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."
There is so much to be learn ed from these two Verses, that I could teach from them for months by simply going into depth with them. Man-made doctrines and traditions have blurred the Truth, because they didn't allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the Truth found here. The Spiritual Blessings, Gifts, favors, and Gifts are things that can only be applied while we're on this earth. When we enter the Father's Presence in Heaven, we'll no longer have need of these things.
We find one of these Gifts in Romans 5:17 (Amplified), that is almost completely ignored and made useless. Thus, Paul writes, "For if because of one mans 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 into right standing with Himself), reign as kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
This free Gift of righteousness has all been lost, in religious circles. We've all been told, "None are righteous, no not one." This statement is truly written, but we must go to God's Word and determine in what instance it was written. Paul quotes Psalm 14:3 in Romans 3:10-22 (Amplified), where he refers to those before and even those who remained under the Law. Paul writes in Verse 22 about now, through Jesus, there's a new place of righteousness. Thus, he writes, "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."
For much of our Christian lives, the Gift of righteousness has been overlooked and/or downplayed. We've been told that, "It's arrogant and boastful to say we're righteous," but the Lord says that, "It's a free Gift for those who believe in His Son, Jesus." This "Gift heaped upon Gift," was given to all who receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. These are Precious Gifts, given by the Father through Jesus and the enemy wishes that no one would accept these Gifts.
Grace and Truth came through our union with Jesus and put us in right standing with the Father. Paul wrote to the Church (those who are in Christ), in 1Corinthians 6:11 (Amplified) saying, "And such some of you were once; But you were washed clean, purified by a Complete Atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin and you were consecrated, set apart, hallowed, and you were justified, pronounced righteous, by trusting in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit of our God."
If the enemy can keep God's family in sin conscientiousness, then he can keep us from walking in the ministry we've been given for the world. Most of our unanswered prayers result from our not feeling righteous enough for God to grant our requests. Righteousness is not a feeling, but is a Truth.
Understanding what God has done for us in Jesus, is the Grace and Truth of the entire new covenant. We've been afraid to think and believe like this, because we're afraid we'll offend God by pride. The Truth is though, that we offend God by pride, when we refuse to accept His free Gift. It's stubborn pride for us to declare that we're not righteous, in spite of what Jesus has done.
Grace has done for us, what Law could never do for the old covenant people of God. Because of the Spiritual Blessings we've been given in John 1:16-17, we've been redeemed in our spirit and been given the Life of God once again and made one with Him. Under Law, the blood of goats and bulls could cover natural man, but not his dead spirit. Through Jesus, we've been permanently cleansed by the Blood of Christ, even of our dead spirit. We've been given newness of Life, as a new creation family of God, through Jesus.
The Spiritual Blessing encompass so many things that we've never before dreamed of. Through these Spiritual Blessings, we've received a new spirit, one in union with God Himself. We've also received the Holy Spirit's infusion with our new creation spirit. We've received the Spiritual authority over the spirits of darkness, that held as slaves. We've received son-ship rights with the Father. We've received a new Spiritual and Heavenly language, to speak unto the Father. There are so many more Spiritual Blessings, Graces, favors, and Gifts and John 1:16-17 says, "We've all been supplied with these."
The supply came when you received the Lord Jesus, in your life. We must now accept what has already been supplied with, in order to have them be effective in our lives. James 5:16 (Amplified) says, "The earnest (heartfelt), continued prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available, dynamic in its working." Is it any wonder that the enemy would work so hard against the Church's understanding righteousness? God's righteousness in us, is dynamic in its working. Having faith in our prayers being answered, will change our prayer lives into a power, that conquers the enemy and sets the captives free.
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