Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said...(Mark 14:35-36 KJV)
..ABBA, FATHER…
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18 KJV)
Here, some people think what Jesus is saying is that, "yes! Now we got it! Peter, I have forcefully collected that thing o. john, can you believe we now have it. It wasn't easy.". They think Jesus during his departure from the earth to hell, went there to fight to collect all the powers there. Had to battle with the witches, wizards, "babalawos", deputy Satan, Assistant Satan and then their big boss – Satan, and said "give me that power now!" and then went to the heavens and collected the powers there and came back to say "yes! All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth". Far from it!
"power" here isn't power to heal the sick: He already had that. It isn't power to turn water into wine. It isn't "dunamis" – ability to get things done. It is "exousia" - "authority". All authority in heaven and in earth is given unto me. All government in heaven and in earth is given unto me. It's a fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6
"and the government shall be upon his shoulder"
It's a fulfillment of David's prophecy
The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: RULE thou in the midst of thine enemies. (Psalms 110:2)
All government/rule in heaven and in earth is given unto me.
2. Whatever "power" referred to here, must be something He never possessed before. Supernatural powers, Jesus had before His death. We all know this.
What about authority? Do we want to say Jesus had no authority before his death?
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. (Luke 9:1 KJV)
So, he had.
So, why the saying "is given unto me"? you don't get given to you what you already have. Jesus should have said "I always have all power in heaven and earth", and not "is given unto me". "is given unto me" means, it's just been given. So what could Jesus be saying?
It's simple. Jesus had power and authority. Authority he had, was because He was the only holy one who is not under Satan's rule: not being under sin.
God gave man authority over everything He created (heavens and the earth) when He said "subdue" in Genesis. But by sin, man gave out this power to Satan, and Satan became the ruler of all under sin. the wages of sin is death, so Satan got the power/authority of death (Heb 2:14)
That's why Satan could lay claim to all the "kingdoms of the world" when he was tempting Jesus (see Matthew 4:8-9).
But Jesus, by death, freeing man from the wages of sin, and giving him the "gift of God"- eternal life, made Satan lose this authority; and man again, got the possession of ALL POWER in heaven and on earth! Alleluia!
Some have thought Jesus was speaking here as God. Oh no! God cannot be saying "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth". God cannot be GIVEN power: God is POWER. God cannot be GIVEN authority: it takes authority to be God. Jesus was speaking for man in the light of what He has just done.
Conclusively, "all power belongs to God" – Correct. "All power belongs to Jesus" – correct, but you'll understand this verse more, if you put it this way: "all authority is now given back to man in Christ Jesus". Jesus is not a sole possessor of authority: the authority belongs to man! Jesus is not a monopoly of power today. It is not Jesus and his children. It is Jesus and his brothers in government.
Let me tell you one funny interpretation of this I've heard from people.
You're watching a movie. You see one wicked man, doing evils, making many cry, using some witchcraft powers, financial advantage or political influence to oppress people so much that he's led to the death of many. In fact, you're almost beginning to forget it's just a movie in that you're already taking it personal. And towards the end of the movie, somehow the wicked man dies a terrible death. And then you say "that's good for him. Well deserved! Because bible says 'the wages of sin is death'". Oops!
Oftentimes we take this verse carnally in judging people they ought to be saving. We're supposed to be channels of salvation to the wicked people around us, and not judges sentencing them to eternal punishment.
Now what is the verse actually saying?
For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV)
Now, is this verse saying you should die for your sins? No! No!
Let's see the previous verse.
What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the END of those things [is] DEATH… {but did you die? If someone had killed you then, will you have had the opportunity of salvation?}
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:21-22)
So, it isn't saying anyone that sins should be killed. Rather, it's saying, the wages sin pays you is death, but God's gift is that you live forever. Which would you rather choose?
Now, observe the contrast the author used in describing both terms – death and eternal life.
One is "wages", the other is "gift".
A wage is a DESERVED pay. "for the labourer is worthy of his hire" (Luke 10:7). "The labourer [is] worthy of his reward." (1Tim 5:14) It is something you have WORKED FOR and thus you MUST get. It is your right. Man sinned, and got paid in death. It was well deserved. And truly, death reigned over all (Rom 5:14). But eternal life through Christ Jesus is the part that is not merited, yet God gave it to us. Wont you say "Thank you Jesus"?
So the verse isn't instructive: it is descriptive, better still, narrative. It's informing you of what HAS BEEN DONE. Man (including you) had sinned already! "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)… and now, God's gift is available, to overwrite the death with eternal life. God's Grace is greater than sin! Alleluia!
It will be wickedness next time, to recite only the death part of this verse just because you are displeased and so get judgmental. Recite it in full! Let men also know they don't have to die for their sins. That you're wicked doesn't mean you should pay the price for your wickedness: for you Christ died. Alleluia!
Avoid mixing up Law and Grace!
The two aren't compatible. Today we see many who are preaching the Law GRACIOUSLY. But Paul said:
"…whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4 KJV). That is, you cannot be under Grace and under the law at the same time. Several people have tried to pack chunks of law and tried to digest it with a Grace tongue.
Below are some mistakes people often make.
1. Taking the laws flexibly
It is called COMMANDMENT! Commandments CANNOT be flexible! If it's flexible, then it can't be a commandment any longer! Don't re-interpret the laws to mean what you like! It isn't flexible!
"ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left" (Deuteronomy 5:32 KJV)
It's either you have obeyed all of them totally or no work done. No special consideration for anyone! If he says "sell ALL you have and give to the poor, take up your cross and follow me", he means just that! Don't think you'll be considered if you sell ALMOST ALL. As far as the law is concerned, you have not done anything, until you have done EVERYTHING inflexibly
2. Taking the law subjectively
The laws aren't subjective, they are objective. They are universal. Detach your personal opinion! They mean just exactly what is written. If it says "if your eye offend thee, cut it off", don't reinterpret! Simply cut it off! Don't tell us how you think it should be! God doesn't need your idea, He needs your outright obedience!
Whether convenient or not, obey! In fact, one quick way to know if you're preaching the Law undiluted is that your preaching is very strict and hard. Otherwise means you have watered down and twisted the law. The law is purposefully made "hard" because God does not want you to succeed in the vow you have made to keep it and be justified. Yes!
Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that [the murmurs and excuses of] every mouth may be HUSHED and all the world may be held accountable to God. For no person will be justified (made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His sight by observing the works prescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin [not mere perception, but an acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance, faith, and holy character]. (Romans 3:19-20 AMP)
So I beg you preacher, stop carving out a "keepable" version of Matthew 5, because that will be your own bible. If it's unkeepable, present it that way. For example, Matthew 5:48 legalistically interpreted means, "be as perfect as God", and not "keep striving towards perfection".
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [ought] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
(Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV)
3. Taking the law RELATIVELY
Some have thought God will bend the law for their generation, country, location, or personal situation. Sorry! You cannot find such "kindness" under the Law. You ought to have migrated to Israel the holy land if you were really serious about making heaven. God's commands aren't joke. No disobedience is understandable.
4. Taking the laws questionably/reasonably
Commandments aren't what you question: you simply DO!
Be ye DOERS of the LAW, not QUESTIONERS, not interpreters! You don't ask, "why is that law of Sabbath like that" under the law. THOU SHALL DO NOTHING ON SABBATH: IT IS HOLY. Simple! The freedom of understanding why Sabbath is is only available under grace.
5. Excusing for ignorance
"I didn't know it's actually a sin to do that o, so I shouldn't be blamed". Under the law, ignorance is not an excuse!
Have you read in your bible that wearing clothes of mixed fabrics is sin? (Deut 22:11) you're commanded to sew tassels on your cloth. Do you know these (Deut 22:12)? Yet you thought you'll keep these laws to have life? You're as foolish as that rich man that came to Jesus asking "what good thing" to do to enter into life.
Conclusion
Under the law, it is not flexible, not subjective, not relative, not questionable. This is because, all were at best "servants", not sons. Sons don't have right to question things. He's to simply do, or he's in trouble. Let's know when we're preaching Grace and when it's Law: mixing up is not permitted.
Any and every believer is already holy by virtue of the fact that he's been SET APART by God for Himself. God has already called us OUT of the multitude: we are holy unto the Lord. Living the 'APART life' is a different thing and it is called holy living. It is not BEING HOLY: it is LIVING HOLY.
For THE TEMPLE OF GOD IS HOLY (sacred to Him) and THAT [TEMPLE] YOU [THE BELIEVING CHURCH AND ITS INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS] ARE. (1 Corinthians 3:17 AMP)
You cannot accept that you are God's temple and disagree you are holy. God cannot have an UNHOLY TEMPLE. He is the one who SANCTIFIES His temple.
This brings us to some popular misconceptions about sanctification. To sanctify means to make holy: to "holify"something. Whatever process it takes to make a thing holy is sanctification and the state is called sanctity or holiness.
Now if every believer is HOLY, it means they ALL have undergone the sanctification process. Therefore there is no unsanctified believer.
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, THROUGH SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2 KJV)
So you cannot be "Elect" or chosen without sanctification. His choice of you made Him call you APART.
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning CHOSEN you to salvation through SANCTIFICATION of the Spirit and belief of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV)
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all THEM WHICH ARE SANCTIFIED. (Acts 20:32 KJV)
So the believers are generally called "them that are sanctified"
Can you see that sanctification is not when after salvation you pray and pray and try your best to sin no more? Sanctified is rather who you are!
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, BUT YE ARE SANCTIFIED, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Yes, there are believers who commit sin! But God does not change the name He calls you even when you don't seem to live up to the honour of that name. He kept calling Abraham father of many nations even when He had no child. He'll maintain that name until you finally realize it and you're transformed by the renewing of your mind. The earlier you accept His verdict, the earlier you live up to it. He believes in you: you are HOLY unto Him.
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
(1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV)
Finally, you are not your own. Your Owner says you are holy. "Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus?". This holiness is not your own. Glorify God for it and live worthy of it.
But God has given you a place in Christ Jesus, through whom God has given us wisdom and righteousness and salvation, and MADE US HOLY (1 Corinthians 1:30 BBE)
But God has brought you into union with Christ Jesus, and God has made Christ to be our wisdom. By him we are put right with God; we become God's holy people and are set free. (1 Corinthians 1:30 GNB)
You are God's children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and HOLY. (1 Corinthians 1:30 CEV)
