If Jesus Christ is going to regenerate me, what is the problem He faces? It is simply this— I have a heredity in which I had no say or decision; I am not holy, nor am I likely to be; and if all Jesus Christ can do is tell me that I must be holy, His teaching only causes me to despair. But if Jesus Christ is truly a regenerator, someone who can put His own heredity of holiness into me, then I can begin to see what He means when He says that I have to be holy. Redemption means that Jesus Christ can put into anyone the hereditary nature that was in Himself, and all the standards He gives us are based on that nature— His teaching is meant to be applied to the life which He puts within us. The proper action on my part is simply to agree with God’s verdict on sin as judged on the Cross of Christ.

The New Testament teaching about regeneration is that when a person is hit by his own sense of need, God will put the Holy Spirit into his spirit, and his personal spirit will be energized by the Spirit of the Son of God— “. . . until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). The moral miracle of redemption is that God can put a new nature into me through which I can live a totally new life. When I finally reach the edge of my need and know my own limitations, then Jesus says, “Blessed are you . . .” (Matthew 5:11). But I must get to that point. God cannot put into me, the responsible moral person that I am, the nature that was in Jesus Christ unless I am aware of my need for it.

Just as the nature of sin entered into the human race through one man, the Holy Spirit entered into the human race through another Man (see Romans 5:12-19). And redemption means that I can be delivered from the heredity of sin, and that through Jesus Christ I can receive a pure and spotless heredity, namely, the Holy Spirit.

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October 6, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, it is interesting how I first came to you, seeking your joy, peace, grace and love. How I reached out for your salvation and then believed it was up to me to change myself so that I demonstrated the life of a believer. I walked down that road way too many times and failed, over and over and over until you finally showed me that Your salvation changes me from the inside out. It is not up to me to do any of the changing, it is up to me to surrender.

And God says…”Many are led astray by the enemy to spend years searching for lessons, discipline and work (s) that can help them manage thoughts, behavior and growth. Your real maturity can only come from Me, as I change you from the inside out. I will complete the work in you I started. You are to simply give your life to me, fresh every day trusting that I will change you from the inside out. Trust in Me with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding and I will make your paths straight. Seek first the Kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and all these things will be added unto you.”

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Oct 6, 2011  Journal,  DJR

Good Morning Lord,

I need some clarity on the stuff Oswald has been bringing lately.   I get it that I cant grunt and strive to get more holy … and have any success in that.  It seems like its in a parallel universe that’s really not parallel.   Kind of like the “Matrix”   You cant get there from here.      I get that.   But on worldly, carnal things like diet and exercize and procrastination on writing my book … It seems like will power and self discipline is in order.   And you had Paul write about being like an athlete and “striving” for the prize.   Please clarify,  when do I strive?  What striving will you bless … and what striving just pushes me further from you.  Like the Pharissees were good strivers but it didn’t get them closer to you.

It is a parallel universe as you say.  There are realms.  And they each have rules.   You get messed up when you apply a rule from one realm into another realm.  It wont work.    The realms have some overlap and are somewhat heirarchichal with the seen realm of the physical being the lowest.

Dont despise the physical realm or your physical body or your physical needs.   Just keep them in perspective.    Remember I know what you need and what’s happening and what’s coming.  Stay curious and watch as it unfolds.   And dont be afraid of using a little will power on things like diet and exercize.   I need you around and strong for a while yet.   Just know that there are higher and better things going on.  Keep pressing in to get a peek into the other side of the Matrix.   I’ve told you how it works.  It’s upside down.   The last shall be first,  Blessed are you when you are reviled … etc.