Creation; redemption; the eternal ages to come and all the mighty acts of God were conceived in the eternal mind of the incomprehensible Lord. His purposes and plans were birthed into reality from the day that Adam sinned, and then were transmitted to us through holy men of God, who penned the written the Word of God, for our learning.

No-one can instruct the almighty God. No-one can teach Him anything and nothing can surprise our heavenly Father, for He knows all things. Even the very hairs of our head are numbered, and every tear we shed is collected in His bottle. “Who has known the mind of the LORD, or has taught Him as His counsellor?” is the question Isaiah asked Israel. “Who has known the mind of the Lord and Who shall instruct him?” was Paul’s question to the Corinthians.. and a question we should also consider. And then Paul discloses the most amazing truth, “But WE have the mind of Christ.”

It was to the carnal-minded Corinthians that Paul opened up this timeless truth. It was a question, first voiced by the prophet Isaiah, many centuries before, for the wisdom in the heart of a holy God cannot be known by the finite intellect of the fallen, human mind, nor can the infinite wisdom of the Lord be transmitted to the limited understanding of an unholy man.

The unsaved person.. ‘the natural man’, is ignorant of God’s plans and purposes, for the things of God, including the truth of the gospel, are spiritually discerned. But as post-cross believers, we have the indwelling Spirit, Who gives us access to the mind of Christ. Sadly, carnally minded Christians, place themselves in the same camp as unsaved people. Although they have access to the throne-room of God and the mind of Christ, they erect a sin-barrier between themselves and the Lord when they regress in their spiritual walk.

‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD. There is no person in heaven above nor the earth beneath that can know the thoughts of the omniscient God of Creation. “Who has known the mind of the LORD,” is God’s challenge to all humanity. Who is man, that he should presume to counsel the Lord or teach Him anything!

He is the eternal God. He is the infinite Father. He is the unfathomable Lord. He is the inscrutable Spirit of holiness. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts”, declare the Lord.

And yet, in this passage, we discover a tremendous truth, that was revealed to Paul, concerning the mystery of the Church. In his various epistles, Paul unveiled the amazing privileges that God, in His grace, has determined for all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not a historical belief that Jesus lived 2000 years ago that saves a man. Nor is a belief that He was a great teacher, who did many miracles and was crucified by the Romans, which brings eternal life and gives us access to the mind of Christ – all of which are true.

The faith that saves the sinner and forgives his sin is believing that Jesus, the incarnate Word of God, died for our sin, was buried and rose again, according to the Scriptures. He is the light of the world, in Whom are the words of eternal life. And in this ‘church’ dispensation, believers have been given a most wonderful gift – which is Christ in you the hope of glory. Indwelling our mortal body we have the immortal Spirit of Christ, so that through Him, we (believers) have the very mind of CHRIST.

The mind of Christ stands in stark contrast with the wisdom of the world. Through Him have been revealed mysteries that were hidden down through the ages, until Christ Jesus was sent to reveal the Father to us, and to show us the way. He came to reveal the character of God, the truth of the gospel and the eternal hope that we have in Him.

We discover that the heart and mind of God is to redeem mankind, to restore creation, to teach us to be holy and to guide us into all truth. To have the mind of Christ gives us a taste of heaven, a glimpse into His glory, an understanding of His heart of love and the amazing truth, that God the Father desires to save mankind from their sin and bestow on us privileges that are beyond our understanding.

And when our life is submitted to Him, in humble dependence and childlike trust, the Holy Spirit will instruct us; correct us; lead us and guide us into all truth… just as the Holy Spirit of God led and guided the Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly life. Christ walked the spiritual way of the cross, for He learned and practiced obedience through the things He suffered.

He went to the cross in obedience to the Father, for His heart-cry was always, THY will be don THY. He went to the cross to redeem His people Israel… and for love of His people, and all who would believe, He prayed, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”. He went to the cross for love of the Church and He went to the cross and endured the pain, for the joy that was set before Him. The Son of God – Who is God the Son, despised the shame and stretched out His arms of love, embracing ALL who will believe on His name,

Christians similarly must walk that same spiritual path as their heavenly Lord, with the same humble mind and the same teachable disposition that was displayed in the life of Christ Jesus our Lord – so that we too can access the mind of the Almighty Son of God, as we abide in Him and He in us.

Father God, thank You that I have the mind of Christ. Please take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to You. Use my intellect to Your glory and help me to live like Jesus lived – in humble obedience before You… only doing those things that You would have me to do. Help me to place all my carnal inclination on the altar of sacrifice, and live for You alone… for I want to live in spirit and truth, for Your praise and glory – in Christ’s name I pray, AMEN.

There are certain Psalms that resonate with the spirit of a saved man, and Psalm 32 is one such sacred song. It opens with David considering how blessed are those whose transgression are forgiven and whose sin is covered. “How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,” he writes, “and in whose spirit there is no deceit!”

In these opening words, the psalmist is talking about all who are reckoned as righteous, because of their faith. Abraham is the classic example of a man of faith, for he believed God and his faith was credited to him as righteousness.

Saved man celebrates his justifying grace, because he has been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s illuminating light and perfect peace. He rejoices that his human spirit has been enlivened by the Holy Spirit and instead of being enslaved to sin, at enmity with God, under eternal condemnation and without hope in the world, he becomes part of God’s new creation in Christ, and is promised joy in the eternal ages to come.

But David’s celebration is not simply about the justified aspect of his salvation, for once redeemed… the man of faith must choose to walk by faith and to live by faith. David is celebrating this sanctifying grace. This sanctifying aspect of his salvation from God is ours, as we grow in grace and mature in the faith.

Everyone who is justified is called to spiritual maturity through a life-process of sanctification. Every believer who is justified will also be glorified. Everyone who is saved is POSITIONALLY sanctified, but they should also travel along a path of PROGRESSIVE sanctification. Sadly, not all believers reach and maintain spiritual maturity, because sin causes fellowship with the Father to be broken. Sin causes maturing saints to regress into spiritual infancy, for sin, separates us from God. Only when sin is confessed by a believer, is fellowship restored.

David had committed some serious sin in his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, her husband. Sin not only separates the unsaved from God. Sin also causes a barrier to be erected between God and a saved man, when he sins. Sin separates the carnal believer who decides to go his own way, instead of God’s way. Sin separated David from the Lord, because sin puts an immovable barrier between us and God… until and unless sin is confessed.

Like many of us, David chose to do the evil and refused the good. David knew the word of God forbade adultery and murder, but he chose to embrace his fleeting passion and lost his precious connection with the Lord. The Spirit was grieved, a barrier was erected and for many a long month, the king was silent about his sin and estranged from God, which affected his health and caused his body to waste away. David was saved – but out of fellowship with the Lord.

David discovered that unconfessed sin haunts the conscience of a believer and contributes to health problems and heavy-heartedness. The well-being, happiness, strength and inner peace of the believer is swept away by the floodwaters of a troubled conscience which stagnates into melancholy.

It was only when David stopped hiding his sin and said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD” that God forgave the guilt of his sin. David discovered the joy of doing what is right and eschewing the evil… and in this psalm, he encourages everyone who is godly to do the same. He found his joy in the Lord returned; a lesson had been learned; his depression was lifted; fellowship restored and his sweeter relationship with God was re-established.

David discovered that the flood-waters of despair and despondency were dissipated, and he cried out “You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.” David learned an important lesson and found a closeness with the Lord he had not experienced before. As a result, David received a promise from God that he enjoyed for the rest of his life – “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”

When lessons have been learned and fellowship is restored and maintained, God always brings us into closer communion with Himself. We will not only hear His voice saying – this is the way, walk in it, but He will guide us with His eye, teach us greater truths, extend our understanding of Himself and deepen our intimacy in a very precious and personal way.

When one lesson is learned another is forthcoming. David was to yield to the Lord and not resist His chastening rod. He was to be prepared to walk God’s better way rather than follow his own imperfect whim. He was to surrender His imperfect will so that the perfect will of God may be fulfilled in his life.

May we learn this important lesson and keep a short rein on sin and be ready and willing to learn the lessons God has to teach us. May we allow His counsel to lead us in the decisions we make in life – for when we delight ourselves in the Lord HE gives us the desire of our heart.

Heavenly Father, there are many times when I have failed to listen to Your voice, gone my own way and fallen flat on my face! Thank You that I can confess my faults to You and that You are faithful and just to forgive all my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Help me to grow in grace, mature in the faith and draw ever closer to You. Keep me alert to your instructions, show me the path I should go and guide me with Your eye, I pray. How Wonderful to know that You have scheduled every day of my life for my greater benefit. May I never stray from Your perfect path and may my life be a godly witness to others and a blessing to You – this I ask in Jesus’ name, AMEN.

We are called to rejoice in the Lord; to pray without ceasing and in everything to give thanks to the Lord our God, for the joy of the Lord is our health and strength, and His mercy endures forevermore. We are exhorted to rejoice in the Lord and to take refuge in Him, for He has done wonderful things for all who have trusted in the name of His dearly beloved Son.

In the knowledge of what God has done for us, through the life; death; burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ – shouldn’t we be joyful, with exceeding great joy? Should we not lift up our voices in an everlasting song of praise? We who once were dead in trespasses and sins have been justified and are being transformed into the very image and likeness of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

In Christ there is sanctification, glorification and a joint heir-ship with the Son of the most High God. By His goodness and grace we have been seated in heavenly places in Christ – to His praise and glory, forever and ever.

True joy and genuine happiness is a gift of grace from our heavenly Father, for genuine joy and true happiness is a heavenly grace, we receive from the Spirit of God, as we walk in spirit and truth and live in newness of life. Joy is a fruit that the Lord produces within our heart, but it is something that the world can know nothing about.

The Joy of the Lord is a precious fruit and a spiritual grace that is given to us from above. The joy of the Lord is our strength in times of weakness and protection in times of danger. However, unsaved men and women know nothing of true, heavenly joy, which is a characteristic of the Christian Church, that is ours by grace. Those who are dead in their sins do not have access to God’s spiritual graces, for joy is both a gift of God to the justified and a fruit of the Spirit in the sanctified man.

Such heavenly joy can be maintained in the midst of all afflictions and distresses, for the joy of the Lord is our everlasting hope and strength. Such divine rejoicing should not be hindered or quenched by the scheming strategies of the wicked one. Satan delights to use adversity to hatch-out doubts and fears in the imagination of our hearts, and these can become barriers that make us question God’s faithfulness; distort His character and cause our faith to falter. But joy in the Lord is a great spiritual weapon that can help to dispel Satan’s devious lies and cause his wicked accusations to evaporate like the morning mist.

The length, breadth, depth, and height of this continual rejoicing in the Lord should resound to the farthest extremity of His promises and plans – His governance and character. The surpassing intimate fellowship into which we have been warmly invited, as children of the Father and joint-heirs with Christ, should rejoice our heart always and gladden our soul through time and into eternity.

Let us rejoice in the Lord always – and again I will say, LET US REJOICE – for He is a great and awesome God, and a great King above all gods!

Loving Father thank You for Your gift of joy and for Your fruit of rejoicing. Help me to take all my thoughts captive… especially those doubts and imaginings that are prompted by the enemy to steal the heavenly gift of joy, that is mine in Christ. Thank You Father, that You are worthy of all my praise and that Your joy is a heavenly medicine and spiritual muscle, that strengthens my trust and increases my love for You. May I never cease to rejoice in You all the days of my life – this I ask in Christ’s name I pray, AMEN.

What a thrilling message Peter had for the men of Israel on that wonderful Day of Pentecost when the Church was born, and all those present were baptised into the Body of Christ, filled with the Spirit Who took up permanent residence in their bodies and received the gift of languages. As Jews and Jewish proselytes, from around the world, witnessed the amazing happenings, Peter stood up and delivered a sermon to which thousands responded on that day… and millions, down through the ages, have read and believed with rapt enthusiasm and grateful thanks.

The city had been buzzing with the news that the One Who claimed to be the Messiah had been crucified. The incident had not been hidden from view, as the Scribes and Pharisees had plotted. There were whispers that women had seen Him alive. Also, the testimony of Romans soldiers, who declared Him to be the Son of God, were no doubt being spread abroad. Hearts were filled with unanswered questions on that day, UNTIL… Peter stood up with the Eleven. He raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Men of Judah and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you – and pay attention!”

He reminded them that Jesus of Nazareth, Whom many had seen and heard preaching, was a man approved of God. For over three years, they had witnessed the many mighty miracles, wonders, and signs that God performed through Him. And when Peter began to speak, he certainly got their attention and piqued their interest. Although fully God, Peter emphasised Christ’s humanity in his sermon, because he proceeded to talk of His sacrificial death on the cross.

He told them that through the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, they had taken the Lord Jesus and had Him crucified, by the hands of wicked men. Peter wanted the Men of Israel to understand that He was the Messiah, Who came into the world to die as the sacrifice for man’s sin. Peter wanted these folk to know this happened to carry out God’s pre-ordained plan of Salvation for His fallen creation – and the redemption of humanity.

Peter did not minimise the depravity of man and our guilt before God. He did not play-down the severity of what had taken place and the need to repent of sin. He did not exonerate man’s sinfulness or diminish the need for salvation. Peter did not preach a socially accepted gospel that tickled their ears – he spoke the truth.

Peter explained that God permitted this to take place, in His perfect plan of salvation, so that the only perfect Man – God’s beloved Son, Who is also God the Son, could become man’s Kinsman-Redeemer. Peter taught that only a perfect member of the human race, Who lived a sinless life, could qualify to shed His human blood as the acceptable purchase price for humanity’s sin.

The wages of sin is death. The consequence of sin is death, and death is eternal separation from God. All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory and no-one is good enough to pay the price of sin. Those Men of Israel, on that day of Pentecost, as well as every person conceived through a man and born of a woman is guilty before God. Everyone deserves death and all are eternally condemned.

It was necessary for Peter to tell the people, that the omniscient God KNEW man would sin. And in His mercy and grace, He purposed, before the world began, to redeem mankind through the sacrificial offering of His own beloved Son. The burnt offerings, daily sacrifices, and annual Jewish feast-days, all pointed to this pivotal point in history. All scripture directs our attention to the unique Man Who would come to offer His life as the ransom price for mankind’s sin.

“But God raised Him up again,” Peter continued. “God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.  Jesus was sinless and death is the consequence of sin… not sinlessness. Jesus did not deserve death. But He died for US. He died OUR death on that cross.

What a staggering truth fell on the ears of those who were listening. They had waited for centuries for their kinsman-Redeemer, but crucified Him when He came! BUT GOD RAISED HIM UP AGAIN”. God raised Him from the dead and His resurrection put an end to the agony of death.

Jesus became the Firstfruit from the dead. – the first MAN to rise to life-immortal. And because His death has paid the price for man’s sin – ALL who believe on His name for the forgiveness of sin, will also be raised from the dead. HALLELUJAH! “God raised Him from the dead… putting an end to the agony of death”.

There was another important issue that these Men of Israel needed to know.. God resurrected Him and put an end to the agony of death… since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. Death had no power over Jesus. He was a sinless Man Who did not deserve death, yet he willingly died in our place, so that we might live. Not only was Jesus a perfect Man, over Whom death had no claim, He is also the eternal Son, in Whom is life eternal.

Faith in His sacrificial death pays the price for our sin… but if Christ did not physically rise from the dead, we would be forgiven of our sin, but we could not rise physically, from the grave. JESUS was the eternal, indestructible, immortal, immutable, deathless God as well as the sinless Man.

As the sinless Man, He gave His life for us. He willingly died for our sin. But as the eternal God, Who cannot die He rose from the dead, breaking the power of sin and Satan, death and hell. His work on the cross means that ALL who believe that Christ died for their sin, was buried and rose again according to the Scripture, will not perish but have everlasting life. This is a truth that rejoiced the heart of many who heard Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost and it has rejoiced the heart of millions more, who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and been saved by grace through faith in Him.

Only one member of the Trinity died on the cross that day, and only one Person of the Godhead rose from the dead, BUT every member of the Trinity was involved in Christ’s glorious resurrection – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were jointly responsible for this wonderful miracle.

This miracle of Salvation by grace through faith in Christ is freely available to ALL, just as it was when Peter stood up on that first day of Pentecost and taught this life-changing truth. The miracle of salvation is a free gift to ALL who believe. Salvation costs us nothing. But NEVER forget what it cost God to give His dearly beloved Son, to hang on the cross as the sacrifice for sin and NEVER forget what it cost the Lord Jesus to go to the cross on behalf of you and me.

Heavenly Father, how I praise and bless Your holy name that the truth of Peter’s first sermon is as relevant today, as it was when he spoke to the men of Israel, and declared that God raised Jesus from the dead, putting an end to the agony of sin for all who believe on His name. Thank You that the eternal, indestructible, immortal, immutable, deathless Son of God became a perfect, innocent, sinless, member of the human race, so that He could willingly give His precious life as the ransom price for my sin and break the agony of death, and permanence of the grave for ALL who believe on Him. Praise Him holy name, AMEN.