Growing Into His Image: How God Forms the Fruit of the Spirit in Us

The Christian life is not built on fear or hesitation. Scripture invites us to come boldly before God, to ask freely, and to trust completely in His goodness. Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” Matthew 7:7. But the gifts Jesus was pointing us toward were never material rewards or earthly comforts. They were the gifts of the Spirit, the inner qualities of Christ Himself, and the transforming work of God within us.

When Jesus explained the generosity of the Father, He said, “How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Luke 11:13. The Holy Spirit is the greatest gift, and everything He produces in us is part of the “good things” the Father delights to give. Psalm 37:4. Jesus said, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” Luke 12:32. The kingdom is God's Holy Spirit in every man, and the Spirit's guidance into its fruit (fruit of the Spirit), and ultimately, eternal life through Christ Jesus.

Paul described the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance Galatians 5:22–23. These are not random virtues. They are the very character of Christ. When we ask God for the fruit of the Spirit, we are asking Him to form the life of His Son within us. Jesus reinforced this when He said, “How much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Matthew 7:11. The good things are the things of the Spirit. They are the qualities that reflect God’s nature and reveal His work in our hearts.

This truth becomes clearer when we look at our own lives. Recently, I prayed for patience, sincerely asking God to help me grow in that area. I expected to feel calmer, more settled, more composed. Instead, life seemed to become more frustrating. Delays increased. Interruptions multiplied. Situations that tested my limits appeared one after another. At first, it felt like the opposite of an answered prayer. Then, I realized something deeper was happening. Those moments were not obstacles; they were opportunities. They were the very places where patience was being formed. What felt like resistance was actually refinement. God was answering my prayer, not by dropping patience into my heart instantly, but by shaping it within me through real experience. We are still working through it together, but I can see that patience is growing in me precisely because God allowed me to walk through situations where patience was required.

This is how spiritual growth works. God forms character through process, for His purpose. He shapes us through the steady work of the Spirit and through the moments where we must choose to walk in what He is producing. Paul explained this when he wrote, “Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope” Romans 5:3–4. Patience is not learned in comfort. It is learned in the places where we must wait, trust, and endure. Wisdom is not gained in a moment. Proverbs says, “If thou seekest her [wisdom] as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God” Proverbs 2:4–5. Strength is not built through ease. The Lord told Paul, “My strength is made perfect in weakness," in the Thorn in the Flesh 2 Corinthians 12:9. Faith is not strengthened by certainty. Peter wrote that the trial of our faith is “much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire” 1 Peter 1:7. Every fruit of the Spirit is cultivated through the Spirit’s work in real life.

Jesus described this process with the image of the vine and the branches. “Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” John 15:2. Pruning is the meaning here, and it is not punishment. Pruning is preparation. It is the Father removing what hinders growth so that the life of Christ can flourish within us. It is the Spirit shaping us, refining us, and clearing away what does not reflect the image of the Son.

All of this fulfills the great transformation Paul described in his letter to the Corinthians. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” 2 Corinthians 3:18. This is the heart of spiritual formation. The Spirit is the gift. The fruit is the evidence. Christlikeness is the result. When we ask God for the fruit of the Spirit, we are asking for the very heart of Christ to be formed in us. Jesus said, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” Luke 12:32. God delights to answer our prayers, because His purpose has always been to conform us to the image of His Son. “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Romans 8:29

Spiritual growth is not about striving or forcing ourselves to be better. It is about surrendering to the work of the Spirit, trusting that the Father gives the best gifts, and allowing Him to transform us from glory to glory. When we ask for the fruit of the Spirit, we are asking for the life of Christ to take root in us. And the Father, who delights to give the Holy Spirit and good gifts to those who ask, will faithfully complete the work He has begun in us: “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6

Come boldly unto the throne of grace..." Pray for refinement. "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." Hebrews 10:36

May He guide our steps and light our way until we meet Him in the clouds. Amen.

The Journey of Sanctification: Walking with the Holy Spirit in an Imperfect World

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the quiet moments of reflection, as we meditate on the boundless mercy of God, we are drawn into the profound mystery of the Holy Spirit's work within us. Today, I invite you to journey with me through the sacred pages of Scripture, exploring how the indwelling of the Holy Spirit transforms our lives—not as an instantaneous eradication of our sinful nature, but as a gentle, ongoing process of growth, refinement, and reliance on divine grace.

Let us approach this with reverence, for we speak of the third Person of the Trinity, the Comforter promised by our Savior, who guides us toward holiness amid our human frailty.

Beloved, when we come with faith in Jesus Christ, repenting of our sins and believing in His atoning work on the cross, we receive the Holy Spirit as a divine pledge. As it is written in Acts 2:38: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." This reception is echoed in Ephesians 1:13-14: "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

Oh, what a wondrous assurance! The Holy Spirit seals us as God's own, marking us for eternal redemption. Yet, in His infinite wisdom, God does not render us instantly incapable of sin upon this sealing. Instead, He begins a sacred process within us, where the Spirit takes residence in our very beings. As 1 Corinthians 6:19 declares: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" We become living temples, but temples still under construction, prone to the dust of this fallen world.

Let us delve deeper into this divine process, known in theological terms as progressive sanctification. It is not a sudden leap into sinless perfection but a lifelong pilgrimage, where the Holy Spirit labors tirelessly to conform us to the image of Christ. The Spirit empowers us to resist the temptations that once held us captive, producing in us the fruit of righteousness: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).

Through the Spirit's guidance, we are progressively sanctified—set apart for God's purposes. As 2 Thessalonians 2:13 reminds us: "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." This sanctification is active and dynamic: The Spirit convicts us of sin (John 16:8), illuminates Scripture to our minds (John 14:26), and strengthens us in weakness (Romans 8:26).

And behold the glorious promise that sustains us in this journey: 'But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord' (2 Corinthians 3:18). Yes, beloved—we are all being changed, degree by degree, from one measure of glory to another, as we gaze upon Christ. This transformation is the gentle, persistent work of the Holy Spirit, who takes the radiance of Jesus and reflects it ever more brightly in our lives.

Yet, in God's sovereign design, we can still stumble, still yield to temptation if we do not walk in step with the Spirit. The Apostle Paul, that pillar of faith, lays bare his own struggles in Romans 7:14-25: "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin... For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do... O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Here, Paul confesses the ongoing battle between the renewed spirit and the flesh—a battle that even the greatest saints wage until glory.

Consider also the lives of two anointed kings of Israel, David and Solomon, whose stories illuminate this very truth. Both were greatly blessed by God—David, a man after God's own heart, empowered by the Spirit from his youth; Solomon, granted unparalleled wisdom and splendor. Yet both fell into grievous sin: David in adultery and murder, Solomon in idolatry, turning his heart to foreign gods through the influence of his many wives (1 Kings 11:4–8). Solomon's end was marked by divine displeasure—"Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father" (1 Kings 11:6)—with no record of repentance restoring his fellowship. David, however, when confronted, humbled himself profoundly: "I have sinned against the Lord" (2 Samuel 12:13), pouring out his soul in Psalm 51 with a broken and contrite heart that God never despises. Throughout his life, David returned again and again to repentance, dying in covenant favor. Thus, even the most Spirit-blessed among us remain vulnerable to sin, but the path of progressive sanctification—of growing from glory to glory—is marked by ongoing humility and repentance, keeping our hearts soft toward the God who ever calls us back to Himself.

And so, dear reader, receiving the Holy Spirit does not prohibit us from sinning; rather, it equips us for victory while acknowledging our need for continual repentance. As 1 John 1:8-10 solemnly warns believers: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." What grace! In our failings, we find not condemnation but an invitation to draw nearer to the throne of mercy.

In the midst of this process, Scripture points us toward a glorious horizon. Consider 1 Corinthians 13:10: "But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." Paul, writing to the church at Corinth amid discussions of spiritual gifts and love, contrasts our current partial knowledge with the fullness to come. "That which is perfect" (from the Greek to teleion, signifying completeness or maturity) is often understood as the return of Christ or our entrance into eternity, when we shall see Him "face to face" and "know even as also I am known" (1 Corinthians 13:12).

This perfection is not the eradication of sin in this life but the ultimate glorification awaiting believers. As Philippians 3:12-14 exhorts: "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus... I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Until then, we live in the tension of the "already but not yet"—sanctified positionally through Christ's blood, yet progressing practically through the Spirit's work.

Paul culminates his discourse with a triumphant declaration in 1 Corinthians 13:13: "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." In our imperfect state, these virtues endure as anchors for the soul. Faith trusts in God's promises amid uncertainty; hope anticipates the fulfillment of His kingdom through Christ Jesus; and charity— that divine, selfless love (agapē)—binds them all through the Holy Spirit's work in a believer's heart, reflecting God's very nature (1 John 4:8).

Love is supreme because it outlasts even faith and hope in eternity. When we behold Christ, faith becomes sight, and hope is realized. But love? It flows eternally from the heart of God. In our daily walk, this love empowers us to forgive, to serve, and to overcome sin's pull, all through the Holy Spirit's enabling.

As we conclude this reflection, let us bow in awe before the Living God, the God of the living. The Holy Spirit's work in us is a profound mystery—a process of transformation that honors our free will while drawing us inexorably toward holiness. We can still sin, yes, but we are no longer slaves to it (Romans 6:14: "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace"). Walk in the Spirit, confess your failings, and press on toward "the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

May the Lord bless you and keep you, illuminating your path with His Word. Until we meet in that perfect realm, let us abide in faith, hope, and charity, and the greatest which is charity [love].

In Christ's love,

A Humble Seeker

For millennia, believers have wrestled with the question: When will the rapture occur? Pre‑trib, mid‑trib, post‑trib—each view has its claims of Scriptural grounding, its arguments, and its defenders. Yet Scripture’s deepest call is not to speculation, but to faithfulness. Whether Christ comes before, during, or after the tribulation, the command is the same: be ready, be steadfast, be found so doing.

Revelation 3:10 — The Promise of Being Kept

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

This verse is often cited as evidence for a pre‑tribulation rapture. But beyond debates, its heart is clear: those who keep the word of Christ’s patience will be kept. Patience here means endurance—steadfast loyalty under trial. It is not passive waiting, but active obedience. The promise is not for the careless or lukewarm, but for those who remain faithful. "If you love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15

Meat in Due Season — Faith That Matures

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant… to give them meat in due season?” (Matthew 24:45–46)

The faithful servant does not simply avoid sin. He feeds others. He gives “meat”—the deeper truths of God’s Word—at the exact time they are needed. This is meat faith: maturity, discernment, wisdom.

• Hebrews 5:14 – “Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age… discerning both good and evil.”

• James 1:22 – “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.”

Meat faith is what sustains them, and God's poor in Spirit, milk-level believers, through the tribulation. It is the seal of maturity, the mark of discernment, the strength to resist deception and endure trials. It is God’s provision “in due season” for His household.

Discernment and maturity are fruits of salvation through Christ Jesus, not the cause of it. Those who grow from milk to meat (Hebrews 5:14) show evidence of the Spirit’s work in them, but it is Christ alone who saves.

Those with discernment do not endure alone. They are called to feed others in due season—to strengthen those who are still babes in Christ:

• Hebrews 5:12 – “Ye have need that one teach you again… for every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness.”

• 1 Corinthians 3:2 – “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it.”

The faithful and wise servant sustains the household, giving meat to those who are ready, and patiently guiding those still on milk. In tribulation, this ministry of nourishment becomes vital: the mature, discerning and faithful uphold the weak, protect the vulnerable, and strengthen the wavering.

The Light in the Darkness

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:14)

Why would God remove the light of the world before its darkest hour?

• The church is called to shine in the world’s darkness.

• Tribulation is the world’s darkest night, full of deception and trials.

• Removing the church before that moment would leave the world without living witnesses of truth.

Instead, Scripture shows the faithful shining in tribulation:

• Daniel 12:3 – “They that be wise shall shine… and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars.”

• Revelation 7:14 – “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes.”

The light shines brightest when the night is darkest. God’s people are present, sealed, and faithful, bearing witness until Christ returns.

Whether or not, however, you believe the rapture will be pre‑trib, mid‑trib, or post‑trib, the promise is the same:

• Those who keep His word of patience will be kept from the hour of temptation, one way or another.

• Those filled with meat-level discernment, who feed others with meat in due season, helping sustain those still on milk, will be blessed.

The faithful servant is not idle. He is found so doing when the Master comes—serving, obeying, feeding, enduring. The timing of the rapture matters less than the posture of readiness. Jesus wants us to live today as if the rapture is today. The debate over timing will continue, but the heart of Scripture is clear: faithfulness, maturity, endurance, and service. The Lord is coming and blessed is the servant whom He finds so doing.

The faithful and wise servant will be kept from the hour of temptation: Whether it means they will be "kept" by having their eyes wide open and discerning good and evil, to sustain them and others through the tribulation, or they will be whisked away so they do not have to endure it, is irrelevant. Because whether pre‑trib, mid‑trib, or post‑trib, the promise is sure. So, grow into discernment. Keep the word of His patience. Feed others with meat in due season. Sustain those who are still on milk. And live each day as if the trumpet could sound at any moment.

That being said, the scriptural evidence is clear and abundant for a post-tribulation gathering. After all, we are the light of the world:

Why would God remove the light before the End? If there is any hope for unbelievers, or for the wavering to return to Him, we must shine our light in the darkest hour.

The scriptural proof for a post-tribulation gathering:

⏳ Daniel: The Foundation

• Daniel 7:21–22 – “I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints…”
• → The saints endure tribulation until God intervenes.

• Daniel 12:1 – “And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was… and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”
• → Deliverance comes after great tribulation, for those written in the book of life.

🌑 Jesus’s Teaching

• Matthew 13:30 – “Gather ye together first the tares… but gather the wheat into my barn.”

• At harvest (the end), the wicked are removed first, then the righteous gathered.

• Matthew 24:29–31 – “Immediately after the tribulation… they shall see the Son of man coming… and he shall send his angels… and they shall gather together his elect.”

• The gathering of believers happens after the tribulation, at Christ’s return.

✨ Marking and Sealing

• Ezekiel 9:4 – “Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations…”

• → God marks His faithful before judgment.

• Revelation 7:3 – “Hurt not the earth… till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.”

• → Believers are sealed for protection during tribulation.

🔥 Revelation’s Judgment

• Revelation 13:8 – “All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him [the beast], whose names are not written in the book of life…”

• → Choices during tribulation reveal who belongs to Christ.

• Revelation 20:12, 15 – “…the dead were judged… whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

• → Final judgment separates the faithful from the condemned.

• Revelation 21:27 – “…but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

• → Only those marked and faithful enter the New Jerusalem.

The scripture shows a consistent theme: tribulation first, then Christ’s return, then separation of tares and wheat, with believers marked and preserved.

Again, Faithful and Wise Servant, give them meat in due season. Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

May He open eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts and minds to understand. Amen.

See also my blogs titled, The Millennial Reign, and Righteous Indignation, for God's Words to me about Christ's return.

All Glory to God in the Highest, always!

The Harsh Truth Many Christians Do Not Understand

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Matthew 7:1

You have probably heard that verse shouted from pulpits, seen it printed on T-shirts, and weaponized on social media to silence anyone who dares call sin by its name inside the church. It is the single most popular verse in modern Christianity, because it is the single most convenient verse. It is short, it sounds kind, and it lets everyone keep sinning in peace.

Here is what almost no one will tell you: that half-verse, ripped from its context and isolated from the rest of Scripture, has become the favorite excuse for disobedience to some of the clearest commands God ever gave His people.

The Bible does not forbid all judgment. It forbids only hypocritical, self-righteous judgment (Matthew 7:2–5). Five verses later in the very same sermon, Jesus commands us to judge false prophets by their fruits (Matthew 7:15–20). In the very same New Testament, the Holy Spirit explicitly commands the church: “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 1 Corinthians 5:12–13

Paul tells the church to judge those inside—those who call themselves brothers—while leaving final judgment of the outside world to God. Yet, today the exact opposite happens: pastors thunder against the sins of Hollywood and Washington, but will not name the adultery, pornography, greed, or false teaching sitting in their own pews.

God gave Ezekiel the office of watchman over Israel—not over Babylon. Read His terrifying charge:

Ezekiel 3

18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”

We are told to warn the righteous man inside the house when he turns away. Silence is not mercy; it is blood-guilt. Paul says, “I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” Acts 20:26-27.

Jesus warns: “If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.” Luke 17:3

“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone…if he shall neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” Matthew 18:15–17

Paul practiced it: “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” 1 Timothy 5:20

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself lest thou also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1

Yet millions of Christians have been trained to treat any such rebuke as “judgmental” and therefore sinful. They have swallowed a lie that directly contradicts Scripture, because they do not read the Scripture for themselves. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6

The knowledge is not hidden. It is in the book they carry to church but never open at home. They would rather hear a 15-minute sermon or a friend’s opinion than search the Scriptures daily like the noble Bereans (Acts 17:11).

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

Some will quote Romans 15:20 as a gag order: Paul says, “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation.”

That verse is real, but it is about something completely different. Paul is describing his missionary strategy: he wanted to take the first preaching of the gospel to unreached peoples who had never heard Christ’s name. He refused to repreach the gospel where it had already been faithfully planted. But the moment that already-planted gospel was being twisted or disobeyed in those churches, Paul intervened without apology—even in churches he did not found:

• He publicly rebuked Peter to his face in Antioch: “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed… I said unto Peter before them all…” (Galatians 2:11–14)
• He commanded the Corinthian church from afar to excommunicate an immoral man: “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ… deliver such an one unto Satan… put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” (1 Corinthians 5:4–5, 13)
• He wrote an entire corrective letter to the Colossians, a church he had never visited: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit…” (Colossians 2:8–20)
• He told Timothy and Titus to silence false teachers and rebuke sinful elders publicly in churches others had planted: “That thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine…” (1 Timothy 1:3). “Whose mouths must be stopped… Wherefore rebuke them sharply…” (Titus 1:10–13)

Paul refused to repreach the gospel where it was already established.

He never refused to defend and correct the gospel (or the holy living it demands) once it had been established.

“But Jesus said ‘Judge not’" .. Yes, He did—both in the same sermon (Matthew 5–7). Here is exactly what “Judge not, that ye be not judged” means: “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged… Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? … Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1–5

Jesus forbids hypocritical, proud condemnation—not the loving removal of a brother’s speck after you have dealt with your own log. The goal is restoration, not destruction: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19. Real love warns. Real love risks being called “judgmental” because it cares more about a soul than about being liked.

Romans 15:20 is no license for silence when a brother in another flock—or in your own—is openly turning from righteousness. Ezekiel's blood-guilt (Ezekiel 3) and the command to judge those inside (1 Corinthians 5) still stand.

Until believers stop outsourcing their theology to only pastors, podcasts, and memes—and start reading the Bible, the whole counsel of God, for themselves—the church will keep quoting one verse to disobey fifty.



The harsh truth is this: If you use “judge not” as a shield to protect unrepentant sin inside the body of Christ, you are not being loving. You are being disobedient. And one day the Righteous Judge will not ask what your pastor said, what your small group thought, or what felt kind. He will open the Book of Life: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:5)

Choose today whose word you will believe: the complete Word of God, or the convenient half-verses the crowd prefers.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

Open the Bible . Read it all. Obey it all. Your soul—and the souls of your brothers and sisters—depend on it. The time is short.

May the God of Glory light your path. May His Son open your eyes to see, your ears to hear, and your heart to understand. Amen.

"That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." John 1:9

Originally posted October 11, 2025. Reposted November 24, 2025, with no changes made.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2, KJV)

These words launch the sacred narrative, revealing God's eternal act in perfect harmony—one God eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: the Father decreeing, the Spirit hovering in life-giving power, and the Word (the Son) executing light into being. "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light" (Genesis 1:3). This divine utterance pierces chaos, symbolizing order, holiness, and life. The Word is no created being but God Himself, co-eternal and co-equal with the Father and Spirit, sharing one divine essence in perfect unity—distinct Persons, inseparable in nature, will, and work. As we shall see, Jesus—the Word made flesh—cannot be created, for He is the One by whom all things were made. "All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3). This truth echoes through the apostles' writings, culminating in Revelation's eternal light, where God and the Lamb illuminate forever.

In this blog, we will trace Scripture's golden thread: from primordial light to apostolic affirmations in John and Colossians, bolstered by the three who bear witness to Christ's deity. We will affirm His eternal nature—self-existent and divine—countering any notion of origination. For only the eternal can precede and sustain creation, as "He is before all things, and by him all things consist" (reside in) (Colossians 1:17). May this journey stir in you a glorious worship to the one true God: "O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all" (Psalm 104:24).

In the opening verses of Genesis, we behold a formless void shrouded in darkness, yet the Spirit of God moves upon the waters with gentle, omnipotent purpose—preparing the canvas for divine artistry and infusing it with the breath of life. This "moving" or hovering of the Spirit is a beautiful picture of God's caring presence. Then God said, "Let there be light," and light burst forth through the Word (Jesus Christ), not merely physical illumination but a profound symbol of God's holiness dispelling shadows, deception, and chaos. This light foreshadows the ultimate redemption, where "the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light" (Isaiah 9:2), pointing directly to Christ.

The psalmist bridges this creation moment to the New Testament revelation: "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth" (Psalm 33:6), harmonizing the Father's decree, the Word's execution, and the Spirit's breath as one God in action. John's Gospel unveils the mystery further: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God" (John 1:1-2). Here, the Logos—God's divine reason and expression—is not a later creation but eternally existent, distinct in person yet one in essence with the Father. Amid debates over exact phrasing, the core truth shines: This Word is Jesus incarnate (John 1:14), declaring His timeless deity when He says, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58), echoing God's eternal name in Exodus 3:14. The prophet Micah affirms the Messiah's origins: "whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2). In this Word dwells life itself, and that life is the light of men, radiating undimmed into the darkness (John 1:4-5)—Jesus, the eternal Word of God, through whom the Father created all things and brought everything into existence: "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). He did not create Himself; He is God's Word, the uncreated Creator who holds all in being.

Yet, so much debate and argument have swirled around the precise wording of John 1:1—"the Word was God" versus alternative renderings like "was a god"—often missing the forest for the trees in theological battles that have divided believers for centuries. God does not command us to win debates but to believe in His Son for eternal life (John 3:16: "Whosoever believeth in him should not perish"), and to spread this gospel to every creature. These ongoing debates deflect from the verse's heart and the verses that follow:

John 1

3 "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men."

Jesus is God's Word; God speaks, and the Word executes. "Let there be light."

Central to this revelation is the irrefutable truth that Jesus cannot be created precisely because He is the Creator—a logical and scriptural absolute that places Him outside the realm of contingent beings. If He originated everything, He cannot originate from anything Himself, for creators inherently precede and transcend their works; self-creation is an impossibility, as "every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God" (Hebrews 3:4). John's proclamation drives this home: "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). The emphatic double negative leaves no loophole—every star, soul, speck and atom owes its existence to Him, echoing the creative command in Genesis and excluding any possibility of His own making.

This eternal status unfolds richly across Scripture. His pre-existence shines in John 1:1-2, where the Word simply "was" in the beginning, not "became" at a point in time, and in John 17:5, where He shares glory with the Father "before the world was," including His role as redeeming Lamb foreordained before the foundation (1 Peter 1:20: "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you"). The child born in Bethlehem is called "The everlasting Father, The mighty God" (Isaiah 9:6), titles reserved for the eternal Yahweh. He forms all things directly, as in Colossians 1:16-17 ("by him were all things created... he is before all things"), Hebrews 1:2-3 (God made the worlds "by whom," upholding them by His power), and 1 Corinthians 8:6 ("by whom are all things"). His divine attributes include self-existent life, shared eternally with the Father: "the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself" (John 5-26)—not borrowed or started, but inherent like the Father's own endless existence. He is equal with God, "being in the form of God" without claiming something extra (Philippians 2:6), and holds "all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9).

He stands distinguished from all creatures: Angels worship Him rather than rival Him (Hebrews 1:5-6), and His Melchizedek-like priesthood knows "neither beginning of days, nor end of life" (Hebrews 7:3). Even Revelation 3:14's "beginning of the creation" means source or ruler (arche), as in Proverbs 8:22-23 where Wisdom (Christ) is "from everlasting." Explicit denials abound: "Before me there was no God formed" (Isaiah 43:10), and as the "only begotten Son" He declares the unseen God (John 1:18). Potential misreadings, like "firstborn" in Colossians 1:15, denote preeminence—not origination—as with David made "firstborn" as highest king (Psalm 89:27). Only the eternal can precede creation because contingent things (everything that depends on something else to exist, like all created matter and beings) require a cause and a starting point; God alone is independent, giving life without needing any (Acts 17:24-25). Jesus embodies this: "I am Alpha and Omega... the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8, 17-18), the eternal One who sustains all without beginning or end.

The Apostle Paul's praises to God in Colossians harmonize perfectly with John 1:1-2, exalting the eternal Son amid false teachings that would diminish Him to a mere emissary or angel. "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist" (Colossians 1:15-18). Here, "firstborn" (prototokos) signifies preeminence and heirship, not creation—as God promised David, "I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth" (Psalm 89:27)—for the verses immediately affirm He creates those very realms, standing before and sustaining them.

The parallels with John reveal profound oneness: John's comprehensive "all things" expands in Colossians to include heavenly hierarchies and invisible powers (like angels and spiritual authorities), refuting any intermediary creators and asserting Christ's absolute dominion, as everything in the universe—seen or unseen—is made through Him alone. The agency is identical—"by him" as the instrumental cause, mirroring the Word through which God spoke in Genesis and Psalm 33:6. Yet Colossians adds depth: Creation is not only "by" Him but "for" Him, orienting all existence toward His glory, as He shared pre-world splendor with the Father (John 17:5). This sustenance—"by him all things consist"—portrays Him as the divine glue holding atoms and angels together, echoing Hebrews 1:3's "upholding all things by the word of his power." The fullness of deity dwells in Him (Colossians 1:19; 2:9), making separation impossible: If God creates alone yet through the Son (Isaiah 44:24), they are one essence, mutually indwelling (John 14:10: "I am in the Father, and the Father in me"). This unity counters heresies, affirming the Son's eternal role in planning (Father), executing (Son), and quickening (Spirit implied, as "the Spirit quickeneth" in John 6:63).

The passage in 1 John 5:7-8 (KJV) beautifully complements the themes of divine unity and historical testimony, emphasizing how God's eternal truth is confirmed in time through Jesus's life and work. Even focusing on the earthly witnesses that appear in all manuscripts—the Spirit, the water, and the blood, these three agree in one—these elements provide strong evidence against early false teachings that tried to separate Jesus's divine and human natures (such as ideas that the spiritual "Christ" only temporarily descended on the man Jesus at baptism and left before the cross). Instead, they affirm the eternal Creator's full incarnation from start to finish: Jesus came "by water and blood" (1 John 5:6), not by water only. The Spirit, who testifies because "the Spirit is truth," is the Holy Spirit who hovered in creation and continues to bear witness in believers' hearts (Romans 8:16) and through events like the baptism. The water recalls that baptism where the Father's voice declared "This is my beloved Son" (Matthew 3:17), marking the beginning of His public ministry. The blood points to the crucifixion, where water and blood flowed from His side (John 19:34), symbolizing complete atonement and proving His real, physical death for sins (Hebrews 9:12). These historical markers unite to show Jesus as the eternal "way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), with direct affirmations like Thomas's cry, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28), and the Father's address about Jesus: "Thy throne, O God, is for ever" (Hebrews 1:8).

The declaration "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5) finds perfect resonance in the Word as "the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9)—a oneness of essence where the Father's purity radiates through the Son. Jesus affirms, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9), making His light the visible expression of the invisible God. This shared radiance first ordered creation's dawn by separating light from darkness (Genesis 1:3-4), establishing moral and spiritual order from the void. In redemption, it exposes sin by revealing truth and convicting hearts, as Jesus declares, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12), drawing sinners to repentance and freedom (John 3:19-21). Eternally, it overcomes all darkness without fail or fluctuation, for God is the "Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17)—unchanging in His gifts of wisdom and salvation, ensuring victory over evil and the promise of a shadowless future (Revelation 21:25).

What dawns in Genesis's spoken light reaches eternal fulfillment in Revelation, where the holy city needs no sun or moon, "for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof" (Revelation 21:23; see also 22:5). Here, the eternal Word—once active in creation's beginning—tabernacles forever as the Lamb slain yet victorious, sharing the throne with the Father (Revelation 22:1). As Alpha and Omega, the Almighty who was dead and lives (Revelation 1:8, 17-18), He receives worship alongside the Ancient of Days, their oneness sealing history's arc. In this radiant kingdom, night vanishes, and the redeemed walk in His light, heirs of the eternal Creator who holds all together from everlasting to everlasting.

As many as receive Him become children of God (John 1:12), transformed by the One who made and sustains us. In a world where good is seen as evil, and evil as good, let the light of Jesus illuminate your path and guide you to His living water. Worship the Lamb who is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing (Revelation 5:12)—for in the beginning, through the middle of time, and to the endless ages, He is the great I AM, the unchanging God who became flesh and was crucified to pay for our sins. May your life reflect His Glory, walking as children of light until we see Him face to face. Amen.

Originally posted September 30, 2025. Reposted November 24, 2025, with no changes made.

In the sacred pages of the Bible, the Book of Ruth shines as a beacon of hope and faithfulness amidst the dark and tumultuous days of the Judges. Set during a time when “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6, 21:25), Ruth’s story stands in stark contrast to the moral and spiritual chaos of its era. This brief yet profound narrative, nestled between the apostasy of Judges and the rise of Israel’s monarchy in 1 Samuel, is far more than an historical account. It is a divine tapestry woven with threads of loyalty, redemption, and God’s sovereign grace, pointing us toward the ultimate Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Ruth’s unwavering commitment to Naomi and her embrace of the God of Israel (Ruth 1:16-17) serve as a beautiful analogy for the believer’s call to follow Christ, reflecting the heart of discipleship in the gospel.

The Book of Ruth opens with a somber note: “Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land” (Ruth 1:1). The Book of Judges paints a grim picture of Israel’s spiritual decline. The people repeatedly turned to idolatry, worshiping Baal and Ashtaroth (Judges 2:11-13), provoking God’s judgment through oppression by foreign nations. Yet, in His mercy, God raised up judges—deliverers like Deborah, Gideon, and Samson—to rescue His people when they cried out in repentance (Judges 2:16-18). This cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance underscores Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s enduring faithfulness.

Against this backdrop of rebellion and chaos, the Book of Ruth emerges as a story of hope. While Judges depicts a nation adrift, Ruth’s narrative reveals God’s grace at work through the faithfulness of individuals. It is a reminder that even in the darkest times, God is preparing the way for His redemptive purposes, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

At the heart of Ruth’s story is her remarkable declaration to Naomi, her mother-in-law, after the tragic loss of their husbands: “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (Ruth 1:16-17). These words, steeped in loyalty and love, echo far beyond their immediate context, resonating with the call to follow Jesus Christ.

Ruth, a Moabite widow and a foreigner to Israel, chooses to leave her homeland, her people, and her pagan gods to follow Naomi and embrace the God of Israel. Her decision mirrors the cost of discipleship described by Jesus: “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). Ruth’s commitment to Naomi, and by extension to Naomi’s God, reflects the heart of a disciple who forsakes all to follow the Lord. Her words, “thy God my God,” signify a profound spiritual transformation, akin to the believer’s turning from sin to worship the one true God. ". . . and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;" 1 Thessalonians 1:9

Ruth’s journey leads her to Boaz, a “mighty man of wealth” (Ruth 2:1) who becomes her kinsman-redeemer. Under God’s providential guidance, Ruth gleans in Boaz’s field (Ruth 2:3) and finds favor in his eyes. Boaz, in his kindness and righteousness, redeems Naomi’s inheritance and marries Ruth, securing their family’s future (Ruth 4:9-10). This act of redemption foreshadows the greater work of Jesus Christ, our ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer, who “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14).

Just as Boaz, a near kinsman, redeems Ruth and Naomi from destitution, Christ, through His death and resurrection, redeems His people from the bondage of sin and death. "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" (1 Peter 1:18-19). Ruth’s humble acceptance of Boaz’s provision mirrors the believer’s trust in Christ’s atoning work, receiving salvation by grace through faith. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

One of the most remarkable aspects of Ruth’s story is her inclusion in the genealogy of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ. The Book of Ruth concludes with a genealogy tracing from Pharez (son of Judah and Tamar) to Boaz, Obed, Jesse, and David (Ruth 4:18-22). This lineage is reiterated in the New Testament, confirming Ruth’s place in the ancestry of Christ (Matthew 1:5-6, 16). The blessing given to Boaz and Ruth at their marriage, “And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman” (Ruth 4:12), draws a deliberate connection to the story of Tamar, Judah, and Pharez in Genesis 38, highlighting profound parallels that enrich the Messianic narrative.

In Genesis 38, Tamar, likely a Canaanite, finds herself widowed and childless, facing a precarious future. When Judah, the patriarch of the tribe bearing his name, fails to fulfill the Levirate custom through his surviving son, Tamar takes bold action. Disguising herself as a harlot, she conceives by Judah, giving birth to twins, Pharez and Zarah (Genesis 38:27-30). Despite the morally complex circumstances, Tamar’s determination to secure her place in Judah’s family ensures the continuation of his lineage, through which the Messiah would come. Pharez, her son, becomes a key ancestor in the tribe of Judah, leading to David and ultimately to Christ (Matthew 1:3).

The connection to Ruth is striking. Like Tamar, Ruth is a Gentile widow, an outsider to Israel (a Moabite, a people often despised by Israel, Deuteronomy 23:3). Both women face vulnerability and uncertainty yet act with faith and resolve to align themselves with God’s covenant people. Tamar’s unconventional union with Judah and Ruth’s marriage to Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer, result in their inclusion in the Messianic line. The blessing in Ruth 4:12 invokes Pharez’s name to signify fruitfulness and prominence, as Pharez’s descendants became a numerous and significant clan within Judah (1 Chronicles 2:4-5). Similarly, Ruth’s son, Obed, becomes the grandfather of David, cementing her role in God’s redemptive plan.

The stories of Tamar and Ruth share key themes: God’s providence in using unlikely individuals, the inclusion of Gentiles in His covenant, and the preservation of the Messianic lineage through unexpected means. Both women, though outsiders, demonstrate faith and initiative, becoming vessels of God’s grace. Their inclusion foreshadows the gospel’s universal call, where “there is neither Jew nor Greek… for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Just as Tamar’s bold action and Ruth’s loyal devotion secure their places in the lineage of David, they point to the greater reality of Christ, who welcomes all who come to Him in faith, regardless of their background (Revelation 7:9). The comparison in Ruth 4:12 underscores God’s sovereignty in weaving these women’s stories into the tapestry of salvation history, preparing the way for the Messiah.

The contrast between Ruth and the Book of Judges is striking. While Judges recounts Israel’s repeated idolatry and moral chaos—culminating in the horrific accounts of idolatry in Dan (Judges 17-18) and civil war involving Benjamin (Judges 19-21)—Ruth’s story radiates faithfulness, humility, and divine providence. Her loyalty to Naomi, her diligence in gleaning (Ruth 2:2), and her submission to God’s will stand as a testament to the power of individual obedience in a rebellious age. Ruth’s story assures us that God’s grace is at work, even when His people falter, preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah.

Ruth’s declaration, “whither thou goest, I will go,” resonates as a timeless call to discipleship. Just as Ruth bound herself to Naomi and her God, believers are called to follow Jesus, saying, in effect, “Where You go, I will go; Your people will be my people; Your Father will be my God.” This requires leaving behind the old life—whether it be sin, self-reliance, or worldly attachments—and trusting in Christ’s redemptive work. As Ruth found provision and a future through Boaz, we find eternal life and purpose through Jesus, who declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

The Book of Ruth, though brief, is a pivotal link in the chain of God’s redemptive history. From the chaos of Judges to the establishment of David’s throne in 1 Samuel, Ruth’s story bridges the gap, showing how God uses the faithfulness of a Moabite widow to advance His Messianic plan. Her journey from outsider to ancestor of Christ reflects the gospel’s power to transform and include all who come to God in faith. As we read Ruth’s words and trace her legacy, may we be inspired to echo her commitment, following Jesus with unwavering devotion, trusting Him as our Redeemer, and rejoicing in His grace that welcomes us into His eternal family.

The books of Judges, Ruth, and 1 Samuel, in their vivid portrayal of Israel’s spiritual cycles, resonate deeply with the times we are now living in, as they echo humanity’s struggle with faithlessness and the hope of redemption through Christ’s return. In Judges, we see a world marked by moral chaos and idolatry, where “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6), mirroring today’s relativistic culture that often rejects God’s truth for personal desires. Yet, amidst this darkness, Ruth’s story shines as a testament to God’s grace, as her faithfulness and inclusion in the Messianic line foreshadow the gospel’s call to all nations, reminding us that even in a rebellious age, God is gathering His people through faith in Christ (Romans 10:12-13). The transition to 1 Samuel, with the rise of David’s kingdom, points to the establishment of God’s anointed king, prefiguring Jesus, the ultimate King, whose imminent return will bring final deliverance from sin and death, fulfilling the promise that “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Just as these books trace God’s redemptive plan through a turbulent era, they encourage us today to remain steadfast in faith, trusting in Christ’s return to restore all things.



Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the testimony of Ruth, whose faith and loyalty shine as a light in a dark world. May her example inspire us to follow Thy Son, Jesus Christ, with all our heart, trusting in His redemption and walking in His truth. Guide us, as Thou didst guide Ruth, to be vessels of Thy grace in our generation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.