There are many teachings about the authority of the believer and the grace of God. Both of these subjects remain on my heart. So I asked God what message He wanted me to teach about. God’s reply was “My people are walking around in defeat, because they don’t realize the authority I have given them, by My Grace, as believers”. Then He told me to teach on both of these subjects as He inspired me to write it. This will probably be a four part blog. So here is Part 1.
I’m always surprised at how God instructs me to teach. I was certain He would have me go to the Pauline books and reveal this teaching to me from there, but He impressed me to start with Matthew 28:16-20.
Let me just say that when you have eyes to see the grace of God throughout the entirety of His Word, you will find the true Grace message in every book of the bible. It requires a revelation and study. We must learn to view the law through the eyes of grace, rather than grace through the eyes of the law.
Okay, now onto Matthew 28:16-20. Study that for yourself, but pay particular attention to verses 18 and 19. In those two verses, Jesus is telling his disciples that God has given Him “all authority in heaven and on earth”. Then right after making that declaration, He says to them – “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…”
What just happened here? God gave all authority to Jesus, therefore we have all authority. Wait a minute? How can you make that leap? Easy. Through study once again we see what Jesus said in John 17:18. He said “Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world”. Conclusion: We have been given the same authority God gave Jesus when He sent Him into the world. John 17 is the true Lord’s prayer, because it is Jesus speaking to the Father about us.
Still not convinced? Okay let’s look at another declared truth about us. Romans 8:17 says we are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus. We will be given all that He has given Jesus. Ephesians 2:19 says “So now you non-Jewish people are not visitors or strangers, but you are citizens together with God’s holy people. You belong to God’s family”. This is in the Easy to Read Version.
It says NOW we are no longer visitors or strangers. We are no longer foreigners the KJV says. Yet many people insist on trying to have relationship with God by keeping the law. By doing so, they are foreigners, because they are wanted back there in the land of the Old Covenant.
This scripture says we are fellow citizens or citizens together with God’s HOLY saints, and we are of the household of God. Why would God do that for us? Why would He grant us this fellow citizenship? How is this possible? All good questions. Lets go and find out.
Ephesians 2:13 – “Yes, at one time you were far away from God, but now in Christ Jesus, you are brought near to Him. You are brought near to God through the blood sacrifice of Christ”.
At one time you were….past tense. Oh hang on. Here comes another one of those big “buts” in the bible. “But now in Christ Jesus”. In whom? In Christ Jesus. It’s all in Him. In Him we ARE brought near to Him. It’s important to study the words used. That word “are” puts the sentence into a constant, right now, occurrence. So right now we are brought near, and right now we are brought near, and in 5 minutes we are brought near. It’s not past tense at this point, it is present continuous tense. We are constantly being brought near to Him.
How is this possible? Keep studying. We are brought near to Him through the blood sacrifice of Christ. God did something that works for everyone. Doesn’t matter what denomination you are. If you are saved by the blood, you have been and are being brought near to Him.
It stands to reason then that since we are of the household of God, we have authority over all the works of the enemy. We are armed and dangerous. More powerful than nuclear weapons. The problem is we don’t exercise that authority.
I’m convinced most Christians simply do not realize they have this authority. Or they have been falsely taught that they do not have authority. A lack of study to find the deeper truths of God’s great grace that reveals we have this authority, will keep you weak in faith. As you might imagine. All of the previous discussion now brings me to grace.
Most Christians don’t understand and believe how much God loves them. This failure to get the full revelation of how much God truly loves them, leaves them unable to believe he gave them all authority.
John 3:16 says God so loved the world, but some people God has to love from a distance. They are not yet part of the family. They are of their father the devil. God is not their father. God beholds the proud afar off. But now, in Christ Jesus, upon your conversion by virtue of your union with Christ, due to interest in him by faith, you are made near. All the benefits are yours. How is this possible? Well, the answer to that question will be revealed in part 2. Grace and Peace.
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