Ephesians 4:4-5

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

(a) One body. The body of Christ is the Church, of which Christ is the head (Eph. 5:23). “We who are many are one body in Christ” (Rom. 12:5).

(b) The one Spirit is the Holy Spirit a.k.a. the Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9) and the Spirit of Grace (Heb. 10:29). “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13).

(c) One Lord. Jesus Christ is the Lord of lords (1 Tim. 6:15).

When Jesus walked the earth he was known as Jesus of Nazareth or the Son of Man. But after he ascended to heaven he was given a new name above every name, and that name is Lord (Php. 2:9–11). On the Day of Pentecost, Peter stood up and preached the new name of the Lord. “God has made him both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2: 36). Towards the end of the first century, there was growing pressure to refer to the Roman emperor as lord. But in Asia, the saints refused to call anyone Lord but Jesus (see entry for Rev. 3:8).

(d) One faith. The body of Christ is characterized by the faith or belief or persuasion that Jesus is Lord. Faith is not merely intellectual assent; it is living from the revelation that Jesus really is Lord with all that implies.

(e) One baptism. Several types of baptism are mentioned in scripture including: John’s baptism of repentance (Acts 19:3–4), water baptism done in Jesus’ name (Acts 10:48, 19:5), Holy Spirit baptism (Act 11:16), Jesus’ baptism of suffering (Matt. 20:22), and baptism for the dead (1 Cor. 15:29). Since there are different baptisms, why does Paul say there is only one? He is referring to the baptism that happens to every believer when they are put into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:12–13).

The moment you came to Jesus, you were baptized or placed in him by the Spirit. To be baptized means to be dipped or immersed. To use an obscure word, it is to be whelmed. To whelm something is to bury it in dirt or sink it in water. It is what happens when a ship goes down in a storm or a skier is hit with an avalanche. To be baptized or whelmed is a dramatic and catastrophic event and it happened to you (Rom. 6:3).

Your old self had issues that you could never resolve. The Holy Spirit’s solution was to whelm or bury your old nature in the ground with Jesus. This is what it means to be baptized into his death. But the Holy Spirit didn’t leave you in the ground. Just as he raised Jesus, he raised you (Rom. 6:6–7). Because of that one baptism you are now free from sin and free to live in Christ.

Further reading: “What is the baptism that saves?”

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Ephesians 4:6

one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

See entry for Eph. 3:14.

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Ephesians 4:7

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Grace was given. The grace of God is a gift (Eph.3:7). You cannot earn it through your good works and moral excellence (Rom. 11:6, Gal. 2:21). You can only receive it through faith (Gal. 5:4).

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Ephesians 4:22

that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,

Lay aside the old self. Our old self was crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6), so why are we exhorted to lay the old self aside (Col. 3:9)? Because many Christians, unaware that they died with Christ, are trying to reform their old selves. It’s a lost cause. Our flesh cannot be improved. What we need and what Christ offers is a brand new life; his life. See entry for New Life.

The supernatural and abundant life that we’re called to live can only be received by faith and experienced by walking in the spirit. This is why the New Testament writers admonish us to put off the old ways of the flesh and put on the new ways of the spirit (Eph 4:22-24). We don’t put off and put on to become spiritual; we do this because we are spiritual. Everyone who is born again is born of the spirit (John 3:7-8). Since we are already in the spirit, let us walk after the spirit (Gal 5:25).

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Ephesians 4:23

and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Change the way you think.

On the day you were born again, a lot of things changed, but your way of thinking probably did not change. If you liked chocolate and drove recklessly before you were saved, then you probably liked chocolate and drove recklessly after you were saved. This is why the scriptures exhort us to put off the old and put on the new and be renewed in the spirit of our minds.

What you do follows what you think and what you think follows what you believe. Renew your thinking so that your thoughts align with what God says about you.

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Ephesians 4:24

and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

(a) Put on the new self. You are righteous and holy, so act like it. See yourself as God sees you. Be who you truly are.

To put on the new man is to be renewed in the spirit of your mind (see previous verse). It is choosing to walk in the new way of the spirit instead of the old ways of the flesh. We don’t put off and put on to become spiritual; we do this because we are spiritual. Everyone who is born again is born of the spirit (John 3:7-8). Since we are already in the spirit, let us walk after the spirit (Gal 5:25).

(b) Created in righteousness. You have been made into a brand new person, as righteous and holy as Jesus.

Jesus was made to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus was not made sin because he was a sinner and you were not made righteous because you acted righteously. God did it all. The moment you put your faith in Jesus, you were stamped righteous for all eternity. At one time you were unrighteous, but you were washed, you were sanctified, and you were declared righteous in the name of the Lord (1 Cor. 6:9–11).

What does it mean to be righteous? It means you have had a complete renovation, a Holy Spirit renewal, an entire rebuild. You have been straightened out. You are no longer the crooked person you used to be. While in Adam you had inclinations that led you towards sin no matter how hard you tried to avoid it, in Christ you are inclined to walk straight and true. Your desire is to please the Lord. It’s not that you are incapable of sinning. It’s just that sinning no longer appeals. When you sin it bothers you—“I wish I hadn’t done that”—testifying that this sort of behavior is contrary to your new nature.

See entry for Righteousness.

How our ignorance and apathy enslaves millions.

8 minute read

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Slavery was abolished in the U.S. on December 6, 1865 by signing the 13th Amendment into law. While many would argue¹ that slavery was just redefined and is still alive and well in America, the majority view slavery as a thing of the past. While people may disagree on how to define slavery in the United States, around the world in other countries there is no question. Despite being illegal in every nation, there are 30-46 million slaves in the world today. Modern slavery is a multibillion-dollar industry with estimates of up to $35 billion generated annually. It should be a haunting prospect that some of those slaves work for you.

WOE TO THE RICH

You may not feel like you are rich, but if you live in the United States, you probably are. 84% of the world’s population lives below the poverty line set by the U.S., 71% lives off of less than $10 a day. Almost half of the world’s population lives off less than $2.50 a day. Quickly think about how much per day you spend on your mortgage or rent, your food, entertainment, utilities, etc. If you consider how the majority of the world lives, if you live off significantly more money than $10 a day, you are rich.

Now that you know that you are rich, listen to what James, the brother of Jesus, has to say to you:

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
James 5:1

Many teachings of the New Testament warn of the dangers of being rich (Luke 1:52-53, 6:25, 16:13; Mark 10:23-25; Matthew 6:19-21, 16:26, 1 Timothy 6:9-11). Prosperity Gospel preachers avoid James 5 like the plague. Most American Christians would rather skip over James 5 or brush it off as not applying to them. Regardless, James plainly says, “weep and wail becomes of the misery that is coming on you.” Surely he cannot be talking about most American Christians?

YOUR TREASURE

Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
James 5:2

Here James is poetically building off his warning in verse one. He is also likely referencing Luke’s Gospel (12:33) where he says, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.” James is warning those of us who do not sell our possessions and give to the poor.

Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
James 5:3

The term “last days” refer to the time after Jesus. We currently live in the last days, as all Christians have since the time of Christ. James is bringing sharp rebuke against those who have wealth but do not use it to help those less fortunate. In referencing “the last days” he is calling attention to the fact that we have received the teachings of Jesus, therefore to ignore them will bring harsher judgment.

YOUR WORKERS

Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
James 5:4

Agriculture was the main source of economic prosperity in the Palestine region during the first century. The lower class would often be in the fields working for those who were more wealthy and owned the land. Here in verse four, James is calling out the rich for not paying their workers, claiming that God hears their cries. This theme of reversal is all over the New Testament.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
Luke 1:52-53

We don’t have fields though. We don’t have workers that we aren’t paying. Or do we?

YOUR SLAVES

Ever get excited about that shirt from Forever 21 (or somewhere else) that was only $5? Or maybe you’ve felt like you hit the jackpot the day after Halloween because all the candy went from cheap to really cheap?  If we were actually to uncover the disturbing secrets behind “cheap”, we’d come to see that cheap is very expensive.  Slavery looks a lot like 50% off, Black Friday, Buy One—Get One Free, or anything that seems like a “steal”, because that’s exactly what it is: a steal. You’re stealing from the laborers. We may not hear their cries but the Lord does.

The reason you can pay $5 for that shirt and companies can still make a profit, is because the one who made it for you was paid pennies or nothing.  If it doesn’t cost you, it costs someone else.

Cheap is expensive.

If you aren’t paying attention when you buy things like clothing, purses, beauty products, leather goods, electronics, coffee, chocolate, you name it: your slaves have probably made it.

Whether it’s…

• children in sweatshops or in the cotton or cocoa fields working 12 hour days in the the hot sun
• grown men in prison (often imprisoned unjustly for petty crimes and taken advantage of) assemble products for Victoria’s Secret (that was her secret)
• women trafficked from their homes to other cities or countries where they’re enslaved in garment factories for pennies all the while being physically and verbally abused
• illegal immigrant families, 2nd and 3rd generations working illegally but willfully employed by powerful companies because they know they can get them for dirt cheap labor and threaten them with deportation

…it’s safe to say, slavery has many different faces. Even with such amounts of injustice there are things we can do to combat it. We just have to wake up first.

FATTENED CALVES

You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
James 5:5

Generally speaking, it is unlikely that we will get fat while also being generous when there are starving people in the world. A loving, other-orientated heart posture doesn’t usually allow for self-indulgence when others are starving and suffering. Luke 6:25 says, “Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.” Ezekiel (16:49) claims that Sodom was destroyed because its people were “arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.”

Many of us do live in “luxury and self-indulgence.” It is our luxury and self-indulgence that causes us to repeatedly shop without considering the true cost to laborers and slaves who suffer so we can buy more. James warns that many of us are merely fattening ourselves for the slaughter. It doesn’t have to be this way though.

APATHY KILLS

Many will learn about the injustices of slave labor and how they contribute and still be unconcerned. It is precisely this apathy that perpetuates the problem. Followers of Jesus have to step up their game and educate themselves and others about the problem of slavery and then stop supporting those industries. There is a lot we can do and consider.

Unless you’re able to find the word ‘fairtrade’ printed somewhere on a product, there is no guarantee the product was made fairly or ethically. Even then, unfortunately, slavery is like an onion with so many layers. For example, you may have clothing that was sewn ethically (which could be considered a fairtrade product), but perhaps the cotton was picked by a 3-year-old, and washed and prepared by teenage girls who were trafficked from their city and forced to work for pennies or for free.

While making efforts to reduce how many slaves work for you may seem daunting, for Christ-followers, it is worth the endeavor. Slavery Footprint is a great website that actually helps you get an estimate on how many slaves work for you by assessing all the things you currently possess and actively buy.

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Here are two major problems to consider:

1) We are so disconnected from our products and don’t have a clue where or how anything is made.

2) We buy into consumerism which just means more slaves are working for us on a regular basis.

So what can we do?

1) Awareness is key. We cannot solve the problem until we identify it. Learn more about modern-day slavery and how much it affects all of us. Netflix documentaries like True Cost or 13th do an excellent job of revealing all the many facets of modern-day slavery. There are many other resources on the internet to educate yourself.

2) Learn about the products you buy. Research how they were made. Look for information on websites about their supply chain.² If a company neglects to say anything about their supply chain, it’s very probable that they don’t want you to know, or that ethical labor practices are not a priority to them. Try looking for labels like “Made in the USA” instead of in China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, etc. Look for products that say fairtrade.

3) Buy less. Consumerism makes slaves out of all of us (feeling like we need to always have more, more, more), and the actual slaves making the product. Often we end up buying cheap things that break or wear out easily. Ethically made products usually are more expensive, but they usually will last longer.³ Thinking twice or three times before we buy things will help us reduce slavery and free us from the addiction of consumerism.

4) Buy from organizations that are trying to help people in developing countries grow their businesses. Serrv and 10, 000 Villages are just two examples of many out there making a positive difference.

Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
James 5:4-5

James warns us of the fate of those who are apathetic towards the sufferings of those who labor for us. He brings sharp rebuke. We shouldn’t ignore his words. God hears the cries of the slaves that work for us. It is monumentally important that we do as well.

La nouvelle vie

Les Écritures distinguent deux types de vie : la vie du psuche et la vie du zoe, la vie de l’âme et la vie de l’esprit (Jean 12:25). La vie de psuche décrit la vie que nous avons héritée d’Adam, tandis que la vie de zoé vient de Dieu (Jean 5:26).

La psuche-vie est la vie de la chair. C’est vivre avec soi-même comme source et approvisionnement. La zo-vie est parfois appelée la nouvelle vie ou la nouveauté de vie (Rom. 6:4). La zo-vie est aussi connue comme la vie ou la vie éternelle. Lorsque Jésus a dit “Je suis la Vie”, il disait “Je suis la source de la vie nouvelle” (Jean 14:6).

Note : Parfois, zoé-vie est utilisé dans les Écritures pour décrire la vie temporelle d’une personne sur terre (Luc 16:25, 1 Cor. 15:19, 1 Tim. 4:8, Jas. 4:14). Cependant, la plupart du temps, la zo-vie est décrite comme la vie qui vient de Dieu le Père (Jean 5:21, 26, 6:27, Actes 17:28, Héb. 12:9), et qui nous est donnée par Dieu le Fils (Jean 1:4, 5:21, 14:6, Rom. 6:23, 2 Tim. 1:9, 1 Jean 1:2, 1 Jean 5:11-13), et Dieu le Saint-Esprit (Jean 6:63).

L’ancienne vie que nous avons héritée d’Adam est une vie imparfaite qui se termine par la mort (Rom. 5:12) ; la nouvelle vie que nous recevons de Jésus est une vie bénie et abondante qui ne se termine jamais (Rom. 6:23). L’origine détermine la destination. Adam est venu du sol et ceux qui vivent la vie adamique finissent dans le sol (Gen. 2:7, 3:19). En revanche, Jésus est venu du ciel et ceux qui reçoivent sa vie connaissent les bénédictions du ciel maintenant et pour toujours (1 Cor. 15:49).

Pourquoi Jésus est-il venu ?

La réponse à la question “Pourquoi Jésus est-il venu ?” est de nous donner une vie nouvelle ou la vie éternelle (Jean 3:16, 10:28, Rom 6:4, 1 Tim. 1:16). Jésus n’est pas venu principalement pour nous libérer du péché ou pour nous donner une nouvelle nature. Il est venu pour nous donner une nouvelle vie qui inclut ces autres choses. “Je suis venu pour qu’ils aient (zoe) la vie” (Jean 10:10). Lorsque nous prêchons l’Évangile, nous parlons aux gens de la nouvelle vie que Jésus offre à tous (Actes 5:20).

Tout au long de la Bible, nous sommes invités à abandonner l’ancienne vie pour en adopter une nouvelle (Matthieu 16:25, Jean 12:25). C’est ce qu’on appelle naître de nouveau (Jean 3.3, 7, 1 Pierre 1.3, 23), passer de la mort à la vie (Jean 5.24, 1 Jean 3.14), ou être rendu vivant (Ép 2.5, Col 2.13). Nous passons de la mort à la vie nouvelle avec l’aide de l’Esprit Saint. C’est l’Esprit en nous qui marque notre passage de l’ancien au nouveau.

La vie éternelle n’est pas un prolongement sans fin de l’ancienne vie, mais une vie entièrement nouvelle. Ceux qui sont nés de nouveau sont de nouvelles créatures (Gal. 6:15), membres d’une nouvelle famille et d’une nouvelle race et citoyens d’un autre royaume (Eph. 2:19, Php. 3:20).

“Si quelqu’un est en Christ, il est une nouvelle créature” (2 Cor. 5:17). Le mot original pour nouveau (kainos) signifie nouveau en nature. Chrétien, tu n’es pas une version nouvelle et améliorée de ce que tu étais auparavant ; tu es quelque chose de tout à fait nouveau. Tu étais un petit Adam, maintenant tu es un petit Christ, un fils de Dieu. Vous n’êtes pas un pécheur sauvé par la grâce. Tu étais un pécheur, puis tu as été sauvé par la grâce. Maintenant, tu n’es plus un pécheur. Tu es un saint. Un avec le Seigneur, vous êtes aussi juste et saint que lui. “Comme il est, nous sommes aussi dans ce monde” (1 Jean 4:17).

La religion bricolée voudrait vous faire croire que vous êtes un travail en cours, comme s’il y avait un juste milieu entre le saint et le pécheur. Mais il n’y a pas de juste milieu. Vous êtes soit mort ou vivant, perdu ou retrouvé, en Christ ou hors de lui. Soit vous êtes né de nouveau, soit vous avez besoin de l’être.

Vous avez peut-être entendu dire : “Je ne suis pas parfait, je suis simplement pardonné”. Une telle déclaration fait appel à notre chair et s’accorde avec notre expérience, mais elle est une insulte à Celui par le sacrifice duquel nous avons été rendus parfaits pour toujours. Il est vrai que par vous-même, vous n’êtes pas parfaits. Mais vous n’êtes pas seuls. Vous avez été unis au Seigneur, et il n’y a pas de branches impures sur cette vigne sainte.

La lumière et les ténèbres ne peuvent coexister. La perfection et l’imperfection ne peuvent pas non plus coexister. Pour que le Seigneur puisse avoir une quelconque union avec vous, il a dû faire de vous quelque chose que vous n’étiez pas et il l’a fait.

Lorsque vous êtes venu au Christ, vous avez été purifié du péché et vous êtes entré dans une union vitale avec le Seigneur. Vous ne faites plus partie de la race d’Adam. Vous êtes un fils ou une fille du Père éternel. Le Christ est votre vie. Vous vous appuyez sur sa foi et vous êtes enveloppé de son amour. Tes imperfections présentes et passagères sont cachées dans ses perfections éternelles et sublimes.

Quand Dieu te regarde, il ne voit pas seulement qui tu es maintenant, avec tes défauts visibles et ta gloire cachée. Il voit qui vous êtes dans l’éternité. Il voit le vrai vous, et de son point de vue intemporel, vous êtes sans défaut, irréprochable et rayonnant de gloire.

Pour en savoir plus : “Qui pensez-vous être ?”

Qu’y a-t-il de nouveau dans cette nouvelle vie ?

La nouvelle vie est éternelle (Jean 3:16, 5:24, 10:28, 1 Pierre 1:23, Gal. 6:8). Bien que nos corps terrestres puissent vieillir et mourir, nous serons ressuscités et revêtus de l’immortalité (Jean 6:53-54, 1 Cor. 15:22-23, 42-44, 51-54, 2 Cor. 5:2, 2 Tim 1:10).

Cette nouvelle vie est une vie de communion ou d’union avec le Seigneur (Jean 17:3, 1 Jean 1:3). C’est une vie libérée de l’esclavage du péché (Rom. 6:6-7, 22, 8:2), où nous dominons et régnons depuis notre position sûre en Christ (Rom. 5:17, Eph. 2:6). Notre nouvelle vie est caractérisée par un cœur nouveau et un esprit nouveau (Eze. 36:26-27). Vous avez reçu une nouvelle nature avec de nouveaux désirs (2 Pi. 1:4). Votre cœur est incliné vers l’obéissance et vous ne voulez plus pécher (1 Jean 3:6, 9, 24). C’est pourquoi la Bible dit qu’il n’y a pas de pécheurs dans le royaume de Dieu (1 Cor. 6:9-10, Ap. 21:8). Il n’y a que d’anciens pécheurs qui ont été transformés.

En un mot, la nouvelle vie est la vie du Christ (Col. 3:4). C’est Jésus qui vit sa vie à travers vous. Vous vous tenez maintenant sur sa foi (Gal. 2:20), vous êtes rempli de son Esprit (Rom, 8:11), et vous pensez les pensées de son esprit (1 Cor. 2:16).

Que m’est-il arrivé à la croix ?

Dès que vous êtes venu au Christ par la foi, vous avez été enseveli dans sa mort et ressuscité à une vie nouvelle par le Saint-Esprit (Rom. 6:3). Le Nouveau Testament rappelle sans cesse au croyant : “Tu es mort” (Rom. 6:6, 8, Col. 2:20, 3:3, 2 Tim. 2:11). À la croix, vous avez perdu votre péché (Ps. 103:12, Jean 1:29, 2 Jean 2:2) et ce vieux tyran de péché vous a perdu. Vous et vous n’êtes plus l’esclave du péché (Rom. 6:6). Vous pouvez encore lutter contre de vieilles habitudes, mais vous le faites depuis un lieu de liberté (Gal. 5:1). Toute relation que vous auriez pu avoir avec la loi a également été rompue à la croix (Rom. 7:6).

À la croix, vous avez reçu la paix avec Dieu et un pardon complet (2 Cor. 5:19, Col 2:13). Lorsque vous avez été placé en Jésus, vous avez obtenu son acceptation (Eph. 1:6), sa justice (Rom. 1:17), sa sainteté (1 Cor. 1:3) et sa perfection éternelle (Héb. 10:4). Lorsque vous êtes né de nouveau, vous avez été transformé en une nouvelle création, et il est donc évident que vous n’avez plus de nature pécheresse. Vous n’êtes pas une personne le dimanche et une autre le lundi.

Avant la croix, vous pouviez craindre Dieu de loin, mais maintenant vous vous approchez de son trône de grâce avec confiance (Héb. 4:16). Avant la croix, vous avez peut-être imaginé que Dieu était une sorte de juge divin, mais maintenant vous le voyez comme votre Père aimant qui vous a donné les pleins droits de la filiation (Gal 3:26, 1 Jean 3:1). Avant la croix, vous étiez un mendiant vivant des restes de la table du roi. Mais à cause de la croix, tous vos besoins ont été satisfaits selon sa glorieuse richesse dans le Christ Jésus (Php. 4:19).

Le jour où vous êtes né de nouveau, beaucoup de choses ont changé, mais deux choses sont restées inchangées. Premièrement, votre corps physique n’a pas changé. Vous avez peut-être été guéri, mais votre corps est toujours soumis aux effets de la chute, et votre combinaison terrestre continue de vieillir d’année en année. Nous attendons toujours avec impatience la rédemption de notre corps (Rom 8:23).

Deuxièmement, au-delà de la repentance et de la décision de confier votre vie à Jésus, votre façon de penser n’a probablement pas changé. Si vous aimiez le chocolat et conduisiez imprudemment avant d’être sauvé, alors vous avez probablement aimé le chocolat et conduit imprudemment après avoir été sauvé. C’est pourquoi les Écritures nous exhortent à nous défaire du vieux, à revêtir le nouveau et à être renouvelés dans l’esprit de nos pensées (Éph. 4:22-24).

Marcher dans la nouveauté de la vie

C’est une chose d’être rendu nouveau par le Saint-Esprit, c’en est une autre de marcher dans la nouveauté de la vie (Rom. 6:4). Un nouveau-né est aussi humain qu’il ne le sera jamais, mais il doit encore apprendre à marcher et à parler comme un être humain. Il en va de même pour les chrétiens. Au moment où vous êtes venu au Christ, vous êtes devenu une nouvelle personne. En Christ, vous êtes aussi juste et saint que vous ne l’avez jamais été. Mais vous devez encore apprendre à marcher et à parler selon les nouvelles méthodes de l’Esprit.

NEW LIFE

The scriptures distinguish two kinds of life; psuche-life and zoe-life, soul life and spirit life (John 12:25). Psuche-life describes the life we inherit from Adam, while zoe-life comes from God (John 5:26).

Psuche-life is the life of the flesh. It is living with yourself as your source and supply. Zoe-life is sometimes referred to as new life or newness of life (Rom. 6:4). Zoe-life is also known as the life or eternal life. When Jesus said, “I am the Life” he was saying “I am the source of new life” (John 14:6).

Note: Sometimes zoe-life is used in scripture to describe a person’s temporal life on earth (Luke 16:25, 1 Cor. 15:19, 1 Tim. 4:8, Jas. 4:14). However, most of the time, zoe-life is described as the life that comes from God the Father (John 5:21, 26, 6:27, Acts 17:28, Heb. 12:9), and is given to us by God the Son (John 1:4, 5:21, 14:6, Rom. 6:23, 2 Tim. 1:9, 1 John 1:2, 1 John 5:11-13), and God the Holy Spirit (John 6:63).

The old life we inherited from Adam is a flawed life that ends in death (Rom. 5:12); the new life that we receive from Jesus is a blessed and abundant life that never ends (Rom. 6:23). Origin determines destination. Adam came from the ground and those who live the Adamic life end up in the ground (Gen. 2:7, 3:19). In contrast, Jesus came from heaven and those who receive his life experience the blessings of heaven now and forever more (1 Cor. 15:49).

WHY DID JESUS COME?

To give us new life or eternal life is the answer to the question, why did Jesus come (John 3:16, 10:28, Rom 6:4, 1 Tim. 1:16). Jesus did not come principally to free us from sin or to give us a new nature. He came to give us a new life which includes those other things. “I have come that they may have (zoe) life” (John 10:10). When we preach the gospel, we are telling people about the new life that Jesus offers to all (Acts 5:20).

Throughout the Bible, we are invited to lay down the old kind of life to take up the new kind (Matt. 16:25, John 12:25). This is called being born again (John 3:3, 7, 1 Pet. 1:3, 23), crossing over from death to life (John 5:24, 1 John 3:14), or being made alive (Eph. 2:5, Col. 2:13). We cross over from death to new life with the aid of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit within us that marks our transition out of the old into the new.

Eternal life is not an endless extension to the old life, but a wholly new kind of life. Those who have been born again are new creatures (Gal. 6:15), members of a new family and a new race and citizens of another kingdom (Eph. 2:19, Php. 3:20).

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17). The original word for new (kainos) means new in kind. Christian, you are not a new and improved version of who you used to be; you are something brand new altogether. You were a little Adam; now you are a little Christ, a son of God. You are not a sinner saved by grace. You were a sinner; then you were saved by grace. Now you are a sinner no more. You are a saint. One with the Lord, you are as righteous and holy as he is. “As he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17).

DIY religion would have you believe that you are a work in progress as though there was some middle ground between saint and sinner. But there is no middle ground. You’re either dead or alive, lost or found, in Christ or out of him. You have either been born again or you need to be.

Perhaps you have heard it said, “I’m not perfect, just forgiven.” Such a statement appeals to our flesh and accords with our experience but it is an insult to the One by whose sacrifice we have been made perfect forever. It’s true that on your own you are not perfect. But you are not on your own. You have been united with the Lord, and there are no unholy branches on that holy vine.

Light and dark cannot coexist. Neither can perfection and imperfection coexist. For the Lord to have any sort of union with you, he had to make you into something you weren’t and he did.

When you came to Christ, you were cleansed from sin and joined in vital union with the Lord. You are no longer part of Adam’s race. You are a son or daughter of the Everlasting Father. Christ is your life. You stand on his faith and are cloaked in his love. Your present and passing imperfections are hidden within his eternal and sublime perfections.

When God looks at you, he doesn’t just see who you are now, with your visible faults and hidden glory. He sees who you are in eternity. He sees the real you, and from his timeless perspective you are faultless, blameless, and radiant with glory.

Further reading: “Who do you think you are?”

WHAT IS NEW ABOUT THIS NEW LIFE?

The new life is eternal (John 3:16, 5:24, 10:28, 1 Pet. 1:23, Gal. 6:8). Although our earthly bodies may age and die, we will be resurrected and clothed with immortality (John 6:53-54, 1 Cor. 15:22-23, 42-44, 51-54, 2 Cor. 5:2, 2 Tim 1:10).

This new life is a life of fellowship or union with the Lord (John 17:3, 1 John 1:3). It is a life free from bondage to sin (Rom. 6:6-7, 22, 8:2), where we rule and reign from our secure position in Christ (Rom. 5:17, Eph. 2:6). Our new life is characterized by a new heart and a new spirit (Eze. 36:26-27). You have been given a new nature with new desires (2 Pet. 1:4). Your heart is inclined towards obedience and you no longer want to sin (1 John 3:6, 9, 24). This is why the Bible says there are no sinners in the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10, Rev. 21:8). There are only former sinners who have been made new.

In a word, new life is Christ’s life (Col. 3:4). It is Jesus living his life through you. You now stand on his faith (Gal. 2:20), are filled with his Spirit (Rom, 8:11), and think the thoughts of his mind (1 Cor. 2:16).

WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AT THE CROSS?

The moment you came to Christ in faith, you were buried into his death and raised to new life by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:3). Again and again the New Testament reminds the believer, “You died” (Rom. 6:6, 8, Col. 2:20, 3:3, 2 Tim. 2:11). At the cross, you lost your sin (Ps. 103:12, John 1:29, 2 John 2:2) and that old tyrant sin lost you. You and you are no longer sin’s slave (Rom. 6:6). You may still wrestle with old habits, but you do so from a place of freedom (Gal. 5:1). Any relationship you might have had with the law was also severed at the cross (Rom 7:6).

At the cross, you received peace with God and complete forgiveness (2 Cor. 5:19, Col 2:13). When you were placed in Jesus, you gained his acceptance (Eph. 1:6), his righteousness (Rom. 1:17), his holiness (1 Cor. 1:3), and his eternal perfection (Heb. 10:4). When you were born again you were made into a new creation, so obviously you no longer have a sinful nature. You are not one person on Sunday and another on Monday.

Before the cross you might have feared God from a distance, but now you approach his throne of grace with confidence (Heb. 4:16). Before the cross you might have envisioned God as some sort of divine judge, but now you see him as your loving Father who has given you the full rights of sonship (Gal 3:26, 1 John 3:1). Before the cross you were a beggar living off scraps from the king’s table. But because of the cross your every need has been supplied according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Php. 4:19).

On the day you were born again, a lot of things changed, but two things remained unchanged. First, your physical body did not change. You may have been healed, but your body is still subject to the effects of the fall, and your earthsuit is still getting older one year at a time. We are still waiting eagerly for the redemption of our bodies (Rom 8:23).

Second, beyond repenting and deciding to trust Jesus with your life, your way of thinking probably did not change. If you liked chocolate and drove recklessly before you were saved, then you probably liked chocolate and drove recklessly after you were saved. This is why the scriptures exhort us to put off the old and put on the new and be renewed in the spirit of our minds (Eph. 4:22-24)

WALKING IN NEWNESS OF LIFE

It’s one thing to be made new by the Holy Spirit, it is another to walk in the newness of life (Rom. 6:4). A new born baby is as human as they ever will be, but they still need to learn how to walk and talk like a human. It’s the same with Christians. The moment you came to Christ, you became a new person. In Christ, you are as righteous and holy as you ever will be. But you still need to learn how to walk and talk in the new ways of the Spirit.

Qu’est-ce que le message de la grâce moderne ?
Exposer les dangers de l’hypergracie
Posted on avril 13, 2022 by Paul Ellis // 7 Comments

Un homme m’a un jour posé une question : ” Je veux montrer à mes amis que l’évangile de la grâce n’est pas la dernière mode. Pouvez-vous me diriger vers des enseignements de l’église primitive sur la grâce ? “.

J’ai répondu : “Pourquoi pas le Nouveau Testament ? Une grande partie de ce que je sais de la grâce vient directement de la vie de Jésus et des enseignements des apôtres.”

Ceux qui s’opposent à l’évangile de la grâce le rejettent souvent comme le message de la grâce moderne. Ils disent que c’est une mode passagère.

C’est tout sauf cela.

Un message de grâce moderne ?
Qu’est-ce que le message de la grâce moderne ? C’est l’ancien et éternel évangile de la grâce (Apocalypse 14:6). La seule chose qui soit moderne, c’est que nous redécouvrons ce qui a été perdu. Après avoir erré dans le désert des œuvres, nous retournons à nos racines néotestamentaires.

L’évangile de l’hypergrace n’est pas une nouvelle révélation mais une ancienne révélation qui a été enterrée sous des traditions artificielles, des rituels religieux et des emballages impies.

Les prédicateurs de l’hypergrace ne prêchent pas un message de grâce nouveau et moderne, mais un message ancien et intemporel.

L’hypergrace est-elle biblique ? Vous feriez mieux de le croire.

Dans L’Évangile de l’HyperGrâce, je cite plus de 40 prédicateurs de l’HyperGrâce qui prêchent tous essentiellement le même évangile. C’est le même message par des messagers différents, ce qui est un signe qui vous fait vous demander.

Comment se fait-il que des évangéliques et des charismatiques, des prêtres catholiques et des vicaires anglicans, des rock stars et des soldats, des théologiens et des poètes, prêchent tous le même message de grâce ? La raison en est que nous avons déterré le même trésor.

Comment se fait-il que des pèlerins, tous partis de lieux différents et empruntant des chemins différents, se soient retrouvés au même endroit ? Nous avons tous suivi la même étoile qui nous a conduits à Jésus. Nos bagages peuvent être différents, et certains d’entre nous en ont plus que d’autres, mais nous sommes tous arrivés à la même destination.

Le point de départ n’a pas d’importance. Ce qui compte, c’est où vous finissez.

Si vous creusez dans des décombres religieux, continuez à creuser. Et si vous marchez dans un désert d’œuvres, continuez à marcher. Ne vous arrêtez pas avant d’avoir trouvé ce trésor et d’être arrivé à cette destination appelée Jésus.

Il est votre dernier port d’escale. Jésus est votre lieu de repos.

Exposer les dangers de l’hypergrâce
L’évangile de l’hypergrace n’est pas un nouveau message, c’est une révélation vieille de 2 000 ans. Si vous avez rencontré Jésus, vous avez entendu l’évangile de l’hypergrace.

Alors, quel est le danger ? Quelle est l’erreur ou le problème ?

Le problème, c’est que vous avez peut-être entendu d’autres choses aussi – des éléments supplémentaires qui n’ont jamais fait partie du message original.

Si vous êtes croyant, vous n’avez pas tant besoin d’entendre l’évangile de l’hypergrâce que de désentendre toutes les choses supplémentaires qui obscurcissent la bonne nouvelle de la grâce surabondante de Dieu.

Ne confondez pas la saleté avec l’or.

La grâce de Dieu ne ressemble à rien sur terre. Tout ce que nous ajoutons à la grâce de Dieu ne fait que détourner ses perfections sublimes.

Extrait et adapté de The Hyper-Grace Gospel.

Traduit avec http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (version gratuite)

What is the Modern Grace Message?

Exposing the dangers of hypergrace

Posted on April 13, 2022 by Paul Ellis // 7 Comments

A man once asked me a question: “I want to show my friends that the gospel of grace is not the latest fad. Can you direct me to some early church teachings on grace?”

I replied, “How about the New Testament? Much of what I know about grace comes straight from the life of Jesus and the teachings of the apostles.”

Those opposed to the gospel of grace often dismiss it as the modern grace message. They say it is a passing fad.

It is anything but.

A modern grace message?

What is the modern grace message? It is the ancient and eternal gospel of grace (Rev. 14:6). The only thing modern about it is we are rediscovering what was lost. After wandering in the wilderness of works, we are returning to our New Testament roots.

The hypergrace gospel is no new revelation but an old revelation that has been buried under manmade traditions, religious rituals, and unholy packaging.

Hypergrace preachers aren’t preaching a new and modern grace message, but an old and timeless one.

Is hypergrace Biblical? You better believe it.

In The Hyper-Grace Gospel, I quote from more than 40 hypergrace preachers all preaching essentially the same gospel. It’s the same message from different messengers, which is a sign to make you wonder.

How is it that Evangelicals and Charismatics, Catholic priests and Anglican vicars, rock stars and soldiers, theologians and poets, are all preaching the same message of grace? The reason is we have unearthed the same Treasure.

How is it that pilgrims, all starting from different locations and traveling different paths, have ended up at the same place? We all followed the same star that led us to Jesus. Our baggage may be different, and some of us have more than others, but we have all arrived at the same Destination.

It doesn’t matter where you start. What matters is where you finish.

If you’re digging through religious rubble, keep digging. And if you’re walking through a wilderness of works, keep walking. Don’t stop until you find that Treasure and arrive at that Destination called Jesus.

He is your final port of call. Jesus is your resting place.

Exposing the dangers of hypergrace

The hypergrace gospel is no new message; it is a 2,000-year-old revelation. If you have met Jesus then you have heard the hypergrace gospel.

So what is the danger? What is the error or problem?

The problem is you may have heard some other stuff as well – additional material that was never part of the original message.

If you’re a believer, you don’t need to hear the hypergrace gospel as much as you need to un-hear all the extra stuff that obscures the good news of God’s superabundant grace.

Don’t confuse the dirt with the gold.

The grace of God is like nothing on earth. Anything we add to the grace of God only detracts from its sublime perfections.

Extracted and adapted from The Hyper-Grace Gospel.

WW2 HAPPENED BECAUSE OF CHRISTIANSWhen Christians forsake the way of Christ.

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As a historical event, World War 2 is idolized, propagandized, and fetishized more than any other war. It is proposed to be the ultimate showdown of ‘good vs evil’ in modern history. There was no group more evil than the Nazis while there was no group more heroic than the allied forces. More movies, shows, books, video games, and toys have been made about World War 2 than any other world event. Nazis are the archetypical ‘bad guy’ in all of pop-culture. Today, while the war is perceived oversimplistically, in reality, it wasn’t so black and white. Over 150 American corporations collaborated, funded, and profited from the Nazi party—from Ford to Chase Bank to Coca-cola. But what really made World War 2 possible were all the soldiers who were willing to follow orders and kill for their country.

REMOVING CHRIST FROM CHRISTIANITY

The term “Christian” means “Christ-like.” It was a name first given to followers of the way of Jesus in the first century. For the first three hundred years after Jesus, Christians rejected all forms of violence and refused to serve in either the government or the military. The Christian devotion to the way of Jesus mostly ended when the Roman empire co-opted the movement in the fourth century. No longer did people decide to become a follower of Jesus, now they were born into the religion of Christendom. Where once Christians would worship and follow Jesus, now Christians just worshipped him. State-sponsored religious leaders took the Christ-following out of Christianity. This departure would change the face of Christianity for centuries to come.

Ever since the Reformation in the 16th century, Christianity has struggled to re-emerge from Christendom and re-take on the mantle of Christ-follower. While small sects of Christians would re-adopt the teachings and example of Jesus, the majority of Christianity still ignored them. Because they refused to allow their faith to be fused with their pagan citizenship, these small sects of Christ-followers were hunted and killed by the Catholic and Protestant Christians of the time. Mainstream Christianity continued to kill others in the name of their countries for centuries to come. While today, Christendom is limping on its last leg in America, the majority of the Christian world is rediscovering what it is like to follow Jesus. This certainly wasn’t the case in the 1940s.

Christendom was alive and well in America during the time of World War 2. To be an American was almost synonymous with being a Christian. To be a good Christian meant being a good American, and good Americans fight for their country. Christendom was also alive and well in Europe during the time of World War 2. To be a German was almost synonymous with being a Christian. To be a good Christian meant being a good German, and good Germans fight for their country. Just like how Christendom-entrenched Christians killed other Christians during the time of the Reformation, World War 2 would see the largest Christian-on-Christian war in human history.

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

During the time of World War 2, Germany’s Christians comprised anywhere from 94% to 98% of the total population. The percentage of the American population that was Christian was a little lower, at around 91%. Religious statistics for the military populations of each country showed the same percentages. At least 9 out of 10 German and American soldiers identified as Christians. How on earth could Christians be manipulated into killing each other?

Dictators and Presidents can try all they want to send their citizens to war, but if there isn’t support by the people, wars won’t happen. The influence of propaganda causes otherwise rational and loving people to turn against their fellow human beings and riddle them with bullets and blow them apart with bombs. Nazi Germany relied on propaganda, fear, and the support of the church to rally its citizens to war. America relied on propaganda, fear, and the support of the church to rally its citizens to war. Both sides told their people that nothing was more honorable than fighting for god and country. Nazi uniforms were inscribed with the words “God is with us,” and they believed it, just as much as the Americans believed it.

For as evil as Hitler was, he didn’t kill a single person. Instead, he convinced millions of Christians to kill for him. Around twenty million soldiers died in World War 2; over 90% of those soldiers were Christians. These Christian soldiers caused many more deaths than their own. Around 45 million civilians died in World War 2. Because Christians were willing to don the military uniform and pick up a gun, more people were killed than any war before it or since. What would have happened if Christians didn’t put down their cross and pick up the sword?

A CHRISTIANITY THAT DOESN’T FOLLOW JESUS

Jesus taught his followers to love, bless, feed, pray, and care for their enemies, not to kill them (Luke 6:27-28). Jesus taught his followers to never repay evil for evil, but instead to bless evildoers (1 Peter 3:9). Jesus taught his followers to put down the sword, for all who use it will die by it (Matthew 26:52). The Bible says to follow the nonviolent teachings and example of Jesus (Ephesians 5:1-2), but what if you have a Christianity that doesn’t do this? What happens is you are left with a Christianity that can be manipulated into killing other Christians.

There are two lies that caused World War 2. The first lie was that involvement in government and military was compatible with Christianity. This lie wormed its way into Christianity in the fourth century, but it was still present during World War 2. This lie allowed Christian Germans to put on a military uniform, pick up a gun, and aim it at American Christians. What was an American Christian to do when faced with this threat? The second lie was that the correct solution to combating violence was more violence. American Christians put on a military uniform, picked up a gun, and aimed them at German Christians. This is the “violence begets violence” that Jesus warned his followers about—but remember, these Christians clearly weren’t followers of Jesus.

When Christianity is reduced to a religion that is more about the Bible than it is about following Jesus, its adherents can be made to follow Joshua rather than Jesus. Joshua led war campaigns and mercilessly slaughtered his enemies. Jesus commanded total nonviolence and self-sacrificial love for one’s enemies. You can’t do both. When you read the Bible as a flat text where all verses carry the same authority, you are left with a book that can be used to support anything. The Bible supported the slavery African people. The Bible supported the genocide of Native Americans. The Bible supported the slaughter of German and American Christians. But only if you remove the teachings and example of Jesus.

THE HEIGHTS OF HYPOCRISY

While Christians were killing Christians in Europe, Christians were also killing Christians in Japan. August 6th, 1945 was the first time in human history that an atomic bomb was dropped with the intention of killing human beings. In an instant, thousands of innocent men, women, children, and infants were vaporized. Those were the lucky ones. Thousands had their flesh ripped from their bones where they stood. Many more thousands were set on fire from the blast and burned alive. Thousands were crushed to death by falling buildings. The devastation was unimaginable. The act was truly and utterly satanic.

A few days later, a Christian man named Charles Sweeney, along with his all-Christian crew were flying another plane over the Japanese city of Nagasaki. Despite 250 years of harsh persecution of Christians in Japan’s past, Nagasaki had become the place of the largest concentration of Christians in all of Japan. The city was home to Urakami Cathedral, with 12,000 baptized members, and was the largest church building in all of East Asia. The church was so large that it was one of the few identifiable landmarks that could be seen from 31,000 feet up in the air. It was this church that Charles Sweeny and his Christian bomber crew targeted with the second and last atomic bomb ever to be dropped on human beings.

Thousands of Christians were attending service that morning at the cathedral. They, along with 70,000 other civilians, were all killed. 8,500 church members who weren’t killed in the blast would die soon after from radiation sickness. What the Japanese government could not do in 250 years of lethal persecution was done by American Christians in mere moments. Christianity has never recovered in Japan since that day of mass murder.

EMPIRES OF JOSHUA FOLLOWERS

In the 3rd century, Christians wouldn’t dream of fighting in the military. By the 5th century, Christians fighting in the military was commonplace. Where once Christians were hunted and killed by the Roman military, they were now joining the military and killing others. When the teachings and example of Jesus Christ are taken out of Christianity you are left with a religion that can be manipulated into virtually anything. History has shown us time and time again that Christianity, without Jesus, can be manipulated into a religion that has no problem with slaughtering other people made in God’s image. From the genocide of the Native American people to the World Wars, when Jesus is placed behind Moses and Joshua, no one is safe.

When American Christians are reminded that Jesus taught total nonviolence they always respond with, “well what about Hitler?” Hitler isn’t the problem. Roosevelt isn’t the problem. Patriotism is the problem. Hitler is the answer to another question—“what happens when Christians forsake the way of Jesus and embrace patriotism for the pagan nation they live in?” Hitler is what happens.

World War 2 wasn’t made possible because of Muslims or godless atheists. World War 2 happened because of Christians. The war was waged because Christians were not following Jesus. If all those Christians had been following Jesus, they would have resembled the early Church who did. They would have recognized that their true citizenship was in Christ’s nation, not a nation of the world. They would have refused to pick up a gun and point it at another fellow human being. Instead, they ignored the teachings and examples of Jesus and killed each other by the millions. Millions of Christians killing millions of Christians. This was perhaps the epitome of Satan’s achievements.

Jesus abolished war but he is a loving God who won’t force our hands. We have to willingly step into his Kingdom of nonviolence and choose to love others instead of killing them. Wars will only end when Christians start following Jesus, the Prince of Peace, instead of the Caesars of their day.

I am studying the letter from Paul the apostle to the Colossians in Asia Minor. This is a fanatastic unfolding of the greatest Mystery of all. And now it is no more mystery. Yet were many that were peddling fake mysteries in their pagan religions. This letter makes it clear that they are nothing in comparison to the Mystery that is CHRIST our LORD.

All secrets and mysteries are enticing but the wrong because the Mystery of Christ is for all to hear and understand. It is now no mystery but must be shouted from the roof tops and needs to flood the internet.

Light dispells the darkness that is in secrets and hidden places. Christ is the Light.

COLOSSIANS 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

(a) Paul. The author of the letter to the Colossians was the Apostle Paul. Paul wrote this letter while in a Roman prison (Col. 4:18), probably around A.D. 60/61. This letter, along with the letter to the Ephesians, was carried by Tychicus (Col. 4:7).

(b) An apostle; see entry for 1 Cor. 1:1.

(c) By the will of God. Paul was called into apostolic ministry by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2).

(d) Timothy was Paul’s spiritual son and co-worker. See entry for 1 Timothy 1:2.

COLOSSIANS 1:2

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

(a) Colossae was a town in the Lycus Valley located some nine miles to the east of Laodicea. There is no record that Paul ever visited this town, and Paul acknowledges that the Colossians had not heard the gospel from him but Epaphras (Col. 1:7).

(b) Grace to you and peace. The apostle of grace began all of his letters with this gracious salutation. See entry for Rom. 1:7.

COLOSSIANS 1:3

We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

(a) We give thanks. Gratitude is the language of faith (Col. 3:17).

Paul’s gratitude for the Colossians, whom he had never met (Col. 2:1), is reminiscent of his gratitude for the church he planted at Thessalonica. Although he may not have gone there, his message had been carried to Colossae and he felt a fatherly affection for the church. See entry for 1 Thessalonians 1:2.

(b) Our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul introduces the Lord Jesus Christ at the start of all his letters, and he encourages his readers to confess Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9, Php. 2:12). True preachers reveal Jesus as Lord of all. Jesus is not merely a teacher or historical figure. He is the exalted Son of God and his Name is above all names (Php. 2:9). Before the cross, Jesus was known as the Christ or anointed one. But after the cross, Jesus is the Lord or kyrios or “the One who is supreme above all.”

COLOSSIANS 1:6

which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;

(a) In all the world. The Christians of the early church bore witness to the great fruitfulness of the gospel (Acts 12:24, 13:49, 19:10). By the time Paul wrote to the Colossians, the gospel was bearing fruit all over the world.

(b) The grace of God refers to the goodwill, lovingkindness, and favor of God that is freely given to us so that we may partake in his divine life. See entry for Grace of God

La grâce de Dieu

La grâce est la bonne volonté, l’amour et la faveur de Dieu qui nous sont donnés gratuitement afin que nous puissions participer à sa vie divine. La grâce est l’aide divine de Dieu qui vous donne la capacité surnaturelle d’être ce qu’il vous a fait être (voir l’entrée pour Eph. 3:7).

Qu’est-ce que la grâce ? Dieu est amour et l’amour qui s’abaisse s’appelle la grâce. La grâce est ce à quoi ressemble l’amour inconditionnel de Dieu de notre point de vue. La grâce, c’est l’amour qui s’abaisse. Le nom original de la grâce (charis, 5485) est lié à un mot (chairo, 5463) qui signifie se réjouir, être joyeux et bien portant. La grâce de Dieu nous laisse joyeux et réjouis. Elle nous laisse meilleurs qu’elle ne nous a trouvés.

Les religions artificielles dépeignent Dieu comme une divinité menaçante et en colère qu’il faut apaiser par des sacrifices et des bonnes œuvres. Mais le Dieu de toute grâce que Jésus a révélé est assis sur un trône de grâce (Héb. 4:16) et nous bénit dans l’abondance de sa grâce pour la seule raison qu’il nous aime (voir l’entrée pour 1 P. 5:10). La grâce est la caractéristique déterminante du christianisme. La grâce est ce qui rend la nouvelle alliance nouvelle et les bonnes nouvelles bonnes nouvelles.

L’évangile de la grâce

Il n’y a pas d’évangile sans grâce, car l’évangile révèle la grâce qui nous sauve (Actes 15:11, Eph. 2:8, 2 Tim. 1:9), nous pardonne (Eph. 1:7), nous justifie (Rom. 3:24, Tit. 3:7) et nous élève à une vie nouvelle (Eph. 2:5). C’est une grande perte de penser que la grâce est seulement pour les “pécheurs”, car les chrétiens ont aussi besoin de la grâce (voir l’entrée pour Actes 13:43). Nous sommes définis par la grâce de Dieu qui nous sauve et nous garde (1 Pierre 5:10). La grâce nous édifie (Actes 20:32) et nous donne la force de faire de bonnes œuvres (Gal. 2:9). La grâce nous forme (voir l’entrée pour Tit. 2:11), nous rend féconds (Col. 1:6), et nous fait prospérer (2 Cor. 8:9, 9:8). La grâce nous donne l’espoir (2 Th. 2:6) et nous permet de régner dans la vie (Rom. 5:21).

Il n’y a pas d’autre évangile que l’évangile de la grâce (voir l’entrée pour Actes 20:24). L’évangile de la grâce ou la parole de la grâce (Actes 20:32) est synonyme de l’évangile de Jésus, car Jésus est l’incarnation de la grâce du Père (voir l’entrée pour 1 Cor. 1:4). La grâce de Dieu nous vient par Jésus (Jean 1:14, 17), et nous grandissons dans la grâce en grandissant dans la grâce et la connaissance de Jésus-Christ (2 Pi 3:18).

Avant la croix, Jésus a prêché la loi à ceux qui étaient sous la loi. Mais en tant que héraut de la nouvelle alliance (Mal. 3:1), il a également révélé une grâce radicale. Il a commencé son ministère en annonçant la faveur de Dieu (Luc 4:19) et il l’a conclu en nous donnant la plus grande démonstration d’amour inconditionnel que le monde ait jamais vue (Rom. 5:8). Entre ces deux sommets de la grâce, il a annoncé la bonne nouvelle aux pauvres, il a aimé les pécheurs, il a pardonné et guéri ceux qui n’avaient rien fait pour mériter la faveur de Dieu (voir l’entrée pour Luc 23:34), et il a raconté des histoires de grâce radicale – de brebis perdues et de fils perdus, et de rois qui invitaient les mendiants à des banquets. Mieux encore, il a révélé un Dieu qui nous aime comme un Père et qui ne demande rien d’autre en retour que notre confiance en lui.

La grâce vient par la foi

La grâce est un don offert gratuitement à tous (Eph. 3:7, 4:7, Tit. 2:11) et est reçue par la foi seule (voir l’entrée pour Eph. 2:8). Il n’y a rien que nous puissions faire pour mériter la grâce de Dieu (Rom. 11:6, 2 Tim : 1:9). L’observation de la loi ne nous qualifie pas pour la grâce, mais peut nous faire tomber en disgrâce (Gal. 2:21, 5:4).

Nous rendons la grâce sans effet lorsque nous la combinons avec autre chose que la foi. “Vous êtes sauvés par la grâce mais maintenez votre position par une vie droite” est un exemple de message de grâce mixte. “Dieu vous donne la grâce pour que vous puissiez garder ses commandements”, en est un autre. Ce genre de message contient un élément de grâce mais vous pousse finalement à faire confiance à vous-même et à vos propres efforts.

Tout message de grâce mixte peut être reconnu par la présence de carottes et de bâtons. Les carottes sont les bénédictions que vous recevez pour votre obéissance ; les bâtons sont les pénalités que vous payez pour votre désobéissance. Si vous mordez dans un message de grâce mixte, vous goûterez un fruit amer. Vous ressentirez la pression de la performance et sentirez la peur qui accompagne l’échec. Vous ferez des promesses à Dieu, puis vous les briserez. Vous prendrez la résolution d’essayer plus fort, mais vous échouerez encore et encore. Comme un message de grâce mixte met l’accent sur vous et sur ce que vous avez fait, votre identité sera définie par votre productivité. Vous commencerez à vous considérer comme le serviteur de Dieu plutôt que comme son fils ou sa fille bien-aimé(e). Le pire, c’est que vous finirez par vous détourner de Jésus et par tomber en disgrâce.

Une autre façon de passer à côté de la grâce de Dieu est de penser que la grâce nous donne une licence pour pécher (Jude 1:4). La grâce de Dieu est plus grande que notre péché et nous donne le pouvoir de dire non à l’impiété (Rom. 5:20, Tit. 2:11-12). Mais si nous utilisons notre liberté pour retourner dans la prison du péché, nous avons manqué le but de la grâce (voir l’article sur Rom. 6:1).

“La grâce est irresponsable car elle dit que nous n’avons pas la responsabilité de faire quoi que ce soit. Nous avons le devoir de servir le Seigneur.” Dans la bouche d’un prédicateur de grâce mixte, des mots comme responsabilité et devoir sont les aiguillons à bétail du christianisme basé sur la performance. Ils véhiculent un sentiment d’obligation qui peut vous rendre conscient des dettes plutôt que de la grâce. L’idée que vous êtes obligé de rembourser Jésus pour son sacrifice inestimable est ridicule. Que pouvez-vous lui donner en contrepartie de sa grâce ? Il n’y a rien. Dès que vous lui donnez quelque chose, cela cesse d’être une grâce. Votre rôle dans tout cela est de recevoir de l’abondance de sa grâce. Votre seul “devoir” est de dire “Merci, Jésus !”.

D’autres ont dit que la grâce est un évangile mou pour des chrétiens mous. “La grâce encourage la passivité et la paresse”. Ce n’était pas l’expérience de Paul : ” C’est par la grâce de Dieu que je suis ce que je suis, et sa grâce envers moi n’a pas été sans effet. Non, j’ai travaillé plus dur qu’eux tous – non pas moi, mais la grâce de Dieu qui était avec moi” (1 Cor. 15:10). La grâce ne rend pas les gens paresseux, elle les rend surnaturellement fructueux. Contrairement à la loi qui n’apporte aucune aide à ceux qui lui font confiance, la grâce nous fait planer. Comme l’a dit John Bunyan, “L’Évangile apporte une bien meilleure nouvelle, il nous offre de voler et nous donne des ailes”.

Dans un environnement de grâce mixte, vous ressentirez la pression de performer et d’être à la hauteur des attentes des autres. Mais marchez sous la grâce et vous trouverez qu’il n’y a pas de pression, seulement la liberté d’être ce que Dieu vous a fait être. La religion artificielle vous dira que vous avez la responsabilité de produire des résultats pour le Seigneur, mais votre seule responsabilité est de briller en tant qu’enfant chéri de Dieu.

L’évangile de l’hypergrâce

Les auteurs des épîtres du Nouveau Testament ont utilisé de grands mots pour décrire la grâce de Dieu. Paul a parlé de la surabondance de la grâce de Dieu (Rom. 5:15, 5:17, 2 Cor. 9:8) et a souvent utilisé l’adjectif huper- ou hyper- pour parler de la grâce (voir l’entrée pour Rom. 5:20 ; voir aussi Eph. 2:7, 2 Cor. 9:14, 1 Tim. 1:14). Hyper qui signifie plus, au-dessus, et au-delà. Pour le mettre en contexte, Paul utilise également des mots hyper pour décrire la puissance et l’amour de Dieu (Eph. 1:19, 3:19). La grâce de Dieu est aussi grande que sa puissance. Elle est aussi illimitée que son amour.

Qu’est-ce que l’hypergrace ? L’hypergrace est une grâce extrême. C’est la grâce surabondante décrite par les premiers prédicateurs de l’hypergrace.

Jean a parlé de recevoir grâce sur grâce de la plénitude de l’approvisionnement de Dieu (Jean 1:16). Dire que Dieu est plein de grâce, c’est comme dire que l’océan est plein de vagues. “Grâce sur grâce” signifie que Dieu peut vous bénir avec une vague après l’autre de grâce et ne jamais en manquer.

Pierre a écrit au sujet de la grâce qui vient du “Dieu de toute grâce” (1 Pierre 5:10) et a prié pour que sa grâce soit la vôtre dans “toute sa mesure” ou dans une abondance croissante (1 Pierre 1:2). Tout comme vous ne pouvez pas voyager jusqu’aux confins de l’univers, vous ne trouverez jamais la limite de la grâce de Dieu.

Jacques, l’un des auteurs les plus incompris du Nouveau Testament, avait une merveilleuse compréhension de la grâce. Il a parlé d’un Dieu qui donne et donne, ce qui est une image de la grâce sans fin (Jas. 1:17). “Dieu donne une plus grande grâce” (Jas. 4:6). Le mot original pour plus grand est dérivé du mot grec megas. Dieu nous donne une méga-gâce. Jacques dit littéralement que Dieu nous donne “une grâce excessive, grande, élevée, large, forte et puissante !”

L’hypergrâce est-elle biblique ? Suggérer que la grâce de Dieu est moins qu’hyper est non biblique, voire blasphématoire. C’est comme dire que Dieu est bon mais pas si bon, qu’il est sage mais pas si sage. Diminuez la grâce et vous diminuez Dieu. L’évangile de la grâce déclare que celui qui est assis sur le trône de la grâce est extrêmement riche en grâce et que sa grâce inépuisable ne diminue jamais, peu importe combien nous y puisons.

Tout ce qui concerne la grâce de Dieu est extrême ou hyper parce que votre Père céleste vous aime d’un grand amour qui ne peut être mesuré (Eph. 3:17-19). Parce que son amour est grand, sa grâce est grande (Eph. 2:4). Son amour pour vous est plus grand que ce que vous pouvez concevoir ou imaginer. Si vous pensez avoir une idée de la grâce de Dieu, vous ne l’avez pas. Son amour et sa grâce dépassent toute connaissance. Quelle que soit la grandeur ou l’ampleur de la grâce que vous imaginez, sa grâce est encore plus grande !

Grace of God

Grace captures the goodwill, lovingkindness, and favor of God that is freely given to us so that we may partake in his divine life. Grace is God’s divine aid that supernaturally empowers you to be who he made you to be (see entry for Eph. 3:7).

What is grace? God is love and love that stoops is called grace. Grace is what the unconditional love of God looks like from our side. Grace is love come down. The original noun for grace (charis, 5485)

is related to a word (chairo, 5463) which means to rejoice, be cheerful and well off. The grace of God leaves us cheerful and rejoicing. It leaves us better than it found us.

Manmade religion portrays God as an angry and threatening deity who can be appeased with sacrifices and good works. But the God of all grace that Jesus revealed sits on a throne of grace (Heb. 4:16) and blesses us out of the abundance of his grace for no other reason than he loves us (see entry for 1 Pet. 5:10). Grace is the defining characteristic of Christianity. Grace is what makes the new covenant new and the good news good news.

THE GOSPEL OF GRACE

There is no gospel without grace for the gospel reveals the grace that saves us (Acts 15:11, Eph. 2:8, 2 Tim. 1:9), forgives us (Eph. 1:7), justifies us (Rom. 3:24, Tit. 3:7), and raises us to new life (Eph. 2:5). It’s a great loss to think that grace is just for “sinners”, for Christians need grace too (see entry for Acts 13:43). We are defined by the grace of God that both saves us and keeps us (1 Pet. 5:10). Grace builds us up (Acts 20:32) and empowers us to do good works (Gal. 2:9). Grace trains us (see entry for Tit. 2:11), makes us fruitful (Col. 1:6), and prospers us (2 Cor. 8:9, 9:8). Grace gives us hope (2 Th. 2:6) and enables us to reign in life (Rom. 5:21).

There is no gospel other than the gospel of grace (see entry for Acts 20:24). The gospel of grace or the word of grace (Acts 20:32) is synonymous with the gospel of Jesus for Jesus is the embodiment of the Father’s grace (see entry for 1 Cor. 1:4). The grace of God comes to us through Jesus (John 1:14, 17), and we grow in grace by growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18).

Prior to the cross, Jesus preached the law to those under the law. But as the herald of the new covenant (Mal. 3:1), he also revealed radical grace. He began his ministry by announcing the favor of God (Luke 4:19) and he concluded it by giving us the greatest demonstration of unconditional love the world has ever seen (Rom. 5:8). In between these two peaks of grace, he preached good news to the poor, he loved sinners, he forgave and healed those who had done nothing to deserve God’s favor (see entry for Luke 23:34), and he told stories of radical grace – of lost sheep and lost sons, and kings who invited beggars to banquets. Best of all, he revealed a God who loves us like a Father and who asks for nothing in return other than we trust him.

GRACE COMES BY FAITH

Grace is a gift freely offered to all (Eph. 3:7, 4:7, Tit. 2:11) and is received by faith alone (see entry for Eph. 2:8). There is nothing we can do to earn God’s grace (Rom. 11:6, 2 Tim: 1:9). Keeping the law does not qualify us for grace but can cause us to fall from grace (Gal. 2:21, 5:4).

We make grace of no effect when we combine it with anything other than faith. “You are saved by grace but maintain your position through right-living,” is an example of a mixed-grace message. “God gives you grace so that you can keep his commands,” is another. These sorts of messages contain an element of grace but ultimately push you to trust in yourself and your own efforts.

Any mixed-grace message can be recognized by the presence of carrots and sticks. Carrots are the blessings you get for obedience; sticks are the penalties you pay for disobedience. Bite into any mixed-grace message and you will taste a bitter fruit. You will feel the pressure to perform and smell the fear that comes with failure. You’ll make promises to God and then you’ll break them. You’ll resolve to try harder only to fail again and again. Since a mixed-grace message puts the emphasis on you and what you have done, your identity will become defined by your productivity. You will start to think of yourself as God’s servant instead of his beloved son or daughter. Worst of all, you will end up distracted from Jesus and fallen from grace.

Another way we can miss the grace of God is to think that grace gives us a license to sin (Jude 1:4). God’s grace is greater than our sin and empowers us to say no to ungodliness (Rom. 5:20, Tit. 2:11-12). But if we use our freedom to run back into the prison of sin, we have missed the point of grace (see entry for Rom. 6:1).

GRACE AND WORKS

You may have heard that God gives us grace in order to do good works, but this is misleading. God gives you grace because he loves you. The issue is not what you’ll do for God but what you’ll let him do for you. Will you trust him a little bit or will you trust him the whole way? Does his grace merely get you in the front door or does it keep you safe to the very end?

“Grace is irresponsible for it says we have no responsibility to do anything. We have a duty to serve the Lord.” In the mouth of a mixed-grace preacher, words like responsibility and duty are the cattle-prods of performance-based Christianity. They convey a sense of obligation that can leave you debt-conscious rather than grace-conscious. The idea that you are obliged to repay Jesus for his priceless sacrifice is ludicrous. What can you give him in consideration for his grace? There is nothing. The instant you give him anything, it ceases to be grace. Your part in this is to receive from the abundance of his grace. Your only “duty” is to say, “Thank you, Jesus!”

Others have said that grace is a soft gospel for soft Christians. “Grace promotes passivity and laziness.” This was not Paul’s experience: “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Cor. 15:10). Grace doesn’t make people lazy; it makes them supernaturally fruitful. In contrast with the law that provides no aid to those who trust it, grace makes us soar. As John Bunyan said, “Far better news the gospel brings, it bids us fly and gives us wings.”

In a mixed-grace environment you will feel the pressure to perform and live up to the expectations of others. But walk under grace and you find there is no pressure, only the freedom to be who God made you to be. Manmade religion will tell you that you have a responsibility to deliver results for the Lord, but your only responsibility is to shine as a dearly-loved child of God.

THE HYPERGRACE GOSPEL

The New Testament epistle writers used big words to describe the grace of God. Paul spoke of the super-abundance of God’s grace (Rom. 5:15, 5:17, 2 Cor. 9:8) and often used the adjective huper– or hyper- when discussing grace (see entry for Rom. 5:20; see also Eph. 2:7, 2 Cor. 9:14, 1 Tim. 1:14). Hyper which means over, above, and beyond. To put it in context, Paul also uses hyper-words for describing God’s power and love (Eph. 1:19, 3:19). God’s grace is as great as his power. It’s as limitless as his love.

What is hypergrace? Hypergrace is extreme grace. It’s the over-the-top super-abounding grace described by the original hypergrace preachers.

John spoke of receiving grace upon grace from the fullness of God’s supply (John 1:16). Saying God is full of grace, is like saying the ocean is full of waves. “Grace upon grace” means God can bless you with wave after wave of grace and never run out.

Peter wrote about the grace that comes from “the God of all grace” (1 Pet. 5:10) and prayed that his grace would be yours to the “fullest measure” or in increasing abundance (1 Pet. 1:2). Just as you can’t travel to the edge of the universe, you will never find the limit of God’s grace.

James, one of the most misunderstood writers in the New Testament, had a wonderful grasp of grace. He spoke of a God who gives and gives, which is a picture of unending grace (Jas. 1:17). “God gives a greater grace” (Jas. 4:6). The original word for greater is derived from the Greek word megas. God gives us mega-grace. James is literally saying that God gives us “exceedingly, great, high, large, loud, and mighty grace!”

Is hypergrace biblical? To suggest that God’s grace is less than hyper is unbiblical, even blasphemous. It’s like saying God is good but he’s not that good, he’s wise but not that wise. Diminish grace and you diminish God. The gospel of grace declares that the One who sits upon the throne of grace is exceedingly rich in grace and his inexhaustible grace is never diminished no matter how much we draw upon it.

Everything about the grace of God is extreme or hyper because your heavenly Father loves you with a great love that cannot be measured (Eph. 3:17-19). Because his love is great, his grace is great (Eph. 2:4). His love for you is greater than you can conceive or imagine. If you think you have a handle on the grace of God, you don’t. His love and grace surpass knowledge. However grand or over-the-top you imagine his grace to be, his grace is greater still!