The Three Absolutes

The Three Absolutes

Rightly understood, the gospel is three absolutes.

1. Absolute acknowledgment of our total corruption and wretchedness, our incompetence, and incorrigibility. In us—in our flesh—dwells nothing good, nothing usable, no strength to accomplish anything that is good and acceptable to God. And as a consequence of this there is:

2. Absolute abandonment of all that is our own. This abandonment with its consequent devotion and surrender to Christ must also be complete in every sense of the word, without any reservation whatsoever, as stated in Luke 14:26 and 33. And as a consequence of this there is:

3. Absolute victory and progress, growth and maturing, holiness and glory—inward transformation!

Also this will be absolute!

As Jesus says in John 17:10, “And all Mine are Yours, and [therefore] Yours are Mine.”

Then it will be as it is written in Matthew 6:10: “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Therefore when the first two absolutes are entirely, completely, wholly, and totally in order, then we will not avoid the logical consequence of it; namely, that the third absolute is fulfilled. This means that we will experience it as it is promised: we obtain the glorious, exalted, divine life to which we are called!!! Glory to God! To Him who is truthful and faithful!

This is the true gospel of God that we are to proclaim with great boldness in the Spirit of faith, with this decided and firm conviction that as truly as the conditions are fulfilled, that everything is surrendered into death—without abridgement—it is also conclusively decided that it will be as promised until the very end. Then we will reach the goal, then we will have perfect victory over all conscious sin, and then we will also reach the degree of maturity that is needed in order to be His bride!

You get back what you give. When we sacrifice everything, we receive everything and obtain everything. From the deepest wretchedness and lowliness to the greatest glory and majesty!

The strongest words in the language are used about 1) our wretchedness, 2) fulfilling the conditions, and 3) the glory that we will then most certainly obtain.

Some examples of the number, the strength, and the glory that will then certainly become ours: “The power of His might.” Eph. 6:10. “Exceeding greatness . . . .” Eph. 1:19. “Certainly not!” Rom. 6:2. “Great boldness . . . .” 2 Cor. 3:12. “Perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Jas. 1:4. “Not having spot or wrinkle . . . .” Eph. 5:27. “Keep you from stumbling . . . .” Jude 24. “Sanctify you completely . . . .” 1 Thess. 5:23. “Always leads us in triumph . . . .” 2 Cor. 2:14. “More than conquerors . . . .” Rom. 8:37. “Cannot sin . . . does not sin . . . and the wicked one does not touch him.” 1 John 3 and 5.

“Riches . . . .” Eph. 1:7. “Abundance . . . .” 1 Thess. 3:12. “Exceeding riches . . . .” Eph. 2:7. “The exceeding greatness of His power . . . .” Eph. 1:19. “Having done [overcome] all, to stand.” Eph. 6:13. “All the fullness of God.” Eph. 3:19. “Far more exceeding . . . .” 2 Cor. 4:17. “Because of the glory that excels.” 2 Cor. 3:10. “Has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Eph. 1:3. “Abound . . . having all sufficiency in all things . . . .” 2 Cor. 9:8. “Exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think . . . .” Eph. 3:20. “Grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.” Eph. 4:15. “The fullness of Him . . . .” Eph. 1:23. “The measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Eph. 4:13.