Who is the thief in John 10:10?

  I think the devil /demons are real but to us they are easily removed (by true believers) because they are defeated by the blood (we overcome by the blood and testimony Revelation 12:11) .This scripture talks about the thief that comes to kill, steal and destroy but many quote it (wrongly) like this 'the devil comes to kill, steal and destroy'.  Now we have 100% authority over demons & devils but I say all that to say that these thieves in john 10:10 are not SATAN but rather the religious leaders, pastors, clergy, teachers that teach the law and not Grace (which is the Gospel the really super duper Good-News) and so JESUS and HIS Grace become a stumbling block to many, they are scandalized by Grace.

JESUS had his warnings and harshest words but they were not to his disciples, not to the sinners, not to the simple folk, not to children, and not to even the devil - it was to the religious leaders and "experts in the law".  Are we experts in religious laws? Or Grace givers?

These "thieves"  JESUS calls "strangers" so they are foreign to Grace, they are not sacrificially loving but rather on the take> Note: "thieves" do not own anything, they think they own things but its stolen and NOT theirs. They think they own the flock the think they can control people.  

JESUS warned about this in Luke 20:47  "But they cheat widows out of their homes and then pray long prayers just to show off. These teachers will be punished most of all."

And yet in churchianity we adore some of these folks, we give big tithes and offerings thinking it will buy GODs favor or at least a mention from Pastor - this legalism (meaning self effort) and the religious leaders are the biggest trouble to Grace, as it uses Human effort to try to achieve favor with GOD. 

It is already yours, all things are yours (1 Corinthians 3:21) so why are you trying to "receive" what is freely given and already yours?

 You know when we say (because I've said it & others have mentioned it) that GOD isn't a Santa Claus, and HE isn't....but I will say that HE is better and will be at times like Santa. Here me out, if Santa is loved because he gives "good gifts' and we say they are good gifts because they are what we wanted/needed or timely.

I would answer that I've seen GOD give things and they could be almost fun things not necessarily spiritual things.

As a Dad myself its not always gifts like socks and underwear (practical and necessary) we have wants and needs.  Food is needed but sometimes going out and being served, is not just food but the experience, I would say going out like that and fine dining is a want & need, both.  Ontario where I am at, they have had lockdowns and have deemed things "non-essential".  So stores may have areas roped off, that you can not buy because they say "its not essential".  What I learned is everything is essential and you can't tell another person what essential is. Telling a drunk that alcohol is not "essential" doesn't help anything and to that person at that time it may be really essential. 

JESUS changes us.  

Deeming what is essential or not, does not.

I know we live in a "i want this" world (for many of us) and the Bible talks about being content in every situation (relying on HIS Godliness in us) is great gain 1 Timothy 6:6  But I would argue that GOD still is the originator of Good Gifts, HE is the most perfect and best gift as HE gives HIMSELF.  If you were friends with a super rich man and you were legit friends, maybe you grew up together and that friend stayed true but became wealthy later.  Well having a friend like that, you would get to use and benefit with everything that friend has (his home, his pool, his circle he lives in) you would benefit.

So we have a Friend.

We have a wealthy FATHER.

A DAD that creates out of nothing.

One that fills my life with good things.

I guess what I'm trying to say is have big faith, most of the times when we ask we ask too small or thinking religiously that we don't deserve it or that doesn't sound "spiritual".

Remember that the scripture is in Luke 11: 13 "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

And Matthew 7:11 "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

When I looked up both scriptures in the Greek, the one in Luke was "give the Holy Spirit" and in Matthew it is "give good gifts".  My point is the SPIRIT of GOD is the GIFT and the GIVER of good gifts. When you get HIM or realize HE is in you from day one, expect good things, and good gifts as you get more of HIM.

Grace wins but under the Law is failure

 

The entire Bible (and actually everything in life) is Law vs. GRACE.  

When folks ask things like - 'where do we get this new teaching?'...or 'wow, I've never heard this before, is it new?'

Yes, it is New as in NEW Covenant.

Churchy folks have been going to a building listening to a pastor that mixes Old Covenant (your works) with NEW Covenant (GOD works).  Or put in another way.  Mans effort or SPIRITS effort. 

This is exactly what JESUS warned about when HE said:  "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees" Matthew 16:16

You can be having the worst day - cussing, fighting, crabby, un-loving and GOD will still answer your prayer, heal you or work miracles through you.  Romans 5:20 encourages us "The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,"    You can not out-sin GODS Grace. 

If you ask folks "why was the law or commandments given?"  When thinking about it, most folks will think its because it will decrease sin. But we just read that it was given to INCREASE sin/trespass...Paul argues in Romans 7 that he never knew about coveting but when the command came "Thou shalt not covet". Sin, using the commandment to gain power made Paul or rather showed Paul how covetous he was. The Law like a mirror shows us how broken we are or how messy we look but like a mirror can not ever make us look good or better us.

So being bankrupt with nothing, It starts to dawn on me, that HE (the GOD HEAD) is actually IN me, and very much likes me, in fact will never leave me, and is crazy-like for me and really really loves me.  Nothing I did, Just as I am, faults, warts, wretched, poor and broken. see Revelation 3:17.  With many trials and troubles and stuck in that miry clay (Psalm 40:2)  

But the ONE who came to rescue me, lives inside me and empowers me to say and do, what I couldn't and make me think and live and soar.  

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10

Righteous because you did something or because you are something!

When we start to realize and know (meaning coming from experience and not "head knowledge") we start to walk it out, which is faith. (or keeping in step with the SPIRIT or walking by faith not by sight).  2 Corinthians 5:7   We start to live it by trusting what GOD has said.

There has been times when I've asked the LORD to help me/minister to me/say something (profound/special) to me. I needed help....And at one time HE answered and said "Son, how would you minister that to others?"   In other words,, minister to yourself.

How would you say it/pray it/do it when ministering to others - now speak to yourself.

Not trying to name-it-claim-it, those are mere words, rather you need to take it as a fact you are righteous because I am saying that, but more importantly GOD (PAPA/FATHER)  is saying it to you!

Now you are, take your step (next steps) if you fall down get right up - we have a saying around here "Quick Down - Quick Up" actually that was first quoted by Norman Grubb, we like it and use it ourselves.

There are 2 verses that explain more about how you would minister to yourself. In 1 Samuel 30:6 we find David at this moment pretty much hated by everyone, they are actively talking about just getting rid of him and stoning him (they were that angry) "Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."  Sometimes you have to encourage yourself by remembering how GOD by HIS SPRIIT got you through other dangerous/troubling times. 

Another verse sort of like that is 1 Timothy 4:6 "As you lay all these things before the brothers, you will be a noble minister of Christ Jesus, nourishing yourself in the precepts of the faith and that noble teaching which you have followed."  This is "nourishing yourself in the precepts (things you learned, ways to conduct yourself) of the faith and that noble teaching which you have followed."

Same sort of thing, try it yourself, when you need it.

This again is not saying it one thousand times over and over again. Babbling like the pagans do thinking they will be heard by their many words. Matthew 6:7  Rather this is taking GOD's promise or words, as a fact and stepping out like its already done. 

Are you the righteousness of GOD because you did or will do something? Or are you the righteousness of GOD because HE is the highest court in the universe and HE has decreed it!

In Matthew 5 and really all the Gospels, JESUS who is GOD became a man, and went under the law. And revealed to the Jews (and all of us) the real standard of the law.  For example the 10 commandments were really 613 laws brought into a more manageable 10 to make it easier. These laws say; in fact most of the world agrees with it and says "dont murder, don't defraud/steal, dont cheat on your spouse"  etc.. most everyone believes and would agree with that.  But JESUS comes and shows what murder or adultery really is.  (not what we thought, it much higher and harder really impossible).  Have you ever drove in your car and got so mad at another driver, you said /thought or did something out of anger? We all have - to GOD's standard, which is the only standard that is murder.  Lust is adultery...etc..  

HE (GOD) is the standard.

So JESUS had to come to show us that we've broken all the laws, we are all guilty, we all in our own strength (if you can call it that) are not good - no not one.  We've all sinned, we are all guilty and as James said "if you've broken one law you've broken them all"  James 2:10

We are law breakers.

So the law 's standard is HIGHER than we thought because many of us say in our own defense "I've never killed no-one" and we think to everyone and more importantly GOD that that is impressive, or that makes us a so called "good-person" but JESUS says even more "if anyone says "You fool " shall be guilty.  

Ever thought or said a bad word, or even "fool" to someone. Ouch, its getting hot in here!

JESUS sums up the entire chapter of Matthew 5:48  by ending  it by saying : "be perfect like your heavenly FATHER is perfect".

It is no wonder that the disciples asked at another time: "who can be saved then"? Mark 10:26

So the law is it good or bad? Well it increases sin. Because when a law is given you want to try (with human effort) to keep it but the more you try the more you fail and break it. that's why new years resolutions nor "dont walk on grass signs either". They don't work. Romans 5:20 says: "the law was brought in so that the trespass (sin) might increase."  INCREASE??? So I guess the law is bad then??

Paul argues the law (these commandments) are good (see Romans 7:12) because GOD is like that (HE doesn't cheat, lie, murder) for GOD is love. Love meaning to live for others, to sacrifice for others, to provide and give, to the least of them. "So then, the law is holy and the commandment is holy, righteous and good" Romans 7:12

And it shows me, I'm not good.

Okay so the law does a pretty good job and beating us up and showing us where we are actually at (which is a deplorable state, on our own).

We do not keep the commandments we on the other hand, have broken them all but it isn't really me but sin that lives in me. You see you had no choice to choose "sin over righteousness" "As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it but it is sin living in me. Romans 7:17

Its the same now of righteousness - you have it without asking for it (like sin) and you do good things that GOD prepares you in advance - you just (under the new covenant) want to do them or just do them (you get to do them).

Want righteousness and good to walk in?  - then continue to bask and recognize HIS love for you "I'm the one that JESUS loves". The more we rest/live in/enjoy/brag on HIS love for us the more we believe that and become that and do that.  The churchy have it back-wards (like so many things) they talk to JESUS about how much 'they love HIM' not realizing that we love because HE first loved us. HE is LOVE and the obvious source of it.

So why with all this law-stuff then? Here is the key verse that gives us the birds eye view. Remember all have sinned...: and now this is GODS master plan "For God has locked all people in the prison of their own disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. Romans 11:32   Read it again "MERCY on us ALL"

He locked us all up (the entire world past/present/future) so that HE can have mercy on us all. Even the "bad" ones that you self-righteously judge as bad because they killed someone but you are good because you (in your own futile mind believe) never did that - thus (trying to) justify yourself before GOD - when HE has instead put you and me in the "sin camp" so that HE because of JESUS has mercy on us all (not who ask, not who are self-righteous) but all.

who we are? churchy religious or only following JESUS

 

I remember sitting in church pews (There is no "pews" in the Bible, because they stink, okay bad joke) how about this instead, JESUS often sat down and began to teach them. HE didn't have them in a lowly place as HE exalted HIMSELF. In some huge up high lecture stand.  We have and I am explaining our real identity, JESUS only cared about what the FATHER said and did -nothing else. We are also looking to the FATHER in every situation.

At one time, even HIS disciples complained that HE was offending the Pharisees Matthew 15:12  JESUS answer was of the FATHER saying that "every plant that was not planted by the FATHER will be pulled up by the roots" meaning you can't have legalism making your own salvation (really you can't but we try) if we do the FATHER who loves us, and loves us enough to pull us out by the roots because there is only one plant /tree and we grow in HIM.  and HE and HE alone makes us grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6

You have to understand that the Law (really those that try to follow the "laws") persecute those in Grace. You even see this today outside & inside churchy buildings when mask or jab(folks) might attack or offend those that can't or wont wear them.  That is legalism and it HATES grace.  That is the offense in the Bible the stench see Galatians 5 all of it or especially vs 29.

The lavished amazing Grace is a stench to legalism or "do it yourself" churchianity. 

So back to the churchy times for me, I heard all this preaching from some guy who was dressed up and often behind this high, I mean real high pulpit (again I don't see that in my Bible) and this guy is telling me how to live and what to do - I could be cursed if I didn't listen.  Maybe that is why so many things are wrong in my life? - I am a mess and GOD is mad? (I thought to myself).

No they tell you what you should do (note; when you hear the word "should" in your mind/thoughts - ignore it, it is part of the great lie).  Anyway they never explained the steps or system to do all these things that needed to be done.  Like a hamster on the wheel.  The answer is 'there are no steps/systems' it is JESUS in you and you in HIM.  And just plain ole trust that it is so.  When you doubt it, we all had doubts but get your eyes back on the impossible that you are really the righteousness of GOD through JESUS CHRIST. 2 Cor 5:21  you will grow to trust HIM.

 

King James Bible Is It The Best Version?

I grew up and the King James Version was the ONLY scripture all others were considered garbage. (some even considered them sin, they were held in contempt)

 

So, because its so ground in me and many of us, it is still used or remembered.

But it is really mistranslated in many places and they have added scripture in order to add to the fear that "King James" wanted over his people.

For example the Hebrew word "sheol" is translated as "grave, or the place of the dead" but in king james 66 times is translated as "the pit", "the grave" and "hell" 31 of the 66 times!

What King, doesn't want to give his subjects hell?  Fear is good for control, you know.

Also a pet peeve of mine is Romans 8:1 is a beautiful scripture, here it is: "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those in (union) with CHRIST JESUS"

BTW you are already in Union with HIM because HE comes to us, HE pursues us and makes us HIS home (but that is another lesson)

SO...They butcher this grace filled verse by Adding "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

This terrible addition makes a verse that is 100% grace (which Paul only preached) to a legalistic condition added to your Christian walk.

They NOW say, you are "not condemned" if you walk in the spirit but you are condemned if you walk in the flesh.

There were days when I did wrong, so I was obviously 'in the flesh' and i felt guilty and bad and now realized that I was condemned.(that made me feel worse!)

I was then feeling I was in and out and loved and rejected. A psychopath god and a dysfunctional relationship. This brings you to no power, no freedom, no joy in the HOLY SPIRIT.

Acts 13:52 Romans 14:17

Here is the Mirror Bible (which is one of my favorites) paraphrase-translation of Romans 8:1

"Now the decisive conclusion is this: In CHRIST, every bit of condemning evidence against us is cancelled" 

That is really good news, that is the gospel!

If you follow my blog, from time to time, I use the King James version, but let the SPRIIT of Grace always make alive the scripture you are reading, HE (SPIRIT) is your great teacher/counselor leading you into all truth.  Don't beg for this, you have this start believing you do.

I pray at times - "DAD what are you saying here?"

Lastly, the book of James is really the book of Jacob. There are many other mistranslated verses, but just keep your eyes on JESUS the ONE who is the author (creator) of faith and the ONE who completes (faith) in you.

And who, but a king would name the Bible after himself?

Church? or Body of CHRIST? what is the difference?

As you know we do house church for many years and we move it from place to place - home to home, outside, bowling alleys, camp sites - its NOT a building or place but a PEOPLE. More like the kids sitting around the kitchen table with Dad & Mom all partaking, all involved, all with a right to eat and share and speak or listen.  That is what GOD wants! and its fun! (Joy).

Years ago when we realized (real eyes) the SPIRIT spoke to my wife and I asking this question "what is the term for a division of money?"

We said "denomination".  Meaning classifying something.  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:2  to the "Church in Corinth" . He wasn't talking about a building on the corner with a large steeple and a cross on it that folks would go to for one hour on Sunday. Rather these were the called out ones (Ekklesia is the Greek word) not meaning a "church building" but rather CALLED OUT.   Like GOD through Moses demanding Pharaoh to "let my people go so they can hold a festival to me in the wilderness Exodus 5:1 This brought about a question? Can GOD prepare a table in the wilderness?  Can HE prepare a festival in the wilderness? 

Note: the steeples on many church buildings represent the asherah poles that GOD wanted the children of Israel to smash and destroy (see Exodus 34:13 but there a tons of verses on this). 

Its pagan.

So back to the divisions of money, called denominations.  Paul warns of this exact thing in  1 Corinthians 1:13 "Is Christ divided?"  Also 1 Corinthians 11:17 when he asks  "In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good"  Did you know that you can come together and "do MORE HARM than good?"

Vs 18 Paul askes "In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it."  Also in 1 Corinthians 3 Paul says you are acting like mere men (vs 3) and vs 4 "One says he follows Paul and another Apollos - are you not acting like the world - mere men?"  We are not to follow men and name our church after them.  Remember in transfiguration? Peter wanted to build 3 tabernacles, one for Moses, one for Elijah and one for JESUS and GOD thundered this is MY SON, whom I love, with HIM I am well pleased.. listen to HIM and GOD removed Moses and Elijah.  

Let them be ONE is the prayer JESUS prayed in John 17

We can't have it when we follow man.

we can't have it saying my church is bigger than your church, we have bigger congregation than you do, this is my pew, come forward to an alter call, our pastor, this place, going to gods house, all religious talk.  

Acting like mere man.

The temple is YOU Paul askes in 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?"

And you folks are set free to worship and enjoy HIS festival and your joy of the LORD will return.