* FATHER'S HOUSE *

Jesus, the Pattern Son; the household of faith, the Body of Christ

SCRIPTURES:  Lk. 6:48; Jn. 14:2, 23; 2 Cor. 5:1; Gal. 6:10; Eph. 2:19-22; Col. 1:19; 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:15.

The "father's house" is the house that the father lives in.  "House" is from the Greek "oikia" (Strong's #3614) which means "residence (abstractly), but usually (concretely) an abode (literally or figuratively); by implication a family (especially domestics)."  Compare "oikos," translated in the King James Version as "home, house, household, temple."  Note also the word "mone" (Strong's #3438) which means "a staying, residence (the act or the place)," and is translated in the King James Version of John 14:2, 23 as "mansions" and "abode."  Vine's Dictionary adds that there is nothing in the word "mone" to indicate separate compartments in Heaven.

Jesus, the Pattern Son, the Word made flesh, was the "house" that the Father lived in.  He declared, "In My Father's house are many mansions [dwelling-places]"--in Him there is a place for us (Jn. 14:2).  Paul explained that "it pleased the Father that in Him [Jesus, the Son] should all fullness dwell...For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 1:19; 2:9).  Moses' Tabernacle (Ex. 25-40) and Solomon's glorious Temple (1 Kg. 5-8) prefigure Him who is the "true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man" (Heb. 8:2).  The archangel declared to the virgin Mary, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:  therefore also that holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Lk. 1:35).

When Jesus spoke the words of John 14:2, He wasn't on His way to Heaven, but to Calvary!  Through His finished work, we didn't receive a "mansion;" we became His "mansion," His temple, the habitation of God through the Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 2:19-22)--the "abode" for the Father and the Son through the Person of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:23).  The "house of God" is the Church (1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 3:5-6).  We are to build our "house" (life, family, ministry) upon the Rock Christ Jesus (Lk. 6:48-49).  Paul declared this mystery, "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Cor. 5:1).  The apostle admonished, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).

See Matt. 5:15; 7:25-27; 10:12-14, 25, 36; 12:25, 29; 24:45; Mk. 3:25-27; Lk. 12:42; 22:11; Acts 10:7; 16:15; Rom. 16:10-11; 1 Cor. 1:16; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Phil. 4:22; 1 Tim. 3:16; 2 Tim. 2:20; 4:19; Heb. 2:14-17; 10:5; 10:21; 1 Pet. 2:5; 4:17; 1 Jn. 4:1-3; 2 Jn. 1:10.

ULTIMATE FREEDOM-FREE TO BE ME!

ULTIMATE FREEDOM-FREE TO BE ME!

FREE FROM THE YOKE OF SLAVERY

Under the law we become hypocrites. The word comes from the Greek theater.. A hypocrite is not an imperfect person; a hypocrite is an actor, a pretender. What made the Pharisees hypocrites was not their faults: It was their pretense that they were righteous. It was teaching one thing and doing another. But that is what law will always produce: people who are always hiding their real selves, always acting, always pretending, and never being real.

But what happens when we are set free by grace? One of the most common testimonies I hear is, "For the first time in my life, I am free to just be myself! I'm free to be me."

The ultimate consequence of living under law is outright rebellion ­ when you give up because of the hopelessness of ever making it.

Time and time again, I have seen these people who have been branded as "rebels against God" or "back-slidden Christians" come out of their chairs in excitement and joy as they learn for the first time about the incredible grace, love and acceptance of God in Jesus Christ.

In all my years as a Christian, I have never heard anyone say, "I've had it! I am sick to death of the love and grace of God. I'm sick of other Christians loving and accepting me. I'm giving up this Christian life." No I've never heard that. But I couldn't count the number of Christians I've known who have given up because of being under law, who have been broken by the crushing burden of trying to be good enough to earn God's acceptance, who have been mangled by the competition, the judging, and the demands to conform to some group's standards. "We'll accept you if you look like, walk like, talk like, and act like us." And the implication is always, "And God will, too." So what are we to do?

Jesus Christ came to free us from the burden of the law by calling us to a life united with His. We are beloved, accepted children of God, who have been called to His "banquet table" to experience Jesus Christ living in and through us every day. Abundant life is not "pie-in-the-sky" or nebulous theory. It is real, and it is ours for the taking if we will only believe. Let's not settle for anything less.