Teachable moment: I originally posted this on July 11, 2012, 12 years ago, but kept is private, as it was “unfinished business”:
So OK. I have this sin that I’ve been trying to beat for years, and fell into it again the past few days. Those of you who know me know it, because I am transparent and welcome correction.
God seems to be disciplining me financially when I screw up spiritually. Is that biblical? I must confess, I’d rather lean heavily on the Grace theology because I KNOW that my sins are already forgiven, and have been for over 2000 years.
Deuteronomy 29:9 says:
“Therefore, obey the terms of this covenant so that you will prosper in everything you do.”3 John 1:2 says:
“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”
So if prospering comes from good behavior, can it be assumed that bad behavior will cause us to “anti-prosper”? I’d like not to assume this, but it seems to be playing out in my stock portfolio (down 20% in three days). Just one more reason to get it right. I’ll try that and see what happens.
… Judge me now, Lord, while I walk the Earth and can make a difference. Let me not be judged for this sin continuing when we meet face to face. -Amen.
Recently, I have been watching teaching by Chris Blackeby concerning the 3 Realms, and attempting to live and pray from the Heavenly realm. I can’t believe it’s taking me this long to see this gospel.
The thing that is so amazing, is that the scriptures quoted above completely support this view, even the language (as your soul prospers) indicates that as we are seated in Heavenly places, we are completed, blessed, finished, forgiven, etc.
The English translations are all over the place, but as you dig in to BlueLetterBible, you can see that this Greek word translated for soul, is thus:
ψυχή Lexicon :: Strong's G5590 - psychēthe soul
I have been asking people (who think you can loose your salvation) for years. “Did the blood of Christ accomplish what it was intended to accomplish?” Do we who continue to sin need Him to die over and over for us? Do we really have the power to “crucify him all over again” with our lifestyle?
I am moving on. My mission is to believe and teach that His sacrifice did it’s job, that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved, and that “soulish” thinking as defined in Chris Blackeby’s video is just a higher level of “stinking thinking”. Knowledge of the “lower courts” is essential for success and understanding in this physical life, but knowledge of the highest court is the trump card to every issue that keeps us separated from the Love of God.
I will close this article with a quote from my favorite book, “The Cost of Love”, by Joshua Wild Star.
“Man’s heart adjusted
to the nature of that promise
and his mind believed
what his eyes could not see.”