God Rips the Fabric of All Time and Space that We Might Be One Family

The Old Testament patriarchs are not just characters of a story, they are family that trailblazed for us the way home — by faith.

Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see. The elders in the past were approved because they showed faith.  Through faith they conquered kingdoms, brought about justice, realized promises, shut the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped from the edge of the sword, found strength in weakness, were mighty in war, and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured and refused to be released so they could gain a better resurrection.  All these people didn’t receive what was promised, though they were given approval for their faith. God provided something better for us so they wouldn’t be made perfect without us.           Hebrews 11:1-2, 33-35, 39-40 CEB

So, the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and God regarded him as righteous”. What is more, Abraham was called God’s friend.  James 2:23 CEB

Understand that in the same way that Abraham “believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness,” then those who believe are the children of Abraham. Scripture preached the gospel in advance to Abraham, announcing God would make the Gentiles righteous on the basis of faith: “All the Gentiles will be blessed in you”.  Therefore, those who believe are blessed together with Abraham who believed.    Galatians 3:6-9 CEB

Christ is our peace. He made both Jews and Gentiles into one group. With His body, He broke down the barrier of hatred that divided us. So now you are no longer strangers and aliens. Rather, you are fellow citizens with God’s people, and you belong to God’s household. As God’s household, you are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. The whole building is joined together in Him, and it grows up into a temple that is dedicated to the Lord. Christ is building you Into A Place where God lives through the Spirit.  Ephesians 2:14, 19-22 CEB

But this is precisely what is written: “God has prepared things for those who love Him that no eye has seen, or ear has heard, or that haven’t crossed the mind of any human being”.  God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, including the depths of God. These are the things we are talking about—not with words taught by human wisdom but with words taught by the Spirit—we are interpreting spiritual things to spiritual people. “Who has known the mind of the Lord, who will advise him?” But we have the mind of Christ.  1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 13, 16 CEB

… the time is coming—and is here! —when true worshippers will worship in spirit and truth. The Father looks for those who worship Him this way.  God is spirit, and it is necessary to worship God in spirit and truth.”  Don’t you have a saying, ‘Four more months and then it’s time for harvest’? Look, I tell you: open your eyes and notice that the fields are already ripe for the harvest.  Those who harvest are receiving their pay and gathering fruit for eternal life so that those who sow and those who harvest can celebrate together.  John 4:23-24, 35-36 CEB

Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom.  Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Don’t be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’  God’s Spirit blows wherever it wishes. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. It’s the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him isn’t judged; whoever doesn’t believe in him is already judged, because they don’t believe in the name of God’s only Son.  “This is the basis for judgment: The light came into the world, and people loved darkness more than the light, for their actions are evil.  Whoever does the truth comes to the light so that it can be seen that their actions were done in God.”  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever doesn’t believe in the Son won’t see life, but the angry judgment of God remains on them.”  John 3:3, 5-8, 17-19, 21, 36 CEB

I ask that he will strengthen you in your inner selves from the riches of his glory through the Spirit. I ask that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. As a result of having strong roots in love, I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God.  Glory to Him in the church, and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen.  Ephesians 3:16-19, 21 CEB