"that as sin reigned, in death, so also grace reigns through righteousness unto life eternal through Jesus Christ, the Lord of us."1
This word for reign has the root word that means king, ruler. Christ is given the name "King of kings" and "Lord of lords." It states that Christ has been given all authority on earth, as in heaven, He reigns, Son of God, who sits at the right hand of the Father, He is Son, has ownership rights to the kingdom, the Father has given this to the Son. If Christ is Lord and sin no longer reigns then Christ reigns, our righteousness is in Christ therefore grace reigns through the righteousness of Christ.
Unrighteousness doesn't like counsel. "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety."5 A person or an organization that covers up sin, is not good, "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed."5 Evil is like its father, the father of lies, he masquerades as light, dangerous is the person that masquerades as light, that lies and manipulates, that abuses authority to cover sin. And there is a warning for these, anything secret will be known and come to light.7
Opposition is to be responded to with Grace and gentleness with instructions. Christian are not to be timid people, we are to love mercy, seek justice, and to walk humbly with our God. We shouldn't avoid conflict, and opposition but we stand firmly as Paul writes in Grace. This word for instructing is emphasizing their ongoing development necessary to reach their highest (eternal) destiny, so they might repent and come to Jesus.
Grace tempers wrong, I am recently reminded that when I am around godly men, you can sense it, you know it, and it is gentle and full of grace. Such dispels opposition, it is not demanding and authoritative. The battle we fight is in the Spiritual realm, it is against footholds and strongholds the enemy seeks to obtain. Human logic would say I need to attack the stronghold, take it with force, but God's wisdom is different. It takes it by force not with the same "opposing" force, no, but with a different Spirit, a gentle godly Spirit. It has been a tough lesson for me, as many have opposed me. I fight in the spiritual realm, where Christ reigns and if Christ reigns Grace reigns, to the breaking down of strongholds.
As individuals when we sin, we give ground to the enemy, we give him a foothold, the nature of Grace teaches us that we can Boldly approach His throne of Grace... if we do not learn this, footholds become strongholds. And in organizations when we implement and act to polices, not preached, not brought into the light, when it becomes, "do as they say, not as they do" we give the enemy footholds and when we cover things up, do not repent, we give the enemy strongholds. As Paul writes to the church in Corinth, who among you are qualified to judge, you do the same things. I believe this is the most pressing issue in the Church today, the Church for the whole has not risen to the occasion of the day because it is confused, what is implemented is not what is taught from the pulpit. There is a demonic spirit of authority. How do we fight such? in the light.
Stand in Grace. "Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand."6 Grace stands for truth and justice. Our country was founded upon such Liberty, by men who understood freedom from centralized government and freedom from centralized religion. Evil doesn't seek freedom, it doesn't want things in the light, it likes darkness, bondage, it seeks to dominate you, to control you, to lie and manipulate you so as to destroy you. Paul writes that this gospel of Grace is a safeguard to the influence of the enemy. The solution is to let Christ reign and where Christ reigns, Paul writes, Grace reigns. Grace reigns not as a license to do evil, no, but that we may learn to reign over evil.7
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."8
One Thing
Paul writes that where sin reigns death reigns, and that the Law entered so that the offense of sin might abound. If the Law abounds sin then through the Law sin reigns. Grace reigns through righteousness unto life eternal, abundant life. Sin reigned in death but Grace reigns in life, this is true Liberty in Christ. Grace abounded so that righteousness might reign through Christ. If Jesus reigns as Lord and Grace reigns through righteousness then Grace reigns. So we see this principle where Jesus reigns, as Lord, Grace abounds and righteousness reigns. We also see where the Law abounds sin reigns.
The Spirit gives life, the flesh profits nothing, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty. Some would want to squash this Liberty in Christ, people will sin they say, but it is Liberty that brings true freedom, not obedience to laws and rules. Yes, we are to respect authority of men, but we are to submit to the Lordship of Christ above all things, He reigns. The institution of man, the corruption of power, the misuse of authority, evil that hides, manipulates, covers up sin, no such evil should we submit to. "Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil."4
Unrighteousness doesn't like counsel. "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety."5 A person or an organization that covers up sin, is not good, "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed."5 Evil is like its father, the father of lies, he masquerades as light, dangerous is the person that masquerades as light, that lies and manipulates, that abuses authority to cover sin. And there is a warning for these, anything secret will be known and come to light.7
Grace is good, it likes the light. Jesus is light and in fullness of Grace and Truth. "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked..."6 Grace encourages one to come to the light, because in the light is Liberty. Perfect love casts out fear, fear reigns because it has to do with punishment, God's love is perfect, it casts out fear, fear doesn't like light. We are to submit to good godly authority. When Christ reigns as Lord, and where Christ reigns Grace reigns.
An amazing verse. We see this principle; it is God's goodness that leads men to repentance. This is the concept of being wise as a serpent, but gentle as a dove, without gentleness, goodness of God, wisdom is not God's wisdom. This word for fore-bearing (from anéxomai, "to bear up" and kakós, "malice, evil") means literally to bear up under evil, to man up, endure, especially when harmed (treated unjustly). Notice though it is in gentleness we bear up, in gentleness instructing those opposing.
"The servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, able to teach, fore-bearing, in gentleness instructing those opposing, lest God may give then repentance unto the knowledge of the truth."7
An amazing verse. We see this principle; it is God's goodness that leads men to repentance. This is the concept of being wise as a serpent, but gentle as a dove, without gentleness, goodness of God, wisdom is not God's wisdom. This word for fore-bearing (from anéxomai, "to bear up" and kakós, "malice, evil") means literally to bear up under evil, to man up, endure, especially when harmed (treated unjustly). Notice though it is in gentleness we bear up, in gentleness instructing those opposing.
Opposition is to be responded to with Grace and gentleness with instructions. Christian are not to be timid people, we are to love mercy, seek justice, and to walk humbly with our God. We shouldn't avoid conflict, and opposition but we stand firmly as Paul writes in Grace. This word for instructing is emphasizing their ongoing development necessary to reach their highest (eternal) destiny, so they might repent and come to Jesus.
Grace tempers wrong, I am recently reminded that when I am around godly men, you can sense it, you know it, and it is gentle and full of grace. Such dispels opposition, it is not demanding and authoritative. The battle we fight is in the Spiritual realm, it is against footholds and strongholds the enemy seeks to obtain. Human logic would say I need to attack the stronghold, take it with force, but God's wisdom is different. It takes it by force not with the same "opposing" force, no, but with a different Spirit, a gentle godly Spirit. It has been a tough lesson for me, as many have opposed me. I fight in the spiritual realm, where Christ reigns and if Christ reigns Grace reigns, to the breaking down of strongholds.
As individuals when we sin, we give ground to the enemy, we give him a foothold, the nature of Grace teaches us that we can Boldly approach His throne of Grace... if we do not learn this, footholds become strongholds. And in organizations when we implement and act to polices, not preached, not brought into the light, when it becomes, "do as they say, not as they do" we give the enemy footholds and when we cover things up, do not repent, we give the enemy strongholds. As Paul writes to the church in Corinth, who among you are qualified to judge, you do the same things. I believe this is the most pressing issue in the Church today, the Church for the whole has not risen to the occasion of the day because it is confused, what is implemented is not what is taught from the pulpit. There is a demonic spirit of authority. How do we fight such? in the light.
Stand in Grace. "Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand."6 Grace stands for truth and justice. Our country was founded upon such Liberty, by men who understood freedom from centralized government and freedom from centralized religion. Evil doesn't seek freedom, it doesn't want things in the light, it likes darkness, bondage, it seeks to dominate you, to control you, to lie and manipulate you so as to destroy you. Paul writes that this gospel of Grace is a safeguard to the influence of the enemy. The solution is to let Christ reign and where Christ reigns, Paul writes, Grace reigns. Grace reigns not as a license to do evil, no, but that we may learn to reign over evil.7
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."8
One Thing