Dauthor Jacqueline (Jackie) Richey Weber
Today, I wish to show that, contrary to the words of our favorite Christmas carol, Christ the Savior was never born in a manger, indeed, was never born at all (“before Abraham was, I am”—John 8:58).
Continue reading “Jesus, the Son of Man; Christ, the Son of God”
After writing the contemplation “Living as Heirs of God” yesterday, I had a further revelation of righteousness without the law—which is the core of the Gospel. When Adam entertained the first thought of being separated from his Father, he began to make laws for himself that he believed would help him regain his Father’s love and acceptance. He developed a conscience which constantly accused him for his inability to keeps those laws. He became afraid of His father, fearing His wrath and judgment.
The Bible speaks repeatedly of two realms—the realm of Spirit and the realm of flesh.
There are two Greek words for “deny” in the New Testament.
720. ἀρνέομαι arneomai, ar-neh´-om-ahee; perhaps from 1 (as a negative particle) and the middle voice of 4483; to contradict, i.e. disavow, reject, abnegate: — deny, refuse.
and
533. ἀπαρνέομαι aparneomai, ap-ar-neh´-om-ahee; from 575 and 720; to deny utterly, i.e. disown, abstain: — deny.
As I have already written in so many of these contemplations, I grew up in a very orthodox Church and family and took upon myself a concept of a God of wrath and judgment that struck terror in my soul. I spent over 50 years attempting to love this God and feel loved by Him. I didn’t dare question anything I had been taught because I was so frightened of being deceived.
Whatever we conceive God to be in our consciousness is the way we experience God—because our experience is objectified consciousness—individual and collective.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God
The Bible opens with these words. And the apostle John reiterates them in his gospel:
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
I am in the kingdom of Heaven right now. It is at hand
and is within. It’s not something I attain to by studying, thinking or working. It is righteousness, peace and joy, each of which is a free gift, not to be earned. It is my Father’s good pleasure
to give it to me Luke 12:32.
Psalms 27:4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
As my husband and I were taking our early morning walk today (Sunday), I began thinking about what I was going to cook today. Since I had oral surgery last Tuesday, I have been eating soft foods that don’t irritate my sore mouth. I therefore began thinking of all the soft foods that I might cook.