The Upward Call!

The Church is not just an ambassador for the Kingdom of God, the Church is the Kingdom of God in the earth; where the Church is, there is the Kingdom; where the Church is not, there is not the kingdom of God but the dark domain of the devil. The Church consists of the children of God, in whom the power and influence of the enemy has been broken; and they are now the means by which Satan’s works will be unraveled, broken apart, one by one and held in restraint until the appearing of Christ; at which point the devil and all his dominions will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Rev. 20.10 “10The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”For other episodes, find us at https://ufsministries.com/podcast/Watch the episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9wTVZgZhD0

Oftentimes a new believer is only focused on one thing, and that is their relationship with Jesus Christ. Their hearts have been apprehended and they are exuberant about wanting to talk about Him and to come to know Him in greater measure. But at the same time they find themselves with the Bible in one hand, and as a member of a church in the other hand and they really don’t know how to properly relate to either. Following are five useful tips for a young believer…as well as to the not-so-young believer.For other episodes, find us at https://ufsministries.com/podcast/Watch the episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDVZCV7jBbs

Covenants are most serious agreements to enter into. They represent binding agreements between God and man. The Bible emphasizes the importance of keeping covenants but also cautions against making such agreements lightly or not aligned with the will of God. It reminds us of the seriousness of broken promises and the consequences of violating covenants, both with God and man. The covenant between man and woman of marriage is also such a covenant to be taken with all soberness and commitment. Failure of Adam to keep his covenant with God had consequences that echoed down through ages unto this day.For other episodes, find us at https://ufsministries.com/podcast/Watch the episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzTvz-zacY8

One cannot really understand Biblical covenants, and especially the distinction between to Old Testament covenant and the New Testament covenant, without first clearly understanding the difference between two fundamental truths that may serve as the foundation for all covenants; and those are the principle of ‘religion’ and the principle of ‘life.’ Quite simply, religion is a bondage to a system of Divine worship, while life is spontaneous and the freedom to experience Divine fellowship; religion is what you ‘do’, life is what you ‘are;’ Why is it so important to understand this distinction? It is because God and man covenants and their promises are given and fulfilled upon the basis religion or life; and that the world as a whole has a propensity for religion while knowing little of the principle of life.

Here, the Conclusion has become the Introduction: In conclusion, if we therefore abide in Him, and He in us⎯ which is the essence of salvation for now and all eternity⎯ we are a “new man,” one that has never existed before but now is, and we are becoming His “disciples.” By abiding means we are being taught and refined daily. The perfection of our maturity as a new man, and the end of our discipleship is never reached on earth. There is a perfection by grace as we stand before God clothed with Christ, not to be mistaken with the perfection or completion of His transfiguring work in us transforming us and conforming us to His will. We never so much “are” as we are in the process of “becoming” Christ’s true followers and servants and sons of God.This has been a heavy lesson. It is the meat of the word, not its milk. (1 Cor. 3.2, Heb. 5.12-14) It is intended to challenge to the highest calling of God in Christ Jesus. Milk is easily swallowed, meat must be chewed and entertained before ingesting, but is much more satisfying and enduring.

Of course the opposite of self-control is the lack of self-controlled, which includes behavior that is unrestrained and undisciplined. These words are often interchanged in the Bible, and especially with various translations. And so, I will take some liberty here in the Biblical use of these words to describe the vice of being unrestrained and undisciplined, therefore lacking of self-control. Note that Gal. 5.23 after stating the fruit of “self-control,” the verse ends with “Against such there is no law.” The importance of this is extremely significant. Why is it so significant? Because it brings to the surface the distinction between the Law of the Old Testament written on scrolls to restrain the people, with the moral law of the Spirit written on the hearts of New Testament believers. For example comparing two scriptures:Prov. 29.18 “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.”This scripture clearly show the legalism of the Old Testament and how it “restrains” the people, serving as a covenant between God and Israel, revealing God’s character and standards, but also revealing man’s sinfulness. So it established a legalistic framework of how to worship,, practice certain rituals, proper social behavior, and moral standards. Without this revelation, it is written that “the people cast off restraints,” they become undisciplined, and their behavior breaks the covenant and is unacceptable to God. The disciplinary component of the covenant is then Divinely applied. Now consider the “covenant” of the New Testament as revealed in Rm. 8.1-8,...

The wisdom of the world says the root cause of unfaithfulness are personal issues like: a feeling the something is missing in the relationship; a lack of emotional connection, unmet needs, self-esteems issues, or an opportunity suddenly arises and you feel your desires will be met in another God, or another mate or a different friend, or a different place. This is all the deeper the world can go in understanding unfaithfulness⎯summed up in self-centered wants and fantasies. All those supposed root causes have one thing in common, and that is “you,” otherwise known as: I, me, myself or the ego. In a true relationship the “I” is lost in the union with another, thus becoming we and us. In regards to marriage, it is written “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” (Mt. 19.5); In regards to our heavenly Father, Jesus prayed, “that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be one in Us,” (Jn. 17.21), and in regards to other believers, it is written, “for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3.28)

The essence of worship extracted from this verse is that worship must be “in spirit and truth.” Spiritual worship in the New Testament is quite different than the physical worship of the Old Testament and the two must not be intermixed, even though they very much are today. Those of the Old Testament had never been born anew of the Spirit therefore they only know the worship of the natural man in temples, at sacrificial altars and holy places, but having known nothing of spiritual worship. All worship involves coming into God’s presence in humility and surrender, with an open heart of praise and thanksgiving. However, worship of the Old Testament involves elements of the natural man not found in the New Testament. For instance, Ps. 150.4“Praise Him with the timbrel (tambourine) and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!” Using instruments and dance are of the natural man and are not of the spirit. The New Testament does not mention instruments and dance in worship, or are there any doctrinal statements giving advice on what kind or music may accompany worship. There are no examples of instruments and dance ever being used in any of the early churches. Christians have no Biblical or prophetic command from God to introduce musical instruments or dance in the worship of God. The early church, from which I personally pattern the whole of my spiritual life, used only prayer and singing for both personal and public praise and worship.

These minor sins are like the dirt that accumulates on the feet of one walking barefoot. The feet must be washed regularly. Once when Jesus was with His disciples He poured water in a basin and began to wash the disciple’s feet and dry them with a towel. Peter, feeling so inferior to Christ resisted. Jesus said that if He didn’t do it Peter would have no part with Him. So Peter said in Jn. 13.9, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!” To this, Jesus’s reply is very important, ”10Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean.”⎯ thereby making the clear distinction between being thoroughly cleansed by the bold of the Lamb at salvation and the need for continues cleansing of minor sins.

Romans 8.9-11 is a most powerful passage of Scripture. Here, it is the self-same Spirit, who is also referred to as the Spirit of God, and also the Spirit of Christ, and ultimately as Christ. Whatever the title, the most gripping truth of all three Bible passages presented here, Acts 2.38-39, Jn. 14.16-18, and Rm. 8.9-11 is the fact that He dwells in you! What was then received at baptism is now present in your daily life, and will also be present at your coming death and resurrection; this great mystery is revealed, Col. 1.27, “Christ in you the hope of glory.” “In you” mind you, not in your midst, not in heaven, not surrounding you, not in the temple or church building, but within you, the Spirit of Christ now in union with your own spirit. Just as the fertilized seed in a women needs the environment of the womb to nourish, protect, and give growth to the fetus, this Holy Spirit receives the deposit of the seed of Christ in the heart of the believer, nurtures it, protects it, and gives it growth into becoming a new man.

Our focus here is on the distinction between sin as an evil act and sin as a power or force, as a compulsion to act in its own behalf. The power of sin like gravity, is ever present at work to corrupt the inner nature of man; and when given into, man commits sins by his outward actions. The simple sentence, “I sin,” is a complete sentence because it has a noun “I” and the verb “sin” that implies the action of committing sins. If however, as Paul writes, “…the law of sin in my members,” (Rm. 7.23) here the word sin is a noun, not indicating the action of sinning but of a present power of sin. I believe the word “sin” appears over forty-one times in Romans 5-8, forty times as a noun, which identifies a thing present, such as a power, and only once as a verb, indicating the act of sinning. This is an important fact to remember.

This Episode begins by initiating a more detailed study of the events of the fall of Adam and Eve and its subsequent effect on all humanity. The Episode is an attempt to explore these events more closely, unveiling the truth of what happened in the Garden of Eden; considering both the natural and the spiritual realms in which man is intended to live and experience. To do so there need to be laid a foundation of understanding that is to be built upon, a foundation of some key ideas and Biblical concepts. This introductory Episode of “What Really Happened in the Garden” is too much to be discussed in a single setting. Thus, it is divided into four Episodes, each parts; each part set to answer specific questions. This Episode, Part I, addresses the following questions:What is the significance of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and the Tree of Life? Are they really trees with potent fruit or are they symbolic of something spiritual?If man is body, spirit, and soul, how has the fall affected the total man?

We are now ready to build upon the foundation laid by those six scriptures in Part 1of the previous Episode: Eph. 4.20-24; 2 Cor. 5.17; Col. 3.10; Gal. 6.15; Rm. 6.4; and Rm. 7.6 and now attempt to establish the mystery of how those two wills that seemingly act independently of one another come together as one in the new man. Even as man has two eyes to see, both looking at the same objects and giving direction to our walk, in like manner the new man can see as one in the natural as well as in the spiritual and to make godly decisions in life⎯it is part of his or her new nature. After all, life is intended to be spontaneously experienced, as our souls interact with the natural world through our bodies and also interact with the spiritual world through our spirits, we are made complete as our spirits are now bonded in unity with the Holy Spirit; this was as promised by Jesus in Jn. 14.16 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.”

Just how do we “balance” these two wills: the natural will tied to decision making in the worldly environment, decisions that govern the course of our natural lives, and the spiritual will focused on God but also having influence on our natural lives as well as having eternal implications? However, is the word “balance” the proper term to use; for it implies a proportioning of time, energy, and resources between the two different wills: the natural and the spiritual? Is this what we really want to do, to divide up our time, energy, and resources between worldly and spiritual pursuits? Or, is there something greater than balancing the natural and spiritual wills; is there a dimension “in Christ” in which the two wills actually begin to merge into one? Is there a point where the natural will and the spiritual will seem to come into union with one another and we simply live life guided by one new will? Indeed there is. We must look into this matter of wills more closely because so much depends upon it.

I recently noticed a large billboard along the highway that read: “Where are you going? To Heaven or to Hell?” Is this the one thing, the goal for which Paul wrote? Does eternity and eternal life come down to being in the right “place” at the end of time? Is the grand purpose in all creation to save man from the destruction of hell for the bliss of heaven? Absolutely not! This is an extremely narrow and immature view that maligns and demeans the provision of God as revealed in the Gospel of Christ. It is a deception, a distraction propagated by fleshly thoughts and desires and perpetuated by the enemy of our God. It sends man into delusions and fantasies.

That phrase, “the upward call of God” is at the center of this passage of scripture and is at the core of the context of the scripture. In other words, the term “the upward call “ throws light on the surrounding verses and helps to explain the verses before and after its use. The entire passage hinges on the proper understanding of this phrase, the upward call or high calling of God.Because it is stated, “the upward call ‘of God,’” it is clear the one who is doing the calling is God the Father. And to whom is He calling, and why or for what purpose is He calling? These and other questions need answering. And to answer it we must consider the following three verses which will shed light on these questions. For other episodes, find us at https://ufsministries.com/podcast

Qualifying for the Race — The single qualification to enter this race is having spiritual life; a man without spiritual life, zoe, has no vitality and is unfit and unable to run this race. For the believer, it is written in 1 Jn. 512 “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” Therefore God has chosen us in Christ (Eph. 1.4), He is our sole qualification; and furthermore, it is written in Jud. 1.1 “we are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ;” which may more broadly be interpreted as, “being called we have received an invitation to enter that race, and have been consecrated or set apart by God to be a runner in it, and that He watches over us attentively as we run the race before us, able to preserve us to the finish.” Heb. 12.1-2 continues,“let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.”For other episodes, find us at https://ufsministries.com/podcast

Ps. 122.1-2 “1I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.2Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!’”Just who is the “I” in this verse; and why is he “glad” to hear the beckoning call from the passerby? Firstly, many, including myself, can identify as the “I” in this verse, perhaps you may also. The reason being is that I too was once the one standing within your gates of Jerusalem. No, I was not in the city Jerusalem, Israel; there is a physical Jerusalem and a heavenly spiritual Jerusalem. (See Heb. !2.22, Gal.4.26) The first is the abiding place for the natural man, the man of flesh; the latter city is the abiding place for the spiritual man, as it is written, Heb. 12.22 “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,…” It was within this latter case I found my feet were “standing” within the gates of religion, just as the hearer in this verse.For other episodes, find us at https://ufsministries.com/podcast

The previous Episode began laying the foundation for understanding just what is the “normal” Christian life. The “normal” that we see today seems to fall far short of the normal Christian life revealed in scripture—where there is a higher standard set. It seems that over time the Church has evolved to what it is today, but its evolution has largely been guided more by the mind of man, in a religious way involving certain doctrines, rituals, and routine; and not after Christ which brings life to the inner man, life that is new and spontaneous. There is a vast difference between Christianity as a religion and Christianity as life. We will now further examine the remainder our Ephesian passage in more detail. For other episodes, find us at https://ufsministries.com/podcast

About 50 years ago, when I was quite young in the faith, I came across a book written by Watchman Nee entitled, "The Normal Christian Life." I was totally overwhelmed and amazed by the fact that what we may "think" is a normal life for a Christian is not at all normal, especially when compared to Biblical, New Testament, standards. It seems that on the one hand there is the church that has "evolved" over the years, that has become more sophisticated and formal, and today it is a center for the Christian “religion.” Many would describe this church as a good church with a good pastor, good worship and good caring people; perhaps family and community minded. I am reminded of an old saying, “The good is the enemy of the best” meaning that settling for something that is simply “good” and seemingly safe and comfortable can prevent you from striving for something higher, or the “best.” In regards to our faith, it implies that complacency, combined with mediocrity, can be a hindrance from pressing on to greater revelation and life in Christ; to a place where spiritual understanding dispels complacent behavior.