Simple Truths about the Gospel: "The way to the Father is open"

Something that I've been reflecting on lately has been, looking to see what Scripture means for God in His relation to people. Christians are very good at understanding Scripture in what is means for us in relation to God which is right and good. But, what has really brought me even greater breakthrough and understanding has been the former, in understanding God's perspective towards people in light of Jesus' death and resurrection. At first glance, they may seem the same, but in reality are actually two different sides of the same coin. Gaining an understanding of both sides will truly help bring even greater clarity and understanding of what it means to be in relationship with God.

As a qualifying statement before I get into this blog today, I want to say that I am still in process, ever growing in greater revelation of the Gospel and Christ. These are my thoughts and rumblings as I engage with Holy Spirit and the Word of God. But hear my heart, my starting point in all of this is Christ. He is the ultimate revelation of God and my conviction is that we must look to Him first and allow His life and ministry to be the lens we use when reading Scripture because He is the exact representation of God (Hebrews 1:3).

Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

I used to only understand this verse from the perspective of man looking up towards God, meaning we now have access to God through Christ's sacrifice on a Cross for sin which I still think is right and true. But, on the flip side, this also means that from God's perspective: Right now God the Father is actually looking to the earth and what He sees is Christ's sacrifice for sin and is calling people home.

Understanding God's current perspective brings another dimension to our understanding of the Cross and has some important implications which I will expand on.

Now, what started me down this path was a Holy Spirit inspired revelation to simply ask a couple questions (because questions are always good, but asking the right questions in the right moment/season is crucial): 

• When did Christ actually die for sin? 
• Did Jesus actually die for all sin, for all time?

These simply questions have helped me to begin to see this verse and others from God's perspective because if Jesus paid the price for all sin, for all time 2000 years ago, this means that the sin barrier that blocked the way to the Father was opened and unblocked the day Christ died. I think this is the significance of the veil in the Temple that blocked the way into the Holy of Holies which represented the place where God's Presence dwelt was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50-51). 

This means that since this time way back when, from God's perspective there has been no barrier between Him and Man. 

Pause and think about that for a moment. Come Holy Spirit!

Yes, we all still need to put our faith and trust in believing the Gospel because this reality is not automatically imparted to us. This only happens through believing in the Truth. And rather than the traditional understanding, that when we believe in Jesus the gates of Heaven are opened for us to enter; what I am starting to see is that from God's perspective, after Jesus became sin on the Cross (2 Corinthians 5:21), He died, was resurrected and then ascended into Heaven. In so doing He has opened up the gates to Heaven and has since left these gates open. Are you tracking with me? The way to the Father is open. 

If this is true, than the ramifications of this are huge because this means that since Christ's sacrifice (for roughly the last 2000 years) God has stopped being the "so called" Punisher of Sin because all of God's wrath towards Sin has been propitiated or atoned for. Let me pause here and give you a little food for thought. There is a line of thinking that actually relates the wrath of God to the built in consequences of sin (kind of like reaping and sowing) in which God allows to happen (some may call this the passive wrath of God), rather than a direct emotional response from God Himself. Hmm, interesting thought eh?

1 John 4:10 "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (NKJV). 

I would also add here that the wrath of God was never directed towards Christ Himself, but only at Sin, in which Jesus became (2 Corinthians 5:21). This again changes our understanding of the goodness of God. On the Cross, the Father was not punishing the Son, but rather Sin alone. Maybe He was even allowing the built in consequences of Sin to happen where He redemptively withdrew and in so doing opened the way for evil and the Enemies of God to mete out their punishment because the "wages of Sin is death" (Romans 6:23). 

2 Corinthians 5:21 "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

I mean think about, if you believe that God is still punishing people for sin, than what you are implying is that God is both Punisher and Savior. It's like me punishing my daughter Seraphina, so that she would cry out to me to save her. That's kind of twisted, a whole lot manipulative and quite frankly not a very good father. No, God the Father can genuinely call and invite people to Himself because He was never the "so called" Punisher of Sin, but is and has always been our Savior from Sin, who is continually showing us love, grace and mercy, especially if and when we do sin. I will probably also blog on this because it is quite the dichotomy: is God the Punisher of Sin or our Savior from Sin? Can He be both? 

What we need to understand is that there is enough sin and evil running rampant in the world to bring about more than enough pain, suffering, sickness and punishment to people. We must fully believe that God is the author of life and not death; and that we can have complete confidence in the Truth that the death and resurrection of Jesus has fully paid the price for all sin, for all time and that His sacrifice is enough, and we don't need to go on paying for the price of sin with our lives. Is God our Savior or not? Sometimes, is not good enough. He either is or He isn't.

On the Cross Jesus said "it was finished" (John 19:30) and quite frankly I believe Him! Jesus is our Savior always and forever.

Be Encouraged! Embrace the Truth of the Gospel and Stand Free! You are deeply, deeply loved by God. 

Mobile Prayer Station: DAY 25

Today was an interesting day. The time seemed to race by. In reflecting back, it's not that I was swamped with talking and praying with people. Maybe I was simply enjoying the quality of time I got to spend with people. I was blessed to be able to pray with a few people I've prayed with before plus a few new comers. I will share about my relational time with Michael, one of the travelling homeless kids that migrate between cities throughout the year. I see them hanging out in the park almost everyday and am always moved to pray for them. Maybe it's because we have similar stories. So, I was glad when Michael came by and asked me for some money because when I told him I didn't really feel right in giving him any, he asked if I could pray for him. 


Being on the road is nothing new for me. I've spent my own fair amount of time travelling where I've rubbed shoulders with the many transient people of the various music and drug scenes; from Grateful Dead shows to Phish and Horde tours to the underground rave scene. I've even spent time with the "Rainbow Family" and their yearly gatherings. So, needless to say, on many levels I get them. Though on the outside the world sees only rebellious kids not wanting to conform to the tenets of society which is true to some degree. But underneath all of the many layers of these complex kids is the same desire that every human being has and that's the desire to belong; to be fully known and yet still be fully loved. The sad reality is that these travelling kids have failed to find this anywhere else expect among themselves. Now to be fair, there is the Lord's timing on all of this and from my experience it takes time to unconditionally love and not judge people into the Kingdom of God. But if the Body of Christ is faithful in loving and not judging people, I fully believe that there is no one that the love of Christ cannot touch through His Body, the Church. 


I am also learning that loving people means being willing to open up my heart and life to them which also means being willing to sacrifice my time, treasures and talents on their behalf. A great book that I am reading at the moment (which I think I've mentioned before) is "When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor...and Yourself." This book has helped  broaden my perspective and given me greater understanding on discerning which of these (time, treasure, talents) is best for the people God crosses my path with and what is needed (relief, rehabilitation, development) in order to equip and empower them for greater living. I know my time with Michael was short, which is why I am hoping and praying that God makes a way for more relational time with him and his friends. So this is my prayer: Father in Heaven, lavish Your grace and love upon these travelling kids and make me trustworthy enough to be able to love these kids with the love and compassion of Jesus. And if I am not that person, then I pray Lord that You would divinely orchestrate the path of those who are and cross them with these kids. In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Charity Water's September Campaign

Do you have a birthday, an anniversery, a baby shower, a housewarming party, some event where people will be bringing you gifts and presents? Well the people at Charity Water are inviting people to join in their "Born in September" campaign, but this year they are uping the ante and are including any event in September. Is God calling you to be a light to your circle of friends by challenging them to sacrificially give with you this September?