He Tranforms us, not we ourselves

This new revelation is too much for me not to write about.

Even though I have learned so much about the grace of God, the new life and identity/spirit which I have received from Him, the more that I have seen no only how unnecessary, but also unacceptable and absolutely destructive have been the lies and leadings of Twelve Step Programs.

One of the chief tenets of Twelve Steps focuses on the changes which we make, the actions we take in order to improve, in order to stay one step ahead of the addiction or the perversion in our lives.

The Bible teaches something very different regarding a growth in grace, wholeness, and holiness:

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)

We ALL as we see Jesus in the Word, as we learn more of Him and all that He has done for us, we are all transformed from glory to glory.

John writes in His first epistle:

"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3: 1-3)

Then I read this verse with a deeper understanding:

"2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 2)

A deeper reading of the verse revealed how we prosper, in our goods, our bodies, and our souls.

Prosperity begins with our souls, and this verb is in the middle-passive voice. In other words, this prosperity is imparted to us, and not something which we earn through our efforts.

How do we receive this prosperity in our souls? John explains in the next two verses of his third epistle:

"3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 3-4)

The emphasis rests on our walking in the truth.

What truth is John talking about?

John first writes about the truth in His Gospel:

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." ( John 1: 17)

We find that grace and truth are one in Christ. Grace we receive through Christ, because of His death on the Cross, and His ministry on our behalf at the right hand of God the Father.

John later writes:

"31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8: 31-32)

and then

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)

Jesus is the truth, and He is grace all at once.

Grace, by the way, is the Gospel:

"6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:" (Galatians 1: 6)
 And then Paul ties together for us grace and the Gospel as the truth into which we are called:

"4And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you." (Galatians 2:4-5)

Later, Paul writes:

"But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" (Galatians 2: 14)

The truth which we walk in is the truth that in Christ, all our sins are forgiven, that we are fully justified in Christ before God the Father.

This Gospel then prospers our soul, and as we walk and grow in this grace and truth, we prosper on the outside and enjoy good health.

Get this truth, beloved: your soul prospers because of the Gospel, which means that Christ has paid for everything. Learn more about this grace, and let His Spirit transform you, instead of you trying to fix yourself.