Our churches today speak as if there are only 2 possible conditions of a person’s “soul” – SAVED OR UNSAVED – BLACK OR WHITE ONLY.
But Jesus taught that that there are 3 possible conditions or “degrees” with Him – 30, 60 or 100 fold return on His Word being spread.
We will discuss the first 1 now.
A “30 fold”, as spoken of in Mark Mark 4:3, 8 and 10-11., is a person who is COMING TOWARDS Jesus. A 30 fold christian is one who came forward at an alter call. Or prayed the “sinners prayer”. This is the very first step in the beginning of a journey ahead.
Let’s say a person accepts Jesus and becomes a 30 fold “newby”. After he/she walks down this new road 30 miles, do you think that the condition of his SHOES will be DIFFERENT than when the trip began, or exactly the same…? I’d say yes, different.
So after you “walk with Jesus” for a while, after the initial “saved” experience, you get knocked around a little by “the world”. These are tests, sent to you from your Dad. He is testing your mettle. He is testing you as a person. You pass some, you fail some. It’s ok, He knows it’s a process. He just wants to see if you are still willing to come towards Him. (1st Commandment).
At this point, a person has every right to turn around and walk away. For some, Dad’s “tests” are too strenuous for the maturity level of their spirit. He realizes this, and let’s them go. He is not “needy” to get you to follow Him. You do it with your own free will, or not at all.
Whoever comes to me I will never drive away. John 6:37
But some DO fall madly and deeply IN LOVE WITH THE FATHER OF THEIR SPIRIT. Dad deals with each one of us individually. We all get our own custom set of “tests”, all designed, by Him, specifically for YOU, his kid, for your BETTERMENT. To bring you to MATURITY. Never forget, your Dad wants you to GROW UP!!!
As you can see, there are many steps between 30 and 60. But one thing is for sure, IT IS NOT BLACK AND WHITE ONLY. There are many “shades” in between.
So what happens when a personal accepts Jesus, and stays “on track” with Jesus. What is your reward for passing the tests He throws at you, to see if you will “turn away” or not..?
That person is AWARDED the 60 fold position that Jesus spoke of. Read about the 60 Fold believers here, or jump to the end of the story and learn about the 100 Fold Christians here.
You can get the whole story by reading the booklet that taught this concept to me, by Mikkel Dahl reprinted here.
Or just stay tuned here.
Russell Dibird
Whoever comes to me I will never drive away. John 6:37
