Eighth Sunday After Pentecost

Bottom Line Spirituality: Worldly and Godly Thinking

Click here to go to the Bottom Line Meditations for Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

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.

Remember: The DISCIPLE-SHIFT

(see Pentecost Sunday Meditation by Clicking Here)

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.

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 us trying to build a life of faith for God, we become a life of faith by God when consciously feeling the Faith He has in us.

The War on Legalism

God declared War on Legalism when He sent His Word into the World. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us … full of grace and truth. John 1:14 Legalism fought back against the grace believing the Bible, not Jesus, is the word of God. Grace is based on the Two Great Love Commandments. All the Law and the Prophets have now been changed into “do the loving thing.” Matthew 22:37-40 The New Command is to be in His Presence in order to Love one another. John 13:34 “Apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—” When you go into legalism, you are putting your fate into the hands of people who weren't smart enough to get out of legalism.

Luke 10:25-37 “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

The story of the Good Samaritan is one of those parables that create a distraction. We go down the road most traveled because everyone else has done the same. We miss the road less traveled because we do not have the directions of grace.

In this section of scripture, the question, answer and parable of Jesus are the most misunderstood and ignored lesson in the entire Bible by most Christians. The question is not: “Who is my neighbor?” The question is: “Who will inherit eternal life?”

The right answer is: “if you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself you will live” (inherit eternal life).

The lawyer wanted to set Jesus up. He knew what he had said previously and so he fed it back to Jesus what He had been teaching concerning the two great Commandments.

Now for the real questions ”And who is my neighbor?  Where do the bonds of neighbors end?” Well there was this man who had been robbed and brutally beaten up and left by the side of the road. A Levite came and passed by on the other side as did a priest. They were too busy, too much in a rush to get where they were going. It is interesting that it was on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Jericho at that time was a known “Sin City”. For what were these two religious figures (who knew the law) going down there? Certainly not for religious purposes! All priestly duties were done in the Temple at Jerusalem.

Then along came the hard working Samaritan salesman. He was moved to pity. He ministered to the man. He took him to an inn and paid for his care. The promise was to come back and if there was any more expense he would pay for it.

Now here comes the real question. “Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" The lawyer replied, "The one who showed him mercy." What else could he say? Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise" (and what?) You shall be saved.

Did you get it? Very few even know what hit them. If Jesus is the Word of God, then He is our authority for scripture. If you find any scripture that disagrees with Jesus, no matter where you find it, it is not the Word of God.

What this story means is that the hated Samaritan can be saved if he does the loving thing. People do not have to become a Christian to be saved. Just do what Jesus told us to do; meaning Love is the fulfillment of all the Scripture.

The question then is, “Why should anyone become a Christian?” The answer is, “Because Christianity is the only religion based on grace.” We need not argue with others which faith is better. We need to show the difference between a “you have to do this to be loved by God legalism” as opposed to “when we are saved by the grace and Love of God you will want to do this loving thing.” Which is the basis for your religion: The legalism of Moses or the feeling of the Presence of grace and truth in Jesus Christ?

It is not about changing a thought but a shift from the rational head to feeling His Love in our heart. A paradigm shift from a rational culture to a conscious culture takes a lot of practice.

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.