BoldGrace

DISCLAIMER:
These explanations are not necessarily the views and opinions of all or even any on the Bold Grace Team other than myself. (Geo)

1.    I believe: Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again"
    How were you taught that this happens? I was taught that the way a person is born again is they hear the message of the cross preached and they respond to it by saying some type of sinner’s prayer and accepting Jesus into their heart as personal Lord & Savior. Now while that may sound reasonable could anyone tell me where to look to find such a belief? Do you remember Jesus only explanation as to how to be “born again”?  He said, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." WHAT?!!!! Being “born again” is like the wind? Wait a minute Jesus I thought I had to accept you and make You my “personal Lord & Savior” in order to be born again? Also did Jesus say that unless you are born again you will not be redeemed and spend eternity with The Father and me? NO! Read it again, He said,
“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again”     Let me ask you, “Do you see the kingdom of God today? If not then according to Jesus you have not been born again. If you are going to ask me, “Geo, do you see the kingdom of God on earth today?” My answer is a resounding YES! The whole earth screams of His Glory and Majesty on a daily basis. The wars, the killings, the rapes, the murders, the drunks, the prostitutes, the pimps, the abused, the abusers, the faithful, the faithless, the church, the Jews, the Muslims, the Christians, the Hindus, the lawless, the lawful, the Grace filled, the ungraceful, the hater, the lover, the mean, the kind, the black, the yellow, the white, the brown, the red, the poor, the rich, the powerless, the powerful, the smart, the not so smart (that’s me) the able bodied, the handicapped, death and life they all scream of His Glorious Redemption that is in Christ Jesus to me. Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (Jn. 3) So again how is a person “born of the spirit” what must one do in order to be “born of the spirit”?

NOTHING! According to the Apostle Paul.
Paul said in his book to the Ephesians :
“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)—But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

Did you read that? HE made the two groups, Jews & Gentiles ONE by taking them into His body on the Cross. You may well ask, “Geo so what? What does that have to do with all being born of the Spirit”? It has EVERYTHING to do with being “born of the Spirit”! In God’s economy at the time Paul wrote that there were only two kinds of people, The Jews who represented Believing and The Gentiles who represented the Unbelieving. It says He, Jesus took both Jew (believer) and Gentile (unbeliever) into His body making the two groups ONE NEW MAN/WOMAN and abolishing in His own flesh the dividing wall of hostility. And when He died on the Cross ALL of mankind died. When He was put into the grave who was in His body according to the Apostle Paul? ALL of mankind both Jew (believer) and Gentile (unbeliever). And when He rose again who was in His body according to the Apostle Paul? Both Jew (believer) and Gentile (unbeliever) ALL of mankind. And when He ascended into Heaven who ascended into Heaven with Him according to the Apostle Paul? Both Jew (believer) and Gentile (unbeliever). And as He sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven who sits with Him according to the Apostle Paul? Both Jew (believer) and Gentile (unbeliever). You see folks your belief or unbelief does not make something true or false. But your belief about something will have a cause and effect in your life here in this earthly realm. Your born again and all of creations born again experience happened 2008 years ago in the body of Jesus Christ. Again Paul refers to it in this way, “As in Adam ALL die, In Christ ALL Live”!

Enjoy The Kingdom Today

Peace
Geo

1.    I believe: Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
2.    I believe: It is hard to Enter through the narrow gate.
3.    I believe: That wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
4.    I believe: That small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
5.    I believe: That we should come out from them and be separate.
6.    I believe: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.
7.    I believe: Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 
8.    I believe: That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
9.    I believe: That He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
10.    I believe: This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
11.    I believe: He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
12.    I believe: For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.
13.    I believe: Jesus came into the world for Judgment.
14.    I believe: He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it.
15.    I believe: No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

That’s right I believe ALL of those things! Does that surprise you? Over the coming weeks I will take each one of the 15 things and give you my explanation of each one. In the mean time can you figure out how I can believe each one of these things? Because on the surface they seem to say just the OPPOSITE of what we say here on Bold Grace.

More Later

Peace

Geo

There have been a lot of questions asked lately as to what we believe here at Bold Grace. So I have a challenge for all who POST, READ OR COMMENT HERE. Go to the link below

http://www.glennkleinonline.com/webcast/guests/mwilliams.html

and listen to the webcast dated 6-18-2008. Then you will have the answer to some of the questions that you ask of us here at Bold Grace. The men on the show are Glenn and Mike. They are two good friends of Bold Grace and proclaimers of The Gospel of Grace & Peace. Then come back here AFTER you listen to the show in its entirety and tell us what your thoughts are.

Peace

Geo

It was said by one of our commenter’s here on Bold Grace that it is not wise to give the truth of the gospel of grace and peace to those who lack personal control and discipline.
It was said we that need to give them discipline and structure first and then freedom after they learn to control and discipline themselves?

If it is done in this manner then how is this taught in relation to the gospel?

And when is the truth about the freedom of the gospel revealed?

And when it is revealed to them and they understand that they have been lied to from the start how do you explain it to them?

And what do you do if while you are teaching them your discipline and control gospel they find the true gospel of grace & peace?

Do you explain to them that you lied to them for their own good?

Do you tell them that the true message of the cross is only for those who have progressed to a certain point in spiritually?

NO!!!!!
We at Bold Grace are not ashamed of the gospel any longer. We will not teach or agree with those who believe and teach that the message of Bold Grace is only for the more spiritually advanced.
But even in disagreement on this we acknowledge that those who give part of the truth are doing it out of their heartfelt belief that it is the only way. And we applaud them for saying it even if we don’t agree.

Peace 
Geo

In a recent comment Bruce said:

It wasn’t until I found this group of friends at boldgrace that I finally found true community. Even with the great distances between us, there is more love, friendship, compassion, and community than I’ve ever seen in any traditional church. The reason? We have no leaders, and have no need for any leaders. We’re simply a bunch of friends on a journey together, enjoying God’s peace and grace. No agendas, no power struggles, no funds to collect, no building to pay for, no need to build community (because it just “happened”). It’s not to say we’re without our challenges and pains, but they seem to be rare. This is probably the only true community of which I’ve ever been a part.

I feel the same exact way and I know Geo, Steve, and Mindy would also agree.  As I thought about what Bruce wrote it made me realize the reality of his last statement in my life also.  He said:  "This is probably the only true community of which I’ve ever been a part."  

So, what is it that makes our friendship so special?  I can only answer for myself but I believe that the very root of the answer is found in NOTHING.  By that I mean each of us came to this understanding of God’s very BOLD grace by ourselves as individuals and when we came together as a "COMMUNITY" here at boldgrace.com we did not bring anything else with it.  Bold Grace by its self plus nothing is our secret and I believe it is the great secret that makes the Gospel good news indeed.

Does that mean that we don’t share ideas that can improve our lives in the here and now?  Of course not.  We often share and talk about different books we are reading and how new things we are learning help us understand this life more clearly.  We also love hearing all the different comments that encourage us to keep this site open.  As Bruce said, we have No agendas, no power struggles, no funds to collect, no building to pay for, no need to build community (because it just “happened”).  We are only here to share this unbelievable peace that is a direct result of realizing this BOLD GRACE. 

Some may wonder why we so strongly reject adding anything to it and the reason is simple.  It is God himself who gives us the answer:

2 Cor 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Grace has taught me to accept myself the way God accepts me.  Grace has taught me to accept Bruce, Geo, Steve, Mindy, and everyone else exactly the way they are because it is GOD who takes our weaknesses and shows us His PERFECT POWER in spite of them.

Yes, we do believe we are perfect because we believe His Grace really does have POWER.  He doesn’t need us to do something or believe something for His Grace to Work.  Who ever comes to our site will not be asked to change anything in their life.  We will tell them they have always been loved, are loved now, and will always be loved by a God who truly loves without conditions. 

The amazing thing is that when people really get this message of Bold Grace it does have a powerful effect on their lives.  The security of an indestructible love has more power than all of man’s greatest wisdom.  Just knowing that God will never leave you, never forsake you, never abandon you, and that He will be standing by you even in your weakest of moments is a knowledge that is our greatest resource here on earth.  This LOVE from God comes without judgment or criticism.  This LOVE comes with freedom to choose our own way.  We can choose a painful life of striving to be good enough or we can choose a peaceful life by believing in this Bold Grace, but either way God will STAND with us.

Bold Grace plus nothing is the secret to true community.  God made us all in His image and I am so glad that my eyes can see the beauty of that image in myself and in the world around me. 

Rom 8:38-39 I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us.  We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation.

The following verses tell us that God has taken complete responsibility for what we need to learn while on this earth.  Maybe that’s why He tells us to quit judging each other.

Heb 8:10-13 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

  

Heb 10:16-18  "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

    

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

 

1 Thess 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

 

    

Matt 7:1-4 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

  

1 Cor 4:3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.

Isn’t it a peaceful feeling that we do not have to rely on anyone to teach us what is most important?

And isn’t it a peaceful feeling to know it is not my job to judge others?

Wow, if the church quit teaching and judging, what would be left?  I guess they didn’t get that memo from God.

Gen 2:15-17 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.  And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

What is IT?
Answer: IT Is

How do I get IT?
Answer: IT can be gotten, but is had by ALL

How do I keep IT?
Answer: It can’t be kept, but is kept by ALL

How can I know I have IT?
Answer: If you need to know how to have it then you don’t have IT.

Can I teach others how to get IT?
Answer: IT can’t be taught to others, but others are taught by IT.

Can IT be seen?
Answer: It can’t be seen but is visible to ALL

Can IT see?
Answer: IT cannot see but sees ALL

Can IT be touched?
Answer: IT can’t be touched but IT touches ALL.

To be continued……………….

Peace

Geo

This video is for my fellow travelers who think there is no way out. Speak up and use your voice. You will find some who don’t care at all, some who care a little, and some who care a great deal. Maybe we can’t solve all your problems but at least you will find someone who cares here at BoldGrace. 

Matt 10:29-31"Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s permission. Every hair on your head has been counted. Don’t be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows.

 We won’t judge you.  We won’t condemn you.  We won’t point out all your weaknesses.  And the reason we won’t is because we know your value.  There is a God of Perfect Love that you can trust.  He leaves none of us behind.  He will never forsake anyone.  He has a plan for you that is perfect.  We hope you choose to awaken to the LOVE that surrounds you, but either way His LOVE will wrap you up and hold you safe at all times.