The connection between heaven and earth lies in the subconscious/identity of human beings. Through self-deception, we live bound to people instead of God. Paul explains in his letters to the Philippians and Colossians that we experience suffering so that the error in our hearts becomes visible – as well as its removal. Suffering reveals the error, and endurance shows that it has been overcome. Without suffering, we cannot recognize error and thus cannot replace it with truth. We may know that...

This study is based on the letters to the Philippians and Colossians. Heaven and earth are united through Jesus Christ. Man, created as the crowning glory of creation, separated himself from God through self-deception, causing the life force of the earth – love – to fade. And since everything on earth depends on him, everything is ultimately doomed to death. God begot Jesus through Mary, who removed this separation. Through him, the new, immortal source of life is available again and man can...

Joshua gathers the people in Shechem and reminds them of Abraham's calling and God's work of salvation. Faith works in the spirit, but it needs a standard to guide it. If the standard is right, faith is right. If it is wrong, so is faith. God promised Abraham a son. Sarah was old, and humanly speaking, it seemed impossible. Out of unbelief, Abraham took the servant as his wife and fathered Ishmael. Jacob also did not trust in God, but in his mother. False faith relies on what is humanly...