“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

Somewhere out there is a teaching that says Christ did it all implying we have nothing to do except receive His grace; that after the crucifixion our reconciliation to God completes everything in us. In Christ we are set in stone.

This seems to imply that after His death, His teachings (His commandments) are no longer critical to our eternal life. We are good to go.

The writers of the New Testament, many times teach of our on going responsibilities in Christ. That is after the Resurrection we still have responsibilities. All is not set in stone. 

1 John 3:3 (NKJV)
”And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure…. “

Jesus said, John 15:2 (NKJV)
”Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Notice Jesus said, “Every branch IN ME…”

Surely you grasp what “in me” means.

So let us consider this a pruning message because we are in Him. We have a responsibility toward our Father for all He freely gave us through Jesus.

Let us consider this.

When does speaking truth become gossip?

When does criticism become an excuse for spreading an offense we have received?

Are bad expectations in our hearts able to poison us, a branch of a good fruit tree? (John 15:2 above) Will the poison effect other nearby trees?

Hebrews 12:15 (NASB)
”See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; …”

If we are children of God then we have no liberty to speak of a failure or offense toward us. Our words only enlarge the scope of the offense into lives that do not need that burden. They have enough of their own! We have all done it but it must stop! Even angels did not cast accusations against Satan himself!

We can, in love, speak to the offender ourselves. Let us be sanctified, pursuing peace. Without a heart to do so, no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:14 (NASB)
”Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” 

Jesus did not cry out, “My God, My God why did you let them do this to me?” He cast NO railing accusation as true as it might have been, toward us or toward the Father!

Jesus knew what we must know and apply in EVERY situation. In fact, forgive them Father, they know not what they do (now against a child of God as well as eternally against themselves.)

We, however, do know what to do through Jesus and the Father’s teachings and are therefore responsible.

We are all guilty but we have been freely given  a means of escape. Why? “We are covered,” you say! These wrong behaviors are forbidden in heaven as well as the kingdom of peace that is coming here upon the Lord’s return. If He does not rule and reign now, He will not rule and reign then.

Let us all train ourselves now and prepare, bearing the good fruit of love, purifying ourselves as He is pure.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

As a guardian in Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

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