EYES TO SEE…..FREEDOM TO CHOOSE
From the beginning of Church history, misunderstanding the grace of God through Jesus Christ, arguably, has been one of the major roots of doctrinal division, and confusion for the Church. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we find just one example of several in the New Testament, which is an indicator of some of the early church’s problems with understanding the Grace of God;
Galatians 3:1-3 “foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
There are other New Testament accounts that indicate some Christian Jews were still mixing law and grace or encouraging others to do so, well after Pentecost. In this example, Peter argues for the law vs an audible instruction from heaven;
Act 11:7-8 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
Other examples indicate arguments about Jew/Gentile association, and circumcision. The effect of tradition is powerful. What more is the Spirit saying today, that our traditions may cause us to say “Not so, Lord!”?
Prior to the reformation, religious leadership taught that a person must work their way into God’s favor by performing good deeds, fasting, and by purchasing indulgences. Even with the revelations of Augustine, Martin Luther, Calvin and other reformers, the truth of the grace of God was fragmented. Down through the years, the result of this fragmented understanding has resulted in controversy and often division into doctrinal camps, each camp with their own recipe for a mulligan of “Law and Grace”.
Today, many Christians still do not have a clear understanding of grace. If grace is understood in concept, often the way in which it is misapplied is at best, a mix of law and grace in actual practice. These misunderstandings and misapplications have created great stumbling blocks to individual Christian maturity and to the maturity of the body of Christ in the earth.
Even Christians need to pray that the truth be revealed and that it not remain hidden in natural understanding or misunderstanding. Here, Paul prays for the Ephesian Church that they might better understand the mystery of God, by the Spirit of God;
Ephesians 1:17-18 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Without the Spirit of Christ in you, you can not see with spiritual eyes. Spiritual understanding of the scriptures and the mystery of God’s Kingdom or government is not possible.
Luke 10:23-24 And He turned Him unto His disciples, and saidprivately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Matthew 13:14-16 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:For this people's heart is waxed gross, and theirears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
The natural man can not understand the mysteries contained in the scriptures. Spiritual understanding will only come through revelation by the Spirit of God to those who are born of the Spirit of God. However, even people who are truly Christians, those who have the Spirit of God in them, may still be led astray from the truth. We must be humble and open to the Spirit of God, but be wary of our own weaknesses and those of others. Weaknesses and pitfalls which include; pride, stubbornness, rebellion, tradition, humanism, legalism, disobedience, strife, arrogance, etc.. These and like traits in us or others present stumbling blocks for those who seek to follow after the Spirit of God and avoid deception.
We gain spiritual understanding and grow spiritually as we are nourished with appropriate spiritual food and seek the help and wisdom of the Spirit. This is also a natural part of individual Christian and corporate Church growth. However, lack of spiritual maturity in the Church universal today is, in no small measure, the result of traditional, leavened teaching and or flat out rejection of truth when it is presented, for whatever reason.
We must be open to learn, and progress and to have the eyes of our understanding further opened, always. Being ready to put away those things that hinder us from going on to maturity, including the propensity to root ourselves in tradition and “stay put “. Not going on to the meat of God’s word and thereby to the maturity levels which God planned for us. We need to recognize that our doctrinal divisions, individual and corporate, clearly show that the mystery of the Kingdom is still dimly understood, and there is much yet to learn and correctly apply in order for the body of Christ, the Church, to come to maturity, to the stature and measure of Christ.
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundationof repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,……
1 Corinthians 13:9 -11 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
There is also pride and arrogance in some Christian leaders, who like the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus day, rejected knowledge. “Closed minded” arrogance and pride will often result in the rejection of what the Spirit is saying today, and therefore impedes the opportunity for growth and maturity. Not only for those leaders, but for those who follow after them.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shaltbe no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Luke 11:52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
Isaiah the prophet wrote of some of these. Those religious leaders who are drunk with power, heady with pride, thinking they are able to eat strong spiritual meat, while yet babes, not yet weaned from the breast. Yet, these are in leadership positions today also, eating spiritual meat and unable to digest it. Then, their undigested spiritual food is vomited all over the tables. Now, there is no place clean for others to eat of the true spiritual things of God. Spiritual maturity can only be taught and achieved by those Christians who are weaned from a diet of spiritual milk, those who are not arrogant, drunk with power or heady with pride.
Isaiah 28:7-9 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
A new Christian is able to see with spiritual eyes for the first time with their brand new spirit man, the direction that God is now laying out for their new life in Christ. As children who first learn their ABC’s and begin to read, a world of natural knowledge is before them. So are we, as newly born again Christians. For the first time in life, newborn Christians have the capacity to see or understand some elementary, baby stuff, about the government of God. They then have the opportunity to grow in the Spirit as they did in the natural, from a small baby to a mature adult. With the right spiritual food and nurturing, Christians should grow in the Spirit as in the natural. A lack of proper nutrition and nurturing for a new born baby in the flesh may result in serious physical and or mental development problems. So it will be in like manner, with Spiritual nutrition and healthy Spiritual development.
There is a principle in God’s economy, look at the natural, it will point to or mirror a Spiritual truth. First the natural, then the spiritual.
1 Corinthians 15:46 Howbeit, that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Hebrews 5:13-14 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
2 Peter 3:17 -18 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
As we grow and develop in the things of the Spirit, being ever faithful with a little, God will give us more. So it is my prayer that the information here will help to root out some error, and help to bring forth some more truth. If there is error in this material, I pray that God would raise up the Spirit of revelation in you, to recognize that error or misunderstanding and that He would replace it also with truth.
Proverbs 3:3-6 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths
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