The Mystery of Iniquity

"And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work (each person is going through their own battle with the flesh): only he who now letteth will let, until he (the old Adam) be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed (ego), whom the Lord shall consume (take in) with the spirit of his mouth (the Word of God), and shall destroy with the brightness (truth) of his coming (out of our inner most being): Even him (religion), whose coming is after the working of Satan (has the power and authority as a son of God, but uses the Word of God for self ego) with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love (unconditional) of the truth, that they might (already are) be saved." 2 Thessalonians 2:6-10

These verses have been used by theologians to justify a coming antichrist, but what Paul is really writing about is the coming forth of Christ in each of us. Calvary took away the iniquity of sin over 2000 years ago. We can find this in John 1:29 which reads, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away THE SIN of the world." Then in Luke 3:6 we are told that, "ALL flesh shall see the SALVATION of God," not the wrath of an angry God, but the love of a Father that gave His own life for the children whom He created in His own image (John 3:16 and Genesis 1:26-27).

God is not mad at us when we miss the mark; however, mark missing will have consequences to the flesh and soul. God removed the offense of the mark (sin), but not the ability to miss the mark. Our mark missing ability doesn't offend God or change our established identity of being His son, but it does cause us a hindrance of having a relationship with God out of our own condemnation and guilt. We don't have the power to loose our identity in Him because the power of His grace is stronger. Again, it is our own guilt and condemnation that hinders us from believing this truth.

The strength of sin is the law which causes guilt and condemnation. In the past, the church has been taught by theologians who have mixed grace with law keeping the church from entering boldly before the throne room of God where they would find His unconditional love, mercy and peace (Hebrews 4:16). How often have we heard Christians share "Jesus loves you just as you are, with all of your baggage? Just come and believe that He has died for your sin, confessing that you are a sinner, and then receive His grace for eternal life." Sound familiar? First of all, we are not a sinner. There hasn't been one since Calvary. Second, isn't it interesting that their doctrine teaches that Jesus receives us with all of our "baggage," but once we start going to church we receive condemnation and guilt if we still have the "baggage?"

How many people have changed trying to conform to the church's ideas and concepts of what a Christian is suppose to be like so that they can fit in, instead of what God says? How many times has the church used scripture to justify themselves instead of loving the unloved with His grace? We have all been in a position where we were trying to conform to those that we have given allegiance to behind the pulpit instead of focusing on the love and grace of our Heavenly Father who gave us His Spirit to teach us all things so that when others would see us, they would see Father.

"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Colossians 2:12-15.

IN ALL OF OUR MARK MISSING WE HAVE NOT OFFENDED OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.

Yes, we have planted bad seed that must be dealt with. Yes, we have offended and hurt other people because of our own pride, arrogance, and self-will, or ego that must be dealt with. However; despite all these things, nothing can separate us from the love of our Heavenly Father (Romans 8:35-39). We have never lost favor with DAD.

What the Lamb of God took away was the wrath and anger that DAD had. God does not have the ability today to be offended by anything we could do. If He did, then the cross would be nullified and Jesus would not have completed the job at Calvary. The assurance of our salvation would be a question that couldn't be answered.

God built into the laws of the universe "cause and effect" or "sowing and reaping." When we do what we want to do we reap the consequences of it. However, just because we make wrong choices and miss the mark doesn't separate us from the love of our Father who died and gave His life for us reestablishing our ability to enter boldly into His presence. What will hold us back is not God, but our own judgment and condemnation of cause and affect. This is what Paul wrote about in Romans Chapters 7 and 8.

We have the ability to make a mess of things, but we don't have the ability, even while in a mess, to make God mad at us. God took away the STRIFE. Calvary removed something in man and something in God. The veil has been removed for us to enter the throne room of mercy, love, and forgiveness; but it has also been removed when seated on the mercy seat with the Father looking out at the middle court, outer court, and the ends of the world. There is no veil going into the presence of God, and there is no veil separating God from His people.

God took everything we ever did and everything we will ever do in the future placing it on Jesus letting out the fullness of HIS wrath and anger against man subjecting it upon Himself (Isaiah 53:10-11). He then looked upon the suffering of what Jesus went through and was satisfied never to inflict judgment on mankind again (John 5:22).

The Lamb did not take away our ability to mark miss which may hold life time consequences. When we come to Him and confess our missing the mark (our sins) it is for OUR cleansing. Father is not upset with us, but we can't change what we don't believe needs changing. The point of repentance is to become conscious of missing the mark: we were eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil instead of the Tree of Life. Repentance allows us to yield ourselves to God for Him to pick us up and shake off the dust of doing things in our flesh, and encouraging us to keep our eyes focused on His Kingdom and His Righteousness. God's will is for us to live a life as His son BEING the Light of the world (Matt. 5:14); for as He is so are we in this world (1 John 4:17).