Sixth Sunday in Lent

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Godly Abiding Spiritually in Jesus Changes the Meaning of What we See Worldly When Not Abiding in Jesus.

Spirituality is our innate ability to feel the difference worldly or godly thinking makes to the way scripture translates to our daily life and relationships.

All Scripture is a testimony to Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God. He is the complete revelation of God’s will of grace for salvation. Grace is the only unfailing rule of faith and practice for the Christian life.

The Gospel of grace is: rather than trying to be more faithful to become faithful, we become faithful by feeling the Faith God already has for and in us.

The Strength of Christianity is Grace

John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Another name for Jesus is "Grace". Another name for God is "Grace". We are saved by GRACE. "Love" is not Love if it is not grace. This is true for "Faith", "Hope", "Joy" and all other theological words of significance in the scripture.

Until someone experiences the grace gift in their lives, all other theological words have no real meaning. Why not begin to use the word "grace" in place of "Jesus", "God", "the Spirit", "Love" and so on? It might seem inappropriate to do so. However, until it is actually experienced it will make no sense at all.

That is what this year is all about. Grace, did you get it?

Finding Grace in Our Life

We have within us a Love. It is not ours. It has been given to us by grace.

Prayers for Lent from Forward Day by Day.

Pray this prayer:

“O God give me strength to live another day;
Make me the cup of strength to suffering souls;
in the name of the strong Deliverer, our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Now quietly move into God's Presence and pray the prayer again:

“O God give me strength to live another day;
Make me the cup of strength to suffering souls;
in the name of the strong Deliverer, our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

What was the difference?

Passion Sunday

Matthew 26:14-27:66: “Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, Lema sabachthani?", that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 

There are Christians who are confused with the death of Jesus and some angry and fearful that God would do such a thing to His Son. How can anyone understand this?

This scripture is one of the most difficult to understand in a worldly way. It must be understood spiritually, in a godly way. We are rationally looking at the same thing in the same way. To understand it, we must look spiritually at the same thing in a spiritual way. We need to spiritually wonder what difference the death of Jesus on the cross makes when we are out of the Love of His Spirit and when we are in the Love of His Spirit.

What we must look at differently is “sin” and “Love”. Sin, in the Law of Moses, is an immoral act against God’s will. If we do not do God’s will, God will not love us. We must do God’s will to be loved by God.

John tells us Jesus is the “Lamb of God came to take away the Sin of the World.” That is one “Sin” with a capitol “S”, not sins. Sins are symptoms of our Separation. Sin in the New Testament is our separation from God. God was in Christ reconciling the world. 2 Corinthians 5:19

In the grace of God, “Sin” is separation from God. Jesus was separated from God on the cross. God made Jesus who had no sin to be Sin for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 The cry of Jesus on the cross, “My God why have you abandoned me”, is the pain He felt in being separated from God. Yet, God loved Jesus when He was in Sin as much as He loved Him before He was in Sin.

God loves us when we are separated from Him as much as He loved Jesus when Jesus was separated from Him. Jesus’ prayer is that we may be one as He and the Father are one, “I in them and You in Me so that …the world will know that You have loved them even as You have loved Me.” John 17:22 Through His grace, God Loves us inclusively and unconditionally.

“Good” comes from the old English/German word “Gut” for “God”. Good Friday means God’s Friday. It is the day Jesus took away the Sin and separation of the World. The purpose of Christ coming into the World was to reconcile us with God.

This scripture is not better than any of the others. Every one of these events is as necessary as any of the others. If one of them did not take place, none of them would have happened. But it is different. The crucifixion is at the heart of the Church Year. It is the basis for the New Covenant. It is the moment of grace. “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17 It sets the theme of grace for the coming Season of Easter-Pentecost.

“And as I cannot in my own strength do this, nor even with a hope of success attempt it, I look to thee, O Lord God my Father, in Jesus my Savior, and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Did you find grace?  Take it with you in this Easter- Pentecost Season.

THE DISCIPLE-SHIFT: The Virtual Small Group: Members share once a week with their group through the internet when a shift from being out to being in the Presence made a difference.