He will glorify Me… —John 16:14

The holiness movements of today have none of the rugged reality of the New Testament about them. There is nothing about them that needs the death of Jesus Christ. All that is required is a pious atmosphere, prayer, and devotion. This type of experience is not supernatural nor miraculous. It did not cost the sufferings of God, nor is it stained with “the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 12:11). It is not marked or sealed by the Holy Spirit as being genuine, and it has no visual sign that causes people to exclaim with awe and wonder, “That is the work of God Almighty!” Yet the New Testament is about the work of God and nothing else.

The New Testament example of the Christian experience is that of a personal, passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ. Every other kind of so-called Christian experience is detached from the Person of Jesus. There is no regeneration— no being born again into the kingdom in which Christ lives and reigns supreme. There is only the idea that He is our pattern. In the New Testament Jesus Christ is the Savior long before He is the pattern. Today He is being portrayed as the figurehead of a religion— a mere example. He is that, but He is infinitely more. He is salvation itself; He is the gospel of God!

Jesus said, “…when He, the Spirit of truth, has come,…He will glorify Me…” (John 16:13-14). When I commit myself to the revealed truth of the New Testament, I receive from God the gift of the Holy Spirit, who then begins interpreting to me what Jesus did. The Spirit of God does in me internally all that Jesus Christ did for me externally.

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Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord, I like what Chambers brings today… but with an uneasiness in the liking. It comes from seeing things thru a different lens and seeing additional things. Only when I realize this does the uneasiness melt away. It’s like the 4 blind men reporting their experience of an elephant. And I’m OK with realizing that Chambers and I are both seeing the same elephant with different lenses and different emphasis. This has been happening a lot, lately. I didn’t set out to change lenses, but seem to be gravitating to new (to me) views of the elephant. It seems that my theology is changing. Expanding is a better word. Because I’m still believing 99% of what I’ve always believed…. It’s scripture. But now I’m also seeing some additional things. Also scripture. They were there all along, hiding in plain sight. It’s a little unnerving, like the ground shifting under my feet. But remembering that you are Love and that I came from You and you live in me, and I in you, and I will return to you… helps me receive these more expansive and inclusive views with anticipation. That favorite verse of ours also helps me rest on these shifting sands.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Some of the changes come with the focus on “Christ” rather than just Jesus. I started off as a child, thinking that Christ was Jesus’ last name. I got past that, but never got a really clear view of the difference. These days I’m seeing that Christ was always there from before the foundations of the world, and will always be there as part of the Trinity. And has even implanted a bit of himself in me. So, if I can get past my habits, ego and self protection… He can look thru my eyes and I can look thru His eyes. We can commune together. John starts off his gospel with these words which indicate that he was looking thru a different lens than the other gospel writers. Same elephant, different lens.

John 1 (NLT)

Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word
1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

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