The Devotional Jhn 17

The Devotional

Comment: As human, we understand the letter of the law and the failure of obedience. We also see the sleight of hand so to speak in that when the law is broken, not everyone is caught. Also in human law there is an unwritten conduct of the margin for error. Levels of abiding in the law vary with the signature (character) of every individual being, whose conscience knows or rejects right from wrong. Thus our character goes before us, even revealed to others by the chances/steps we take of abiding or cheating. Does all of this matter? From one human to another it may cause a bump or two in the road and it may redirect a person’s relationship with another, but somehow we seem to get by, pushing the envelope of the law to the limit under the guise of whatever I do in my own eyes is right, and neglecting the truth that I am only deceiving myself.

Challenge: John 5:16-47 – Rejection or acceptance; this long discourse of the LORD is one of many found in the Gospel of John, these discourses usually follow something that the LORD has done, like a miracle or sign to get people to look to God, that is to look beyond the obvious. He begins “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” If Jesus were less than God in the flesh would He have made that statement? I think not, since He is not seeking His own human glory.

Throughout this discourse He claims equality with the Father, God is a Spirit and those who worship the Father through the Person of Jesus Christ, worship God in Spirit and Truth because the Truth is in Jesus (John 4:23-24 and Ephesians 4:21). For many religious people this claim of identity does not fit into their framework of ritual and law, so Jesus as God is rejected. The rejection of the Son of God and His authority as God is the major crippling factor in churches of the so called New Testament of today.

If you fail to understand this, read Revelation chapters 2 and 3, but first read chapter 1. Now in John 5:24 – “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My Word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but is past from death to life. ONLY God Himself is capable of performing this action of hearing and believing on any one person. Why? Judgment is already in place by God on all of mankind, no one except the SINLESS ONE IS EXEMPT – John3:17 and John 3:36. So it is that the only one who can lift this judgment from us is God.

This is GRACE, it is not of works. I cannot tell you that I have personally obeyed God and that is how I intend to get to heaven, if this were my understanding of Jesus, it would be insane. One look at any of the Old Testament Saints, David for example ought to be enough to understand that God does not judge on a scale of good or evil. David did both good and evil in the sight of God. David suffered in time for this, yet he found that God was always faithful because David’s heart was bent Godward.

If your heart is bent to living by the law of right and wrong you are a “hunchback”; everything you see is base and limited by temporal living, one day it will pass away. Yet if your heart is bent by grace (Ephesians 2:8-10) than you are an “archback”, your eyes are fixed on the Author of Faith, He is God. Do not marvel at this Truth, for the hour is fast approaching when those who believe will come forth to the resurrection of life eternal. But to those who did evil and called it good as they could through the law; to the resurrection of the condemned.