Month: April 2024

christianity is today to Christ as Judaism is/was to being Jew before [in the face of] the Lord. The Lord never spoke with denigration of a Jew, but of the vain and useless, even oppositional, traditions and practices that had both accrued and multiplied to true faith by men’s craftiness abetted by a corrupter.. Jesus the Christ never distanced Himself from the meaning of [a] Jew, nor being one:

We know what we do worship for salvation is of the Jews.

But keenly He saw/sees the difference between a man such as Abraham, who was called out and obeyed, and those who only used that man for their own standing. The faith of Abraham is never denigrated but extolled even to contradiction of such presumed standing:

 Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

For unless or until Christ is made plain in sight by faith, all men do, and must, take their stand on things only natural by which to exalt themselves. Jesus again being so bold as to say:

And do not think to say within your selves ‘We have Abraham to our father, for I tell you of these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham’

No, the natural, and even natural decendency that mean so much to man as to place trust in it, is as nothing to God, unless He be inclined to make more of it. The keeping of a remnant is always and alone in the purview of God; and not given to any establishment by natural identity, nor gained by either decendency nor observational practice(s). For to support itself religion must devolve into such vain practices for establishment; whereby even its descent into corruption is both seen and made known by them:

For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Such is also decried and described in such practice as this:

Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

And men can never both see what sanctification is, or whom the Sanctifier Himself is, apart from the revelation of Christ himself. And God forbid (by all plea for mercy) that any man, even such a man writing be so as to so easily make himself a fool by any self exaltation attendant to revelation, (or allowing it) mistaking that it itself is a form of endorsement unless he be made able to see the Giver of such.

And yes, men can indeed come to form temples and and even idols withing themselves in regards to such matters…and thence promote and provoke to all defilement even those who may be persuaded to receive them. Think justification by faith as an example, and those who would thence take a name to themselves for self exalting in all wrong thinking that by such self identity endorses, or establishes them. “We” follow Luther, and we shall make that plain, by name. A mere thing one can give another that too plainly speaks of estate, but not of such as is imagined.

For before God it does not mean what men may either presume nor intend. God knows to whom such revelation is/was given, but if men do not likewise hear the continuing caution of the Spirit, they too will even idolize their revelation(s). And many religions have, and continue to spring up, around such. Yes there is a continuing pressing on required lest we mistake anything given us for such “arrival”. So even Paul would say (in all understanding of this)

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Yet who would have said, or even today might say: “I have outstripped Paul”? Or, “I stand upon his shoulders and now see farther!” And again, God forbid even I be seen as exalting Paul (which is too easily done) but rather that one must first come to such seeing…(and understanding) that nothing shown ever itself is equal to the Shower of it, no matter how sublime such may appear! For even our brother on Patmos, carried away in all vision and ecstasies of Jesus the Christ’s revelation found himself tempted to fall and worship before one (in such vision) but had to be reproved:

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

My only testimony in any or all of this is only to the faithfulness of the Lord in rebukes and chastenings (even scourgings); even knowing that now, were I to make too much of them, I would also, and no less be betraying an idolatry, forsaking His wounds for the exaltation (even by mention) of my own having been wounded. But unless a disciple or disciples does know something of these, even these places and occurences, we are speaking to only children. But we would also be no more than children (and rebellious ones perhaps, even at that) were we to make too much, or really, anything at all of such in our conversation(s). We would merely be forming our own fellowship around another name “the those who have experienced the Lord’s discipline”. God forbid!

Paul understood both the folly and the attendant embarrasment at being pressed (by many obstinate and easily misled children) to do so.

Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

Yet adding:

If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

And later in next chapter sums up such excursion:

I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. 

We needs be careful in such pressing even to any demand (by attitude or obstinacy) we press to the Lord’s sufferings on our behalf, for the Spirit will make plain in such demand or attitude a revelation of matters so far beyond us that ougth to be to our glory…but will be made apparent to our shame. The Lord will minister his sufferings (and has) in mercy to us and for us, but if we be obstinate, the Spirit is not ashamed to make a “dump of them” upon us at such time as we are not yet prepared to them and our undoing will be made very plain to us by them, in even our ill equipping to them. Yet, even so, such can drive to repentance for relief by acknowledging our presumption(s). God forbid we forget this:

These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

And of a great boaster I have known, and if any doubt to the veracity of this, how that God may let one go on in great folly assuming His silence as either approval or endorsement, such a man can speak of such a day(s) when God “speaks up” to set things aright before him, and before whom no presumption stands…except to utter shaming. Yes, I know such a man, even all too well. And what may yet remain to him (for even saying “all too well” may be a boast) for God’s shaming of presumption, he does not know. But he is being convinced God does know, and as only God does know.

And God has faithful ministers yet in the earth, a remnant, who are able to speak to this man’s folly as need be.

A blessed one all too easily reminded such a man once (may once be enough…but only God knows how deeply such salubrious medication is taken!) and it yet speaks of such liberty that such a man can barely let it go when even wandering off into all manner of folly thinking he may hold “a” key as seeming sole proprietor while yet fearing in doing so he may also be entering only more presumption. For God’s speaking always remains so intensely personal and precisely targeted that to a man it is easily presumed to be exclusive.

Don’t worry, you are not that important.

A blessed one reminded such a man. And he is far more delighted to find relief of worry than to seek to rather embrace how self important he may naturally grasp at. And some have learned this, and are learning this, and will learn this. For God may indeed, and according to His will raise up a man of all importance…and even has, unless we be not of the faith. But He alone is necessity to all, even if any other be so blessed to have words of extolling delivered to him by such faith. speak. We needn’t worry; we will never be, nor are in heavenly places, confused for Him. But if while yet in these tents we sense even some elevation, God is faithful. He is not ashamed to reveal what none other in any “other” tent except that of the Son of His love…could bear.

And Christ does not tabernacle “in christianity”, but only where He so chooses and is not forced nor force-able to either adhere, nor be an adherent to anything other than the name of His Father.

Sometimes I fear lest I only be adding to further confusion.

But then comes:

Don’t worry, you are not that important.

It is embraceable, only because He is embraceable.

In Jesus’ prayer and speaking to His Father in the presence of His disciples He says this:

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

In one sense it is odd, isn’t it? As though the Father is in any need of informing by such a statement as to both who and what the disciples are in relationship to the world and the Lord Christ Himself. Of course the Father knows whom He has sent into the world as salvation, and no less those appointed to it. But we may come to appreciate the just how many things are said by our Lord as for our instruction and reminding. And of course such is true for Jesus never speaks falsely nor unnecessarily to, or with, the Father; so all the more we may come to realize their necessity is more for us to hear, and by hearing, begin to understand.

We are very much to appreciate, embrace, and thence rejoice in all the wonder of this vast separation to be made clear to us in that statement. And Jesus goes on to say and speak of some of the whys and hows we encounter such verification of these words. These matters are of utmost importance to us. We are not at all loved of the world because we do not belong to it, nor under the influence of the Prince of this world and his minions. In truth we are quite hated by it and them…we simply do not fit, nor are made to fit to its ways in submission to them. We are made fit for an elsewhere, even by the blood of Christ. As His testimony is sealed as to whom He is in Himself, being faithful to death in the baring of his soul to death, so even is our testimony by that same blood. The seal is set to all His word being true through His death, (being faithful to it) and the resurrection whereby such is manifest as truth in that rising.

Regardless of all the wonderful things said and miraculous works, apart from that rising out from the dead as testimony they would at best be only nice words and good deeds. For the scripture is not without others who had miracles worked through them, nor spoke good words of instruction and admonition. No (or yes!) Jesus the Christ is all of different in ever aspect one may consider than prophets before.

Our brother Paul was not shy to enter such confrontation with what to some yet appears the unthinkable proposition in regards to the resurrection. But Paul was made very bold in both his explorations of matters spiritual and in his speaking of them. He knew he was justified only by the blood of the Lord, and in being so justified and given to such liberty by it, he was unafraid to confront matters in such a head on way that the more timorous never could. Nor even yet, can. But by his forming to such, many deep truths emerge that the more timid are either unprepared to approach yet, or are not yet formed to.

When addressing those who were in some contentions that

the dead be not raised

Paul confronted the end of that argument, for his keen spiritual senses often saw to the end of arguments, and no doubt (I am persuaded) because he had already confronted such matters for consideration in himself before God. And it is not unusual, even today, for a some (or even many) thinking that because they have read Paul they understand as Paul understood, and as if standing upon his shoulders now, can exceed him in grasping at further truth(s). But first one must attain that understanding, which is as much in requirement of revelation to us as it was to him, and no less. Yes, we can read Hemingway and still not have the stuff of Hemingway to either see as he did, nor write as he wrote.

And Paul’s heavenly perspective, if in doubt to any, must be settled to themselves or else as our brother Peter writes, there is wrestling with his words (as with other scriptures) to our own destruction. Thanks be to God he is able to deliver His own from both that folly, or if engaged, to deliver out from it…even when destruction is tasted. Yes, we can be quite lawyerly at times thinking clever arguments are for the leaning upon. And to the clever, the Lord shows Himself clever…and even more so, as need be. Till we are tied up in our own lies and beg release.

But Paul, being made bold (and thanks be to God for His making him so) addressed those in that contention presenting that unthinkable proposition that he was made unafraid to utter.

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Oh, what a statement! What a thing to consider, much less say! “Why even ‘put that out there’ Paul?!!!” Because Paul had some very deep consideration of the significance of the resurrection in its meaning to him and had already faced in himself the unspeakable liberty of it in its truth, but was also quite aware by such unspeakable-ness it opened all doors formerly closed, and if wrong in its essence could only also lead to unspeakable presumptions about God. For do you see, Paul was unrelenting in such faith toward God that He both is and true, and dare not even momentarily consider enterring that which would make him (Paul) a liar before Him.

For this matter of the resurrection totally upsets and sets to some other required understanding of God that had, in all times past, been hidden. And if such understanding is not only made required by the resurrection, but even provided for by it, then all else must be abandoned to its very foundation of once prior assumptions. Yes, Paul knew. Paul understood. Paul embraced all overturning in himself of all those matters Saul was once in all confidence of.

And because this was no small matter indeed, even being accomplished in himself, the confronting of other matters accruing to arguments and contentions, meant nothing to him in his address. After all, in one sense, in one quite ineffable sense Paul found a Saul made dead in himself by such truth, and was already fully persuaded by such that the “dead” do indeed rise to life. Even if for some it yet remained an only figurative rising. Paul knew from soles of feet to top of head God alone is able to make the “dead” live. But he also understood the curiousness of it, the unspeakable reality of it that is so very (even impossible) for a man to deliver in word lest God give light to such word(s).

We can hear this in his stating here:

I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live, yet not I, but the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me.

No man can survey from an ‘outside’ how this can be so, how that a man can be both dead in cricifixion, yet alive. No man can perceive how such can be in experience unless he be in it. One is either in, or out, for here there is (really as in all matters) no middle ground. And Paul understood this matter of issue with words, how that no “man” can either know this, or experience, nor understand how both an “I” and a “yet not I” is made present to a man. It is I, but it is ‘yet not I’. One is crucified, and one lives, even simultaneously in the same vessel, in all experience in the same vessel, and such is God’s tabernacling with, and in, man. No, the natural man cannot know nor understand, indeed his best ascription would be to either some delusion of split mindedness or mental malady.

Yet…true, indeed. How a man might “live”…in both life and death…even at once. But, Paul had no issue with it as it was being resolved to him and in himself. He saw the Christ of God and understood such words as “of myself, I can do nothing”. A thing sentenced to death in a man of all inability, so that The One of all ability be manifest. Oh, yes, Paul understood, and so he would also write:

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Paul understood that death and life in One that life might be at work in others…and knew all too well it is/was, to his salvation. (Who loved me, and gave himself for me) “Why so personal, Paul, why not just say us?” (Because until it is so exquisitely and intensely personal…it does not “work”.)

For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

Even to this very end for those so called to it (and which believer is not?)

So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

christianity, such as it is, must always seek, and does indeed, props for the support of itself. There is a fear attendant to it that if “it” be lost to the world, the whole of the creation is lost to it and by its being lost. It is just a label derivative at best trying to, by such label, make to the world its plainness of belonging to the Christ of God. It yet speaks of some universal embrace of a thing (itself) which all internecine strivings manifestly give the lie to. Divisions abound, contentions fill pages and reams and yet it would present itself as firm in foundation for an ascribing, even a sure adherence to opinion as a real thing to be recognized “in the world”.

But there is only One whose recognition is of any necessity to any. A dead man alive knows only One to whom all is owed, and also His name, hidden from all organization(s), clubs, name takers (denominations) and the self defining.

And the world will not know you, be able to identify you, nor will you care to be known of it as anything it might even understand. Or define.

But this must be faced and resolved in each and to each as either true or not, for it alone is bedrock of assurance, and far more than a recitable or repeatable creed that would make one a “member of the club”. With all perks of ascending to pulpits, or assuring himself of some betterness and/or more enlightendness, giving instructions, advising and or rebuking according to “club rules” and the like. All those things that in vanity reinforce to a man he is a member of it…in good standing.

And if one does not yet know how much such are loved and adored by man, visit most any pub, where the drunk will preach their truths from barstools and such merriment abounds (at least till fights break out) among the inebriated with what ferments of an only earthen yeast, destined to return to earth.

And yes, I am no less made subject to accusation of inebriation, for until such comes, the man himself does not know what bread he has been eating, or what wine he imbibes.

For if he finds joy in such accusation, he cannot help but wonder where that must come from.

And yet again, a thing is affirmed to himself…

For if the dead rise not…

And one is made free to explore all the ramifications of even the “no” of things…to learn of Him who is the yes and amen to all of God’s promises.

And find out they too, indeed have a Father.

Not of this world.

The call from God to Himself through Jesus the Christ remains. His word of power to

repent and believe the gospel

has not, and will never diminish in its ringing throughout the creation in His assignment. God has spoken it into the creation through the mouth of Jesus the Christ, but we dare not count such as anything ever less than true God’s speaking. Of same power and intent light came into being by His word, and such is not diminished in any sense by being spoken through the mouth of a man once in the earth. For even if what was once perceived as a tabernacle of clay, He who was:

born of a woman, born under the law

has shown Himself in all of spirit and the true tabernacle when what was outwardly torn down for the release of that spirit in his going away as seemingly once only, or mere, material. In His having submitted to appearing outwardly only as any other man might. Indeed, in that “taking away” of the outer to which He submitted in the

joy set before Him

we find Him testifying to His own of its expediency. His response to their grief was not of indulgence of it, but rather to a correction:

But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

Saying:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

There is much we must learn of this, and in this “going away” accomplished on our behalf. For as we follow we learn of many obstacles and vexations that seem in all impossible to overcome…because they are to our own presence. Of ourselves…even with what we would consider “best intent(s)” they are encountered and made present to us. Yet it is in our “going away” by the power of the spirit to reveal we have already died in Christ, that it is no longer the former I facing them but Christ Himself.

What can be frustrated must be (for all will be frustration to the power of our own selves) even to such provoking of crying out for light that we learn it is neither by might nor power but by the Lord’s spirit alone things are set to order. Yes, we have been provided a “going away” through the Lord’s death for us that we too are comforted by the ineffable power of the Lord’s spirit. But if, or yet while we may strive to overcome, unconvinced to whatever measure yet of the Lord’s victory in all, we will find ourselves…relying on our own selves…to frustration. But this has a salubrious working in us, for we may learn the truth and gift of being “taken out of the way” that it is now Christ Himself confronting such matters to all victory and the (even His) manifestation thereof.

This word of repent and believe continually echoes in the earth, even in our earth of which we temporarily inhabit as tent. And such even, of frustrations and vexations due to lack of sight, must give way if we believe, they cannot but take their place in the Lord’s ordering in His now tabernacle of which the believer is. Yes:

We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

But if, or while we may remain confused as to this (the Lord knowing such training of disciples is both costly in endurance and bearing…as has been borne by He, Himself) He does not renege upon nor is reluctant to affirm:

In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.

And till such time this word is made full in us it would be quite queer to us to rejoice in such encounter of tribulation, trial, and yes, even seeming frustration. Nevertheless the writer is bold, no doubt having learned this himself, in himself, as from being in the Lord:

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

And we learn indeed not only could not such be written as by a natural (or carnal man) to another as good instruction, it would be fruitless to all resistance. Only the man of the spirit can speak it in truth, and only the man of the spirit can hear it and receive it. It is quite opposed to all that is natural. No man of himself will ever find joy in being made subject to testing and trials, unless He has seen (by faith in the resurrection of Jesus the Christ) His full overcoming in, and of, all. And such faith, by the revelation to a man that Jesus is indeed alive and very active gives not only testimony to, and of His resurrection, but of God’s grace in imparting of such faith. And such is the faith of the Son of God that saves us…a gift in all.

No man can prove to another anything of these matters, anymore than Peter by some clever figuring could arrive at speaking:

Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God

And we might admit we may have all had such excursions at times or other into such argument that to us appeared clever whereby we could cause another to submit to our own reasoning(s). If none other has ever engaged, so be it, but I know I have. Been a man quite clever in my own eyes, and unashamed to seek to make this as public (even in the faith) as possible.

I can testify of myriad rebukes, surely and consistently…and would rather speak to my own shame than deny that even in and through those necessary rebukes, the Christ of God in ministry of all correction by the Holy Spirit has proved Himself consistently true and faithful; to not only do so, but to much more minister grace for the bearing of such chastening(s).

For I know apart from such comfort found to sustain in even (what were to me) most grave rebuke(s)…I could not recover lest one also provide comfort. We learn the mighty hand can indeed humble us without letting go of us, and that is our salvation. Not in seeking to grasp at being (as I have done so very very vainly) to be “right” and self justified…but rather that His righteousness alone is worth the seeking after, and can only be done so when all of my own righteousness appears to my shame. Do you know the way of this? For my part I can only confess to not knowing how much more of “my own” is so easily confused for His that I might most stridently present.

And what remains to be dealt with, God knows.

God’s word issues from God alone through His Christ. Religion can neither contain it nor even speak of it except in derivative terms of like to like as in comparisons. Religion cannot control it, nor dispense it, try as it might to think itself so…as in “God is found here…in this thing of our practices, ordinances, creeds, and houses made by hands”

Let no man deceive you with “their” articles of faith by and through which joining can only occur…even if you agree with them. Being joined to the Lord is for no man’s endorsement, and surely no man’s denial. For to submit to man as the “yes or no” as holding what God does and can do, or cannot do, be wise. For one has then “turned over Lordship” to be in the hands of one less than God over all. This does not mean resist all men at every turn, but to rather understand the attitude of Paul and embrace it to wisdom:

But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

For to fall to the esteem of what some others hold for some others will only leave one in rather faithlessness as Jesus described if long continued down that path.

How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

And yes…men seek to be…impressive. And there is much joy to be found in the receiving of stripes and many rebukes of such…when finally heeded. We do not stand upon any man’s standing nor opinion of us…but to the Lord alone.

But we who believe have been delivered from such matters as like to like and into the very presence of God through the faith of Jesus Christ, to even appear there as unblemished through that faith. What yet remains of the earth and earthy is being perfectly handled as our minds, being renewed from that place of blamelessness are being changed…while yet we even occupy in these tents of clay.

God reveals an unblemished man to a man; not only as testimony to His perfect righteousness in all, but no less and also, by the faith that manifests to that man receiving, he is already in Heavenly places…for otherwise…he could not see. Yes, Jesus the Christ is the man who occupies Heaven. Is seen there, and is only seen truly…from there. Even while we here appear to occupy in earth. And His desire is that we fully occupied “there”…that He occupy…even and still in all power in “our” here. “Let” Him loose by your being bound to Heaven.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Perhaps you have often wondered, even as I, this curious working of which Paul (once Saul) spoke to such wonder in:

When it pleased God to reveal His Son in me

Of God’s choosing and sovereignty undeniable in doing so. The rain falls upon all, yet not all see God’s hand of mercy in it, not all know the glory of God in Christ that covers the earth as the waters cover the seas in the presence of His holy Spirit poured into and over the earth. But God tell us the how so of His working that is both irresistible and undeniable when we come to understand Jesus the Christ as the very Word of God; neither up for equivocation or explanation(s) and His being (as He is) over all:

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

“and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Just as:

Repent and believe the gospel

yet rings throughout the whole of creation, God having spoken it through the Son of His love born into time for us; yet so does His sovereignty over all matters in the creation to accomplish all of His good pleasure in that to which He has determined to send it.

Be pleased to be such a thing the Word of God has made home to accomplish all of His good pleasure and work in, and upon.

And if need be, or more is needed, I could easily tell of myriad and fruitless exercise in myself to both be to myself, and thence for display to others…more than just a thing. Rather let any who are called to wonder…wonder at what God can do with such a thing. It will, and does, require an acknowledgment of exchange. But that is not in any man’s hands to accomplish, bring about, nor rest upon his endorsement nor agreement. What has been done has been between Christ and the Father…even if all done is done to our eternal benefit. May we not forget in what the treasure is held, nor of Whom such treasure…is given.

Men strive to do and be more than they know themselves to be.

God, never.

Obviously “christianity” is not reading this. But if any…only man. Man (inclusive of woman), and either “a” man or “a” woman and always individually. In other words you, whoever you may be, with an identity. I can never speak or write farther than a you as a “me”, even if, at best, I am persuaded such speaking is before God. Yes, I am persuaded I am speaking to a someone, but very much persuaded this takes place in the presence of another someone.

Yet to even speak to you as though that someone needs a referencing to is at best seemingly awkward, as though making Him a third party to our conversation (for you are having thoughts in response), when it is alone He Himself that is originator of all and any conversation…both present to all, and even before the present is present to us, knowing all from the beginning. And no less, already knowing all of thoughts. Yes, He already knew/knows I would write, yes, He already knew/knows (if you do) read. Therefore He is above in presence to us both whether we (or any) are aware or not. Yes, this is my persuasion, that God is here.

He is not for summoning nor conjuring, nor to any making of Him of more here, for He is the fullness all is in to His upholding. Even if we lie, there is a truth to be found, for then we are clearly liars before Him. So an apostle would write “for we can do nothing against the truth, but for it”. And true liar or one who truly lies we have every confidence of exposure. For Jesus the Christ has already assigned him his identity as a, or even the “liar from the beginning”. And it is both too late (in that sense) for him to be anything other than that according to his assigning, and also, only God knows if our assigning is to the truth, in truth. Yes, we may make many claims for ourselves before one another as those who “only want the truth”, but God knows.

Is that enough? For if it is not enough that “God knows”, to whom or what would one make further appeal for establishment? Me? That is as laughable to me as you saying it is to you establishment is owned, and owed. Yes, if we do not, or are not yet able to see what a funny boat we are in (with joy) together, we might at least concede…it is peculiar. There is a place no lie can stand without identity of it being lie, and that is in God’s presence.

The only question for us might then be…is it as inescapable as we (or even one) might claim? Where can we (or one) go from His presence? Do you (or I) merely repeat or recite that it is inescapable because we saw it in a book…or do we know? For it is only through His affirming to us that the scripture is true, that we may begin to see that the scripture does indeed affirm He is true. And God’s reasoning is always circular and perfect in its referencing being closed ended, and not trailing off to a linear reasoning we are so used to…as though starting on a road following until we hit an end to a road where we must then supply more of our own reasoning to continue and build for further advancement. No, He is God…because…He is God.

He does not even so much as fill that position…as He is that position. God overall…even if we may say what is over all…is God. One is who He is, another merely our defining. And we are being delivered from all of our own…defining(s). For you will see all definition comes, must come, can only come as at from a remove, using a this (as understood) to describe a that as perceived; with ourselves being neither fully a this or a that…but as things handled by us. No, we are not at all used to truth as being so familiar to us (even though we may think so) for in the earth we have never met before One who can say His word is actually fully of He, and of Himself inseparable. And be true.

And what is no less inescapable for us in that truth, even the truth that is God, is that no one (ourselves included) is ever better than their word. They may be shown worse, but each is only as good as his word. And now if we would like to add all our own up, yes, even in this presence of God, it is easily seen that “our” good is purely relative and by such relativity manifestly corrupt as to be absolutely useless in any application to ourselves…except as a manifestation of the utmost of vanity. We might like to think we can “distance ourselves” from our lies through clever and lawyerly application, but we are in the presence of the One without need of, nor distancing of Himself from anything He says.

No, unless He supply mercy (has He?) we are all condemned with no place to stand. We may, at best (and even sometimes worst) want to be shown or even deeply desire to be shown as “good as our word“…till we meet Him. And there we may discover after all, yes, it is far better I not be shown at all. But…who then “to show”?

One cannot help but show…something. And yes, even the mercy that is at first ministered that we might even know some taste of it is all the more craved for its working that one escape the showing of themselves (that can only bring judgment)…but plea that another, not merely, not theoretically, not in vain hope…take one’s place. To even give another (place or placement)…where one can stand in the presence of God. And “be” for another. Is this not true?

And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

Has someone done that? Made provision to give…if faithfully handling what belongs to another? Who is the righteous One?

Can His righteousness be handled faithfully by another? God knows.

Yes, God knows who has sanctified the Lord in their heart to no confusion, knowing that all righteousness is in Him, alone.

Can it be held…faithfully? This that is another man’s?

Ahhh, but it gets so intensely, so perfectly, so exquisitely, so painfully, even so unbearably personal now, doesn’t it? For who alone stands before God as a man without excuse, without resort to clever manipulations, there to appear for you, that you may appear here…for Him? And escape all judgment for only representing one’s own self?

Where is your identity? Has it been entrusted to another for keeping, and safe keeping at that?

Have you given it over to a thing by some clever ruse? Do you stand for a thing? Even a thing that is not nor can be self defining for it has no standing before Him with whom we have to do. A thing whose words are all of this way and that way, and yet another way, speaking in all inconsistency to every hearer; even to and of those who even claim to be “in it” or of it, as well and no less as to those who make no such claim? christianity, such as it is, always and at best (which is to quite the worst) will and can only seek to represent itself. And strive it always does to.

The man Jesus the Christ alone has standing before God, even being the very Word that Is His very word inseparable from Himself, and even quite over all who may yet argue who or what what is a “real” christian, or true christianity, or even God forbid descending into such a foolishness and foolish matter as seeking to be, or describe what is a “good” christian.

If seeking to find some line, some outline, some limning whereby a matter is made separate for the beholding and the describing or defining as “this is this, but here ‘this ends’ and here a that begins” as with the Father and the Son is not merely fruitless and vain, for there the imagination inserts a space…even if it be so miniscule as to be called either negligible or irrelevant…for…there is none. None. But such is only, and manifestly only the undertaking from a looking “at” very much from an outside perspective.

God’s perfect and circular reasoning in all yet stands in perfect frustration to all not yet delivered from their own self exalting logic of linear exacting. God is in Christ, no less than Christ is in God. And where are you being hidden so that here, He may be seen?

And one is either in, or out.

What are you in? Of whom and what…are you a part?

Even member?

And I can only write, even speak to you as one most in need of mercy for always and ever having been to himself…only a show off. The very vainest of the vain.

Is there mercy?

What other plea might we have and hold?

And to whom?

Is not He here? Even to hear?

In, or out.

A man may speak in boldness or presumption, and to be true I am persuaded; I must confess I do not know my own manner in these things nor am I less than convinced those are the only estates any man may occupy. Faith spoken in the earth is very bold, refuting the seems of things, and presumption born of lie in the man is to the end of supporting such seems, such mere appearances. Self has great self interest in support and persistence of that self to upholding a status quo (by which it believes its identity to its self is secured; which is lie) but faith is always about a piercing through of veil to touch the real, and by touch secure, and by secure to apprehend.

And piercing things is never less than bold, or piercing through things (if better understood) is always resisted by that through which such piercing is taking place. All things in creation are given to an unutterable inertia to remain as they are. They resist both change and movement from place lest a stronger hand from outside the creation upsetting such a law intervenes…which in the creation, and to the creation, first appears as interference with it.

“Do not poke the bear” we either often hear, or say.

But such is our faith. A matter (even a true and eternal matter) given into the creation for quite an upsetting. Even to the end of a setting of up, a restoration of order to uplooking, a setting of things to right side up rather than the previously persistent upside down of things…with things looking only to themselves for identity and measuring all else according to these false scales. Enmeshed in looking only to self in such fall and falling, a descent is reinforced as though in irremediable and endless feedback loop to a grasping at anything in the creation for stop. Will all please stop! Stop!…that I might think and appraise…clearly! Stop…that I might find center, and centering.

But “it” does not. For on every side we are aware of assault. Encroaching to a diminishing. And so we gather our “forces”.

Success appears or wealth…(in whatever myriad form[s]) “Ahh! that might take my mind off this failing and falling.” Pleasure(s) in whatever form might keep at bay such unnuterably deep knowing of being pursued by, and to an abyss. And so things are grasped at, doggedly pursued and heaped to acquisition till they pale, and things then, only further down found in descent, are also reached for. And thus also dragging down with it a whole creation. And yes, even knowledge or so called “man’s wisdom”, does debauch us. Nevertheless the more doggedly we pursue, we find ourselves pursued, for dreams do come over which our own control and say prove utterly ineffective. Yes, there is a speaking and reminder…from deep and depths beyond our reigning. And ability to rein in.

And a veil is calling for piercing. Even screaming for it…to the precise measure of its resistance to it. We do not know our own end. For of ourselves we cannot know our beginning…that place where once we were not to ourselves, but came into the perception of knowing ourselves as ourselves. We know only enough to be terrified; terrified both by what we do know, and no less terrified at our lack of knowing.

Our identity, which we are always striving to both preserve and secure to ourselves is always in utter flux by an assault of things upon it, and things over which we have no control. For success “forms us” no less than trauma, and a kiss no less than a punch in the mouth. We would like to think we are “our own”…but there is a manifest debt owed in any thus claiming. We find that as much as we might like to think of ourselves as initiators, as doers, as active agents…as “free”…we are in all obligation as only reactors. We are trapped in ourselves in being in, and of the creation; and as far from a clean slate upon which truth may be seen as written and written clearly to any understanding to a knowing, unless there be an intervention.

Our center, that bull’s eye, that target off of which kisses and punches rebound as hitting to set the rest to some order in ourselves and to ourselves, cannot be seen nor found in us; for it is the fundament from which all else springs…even investigations and any seeing or desire to see, and the eye cannot see itself. Only else. Only, other.

But if you are a stranger to yourself as all men ultimately are, the one they claim to be “at home with” as if knowing himself better than he could ever be known…there is hope, even hope for that intervention.

I never know if it is the boldness of faith, or the presumption of sin by which I speak until it is made known to me when speaking of things that are not. Yet, to speak of things which are no less is holding a rebuke of things that only seem to be, or hold some propped up opinion of themselves for their being to assume a stance (as though being like God) as self sustained. And self sustaining. As being real, eternal, and true in its (or their) nature and to its nature…even to the exposing of “its” fundament.

And so when I am boldly moved to say there is hope as a matter that is; and where such hope is found as in He who is, I cannot escape my own not knowing that to speak of things that be not that hope, even if strenuously presented by others as holding that hope, whether I am acting or merely…reacting. I have no bone (that I know of) to pick with christianity anymore than I have with any other religion or religions, they are in their assignment of place as thing or things.

But the hope I have found is not in a thing or things, but in the maker of all thing…and things and so I am not shy to say one’s hope does not either lie in christianity nor even in “being a christian” such as it may be declared, defined, or understood.

The call that comes is from the One who alone hears the call (the cry, the scream) of the veil for piercing and also alone fully knows the resistance in such desire to it. The veil must be removed…even in all its want not to be. And He accomplished this…in Himself.

No the call is not from nor to “being a christian”, nor a member of christianity. Though many seemed unashamed to issue it. They have their assigning.

The call, if you hear it…is of Him alone, Jesus the Christ of God. And if you hear it, let “it” do its work, nothing hindering.

Even…christianity.

It is neither real, nor eternal, but He is.

And He…is not a christian.

He is the Christ of God. He will show you a clean slate…to see, to read, to understand, to even know.

And He alone does this, and this is God’s work, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

To understand, or to even desire to understand liberty to any measure, is a wonderful work of grace. To first believe the Lord has not come to lay any burden (having none Himself) on man or a man himself, is indeed a great gift. Even the very deepest things of God we may know, no matter how far we have been granted surveying, will ever reveal any compulsion upon Him.

God has never, does never, will never or ever be placed under any form of obligation or exertion of such as to a thing over Him. This is not God shirking or resisting anything as any man might wrongly tend to see it, this is God being Himself…with nothing over Him to compel. And even in this I must beg God’s mercy and grace for the simple minded as myself…for even my use of “nothing” as being over Him can even spur to some vain imagination that there is an absence (nothing) above Him. He alone is the “what is” the “who is”, the fullness of all things in being and even in not being holding even the all of nothing together in Himself. For only He can summon things that be not as though they were.

To see God, or seek to know Him with any perimeter (at all!) may be our natural inclination as we know all and everything in creation to some limit, but God is faithful. The man holding the rock perceives himself and the rock only by limit of feel…this is where I end and rock begins, and vice versa. I therefore know the rock as not me, at the point where my “feeling” of it meets limit. Were I able to insert my feeling to extend into it, then rock becomes extension of me, even a part of a me whereby my sensing is also now in touch with all rock touches.

But to put a point to it that should not be missed, we already do this with “hand”. I know this only as my hand to a certain “me” because of a communication with it…from the “me”. But cut off my hand…is the “me” now less a me? Yes, we have some persistence of identity that to us may only seem “feeling” dependent…but is it? But perhaps I present too much for considering to some confusion. But if we have any inclination of surmising that our sensory understandings fall too far short of God’s reality for good use, we may know some success. For the God who is God is in touch with all things, yet not by limit…but by full intent and purpose in all true communication; for we are persuaded of this truth that it is He who:

Upholds all things by the word of His power.

He communicates a being to all things that are in being, and in truth their being is solely in response and owing all to His power for their being. He knows each neutrino by name. And no less all things that be not are also fully His to call as He wills…and, once calling, they too come into being.

Light…be.

Therefore it is not without some trepidation that I (or we) approach such a matter as christianity. But if there be fear there is also boldness, for it is far too late for some of us to know it as anything other than a “thing”. Even without contradicting the upholding of all things by Him, God forbid we confuse things as though Him. Or anything as though Him. He is the sustainer of things, yes, even all things, but we are not pantheists falling before every blade of grass in worship and homage.

And this matter of “things” to which God communicates their being, and indeed are (only because He does) and, no less, this matter of liberty are inseparably intertwined to us till God sets the order rightly in us. For if our identity embraced of us is not to the Maker of all things, but to things of themselves, we are no more than idolaters.

And God would free us from idolatry.

God has His people…free.

Yet only so because He is in communication of such liberty to things, even such things as ourselves, to set free things once obliged…to things.

And nothing counts but a new creature.

If you are, you hear Him.

And yes, you may…even through things, but not to confuse such things…as with God Himself.

This alone is how we may safely in salvation speak safely…even to one another.

All other speech if it be so God allows…is in vain seeking of preeminence.

And even for now, God tolerates such a thing…as vain striving among men.

For for His purpose it assists in the untangling of what would otherwise be irremediably tangled to us; this matter of things and liberty.

God owes nothing to any…thing.

Yet, He freely loves.

If we would know this, we too must come out from obligation to things to find our debt of love as things satisfied to God by another, even His Christ…that we may truly love Him who first loved us…even in the making of us as things in Himself.

If one rebels at such matter, finds odious a referencing to themselves as a thing, it would be wise to see how very much more exalted they see themselves than a brother they may claim to believe in his testimony. Some still to this day…even calling themselves “christian” believe Paul spoke in hyperbole or exaggeration, and by such only manifestly show they do not truly believe him, nor receive his testimony. But, God is faithful.

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

See how far one may grasp at in seeking to not be a “not anything”?

And what a fall may attend?

Adam did…when hearkening to the voice of a thing.

Quite plainly no one who draws their identity from Christianity will be pleased with that title. Whether God may grant either the boldness to read or by some hope of finding grievous error as motive to read for refuting, I can neither know nor care.

How God may use whatever motives a man may see, or think he does see, is of no matter to me. For it is far more than being of no matter, it is quite off limits…that is forbidden, for me to consider. For my own motives are often as obscure to me until revealed than every other man’s; despite any and all protestation I might make to the contrary. And yes, I have been foolish enough to either both think or say “But in my case I am sure I know what I am doing”. I am just a man as any other might claim.

And that will be the last time I will assign a capitol “C’ to christianity. Be that as it may.

I do have some inkling of an odious repugnance being found of some pertaining to the above. I suppose it could appear to others as it once did to me. It would take the form of “But shouldn’t you make absolutely sure what you say is of God?” as if this is something in any man’s hands to grasp. Praying much, or even fasting much in striving for piety; as if their exercise can absolutely assure by their practice anything to a man that he might offer as proving, shows itself vain. “I prayed much, so this must be God” or “I fasted and prayed much so this must be God” or even “I suffered much, so this must be God” are equally shown as nothing either a man should hold to himself for proof, much less offer to another as proof.

To speak (as we are commended) “as the oracles of God” does not ever imply our speaking will conclusively be right, but that the matter of speaking without equivocation now sets us firmly to the place of either commendation or rebuke. We have only spoken plainly. Our faith is not that we will always be “right” in anything, but rather that we have a faithful Lord given all charge of discipline and chastening over us, and who is true and real. Only He alone “proves” what is of Him.

And, of course, christianity as such cannot receive this. For by its own establishment (and seeking such) as something to the world recognizable it denies the very words of the Lord’s spirit speaking through our brother John:

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Such striving to present an identity the world can recognize and receive, and drawing from that one’s own identity (if one does so) is as false as false as false can be. And we are not to be false to one another anymore than to any other. But if we are false with ourselves…what is left but to be false to all? Unfortunately the statement (if offered now) as to identity if pressed, or if rendered of will: “I am a christian” has been so conflated to the understanding as being a member of christianity that it has become almost all of useless.

Firstly, of course, if the speaker sees it so, and worse, if he endorses it in any way to a hearer. Being a member of Christ’s body the world cannot receive, nor ever will, but being a member of christianity is at least tolerated to some greater extent by many. And even quite acceptable in many circles. And where it is not found acceptable, even to some grievous persecution, I have confidence that those who may have once taken some comfort from “belonging to christianity” do, and have found, their crying out is not to their christianity for comfort or relief, but to a person. Religion, such as it is, is what we take to our self. Christ is all and always alone…given.

Just as being a true Jew and the religion of Judaism was conflated by some as standing with the faith of Abraham. And we know what John the Baptist said about stones being raised up to that place of pride as so easily to be done by God to shame that pride.

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And if we may put a fine point to it, there is only one man who impresses God the Father.

“Behold the Lamb of God”, he (John) also said.

And He is not at all as the first Adam (from whom all the religions of the world have also sprung) except in His submission to be made in likeness (Adam never “agreed” or submitted in obedience to such) of flesh. Adam had no part in submitting to being as he was formed or found himself, while Christ on the other hand submitted to being a sent one. We should never conflate the two in any way, fashion, or manner except in likeness of once having a body of dust perceivable.

The experiment remains simple. Do you (or I, for that matter) accept being made of clay to the ends of God’s purpose for it, or seek escape by grasping at being more; or trust God will fashion more in our submission to being found in fashion like a man? Do you or we hold any resentment for our weakness in flesh? Any residual blame toward any (yes! even Adam!, yes! even the Devil!) for our fashioning? If so, perhaps you have not yet seen what God can do in His weakness. And I know I surely haven’t seen the all of it.

Nevertheless these matters remain true, and to be explored:

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

and no less:

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

And I hold a great persuasion that if you have been able to read this far…even if with sputtering, spitting, rage, or some curiosity, it has been through a strength and power not your own.

I too have concluded that, in truth, being man is an acquired taste if to be reconciled to it without any blame or recrimination for being fashioned so. Quite at peace with being not God. And only the Christ of God can do this who is Himself the acquired taste, given.

If you loved me…

He once said to His disciples knowing their estate of heart long before they did. Just a few verses back they had protested of their willingness to die with and for Him…yet the Christ knew.

Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

God forbid one blame Christ when he finally discovers how weak and unknowing of himself he truly is though Christ has told him how plainly this is so. For disciples have hope.

But it is all and only in One…and it is neither in being “a” christian or a member of christianity.

Are we acquiring a taste…given?

christianity can only strive to look right, Christ’s members have alone seen the Whom of all that is right. And sometimes hands miss-grip and mouths misspeak and ears miss-hear, but the Head alone knows all His intents and purposes. And is able to minister from there health (even if it be in stripes) to any part in necessity.

If this is not our faith of having a faithful Lord over us, perhaps we are both burdened with our yet illusions of our own abilities (that He must show as disabilities) and disillusioned as to His ability to reign not merely over His own body…but all of created things. For:

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Acquiring a taste for that most often comes (may only come) in consequence to His ministry of His authority…given.

As many as I love I rebuke and chasten…

Have a care as to what you despise.