Is Grace Reigning in Your Life?

“Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

We are born again from above, born again by the will of the Father, born by His Grace and His Goodness before the foundation of the world, filled with GOOD WORKS which HE PREPARED so we would walk in them.

“the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8

We are regenerated, BORN AGAIN as a SPIRIT MAN specifically made and equipped to LOVE OUR ENEMIES. For man, the unregenerated man, this is impossible. Without being born of the Spirit, there is no way people can love their enemies. But those who have denied themselves, picked up their cross, DIED, and followed King Jesus into His Death are also RESURRECTED with Him into His Life--forever.

We are Born again by the Spirit of God to worship God in Spirit and Truth so that we can LOVE OUR ENEMIES, which destroys the work of the devil. Love is everything, it's the only thing. True love, LOVE IN TRUTH is supernatural and Spiritual, and it can only be found and experienced IN THE SPIRIT.

Are you able to love your enemies? Have you loved your enemies, or have you chased them away because they don’t act like you and don’t think like you? Do you love your enemies, or do you JUDGE THEM, judging them from your elevated flesh, as if you are somehow better than your enemies? How does the Father feel about that?

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:6-21

We are born again from above, SOMETHING WE DO NOT DESERVE. We are born again from above, SOMETHING WE CAN’T DO OURSELVES–something GOD MUST DO ON OUR BEHALF. So, being born again by God, our Father, who is Spirit, making us ONE SPIRIT WITH HIM (nothing we did ourselves, nothing we can brag about, but a pure gift) SO WE CAN LOVE THE UNLOVABLE.

If we have been BORN AGAIN, then how can we not love our enemies? To be BORN AGAIN, we must first die. We can’t be born again in the SPIRIT and also remain alive in the flesh. To follow Jesus, we are to love our enemies to destroy the works of the devil.

What Happens If We Refuse and Go Our Own Way?

What if we don’t? What if we don’t die to ourselves--don't die to SELF or SIN? Unfortunately, if we do not die to self, we sin, and we do the works of the devil by default. As stated before, there is no choice, only outcomes. Loving our enemies is HOW WE ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. So, stop judging them and chasing them away. Here is the inconvenient truth: your pastor does not want to teach. As you judge your enemy instead of loving him, you do the works of the devil. You glorify the devil instead of God. Remember, you and I cannot love our enemies, not in our flesh. We must die first and be born again, BORN OF THE SPIRIT. Spirit begets Spirit.

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” Romans 8:1-25

According to the Bible, not only are we born again of the Spirit of God, who is SPIRIT, but we are also transformed into His image and transferred into the Kingdom of His BELOVED Son. The Bible declares that HE DID THAT, meaning that God, working through Jesus, DID EVERYTHING ON OUR BEHALF. We RECEIVE HIS FREE GIFT BY GRACE, or by default, we REJECT IT.

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.” Luke 6:35

Die to self, receive ETERNAL LIFE, and in all humility and thankfulness, in our new life we live to serve others. If we are still living to please ourselves, to serve ourselves and our own needs, then we might be born again, but we are not regenerated, and we are not walking by the Spirit, or IN THE SPIRIT.

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16

The Bible tells us that we will know them by their fruit. Do they love their enemies, or in a superior haughty unregenerated mind, do they stand on their personal rights, self-protect, and still judge their enemies and chase them away? This is the sure sign of the unregenerated mind, not the mind of Christ.

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.” Colossians 1:9-29

Ask Jesus to Teach You To Love Your Enemies

Here is my humble advice, the same advice I give myself. Stop judging and condemning your enemies and love them instead. The Bible is clear: the judgment you place on others will be the same judgment you receive. Stop openly SINNING, and REPENT, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. This is not a mere suggestion, this is a COMMAND from THE KING.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;” Philippians 3:20

What good is it to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul? What’s the true reward for building a name, a platform, or an empire—if it costs you the eternal life freely given in Christ? We weren’t placed on this earth to pursue comfort or build kingdoms of our own.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,” Ephesians 2:19

Like Jesus, we do not belong to this world—it is not our home, and it is not our Kingdom. In this life, we’ve been given the unspeakable gift of eternal life by Grace. Freely we have received, so freely we must give.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

But let’s be honest—how many pastors today are truly loving their enemies? How many are laying down their titles, platforms, and even their livelihoods to embrace the rejected, the broken, and those who oppose them? The modern 501(c)(3) church structure often pays the bills—but does it empower love for the “one” who wandered? Many have worked tirelessly to build their ministries, but few seem willing to risk it all for the kind of radical, enemy-embracing love Jesus modeled.

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17:14–16

Surely there are shepherds after God's own heart out there—those who reflect Christ in their humility and sacrificial love. I believe they exist. I’m just saying, I haven’t met one yet who will lose everything to love like Jesus. But I’m praying I will. Maybe you are one. Maybe you’re becoming one.

“But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20

What about Jesus’ command to Disciples the Nations? Did He give this command to just pastors, or did Jesus command everybody? The command is to seek only the Kingdom of God and Jesus’ righteousness and expect Jesus to provide everything we need. Was that a joke? Or did Jesus mean what He said?

“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:30-34

We All Fall Short and Need Our Savior to Save Us

I’m not speaking from a pedestal—I’m speaking from the rubble God rescued me from. I needed a wake-up call, too. I was off track, selfish, building my own little empire until it all collapsed. And it was in losing everything that I finally found real life. I’m only awake because of God’s Grace—not because I did anything right, but because He met me in my mess and set me free.

“But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14

So please hear my heart: this isn’t judgment—it’s love. Like a good doctor telling the truth about cancer or a true friend shaking someone asleep at the wheel, I’m pleading with you—wake up before it’s too late. I can’t stay silent. The Gospel is too good, the freedom too real, and the cost of staying asleep too high.

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:2–3

Many of today’s American pastors have quietly discarded much of the New Testament and functionally deny the power of the Holy Spirit. Without the full Gospel and the active ministry of the Spirit, they are left striving to grow—bigger buildings, bigger platforms, bigger crowds. And without the Spirit, they must rely on the flesh, crafting spectacles and motivational messages that stir emotions but leave hearts unchanged.

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self… holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.” 2 Timothy 3:1–2a, 5

They aren’t building the Kingdom—they’re building their own empires, preaching a diluted gospel that never confronts sin, never calls for repentance, and never dares to mention the cross.

“As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things… and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” 1 John 2:27

These churches function more like corporations, measuring success by attendance, income, and influence—mirroring the world’s script instead of God’s.

“For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.” Philippians 3:18–19

They may have gathered a large following, but it’s often an audience of ear-ticklers—listeners who demand comfort, not conviction. And they will never challenge their pastor because, like him, they have no intention of loving their neighbor, much less their enemy. Come on, its true.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." 2 Timothy 4:3–4

We are CALLED and EQUIPPED to be IN CHRIST, to lay down our lives in the FLESH, and to love our enemies. We are born again, born from above, God’s very own SPIRIT MAN, so let’s worship Him in Spirit and Truth. Let’s love our neighbor. If you can’t do it, or do not know how, ask Jesus to be your TEACHER AND RABBI, because HE WILL!

“But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.” Matthew 23:8–10

According to the Bible, we are ONE BODY and individual members of the ONE MATURE MAN, and we are IN CHRIST— BORN AGAIN, Born of the Spirit of God, born of the Spirit, with our SOUL is being SAVED by the working of the Spirit as we love our neighbors as ourselves. We can’t do that in the flesh; it is impossible. We can only love our neighbors and our enemies if we have been transformed into His image through Grace working through love.

We must be BORN AGAIN, and there must be FRUIT of this transformation. When we love our neighbors and enemies, Jesus is doing it through us, as we are ONE IN SPIRIT WITH HIM. To love our enemies, we must become like Christ, which only He can do, which we receive as a gift and freely give it and share it; it's called unconditional love.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.” Philippians 2:3-18