What Do I do Next?
"What do I do next?" That was a question asked by person who attended the Grace Gathering and was fairly new to the teachings on grace and peace.
Now if a new christian would ask that question I have no doubt that they would recieve a complete list of things they needed to start doing, like going to church, praying, reading their bible, etc., but those of us who have had our hearts awakened to this grace know the answer to that question is absolutely nothing.
A person who sees the message of the gospel sees their own perfection. Why would we want to try and improve upon what God has already called perfect? Oh, I realize that many do not see themselves as perfect and in their own minds they aren’t, but that does not change the facts. I am convinced that much of what is wrong with religion has to do with the way people are taught to see themselves.
Phil 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
God does not cause us to be perfect, but rather he REVEALS it to us. You can go on hiding in the bush with fear and shame, or you can quit believing the lies of religion and start believing what has always been revealed in your heart.
I can also tell you from experience that when you see yourself as perfect you will tap into an inner power that is beyond comprehension. We are pearls of great price. Start today by seeing yourself the way your Father does!
Is it possible that the condition of “sin” is the state we are in when we fail to realize our perfection? In our attempts to “appease” God, we struggle to prove ourselves worthy through knowledge, actions, and thoughts. As we strive to attain perfection toward God, we only fuel our own self-righteousness, and fool ourselves into a deeper “sin”. Why do we do this? Because we don’t fully trust God. We don’t completely trust our lives to the message that Jesus revealed to the world.
He is the redeemer, and our understanding of that will save us from our own egos. It will relieve us of the responsibility to agonize over “proving” ourselves worthy. Christ showed us that we ARE worthy, and anything WE attempt to do beyond that is, in effect, denying the work of the Cross.
It’s OK to deny the work of the Cross. It has no effect on God’s view of us. But, he provided the Cross so that we could come “out of” ourselves, and come into the perfection that He created us to be.
If we will only trust Him enough to come out of ourselves, we can begin to find salvation (relief) from all the doubts, fears, guilt, and shame that comes from our attempts at self-righteousness. Righteousness only comes from God. He has already given it to you, and hopes you will realize it, and live in it, free from self, and free from doubt.
Over the years, religion has taught us to trust God only through fear. And I tell you, that is not trust at all, but a lie. Trust can never come through fear. Only a pure, complete, full love can produce trust. Listen to me… I tried to “push” myself into God’s love most of my life. And all it produced was more doubt and fear. Let’s be honest with ourselves. Let’s examine our view of God, and find out if we “trust” Him because we fearfully think we HAVE TO… or do we truly trust Him because we are drawn into the perfection of His incredible love?
It’s time to let go of the lie that seeks to destroy us (it can’t, but it can make our lives on earth miserable)! It’s time to rest in God’s favor and enjoy His creation, of which we are a part. Enjoy, my friends, live free!
Cliff,
GREAT POST!
As a matter of fact, PERFECT POST!
This is so true. When we come to accept Father’s value and opinion of us then something miraculous happens to us! The things and behaviors that we thought previously separated us from Him and the things that we did that injured us physically and mentally and relationally the things we tried to hide we no longer hide from and in almost a magical way they begin to fall off and out of our lives even when we are not trying to cease from them till one day we realize, WOW! I have not done or acted in that way in days, weeks, months or years! And then we also realize WOW! I have not felt guilt or condemnation either!
Yes when we stop trying to attain PERFECTION and accept His PERFECTION as our own our lives change in radical ways!
Thanks again for reminding us of our PERFECTNESS!
By the way have I told you that PERFECT looks real good on you!
Peace
Geo
P.S. The little one is still being thought of daily here in Monongahela
Cliff,
Thanks so much for your thoughts!
Love ya much!
Bonnie
By the way, Cliffy is still progressing as he should. He’s still very uncomfortable but I understand this mornng that his diaper was full, and I never thought I would be so glad as to hear about a Poopy diaper…….that means he’s getting better———–AMEN……and thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers.
Wonderful post Cliff. A few verses before the one you posted we find the declaration of Paul that it is not our righteousness (through obedience) but that righteousness of God from the assurance of Christ.
I was never fully assured. I’m getting that way.
So glad to hear the good news about Cliffy. May you get many more poopy diapers.
Bev and I are headed south to watch little Halea for a week (at Myrtle Beach). It’s a tough job but someone has to do it and after working 12 of the last 14 days on midnight I am going to really enjoy it.
I’ll be reading and commenting from there. BTW, I am really enjoying the audio of “The Gathering”. Awesome stuff from awesome perfect people. Bev and I will be listening to them again as we travel.
Love to all.
Man, did I need to read this one today.
Once we awaken to the perfect link we have with Father, He just starts the download! We can even run & hide or deny it, but the truth still trickles in.Be still and know…
I love that Judy——Start the download.
The love of God when preached in it’s fullness.Passes all understanding.”Be sure of that.”. Let us therefore believe it.
True post cliff my friend.
We live and move and have our being in him whom to know is life eternal.The enternal kingdom.The hope of glory which is a stedfast hope.
kenneth
Oh how I wish you could have been with us Kenneth. You are such an inspiration to all who walk the path of grace and peace.
Cliff my friend.i walk the walk you walk and i talk the talk you talk my friend because we are one.Christ prayed that we be one.But remember this cliff in the letter to the hebrews it lets us know there that christ came to do the fathers will.And that was before christ said theses words.He alone has all the preminence.Let us continue to look at him and see who we really are.
Luv ya brother.And i wish i had been with you all.It can be a lonely road.But i never feel alone with friends like you all.
kenneth.
Ps i was talking with one of my four sisters and sharred this with her.She wants to know more.She could not believe it when i told her.I’am giving her disks to listen to.
peace my friend always.And keep that heart of yours established in grace.
kenneth
Hey Kenneth, I’m so glad to hear your sister is opening her heart to this grace and peace, and I’m sure that she has a wonderful brother to share it with her. Thanks for your kind words my friend.
Cliff, beautiful, simple and true. What else is there to say. Seeing us as the Father sees us in Christ is the key, oh how the world needs this revelation and insight.
To my like minded brothers and sisters,
It is sunday morning and my husband has headed off to church, me no longer going, and would feel like the ultimate hypocrite if i did…i feel soooooo alone. there is no one like minded for me to talk to locally, and where do i go? this is a lonely road, and i am feeling it today…but i cannot unlearn what i feel God has shown me about His amazing grace. i envy yall that were able to meet in person. i would just appreciate your prayers, taking this position is not the easy thing…..
Nancy, you are braving a path that someday will be the norm. The human race is still in it’s infancy but each day the truth of the gospel dawns on more and more of us. You may be physically alone but we are all with you and feel your struggles. God Bless.
Cliff
It’s so nice of you to stop by, Nancy. I can imagine how you feel, but things will get better. As this Good News spreads throughout the land, many will awaken from their slumber. Many will begin seeking others who understand the Heart of God, and will connect with you. Until then, know that your Internet friends love you and care about you. Feel our prayers as we lift you up from the loneliness. And listen for the words of encouragement which will come from the most unlikely places. Let you heart find peace in the knowledge of the Gospel, and look forward to what’s to come!
Great love to you!
Bruce & Cliff,
Thanks so much for the words of encouragement… and prayers… I read this blog and others everyday because that is where I get encouraged. Its hard to walk this way because even when you try to explain what you believe to people they have all the eternal hellfire and damnation scriptures to throw back at you, and I just don’t know how to counter attack. If you tell them the words were translated wrong, they will say that God is big enough to keep HIS word straight. So I suppose it’s not my place to persuade people otherwise as much as I would like to. At any rate,thank all of you for being out there in cyberland!!
Nancy, One of the best short responses to those who quote you scripture is to just say…
“I believe in God’s perfect Love, and that His love will NEVER FAIL.”
What are they going to say? Oh, yes it will????
Just keep repeating that over and over and don’t get pulled into their debate.
PS. I might also add that those type won’t debate someone who really knows the scripture, because I have asked over and over for anyone or any preacher who wants to come to my church and debate the issue in a loving way and I haven’t had any takers yet.
Love,
Cliff
Hi all- Just returned from Houston and a visit with the wife and new granddaughter. I got to go have a look at Mike’s “church” which is 2 miles from my wife’s house. It’s a large two-story home in a very nice neighborhood. No meeting on Saturday, however. I guess Mike was on the road.
Great post Cliff! Great comment Bruce! More later….
Thanks Cliff! I just slapped my forehead when you told me to say what you did.
On one forum that I frequent, I often sign out:
Shalom, Nancy
God is LOVE. Love NEVER fails….
Thanks for the reminder, a simple answer indeed.
Hey all been reading and catching up haven’t posted much here, but I am so glad yall are doing this and am pouring over the messages from grace gathering….I so wish I could have been there.
Bruce, your original response\question is an integral part of the Gospel. Just in the last couple of weeks I have realized that there were\are 2 types of sin if you will (this is not a doctrine or theology, but a pj-ology) Romans 5 says that sin (singular) was in the world from Adam to Moses. John the baptist said “behold the lamb of god who takes away the SIN (singular) of the world.”
We also know that when the Law was given that it magnified sin (singular) and what became known as trespasses and sins (plural) were transgressions of the law. So this is the second type or way that the word sin is used.
Recently I have been contemplating what that singular SIN was that was in the world. There is a definite difference between the singular and the plural. As I starting contemplating what that sin was it took me back to the garden and what became understood by Adam when he ate from the bad tree. The first thing that Adam was aware of was his nakedness, he became ashamed of it and immediately covered it up. We all know this but that was the sin (singular). Adam was naked before he ate of the TOTKOGAE (the bad tree) but after the tree he was ashamed of who he was and tried to cover it up in an attempt to please God.
This is exactly what you are saying, God made Adam. Every time God created something in the creation story he said “It was good”. God is perfect, to be called good of a perfect God is to be called perfect. So Adam was perfect in the way he was made, even in his nakedness. But Adam disobeyed the commandment to not eat from the TOTKOGAE and his actions resulted in a flawed view of who he was before God.
This flawed view of who we are before God has a direct bearing on our ability to love and accept other people. The greatest commandment is to Love others AS OUR SELVES. If we think that God does not accept us, for whatever reason, then we can”t accept who we have been created to be. And if we can’t accept who we are then can’t love ourselves. If we can’t love ourselves we can’t love others, if we can love others then we cannot accept them for who they are….it is such vicious cycle.
I absolutely agree with you that SIN is not believing God has accepted you. The Gospel is not about accepting Jesus Christ, the Gospel is that God, through Jesus Christ, accepted US and made us perfect.
PJ, Thank you so much for your words of wisdom. It is obvious that you are a person who understands your maker and who you are in Him. I enjoyed what your wrote hear. Please don’t be a stranger.