Better Living and consistency

I was going to exercise every day, or at least 3 or 4 times a week. I was going to get up at 5 every morning and have worship and then exercise before everyone got up so I could get it done. What happened? Did I lose my motivation? Did I get lazy? Did I forget? All of the above?

Does anyone else do this? I started out strong and then faded in two days. I am not sure what happens. No, scratch that. I do know what happens. When I wake up early, I love it for a few days, but then I get lazy, and a few days of late nights and I have to prioritize what I do first in the morning, which I usually try to get worship in first. 

Good points for me to remember as I write this are that the more I try to be consistent, the easier it becomes. I just need to pick myself up and try again. 

This next couple of months, the kids and I are going to work on reforming our health. The older boys and I seem to be struggling with some form of Acid Reflux or something. Plus, John was noting that we have all gotten rather out of shape. 

We spent several long hours helping this last weekend at Arizona Sonshine in Mesa. They provide free dental, medical and vision treatment among other things to various parts of Arizona about 3 times a year. We volunteered in the childcare department and the older boys helped with the kids ages 5-12 who were very active. They did a lot of running around and ended up feeling sore in various parts of their anatomy. 

So, I am getting back on the 'treadmill' so to speak, kind of like getting back on the horse. Again. For only about the millionth time. ☺️ 

This weekend we are camping with our church family and Pathfinder group up in Prescott and so I'm sure we will get a lot of exercise hiking around there. Then Sunday we are planning on starting our 2 month  health reform which begins with short 2 day fast from most foods, involves lots of walking, herbal teas and hydrotherapy.

 Anyway, I will post updates at various times during the weeks ahead. 

Here is to Better Living and consistency! 

The Gospel

I found another paper and thought it was of interest. This one I wrote when I was taking the class Pauline Epistles.



Hebrews 2:9, 10 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation through sufferings."

Jesus was made a little lower than the angels. What does this mean? It means he became a man. (Psalms 8:3-6)

How do we know that He did indeed become a man? John 1:1-3, 14 tells us. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was  God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. . . . .And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Why did He come and suffer and die? Because He loved us and didn't want us to die. (John 3:16)

HIs purpose was to 'taste death for every man.' What would this accomplish? According to verse 14, 15 of Hebrews 2, he took part of our nature so that by dying he could destroy the devil, and deliver us from the bondage of fear of death. Death, to us, was the penalty of sin, (Romans 3:23) but He 'abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.' (2 Timothy 1:10b)

What is the gospel spoken of here?
Romans 1:1-5 "Separated unto the gospel of God (which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name."

So the gospel is about Jesus being sent to die, and resurrected again. Another good text that talks about this is 1 Cor. 15:1-4:
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."

This is the gospel in truth. The gospel is Christ crucified for our sins, buried and risen again. Christ rose just as Adam died. (1 Cor. 15:22)

Verses 45-49: "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural' and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy we shall bear the image of the heavenly."

Christ was a quickening spirit to bring life s Adam sinned and brought death. We are to be remade into the image of God! Jesus said in John 11:25, 26. "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."

Here He is speaking of that physical death, both temporal and eternal. But we don't have to experience either one! When we experience Jesus we experience life! The gospel is power to bring change to our lives, and to change us back into what God intended us to be.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth: to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:16,17

So the power of God when we believe reveals His righteousness and we live by faith. What does it mean to live by faith?

First of all, 'faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.' (Romans 10:17)

And it is the "Substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not see." Hebrews 11:1 That word 'substance' actually means 'support' in Greek. And 'evidence' means 'proof'. So faith is the 'support of things hoped for, the proof of things not seen.' Without faith it is impossible to please God, but faith believes on His promises so that we know that He will finish the work in us. (Heb. 11:6; 12:2; Phil. 1:6) We look for the unseen, eternal things by faith! Things not seen are eternal things like God, Jesus, His love and heaven.

2 Cor. 4:18: "While we look not at the things which are seen, but a the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

By faith we look at the eternal things that are not seen by the naked eye. What are the eternal things? Himself and life eternal.

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our heart, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 4:6

Chapter 3 verse 28 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

So Christ died to change us into His image, from glory to glory to bring 'many sons to glory.' (Heb  2:9, 10)

2 Peter 1:3,4 "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

His divine power gives life through the knowledge of Christ who has called us to glory. He has also given us many promises that we can claim by faith and share in His diving nature. Faith, through knowledge of His Glory, which He shined unto us, believes His promises that He will change us and thereby we are 'partakers of the divine nature.' Without faith it is impossible to please Him, but we can claim by faith, His word that He will change us and His death and life as our own. When we claim His promises by faith, we are relying on Him. Thus without faith, we rely on ourselves which makes it impossible to please God.

So what is this 'divine nature', which we can claim as our own? It is Jesus own perfect life and death and resurrection. When we claim that life as our own, we are transformed into his likeness! (1 Cor. 3:18) Isn't that wonderful?

What does this have to do with the Everlasting Gospel of Revelation 14:6? The three angels messages bring forth the whole gospel in truth. The first angel as the gospel to preach to every one. The second identifies Babylon and the third gives a warning to those who follow her. There is a fourth angel who gives the loud cry. In Rev. 18:4, we read, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Babylon, see verse 2) This message is for all the gospels plays a big part in aiding us in following that command.

When we claim Christ's life as our own we are covered by His righteousness and He changes us into His glory. As we are changed into His likeness we come out of Babylon as a result. God Himself leads us to one out as He reveals Himself to us. Thus we experience the life that He has to offer when He comes to dwell with us.

It is so wonderful that God will change us and we don't have to worry about being good and holy ourselves, because it will be a natural result of His entering into our lives.

A paper: The Truth about Righteousness by Faith

I was going through a bunch of stuff and came across this paper I wrote back in college, in a church history class. So I thought I would share it here. I haven't read it in awhile, so some of what I understood back then, may have grown and deepened some since then. At the time I wrote it our campus was going through a bit of a debate on the subject and so I studied some on it. This issue is an ongoing one.

Anyway without further commentary......



The Truth about Righteousness by Faith

Righteousness by faith is a subject, which was a matter of concern to the Advent movement and was disputed and discussed at several conferences. Today, as then, it is talked and written about, this time to the other extreme.

Shortly after the Great Disappointment, two leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist movement began to advocate a move toward making Christ the center of the Gospel message and salvation, or righteousness by faith. The opposition then was that we aren't saved by faith, but by works. Today's stand is completely opposite. "We must not get legalistic, we are saved by faith, not works."

What is true? Is there a balance? What really is Righteousness by faith? This is what we are going to find out.

First, what is righteousness?  The word 'righteousness' comes from the the Tree word 'dikaios' which has several meaning.

NT:1342
dikaio, dikaia, dikaion
righteous, observing divine and human laws; one who is such as he ought to be
1. in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God.
  a. universally: Matt 1:19
  b. the negative idea predominantly : innocent, faultless, guiltless
  c. preeminently, of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore is needs no rectification in heart or life. Acts 7:52
  d. contextually, approved God, acceptable to God, Rom 5:19
2. In a narrower sense, rendering to each his due; and that in a judicial sense, passing just judgment on others. Titus 1:8
(Thayers Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright 2000 by Biblesoft)


So righteousness is being right with God, or innocent and faultless. Now, what does it mean to be right with God, innocent and faultless? The word innocent means uncorrupted by evil or wrongdoing; sinless, legally blameless, and allowed by the law. (American Heritage Talking Dictionary, Copyright 1998 by learning Company Properties Inc.)

The reason we must be made blameless or innocent is because we have sinned and come "short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23  This sin is the result of the sin of Adam which we see here in Romans chapter 5: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (for until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come." Romans 5:12-14   "Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4

So because we have sinned, by way of Adam's sin, we have transgressed the law and must now be made innocent or pardoned. That pardon was made possible by Jesus death and resurrection. Jesus took our place and paid the price that we deserved so we could stand blameless before the throne of Grace. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Now we know what the concept of Righteousness is all about. What about the faith part? What is faith?

Faith, by definition means "The theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will."(American Heritage Talking Dictionary, Copyright 1998 by Learning Company properties Inc.)
Faith is trusting completely in God's guidance in everything that He does for us and in us. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Hebrews 11:1-3  
"If you take hold of the strength of the mighty Helper, and not reason with your adversary and never complain of God, His promises will be verified. The experience that you gain today in trusting Him will help you in meeting the difficulties of tomorrow. Each day you are to come, trusting as a little child drawing nearer to Jesus and heaven. In meeting with unwavering trust in God the daily trials and difficulties, you will gain strength to resist temptation, and when the harder trials come, you will be able to endure." (Our High Calling page 326, by Ellen G. White.)

By trusting that God has, through Christ paid the price for sin, justification is made possible. " As the sinner looks to the law, his guilt is made plain to him and pressed home to his conscience, and he is condemned. His only comfort and hope is found in looking to the cross of Calvary. As he ventures upon the promises, taking God at His word, relief and peace come to his soul. He cries, "Lord, Thou hast promised to save alll who come unto Thee in the name of Thy Son. I am a lost, helpless, hopeless soul. Lord, save, or I perish." His faith lays hold on Christ, and he is justified before God." Faith and Works p 100, 101 (Ellen G. White)

*Note: "Pardon and justification are one and the same thing. Through faith the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child of sin and Satan, to the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent goodness, but because Christ receives him as His child by adoption. The sinner receives the forgiveness of his sins, because these sins are borne by his Substitute and Surety. The Lord speaks to His heavenly Father, saying: "This is My child, I reprieve his from the condemnation of death, giving him My life insurance policy--eternal life--because I have taken his place and have suffered for his sins. He is even My beloved son." Thus man, pardon, and clothed with the beautiful garments of Christ's righteousness , stands faultless before God." (Ibid, p 103)

"But what about obedience to the law?" I can hear someone saying. "Don't we have to obey to be saved as well?"

The law was in existence even before it was written down at Mount Sinai. It was a revelation of God's character to HIs people. ("The law of God given from Sinai is a copy of the mind and will of the Infinite God. It is sacredly revered by the holy angels. Obedience to its requirements  will perfect Christian character, and restore man, through Christ, to his condition before the fall. The sins forbidden in the law could never find place in heaven." Our High Calling p. 138)

As HIs children we are called to be like HIm. "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:13-16

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily best us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." Hebrews 12:1-4

But that's legalism. Or is it? Let's find out.

A favorite author puts it quite clearly: "The Lord requires at this time just what He required of Adam in Eden-- perfect obedience to the law of God. We must have righteousness without a flaw, without a blemish. God gave HIs Son to die for the world, but He did not die to repeal the law which was holy and just and good. The sacrifice of Christ on Calvary is an unanswerable argument showing the immutability of the law. Its penalty was felt by the Son of God in behalf of guilty man, that through His merits the sinner might obtain the virtue of His spotless character by faith in His name." Faith and Works, p 89

"Is he now free to transgress God's law? Says Paul: "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law." "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" And John declares, "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous." [Rom. 3:31; 6:2; 1 John 5:3]  In the new birth the heart is brought into harmony with God, as it is brought into accord with his law. When this mighty change has taken place in the sinner, he has passed from death unto life, from sin unto holiness, from transgression and rebellion to obedience and loyalty. The old life of alienation from God has ended; the new life of reconciliation, of faith and love, has begun. Then "the righteousness of the law" will "be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." [Rom. 8:4] And the language of the soul will be, "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." [PS 119:97] "  (The Great Controversy p 468 by Ellen G. White)