The Judgment of Eternal Life

(John 5:19-22 NKJV): “Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.  For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.  For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son…”

(John 12:31-32 NKJV): “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.  And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

In this post, I would like to look closer at the idea of “judgment,” which is one of several concepts men have understood and taught from a place of shallowness, fear and self-focus rather than from the peace and wisdom of the Spirit.  We have to understand that in the Greek language, the word “judgment” means “to separate, to choose, to decide, to make a distinction.”  Today in the 21st century, “judgment” is associated with condemnation and punishment, but while God’s judgment can include these things, it’s still different than what we typically think.  In John 5:19-22, when Jesus says the Father has committed all judgment to the son, he wasn’t saying the Father was commissioning His son to condemn or punish the world.  In fact, Jesus said he came to do the exact opposite! (John 3:17).  Look again – Jesus said that he only does what he sees his Father do.  He then says the Father “raises the dead and gives life to them” and that the son does the same, because the Father has “committed all judgment to the son.”  The Father’s judgment, the way He makes a distinction among people, which He has administered through His son, is to “raise the dead and give life to them.”  That is what happened at the cross.  Now, this raising from death to life is isn’t primarily a physical one, but a spiritual.  Generally speaking, death = the mind and life of natural man/Adam, and life = the mind and life of the Spirit of God.  

Here are a couple examples:

• 1 John 3:14 ASV: “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.”

• Romans 5:17 ASV: “For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.”

• Romans 8:6 ASV: “For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace…”

In the passage from John 12 at the top, Jesus knows he is about to go to the cross.  He says that in his crucifixion and resurrection, the “judgment of this world” would be made, the “ruler of this world” cast out, and “all peoples drawn” to himself.  So, the judgment of the world took place at the cross, 2,000 years ago.  Then and there, God rendered His judgment of life toward mankind, going both forward and backward in time.  God’s judges the world by ending death and pouring out His Life through His son.  Now, it’s true that not all will receive or walk in this new Life while in these mortal bodies, and I’m not even sure all are able to.  But those things are another subject.

I think it’s also important we understand that this eternal life which God has judged upon us is not primarily eternal in the sense of “never-ending,” but eternal in the sense of quality and nature.  John 17:3 (MLV) records Jesus saying this: “And this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you did send.”  Eternal life is knowing the Father and the Son – not in a mental sense, but in the sense of receiving and participating in their life and union.  Remember in John 4, where Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well?  As they sat by the well together, Jesus said this to her: “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”1  This eternal life is to be springing up from within, right now, and is found in a current knowing of the Father and Son.  These and other scriptures make it clear that whatever this eternal life is, it’s for now, not just the future.  

Finally, let’s briefly think about what is meant by “life.”  I think, at its core, life is about having consciousness and the ability to use energy.  Jesus famously said that to gain this eternal life, we must lose OUR life.2  I believe he meant this: “in order to partake of and abide in the life of God, we have to be willing to let go of the death we have called life – all the beliefs and pursuits that have their foundation in fear, selfishness, and ignorance.  (This speaks more about letting go of our previous religious beliefs and practices than anything else!)  Really, this isn’t that controversial.  It only makes sense that light and darkness, love and selfishness, spirit and religion cannot co-exist.  As we embrace this eternal life and allow it room to spring forth from within us, we will find ourselves freely wanting to love and serve others, difficult as it may be.  We will begin to let go of what hinders the expression of this eternal Life within us – not out of guilt or obligation or fear, but freely, because our very nature wants to.  Our walk with God won’t be about “seeing results” so much as it will be about being faithful and walking in the Spirit.  And although this new Life is often difficult, it’s also full of glory, hope, and beauty.  We also have the promise that as the Reign of God comes to earth, pain and crying and tears will pass away, forever.  I think this is a long way off in human years, but the only way it’s coming is through the sons and daughters of God walking in the Spirit.  Not just in “miracles” but in wisdom, insight, love, and truth.

I’ve often thought that if I’m going to suffer, it better be for something worthwhile, and to me, nothing is more worthwhile than helping establish the reign of God on earth, partaking of and ministering His grace, truth, reconciliation and love to the world.  I still feel I’m just getting started and I still have days I feel far from these things…maybe I’ll always feel that way, but I intend to keep going!  God bless you.

1. John 4:13-14 NKJV

2. Mark 8:35

 

Collective Consciousness and the Snowball Effect

 “…that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.  If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.  Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”  (1 Corinthians 12:25-27)

Have you ever heard the term “collective consciousness?”  I’ve always suspected there is something true in it.  As I’ve heard it, it’s the idea that the thoughts and perceptions of all people are in some way connected, so that the “consciousness” (awareness, perceptions) of one group or even one individual will, at least to a small degree, influence the rest of mankind.

One thing many Christians wonder about is why there is so little power and authority being expressed on earth today among Christ’s body.  Why do so many alleged miracles and supernatural events seem bogus or weak?  I think the explanation for this is to a large extent found in the idea of Christ’s body as a “collective.”  If you’re around believers much, it’s obvious that many members of Christ’s body are sick and weak, being alienated from God’s spirit of love and power.  Therefore, I believe since all the members of Christ’s body are connected, the rest of the body is hindered and the expression of Christ and the manifestation of the Kingdom of God on earth are limited.  To illustrate this, think of your physical body.  If one leg is badly broken, while the rest of your body may be working fine, you’re still not going to be able to drive places and do things you otherwise could.  If you have a toothache, while the rest of your body may be fine, it affects everything and makes even simple tasks more difficult.  So it is with the body of Christ.

Last week, out of nowhere, it dawned on me that Paul himself wrote about “collective consciousness” nearly 2,000 years ago, in 1 Corinthians 12:25-27 (quoted at the top of this post).  Put simply, Paul said all members of the body of Christ are connected, so that what one part experiences is, to some degree, experienced by the whole.  This concept of the church as Christ’s body is an incredible, mind-blowing, and sobering spiritual reality – not just a neat title.  God’s spiritual anointing (Christ) is upon you and I – we are Christ on the earth!1  

There’s one more related term I’d like to look at, called the “snowball effect,” which gets its name from what can happen if you roll a small snowball down a snowy hill.  As the ball rolls down the hill, snow sticks to it, making the ball bigger and bigger, causing more and more snow to stick to it, until it very quickly becomes massive. What if this applies to Christ’s body?  What if, as you and I “forsake all that we have” (Luke 14:33)2 and become aware only of the life of God within, restoring connection with the head of our body (Christ, the spirit of God), we then exert an influence on the rest of the body to do so?  What if then, as more believers begin to do the same, there is an even greater influence on the rest of the body to do so, until one day Christ’s body, all over the earth, walks in the purity and power that Jesus did when he was here?  How amazing is that thought?

I truly believe that the spirit of God is forming the snowball right now, and will roll it down the hill when it’s nice and solid; how long that will take I don’t know.  I think it could be within a generation or two, as I seem to see more and more people, especially younger people, waking up and coming out of religion (I’m working on a blog about that).  That’s necessary, because religion is a tremendous hindrance to the Kingdom of God.  When the ball does get rolling, it’s going to be quite a sight.  

If this could be the case, it’s tremendously important that you and I put off the “old man” (Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 3:9), which is Adam’s nature, desires, and concepts, and express Christ instead of Adam.3  There are many, many sick members of Christ’s body.  Some are greatly held back by religious doctrines, duties, or concepts which they don’t realize God has no part of at all.  Many are weighed down by guilt, shame, and condemnation.  Many have tried and failed so many times they’ve essentially given up, having found almost nothing real within the Christianity they’ve been exposed to.  Deep down they want to know and please God, and have tried to “fake it till they make it,” but find they are powerless, and begin to believe that they will always be.  They are in the “Romans chapter 7” experience Paul wrote about, where they want to do good, but are powerless to do so because the power of sin within them is too strong.

Here’s what I suggest.  Get to know your God personally, not by learning things about Him from others.  I believe the best way to do this is to get quiet in His presence, commune with Him as best as you can, diligently and consistently.  Yes, reading scripture helps, but you’ll never reach Truth without divine revelation.  Forget what you’ve been taught, prioritize the knowledge and experience of love, and let the goodness of God and His presence begin to work on you inwardly and reveal Truth to you.  Share what you’ve learned as the spirit allows, and encourage others along the same lines.  The rest of your body, and many others, need it!  God bless you.

1. 1 John 4:17, Colossians 3:3, Galatians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 12:12, 27, Romans 12:5
2. I believe that in this verse, Jesus wasn’t saying we have to give up all our physical possessions like cars or houses or whatever.  He was referring to spiritual possessions – things like our own ideas and concepts about God, our own understandings and all the spiritual things we have accumulated, find comfortable, and hold dear.  We cannot follow Jesus as a disciple unless we forsake these things.
3. All of these verses speak of the “old man” who is dead and who we are to “put off,” or shun.  I wrote about this more here, but the idea is that as we have inherited Adam’s fallen, darkened nature, we also have inherited Christ’s nature of life and light.  Adam’s nature can be very religious and good and well-meaning and kind, but is ultimately blind and opposed to God.  God only pays attention to and desires the expression of Christ – His spirit within us.  This is a huge key.