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FHSM "In Session"
Classes have resumed after the holidays. Courses that are available this quarter are:
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
The Book of Hebrews
Classes begin 6:30 pm
Tuesday and Thursday
It's not too late to become a part!
Open to the public!
No tuition costs - donations welcomed |
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Greetings!
I love the fact that when Jesus came to this earth that his entire life was about doing the "Father's" business. Although the nation of Israel recognized God as a father, they only understood it as a metaphor; as the originator, designer, and creator of all things. Jesus introduced a side of the heart of God that was much more endearing -- much more intimate. That same endearment is conveyed all throughout the writings of the apostles. There is no greater truth that needs to register on our hearts than the truth that God is our heavenly Father! |
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The Mystery of the Father
THE DEEPER SIDE OF THE HEART OF GOD |
"That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ."
Colossians 2:2
Sometimes we are guilty of glibly reading over things within the scriptures and never really catching the heart of what is written. I remember a time when I was reading John 3:16 and the Holy Spirit pointed out to me the words "should not." How many times had I read that and never paid attention to it being a conditional phrase. In my mind, I always read it as if it said "would not." ["For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"]. I know this may cross-grain with the "unconditional" eternal security teaching or those that are entrenched in the concept of once-saved-always-saved, and I also realize as well, that this is written in the King James Version of the Bible, which other translations do not use the words "should not," but read as "shall not" or "will not." However, there are some other very legitimate translations that do agree with the King James, and translate it with the same idea as "should not" by using the words "might not" or "may not." Whichever way you think it reads doesn't change the fact that "unconditional" eternal security has far less scripture to stand on than "conditional" eternal security. Wasn't it Jesus himself who said, "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matt. 24:11-13)? What possibly could he have meant that salvation is hinged upon enduring unto the end, if in fact our salvation is unconditional?
We know God as creator. One day we will know him as God the judge of all. But our greater opportunity is to know him now as our Father!
Nonetheless, my point is that there are things we miss if we are not careful in how we read the scriptures. For instance, in our text. Here Paul mentions three aspects to the mystery: the mystery of God, the mystery of the Father, and the mystery of Christ. There are many translations that do away with this thought and simply express the mystery singularly, in regards to only the mystery of Christ. But by further study, we find that Revelations chapter ten mentions the mystery of God and that Ephesians chapter three mentions the mystery of Christ, both entirely from a different perspective. One, having to do with the overall scope of God's purpose and plan as it will be consummated at the end of the tribulation, while the other deals specifically with the work of redemption, and the revelation of Christ in us, the hope of glory. If these are clearly distinctive, then surely there must be a mystery of the Father that is just as distinctive, of which Paul addresses here in this passage.
So what then would constitute the mystery of the Father? There is a much deeper side to the heart of God than just recognizing him as the supreme sovereign and creator of the universe. In the new birth we are begotten of him! We were not just created by him, we are born of him! He is our heavenly Father and we are his children. How can this be! How can this mortal man share the spiritual DNA of an invisible, immortal Creator God! That is part of the mystery. I don't fully understand how my spirit can have the life and nature of God living in it, but it does. As we come to understand this mystery and seek after the Father heart of God more clearly, then it will bring us into a much deeper and more fulfilling relationship with him where we will be able to experience the deeper side of living the life of God. * |
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PRAYER
Father, I thank you for being my Father. I thank you for your Father heart in loving me and caring for me as your child. Today, I appeal to your heart as my Father to move in my life in helping me live out of this life I have in you. Help me today to be that son or that daughter in Christ that is well pleasing in your sight. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. |
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CONFESSION
I will live my life today in the revelation that God Almighty is my heavenly Father. I will do only those things that please him. I will let the love of my Father guide me and watch over me in everything I do. I will draw nigh to him and he will draw nigh to me. No good thing will he withhold from me. I have his favor. I have his grace and mercy following me. Therefore, I cast all my care over on him for he cares for me! |
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DEFINING MOMENTS...
The word "father," as defined in the Greek means one who infuses his being into others. Not only do we have God's life in us by virtue of being born again, but we have his care. God desires to infuse into us his love as a Father so that he becomes our nourisher, our provider, our caretaker, even our protector! This deep yearning within him to take a Father's place in our lives is what should encourage us to take doing his will to a whole new level. In other words, I have a compelling inner prerogative to carry out his will because I have his nature.
May this become that compelling force that draws you into the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, the Father, and of Christ!
In His Grace,
Pastor David
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