Wednesday, February 29, 2012


Rom 8:38,39  "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

The steadfast assurance of God's love and future grace, does not lead to arrogance or superiority. It is all of God and we humbly strive under that grace to be found worthy of God's love. 

Have you ever had a brother or sister, close friend, or even a parent, who will not come to faith? It is an agony, to know that it only takes a turn of the hearts affection, yet there is only resistance. Sometimes even enmity and antagonistic defiance. 
You wish with all your heart, even to the point of be willing to exchanging places, that they would come to know the grace of God. He is Absolute Love. There is only one that could make that exchange. He is Absolute Love.

His love has now taken over your heart and it grieves for the broken relationship. Especially difficult is one who seemed to walk in relationship with Jesus and now despises that relationship. They have walked away. 


Rom 9:1-5  "I am speaking the truth in Christ--I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit-- that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen." 

Questions abound? Why? How? 

They will be answered. 

He is Absolute Love. Not even your anguish over others unrepentant hearts can separate you from His love. 

 

Tuesday, February 28, 2012


Rom 8:28-30  "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."

 The twin truths that are; 1. God is the one working in us to see salvation through to glorification-sanctification; and, 2. We must struggle with all our might to be obedient through faith and purify our hearts amid that struggle. 
Knowing that it is all of grace and that God will see us through it is the very believe that enables our hearts to not faint or fold. 

If He is for us no one or no thing can be against us. He is Absolute Love. Nothing can separate us from Him and His love. 

Rom 8:31-36  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?  Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 

Through His love we conquer and over come all obstacles. 

Rom 8:37-39  "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

I highly recommend the book "FUTURE GRACE" by John Piper below is an excerpt.
"What emerges... is that faith is the God appointed means of justification and sanctification because, better than any other act, it highlights the freedom of grace and magnifies the glory of God. It does this because, at its heart, faith in future grace means being satisfied with all that God promises to be for us in Jesus. This kind of faith magnifies God because God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. 
... faith and love are are the conditions a Christian meets in order to go on enjoying the benefits of future grace. But faith and love are not conditions in the same way. Faith perceives the glory of God in the promises of future grace, and embraces all that God promises to be for us in Jesus. This spiritual apprehension and delight in God is the self-authenticating evidence that God has called us to be beneficiaries of His grace. This evidence frees us to bank on the promises as our own. And this banking on the promises empowers us to love others, which in turn confirms our faith is real. Thus faith is the bottom line condition that unites us to the power of future grace; and love is a condition only in confirming the reality of this faith."  Piper, John,  The Purifying Power of Living by Faith in FUTURE GRACE ,Multnomah Books, Sisters, Oregon. 1995 p. 19


2Co 5:14-17  "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.  From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 



Monday, February 27, 2012


Rom 8:26-30  "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."
It is a tragedy and scandal that this passage is often read or expounded upon without connection of one thought to another. 
The Spirit of God intercedes, in weakness, sometimes apart from words. Even when we cannot find the words in our weakness and sin. The Spirit intercedes according to the will of God. He is Absolute Love. In the midst of weakness, groaning, suffering and all temporal loss, God has foreknown and predestined our completion in becoming again the full image of God, in the molding of us as clay into the image of His Son. 
In the taking part in a real sense in Christs' sufferings- that is, learning to let go of the temporal and gaining a full love towards God, is the work of God in our lives. He is Absolute love He has started it in us and will complete it. Our justification all the way through to our glorification is a work of The Spirit, by the loving will of God, through the gift of faith. "The faith that leads to obedience" 
It is all of God. So therefore fight as hard as you can!
Gal 3:1-3  "O foolish Galatians!" {21st century church}"Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" 
Sanctification is all the work of the Spirit, that we must work hard towards. 
It is all of God, He is Absolute Love. Pursue it with all passion! 
Heb 12:14  "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." 



Sunday, February 26, 2012


"(1.) there is no good communicated unto us from God, but it is bestowed on us or wrought in us by the Holy Ghost. No gift, no grace, no mercy, no privilege, no consolation, do we receive, possess, or use, but it is wrought in us, collated on us, or manifested unto us, by him alone. Nor, (2.) is there any good in us towards God, any faith, love, duty, obedience, but what is effectually wrought in us by him, by him alone; for "in us, that is, in our flesh" (and by nature we are but flesh), "there dwelleth no good thing.""

Owen, John (2010-03-23). John Owen on the Holy Spirit (Kindle Locations 3222-3226). Unknown. Kindle Edition.

Blogs to resume on Monday

Saturday, February 25, 2012


"The economy of the blessed Trinity in the work of our redemption and salvation is respected in this order of things. The fountain hereof lies in the love, wisdom, grace, and counsel of the Father. Whatever is done in the pursuit hereof is originally the gift of the Father, because it is designed unto no other end but to make his grace effectual. Hence is he said to send and give his Son also. And the whole work of the Holy Ghost, as our sanctifier, guide, comforter, and advocate, is to make the love of the Father effectual unto us, John xvi. 13, 14."

Owen, John (2010-03-23). John Owen on the Holy Spirit (Kindle Locations 2241-2245). Unknown. Kindle Edition.

Blogs to resume Monday

Friday, February 24, 2012

Rom 8:26-28  "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." 
Loss is the reality of a life focused on the temporal.
Loss of position and prestige, loss of loved ones, loss of possessions, loss of health and vigor. All around us is temporal. 
Yes, and we are weak, though continually trying to hold ourselves out as strong. 
Yet, even this, our weakness and need is turned into goodness toward us by the love given through the Father. He is Absolute Love.
"...as the state of perfection, which consists in the perfect love of God and contempt for self, cannot exist unless it have these two parts, which are the knowledge of God and of oneself, the soul has of necessity to be practised first in the one and then the other, now given to taste of the one-that is, exaltation-and now being made to experience the other-that is, humiliation...
This, as we have said, is an infused and loving knowledge of God, which enlightens the soul and at the same time en-kindles it with love, until it is raised up step by step, even unto God its Creator. For it is love alone that unites and joins the soul with God." 
"Dark Night of the Soul" by St. John of the Cross; cica 1542-1591Translated and Edited by E. Allison Peers, Third Edition Image Books A Division of Doubleday  Garden City, New York 1959
Jas 4:10  "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."

Thursday, February 23, 2012


Rom 8:14-17  "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." 

It has become clear now that even when it is difficult and we are straining with all of our might to follow after God, it is the Spirit of God who is leading and enabling our efforts. For the life of God lived in the Spirit is a life of strife. Neither our own sinful nature, nor the destroyer of souls will let us go easily. 
Paul, Peter, John and James are all in agreement having learned from Jesus and from life that suffering of many types bring about the character of Absolute love within believers. There are many tests and many triumphs to live in before glorification, but it is all a work of grace by the Spirit. 

Rom 8:18-22  "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope  that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now." 

Being born again is painful, it comes with groaning! What we hope for and believe in is already-but not yet! We are saved but the salvation is yet to be realized. It takes patience and perseverance to realize. 

Mat 24:12,13  "And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." 
1Co_13:7  "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 

"Groaning too deep for words"! Have you experienced it? The Spirit intercedes, the blood of Christ intercedes and the God of love listens, hears and intercedes. Soli Deo Gloria-to the Glory of God alone. 

Rom 8:23-27  "And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." 

I would recommend to all who are serious about knowing and following God, along with the puritan giants of John Owen and Jonathan Edwards, they read Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. 
"Dark Night of the Soul" by St John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila on prayer will drive you deeper in to the presence of Absolute Love. 

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Rom 8:1,2  "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." 

No condemnation! What a freeing, exhilarating sense to have no condemnation. It is not the absence of law but a revived spirit of being alive to the perfect law of love. 

Rom 8:3,4  "For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." 

God did it for us, condemned sin enabling the law to be fulfilled in us. Not an abolishing of the law a fulfilling of the law. The law was always a law of grace, no dichotomy between the law of God and grace, grace upon grace. Here is where the truth becomes evident. Though God's love is conditional- He is the one who fulfills the condition for, in and through us. Love is not thwarted and law is not abolished-Love is both forgiving and pure- God is absolute light-there is no darkness in Him and He is Absolute Love. That God is the fulfill-er and the fulfillment is mystery-truth wrapped in mystery. As Paul stated; "work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." Grace upon grace, flowing from Him, in and through us. So it is not only have you died, but also are you alive? You become alive through submission to Jesus Christ, being brought to life by the Spirit, a life open to the Absolute Love of God.

Rom 8:5-  "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." 

This law of absolute love is now lived as a debt, a debt to live according to the Spirit of God in you. How do we know the Spirit of God is there? The Spirit of Love is prompting and permitting you to put away sinful deeds, being made alive to Absolute Love. 

Rom 8:9-13  "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.  But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.  For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." 

A Spirit in you that knows your Dad, who you are and where you belong! Welcome Home. The Absolute Love is waiting for you, why have you not surrendered yet?  He is calling you, He is Absolute Love.

Rom 8:14,15  "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 

 His comfort and love await.  

Tuesday, February 21, 2012


Rom 7:4  "Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God." 

A sense of belonging, being a part of and one with another is what we all long for in relationship. We were made for relationship. Loving, caring relationship. This is what our redemption in Christ has brought us into, not a written code like a marriage certificate, but in the spirit of people who love each other. I would sacrifice anything for my wife -except my relationship with Jesus- He is Absolute Love. 
Is the current debate over who should be granted the rights of civil union a matter of religious and anti-religious captivity to fleshly desire? I think arguments could be made both ways. I do believe that the state should nor discriminate for or against any religion. Law is a means of protection and service to all lawful citizens, but a means of punishment to law breakers. A type of wide eyed grace and a  blind judge. Captivity by grace and within grace relieves us from judgment. He is the Absolute Love.
Have you died? 

Rom 7:5,6  "For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.  But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code." 

This doesn't mean that the law is in any way negative, but the magnifying glass of law, focuses in on our weakness and rebellion outside of grace. 
For Paul this was especially pointed, His adherence to the Law, His zealous concern for the law, deceived him into thinking it was a following of the law to kill the followers of Jesus. He lost sight of the spirit of the law, within the letter of the law. This is the trap of all who try to climb to God through works of the law. The Spirit of Absolute Love is replaced by our own attempts for recognition. 

Rom 7:7-12  "What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet." But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.  I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good." 

Was it the Law then, that caused sin? No! Paul wanted to do what was right in pleasing God. Getting caught up in that zealous desire for recognition from God and others, the law was used by His desires to do the opposite of the law. "Do not commit murder." "Do not bear false witness." Going so far as to not even recognizing who  God is: "Who are you Lord?"
Much of that kind of law keeping is in the modern day church, but the Law of God continues to proclaim it's goodness, through us. 

Rom 7:13-16  "Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.  For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good." 

Here then, is where all true believers come. The closer you get to God, through the Spirit by a faithful relationship to Jesus- the more and more you get a sense of your own sinfulness. 
As in the loving relationship with my wife, i more and more find I want to encourage her, hug her, tell her how much I care, but  I fail to do so. 
I want to serve the law of God and show how deeply appreciative of the relationship I have with Him in Christ, yet I am weak and sinful in my trying. The journey into Absolute love has only begun it is not completed. 


Rom 7:17-23  "So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.  For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,  but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members." 

I cry out in need and He is there behind the cry, He is Absolute Love. 

Rom 7:24, 25  "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin." 

Monday, February 20, 2012


Rom 6:22,23  "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Our Pastor had a good discussion on the connection between good works and faith today. The question of what we owe to others is relatively simple-to offer grace and forgiveness. It has been freely given to us and in no way can we earn God's love and forgiveness-it is a free gift. The question though is what do we owe God, not as a wage but as to honor, glory and the "obedience of faith"-sanctification-purity-cleansing, this is all a matter of living by faith. This is the phrase used by Paul at the beginning and end of this letter to the Romans. "Obedience of faith" do you catch the interaction between faith and works?
Now in metaphor being faithful in marriage is likened to our being under the law. Law is there to protect and to serve. Law breakers should understand the sense of severity in punishment. In relation to marriage in the sense of reflecting the relationship of God to His people, divorce or even separation is stepping outside of the safety of covenant into the severe punishment of disobedience. Often that punishment is not from outside ourselves but  from the direct consequence of living in sin-a sinful life, sinful choices,entrap us in disgrace and ruin. 
The grace of staying in the marriage, being gracious and forgiving wrong, is what the vows of marriage are all about. No marriage is perfect or without relational difficulties, but the binding of that vow of love-if taken seriously, will carry a couple by grace through sickness and health, wealth and want. Jesus said the granting of divorce by Moses was only because of our hardness of heart. 
We are so far from the Absolute Love!

Rom 7:1-3  "Or do you not know, brothers--for I am speaking to those who know the law--that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress." 

The question before us now as we move further into Romans 7 is, have you died? If we have died we are no longer under law. No, not that we are lawless-but through death to sin and being made alive in Christ the law is fulfilled. The perfect law of love, in which there is no fear of punishment. The slavery to sin and the severity of punishment for sin is swallowed up in the sacrifice, death, burial, resurrection and triumph of Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah, Isa Al Masih. He is Absolute Love. We are enabled to give ourselves fully-completely to God, in Absolute love.



Sunday, February 19, 2012


"The real objection to modernism is simply that it is a form of snobbishness. It is an attempt to crush a rational opponent not by reason, but by some mystery of superiority, by hinting that one is specially up to date or particularly "in the know." .... To introduce into philosophical discussions a sneer at a creed's antiquity is like introducing a sneer at a lady's age. It is caddish because it is irrelevant."

Chesterton, G. K. (Gilbert Keith) (2004-03-01). All Things Considered (p. 2). Public Domain Books. Kindle Edition.

Blogs will resume Monday.

Saturday, February 18, 2012


"One of the great disadvantages of hurry is that it takes such a long time."

Chesterton, G. K. (Gilbert Keith) (2004-03-01). All Things Considered (p. 2). Public Domain Books. Kindle Edition.

Blogs will resume Monday.

Friday, February 17, 2012


There is a reason to think of ourselves as dead and reflect that in the obedience of baptism. Faith is not only mental ascent, faith comes from a real death transaction Christ's death for and in us. A real transformation from thinking this life is everything, to knowing the life to come  is everything. The power of the old life was an enslavement. By the love of God through the power of the Holy Spirit in applying the sacrifice of the Son we are set free from the enslavement of sin. He is Absolute Love.

Rom 6:6,7  "We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  For one who has died has been set free from sin." 

That Jesus had to die to sin is a mystery. He was made to be sin for us. He willingly and gladly threw off that sin. It forced separation from the Father. He is alive forevermore now living to the Father and reigning with the Father. 

Rom 6:8-10  "Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God." 

Grace now has overtaken us, we live under grace, grace guides and keeps us.How are going to present yourself to God and others now? Is grace a reality in your life?

Rom 6:11-14  "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.  Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.  For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." 

The path to purity, wholeness and fulfillment is now clear, be set apart for God. Only one master now, only obedient to becoming like Him. He is Absolute Love.

Rom 6:15-19 "What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?  But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,  and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification." 

There is only reaping life or death. Death a wage paid, it involves a lot of hard work and the repayment is worthless. Life a free gift, take it, receive it, by grace, through faith. 

Rom 6:20-23  "For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.  But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Thursday, February 16, 2012


If you understand the step of obedience undertaken by baptism, you understand that it is to die. Living only to the glory of the Absolute Love.

Rom 6:3  "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" 

This death is not a sacrifice, it is a discovery of new-abundant-everlasting life.

Rom 6:4  "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." 

Yes, eternal life, walking now in newness, then resurrected to ever increasing newness. There is no boredom in the presence of the Absolute love. He makes all things new. 

Rom 6:5  "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." 

Wednesday, February 15, 2012


Rom 5:10,11  "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." 

Adam fully reconciled and in fellowship with the Absolute Love. Harmony, peace and fulfillment. His sin was not like ours, we intuitively, instinctively are caught in sin, a nature of sin. Don't misunderstand we are not excused, there is no excuse. We also sin willingly, we choose sin when we can see through nature and God's patient mercy that God is good, He is Absolute Love. 
Adam was there, in touch, fully aware, the fall, terrible consequence. He was a type of the perfect man, now fulfilled by the 'the only begotten son". What Adam threw away, Jesus restored. The consequence of death overthrown by the resurrection. Given freely, but not unconditional, costly and demanding.

Rom 5:12-14 "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned--  for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come." 

The consequence of the fall, death reigning! The consequence of the suffering, death, burial, resurrection and reign of Jesus-life reigning in and through Him! Adam brought the consequence of death, Jesus gives the gift of eternal life. He is Absolute Love.

Rom 5:15-19  "But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous." 

As sin and death entered, laws increased. Law was the grace that stepped in as a tutor until the teacher wrote on our hearts. Yet the law only served to increase the rebellion of our heart. That's what rebels do, rebel! The work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit together planned to inscribe the law of love on our hearts now. The grace of God now reigning in our hearts to act in righteousness and justice. 

Rom 5:20,21  "Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." 

It could never be that within this union, Father, Spirit, Jesus and our-self that we would embrace and enjoy living in sin. You have either died to sin and the allure of rebellion is waning or you are still living in it. Get off the fence! You are not fooling God, He searches the thoughts and intentions. You are not fooling your friends or family. You are fooling yourself, don't play the fool. 

Rom 6:1,2  "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" 

It can't be done. It is death to try to serve two masters.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012


The obedience of faith to the Absolute Love is a means of grace by which we live within the justification obtained for us by Jesus, Isa, Yeshua. Living in this state of justification brings peace, we are at peace with God-the Absolute Love. No longer walking in enmity as rebels warring against an immovable absolute love.
Instead we now rejoice in the hope of God's glory alone, above ourselves, above all else, joy in the glory of God. He is Absolute Love.

Rom 5:1,2  "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

More?      Rejoicing in suffering?      Why?
Sufferings under the grace of faith no longer produce cursing, blaspheming, turning away from God to find our own way. No sufferings cause an enduring faith, a means of perseverance. A greater opportunity to further identify with and glorify The Absolute Love.

Rom 5:3  "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,"

Through endurance in love, within suffering, by faith, through grace we now are being developed into the very character of love. As love wells up and increases, hope is ignited and blazes to an unquenchable glow within.

Rom 5:4  "and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,"

All of grace, all of God, all of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us through the power of God in the purifying power of death, burial and resurrection of our Lord, Yahweh, Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah, Isa Al Masih. 

Rom 5:5  and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 

Fully forgiven, fully at peace, reconciled and received by The Absolute Love.
Rom 5:6-11  "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." 


Monday, February 13, 2012

It is interesting that Judaism, Christianity and Islam all claim a special relationship to Abraham. There is no connection outside of faith. For lineage or heritage were no means of boasting for Abraham. The only connection can be a softhearted, humble, full surrender of obedience to the Absolute Love. 

Rom 4:1-3  "What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.  For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."

Faith counts God's love and mercy as a gift of grace. It is so strange that someone would want to turn their acceptance into a chain of work whereby they would earn a wage. It could never happen. There would never be enough earnings to pay for our ungodliness. The only path is free flowing forgiveness from the Absolute Love.

Rom 4:4-8  "Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,  just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin." 

So we know from the example of Abraham that it is only faith, not any outward sign like circumcision, or baptism or praying toward Mecca or any pious act that brings about God's acceptance. 

Rom 4:9-25  "Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.  For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.  That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring--not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,  as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be."  He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.  No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,  fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone,  but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,  who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." 

That the Holy Scriptures declare "Abraham's faith was counted to him as righteousness", this is for our benefit, in order that, as we identify with Abraham we know that identity is only in a like kind faith; a faith that results in obedience. Faith in the Absolute Love. The identity of Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah, Isa Al Masih.

Sunday, February 12, 2012


So is it any advantage to go to church and be brought up in a home that honors God? Of course, though religious pride is a trap and can choke out the life of the Spirit, our sinful tendencies does not eliminate the power of the Word of God. They more and more highlight the mercy, grace and love of God. It is just this fact that we know the truth of God and His Absolute Love, yet we act in very unloving, hardhearted ways that shows us that God would be just in His wrath towards us. We even go to the point of saying why don't we magnify the love of God by acting in unloving ways. Doesn't this show how perverted our thinking has become?

Rom 3:1-8  "Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?  By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged." But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)  By no means! For then how could God judge the world?  But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?--as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just." 

This doesn't mean that we are better for being religious and attending to worship. No, it means that our hearts are so deceptive that worship doesn't cause us to be more humble and surrendered to God or more loving and tender of heart. Instead we say to God "look at all I am doing for you, you must surely have to accept me"! Also we say to others; "look at how good I am, I am surely better than you"! By judging other and not fearing God we show how unrighteous we really are. 

Rom 3:9-20  "What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;  no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."  Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.  For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." 

So the only way back to the reflection of God's absolute loving image is by accepting the gracious gift of Jesus Christs cleansing sacrifice by His death and resurrection and by faith receiving it for ourselves. Acknowledging God's mercy and justice in our condemnation and His justification of laying all of our guilt on Jesus, Yeshua, Isa- He is Absolute Love. 

Rom 3:21-26  "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of,  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." 

All superiority and judgment is gone. The amazing Absolute Love has made a way to uphold justice and accept us in the righteousness of Christ. It doesn't matter who you are a religious self-righteous bigot or a person who has rejected or never heard of the one God. No place for boasting is left to you. He is Absolute Love.  

Rom 3:27-31  "Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.  For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one--who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law." 

Saturday, February 11, 2012


If you are a religious person, beware. There is great danger in thinking that your religion sets you above others. Pride in or reliance on our attempts to please God which trample down other people in our hearts is poison and a trap. Our very religious activity can become a dishonor, an abhorrence to God. 

Rom 2:17-24  "But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,  an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth--  you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?  You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.  For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." 

Out ward signs of commitment to God are only beneficial if they reflect our heart. It is an awful place to live a lie, to be duplicitous. It tears one apart and increases the darkness with ourselves. Sometimes it is is only you who know that your actions and values do not match.

Rom 2:25-27  "For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law."

Outward religious observance, then, whether you are a follower of Islam, Christianity, Judaism or any other way that you believe is a way to God. Realize that you are in grave danger and in need of heart transformation. 

Rom 2:28-27  "For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God." 

There is one way to wholeness, unity with the Absolute Love. 
1Co 2:2-16  "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.  None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"--  these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.  For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.  The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ." 

Friday, February 10, 2012

Rom 2:2  "We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things." 
I have heard it over and over. Disbelief! "God certainly loves everyone, doesn't He."  "

A loving God will not judge severely or send anyone to eternal punishment." It is a non-argument a cry for mercy, because we all know that we deserve the judgment of God. If it would fall on us it would be right and fitting. 
When we judge others harshly without mercy and the offer of gracious forgiveness, we presume upon the mercy and grace of God. All of God's patience from Eden until now is a patient offer of forgiveness in exchange for repentance, faith and obedience. 

Rom 2:3-4  "Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" 

The persistence of judgment the holding onto hard hardheartedness is storing up wrath and anger for us. He is not partial. We should not assume that we have any advantage over anyone else. No matter where we are born, what church or religious observance we undertake, we all are under the same curtse, none of us is good enough to attain the standard of Absolute Love.

Rom 2:5-12  "But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.  He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.  There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law."

 The law of Absolute Love written on our hearts, overflowing from a connected relationship with the Absolute Love. Overflowing with grace and mercy, displaying repentance and humility. These are the characteristics of God, they only come from God and are hardly noticed by the person who focuses on the Absolute Love of God, for they overflow through God, they are not of ourselves.  

Rom 2:13-16  "For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.  They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus."

Jesus, Yeshua, Isa; He is Absolute Love. Forgiveness freely offered. Will you surrender and live the life of repentance?

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Rom 1:24-25  "Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. "

Why would the Absolute Love let this happen? Don't you hear this all the time. Instead of people and our lustful passions, anger and hatred being the cause of wars, murders and violence, we blame God. We exchanged the duty of honoring Christ, for the harsher duty of serving our flesh. We desire fulfillment but never look for it in the one who fulfills. 
No sexual intercourse is not wrong, it is a creation of God, meant for pleasure, we pervert the act and are never satiated. Yes there are consequences for this perversion.This error in judgment. This deception of the heart and understanding. 

Rom 1:26, 27  "For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error." 

We now; in this web of deception, this exchange of truth for lies; are inundated with the result of the exchange. Have you ever been covetous, even envious, ever gossip or slander, ever boastful, act heartless or disobeyed your parents. 
It is not right to point to something you might feel is wrong- like homosexuality-then feel superior or righteous because that isn't our part of the exchange. Religion and moral superiority can be just as heinous an exchange. Any goodness of man falls short. 


Rom 1:28-31  "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. "

The only thing left, apart from humble repentance and falling back on the everlasting, absolute love of God, is to live in approval of what we know is wrong-self-justification. We say; "it is no worse than what the other person did." "I am no worse than the next person" "It doesn't matter, I'm not harming anyone else"  "What is done in private is my own business." and "They deserved it." 
All the while we know, how unloving these actions and attitudes are, how unlike the image of God we have become. He is Absolute Love. 

Rom 1:32  "Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." 

There are no excuses left to give, when we come to give an account of ourselves, before the Absolute Love. 

Rom 2:1  "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things." 

Fall on Him and be saved, He is Absolute Love.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

The exchange of the absolute for the temporal, who would do that? Exchanging immortal glory for others feigned approval, no one would do that. Exchanging the Absolute Love for fleeting passions, marred images and things that creep around looking to deceive. This is unimaginable, but so true of our lives. 
We live in disdain of the loving creator and worship those things that can never bring satisfaction. Thus insatiability controls and drives us ever farther from peace and love. 

Rom 1:22-23  "Claiming to be wise, they became fools,  and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things."

It is our choice you know, and we all have chosen it. We love other things and our own independence more than we love God. God is Absolute Love He must be loved completely, in the purity of His Holiness. It is an unyielding requirement yet it is a requirement.  

Rom 1:24-25  "Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen." 

Is this all too dark for you? Too horrifying to think of about yourself, your family members, the people around you? This reality is the beginning of hope-repentance. But could God forgive us of this?
A glimmer of hope- good news.  

Our pastor did a great job illustrating this last week. 



Rom 5:6-8  "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Don't forget the contrast between our choice and God's choice. He is Absolute Love. 


Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The Absolute Love of God is revealed in the gospel-good news-; it is that God is Absolute Love. From the very beginning of time God has been planning-orchestrating the perfect act of Love, that if accepted through faith; a faith that has looked forward or now is a response to love, results in cleansing, new life, a returning to Absolute Love.

Rom 1:15-17  "So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.   For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." 

The good news starts with bad news, starts from the truth, reveals he dire and ugly nature of our always  wanting to suppress the truth of God's absolute sovereign beauty, goodness and love. Wouldn't that make anyone angry, that people who were your very creation would be fooled, deceived by the lie that there was something more desirable than absolute goodness- absolute love?

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 

It is not hidden!
{Psa 19:1-7  "To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.  There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,  which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat."} 

Rom 1:19-20  "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

The awful truth, the unimaginable truth- though we know God-everyone of us-rather than live for Him or honor and glorify Him-we drive ourselves into futility of mind and darkness of heart. We think of ourselves as something and nothing at the same time! Something we are not-we are not the pinnacle, we are not the final word, we are not the deciders of ultimacy. Yet in our darkness we are not mere matter or beasts, we are children and image bearers. It is lunacy to think that we could really discover our true selves outside of Absolute Love.

Rom 1:21-23  "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things."

So where is  the good news in all of that? Faith. Faith in what?
Stay with me-it will come- we will follow the message of the gospel- but don't lose track of this- we need good news and it is really good news in light of our plight in this life.
He is Absolute Love.

Monday, February 6, 2012


The turn around of a zealous follower of Judaism, a rabbi, the star student of Gamaliel, one of the most brilliant students of the Tanahk a defender of the faith. He was a murderer and stanch opponent of the followers of Yeshua, Jesus, Isa.
Yet, in a dramatic turn around, now a follower, a servant, a person willing to die to tell others of the risen, reigning Christ, Messiah, Masih. 
He was taken over by and taken by the Absolute Love. Never to be the same.

Rom 1:1  "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God," 

Paul, if he knew anything, he knew the scriptures, It was His whole life, He dedicated Himself to the knowledge and defense of God's written Word. 

Rom 1:2=4  "which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, "

Through Jesus Paul personally experienced the grace and the personal mission of bringing the message of loving obedience to those who did not know of God's absolute love, to the nations. This message would change the world. It would bring many to the obedience of faith, for faith in Absolute love changes the very direction of a persons life. A life changed from the appetites of obeying the flesh, to "Desiring God". 
Thank you for the phrase John Piper. 

Rom 1:5-7  "through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." 

To all of you loved by God, grace and peace to you, from the Absolute Love.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Exo 3:14  God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" 

Absolute love is renewing all things daily. Come to Him and and have your thirst quenched.

Rev 21:5,6  "And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment." 

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Exo 3:14  God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Absolute Love is jealous for pure unadulterated love. There are real consequences to rebellion and unbelief. He searches the thoughts and intentions. 

Rev 2:19-23  "'I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.  Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works."

It is eternally worth fighting the battle, the reward of Absolute love is unimaginable.  


Rev 2:26-29 " "The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,  and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches

Your heart and mind are the battlefield, guard them

Php 4:4-7  "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

Friday, February 3, 2012

Exo 3:14  "God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

The eternal Absolute Love, was, is and shall forever be, Love is, therefore Love exists.

Rev 1:8  "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

He died for us, that we may live forever, because He is alive forevermore. He is Absolute Love. He holds the key to eternal life life. 
Rev 1:12-18  "Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.  In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades."

Get the Book.
http://www.amazon.com/Absolute-Love-R-I-Willroth/dp/1449718396

Thursday, February 2, 2012


Exo 3:14  "God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" 
His death was planned and sealed only by Him. He was Absolute Love and no one could take His life, but He could lay it down. The horrid death of crucifixion was chosen, it could not have happened any other way at any other time. 

Joh 18:29-32  "So Pilate went outside to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered him, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you."  Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death."  This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die." 

Absolute Love has a purpose, to be glorified as king of the universe. To overflow in absolute love to those who hear and listen.

Joh 18: 33-38 "So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"  Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?"  Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." 
Joh 12:25  "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." 

Wednesday, February 1, 2012


Exo 3:14  "God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" 
Life cannot be sustained apart from the source of life. Satan tempts with the call, "you will not surely die". Death entered the world and is the reality of Our separation from God. There is only one way to reconnect with the Absolute Love. Isa, Jesus, Yeshua he is the true vine. Abide-Abide-Abide.

Joh 15:1-8  "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." 

Absolute love has one single command, one condition for experiencing absolute love- it is non negotiable! If you keep it you will find joy immeasurable and full-abide-abide-abide. The call to stray or wander is strong, compelling, but it is a lie. Love one another as Jesus loved you, because you are abiding in His love. He is Absolute love.

Joh 15:9-14  "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you." 

Is what your attached to disappearing, temporal?
Mat 10:38-40  "And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me."