The marks of Jesus and the mark of the beast (666)

So much has been said about 666 over the years, but there is no one better to interpret the word than the Word Himself. Did you know that Jesus has marks which all believers bear? Paul wrote of His (Jesus’) marks in Galatians 6:17—

“From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body."

What comes immediately before this verse helps us understand what it means to bear on our body the marks of Jesus and what exactly is the mark of the beast. Long article, though. I always mean to make these pieces short, but here we are:)

A quick background:

Consider God’s Way of salvation for mankind in Romans 10–

“Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with Himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in Him are made right with God.” Romans‬ 10:1-4‬.

By God’s grace, let us not follow after the teachings of those who are outwardly religious like the Pharisees but refuse to accept God’s Way of making us righteous in His sight— those who challenge God by trusting in self for being sins-free, levy the flock with rules and regulations or demands for godliness by human striving at obedience and threaten the helpless sinner with their warped definition of Hebrews 10:26’s “sinning wilfully” as meaning committing acts of sins after you became born-again— it is not. The spirit of the antichrist is not necessarily anti-God. The word “antichrist” is translated from two Greek words—

Anti — meaning “replace” or “in place of” and

Christos — meaning “Christ” = “Anointed”

“Antichrists” refers to anyone who tries to REPLACE what CHRIST has done to make us righteous, free us from the imputation, guilt, condemnation and penalty of sin (death plus its symptoms of earthly ills) and to grant us eternal life in Himself with what MAN must do by his useless human effort aka the arm of flesh. For instance, Christ hung on the cross to redeem us from generational and every other curse (Galatians 3:13.) But pulpit-manning antichrists whose lives SEEM to be the epitome of godliness attained by human striving disagree by promoting things like fasting for 79 days and doing righteous deeds in order to escape the curse and God’s wrath. John wrote of such in his epistle--

18 "Children, it is the last hour [the end of this age]; and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming [the one who will oppose Christ and attempt to replace Him], even now many antichrists (false teachers) have appeared, which confirms our belief that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us [seeming at first to be Christians], but they were not really of us [because they were not truly born again and spiritually transformed]; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out [teaching false doctrine], so that it would be clearly shown that none of them are of us."

This brings us to the number 666, beloved. The mark of the beast.

Any Bible scholar will tell you that SIX is the number of Man -- man was created on the sixth day; six days for man to work, and other Biblical references. Plus, Revelation 13:18 which references this number 666 says so explicitly—

16 “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”

The Passion Translation puts verse 18 thus—

“This will require wisdom to understand: Let the one with insight interpret the number of the wild beast, for it is humanity’s number—666.”

Now Wisdom is a Person. His name is Jesus Christ. It “will require Wisdom to understand” Christ’s revelation to John and even the entire Bible. Job 11:6 says of true wisdom—

“He would show you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides.”

Then there’s Psalm 92:5 which says of the Lord God’s way of having layers of meaning saturate all that He does—

“what mighty miracles and your power at work—just to name a few! Depths of purpose and layers of meaning saturate everything you do.”

Also recall the Book of Proverbs— 31 chapters in all, one for each day of the month? In Proverbs 1 is where we see the purpose of the Book of Proverbs, one of which is—

“That people may understand a proverb and a figure of speech or an enigma with its interpretation, and the words of the wise and their dark sayings or riddles.” Proverbs‬ 1:6‬.

In essence, trying to interpret the mark of the beast or 666 using human wisdom which cannot see the mark beyond terms of literal microchip implants or the COVID vaccine in disguise, that would be folly. Christ our Wisdom from God is “the Wise” in Proverbs 1:6. And in Him, God freely gives His wisdom— liberally and without reproach— to all who ask. And wisdom that does not make us puffed up with pride. So let’s ask continually, beloved.

Before we go on, let’s keep in mind this information— Man is a tripartite (three parts) being -- body, soul and spirit.It explains the tripling of his number— “six” — in the mark of the beast. Now recall Paul’s Holy Spirit-inspired writings concerning bearing on his body the marks of Jesus in Galatians 6:17--

14 'But may I never BOAST except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation! 16 And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body."

"Marks" above is translated from the Greek word "stigmata" which means "a tattoo mark or brand." I doubt that Paul put a physical tattoo on his body to mark himself for Jesus or that he branded himself like a cow for the same purpose. What is even very important is everything that comes before verse 17 above:

“But may I never BOAST except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a NEW CREATION! 16 And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body."

Understand what it means to be a new creation. Romans 5:19 says—

“By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

As a new creation in Christ, we trust utterly in Christ as our Righteousness. We are no longer on that prideful, boastful and futile path of striving for righteousness/godliness (to be like God) by human effort/the arm of flesh and through dependence on the knowledge of good and evil (a type of the law from which is this knowledge) which was what led to the fall of Adam and his exit from Eden. See the tree of the knowledge of good and evil as a typology for the law which many are trying to keep in order to be godly (be like God) in Romans 7:8-12 (MSG.) For following Satan’s deceit as shown in his effort at trying to be godly (be like God) by human striving, sin and death reigned over Adam. Adam passed his sin nature to all of his descendants (Romans 5:19.)

So, Paul, no longer having the sin/old nature but trusting Christ as his righteousness wrote—

“But may I never BOAST except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a NEW CREATION! 16 And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body."

I put “BOAST” and “NEW CREATION” in caps for emphasis. Believer, the cross is why our entire lifetime of sins are forgiven and why we are forever righteous in God’s sight. And why we can produce any good at all. The same Paul wrote in Galatians 2--

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me."

To bear the marks of Jesus on our body is to BOAST in nothing but the cross. It is to acknowledge that we no longer live but Christ lives in us-- that we are utterly helpless to produce even an atom of good or resist sins apart from Christ: meaning that we cannot claim that "I sowed my car and got a jet" or "God blessed me because I didn't sin." The one who can take credit for his good deeds and lifts them up as why calamity should not befall him as self-righteous Job did before God opened his eyes and he saw his folly, that one is still alive in himself— man full of himself through and through.

In Christ, for all that we have, including godly living and and good our works— body, soul and spirit — our boast is Christ alone-- we bear on our body the marks of Christ. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. We no longer live. He lives in us. None of self; all of Christ. That is what it means to bear on our body the marks of Jesus.

The same pattern applies for man bearing the mark of the beast and the interpretation of the number 666. Recall that SIX is the number of Man? Recall that man is a tripartite being having three parts -- body, soul and spirit? Recall that “true wisdom has two sides”? The number 666 being the mark of the beast is simply man (a tripartite or "three parts" being) in the fullness or "aliveness" of himself -- boasting in himself — full of man's strength in body, full of himself in soul and full of himself in spirit; it is the very best system of governance that mankind can produce without God and so under the constant influence of Satan who is the ruler of this world. It is not a microchip NEITHER IS IT THE COVID VACCINE. It is a mark that many even church leaders are glorying in today:

dependence on human effort/the arm of flesh for the attainment of righteousness/godliness (and consequently good success) in body (6,) soul (6) and spirit (6). 666.

Man of himself is “the flesh.” Satan and his “pastor” agents have been quite successful in redefining the meaning of “fleshly” or “carnally-minded” or “walking in the flesh,” — for many, “flesh” or “carnal” connotes thoughts of people wallowing in sins usually of a sexual nature. Not so. “Flesh” or “carnal” is translated from the Greek word “Sarx.” It denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God. According to Helps Word Studies—

4561 sárksproperly, flesh ("carnal"), merely of human origin or empowerment.

[4561 /sárks ("flesh") is not always evil in Scripture… is generally negative, referring to making decisions (actions) according to self – i.e. done apart from faith (independent from God's inworking). Thus what is "of the flesh(carnal)" is by definition displeasing to the Lord – even things that seem "respectable!" In short, flesh generally relates to unaided human effort, i.e. decisions (actions) that originate from self or are empowered by self. This is carnal ("of the flesh") and proceeds out of the untouched(unchanged) part of us – i.e. what is nottransformed by God.

In essence, whatever righteous deed done in order to obtain favour from God or be seen as “trying my best” in His sight, it originates from the flesh aka self or human effort and it is sin— even if it seems righteous and respectable. Isaiah 64:6 describes such righteous works of men thus—

“We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in Your sight." Isaiah 64:6.

The one who walks in the flesh thinks he can produce righteousness or be godly by his flesh/human effort. Whatever good “flesh” (man of himself) thinks it is doing, he does it without being aware that God’s mercy is the “skeleton” that is still propping him up from expressing his true sinful nature— like an infant on his father’s shoulders in a parade boasting about how he can see further and better than his peers— and disregarding his father’s help, attributing it to his own strength. So much to say here. Paul addressed this truth in Romans 1 where a group who “suppress the truth” of righteousness by faith (verses 16-19) devolved into sin after “God lifted off His restraining hand…” —

“24 This is why God lifted off His restraining hand and let them have full expression of their sinful and shameful desires…”

If God lifted off His restraining hand that restrains us from devolving into committing heinous sins and let us rely on our human effort and will-power at keeping the law or doing good works to prove our faith or for whatever reason, like Peter who trusted himself before falling flat on his face three times, we would all devolve into sin and see how utterly lacking in good we are of ourselves.

Man of himself is flesh, beloved— can flesh move without a skeleton? Can it produce anything without Life blood flowing through it? Even as Christians, whether we are “50 years as a pastor” or a pew warmer, we are utterly weak of ourselves. Haven't we ever wondered why Christ gave charge of His sheep to Peter-- the disciple whom many of us see as "failed the most?" It is because Peter experienced his utter weakness of himself with his denials. He realised that it was by God’s mercy that he had been standing and not wallowing in sins all his life: he saw his utter need for Christ’s strength to stand.

As believers, Christ as our Righteousness is the “Skeleton” who upholds us. He is the Vine Life flowing through us giving us life in abundance. Apart from Him, we are nothing. But God’s mercy in propping many up makes them thing that they are good by themselves.

666 represents man in the fullness of himself — literally full of himself — taking credit for God’s goodness in his life that should lead him to repentance; BOASTING in dead works of “I sowed my car and got a jet” as opposed to boasting in Christ as Paul wrote in Galatians. It is man glorying not in Christ’s finished work for our salvation from sin and death but in his own thoughts of being able to be sins-free/be good like God or to produce good success (forehead mark) and in his human effort/the works of his hands (right hand mark) at producing anything good, even if it is by an inch; this when God’s word shows us that there is no good thing in the flesh aka man of himself.

Recall what is written of this beast that causes people to receive a mark in Revelation 13–

11 “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon……..13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.”

There is only one Lamb— Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This beast had two horns LIKE a lamb: pretending to be the (bearer of the) message of Christ. “Horn” above is translated from the Greek word “Keras” which has the following outline of biblical usage—

“…is a symbol of strength and courage, and used as such in a variety of phrases

1. a mighty and valiant helper, the author of deliverance, of the Messiah”

Satan is the dragon. The beast “had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon”— this allegory speaks of a doctrine or person pretending to be for Christ (like a lamb) but preaches the doctrine of Satan— speaks like Satan. But what is Satan’s doctrine? What does Satan preach? Recall that Satan did not convince Eve to kill or lie to Adam, or break any of the Ten Commandments if it had been available for them at the time. What Satan goaded Eve to do is seen as the right thing to do in many churches today: Satan simply deceived Eve, and consequently Adam, into trying to be what God already made she and Adam to be: godly (be like God.) Adam and Eve were CREATED in God's likeness: Genesis 1:27-

"So God created human beings, making them to be like Himself. He created them male and female,"

Adam and Eve were already godly "like God," and not because they had anything to do with attaining this status. It was a gift from God. But Satan deceived Eve and consequently Adam into striving for godliness by human effort and through dependence on the knowledge of good and evil. The law gives the same knowledge and the letter kills, just like the tree. See the forbidden fruit as a typology for the law which many churchgoers are trying to obey in order to be godly (be like God) in Romans 7:8-12 (MSG)—

8-12 "Don’t you remember how it was? I do, perfectly well. The law code started out as an excellent piece of work. What happened, though, was that sin found a way to pervert the command into a temptation, making a piece of “forbidden fruit” out of it. The law code, instead of being used to guide me, was used to seduce me."

Satan’s strategy has not changed since Eden. Beloved, in Christ, we are a NEW CREATION— CREATED to “be like God,” but with better covenant promises than Adam and Eve: we are joint heirs with Christ. Christ suffered and died to make us godly like God. See the result of His suffering which He accomplished for us in Isaiah 53:11–

"After He has suffered, He will see the light of life. And He will be satisfied. My godly servant will make many people godly because of what He will accomplish. He will be punished for their sins."

Romans 5:9 tells us how our Heavenly Father sees all who put their trust, even for Godliness/Righteousness and Strength in Jesus Christ, no longer trusting in human strength for the attainment of same—

"And there is still much more to say of His unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in My sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God."

Only the blood of Jesus suffices for God to declare anyone godly/righteous. No human/arm of flesh additives required.

But as he did to Eve in Eden, Satan the dragon through his extremely religious and seemingly pious "pastors" and church leaders having “two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon” goes about threatening the flock with the same punishment/wrath of God (fire from heaven) for sins that Christ died to take away; subtly deceiving many into that boastful, hopeless and futile way of trying to become what God has already made every believer to be in Christ; such pretend to be Christ’s but speak like the dragon—preaching Satan the dragon’s message of striving for godliness by useless human effort (arm of flesh—666) at following the dictates of the knowledge of good and evil, and try to pass it off as the message of the lamb of God. Beware of such preachers, beloved. Theirs is the way of which Proverbs 14:12 speaks of--

"There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death."

The law kills and gives the knowledge of good and evil, just like the tree. The result of following Satan’s doctrine of trying to be godly (be like God) by doing what the law dictates is the same result that Adam and Eve experienced after their own attempt-- death reigns and sin has dominion--

"For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under Grace." Romans 6:14.

Beloved, let us not fall for the same seduction of Satan which is being passed off as Christianity in many places of worship— trying to be godly (be like God) by human effort and through keeping the law which gives the knowledge of good and evil. That is man boasting in the fullness of his own self. As it happened with Adam and Eve, following that false doctrine is still the same way to get cut off from Jesus Christ the Tree of Life and to fall from God’s grace—

“For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s Grace.” Galatians 5:4.

That was the way of the religious Pharisees who could not cast the first stone. Little wonder they could not stand Christ aka they were antichrist.

Notice not anti-God?

For all of their religious piety, obedience and enforcement of the Law of Moses which none can match today, the Pharisees were antichrist. Little wonder Christ referred to them as “Brood of vipers” and “Satan is your father.” Jesus Christ the Tree of Life was right there with them to save them and grant them eternal life as a gift of grace (unmerited favour,) but they wanted to and felt that they could earn all or some of the glory, so that they could maintain their high esteem in society and boast in their self-produced righteousnesses— just like many church leaders who follow their doctrine while rejecting Grace. Refusing God’s way of making us righteous (by faith in Christ) which is written for us in Romans 10 somewhere above, they choose to cling to doing righteous deeds in order to be righteous aka doing what the law commands in their bid to be good/godly aka “be like God,”— the same deceit that Satan the original viper/serpent sold to Eve in Eden. Beloved, if any is on this ground, NOW is the day of salvation. Never trust yourself. Trust Christ. Still on Revelation 13–

11 “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon……..13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.”

No one better to interpret the word than the Word Himself. Fire coming down from heaven to earth is a picture of God’s wrath/punishment as we see in the account of Elijah calling down fire on the first two companies of soldiers ordered to bring him to king Ahaziah. In Luke 9 we see that this spirit or character that is desirous of raining fire down from heaven is not of Christ, even though it has two horns like a lamb—

51 “Now when the time was approaching for Him to be taken up [to heaven], He was determined to go to Jerusalem [to fulfill His purpose]. 52 He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went into a Samaritan village to make arrangements for Him; 53 but the people would not welcome Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem. 54 When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and destroy them?” 55 But He turned and rebuked them [and He said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are; 56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they journeyed on to another village.”

Recall what is written of the beast—

11 “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon……..13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.”

It proclaims to be Christian (having “horns like a lamb”— seeming to be of Christ) but speaking like Satan the dragon? And how its focus is God’s wrath and not His Salvation as Christ corrected James and John? Hence Christ’s word in Matthew 7:

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Also recall what is written of the beast in Revelation 13–

16 “It also caused everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and bound, to be marked on the right hand or on the forehead. 17 This meant no one could buy or sell unless they had the mark; that is, the name of the beast or its number.”

The word beast (Greek—therion) is used in the Bible for an evil person or in describing the sinful nature of man— man of himself — trusting not in Christ but boasting in himself as his own righteousness (forehead mark) and his own strength (right hand mark.) “Therion” is found extensively in classical Greek describing wicked or pathetic people. Plato applies it to people:

“A flatterer is a horrid creature [therion] who does great harm.”

In God’s estimation, the difference between the righteous and the wicked is not degree or number of sins. See the difference in Romans 5:9–

"And there is still much more to say of His unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in My sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God."

For all of his obedience and good works which no pastor alive can match today, Nicodemus was worldly aka “the wicked” and like the whole world, was destined for death in hell before his encounter with Christ. Recall that he was the first recipient of Christ’s word to us—

“For God so loved the world…”

Only the GIFT of righteousness that proceeds from Christ’s obedience suffices for God to declare any righteous. Anyone outside this umbrella of Christ’s blood-bought righteousness— seeking his own by human striving — he is “the wicked,”no matter how good he tries to be. His efforts are even prideful and God-challenging: See what God's word says about man’s non-existent good and his useless will-power/human effort (6) which he relies on for his works in Romans 7:18, a truth that Paul experienced:

“For I know that nothing good lives within the flesh of my fallen humanity. The longings to do what is right are within me, but will-power is not enough to accomplish it."

God's word says human effort (the arm of flesh) will fail, is powerless and cannot. Christ says “There is none good but God.” He suffered and died to make us good (be like God) as a gift. But Satan appeals to Pride in the arm of flesh (human effort at obedience or achieving good) that will fail and causes man to think:

"No, I can. God must be wrong. I still have some good in me. I can produce good, keep the law and resist temptation to commit sin by my will-power and human strength (666). I can and I must do works to be godly aka "be like God" or (as it was with Judas) to prove to God that I am truly sorry for my sins and can make amends.”

God knows that the potential to commit heinous crimes is in everybody. God sees this potential and how it makes some people pridefully think that some sins are beneath them or that they can keep even a tittle of the law in their own strength, like Peter before his denials— not realising that God’s restraining hand of mercy is what is preventing them from experiencing the vagaries of Time and Chance and Satan’s sifting and from their consequence of man collapsing into the helpless mass of sin-ridden flesh that he is of himself. All flesh is the same, whether “pastor of 50 years in ministry” or murderer.

As mentioned earlier, Paul did not tattoo or brand himself literally with the marks of Jesus. The Greek word used in the passage for “marked” (or “engraved”) is same root word from which we get the word “character.” The character of the beast is what is evident upon the people’s hand (in their actions) and forehead (in their thoughts)— trust in human effort/man for the attainment of anything good—body, soul, spirit — 666.

I don’t think the beast is a literal beast. With His beast allegory, Christ, through John, is pointing us to the sin of man that turned Nebuchadnezzar into a beast— Pride. After Nebuchadnezzar had his dream and received Daniel’s God-given interpretation, counsel and warning concerning what was to befall him, he still went on to BOAST in himself—

30 “The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty? 31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from thee: 32 and thou shalt be driven from men; and thy dwelling shall be with the BEASTS of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.”

And at the end of the days, Nebuchadnezzar lifted up his eyes unto heaven, his understanding returned to him, and praised God with words that concluded with—

“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all His works are truth, and his ways justice; and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” Daniel 4:37.

That “speaking in pride” of Nebuchadnezzer is what is being passed off as Christianity in many places of worship today— man glorying in his own obedience and various works such as 79 days fasts and praising these works of hands as why he is successful. The bearer of the mark of the beast is simply the one who disagrees with God by thinking (forehead mark) that he achieved success by the power of his human effort-driven actions (right hand mark.) Consider Deuteronomy 8–

17 “You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. 19 If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.”

How often have we attributed God’s goodness in our lives to 76 days fasts and hard work! We who can do nothing apart from Christ. Such reasoning is even very simplistic or else no one would ask the question: why do bad things happen to good people? Christ says “There is none good but God.” He gave His life to be our Good but many strive to be good/be like God by human effort. This is why the world keeps on wondering why horrible things happen to religious folk who seem to be checking every box of their definition of what it means to be a good person. Beloved, see Daniel’s counsel to king Nebuchadnezzer before his pride in self got the best of him— a path which many churchgoers walk today —

“Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by tzedek (righteousness), and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a prolonging of thy tranquillity.” Daniel 4:27 (Orthodox Jewish Bible)

“Mercy” is translated from the Hebrew word “Hanan” whose root word “Chanan” means “to be gracious” or “to be accepted.” For example, Yohanan or Yochanan (John in English: Yahweh + Hanan) means “The LORD is gracious.”

According to Daniel’s interpretation and counsel to the king, we break off sins by RIGHTEOUSNESS; but what to do when God’s word says of man’s righteous deeds—

“We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in Your sight." Isaiah 64:6.

What to do when God’s word says—

“For no person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in His sight by [trying to do] the works of the Law. For through the Law we become conscious of sin [and the recognition of sin directs us toward repentance, but provides no remedy for sin].” Romans‬ 3:20‬.

Only by God’s grace (Hanan- mercy) could Nebuchadnezzer (and indeed, all of mankind) have been able to break off his sins by righteousness and his iniquities by mercy.

Beloved, Daniel’s counsel to king Nebuchadnezzer (to get righteousness and mercy/grace) is the same counsel that we have in God’s word to us today, only for us, what was impossible for Nebuchadnezzer or any man to acquire by human effort (righteousness and grace/mercy) we have as GIFTS of Grace from our Heavenly Father in Christ Jesus —

"And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful GRACE and His GIFT of RIGHTEOUSNESS, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:16-17.

Child of Grace, know that this side of heaven, before we receive our immortal bodies at Christ’s return for us at the Rapture, we will mess things up (commit sins) here and there— none of us have arrived; and our failures usually show up because we trust in self/trust in man’s strength in some areas that we are not even aware of and God wants to rid us of such trust in self in those areas— just like what happened to Peter who denied Christ after trusting in self. See the only reason why you and I who trust in Christ are not wallowing in horrid sins, laziness and Job-type calamities —

12 "So beware if you think it could never happen to you, lest your pride becomes your downfall. 13 We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust Him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously." I Corinthians 10.

Thank God that, as we see in 1 Corinthians 10 above and just as He did using Peter’s denials, those temptations or trials which arise often because we boast in ourselves, which Satan means for our destruction and where we fall flat on our faces, God measures their severity, nature and timing and uses them to make us see the futility of trusting in human effort (the flesh) for the attainment of godliness; He uses them to cause us to let go of PRIDE IN SELF and to cause us to put our trust in Christ our Wisdom from God alone—

“When swelling and pride come, then emptiness and shame come also, but with the humble (those who are lowly, who have been pruned or chiseled by trial, and renounce self) are skillful and godly Wisdom and soundness.” Proverbs‬ 11:2‬

That “swelling and pride” is to think that one can keep as much as an atom of the law in order to be anything with God or produce any good deed by human effort. Having that kind of mindset only opens the door for Satan to sift a person like wheat for the good that he claims to possess or be able to do when Christ says—

“There is none good but God.”

Plodding on in that mindset after failing is what leads to depression and suicidal thoughts as it happened with Judas-- man not wanting to agree with Christ who says "There is none good but God" and trusting in his strength (666) for the attainment of good. Beloved, only in Christ do we stand. Of ourselves, know that but for God’s mercy which is the “skeleton” that is propping up those who think they are good by themselves and is still preventing such from falling into heinous sins like Peter with his denials, we cannot resist even the least temptation to commit sin. But for God's hand of restraint that is the hedge of protection around many who are like self-righteous Job, calamity would reign over many. Job lifted up his own obedience and good works as why calamity should not befall him when his sufferings began— until God opened his eyes to see and he realised his folly saying—

5 “I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You. 6 Therefore I loathe [my words] and abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:6.

There is none good but God, beloved. Acknowledging this truth of man’s utter weakness of himself to produce even an iota of good and trusting in Christ as our Good is God’s definition of HUMILITY.

Man of himself is flesh, beloved— can flesh move without a skeleton? Can it produce anything without Life blood flowing through it? Even as Christians, whether we are “50 years as a pastor” or pew warmer, we are utterly weak of ourselves. Haven't we ever wondered why Christ gave charge of His sheep to Peter-- the disciple whom many of us see as "failed the most?" It is because Peter experienced his utter weakness of himself with his denials. He saw his utter need for Christ’s strength to stand. Only the one who sees this utter weakness of man of himself and trusts Christ as his utter strength can feed the flock, beloved. Such can see (by Grace) that Christ as our Righteousness is the “Skeleton” who keeps us upright. He is the Vine Life flowing through us giving us life in abundance. And so he points the flock to Christ for salvation from sin and death and not man's works or his silly efforts to save himself.

All glory must be to the Lord, beloved. So rest in His Grace and let Him do all the work. Like Paul, let our boast be found in Christ alone—

14 'But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation! 16 And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body."

Recall when Christ was going to raise Jairus’ 12-year-old daughter? Jairus means “enlightened.” On the way to Jairus’ house was when Christ encountered the woman with the issue of blood who had been bleeding for 12 years. The two incidents having the number 12 in common is not insignificant beloved. It is a typology. Just as SIX is the number of man, 12 is the number of Government. Jairus’ daughter represents the young nation of Israel, many of whom who are even now being enlightened to see Grace.

The woman with the issue of blood represents the church government today — bleeding and thus unable to bear fruit. Why? Because like the bleeding woman who was bogged down with prescriptions of what to do in her own strength in order to be made whole, all from from her religious doctors (a typology for church leaders), the church is steeped in doing plenty righteous works like 79 days fasting in order to be free from uncleanness and lack of fruit in every facet of life. But like the unclean and fruitless woman, many get worse. Despite her many righteous deeds as demanded by law, her unclean state remained unchanged; her bleeding and consequently her menstrual rags just piled up. It is no coincidence that God’s word in Isaiah 64:6 describes those righteous acts which many do in order to have salvation from their troubles, curse or to get God to change their story thus--

"We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in Your sight."

All that such who depend on their self-produced righteous works (self-righteousnesses) to get them anything from God can produce is dead works, beloved— no fruit, just menstruation rags in God’s sight. This is even curse ground according to Jeremiah 17:5-

"The Lord says, “Those who trust in human beings are under my curse. They depend on human strength. Their hearts turn away from me."

As long as one is trusting in such works to have a good life, like the bleeding woman, he cannot venture to touch Christ. Brought to the end of her self-help or human strength tether, the woman heard about Christ — that this Man Jesus was healing, delivering and providing for ALL sinners and the unclean who came to Him. And that He was doing so FREELY and without terms and conditions such as “did you fast?” or “which unclean habit do you have?” Even the idol-worshipping Canaanite woman with the severely demon-possessed daughter freely received salvation for her child from Him. She abandoned her works and Grace Himself worked on her behalf, making her whole. Bearing fruit to God (good works) are the EVIDENCES of salvation in Christ beloved; they are not CONDITONS. Any work that one sees as a condition for God’s salvation in any facet of life is a dead work/menstrual rag — akin to the works of the law prescribed by the woman’s religious doctors.

Beloved, something is not quite right when we begin to tell ourselves and others that Jesus Christ "the same yesterday today and forever" is now demanding man's "menstrual rag" obedience and 70 days fasting in exchange for God’s freely-given healing, blessing and deliverance in Christ.

The woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of Christ's garment— another long story here: the hem of Christ’s garment typifies God’s gift of Righteousness to us in Christ — and she was made whole to go and bear fruit; as everyone who stops their silly efforts to save themselves and trusts utterly in Christ as their Righteousness will be.

Beloved, life in Christ is boasting in Christ alone: “Christ in body. Christ in soul. Christ in spirit.” One with the True Vine and no longer producing menstrual rag “dead works” from trusting ourselves to bear fruit but trusting Christ alone, this is His assurance to us—

“I am the sprouting vine and you’re My branches. As you live in union with Me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from Me you are powerless.” John 15:5.

Beloved of God, it is Christ's "Neither do I condemn you" that makes us "go and sin no more." Wherever we find ourselves in terms of what we believe about Him in this piece, let’s know and believe this word from the One who cannot lie—

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:17.

We are still in the acceptable year of the Lord which Christ came to proclaim at His First Coming. The day of vengeance is yet to arrive. By God’s Grace, let us acknowledge that only in Jesus Christ the Beloved are we accepted, not our silly efforts to save ourselves or be sins-free.

Whatever we have read here is not to point accusing fingers, beloved. God’s Word came to save, not to point fingers of accusation or condemn. As He did with the woman who was caught in adultery, wherever we may have missed it, wherever we may have been boasting/trusting in man/human effort (666), whatever sins or wrong beliefs His light exposes in our lives, it is so that He can save us. And He does the correction and transformation, not you or I— Ephesians 5–

“Whatever the revelation-light exposes, it will also correct, and everything that reveals truth is light to the soul. 14 This is why the Scripture says,

“Arise, you sleeper! Rise up from your coffin and the Anointed One will shine his light into you!”

So let us let Him love us into (w)holiness, beloved— helpless in His help. And careless in His care like the birds that Christ speaks of in Matthew 6:25-34 (MSG)—

“.. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.”

Child of Grace, to our Abba Father, we are worth more than many sparrows. Beloved, see the Father’s love for you. If you are yet to know and believe True Grace, ask our Heavenly Father to open your eyes to see His Grace, beloved. As He did with the undeserving prodigal son who is a type of all who are trying to “make it” out in the world or secure eternal life in their own human strength, He is eagerly waiting to run to you to enfold you in His loving embrace of True Grace. Freely.

Believe Right and you will Live Right.