How The Bible Reveals a Revolution of Personal Devotional Transformation

When reflecting on the stories of Moses and the Exodus, Samson and the two pillars, Gideon’s war against Baal, Abraham’s journey, and Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt, what stands out? These narratives represent more than just historical events—they signal a revolution and resurrection of devotional thought. They challenge us to consider a deeper devotional revival.

At the heart of the Bible is the concept of an inward resurrection, a transformation of our devotional conversation’s inner being. King David, recognizing this profound truth, wrote in Psalm 51:6, “Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.” The core message of the Bible is a resurrection driven by wisdom and knowledge. As 1 Samuel 2:3 declares, “The LORD is a God of knowledge,” and Proverbs 2:6 reminds us that “out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”

The Bible’s wisdom is the fuel for inner revival. The Bible is not ultimately a collection of stories, but rather a message with a call to revive and reshape our devotional thoughts and feelings. Proverbs 1:23 affirms, “I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.” From Genesis to Malachi, the focus remains on this inward transformation of the mind through the Bible’s wisdom.

However, when we transition to the New Testament, the language and philosophy shifts, influenced by the dominant Greek culture and religious thought. Despite this shift, the original message remains hidden beneath the surface. Luke 17:21, for instance, tells us, “The kingdom of God is within you,” echoing Ruth 2:4, “The LORD be with you.” These two verses are not different in meaning but convey the same core message. The “kingdom of God” isn’t a new concept. To the Greek it was called the “doctrine of the kingdom,” but to the Hebrew it was called the “science of the LORD.”

Here’s the fascinating part: the Bible plays with these terms to keep its message accessible yet profound. “The LORD” and “the kingdom” are essentially one and the same—they represent the experience of the Bible’s words within our devotional character. Yet, because of religious tradition and theological interpretations, we often fail to see this continuity.

This philosophical expression is captured in the word “Immanuel,” meaning “God is with us,” or more directly, “within us is God” (Isaiah 8:10). Understanding this helps us reclaim the Bible’s original intention—a focus on the inward, personal devotional experience, untainted by external religious structures.

So why is it essential to grasp that the “kingdom of God” predated the New Testament? Because as we move through the Bible, especially into the Greek-influenced gospels, we encounter distortions of the original Hebrew philosophy. If we aren’t rooted in the wisdom of the Old Testament, we risk misunderstanding the message. As Isaiah 45:21 says, “There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.”

The Greek-influenced reinterpretation of the Bible’s message led to a distortion of the original Hebrew philosophy, especially regarding the nature of God. This shift wasn’t just a religious one but a philosophical one, altering how people understood their relationship with the scriptures. Even though the landscape of religious interpretation has changed over time, the original intent remains intact and waiting to be rediscovered.

This shift in biblical interpretation mirrors what happens in secular history: those in power shape the narrative. In the same way, the Bible’s original philosophy has been overshadowed by religious and political agendas. Understanding this is vital if we are to reclaim the Bible’s true devotional experience and engage with it in a way that transforms our personal and devotional character.

The Bible calls for more than belief—it calls for a revolution of the heart and mind, a resurrection of our inner dialogue with the Bible. By returning to its original message, we open ourselves to a wisdom that revives, restores, and reshapes our lives.

The Dawn of Devotion: The Philosophy Behind Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection

My new book, The Dawn of Devotion: A Sacrifice for Devotional Evolution, is arriving soon. This work touches on the sensitive issue surrounding the context and the reality of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. The debate of if the resurrection actually took place, or if an actual “Jesus” existed, is one that is fixed to theological frameworks and never intelligently enters into the realm of philosophy. The philosophical and intellectual inquiry over the existence, death, and resurrection of Jesus is important to our present spiritual wellbeing, especially when learning that the fuss is all about a minister willingly sacrificing himself to make a statement about the correct devotional experience.

It is true that, in the multitude of theological narratives, few events hold as much significance as Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. This pivotal scene in Christian theology has sparked centuries of debate and interpretation, albeit without sincere contextual reflection. However, beyond the surface-level understanding often presented in mainstream or popular theology, lies a deeper philosophical exploration that challenges traditional views on salvation and redemption.

The portrayal of Jesus Christ as a divine figure sacrificing himself for the sins of humanity is a cornerstone of Christian theory. Yet, upon closer examination, particularly the divergent narratives presented in the four canonical gospels, a more meaningful interpretation emerges. Are we actually reading about the life of a demigod? Is this sacrifice and resurrection actually for natural human fault? We know that, for every religious cult that has existed, the theme of dying and rising deities is central to their core belief. Despite having a familiar pagan theme within the gospel narrative, could there be more to the story connected to Jesus?

Each gospel, despite their reader noticing, offers a unique perspective on their main character, reflecting the diverse theological viewpoints of their authors and their communities. While some emphasize Jesus' role as a savior sent to redeem mankind through his sacrificial death, others focus on his teachings and philosophical insights, completely ignoring the narrative of him as the world’s gift.

The original Jesus community, if we should purge reality from the fictional narrative within the book of Acts, taught what was called, “The Way.” They had taken their leader to have been crucified to death and then resurrected. This idea was not Greek or Roman, but strictly Jewish. They did not see his death as the world’s redemption from sin. They did not see his blood as being something to call upon for pardon of sins. They did not envision their hero next to God in heaven as high priest. They saw him like as they saw Elijah, Elisha, or Moses, as a man, whose death shed light on “the way” to honor that Deity for eventual resurrection at the world’s last day, that was deeply touched and inspired by their Deity.

The Gospel of Luke, for example, deviates from the traditional narrative by emphasizing the importance of adherence to the law of Moses as a path to salvation. In this gospel, Jesus is portrayed as a wise teacher, sharing the wisdom of the inward kingdom of heaven. He is not ultimately the gift to the world, but the kingdom of heaven is. He is bringing that gift to the world, setting the example of how one’s heart and mind, in order to be nearer to the Father, may enter into the intended experience.

Central to understanding the deeper meaning of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection is the concept of Immanuel, which means, "God is with us." Dawn of Devotion investigates how this interpretation suggests that Jesus was not a God with mankind, but that he taught “God,” or that he taught a wisdom inviting hearers to embrace an experience of inner transformation, rather than an external experience of salvation by religious deeds and acts. 

The illustration of the crucifixion sheds light on the potential wisdom that the man taught. This wisdom is understood through the allegory of his suspended body. The scriptures inform us to view his body as representing a devotional experience by religious laws, deeds, rites, theories, and rituals. To observe this crucified body is to actually observe not the crucifixion of a man, but rather the crucifixion of a devotional experience held together by religious laws and oppressive theological frameworks.

The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are profound symbols of devotional liberation and enlightenment. Dawn of Devotion looks deeper into the philosophical underpinnings of the gospel’s main character, because if we can transcend traditional interpretations to embark on a journey toward greater inward understanding, our living experience will sincerely match the devotional.