With me He keeps telling me to stop being in charge of my spiritual journey and just sit back and see what He has planned.
Human language is inherently transactional (if I do this, I get that). Biblical Hebrew and Greek were specifically chosen to woven together to break that transaction. The Bible wasn't written in the language of human rules. From Genesis to Revelation, the very vocabulary of the Spirit is designed to flow from a deep interior well outward, funded entirely by an unearned free gift.
Legalism always looks at the outward part. The leaves and bark (outward behavior) and tries to fix them manually.
In Hebrew especially, words are built on three-letter action roots that inherently describe movement, source, and life.
If you look at the DNA of biblical words, you realize you cannot have the fruit without the root. God never demands a behavior from the outside without first placing the source on the inside. Grace is the root; everything else is just the natural flow.
So legalists read scripture backwards. From the outside-in. It needs to be through the Spirit which is an inside-out.
OUTSIDE-IN is like trying to clean a muddy, dried-up well by polishing the stones on the outside. It is exhausting and changes nothing.
INSIDE-OUT is clearing the blockage so the underground spring can burst forth. The water cleans the stones on its way out.
When we read the Bible legalistically, we are polishing the outside of the vessel. But the entire vocabulary of scripture is about plumbing-opening up the fountain of the Holy Spirit inside us so it flows out naturally.
If you read the Bible assuming God is demanding something you have to manufacture on your own, it brings a heavy burden. But if we read it knowing that the power to do this is a free gift already placed in your heart, it automatically flows out-working out your salvation in real-time.
Scripture becomes so much sweeter and lighter the moment you apply the "inside-out" filter!
Forcing works out of hidden pride is lawlessness. Let the works flow naturally from the Holy Spirit inside-out.
Galatians 3:3, 5:22-23, Romans 10:3, Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 4:10, Matthew 7:22-23
2 Corinthians 6:17-is the definition of practicing righteousness. 1 Jn 2:29, 3:7,10
As Christ has put it, "the first shall be last and the last shall be first." Meaning that those who want to be first by exalting themselves to please God, will actually come in last place, because the last place people, who take a back seat in human performance by dropping their ego and pride and just letting the Spirit work out their salvation will actually be in first place.
Those who strive in human muscle to love Christ and please God the Father, do works that look holy, but in reality it is self righteousness.
Those who rest in Jesus look lazy, but it's the most active position because Christ is running the show.
THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST INVERSION FORMULA:
Why true Grace means dropping human muscle!
If you look at the world today, everything is built on human muscle, striving, and self promotion. We live in a society that tells us to build our own platforms, feed our egos, and chase after position so we can be "first." Even in religious spaces, it is easy to default into a system where people try to take half the credit for what they do, boasting in their own achievements.
But the Kingdom of God operates on an exact upside-down formula: The first shall be last, and the last shall be first.
True spiritual life only begins when you step completely out of the way. It is the reality of "No longer I, but Christ" living inside you. When you stop using human muscle and let the Holy Spirit do 100% of the work from the inside-out, there is absolutely no room left for human pride.
Taking this path is like what John experienced in Revelation chapter 10 when he ate the scroll: it tastes sweet as honey to experience God's grace, but it turns bitter in the stomach when you walk it out. When you separate yourself from worldly pride, people will misjudge you. They will call you high-minded, or they will go completely silent. You will face relational static and ridicule simply because human nature hates the truth that our ego must die.
Being "last" in the eyes of the world is a steep path, but God designed it that way to keep us completely humble. If you are struggling with exhaustion or burnout, striving, or trying to earn or work for your worth, drop your ego straight to the floor. Stop trying to give God "half the glory." True Grace is a free unearned gift. When you are willing to be completely last on this earth, you are finally positioned first in the eyes of God the Father.
God bless you and prayers!
Work out your own Salvation.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
The legalist would say this means to use your own independent muscle to work out your own salvation. These Christians focus on the law and human performance over Christ. This is called hidden pride which essentially worships the creature over the Creator. (Romans 1:25)
The non legalist, the Christians who believe in grace 100% would say this is the Spirit doing the working out. For the Spirit works from the inside-out of a believer. It is the Spirit that worketh in you both to will and to do. These believers worship the creator in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)
Work out your own Salvation.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. \[13\] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
The legalist would say this means to use your own independent muscle to work out your own salvation. These Christians focus on the law and human performance over Christ. This is called hidden pride which essentially worships the creature over the Creator. (Romans 1:25)
The non legalist, the Christians who believe in grace 100% would say this is the Spirit doing the working out. For the Spirit works from the inside-out of a believer. It is the Spirit that worketh in you both to will and to do. These believers worship the creator in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)
Have you ever said this about your spiritual journey? About your sanctification? or even your service for the Lord? But your spiritual warfare and/or sinful struggles have you down and out. Well I did just the other day and it caught me off guard! Because it isn't about us. It's about Jesus! We as Christians should never have shame and guilt because of our falls/struggles. For what Christ did on the Cross has taken all power of sin and death away. We are new creature's in Christ. So don't let your fleshly struggles give way to your shame and guilt. Never self-monitor anxiety of your struggles. Never focus on your struggles. Focus only on Christ!
Colossians 2:13-15 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the Cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Did you know that those who focus on their behavior/struggles are walking in the flesh? It is also using human bicep to worship God. Stop counting streaks and stop using human willpower and just trust in Jesus by beholding him.
2 Corinthians 5:17-Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Work out your own Salvation.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
The legalist would say this means to use your own independent muscle to work out your own salvation. These Christians focus on the law and human performance over Christ. This is called hidden pride which essentially worships the creature over the Creator. (Romans 1:25)
The non legalist, the Christians who believe in grace 100% would say this is the Spirit doing the working out. For the Spirit works from the inside-out of a believer. It is the Spirit that worketh in you both to will and to do. These believers worship the creator in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)
Saw this earlier today. Praise God!
Saw this earlier today. Praise God!
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The Greek word for iniquity is "Anomia." Meaning lawlessness.
Jesus exposed the ultimate hidden sin-the Pharisaic behavioral workout.
Basically these Christians are using their own works of "doing things" to earn salvation. But they are blind to their own pride-Hidden Pride.
(Galatians 2:16-Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ...)
All God wants from us is faith in His Son.
(John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, what shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, this is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.)
The works will come naturally through the Spirit, and these works are the ministry, not a way to salvation.
(Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works...)
(2 Corinthians 6:17-Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.)
(2 Corinthians 7:1-Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.)
The unclean thing is hidden pride. To cleanse ourselves is strictly beholding Jesus. Taking our focus off ourselves and onto Christ.
Doing things is a transactional relationship. It is beholding your own works and not Christ alone.
(Romans 11:6- And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.)
It takes glory away from God. Christians who have a transactional relationship with Christ is stealing glory from God.
(1 Corinthians 1:29-31 That no flesh should glory in his presence...He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord: Isaiah 42:8-I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another...)
Drop the ego and fully surrender to Jesus so his Spirit can transform you into his image from glory to glory.
(2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.)
Let's take a look at the timeline of grace.
When a true follower of Christ goes through struggles, sins, the physical clay machine wiggles inside of time. By having these technical oversights, slips, or falls due to weak biological reflexes, the enemy sifts you with fake shame to make you feel unworthy and that it breaks your relationship with God, causing you to think that you're a failure and that your everlasting contract is broken. But Christ commands an instant axis shift from horizontal (the flesh) to vertical (the spirit). Flesh runs inside time whereas the spirit runs outside of time. A first shall be last formula. So the flesh is inside time but an outside-in working of the flesh. The spirit is outside of time but an inside-out working of the Holy Spirit.
Traditional outside-in religion chokes on the cross because its academic brain cannot calculate this spatial distinction. They view the Christian walk as a horizontal chronological race where you must use your own independent muscle inside time to manually maintain an unblemished showroom. When they have a biological slip up, they enter an immediate panic loop-scrambling to run an outside-in behavioral workout routine to fix their broken worthiness status.
Traditional church culture turns faith into an outside-in job where you work to change your heart from the static. But the true Gospel is an inside-out gift. You drop your independent capability panel to a zero-power floor, execute an immediate axis shift, and look strictly vertical towards heavenly things. Because you choose to "rest" outside of time, the power of the Holy Spirit effortlessly runs the behavior clean-up from the inside-out while you rest in Jesus.
So with the first shall be last theme, the horizontal shall be last and the vertical shall be first. The vertical is outside of time, locked behind the veil where your justification is a past-tense finished legal gift. The horizontal is inside time where the clay machine wiggles and undergoes its natural sanctification process. Putting the horizontal first is idolatry of the scorecard that leads to death and misery. But putting the vertical first completely takes us out of the wiggle, allowing the power of Christ to rest unhindered upon our vessel while his Spirit transforms our behavior naturally from the inside out.
Some are getting the whole math of the Gospel backwards by trying to make your behavior priority. This is the true meaning of the first shall be last and the last shall be first! At least the inner most meaning. This theme (first shall be last) is in reference to all things, but anyways.
Straining to fix yourself, counting your clean days, and constantly over-analyzing your slips and falls is a performance trap that always fails. Its not about our performance for God. Its about the performance Christ did for us and God. If we are horizontal Christians it is like a half baked cake that looks good on the outside, but is completely raw on the inside because you are relying on your own muscle, which makes you your own Savior. (Hosea 7:8)
Under the New Covenant, your vertical connection to God-which is looking to heavenly things[Colossians 3:1-2], beholding Jesus [Hebrews 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18]-comes first because it is already a finished legal gift signed once for all by the cross(Hebrews 10:14). Your true identity is permanently safe behind the veil outside of time, and any physical slip or fall on the horizontal pavement cannot change your standing, or by legal right and power, not give you any guilt or shame.
True mind over matter means you stop trying to use your own willpower to change your desires. Throw away the scorecard, refuse to argue with the guilt and shame in your brain, and let your behavior be last. When you drop your own strength to ZERO and just focus(behold) Jesus, the Holy Spirit takes full control. He will change your behavior naturally in real-time before your eyes without you doing anything except resting in Christ. You will see the work of God working in you! It is an inside out working of the Spirit while you are resting in heavenly places at the already finish line. So stop staring at your own behavior and scorecard and start looking at Jesus and the cross.
1-Agnosia (Strong's Greek #56) Ignorance, blindness, a willful want of knowledge, or a complete lack of Spiritual perception. This is the exact description of the "OUTSIDE-IN" legalist. A state of a dry, academic brain that reads the text strictly through carnal rules and performance scorecards.
2-Aidos (Strong's Greek #127) High-priestly awe, profound "INSIDE-OUT" reverence, modesty, or a holy shrinking back from self-asserting pride and independent capability. This is the literal zero-power floor of true humility.
3-Akrobustia (Strong's Greek #203) Uncircumcision, the foreskin, or the raw, unsevered, and un-emptied fleshly condition of the old nature. This is what traditional church culture tries to pass off as "independent spiritual maturity." It is an unturned cake framework-focused on looking fully baked to the public while the inner-man is still raw. (Hosea 7:8)
You don't rely on your strength. You don't strive for God. We are weak and if we rely on our own strength we get exhausted and burn out. (Isaiah 40:29-31)(2 Corinthians 12:9)
This can lead us to want to give up entirely. It has nothing to do with performance. We aren't earning Salvation. We already have it once we believe in Christ because of what he did on the cross by taking our place. (Ephesians 2:8-9)(Titus 3:5)
That's why when we mess up there isn't supposed to be any shame or guilt since we are declared righteous. It's called our justification. When we mess up we just ask forgiveness and get right back up and press on. (Romans 5:1, 8:1)(1 John 1:9)(Proverbs 24:16)
He wants us to deny ourselves.(empty ourselves) To lose our life so that we gain it in the after life. (Luke 9:23-24)
The best way we do this is to put others above us. To put away our own feelings and put theirs above ours. This is true divine love and it is the best way to destroy (crucify) the old person in us. (Philippians 2:3)(1 Corinthians 10:24)(Galatians 5:13-14)
When we do this (mind over matter) the Spirit works in us because we didn't let our pride or ego get in the way of love. We emptied ourselves so the Spirit could fill us and transform us into Christ image from glory to glory. (Galatians 2:20)(2 Corinthians 3:18)