Archive for the ‘Heaven’ Tag
The Spirit of Truth and Generosity!
Filed under: Bible, by Tony Marra, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, Song, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Acts, Acts 4:32, Acts 5:11, Baltimore GCI, Blessing Your Enemies, Christian Living, Creation, death, Death In Christ, Deeply Rooted In Christ, Discipleship, Empowered By The Spirit, Facing False Accusation, Facing Hostility, False Accusation, Follow Me, Following Jesus, Forgiving Your Enemies, Fruit of God's Grace, GCI Baltimore, Generosity, Generous, Giving, God Father Son and Spirit, God Likes You, God the Trinity, God's Calling, God's Grace, God's love, God's Love And Life, God's Loving Authority, God's Mercy, God's Mission, God's Patience, God's Presence, Gospel, Grace, Grace Communion International, Heaven, Heavenly Riches, Honesty, Humanity Uplifted, Incarnation, Included In Christ, Jesus, Jesus' Authority, Jesus' Presence, Liberation vs. Legalism, Lord Jesus, Love, Make Disciples, Making Disciples, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pastor Timothy Brassell of New Life Baltimore, Patient Endurance, Persecuted For Jesus, Persecuted For Your Faith, Persecution, Persecution For Christ, Praying For Your Enemies, Praying For Your Persecutors, Purpose, Radical Generosity, Radical Giving, Relationship With Jesus, resurrection of Jesus, Riches, Strengthened By Jesus, Strengthened By The Spirit, The Boldness Of Christ, The Father, The Father's Love, The Holy Spirit, The Persecuted Church, Treasure, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Union and Communion, Union With Jesus, Worship
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Audio – Part A: 23 min
Audio – Part B: 28 min
Audio – Full Message:
Bible Verses: Acts 4:32 – Acts 5:11
“Generosity should be a defining characteristic of the church because God is generous. The Father gave His Son. The Son gave His life. The Father and the Son gave the Spirit. And the Spirit gives the followers of Christ hearts of generosity. The Spirit works through these hearts to bring unity to the body of Christ through their loving support for one another. Greed is contrary to who God is and invites His judgment. The Holy Spirit of God helps us distinguish between generous and greedy giving.”
“Generosity is a fruit of God’s grace, something that an individual
should feel compelled to do from their own hearts. While in one way this understanding liberates us from any legalism around giving, it simultaneously heightens our expectations for giving. Because generosity flows from the heart, it is a tangible way of seeing the condition of the heart. This is why Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21).
Theological Theme:
Sin in the Church must not stand in the way of the gospel’s expansion.
Christ Connection:
In obedience to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, the early Christians shared their resources and gave generously to those in need, just as Jesus gave up heavenly riches to share His inheritance with all who trust in Him. But Ananias and Sapphira’s deceptive action was a sin against the church and against the Spirit. The Spirit distinguishes between giving that is from a heart of generosity and giving that is greedy and deceitful.
“Jesus serves as our model for radical giving and the Holy Spirit enables us to follow in His steps.”
“In following Jesus, we’re invited to do the same, not clinging to what we have but giving it away, becoming a servant, and allowing God to multiply it for His good and glory in His church and in the world around us. The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives should inspire such radical generosity, transforming our hearts to mirror Jesus’ own so that we don’t cling to what’s “ours” by rights but give it away to those in need.
Missional Application:
God the Father, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to show our unity with other believers, always being generous and honest as a reflection of Christ’s truth and love.
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Take Up Your Cross!
Filed under: Bible, By Richard Andrews, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, good news, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Perichoresis, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Song, Spiritual Warfare, The Church, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, union, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Acts 6, Acts 6: 7-60, Acts 6: 8-15, Baltimore GCI, Blessing Your Enemies, Christian Living, Creation, death, Death In Christ, Deeply Rooted In Christ, Discipleship, Empowered By The Spirit, Facing False Accusation, Facing Hostility, False Accusation, Follow Me, Following Jesus, Forgiving Your Enemies, GCI Baltimore, God Father Son and Spirit, God Likes You, God the Trinity, God's Calling, God's Grace, God's love, God's Love And Life, God's Loving Authority, God's Mercy, God's Mission, God's Patience, God's Presence, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Heaven, Humanity Uplifted, Incarnation, Included In Christ, Jesus, Jesus' Authority, Jesus' Presence, Lord Jesus, Love, Make Disciples, Making Disciples, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pastor Timothy Brassell of New Life Baltimore, Patient Endurance, Persecuted For Jesus, Persecuted For Your Faith, Persecution, Persecution For Christ, Praying For Your Enemies, Praying For Your Persecutors, Purpose, Relationship With Jesus, resurrection of Jesus, Self-denial, St. Stephen's Suffering, Strengthened By Jesus, Strengthened By The Spirit, Suffering For Jesus, Suffering With Jesus, Take Up Your Cross, The Boldness Of Christ, The Father, The Father's Love, The Holy Spirit, The Persecuted Church, The Sufferings Of Jesus, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Union and Communion, Union With Jesus, Worship
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Audio – Part A: 25 min
Audio – Part B: 20 min
Audio – Full Message:
Bible Verses: Acts 6:8-15; 7:44-60
“In this session, we will see how God’s Holy Spirit empowers the followers of Christ to endure suffering for the sake of Christ. Whether that suffering takes the form of false accusations, death, or other variations, our faithful witness in the midst of suffering is a testimony to Jesus Christ, who came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets and to save us from our sin. When we suffer in faith, we are following in the footsteps of our Savior and bearing witness to His worth above all things, even our very lives.”- The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit strengthens his people to testify to Jesus Christ in persecution and death.
Christ Connection:
In his death as the first martyr, Stephen followed in the footsteps of His Savior. Both Jesus and Stephen were falsely accused and charged for blasphemy. Both Jesus and Stephen prayed for their executioners. Both Jesus and Stephen entrusted their spirits to God as they died. As a follower of Jesus Christ, Stephen reflected His Master, in life and in death.
Missional Application:
God the Father, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to bear witness to the greatness of Jesus Christ, even when we are maligned or persecuted for our faith.
“The history of the church is rich with stories of Christians who, emboldened by the Spirit, faced suffering and death while testifying to Jesus. Missionaries have died while going to share the gospel with hostile people. Countless martyrs the world over and through ages past have faced torture and death for their faith in the risen Savior…..
The persecution of the church and the martyring of its people is like the pruning of a plant. It grows stronger, richer, and more deeply rooted as a result…..
As we face ridicule and persecution for our faith, we are following in the faithful steps of these martyrs, just as they were following in the trailblazing steps of the Savior. He gave Himself for us—may it be our joy to give ourselves for the glory of His name.” – The Gospel Project
Photo Compliments: https://holyghostandmore.com/
Jesus, Our Risen King, Is Ascended, So…
Filed under: Ascension, Ascension of Jesus, Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Faith, GCI Windsor Mill, Maryland, God, God Father Son and Spirit, God the Trinity, God's love, Gospel, Grace Communion Baltimore, Grace Communion International, identity in Christ, Inclusion, Jesus Christ, Love, Ministry, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, New Life Fellowship Of Windsor Mill, MD., On Mission with Christ, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Prayer, relationship with God, Relationships, Sermons, The Church, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, The Gospel Project, The Holy Spirit, The Plan of Adoption, Timothy Brassell, Trinity, Uncategorized, Union In Christ, Union with Christ, Witness, Witnessing to God, Witnessing to Jesus, Worship, Worshiping God, Worshipping Jesus | Tags: Adoption, Ascension, Ascension of Jesus, Ascension Sunday, Baltimore GCI, Christian Living, Creation, Discipleship, GCI Baltimore, God Father Son and Spirit, God Likes You, God the Trinity, God's Calling, God's Grace, God's love, God's Love And Life, God's Loving Authority, God's Mercy, God's Mission, God's Patience, God's Presence, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Heaven, Humanity Uplifted, Incarnation, Included In Christ, Jesus, Jesus' Authority, Jesus' Presence, Lord Jesus, Love, Make Disciples, Making Disciples, Participation with Christ, Participation with Jesus, Pastor Timothy Brassell of New Life Baltimore, Purpose, Relationship With Jesus, resurrection of Jesus, The Father, The Father's Love, The Holy Spirit, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Union and Communion, Union With Jesus, Worship
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Audio – Part A: 24 min
Audio – Part B: 25 min
Audio – Full Message:
Bible Verses: Acts 1:4-14, Ephesians 1:23
This is a Gospel message preached on Ascension Sunday 2019
Theological Theme:
Jesus’ Ascension is as important as every other facet of his life and work because it is the sphere within creation in which he can be in every place, filling everything everywhere with his presence.
Christ Connection:
Jesus, the Son of Man and Son of God has lifted humanity up into heaven, in himself, in order that he might continue to share his present love and life, extending his loving authority over all things in heaven and earth! He sends us the Spirit from there that we might be adopted, personally and collectively, in relational union and communion with him.
Missional Application:
From his place of Ascension Jesus continues to draw humanity to himself, calling each one to participate with him in his relationship with his Father in the Spirit. The Father’s Mission and Will is that his children would presently become disciple-makers and participate with Jesus in making him known – from the least to the greatest!
Photo Compliments: planencuentro.wordpress.com
The Good News Of Restorative Justice!
Filed under: By Mako Nagasawa, Christian Living, Church, Evangelism, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Humor, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, Perichoresis, Prayer, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Song, Spiritual Warfare, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Plan of Adoption, Trinity, Uncategorized | Tags: Adoption, Baltimore, Baltimore Riots, Banking, Banking Practices, Bible, Body of Christ, Budgeting, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Church Fellowship, Easter, Easter Season, Economics, Evangelism, Faith, Family, Family Life, Family of God, Fellowship, Followers of Jesus, Friendship, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God the Trinity, good news, Good Works, Gospel, Grace, Grace Communion International, Heaven, Hebrews, Holy Spirit, Hope, identity in Christ, Incarnation, Interest, Jesus, Jesus Christ, jesus ministry, Justice, Lectionary, Lent, Love, Mako Nagasawa, MD., Ministry, money, new life fellowship, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Participation, Pastor Tim, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Pastor Timothy Brassell, Prayer, Preaching, Protests, Relational God Revealed, Relationships, Restorative Justice, Salvation, Scripture, Scriptures, Sermons, Sin, Single, Sinners, Social Justice, Struggle, Suffering, Temptation, Theology, Timothy Brassell, trials, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized Bible, Worship
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In this Gospel message entitled “THE GOOD NEWS OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE!” guest speaker, Mako Nagasawa, Proclaims the GOOD NEWS of The God Revealed in Jesus Christ at New Life Fellowship of Baltimore! Mako proclaims God’s vision for GENEROUS giving and the importance of Jesus giving us A NEW HUMANITY, EMPOWERING US to bring more of His JUSTICE and LOVE into this world!
In this message we understand that:
- God has a GREAT vision for EVERY kind of relationship including Economic and Political relationships, and involving Historic Injustice. He has been very specific with us, biblically, about what that should look like on the lending and borrowing of money by fostering good banking practices, and opposing bad banking practices!
- Jesus took OUR HUMANITY to himself and, by His Spirit, shares with us a new humanity that filters out the toxins in us such as fear, jealousy,and grief, enabling us to reach out to the poor in mercy, forgiving others their debts even as we have been forgiven our debts from God our Father.
- We are called to manifest the LOVE and RELATIONSHIP that exists within the TRIUNE GOD, and extend THAT kind of love to others; that love looks like the Father stirring up in us a deep concern and right way about how to care for each other in our communities and through the difficult times many people have fallen into!
Check out this practically challenging message!
photo compliments http://www.davisvanguard.org
Why Jesus’ Church Fellowships More And More!, pt.4 (or WHO Baltimore Needs!)
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Church, Easter, Evangelism, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Humor, Love, Ministry, Perichoresis, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, Spiritual Warfare, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Plan of Adoption, Trinity, Uncategorized, Worship | Tags: Adoption, Adversary, Baltimore, Baltimore Riots, Bible, Body of Christ, Celibacy, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Church Fellowship, Easter, Easter Season, Evangelism, Faith, Family, Family Life, Family of God, Fellowship, Followers of Jesus, Friendship, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God the Trinity, good news, Good Works, Gospel, Grace, Grace Communion International, Heaven, Hebrews, Hebrews 10, Holy Spirit, Hope, identity in Christ, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, jesus ministry, Lectionary, Lent, Love, Marriage, MD., Ministry, new life fellowship, New Life Fellowship Of Baltimore Maryland, Participation, Pastor Tim, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Pastor Timothy Brassell, Prayer, Preaching, Protests, Relational God Revealed, Relationships, Salvation, Scripture, Scriptures, Sermons, Sin, Single, Single life, Singleness, Sinners, Struggle, Suffering, Temptation, the Light of Jesus, Theology, Timothy Brassell, trials, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized Bible, Worship
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In pt. 4 of this Gospel Series, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship of Baltimore, Proclaims the GOOD NEWS of The God Revealed in Jesus Christ with a new message entitled, “Why Jesus’ Church Fellowships MORE And MORE!” pt.4 (WHO Baltimore needs!).
As you grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ learn:
- How much the current Baltimore troubles and the book of Hebrews in scripture have in common!
- That the one way forward in the middle of the current passion and protest in Baltimore, MD. is for the body of Christ to BE the Body of Christ!
- How to think out and share Christ-centered responses to current pressing questions such as: What does Baltimore need? and Who does Baltimore need? and Where is God in all of this?
- the importance of remembering that behind every law and system is the person or persons who created or promotes those laws or systems!
- What it means that we are made in the image of God and why this is important for addressing Baltimore’s current issues and the issues in your city, and even in all the world!
Also get Gospel insight and learn:
- More about the myths and idols concerning marriage, singleness, sex, celibacy and family life and be reminded that ANYTHING we idolize WILL kill us!
- That in God’s Grace we have been given various forms of living in relationship but these are ONLY ways of living in Christ now in our present form but are NOT fully the end goal for our lives in relationship!
- Why we all struggle so much and how WE CAN LIVE MORE IN THE RECONCILIATION worked out it in the entire human life of Jesus!
- What process God uses to strengthen families in the world, bringing the future family of God into the present!
Hear in this message that ___________________ in Christ is the goal of Christ no matter your station in life or your current status as the Father’s Child. You CAN receive every day as a gift and receive it BEST by _______________ ! And that it isn’t ____________ that is wearing you out but ______________!
Tune in and participate by filling in all the blanks! 🙂
Photos compliments: http://www.telesurftv.net, http://www.whnt.com
Why Jesus’ Church Fellowships More And More! pt.3
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Church, Easter, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Love, Relationships, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Plan of Adoption, Trinity, Uncategorized, Worship | Tags: Adoption, Adversary, Bible, Body of Christ, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Church Fellowships, Easter, Easter Season, Evangelism, Faith, Fellowship, Followers of Jesus, Friendship, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God the Trinity, good news, Good Works, Gospel, Grace, Grace Communion International, Heaven, Hope, identity in Christ, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, jesus ministry, Lent, Love, Marriage, Ministry, new life fellowship, Participation, Pastor Tim, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Pastor Timothy Brassell, Prayer, Preaching, Relational God Revealed, Relationships, Salvation, Satan, Scripture, Scriptures, Sermons, Single, Single life, Singleness, Suffering, Temptation, the Light of Jesus, Theology, Timothy Brassell, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized Bible, Worship
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In pt. 3 of this Gospel Series, Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship of Baltimore, Proclaims the GOOD NEWS of The God Revealed in Jesus Christ with a new message entitled, “Why Jesus’ Church Fellowships MORE And MORE!” pt.3.
In this message you’ll:
- Hear the Truly Good News in two awesome quotes that will fill your soul with God’s Goodness – one VERY OLD and one more recent!
- Learn more of what the Church actually is and reconsider thinking of it the way the Apostle Paul does!
- Have THREE MODERN MYTHS about the Church exposed in the Light of what the Church actually is!
- Start to learn the place and importance of marriage, singleness and friendship as they relate to the Church and be challenged by missionary Gracia Burnham’s statement that “The point isn’t to grow old with your mate. That’s not the point. The point is …”
Tune in to hear the rest of that statement and MUCH MORE!
Why Jesus’ Church Fellowships More And More! pt.2
Filed under: Bible, By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Church, Easter, Evangelism, Gospel, Grace Communion International, Lent, Liturgy, Love, Ministry, Perichoresis, Prayer, Relationships, Scripture Paraphrases, Sermons, The Dance and Dream of the Trinity, The Plan of Adoption, Trinity, Uncategorized, Worship | Tags: Adoption, Adversary, Bible, Christian Living, Christianity, Church, Church Fellowships, Devil, Easter, Evangelism, Faith, Fellowship, Followers of Jesus, god the father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, God the Trinity, good news, Good Works, Gospel, Grace, Grace Communion International, Heaven, Hope, identity in Christ, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, jesus ministry, Lent, Lenten season, Love, Ministry, new life fellowship, Participation, Pastor Tim, Pastor Tim of New Life Fellowship, Pastor Timothy Brassell, Prayer, Preaching, Relational God Revealed, Relationships, Salvation, Satan, Scripture, Scriptures, Sermons, Suffering, Temptation, the Light of Jesus, Theology, Timothy Brassell, Trinitarian Theology, Trinity, Uncategorized Bible, Worship
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In this Gospel Message Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship of Baltimore, Proclaims the GOOD NEWS of The God Revealed in Jesus Christ through his Part 2 series entitled, “Why Jesus’s Church Fellowships MORE And MORE!” pt.2. He explores the Church in the Light of Jesus by reading through Hebrews 10: 19-39, including comments and discussion with the congregation!
In this message you’ll learn some Church “basics” and things you can consider if you’re interested in being Jesus’ disciple or encouraging others to be His disciples, including:
- The main positive of the Church in this world AND some of the challenges the Church faces as it stands for and against this world!
- Who and what your main enemy is and why you absolutely CAN BE COURAGEOUS AND NOT AFRAID!
- The fatal error in the old phrase which says “I think, therefore I am!”
- The fact that as you take part in and with Jesus there is definitely Some One to say YES to, and some one to say NO to!
- What Heaven REALLY is!
- That the “The Church may have a building but that is not its place. The building may be the Church’s location, but it’s space is in ….”
Listen in as the rest of that last sentence is given and clarity is shed about the Church’s Life, including one major myth we have about Church!
Will Heaven Be Communist?
Filed under: By Jonathan Stepp, Christian Living, Gospel, Perichoresis, Trinity | Tags: Economics, Heaven, Jesus
Comments (8) 
When I say communist, I don’t mean the totalitarian nightmare of the 20th century. I mean the seemingly naive, idealistic 19th century philosophy of communal society that said “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need.”
Before you jump to any conclusions consider the following questions:
- Do you think we will have money in heaven?
- Will good money managers live in a nicer part of heaven than bad money managers?
- Will the life of the world to come be a life of “haves” and “have nots”?
It seems to me that the answer to these questions is “no”. It’s no wonder that Jesus was so ambivalent about money and at times was quite negative about the accumulation of wealth. His vision was focused on what is to come – on what is eternal – and the accumulation of wealth just isn’t something that has much of a future. Jesus gives us a vision of the kingdom of heaven in which human society is beyond money, beyond wealth accumulation, and beyond a brokenness in which a few have too much and many do not have enough (consider, for example, the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man.)
Now here’s the really weird part: Jesus said that, in him, this Kingdom of God has come near to us. In some sense we are already living this life and called to change our minds (repent) and begin living in anticipation of the fullness of the coming of this new world. And that raises a final question:
If we believe all this then how should we be living now?
~ Jonathan Stepp
You’d Better Get Used to Being Human!
Filed under: By Tim Brassell, Christian Living, Gospel, The Plan of Adoption | Tags: Ascension, Christmas, Gospel, Heaven, Incarnation, Jesus, Perichoresis, Resurrection
Comments (3) If you’re like me, and infested with a fallen human nature, that probably sounds negative and uninspiring at first, doesn’t it?
There is simply something about being human that we have been taught to disrespect, dishonor and not appreciate, regardless of Jesus and the scriptures (Psalm 8, Heb 1). Kermit the frog came close when he sung “It’s not easy being green!” Its not always easy being human! Plus, the rotten experiences we have had and are having in this flesh don’t seem to match up with the logic of wanting to remain human forever. After all, isn’t Christianity really about getting out of these human bodies and into a spiritual non-human body?
Where did you and I inherit poison like that? Christianity is absolutely NOT about not being human?! Just the opposite!
It’s about being truly human forever! It’s amazing to me how much I have missed this truth and, as a result, missed much more of the Kingdom here on earth NOW that the Father makes available in His Son Jesus and delights for me to share in with you!
I just had the wonderful opportunity of proclaiming this Good News at a local congregation of Grace Communion International in Baltimore, MD.! It is called New Life Fellowship, and I think you would love visiting there if you ever got the chance! They are alive and well in Jesus AND learning to celebrate their humanity NOW! “Wowsa” and “Good gravy!” Go Baltimore! They invited me up for International Day where we celebrated the fact that all of us will be human forever, and that all of the distinct expressions, colors, races, and general ethnic cultures and foods we love to eat will still exist in the resurrection!
Check out this set of verses in the Scriptures in The Message version of the Bible: Luke 2:27-52, Luke 24:36-48, listen to the message here (soon!), and claim this wonderful truth in Jesus:
Jesus was born as, lived in, died as, and was resurrected and ascended to His Father as the Jewish God/Man that originally came on the scene!
Notice in Luke 24 how he keeps exclaiming that it is Him, Jesus, Who has Resurrected and is the Resurrection? “Look at MY hands and my feet!”, he exclaims! “Ghosts do not have muscle and bone as I have!” He remarks! “Do you have some of my favorite food, fish? Give me some! I want to gobble it up and eat it to show you how human I still am in my FOREVER resurrection…AND HOW HUMAN YOU WILL BE IN YOUR FOREVER RESURRECTION WITH ME WHEN HEAVEN COMES TO EARTH!” (Rev 21:1-4)
Do you see what Jesus is doing in His own permanently human body? (Acts 1:1-11)
He is validating YOUR culture! Your Distinct Expression! Your Music! Your Favorite Dance! Your Favorite Food! Your Nationality! Your color of Eyes! Your DIFFERENTLY shaped ears, nose, mouth and body shape!! (Ha-Ha! I can hear many of you groaning as you debate the fact that maybe your current weight and looks are REALLY acceptable to God and may not change as much as you currently desire IN YOUR SINFUL PERCEPTIONS OF YOURSELF!!!Ha-Ha! I’m with you in that struggle!)
Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to literally and exactly describe how you will look in the resurrection!
I’m lost about the old vs. the young thing, too! Neither am I trying to give more answers than raise questions. I’m not! I am trying to be faithful to the Gospel – Jesus – and the Jewish and human HIM he took seriously AND resurrected! So much so that in His human self he keeps saying, “It is me!” and they (his disciples) recognized HIM as himself!
Sure your body will be raised incorruptible, and YES, everything that is not truly human in you and is broken in your body will be fixed and made right! BUT, what is “right?” I don’t think a large nose, ears, or belly are necessarily wrong or broken in every case, do you?! Don’t we even say as fallen humans that “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder”? And don’t we REALLY know that and mean it when we say it? Ha-Ha! Where does that come from if not from the Triune God in Whom we are all created and sustained in our distinction and union, and Who loves us UNCONDITIONALLY?
Imagine eating something that tastes as delicious as YOUR favorite dessert, candy, chocolate snacks or wine forever; with a vitalized tongue that tastes even more of the sweet goodness?! And think of the weight you won’t gain or have to lose, regardless!! Ha-Ha! Heaven!! This is the way we are supposed to be reading the scriptures in the Light of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:41-43).
So enjoy the foretaste, literally!
The Baltimore congregation and I did as we feasted on those many international dishes! Boy do I look forward to “eating to bursting” WITHOUT BURSTING in my forever resurrected and incorruptible human being! Good Gravy – for REAL! Thank you Jesus – I, for one, LOVE IT!!
~ by Timothy Brassell
More Mythologies to Save the Bible From
Filed under: Bible, By John Stonecypher, Christian Living, Gospel, Trinity | Tags: Bible, Christian Living, Heaven, Hell, Jesus, Judgment, N.T. Wright, Perichoresis, Trinity
Comments (3) My last post on this topic was fun, so I want to play some more in that sandbox today. Here are some more Bible words to which I have historically attributed mythical definitions:
1. Kingdom. As Brother Boyd commented on this blog last week, the kingdom is very much a PRESENT reality (albeit one with an important future component). Dallas Willard defines a kingdom as “the range of a king’s effective will.” When Papa’s will is done on earth as in heaven, his kingdom is functioning there. And speaking of heaven…
2. Heaven. Dallas Willard and N.T. Wright have taught me the biblical concept of heaven as the earth’s control room, the driver’s seat of the cosmos, the space-time of humanity’s interaction with the Triune God. My science-fiction-soaked brain tends to envision heaven as a kind of parallel dimension, infinitely close to every place of earthly space-time, but invisible because we are slightly out-of-phase with it. A careful theological imagination like this can help us think outside old wineskins.
3. Judgment. At its most basic level, to judge is simply to discern good from bad. As a child of God who now lives under the constant harassment of my own badness, I rejoice in being judged. It is a good thing for Jesus to name, condemn, and destroy the darkness that lives in me. It is painful, to be sure, to separate good from bad, true from false. Anyone who’s ever said “I’m an alcoholic” knows the terror of being discerned/judged truthfully. But the truth sets us free. Jesus saves us by judging us. An interesting Bible study: Look at all the NT references to ‘judgment’ and see if we are judged by grace or by works.
4. Eternal Punishment. During exile, some Jews adopted pieces of Zoroastrian philosophy (The Babylonians were called Farsi’s, and these Jews who copied them came to be called Pharisees). This philosophy placed strong emphasis on “endless torture” (aidios timoria) of the wicked. Over and against this view, Jesus spoke often of aionian kolasin, an “eon of discipline” (Notice the word “eon” in the Greek aionian), though it is usually translated “eternal punishment.” This eon will last as long as I refuse the discipline, forever if I choose, but my Papa will never give up on me. “Eternal punishment” is good news, not bad.
5. Hell/Gnashing-of-Teeth. N.T. Wright has convinced me that much of Jesus’ teaching is preoccupied with the imminent (“in this generation”) destruction of Jerusalem, as a consequence of its rejection of the Messiah. The city would become an extension of its own flaming garbage dump, Gehenna. And it really happened within a generation, in 70AD. Read the judgment parables in this light, and they make a LOT more sense.
6. Coming. Jesus spoke constantly about “the coming of the Son of Man,” a reference to the prophecy in Daniel about a human being ‘coming on the clouds’ to sit at the right hand of the Ancient of Days. Notice that this is a movement from earth to heaven, rather than the other way around as we usually think about Christ’s “Coming.” Jesus’ coming/ascension to the throne means the destruction of his enemies, including the corrupt Temple system and every other power in history that has ever set itself against Him. The New Testament does clearly teach about a future Glorious Appearing of earth’s King and everything that happens as a result, but Jesus’ own teachings were focused primarily on a different topic. For more on this, I recommend N.T. Wright’s SURPRISED BY HOPE or Hank Hanegraaff’s APOCALYPSE CODE.
~ John Stonecypher
Trinity and Humanity 