can know for yourself, what is of God and what's not of Him.
     There are worldly laws that people say are, "Alright and are okay to pass."  In our own lives, we don't have to partake of these things, but can decide and discern if they're Godly Laws or worldly laws.  If they're not Godly Laws, then we might decide we won't participate in them, in our own lives.  Others might see nothing wrong with these laws, abide by them and believe everyone should follow them (like laws about sugary drinks).  This is true in the believer's life too.  I have the right of choice in God, to "Choose Life and Blessing or Death and Cursing," according to Deuteronomy 30:19.
     This isn't to make us puffed-up in our own eyes, nor is it for brow-beating others, but it's for walking naturally Super-natural in our walk with the Father.  Just because someone else believes that "The Baptism of the Holy Spirit has ceased," doesn't mean I'm obligated to believe it too.  I'm to seek the truth from the Unction that's within me and know for myself.  I don't have to reject Truth, for tradition.
     We are all God's children and part of His family, but we're still individuals in the family too.  I'm not writing these things in order to disagree with your opinions or religion, but I write these things from my own experience of 45 years of walking with God.  Many disagree with these teachings, but they have worked in my own life and they continue to do so.  You don't have to believe in healing, that's your choice to believe in Life and Blessing or death and Cursing.  The choice is yours to make and God will respect your right to choose.  He gave the right to do so.
     Many have received Jesus' invitation and made Him the Lord of their lives, but many have chosen not to do so.  The choice is left up to them to make.  I can fellowship with people who believe differently than I do and still agree with some things they believe, but many of today's teachings are ungodly and against the Truth of God's Word and I will never agree with that.  It's not my job to crusade against every wrong thing, but to teach that which is right and Truth.  You're responsible for listening, learning, deciding, and weeding your own garden. 
     Jesus gave "The Parable of the Sower" in Mark 4:24 (Amplified) saying, "Be careful what you are hearing. The measure of thought and study you give to the Truth you hear, will be the measure of virtue and knowledge that comes back to you, and more besides will be given to you who hear."  Notice how Jesus instructed, "Give thought and study to the Truth you hear."  The only way for virtue and knowledge to come to you from God, is by the Truth you hear.  God will not and cannot, bring virtue and knowledge when it's not His Truth.
     There might be increase in the seeds (words) sown into your heart, but not all the seeds (words) being sown are Truth, hope, Blessing and Life.  Many of them bring heartache, despair, sickness and hopelessness, instead of virtue and knowledge.  We must weed our own gardens, instead of allowing someone else to do it and trusting they won't pluck the good plants, instead of the weeds.  This is looking to the Word, for those who are serious about their lives in God.  This isn't solely looking to television evangelists and megachurch ministers, but looking to the teachings of the Holy Spirit.  A true disciple and child who honors God at His Word, will not compromise His Truth, for the sake of being like everyone else.
     
    

Lesson 34 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another, and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing, and even favor upon favor, and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     John 1:1-5 (Amplified) tells us, "In the beginning (before all time), was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself; He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of mean and the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it (put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it and is unreceptive to it."
     We've missed out on what the Father did, when Jesus was brought into this world.  In order to redeem mankind and bring His family back to Himself, God needed to do things according to His Own Laws of Heaven, because He is Just and Righteous.  These are the same Laws God used to bring forth everything.  It must be complete and total and must be done outside the earth and mankind, because they had fallen under the Curse upon Adam's transgression in the Garden of Eden.  God needed another Man to bring back the Blessing, union, and His Life on the earth and man.  God spoke forth a Man from the Only Truth, that could come into this natural world.  That Word was Jesus.
     God had to bring another Man into the natural world, but that Man needed to be born of a woman and without sin.  Sin was transferred into all men, because of Adam's transgression, so God had to find a different way of getting it done.  God began in Genesis 3:15 (Amplified), when He prophesied about the "Seed of the woman."  Women don't have seeds.  The Seed had to come from God Himself.  Jesus spoke about this in "The Parable of the Sower" in Mark 4, where He said, "The sower sows the Word and the Word is the Seed of God."
     The seed is planted first, then it sprouts, a stalk grows up and then the fruit comes.  The Seed had to come first, Who is Jesus, before the fruit would be born.  Every book in the Bible speaks about Jesus and His redemptive and saving Grace.  God spoke the Heavens and the earth, the light, the sun, moon, stars and universe into being.  He spoke the plants, animals, and everything in and on this earth and "It was so."  The "speaking of the Seed of the woman," was to be God's Word.
     God spoke everything that we can see, just like He spoke the Seed, Jesus.  When it came to bringing Jesus into this earth, God had to ensure everything was perfect, complete and there was nothing left for satan to hold onto.  God made a covenant with man called Abraham in Genesis and through Abraham's faith, God could begin speaking Jesus into a bodily form.
     God's Word to Abraham and his Seed, was the sowing of His Seed,Jesus,  by which we are now Blessed.  God puts this Seed into a flesh and blood Man and we can see this Seed began taking shape, as we read the Bible.  We can even hear the Words that this Man would say that would make it all Truth.  Psalms 23 tells about the "Shepherd Who leads us into paths of righteousness."  We read about the Words Jesus would speak on the cross, in Psalm 22.
     We see Him, by faith, as He was beaten, hung on the cross, became a Curse, and took our sickness and disease in Isaiah.  We see the Pattern of Jesus' death and resurrection, through Jonah's being eaten by a whale and living in the whale's belly for three days.  Jesus was being formed one Word at a time.  We can read how God was forming Jesus from the Seed.  We read how and hear what God's Word has formed Jesus, the Seed, to be in every last aspect of salvation.
     God speaks Jesus into creation, just like the moon and stars.  God says "A virgin will conceive," in Isaiah and that woman will bring forth a child in Luke 1:37 (Amplified) where Gabriel tells and incredulous Mary, "With God nothing is ever impossible and no Word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment."  Luke 2:6-7 (Amplified) continues, "And while they were there the time came for [Mary] to deliver, And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn."
     God spoke the Word (Seed) and we know that, "Seed always produces after kind," according to Genesis 1:12 (Amplified) which says, "The earth brought forth vegetation; plants yielding seed according to their own kinds and trees bearing fruit in which was their seed each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good (suitable, admirable), and He approved it."
     Jesus says in John 15:5 (Amplified), "I am the Vine, you are the branches, Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much abundant fruit. However, apart from Me, cut off from vital union with Me, you can do nothing."  We witness the Law of Kind (everything bears fruit after kind," in everything we see and do here on earth.  It's really a Spiritual Principle.  If you plant apple sees, then you will get apple trees, because everything bears fruit after its kind.
     As God's Seed, His Exalted Word was sown into Mary's womb, it brought forth "Fruit after It's kind."  God spoke Jesus, line upon line, into the Fullness of everything that would ever be needed to reproduce in His Image.  God completed the Perfect Sacrifice and Savior, the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us, and reproduced the family of God after His Kind.
     Throughout the new covenant, we see the fruit of this Seed.  Romans 8:16-17 (Amplified) says, "The Spirit Himself thus testifies together with our own spirit, assuring us that we are children of God. And if we are His children, then we are His heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him."
     When the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, man was restored to God's Own children again.  Christ is the Complete Answer for mankind, and by faith in Him we are made pure, holy, sinless, righteous, justified, and totally redeemed.  By faith in and through God's Seed, we've been made one with God again.  In Isaiah 55:10-11 (Amplified) God says, "For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall My Word be that goes forth out of My Mouth, it shall not return to Me voice, without producing any effect (useless), but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
    
    

Lesson 33 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessings upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     The Church has never truly understood the unearned, undeserved favor and Spiritual Blessing which came through Jesus.  Under the Law given to Moses, the people needed to observe certain rules and offer sacrifices, in order to obtain certain Graces.  Jesus Himself came to fulfill the Law and qualify all of us for every Grace and Spiritual Blessing.   The Law couldn't qualify the saints of the old covenant for these.
     In John 4:23-24 (Amplified), Jesus said, "A time will come, however, indeed is already here, when the true, genuine worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people for these as His worshipers. God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (reality)."
     We are God's Own children and must understand the reality of His Presence.  We must understand the reality of God's invitation to come into His Throne Room of Grace at any time, for anything, where we'll not only be received, but welcomed and expected.  We've never seemed to be aware of the fact and Truth, that Jesus has made this possible and gives an open invitation for us to enter into God's Throne Room of Grace.  We've been restored to the privilege that until now, that only Jesus and Adam (before the fall) had a right to do.  The righteousness or right standing with God that comes by faith, has restored to us the right to stand before Him complete in Jesus.
     This isn't by Law or something we worked to earn or deserve, but only comes by faith in what Jesus has done for us.  This right or privilege has been so completely misunderstood by the Church and few have ever truly entered in, by simple faith.  Most of us "feel unworthy and unrighteous" and feel like we have no place in the Presence of a Good and Holy God.  When we don't have faith in the Finished Work of Jesus, we can't enter into, because the only way in is "The Door," according to John 10:9 (Amplified) where Jesus says, "I Am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live); H will come in and he will go out freely and will find pasture."
     We've been taught and raised in the old sin consciousness, which has left us without understanding Truth in Jesus.  In John 16:8-11 (Amplified) Jesus says this just prior to ascending to Heaven, "And when He (the Holy Spirit) comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God), and about judgment, about sin; because they do not believe in Me (trust in, rely on, and adhere to Me). About righteousness, uprightness of heart and right standing with God, because I go to My Father and you will see Me no longer. About judgment, because the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world (satan) is judged and condemned and sentence already is passed on him."
     The judgment passed on satan, is the judgment of those who will not accept the Door to right standing, Who is Jesus.  The sin that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of and the righteousness He convince the world of, comes from their not believing and trusting in the One Who has made it possible for us to be in right standing, cleansed and God's eyes.  This is why we must worship Him in Spirit and Truth (reality).  Any other way, is trusting in ourselves and is rejecting the Only Way into God's Presence.
     This has led to unanswered prayers and broken fellowship with the Father.  We want to be saved by Grace, but live by Law.  We can't mix them.  We must live and conduct our lives on earth, by faith in the Finished Work of Jesus.  The moment we try doing things by the flesh, we step out of Grace and resort back to Law.
     It's nearly impossible for the natural man and his carnal mind, to receive even the words I'm writing here.  Only a mind that's been renewed by God's Word and the Truth of Grace, can comprehend the Grace and Truth that Jesus brought to us.  The Church has been taught about the family relationship we share with the Father, using natural understanding from carnal minds.
     The natural mind can never trust God's Word and believe we have a right to stand in God's Presence, like Jesus does.  We hear about the things Jesus did and His walk with God on this planet, but believe "God only heard Jesus, because of Who He was."  We seemingly forget Jesus' Words in John 15:7 (Amplified), where He said, "If you live in Me (abide, vitally united to Me) and My Words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you."
     Isn't this the Grace, favor, Spiritual Blessings and Truth, that Jesus came to deliver to us?  Jesus tells His followers that He will send them the Spirit of Truth, in John 15:26 (Amplified) saying, "But when the Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Stand-by, comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He Himself will testify regarding Me."
     The Truth that Jesus brought to us in His coming, is the same Truth the Holy Spirit will testify to us regarding Him.  This Truth will testify to us regarding Him.  It proceeds from the Father, through the Holy Spirit, by the Grace in and from Jesus.  Righteousness, forgiveness, justification, consecration, son ship rights, sanctification and unbroken fellowship with God, along with entrance into God's full Presence, have all come to God's children by faith in His Love, Jesus.
     When we dare to believe and receive by faith, in the fullness of God's Grace, we will enter in and receive what the Father has for us now.  When we don't trust in, rely on, adhere to and enter in by faith, then we are pulled away from Grace.  We somehow believe only part of what Jesus did is "real," while other parts aren't "real."  Perhaps, this is why Jesus said, "Those who worship Him, must worship in Spirit and in Truth (reality)."  We can't seem to differentiate between Spiritual reality and natural reality.  In the natural, our five sense guide and teach us what is "reality."  In the Spirit, Truth is reality.
     Paul writes in Galatians 2:20-21 (Amplified), "I have been crucified with Christ (in Him I have shared His crucifixion); it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me: and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in), the Son of God, Who Loved me and gave Himself up for me. There, 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)."
     It wasn't just our sin that Jesus bore, but everything else the Word spoke concerning Him has become Truth and Spirit, Spiritual Blessing and Grace, to those who will worship and place their faith in Him.  Don't set aside your trust, just because someone else has done so.
     John 1:14 (Amplified) says, "And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate), and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh), lived awhile among us: and we actually saw His Glory, His Honor, His Majesty, such glory as an only begotten Son receives from His Father, full of Grace, favor, Loving Kindness and Truth."  Have you ever wondered about "the Word being made flesh?"  What "Word" is the Holy Spirit speaking about when He says, "The Word became flesh?"
     God spoke about the Coming Messiah, Jesus from Genesis 3:15, about the cross, healing and salvation in Isaiah 9, 52-55, and about our separation and reunification with the Father throughout The Old Testament.  When God spoke these things about Jesus' coming, He was building Jesus in fullness, one Word at a time and we can now partake of these things.  God spoke the complete Man of redemption, salvation, righteousness, justification and restoration into completion and "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."  Nothing that was needed to completely restore God's family back to Himself, was left out of "The Word."  When Jesus had been "formed" by God;s Word, the Word became flesh and we could (and can) actually see the Completion of God's Word.    

Lesson 32 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     These Graces, Spiritual Blessings, favors, and Gifts have all been granted to us in our receiving Jesus as Lord, Savior and Final Sacrifice for us.  We only need to accept them, by faith in His Truth and God's Promise in Jesus.  All these things are ours, even though they are unearned and undeserved.  Grace and Truth are God's Gift to us in Jesus and are the fulfillment of God's Promise to Abraham.  We no longer have to look to the Promise, because we've received the Promise by faith in Jesus.  Once the Promise is fulfilled, it's no longer a promise to those in Jesus, but it's now our's in Grace and Truth.
     We're living in the Promise when we're in Jesus, because the Promise was made to "thy Seed," which is Jesus.  Galatians 3:29 (Amplified) says, "And if you belong to Christ, are in Him Whom is Abraham's Seed, then you are Abraham's offspring and spiritual heirs according to Promise."  When you're in Christ Jesus, then it's no longer just a Promise, but is Truth by Grace.  A promise is something we're waiting to come to pass.  Once it's come to pass, the Promise has become a vital Truth in Jesus.
     The confidence we have in prayer, intervention into our lives, answers to questions, knowing God's will, along with favor and acceptance in His sight, are all based upon our accepting His Truth and having faith in His Word.  God Promised these Gifts, favors, Spiritual Blessings and different Graces to Abraham and his Seed, Who is Christ Jesus.  This has been fulfilled in our lives and we're heirs according to the Promise.
     As believers, these things are now ours according to the Promise.  If we don't have the revelation of the Grace and Truth that came through Jesus, then we will continue trying to make these things comes about by our works and deeds.  We'll continue believing we need to do this, in order to gain favor with God, even though it's unearned, undeserved favor by Grace.  We only need to believe what God has said and done.  When we received Jesus, we received the fulfillment of all the Promise for here and hereafter, in Him.  We don't have any problems believing in what God will do after we leave this earth, but we struggle believing in the intervention and His Spiritual Blessings and favor are for here and now.
     Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "For it is by free Grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation through your faith. And this salvation is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came not through your own striving), but it is the Gift of God."  We have been saved by faith through Grace, just like John 1:16-17 says.
     We accept this part of God's Promise, but shy away from the rest of it.  If this part of His Grace and Truth and Promise is fulfilled, then the entire Promise has come to pass by the same Grace and Truth.  We can read the Promise and believe God's Word is True, we don't "feel righteous," don't always act righteous or always have righteous thoughts, so we continue trying to feel the Promise, instead of believing the Promise.
     If we allow our senses to dictate our faith, then we will never allow ourselves to enter into full fellowship and right standing with our Heavenly Father.  The carnal mind (flesh) is in enmity with God and cannot be reconciled to Him.  Our prayers and the confidence in God's Promise, have been controlled more b our feelings, instead of our faith.  We keep trying to feel our righteousness, rather than accepting it as a Gift of God and walking it out by faith.
     Ephesians 3:11-12 (Amplified) says, "This is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He has realized and carried into effect in the Person of Jesus Christ our Lord In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness, courage, and confidence of free access and unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear."  This can only come to pass in our relationship with the Father, by our acceptance of His Grace and Truth.
     When we hold back in our relationship with Him, we're saying that we don't believe His Promise and His Word is Truth for us.  How can we say we believe we've been "saved by faith through Grace," and that, "This isn't of ourselves, but it's the Gift of God," while denying that this same Grace and faith don't work in any other areas of our lives?  If one part is true, then it's all true.  We've allowed unrenewed, carnal minds to rule over Truth in our lives.  You are righteous because of Jesus, not because you "feel" righteous. 
     When you understand that your right standing with the Father is established, condemnation will become revelation.  You will no longer be held back by condemnation and will be brought in, by revelation.  This revelation will bring the carnal thoughts, feelings and condemnation into check, so we can finally enter in with confidence of fellowship.  Understanding will allow us to have faith in our prayers being answered and will open the way to revelation knowledge, instead of carnal knowledge.
     Paul writes in Romans 4:16 (Amplified), "Therefore, inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith and depends entirely on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor); to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is thus the father of us all."
     Our "access" into all the Promise, is only guaranteed by our faith, like it was for Abraham.  Even though the Promise is now fact in Jesus, you will only access as much of it as you allow Grace to lead you in, by your faith in His Guarantee through Jesus.  It's already yours, but you must allow Grace to lead you and make your way by faith.  You can't receive it by any other way, even though it's already yours.  It's your inheritance, but you must be willing to allow the Spiritual Blessing to bring it, instead of carnal striving and workings of the flesh.  You need to receive the Truth of your being righteous before the Father, because of Jesus' righteousness, by faith into your spirit.  Then, the knowledge of having right standing with God, will bring your carnal mind into subjection to God's Word.  This will give you the peace Jesus said was ours in Him.  It will shut down the condemnation and guilt of the old man and allow us to bring the flesh under control of the spirit.
     Romans 8:14 (Amplified) says, "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God."  There is the way by Grace, Truth.  Having faith in these and being led by the Spirit of God, while we're still in this earthly body, will bring our carnal mind and flesh into subjection to the spirit. It doesn't come by our struggling, but by allowing the Truth to guide us, instead of the senses.  As long as the senses rule, the spirit isn't free to guide and direct us, because our feelings will never allow us to be comfortable in God's Presence.  It only comes by faith or confidence in His Word.
     Romans 8:1 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation, no adjudging guilty of wrong for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit."   

Lesson 31 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:16-17,18 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     Notice, the above scripture tells us that, "We have all received, all had a share, and were all supplied with."  No one has been left out or exalted above any other.  Some have accepted these Spiritual Blessings, some have accepted these Gifts and some have accepted His Grace and favor, but some have not.  However, all were given the same Grace, favor, Gifts and Spiritual Blessings.
     Verse 18 continues, "No man has ever seen God at any time; the Only Unique Son, or the Only Begotten God, Who is in the bosom (in the intimate Presence) of the Father, He has declared Him, He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen, He has interpreted Him and made Him known."
     When we see Jesus, we see God!  We should be able to determine God's will, by the Manifest Presence and deeds of Jesus, during His earthly ministry.  We don't need to struggle knowing God's will concerning healing, help, anointing, humanity or acceptance of our humanity, or the trials and problems that present themselves before us.  We only need to look unto Jesus and then we will see God.
     Before Jesus came to earth, God was untouchable.  After Jesus came, man can touch God and Jesus Who is God in the flesh, is willing to touch us.  Even in our most terrible times, troubles, or diseases, Jesus would put out His hand, in order to touch and remove these things (even the foul disease of leprosy).  He was willing to come into our presence and be where we are.  Jesus even walked in some of the same persecution that we walk in.
     We've overlooked many of the things God has made available to and for us, because we don't know our Heavenly Father.  C.S. Lewis says is so beautifully, saying, "The Son of God became the Son of Man, so that the sons of man could become the sons of God."  Through Jesus, God came to our level of life, in order to bring us up to His level of Life.  Paul writes in 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified), "Therefore if any person is ingrafted in Christ (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and Spiritual) condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
     Many of God's children have overlooked the Gifts, spoke about in John 1:16-17 or haven't reached out to accept them.  Paul writes about the Gifts of the Spirit.  Most of us mistakenly accept the belief that, "We don't qualify for any of these Gifts," but the Word tells us that, "The Holy Spirit gives these Gifts severely as He wills."  We stop at the 9 Gifts of the Spirit, when there are actually 11 Gifts of the Spirit.  Paul writes about the rarely spoke about Gifts of government and helps in 1Corinthians 12:18 (KJV) saying, "And God hath set some in the Church, first of all apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, and Gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."
     How many in the Church have been anointed by the same Holy Spirit, to function in helps and governments, but have no idea they're anointed to do these functions?  Here are some different translations of these Gifts.  Helps means, "Helpers, assistants, those who help others."  Governments means, "Administrators, organizers, power to guide them, wise guides, those who can get others to work together, managers."
     How many in the Church are called to walk in these Gifts of the Spirit, but have never accepted the call or the anointing for these positions?  We major on the nine Gifts and ignore the other two nearly altogether.
     We see some of these Gifts, that came through our union with Jesus in Romans 5:1-2 (Amplified) which says, "Therefore since we are justified, acquitted, declared righteous and given a right standing with God, through faith, let us grasp the fact that we have the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy, peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) Through Him also we have our access, entrance, introduction by faith into this Grace (state of God's favor in which we firmly stand). And let us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the Glory of God."
     The things I underlined above, are a Gift that came through Jesus, in Grace and Truth.  Romans 5:17 (Amplified) says, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one; much more surely will those who receive God's overflowing Grace (unmerited favor) and the free Gift of righteousness putting them in right standing with Himself, reign as kings in Life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
     These are not things you work to obtain, but these are Gifts you receive by faith in what is already your's through Jesus.  Romans 7:6 (Amplified) tells us, "But now we are discharged from the Law and have terminated all intercourse with it, having died to what once restrained and held us captive. So now we serve not under obedience to the old code of written regulations, but under obedience to the prompting of the Spirit in newness of Life."
     Romans 8:29-30 (Amplified) says, "For those whom He foreknew (of whom He was aware and Loved beforehand), He also destined from the beginning, fore-ordained them to be molded into the Image of His Son and share inwardly His Likeness, that He might become the Firstborn among many brethren. And those Whom He thus fore-ordained, He also called, and those whom He called, He also Justified, acquitted, made righteous, putting them in right standing with Himself, and those Whom He justified, He also Glorified, raising them to a Heavenly dignity and condition or state of being."
     All of these underlined scriptures, are "Gift heaped upon Gift," given in John 1:16.  We don't always see righteousness as a Gift, nor do we see justification or sanctification as Gifts.  This is why  it's called, "Grace," because it's "unearned, undeserved favor and Spiritual Blessing and Truth."
     John 1:16 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness, abundance, we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift."  We have all been given every advantage of the Spiritual Blessings that came through Jesus.  These are all Spiritual Blessings that the old covenant people couldn't receive, because the newness of Life or the Promise God gave to Abraham of the Holy Spirit hadn't come yet.  That Promise was Jesus.  He is the Seed, God Promised.
     Now that He has come, these Spiritual Blessings can be manifested in the new creation man and woman, who has a born-again spirit.  Don't neglect and turn away from the Gifts and Spiritual Blessing, by religious teachings that tell you, "No, none are righteous."  This was before Jesus and these were nonspiritual men who weren't under the covenant of Grace and Truth in Jesus.

     
    
    

Lesson 30 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing, and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     Grace has always been God's will for mankind.  Even after Adam's transgression, God covered Adam and Eve with the blood of sacrificial animals and clothed them.  Genesis 3:21 (Amplified) says, "For Adam also and for his wife the Lord God made long coats (tunics of skins) and clothed them."  God instructed Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:17 (Amplified), "But of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil and Blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in that day you eat of it you shall surely die." 
     The day they ate from that tree, Adam and Eve died spiritually and were cut off from the Life in the Spirit of God.  Death set in instantly and mankind was separated from God, in his spirit.  The Law of Sin and Death came into existence at that moment and only the shed blood of sacrificial animals could cover the demand for payment.  God took the life of animals to cover Adam's sin.  A death occurred, blood was shed, the blood constituted the passing of life and paid the penalty.  Throughout the Bible, death had to be paid for, to cover man's sins and the proof of payment was the blood.  This was and is Grace towards mankind, until the Final Payment for sin and death could be made by the Blood, death, and resurrection of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
     Being a Just and Righteous Judge, God had to enforce the Law of Sin and Death He gave Adam in Genesis 2:17.  Grace determined that the death and blood of innocent animals would cover man's sins and prolong his physical life, until Jesus could come as the True Sacrifice.  Jesus was the Perfect, Innocent Sacrifice that destroyed the sin and restored the Life of God's Spirit, within the spirit of mankind.
     The Holy Spirit brought the Word of God, but we often miss what He said in John 1:16-17.   We're living in the day of the Promise that God made in Genesis 3:15 (Amplified) where He says, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring. He will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel."  The old covenant people needed to operate in the Law and sacrifice, to stay in the Grace that the Law offered.  The Perfect Sacrifice, Jesus, has come and we no longer walk under the Law.  We don't need the death and blood of animals to cover our sins, because of Jesus' Sinless Sacrifice.  Jesus told His followers, in Matthew 26:28 (Amplified), "For this is My Blood of the new covenant, which ratifies the agreement and is being poured out for many for the forgiveness of sin."
     The Apostle Paul received the Revelation from Jesus Himself, about the Truth of the Blood covenant being proclaimed by and through what we have come to call communion.  Paul gives us, the world and satan the Truth and Spiritual Blessings and explains how the Price has been paid and by Jesus' Blood and death, we are free from the bondage of the Law of Sin and Death.  Paul writes about the Last Supper in 1Corinthians 11:25-26 (Amplified), "Similarly when supper was ended, He took the cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant, ratified and established in My Blood, do this, as often as you drink it, to call Me affectionately to remembrance. For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord's death until He comes again."
     This communion with the Lord, signifies to the world and spirit realm that death had come by the Blood, just like in Egypt, during the Passover.  The Lamb's Blood proclaimed and testified that the Law of Sin and Death had been paid and the destroyer (the demonic spirit that fed upon the sin and death) was rebuked.  The destroyer no longer had a right to move upon those who were under the Blood.   
     The Passover Meal (we call Communion) is the Power over the Law of Sin and Death, when we knowingly proclaim take it in it's authority, according to Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) which says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation, no adjudging guilty of wrong for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus, the Law of our new being, has freed me from the Law of Sin and Death."
     When we fail to understand the Grace and Truth in the bread and wine and receive communion as a ritual and tradition, we fail to appropriate the Spiritual Blessing that comes through it in Jesus.  The Power of the Blood of Jesus is much more powerful than that of lambs in Exodus 12:21-27 (Amplified), where the Israelites were instructed to sacrifice a lamb and place the blood of that lamb, over their doors, so that he destroyer couldn't enter their homes and slay them.  We have God's Word and the Guarantee of Jesus' Blood as our Protection from the Law of Sin and Death, when we walk in His Truth and Grace.
     God's Awesome Grace went so far as to take our penalty for us and we haven't totally appreciated what it really is.  Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ, doing away with the spiritual death for the believer.  The Spiritual Blessings of the Promise God gave to "Abraham and his Seed (Jesus)" can be fulfilled in us.  Some of these Spiritual Blessings couldn't be granted to the old covenant people, because of the spiritual death they lived in after Adam's transgression.  Jesus' Sacrifice fulfilled all of these Promises, Spiritual Blessings and Truth, for the new covenant people who believe in Him.
     All of the Promises of Messiah that God made throughout the entire old covenant, have now become Truth in the new covenant.  These include healing, peace, son-ship, being made one in spirit with God again, redemption, restoration, dominion and so many other Spiritual Blessings.  John 1:17 (Amplified) tells us, "Grace (unearned, undeserved favor), and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
     These Spiritual Blessings were intended for mankind from the beginning, but Adam's sin in the Garden delayed them, until Jesus came.  Jesus paid the Price for us and all these Spiritual Blessings that were always God's will for us, have been reactivated or become Truth again for His children.  God can now do for and through us, like He intended from the beginning.  God could only Bless Abraham in this earthly realm and Promise him the Blessing of the Spirit.  Abraham walked by faith with God and God Blessed him, just like He said He would.  Abraham's name is made great, and he has truly become the Father of Multitudes in his faith, but the Blessing of the Spirit could not come until Jesus.  Galatians 3:13-14 (Amplified) says, "Christ purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the Curse (doom of the Law and its condemnation) by Himself becoming a Curse for us, for it is written in the scriptures, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified) (Deut. 21:23) To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might All RECEIVE THE REALIZATION OF THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT."
     When the Promise was fulfilled and the Holy Spirit was poured out on and in us, the realization of this event would change everything in our lives.  Through Jesus, we've been made alive, we've been infused with,empowered by and Blessed in and with, the Very Indwelling Presence of God.  Jesus fulfilled God's Promise and Plan for His family.  It's like satan never interrupted God's Plan and sin had never been.  The Church is just beginning to understand the Spiritual Blessing that came through Jesus.
    
    

Lesson 29 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

      John 1:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another, and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     We've been learning how Grace and Blessing were, and still are, God's will for His children.  Today, many still walk under the Law and have been deceived into believing that the Father is behind the trials and tests occurring in our lives.  Many good and sincere ministers have taught these things, but Truth comes through Jesus Christ.  John 8:31-32 (Amplified) says, "So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him; If you abide in My Word, hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them, you are truly My disciples And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free."
     We haven't learned much about the Freedom of the Truth.  When Jesus released the Blessing, Spiritual Gifts, Grace and favor upon us, we were reluctant to believe we could actually receive them.  Some feel like they were taking advantage of God, by receiving such Goodness, while others feel like they're not good enough to deserve God's Goodness.  Truth in the Goodness of God isn't something anyone deserves or can earn.  We'll never be good enough, to earn such fullness.   This is the Good News, that we no longer have to earn this Goodness by our own selves.  Grace has done what the Law could never do.  Faith in God's Spiritual Blessing, through faith alone, makes one righteous, according to Romans 3:22 (Amplified) which says, "Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and it is meant for ALL who believe. For there is no distinction."
     Grace has been made available to all who will accept it by faith and will bring about the Spiritual Blessings that have been released to those who have been made alive and new creations, in Christ Jesus.  These Spiritual Blessings couldn't come upon those who were still under the Law, because they were still dead in their spirit.  They could only receive part of God's favor and His Blessings, by observing the rules and regulations according to the Law.  As new creations in Christ, we've not only been made alive again in the spirit, but we're actually one with the Holy Spirit and in Him, are all the Spiritual Blessings that have become ours in Jesus Christ.  Most of us think of 1Corinthians 12:1-4, when we think about Gifts of the Spirit.  Paul lays these Gifts out here, for us to understand.  Much of today's Church though, believe these Gifts are "for only a few people and not for all."  
     John 1:16 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all receive, all had a share in and were all supplied with one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift."  These Gifts aren't those primarily listed in 1Corinthians 12:1-4.  These Gifts came upon and into us, by the Holy Spirit Who gave us the Life of God.
     We've mostly thought of other people operating and functioning in the Gifts of the Spirit and have left ourselves out of this process.  The Spiritual Blessings and Gifts aren't necessarily those in 1Corinthians 12:1-4, but are the Gift of righteousness, sanctification, justification, consecration, the mind of Christ, the Wisdom of God and the nature of God Himself.  These are the Gifts that we all have been supplied with and all have received and have all been supplied with.
     We've missed the importance of what is meant by "the whole Church and the whole Body of Christ," where it pertains to these Gifts.  We've left it to others, to obtain these Gifts.  In order to obtain this fullness of which we have all received, we must listen to the Voice of the Holy Spirit and learn to walk in the fullness by faith in God's Grace.  Grace didn't just now become "a thing" in the Church, even though we might have have finally come into a revelation of it.  But, God's Grace clothed Adam and Even with the skins of animals, in order to hide their shame.  It was Grace that brought the Law, instead of death to the old covenant people.  They did have to walk in the commandments to obtain this Grace, but it was nevertheless GRACE.
     Grace and Truth that came by Jesus Christ, were always the heart of God for His people.  When creating man, God knew Grace was required to show His Truth, to His children.  All children must be taught and trained in what is required of them.  God knew this from the very beginning.  God's Grace is sufficient and His Mercy is new every morning.
     We must begin receiving by faith in Jesus Christ, the Spiritual Blessing Jesus came to give to the new creation people.  Jesus believed by faith, that His Sacrifice would be understood and received in the fullness of which it was intended and not just be a "religion," but a reality in the new life He had given to the believer.  We've been aware of the sins of the flesh, but don't seem to be cognizant of the Blessing of the Spirit.  The Spiritual Blessings will overcome the flesh, when we have a revelation of what they really are.
     We read about the Armor of God, in Ephesians 6:10-18.  The Armor of God is a Spiritual Blessing and a Gift of Grace.  The breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit, the belt of Truth and the shoes we put on to be shod with the Gospel of peace, do not come from us, but were "Gift heaped upon Gift and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing."  All of these are what the Lord has supplied by faith in His Grace.  These are the Gifts and favors, we have all received and all had a part in.
     Begin to see yourself the way God sees you, instead of how the world portrays you.  We must begin to look unto the Perfect Law of Liberty, according to James 1:25 (Amplified) which says, "But he who looks carefully into the faultless Law, the Law of Liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets, but an active doer who obeys, he shall be Blessed in his doing, his life of abundance."
     Let's not simply read the Word, but LIVE THE WORD, as the Perfect Law of Liberty to set us free.  Paul writes in Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified), "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus, the Law of our new being, has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."  Amen.

     

Lesson 28 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     This unearned, undeserved favor and Spiritual Blessing came by and through Grace.  We weren't required to perform sacrifices or certain rituals, in order to earn or deserve God's favor.  It was and is Grace and Grace alone, was the only requirement for this new covenant and Blessing.  This Truth hasn't been seen by many in the Body of Christ.  The above scripture tells us that, "We all have a share and were all supplied with the Grace, Spiritual Blessing, favor and Gift of the Lord Jesus.
     We've misunderstood much of what Truth has said to us, by our own carnal minded thinking.  There was and is, nothing left for the child of God to do, in order to deserve all that came through Jesus.  We must only believe and act upon it.  We've misunderstood so much about the righteousness of God to the Spiritual Blessing that God Promised and has now given to whosoever would believe in Jesus Christ.  These Spiritual Blessings have now been deposited in the very spirit of the child of God, when we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  When you were born-again, the Holy Spirit brought the Life of God Himself into your once dead spirit.  This is the Very Life of God indwelling and dwelling within our new living spirit, according to 1Corinthians 6:19 (Amplified) which says, "Do you not know that your body is the Temple, the very Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received as a Gift from God? You are not your own."
     John 1:16-17 speaks about "Gift heaped upon Gift" and we see in 1Corinthians 6:19 that one of these Gifts (and the most important Gifts) is the Gift of the Holy Spirit Himself.  The Spirit of God now dwells within the body and spirit of the believe, giving us access to the Spiritual Blessings we read about in John 1:16-17.
     Many of these Gifts, Spiritual Blessings, favors and Grace have been overlooked.  Even though we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with these Blessings, many have failed to appropriate and apply these Truths in our lives.  Paul lists many of these Spiritual Blessings in Romans 5:1 (Amplified) so that we might enjoy and know them.  Thus, he says, "Therefore, Since we are justified, acquitted, declared righteous and given a right standing with God through faith, let us grasp the fact that we have the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy, peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Through Him also we have our access, (entrance, introduction) by faith into this Grace, state of God's favor in which we firmly and safely stand, and let us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the Glory of God."
     These Gifts, Spiritual Blessings, favors and Truths are now indwelling in and infused with your born-again spirit.  We've been taught that most of what Jesus did for us, is for "when we die and get to Heaven," so we haven't applied these Spiritual Gifts from the Father for our lives here on earth.  The things Paul listed in Romans 5:1 are all Spiritual Blessings that could only come upon those on the earth, by their being born-again and raised into a new creation child of God through Jesus.  God couldn't infuse these Spiritual Blessings into the spirit of the unsaved, dead spirit of natural man.
     We read more about these Spiritual Blessings, favors and Gifts we've all been given, supplied with and had a share in when we're born-again in Jesus Christ, in 1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified) which says, "But it is from Him that you have your Life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, revealed to us a knowledge of the Divine Plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as our righteousness, thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God, and our Consecration, making us pure and holy, and our Redemption, providing our Ransom from eternal penalty for sin."
     We've accepted that we are forgiven from sin and are saved, but we're not really certain of that at times.  We remain afraid that some of the things we did before being saved, still hang over us.  When we read the above scriptures through the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit, we see what Jesus truly accomplished for us.  It's not "some who receive," like the world teaches, but we have all received, all had a share in, and were all supplied with one Grace after another.  How many types and different uses of Grace, does "one Grace after another" mean?  How many kinds of Spiritual Blessings upon Spiritual Blessings are we supplied with?  Every favor upon favor is ours through Jesus, here in this realm of life.  Every Grace after another is ours through Jesus, here in this realm of life.  Every Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing is ours through Jesus, here in this realm of life.       All these things---righteousness, consecration, sanctification, redemption, Wisdom, purity, holiness, peace with God, knowledge previously hidden, our very Life in Him---all these Spiritual Gifts have been given to those in Christ Jesus.  We have all been given and supplied with and have a share in these things, through Jesus.  And, we are all with God, in Christ.
     1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified) tells us, "Whom God made our Wisdom from God, Jesus."  Paul makes the distinction between those who are using these Spiritual Blessings (especially Wisdom and knowledge in the Holy Spirit) in 1Corinthians 2:13 (Amplified) saying, "And we are setting these Truths forth in Words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Holy Spirit, combining and interpreting Spiritual truth with Spiritual language, to those who possess the Holy Spirit."
     Although we have all been supplied with, and all have a share in, and all have received, not everyone will draw from the Spiritual Blessings that are ours through Jesus.  Many still read the Word through the carnal, unrenewed mind and will not accept the Spiritual Blessings of righteousness, holiness, purity, sanctification, redemption, Wisdom and even entrance into God's Presence, by Truth in Jesus.  These things are Gifts, Spiritual Blessings, favor, different Graces and Truths, that come in and through our union with Jesus at the new birth.
     These are unearned, undeserved Grace, favor, Spiritual Blessings and Truths that came through Jesus.  We all have a share, all were given and all supplied with these things, because we were all dead in trespass and sin.  None of us deserved or can earn any of the things God poured out onto those who would believe, because all had sinned.  Romans 3:23-24 (Amplified) says, "Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and Glory which God bestows and receives. All are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His Grace (His unmerited favor and mercy, through the Redemption which is provided in Christ Jesus."
     These Spiritual Blessings could only come upon those who were created new by the Sacrifice of Jesus.  These Spiritual Blessings have been given to those who were made alive by His Holy Spirit and receive Spiritual Blessings within our new creation spirit.  Our old spirit was dead in sin and could never receive these.  This is only one aspect of God's Grace in our lives.  It's an open door into fellowship with Him by the Gifts of Wisdom, understanding and the mind of the Spirit of God Who now lives in and through us.
     

Lesson 27 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL

     John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share, and were all supplied with one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
     We must get past the idea that we're still under the Law, in order to understand the fullness of what we've received through Jesus.  Many have been taught about our relationship with the Father, through the Old Testament relationship of the Law.  We've not been taught the Spiritual Blessing and Truth, we've received through Jesus.  The concept of salvation we have, has been limited to man's idea and teaching, instead of the Father's intent.
     We can plainly see God's intent and will for those who will believe in Jesus in the above scripture.  We see that His intent is for those believers, to be delivered from the Law and inherit Grace, Spiritual Blessing, favor, Gifts and Truth.  This isn't something we must work for or earn by obedience, like those under the Law, but these were given by Grace and through our faith in Jesus Christ.  The above scripture tells us that "we have all received and all been supplied with these," but we continue trying to receive by our own merits, what the Father has already given by Grace.  Grace isn't an excuse to sin and act foolish, but it's an open door into the things the Father has already put in place for His Own family, before the fall in the Garden of Eden.
     The only way we can inherit what Jesus has left us in His will, is by faith in what He has done.  Listen very closely to what Paul writes in Galatians 3:22-26 (Amplified), "But the scriptures picture all mankind as sinners, shut up and imprisoned by sin, so that the inheritance, Blessing, which was Promised through faith in Jesus Christ (the Messiah) might be given (released, delivered and committed) to all those who believe (who adhere to and trust in and rely on Him). Now before faith came, we were perpetually guarded under Law, kept in custody in preparation for the faith that was destined to be revealed (unveiled, disclosed). So that the Law served, to us Jews, as our trainer, our guardian, our guide to Christ, to lead us until Christ came, that we might be justified, declared righteous, put in right standing with God, by and through faith. But now that the faith has come, we are no longer under a trainer, the guardian of our childhood, For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith For as many of you as were baptized into Christ, into a Spiritual union and communion with Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), have put on (clothed yourselves with Christ) There is now no distinction, neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed, then you are Abraham's offspring and Spiritual heirs according to Promise."
     We've been trying to obtain by the Law, the things that have already been given us by faith in Jesus.  This deception has been taught to the Church from generations of old and is holding back the Truth from God's family.  The Law was given to the Hebrew people (Jews) by Moses, but Gentiles were never under the Law.  The Gentile nations were never under God's Promise of Law, to begin with.  Now that Grace and Truth have come through Jesus, why would anyone ever wish to return to a covenant that has been replaced with a new and better covenant?
     Galatians 5:4 (Amplified) tells us, "If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and be given a right standing with God through the Law, You are brought to nothing and so separated, severed from Christ, You have fallen away from Grace (from God's Gracious favor and unmerited Blessing)."
     We've been trying to become what God has already made us to be in Christ Jesus, through man-made laws, but it is all by faith through Grace.  We've been redeemed by the Blood of Jesus and restored into a position that Adam was.  We're to make choices for or against the Truth and Grace of God, just like Adam.  When Adam was placed in a position of dominion over the earth (Garden), he was in a place of listening to the Lord or listening to the deception.  If Adam had listened to the Holy Spirit, then he would have held onto "who he was."  When he listened to satan's lie, he tried becoming what God had already made him to be and he lost his place of dominion.
     Genesis 3:5 (Amplified) says, "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing the difference between Good and evil and Blessing and calamity."  Genesis 1:27 (Amplified) says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female, He created them."  Adam and Eve were already made in His Likeness.  We don't need to try becoming what God has already made us to be, but we need to walk in what He has done to and for us, by Grace.
     We've been trying to find a place of favor and right standing with God, by our own ideas of favor and righteousness.  We're no longer required to observe the sacrifices and rituals of the Law, in order to obtain favor with God.  By faith in God's Grace we now receive Truth and the Spiritual Blessing, through Jesus.
     God created us to walk naturally Super-natural before Him in the beginning.  We've now been created in the new creation to walk this way again.  We were to live in a natural body, while being Super-natural in our union with the Spirit of God.  From the beginning, this was God's original intent and He has never changed His plan.  As God's children, both before the fall and now after Jesus, we were to live in a natural body, be alive to God in and through our union with Him in our spirit, and walk and reign in this realm, by our family relationship in the Spirit.
     The Father has done everything needed to restore us back into His Original intent.  This was and still is, God's Plan for His family.  Heaven was never meant to be our home, but the Father created this earth for us to live on.  Adam's fall resulted in the Curse coming on the earth.  Jesus went to the Father's House to prepare a place for us there, according to Revelations 21:1-5 (Amplified) which says, "Then I saw a new sky (Heaven), and a new earth, for the former sky and the former earth had passed away (vanished), and there no longer existed any sea. And I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God, all arrayed like a bride beautified and adorned for her husband. Then I heard a Mighty Voice from the Throne and I perceived it's distinct Words, saying, See! The Abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them, and they shall be His people, and God shall Personally be with them and be their God. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish, sorrow, and mourning, nor grief nor pain anymore, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away And He Who was seated on the Throne said, See! I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW. Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are faithful, accurate, incorruptible and trust worthy and true and genuine."
     God couldn't leave things like they were before Jesus, because the whole of creation was contaminated by satan and Adam's fall.  God will remove us from this planet, until the final days of redemption, where He will then "make all things new" and restore and make the earth new, but He will bring the new Heaven and the new earth into a union with Him, as it was determined from the beginning.  We will live and walk in a realm of walking naturally Super-natural.  We will have a body like the one Jesus lives in, after He was resurrected from the dead.  These bodies will simultaneously function on earth and the Heavenilies.
     The body (house) we now live in, will pass away in the Resurrection, but God is going to make a new body for us to live in, for eternity.  1John 3:2 (Amplified) says, "Beloved, we are even here and now God's children; it is not yet disclosed, made clear what we shall be hereafter, but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall, as God's children, resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He really is."
     "There will be no Curse on the new earth and there will be no more separation from God, in this new creation man,"  according to 2Corinthians 25:17.  There will be no more fallen angels or corruption in the Heavenlies, but there will be a new sky (or heaven), a new earth, a new creation people who will inhabit them.  God and His people will live together in this new family, for eternity.  God's Plan A fulfilled!
     As God's new creation children, we have already been made righteous, justified, and holy by our union through Jesus.  The Promise is now fact and fulfilled, to those who are in Christ Jesus.  Favor, Blessing, Grace, Spiritual union, restoration and redemption are already ours, even while we are here now.  We no longer have to "try being right with God, because Jesus has already all that was needed to make us righteous before and in God.  The harder we try "becoming" these things, the less we believe He already has done it for us.  This is Grace through faith.
     Grace works by faith, just like Love works by faith, according to Galatians 5:6 (Amplified) which says, "Faith works by Love."  The more we understand what Love has already done through Jesus, the more our faith will work towards God and others.  1John 4:17 (Amplified) says, "In this union and communion with Him, Love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment with assurance and boldness to face Him, because as He is, so are we in this world."
     This is Grace at it's best and faith in this Grace, that God Who is Love has bestowed on us in Jesus.  If we don't understand Love, then we can't understand Grace.  If we don't understand Grace, then faith is dead and we try becoming what Love has already made us.