I think most people who claim to be Christian have a problem with inerrancy of Scripture: "Biblical inerrancy, as formulated in the "Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy", is the doctrine that the Bible "is without error or fault in all its teaching"; or, at least, that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact".
First thing we should know is that we do not have the "original manuscript." That being said, I think that is why anything goes in the Christian world as concerning Bible translations. Since no one can prove that their Bible is better according to the originals then why not write a Bible any way we see fit. Or better yet, we could have a super Bible containing all the versions. That way we could pick and choose what we want to believe.
I have found that many newer Bible versions contradict themselves. I think, as Christians, we should tell people what version of the Bible (KJV) to use. Is there a version that we can put our complete trust in? I think so. Or are we to trust all versions of the Bibles? Are we to believe in an helter-skelter mishmash of Bible truths? Since we do not have the original manuscripts, how are we going to decide which one is true?
There is the Queen's Bible. The translators were very careful, "We edited those eight verses in a way that makes homophobic interpretations impossible." So then are we to believe that the original manuscripts endorses homosexuality?
There is the "Word of the Street Bible." It only contains 500 pages. Is this Bible suppose to be less wordy?
There is a Klingon Bible for Star Trek fans. Was the Bible originally written for all outer space fans?
There are Bibles written in pidgin English, and Lolcats Bibles. There are Bibles that are not really Bible at all called, "The Secular Bible", and the "Humanist Bible." Bibles are big business. Everyone wants to call their book, "The Bible."
Many say, "Recent developments in archaeology, scientific dating methods and Biblical scholarship have made possible a number of modern, more accurate English translations of the scriptures. These newer versions are translated from the oldest and best ancient Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, rather than from the King James version or the Latin Vulgate."
Do many really believe in the inerrancy of Scripture or is it just fashionable thing to say? I do. I use the KJV. It supports better than any other Bible the tenants or the fundamentals of the faith. Is Jesus God or did the newer versions get it right when they say, "He was manifested in the flesh?" Was Jesus really born of a virgin? Or are the newer versions correct when they say he was only born of a young girl or maiden (not a virgin)?
"I got that newest Bible," some will say, "They make God a she instead of a He." Newer is better, right?
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Drunkards Shall Not Inherit the Kingdom of God
You can't deny it. It is written in black and white that
drunkards shall burn in Hell or does it say that?
Strong's Concordance
methusos: drunken
Original Word: μέθυσος, ου, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: methusos
Phonetic Spelling: (meth'-oo-sos)
Short Definition: a drunkard
Since we are dealing with drunkards, what are drunkards? We
know the English definition that drunkards are habitual drinkers that always
get drunk (a person who is drunk or who often gets drunk). The definition in
Greek is about the same.
—Greek Word Study
(Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)
1) drunken,
intoxicated
—Thayer's (New Testament Greek-English Lexicon)
From G3184; tipsy, that is, (as noun) a sot:—drunkard.
It really has nothing to do with our past drunken condition but
our present condition, Are you a drunk today? Most of us have been drunk at one
time or another but what is your condition at this moment in time? Are you a
drunk?
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us
therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of
light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not
in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts
thereof" Romans 13:12-14.
Can you function for a day without having a beer or becoming
intoxicated by wine?
Intoxication can take on many different forms. One word is
"reeling." Someone who loses his balance and staggers or lurches
violently is considered to be reeling like a drunk.
"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto
all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah
and against Jerusalem" Zechariah 12:2.
Trembling is another term: "Shaking from alcohol withdrawal is one of the major withdrawal
symptoms that occur when you stop taking this substance. In some cases, the
trembling is so light that only the person who is suffering from it notices the
shaking. In other cases, the shaking is extremely noticeable to everyone around
the person. Shaking from alcohol withdrawal typically only develops in someone
who is an alcohol abuser or addict, not in individuals who occasionally drink
small amounts of alcohol."
Loudness is a term that also refers to drunks. Drunks are
loud and have unusual behavior. A person on the internet confesses, "I get
really loud when I'm drunk."
I think loudness is what is referenced by the "new wine"
remark made on the day of Pentecost,
"Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto
them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto
you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it
is but the third hour of the day" Acts 2:13-15.
Intoxication also brings rage:
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and
whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" Proverbs 20:1.
Why Does Drinking Release the Rage? Understand Alcohol-Related
Anger and Aggression: http://www.choosehelp.com/topics/anger-management/why-does-drinking-release-the-rage-understand-alcohol-related-anger-and-aggression
Drunk songs are popular in the world today. Do you remember
the lyrics to, "Too Drunk to Karaoke?"
Too drunk to karaoke
Too drunk to karaoke
If you keep on drinkin', you're gonna be
Too drunk to karaoke, just like me
Too drunk to karaoke
Too drunk to karaoke
The Holy Script says "Wine is a mocker." A mocker
is a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to
another. Synonyms are baiter, harasser, heckler, mocker, needler, persecutor,
quiz, quizzer, ridiculer, taunter, tease, teaser, torturer. Why does wine cause
so much distress and yet many think they are having fun while drinking it? Fun never last. Pretty soon the alcohol takes
control of the drunkards' life and they are tortured by health problems and loss of
friends. The alcohol inside a drunk is destroying their health, life, and everyone around them.
"I been drinking
heavily twice a week for about 7 years now but was always was the noticeable
one from early on, quite self-destructive in terms of use. I can’t seem to
control the anxiety which consumes me after two drinks, it's a horrid feeling
like walking on thin ice i don’t know what’s in store for tonight once started.
Before was always
happy go lucky merry drinker while at uni, but following bereavements ,health
conditions, job change etc, this seemed
to have replaced by unhappy, frustrated and angry alcoholic."
I hate to add to the drunks' sorrows but does the
Bible say that drunks are going to Hell if they don't quit their addiction to
alcohol? Unless they repent of their addiction, will they eternally perish?
Many preachers would readily agree that they are on the broad way to Hell due
to their addiction to the sinful beverage.
I know Christian people who love Jesus who cannot withdraw
from the need of alcohol. It has become their friend in times of crisis and has
become their everyday joy. They could not withdraw from drinking no more than a
man in a desert could withdraw from drinking water for his thirst. They are
hooked: hooked, line, and sinker. They
are completely without reservation addicted to strong drink. Let me repeat, "Drunkards….shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
Drunkenness is a sin that should be repented of. You do not
have to be deceived by, "Once a drunk, always a drunk." You can kick
the habit. Ask Jesus to come into your life and sincerely resist the devil of
strong drink. But there is more than putting the words of condemnation upon drunkards. Take time and read this Sermon by John R
Rice about the evils of alcohol and then continue reading my post.
I have preached in a way that most preachers have preached
in the past that drunkards are children of Hell. Certainly every sin is worthy
of Hell. But I refrained from telling you the whole truth until now. Most
preachers quote verses without thought to what it means. Take my opening verse.
""Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" 1
Corinthians 6:10.
It sounds straight forward that drunks will not go to
heaven. But have you examined the entire list? I often wonder, how many thefts
does it take to make a thief? How much lust does it take to have committed the
sin of covetousness? Or how much intoxication does it take to make a drunkard? I
think my friend it only takes one theft to make a thief, one bad desire to commit the sin of covetousness, and a few strong drinks
to make a drunkard.
I know many are thinking that habitual or practices of binge drinking are what the Bible is talking about. I disagree. It only takes one lie to become a liar, one lust to have committed adultery, and one night of binge drinking to become a drunkard. I know the English definition speaks of a drunk as one who habitually drinks. But I think John R Rice make the Biblical definition more clear,
"You know that the word drunk is part of the word drink, drank, drunk; or, drink, drank, drunken. A drunkard is a man who drinks. Anybody who drinks any alcoholic liquor is under the influence of it, is affected by it, and to that degree is drunk."
A drunk might be clever and say, "Well I'm not drinking right now, so you see, I'm not a habitual drinker." However, in my definition I say that if you have been drunk and continue to drink to intoxication then you are a drunkard. A horse runs to the water trough when thirsty like a drunk runs to a bar or gets a bottle when he needs a drink. Whether you do it once a week or once a month, you are in my definition a drunk. If most people would only admit to their sin then they could find cleansing in Jesus Christ.
I know many are thinking that habitual or practices of binge drinking are what the Bible is talking about. I disagree. It only takes one lie to become a liar, one lust to have committed adultery, and one night of binge drinking to become a drunkard. I know the English definition speaks of a drunk as one who habitually drinks. But I think John R Rice make the Biblical definition more clear,
"You know that the word drunk is part of the word drink, drank, drunk; or, drink, drank, drunken. A drunkard is a man who drinks. Anybody who drinks any alcoholic liquor is under the influence of it, is affected by it, and to that degree is drunk."
A drunk might be clever and say, "Well I'm not drinking right now, so you see, I'm not a habitual drinker." However, in my definition I say that if you have been drunk and continue to drink to intoxication then you are a drunkard. A horse runs to the water trough when thirsty like a drunk runs to a bar or gets a bottle when he needs a drink. Whether you do it once a week or once a month, you are in my definition a drunk. If most people would only admit to their sin then they could find cleansing in Jesus Christ.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" 1 John
1:9.
Knowing that intoxication, however slight, is a sin is
not the great revelation I want to share from 1 Corinthians 6:10. It is the word in the word "inherit."
If you would use your concordance, you would know where I am
going with it.
"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot
inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption"
1 Corinthians 15:50.
Showing you this verse will make a lot of religious people
confessing to be Christians mad. I just revealed the truth behind 1 Corinthians
6:10. Can you see it? It is the simple revelation that flesh and blood will not
inherit the kingdom of God. That is, no unchanged person will inherit the kingdom of God.
You are flesh and blood aren't you? Then you will not inherit the kingdom of God in your
flesh.
Many of the religious say that in order to be saved you must clean up your act. That's great but not for salvation. You need the new birth first.
Many of the religious say that in order to be saved you must clean up your act. That's great but not for salvation. You need the new birth first.
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I
say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"
John 3:3.
That is why Christians are always talking about the new birth.
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit" John 3:6
"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God
dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is
life because of righteousness" Romans 8: 8-10.
We all need the new birth. We need to become spiritual
creatures by faith in Christ and then at the appointed time we will receive our new spiritual bodies
that are perfect.
"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this
mortal must put on immortality" 1 Corinthians 15:52-53.
Christianity speaks much about the resurrection and yet many
forget that flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God. If flesh and
blood will not inherit the kingdom of God, neither will all our sinful works.
This puts an end to all those trying to please God with good
works in order to merit salvation. No amount of self-cleansing of the old dish
or vessel will make you any more worthy of Heaven. It is the new creation that
gets the new body. The old creation is dead. If you could be made holy in the
flesh, God would have taken you to Heaven the way you are. Instead, He has to
change you completely.
Then can I be a drunk and still go to Heaven. Drunkenness
has nothing to do with going to heaven but it does have much to do with pleasing
God. God forbid that you should think in such a way that you want Heaven and
sinful living too. We must repent because God calls everyone to REPENT.
The old man is dead to sin and should stay dead,
“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto
sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore
reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof” (Romans
6:11-12).
The old man works for the devil,
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil
sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
Christ was raised from the dead so that the new man might
live,
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:
that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
Our life is hid in God,
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God”
(Colossians 3:3).
The new man can do no wrong since he is no longer in the
flesh,
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be
that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of
sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Romans 8:9-10).
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that
the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin”
(Romans 6:6).
We are not to let the sin nature of the old man reign any
longer in our mortal body. We are to deprive sin from exerting its influence on
us. We are called to live for God and suppress our sin nature of the old man.
A preacher telling you that if you do not live righteously
then you will go to Hell is speaking far from the truth. We need the new birth that
gives the new man and the future new perfect body. It is a gift of God not of
works.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8-9.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalpse
There is really nothing mysterious about the four horsemen.
Jesus Christ, the Word of God, was worthy to open the end-time seals. These are
the words that are being fulfilled by the releasing of the seals,
"And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see
that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is
not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and
there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All
these are the beginning of sorrows." Matthew 24:6-8
The four horsemen are not an events that will happen but events that have
already begun,
"Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for
the time is at hand" Revelation 22:10.
If all the prophecy of Revelation
was for a later date then the prophecy would have been kept sealed. The prophecy
began unfolding during the first century and continues unfolding today.
THE WHITE HORSE
The first horse is a white one and its rider is a conquering
spirit. White doesn't represent anything significant. Lucifer appears as a messenger of
light and yet he is not light.
"And no marvel; for Satan himself is
transformed into an angel of light" 2 Corinthians 11:14.
The rider is not the "Lone Ranger" riding upon a white stallion. Neither is he Christ riding upon
a white horse. He is a conquering spirit. He is the spirit that starts and wins
every battle. There are not necessarily good or bad victors, just mayhem that brings continual trouble to the earth.
The White horseman has a crown giving him great authority to initiate wars and then finish them. Jesus said,
The White horseman has a crown giving him great authority to initiate wars and then finish them. Jesus said,
"And ye
shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all
these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet" Matthew 24:6.
The
key to the previous verse is that these, "things must come to pass." Not might come to pass, they must
come to pass.
I think evil men should take all the blame for the four
horsemen. They think they are in control of their destiny but it is God who is in complete control. The four horsemen is God's way of showing who reigns world events. Men might plot their evil schemes but it is God who allows it through the four horsemen it its already predicted course of events.
We see from the Book of Revelation that it is Jesus Christ who releases the seals. He alone is found worthy to loose the seals. The white horse and its rider is set loose and goes forth conquering, and to conquer. The horseman will continue riding until God says, "STOP."
We see from the Book of Revelation that it is Jesus Christ who releases the seals. He alone is found worthy to loose the seals. The white horse and its rider is set loose and goes forth conquering, and to conquer. The horseman will continue riding until God says, "STOP."
THE RED HORSE
"And there went out another horse that was red: and
power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that
they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword"
Revelation 6:4.
This horse and rider has been busy. There were wars before
Christ and many more after Him. Take a look a list of all the wars after
Christ. Too many to list here:
Many pray for peace in the world as if it will come. I hate
to say it, but it will not come while the red horseman keeps riding.
THE BLACK HORSE
"And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the
third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that
sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst
of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of
barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine."
Revelation 6:5-6
A measure of wheat for a penny sounds like a good thing. Is
prosperity riding in the wind? It actually means a denarius, an ancient Roman
silver coin, originally worth ten asses. What did a denarius buy at the time
when John penned this Scripture? As far as I can tell it was about a day's wage.
Take a look at this site: https://sites.google.com/a/saintmarksschool.org/grade7rome/roman-money/what-can-i-buy-with-a-denarius
Look at these prices: Prices, in denarii in third century
Rome:
1 egg - 1
5 lettuces - 4
4lb of dessert grapes - 4
1 lemon - 24
1 sectarius of fine wine - 30
1 sectarius (about half a litre) of ordinary wine - 8
1 sectarius of beer - 4
Notice the price of an egg?
"One denarius bought 25 loaves of bread in Christ’s
time."
To be precise it was 0.04 denarius that bought 1 loaf of bread in Christ's time.
Revelation warns that 1 loaf of bread will inflate and cost
one denarius.
"A person reading the Book of Revelation in the first
century A.D. would have read that a denarius would buy only enough wheat to
make 1.5 to 1.875 one-pound loaves of bread instead of 25 loaves of bread. This would represent between a 1333% and 1667% increase in price!"
Before we start discussing this complex subject about
inflation let's read this commentary: http://www.prophecyproof.org/2011/02/revelation-66-the-end-times-cost-of-food-part-1/
The black horse rider has a pair of balances in his hand.
The Bible has a lot to say about fairness in measurements.
"Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just
hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land
of Egypt" Leviticus 19:36.
"Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may
sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah
small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?" Amos
8:5.
"Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and
with the bag of deceitful weights?" Micah 6:11.
I don't know about you, I can understand why famine could
make prices go up but what about inflation? You work hard saving your money and
then in the future it is not worth as much as when you made it. Somebody took a
big chunk out of our savings and made us poorer. Old people who saved for
retirement have to work again in order to make up for the theft of their
savings due to inflation.
Look at the inflation in America: http://inflationdata.com/articles/2013/03/21/food-price-inflation-1913/
Bread that cost $ 0.056 in 1913 had risen to $ 1.422 in
2013. That is a 2439% increase. Wow!
I know we can blame our countries for not having a gold
standard and for being allowed to keep printing out money like there is no tomorrows, but it's
the black horse and its rider that influences men to inflate our prices and
cheat us. There is nothing we can do about it. It is and will be until God
stops the black horseman.
"Hurt not the oil and the wine."
There is plenty of oil and wine but their prices will continue to inflate along with
other food stuff. Wine and oil prices continue to be high priced and yet we see a continued increase in their production.
"Global wine consumption is estimated to 234 million
hectolitres in 2014. This is essentially a stable number for well over a
decade."
"Global olive oil production is likely to total at
least 3.2 million tons in 2013/14, according to a new, higher estimate from the
International Olive Council."
"WASHINGTON — U.S. 2015 all wheat production was forecast
at 2,148 million bus, up 6% from 2,026 million bus in 2014, the U.S.D.A. said
in its July 10 Crop Production report. The forecast was near the average trade
expectation of 2,149 million bus."
Agriculture is alive and well on planet earth but inflation
continues to plague nations. It is interesting to note that while we pay higher
and higher food prices, the world is having bumper crops of agricultural surplus.
Here is an interesting article that shows how much harm the
Black Horse has done to our economy. We have the food and yet our money
is worth nothing. Without money we are in danger of not being able to buy the
food that is so plenteous and yet out of our reach. I think we better start growing our gardens of
plenty so we don't starve when we run out of money.
"While the Roman
empire was hit by severe monetary inflation from the late third century to the
early fourth century AD, the economic crisis largely abated by the mid-fourth
century (Whittaker 1980). The Eastern Roman empire had been hit by the jsame
inflationary crisis, but it never fell. Moreover, while the inflation had bad
social effects, the full effects are not clear to us. The majority of the
population of the Roman empire were peasants, but they were largely
self-sufficient: “modern scholars seem agreed that inflation only hurt a small
section of the population; maybe ‘craftmen’, or possibly only ‘the small
creditor class and urban professional (a teacher for instance)’, but neither
the peasant nor the magnate suffered. Whatever stratum of society suffered, it
did not do so across the whole empire. The Roman empire was never a unified
economy; each province followed its own trajectory” (Sidebottom 1998:
2800–2801)."
"Since the vast
majority of the population was rural and engaged in farming (the most important
productive activity in the empire), the inflationary crisis of the late empire
probably had no great effect on them."
If ever there was a day that the people of God need to
become more self-sufficient it is today. It may be too late but
as long as we are alive we should think about improving our lives by becoming
more self-sufficient.
THE PALE HORSE
"And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name
that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto
them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger,
and with death, and with the beasts of the earth" Revelation 6:8.
Commentators can prove that since the forth of the
population are going to be killed (which is a huge amount) then it must happen
in the future during the Anti-Christ's reign. I would agree with them if "over
the fourth part of the earth" was dealing with population numbers. Simple arithmetic
does reveal the huge numbers of the dead when a forth is subtracted by 7.2
billion people who live on this earth today. However, the forth is not taken from the population but from the
land. Not all of the forth of the world's population is contained in the fourth
of the land. The Greek language reveals the word "earth" means land
and not total population of the land. There is a difference. The black horse
and rider is riding on the land. It is only the few that are contained in the
fourth of the earth (land) that is affected. Let me make it clear. It is the
region that is in reference to Revelation 6:8 and not the earth's population of
billions of people.
Young's Literal Translation
"and I saw, and lo, a pale horse, and he who is sitting
upon him -- his name is Death, and Hades doth follow with him, and there was
given to them authority to kill, (over the fourth part of the
land,) with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and by the
beasts of the land."
Strong's Concordance
gé: the earth, land
Original Word: γῆ, γῆς, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: gé
Phonetic Spelling: (ghay)
Short Definition: the earth, soil, land
Definition: the earth, soil, land, region, country,
inhabitants of a region.
The inhabitants of a region might be sparse or great. The
death rate fluctuates as the black horse moves around the earth. What quarter of
the land will he choose today?
"29% of Earth is land mass. Of that 29% humans occupy
less than 1% of that area. Of the remaining 28% about 40% is pure wilderness.
14% is true desert and 15% has desert like characteristics. 9% is Antarctica.
Most of the remaining 22% are agricultural areas."
Where is the Black Horse now? You can follow the black horse
and its rider as they move across the land or in some places stay a while:
http://www.undispatch.com/today-in-famine-2/
http://www.undispatch.com/today-in-famine-2/
The Black Horse especially likes Africa. It is a huge land
mass with a population of over a billion that live there. You can blame the
black horse and its rider for Aids, Ebola, famine, and wars that seem prevalent
in that part of the world.
Now that you see why I believe the four horsemen of the apocalypse
are alive and well on planet earth, how do we thwart their purpose from
destroying all us? We really can't help much, however there is the "Laban principle." Many
pastors have written on it:
"And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found
favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord
hath blessed me for thy sake."
The Bible says,
"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" Proverbs 13:34.
"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" Proverbs 13:34.
Christians are like salt that preserves a nation. Many
nations have been blessed by having Christians living in them.
"Ye are the salt of the earth" Matthew 5:13.
Everything would be better for the Christian and their nation
except for the opening of the fifth seal,
"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the
altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the
testimony which they held" Revelation 6:9.
Even though Christians bring blessings to a nation, there is
something about them that non-Christians hate. Jesus gave Christians many
warnings about the fifth seal being opened,
"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake"
Matthew 10:22
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and
shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake"
Matthew 24:9.
"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake"
Mark 13:13.
"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake"
Luke 21:17.
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own:
but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world,
therefore the world hateth you" John 15:19.
"Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you" 1
John 3:13.
Christians are not waiting for the fifth seal to open.
According to Jesus it has already opened. Demonic controlled men think that by
killing Christians they would also kill God's work within them. The world hates
the light and also the vessels of light called Christians.
Everything has already been set in motion. We are at the
edge of end-time events waiting for the sixth seal to manifest its events. The
Christian martyrs of all time have been crying with a voice of unity,
"How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge
and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" Revelation 6:19.
COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
THE BIG ONE
Many who teach wrath for the Church of God act smug as if
faith in God is not enough to save us from end-time mayhem. "We must
prepare," they say, "God is not going to spare us when the world
falls apart."
End time prophecy is really not that hard to understand unless
you are trying to prove something that is not in the Bible. Then it becomes a
helter-skelter theology.
As Christians we need to clarify our terminology. When most
Christians think of tribulation they think it means the seven year period at
the end of times. It doesn't. It means "The coming worldwide
earthquake."
"The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall
tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their
shining..." Joel 2:10
"And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and
into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his
majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth." Isaiah 2:19
"Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth
shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the
day of his fierce anger." Isaiah 13:13
"So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the
heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon
the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at
my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall
fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground." Ezekiel 38:20
"The heavens and the earth shall shake..." Joel
3:16
"For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a
little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the
dry land..."Haggai 2:6
"And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all
nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of
hosts." Haggai 2:7
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall
the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall
fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall
appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of
the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of
heaven with power and great glory." Matthew 24: 29-30
"And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers
that are in heaven shall be shaken." Mark 13:25
"Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking
after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven
shall be shaken." Luke 21:26
"Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath
promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also
heaven." Hebrews 12:26
"And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and,
lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of
hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the
earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a
mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together;
and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of
the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the
mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens
and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on
us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the
wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be
able to stand?" Revelation 6:12-17
You see, tribulation is not a period of time but is a single
event. The event is a worldwide earthquake that is so great that it shakes the
heavens and the earth. The earthquake marks the beginning period of time known
as, "THE WRATH OF GOD."
A global earthquake of catastrophic proportions will end
this world as we know it. Today many organizations are monitoring earthquakes.
They are looking for them globally but not looking for a worldwide earthquake
happening all at once.
The world is never prepared for an earthquake. In April 2015
Nepal was struck by a devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake. It killed more than
8,800 people and injured more than 23,000.
Damage and loss of life sustained during an earthquake
results from falling structures and flying glass and objects. Rigid structures
built on loose soil are the most vulnerable. In some areas an earthquake can
trigger mudslides which can bury houses and structures below. An underwater earthquake
can cause a tsunami, a series of damaging waves that ripple outward from the
earthquake epicenter and inundate coastal cities.
In 2011 Japan had a devastating Tsunami and Earthquake. The
earthquake magnitude was 9.0. The undersea earthquake led to a massive tsunami
that killed over 18,900 people.
When the global earthquake does strike the devastation will
be so great that many will hide themselves in caves hoping to die. God's wrath
has come and no one will find refuge in any standing building or structure. Not
only will every building fall down but also all the walls will fall down. Those
who do survive and had planned for disaster will lose hope when all their survival
food and gear are lost under a ton of devastation.
WHERE ARE THE SAINTS?
During the earthquake will Christians be buried along with
the haters of God? Will little Sunday school children be found dead, buried
with Jesus pictured coloring books still in their little hands? In the
hospitals will new born babies be among the dead, having died in the arms of
their crushed mothers? Will preachers be found under the rubble of their collapsed
Churches, buried to death beneath their beloved edifices?
The Big One or world-wide earthquake will be a time of
horror for those who die in the shaking and a nightmare for those who survive
through it. Does having faith in Jesus Christ save us from having to go through
the Big One? Keep reading the Bible. The answer is in there. It is in the Book
of Revelation Chapter 7.
CHAPTER 7
And after these things I saw four angels standing on the
four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind
should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having
the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels,
to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the
trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and
there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of
the children of Israel.
5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the
tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed
twelve thousand.
6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the
tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were
sealed twelve thousand.
7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the
tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed
twelve thousand.
8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of
the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were
sealed twelve thousand.
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no
man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood
before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in
their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God
which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and
about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their
faces, and worshipped God,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and
thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and
ever. Amen.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are
these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to
me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their
robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The saints of God will come out of great tribulation.
The Christians prior to the earthquake didn't go through the
great tribulation; they came out of it. Matthew 24 speaks of this time of great
trouble:
"And except those days should be shortened, there
should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be
shortened." Matthew 24:22
We now know that tribulation is not a period of time but a single event. In Revelation 6 it tells of a great earthquake followed by the sun becoming black as sackcloth of hair, the moon becoming as blood and stars falling from heaven. The same thing is mentioned in Matthew 24,
We now know that tribulation is not a period of time but a single event. In Revelation 6 it tells of a great earthquake followed by the sun becoming black as sackcloth of hair, the moon becoming as blood and stars falling from heaven. The same thing is mentioned in Matthew 24,
"Immediately after
the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not
give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the
heavens shall be shaken…"
Will the elect go through the earthquake? I am afraid some
will. Those who have not trusted in Christ in the days of grace will have to trust
Him in the days of wrath. In grace those who believed on Christ will be saved by grace but in the time of wrath many of the elect will have to prove their allegiance
to Christ by not taking the "mark of the beast." In those days, it
won't matter that you said a sinner's prayer; you will have to prove your love
and allegiance to God by not taking the mark of the beast.
This is different, you might say. The truth always is. So are
you saying the rapture will take place during the earthquake? The greek word
"out of" is ek (Strong's 1537). It means: from out, out from among,
from, suggesting from the interior outwards. It means the saints of God are
given an exit. God has given His Church an exit strategy when times get too
rough.
The word (From) in Greek is “out of” (Greek word, ek)
Revelation 3:10
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also
will keep thee (from, Greek, ek- out of) The (hour, Greek, hora- season) of
(temptation, Greek, peirasmos- adversity or tribulation) which shall come upon
all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."
In 1 Thessalonians 4:17 it talks about the saints being taken
or raptured,
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord."
Have you ever heard of the song, "I'll fly
away?" The word for caught up is harpazó (Strong's 726). It means to
seize, catch up, and snatch away. We won't fly away, we will be taken away. God
will literally seize us by force, suddenly and decisively.
Don't get me wrong
saints are going through tribulation
Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation…"
John 16:33. And we find elsewhere in Scripture,
"We must through much
tribulation enter into the kingdom of God…"Acts 14:22.
"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing
instant in prayer…" Romans 12:12.
"Who comforteth us in all our
tribulation…" 2 Corinthians 1:4.
These are just a few Scriptures. There
are many more.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Lewis Sperry Chafer On Our Position in Christ
As an accompanying result of this vital union in Christ certain facts of relationship are created which are the believer's new positions in Christ, and are the consequence of the work of God in grace. To present fully all the new positions into which the Christian is brought in Christ, would necessitate an analysis of all the great doctrinal portions of the Epistles. By way of illustration, a brief selection from these positions is here presented. (A more complete analysis of the believer's positions will be found in the author's book Salvation.) Of the saved one it is said that he is:
Elect and called of God (1 Thes. 1:4; 5:24).
Redeemed by God through the blood of His Son (Col. 1:14).
Reconciled to God by the death of His Son (2 Cor. 5:19).
Sheltered eternally under the propitiation made in the blood of Christ (1 John 2:2).
Forgiven all trespasses, past, present, and future (Col. 2:13).
Condemned no more forever (Rom. 8:1).
Justified freely by His grace (Rom. 3:24).
Sanctified positionally, or set apart unto God in Christ (1 Cor. 1:30).
Perfected forever (Heb. 10:14).
Made meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light (Col. 1:12).
Made accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6).
Made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21).
Made nigh to God in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:13).
A child and son of God (John 1:12; 1 John 3:3).
Free from the law and dead to the law (Rom. 7:4, 6).
Delivered from the power of darkness (Col. 1:13).
Translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son (Col. 1:13).
Lewis Sperry Chafer on Grace
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
The Hand of Allah يد الله
Think about the
precision required for a conspiratorial 9/11; the timing of the airplanes flown
by novice pilots; the secrecy of the operation; the total destruction; and
collapsing a second tower similar to the first. I find it incredulous to
believe that a clandestine operation could have been carried out with such
precision and timing by any human power, especially by the bungling federal
government."
"I knew 9/11 was
God's judgment on America."
"It is no secret
that our nation may very well be experiencing the hand of judgment".
"The very
property where the twin towers were built was the property of St. Paul’s
Chapel. The World Trade Towers were built right next to this historic chapel.
The very place where George Washington cried out to God saying God’s blessings
would be lifted from us if we ever turned away from God, this was the very
place where judgment fell on us. Judgment of America returned to the place
where America was founded and dedicated to God."
"9/11 was
America’s punishment for its sinful gay-loving, abortion permitting culture."
There is no secret that radical Muslims attacked the twin
towers on Sept. 11, 2011. And yet many in Christianity imply or directly declare
that it was the hand of God. Even today I hear many teach that God orchestrated
the death of Americans on 9/11. 'Thank God", many are saying from other
countries, "that we are not as evil as those sinful Americans that God judged on 9/11."
"The attacks
resulted in the deaths of 2,996 people, including the 19 hijackers. The 2,977
victims included 246 on the four planes (from which there were no survivors),
2,606 in the World Trade Center and in the surrounding area, and 125 at the
Pentagon."
In many places radical Islam was vindicated,"We told
you we are the hand of Allah."
Bizarre Teaching:
"It is the duty of every Muslim male to wage war
against Infidels" – not just by preaching and persuading, but by any means
necessary and as the world has seen, by extreme violence whenever possible."
Many today think that radical Islam is just fighting back
from the attacks coming from America. Attacks would also include Christianity. Many
in Islam view Christianity as a threat.
"The Quran requires Muslims to defend Islam. So if you
believe we are attacking Islam then as a Muslim you are required to attack us
in defense of your faith,”
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/why-do-radical-muslims-hate-americans-so-much-56043/#ClC5IyHbIWx1jxuA.99
Osama bin Laden published a “Letter to America” on Nov. 24,
2002, which says this much regarding why al-Qaida attacked the United States.
“The answer is very simple: Because you attacked us and
continue to attack us,” bin Laden stated in the letter.
"Extremists also
claim the United States attacks Islam not only by supporting Israel and with
our military presence in the Middle East, but also by exporting our culture
through movies, music, the Internet, and other forms of mass communication."
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/why-do-radical-muslims-hate-americans-so-much-56043/#ClC5IyHbIWx1jxuA.99
Many today are joining up with Isis. They want their life to
count for something. They want to become the hand of Allah in judging America.
Wouldn't you like to be used by God? Wouldn't you like to
become an instrument of his judgment?
"That all the people of the earth might know the hand
of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever"
Joshua 4:24.
Many Christians today are inadvertently suggesting that
Muslim extremist were used by God as instruments of judgment against our
evil and unrepentant society. Isn't that crazy that God would use
terrorist in such a fashion? The newest sermon could be even crazier,
"Repent or God will kill you by the hands of my faithful children of Islam."
Before you start joining Islam, let me say, "Are you crazy?" They are terrorists. They are instruments of Satan. They are not of God or from God.
Let's look at the death of those poor victims of 911. Who
were they? Why did they die?
"18% of the named victims were Jewish"
"On September 11,
2001, religious terrorists murdered almost 3,000 people including Christians,
atheists, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, and many others from different faiths."
Does that sound like God to you? God was so concerned about killing
His faithful in Sodom and Gomorrah that He provided Lot and his family a way
of escape before the fire fell?
Abraham inquired, "And Abraham drew near, and said,
Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?" Genesis 18:23.
God gave His final answer,
"And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake" Genesis 18:32.
God gave His final answer,
"And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake" Genesis 18:32.
You mean to tell me that God cannot find 10 righteous people living in America? Can you really believe the gall of some of those who teach it was
the judgment of God? Are we to believe that God has changed His mind about
mercy and is now destroying everyone under the RED, WHITE, and BLUE?
It was the terrorist that killed peaceful loving people on 911 and not the wrath of God. God had plans for those who
died in the Trade Center that will never be realized. The devil snatched their lives away in a fiery
wrath of sinful hatred that showed no mercy.
I guess my Christianity is different than others. I look at
9/11 as a terrorist attack from evil people whereas others view it as an act of judgment. It comes to the basic Christian question, "Why does God allow
people to suffer?" I don't have all the answers. I do know that's it is our own sin that causes us to become unstable and commit atrocities. It is sin that causes religious extremist to kill innocent people in the name of Allah. Never Blame God for what evil men do. Blame Satan and his minions.
The
Christian God can help our mind and teach us to avoid weird ideas that stem
from religion.
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7.
What we need in the Church today is sound thinking. There is
more to Christianity than spouting out our weird ideas. We need to study the
Word of God and learn His ways of mercy and truth.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman
that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" 2
Timothy 2:15.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
REPENT!
Repentance means a lot of different things to many different
people. Jesus said,
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish" Luke 13:3.
Is repentance some mysterious word that few understand?
Repentance in the Greek means,
metanoeó: to change one's mind or purpose
Original Word: μετανοέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: metanoeó
Phonetic Spelling: (met-an-o-eh'-o)
Short Definition: I repent, change my mind
Definition: I repent, change my mind, change the inner man
(particularly with reference to acceptance of the will of God), repent.
It simply means a change in mind. Coming to Christ involves changing
your mind and trusting in the Savior.
Do a search in your Bible and you will find that God repents
many times. God has a change of mind. It doesn't mean that God is a sinner that
needs repentance. It simply means He changed His mind.
Genesis 6:6, "And it repented the LORD that he had made
man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart."
Genesis 6:7 "And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom
I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the
creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made
them."
The Devil has had a long time to confuse our thinking about
repentance. Hear a few religious followers and what they have to say about
repentance.
"We must repent
or stop all of our sinning in order to be saved."
"Godly sorrow and
repentance is the ground where saving faith for salvation is born."
"Willful sin
causes me to lose my salvation."
In my book the "Cursed Gospel" I speak plenty
about repentance.
REPENT!
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
For a sinner just to feel sorry for his sins is not enough.
We must turn from them and do them not again. You can't be sorry for sins one
day and then the next day repeat the same thing, this is not repentance. God calls
all men to repent,
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now
commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
Trying to repent does not get you into the kingdom of God.
Many today are trying to repent for salvation. But for some there is just so
much sin in their live that it bewilders them into giving up repentance
altogether,
“I just can't be like you, I can't make myself perfect.”
Others who spent many years in the arts and science of
repenting have finally deceived themselves into thinking that they are the
masters of their universe,
“In my life of
repentance, I have finally arrived at perfection. At least, that is what I tell
my wife.”
Many in the name and claim it crowd think that by believing
something to be true, it will be true.
“I believe I have no
sin, I think I am sinless, I think I am, I think I am, I believe I am.”
A sinner who believes he never sins is as bad as a sinner
who loves to sin. They both sin without remorse. They both believe there are no
consequences for their sins or else they would change.
TWO KINDS OF REPENTANCE
There are different ways to repent. One way is to feel sorry
for your sins and try to undo what you have done. Judas is an example of this,
“Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was
condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to
the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the
innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he
cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged
himself” (Matthew 27:3-5).
It says in the Holy Writ that Judas repented himself. Most
in religion repent that way. They are not led by God to repent, but are led by
themselves to repent in the only way they know how, man's way.
Man's way of repentance is trying to satisfy their own
conscience by doing a work or deed that will undo the harm that they have done.
They don't seek God's forgiveness and cleansing, but are seeking to make
themselves feel comfortable again. Are you one of those who are so deeply into
repenting that you have forgotten to ask God for forgiveness?
Your first responsibility is to God and His forgiveness,
“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil
in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear
when thou judgest” (Psalm 51:4).
The easiest way to repent God's way is by prayer unto God,
“God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
Jesus said,
“This man went down to his house justified” Luke 18:14).
I think we have learned a principle here. That you can
repent of all kinds of sins and still neglect to get forgiveness from God.
What is Godly repentance that has some value?
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and
forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth
thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).
John’s baptism refers to it,
“John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying
unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him,
that is, on Christ Jesus” (Acts 19:4).
True repentance is accomplished by trusting in Christ. In
Christ you are forgiven of all your trespasses and sins, cleansed from your
sins and created into a new man that is not touched by sin but ready to fight
evil,
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of
your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all
trespasses” (Colossians 2:13).
The new creation cannot sin,
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed
remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).
He cannot sin because Christ is not the minister of sin.
“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we
ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God
forbid” (Galatians 2:17).
In Christ we are sinless and in right standing with God. Our
position is one of standing in grace,
“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” Romans 5:2).
Christ's blood has cleansed us from sin. We dwell in
righteousness.
“The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all
sin” (1 John 1:7).
But we are still waiting for the redemption of our body. We
are still troubled by the flesh. We still have our own dead nature trying to
get us to yield to sin. Are we lost? No, we are saved by grace.
We are saved, but yet commanded to walk in goodness and
repentance of sin. We are to deprive our old body of flesh from living in sin.
We are commanded by God to live up to the new person that we are in Christ.
Will God forgive a continual sinner in Christ? First off
there is no sin in Christ. The sins you now commit are from your body of flesh,
not of the new man in Christ. However, we are to live in obedience to God in
the Spirit.
“They that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are
not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in
you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if
Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life
because of righteousness” (Romans 8-10).
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that
the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin”
(Romans 6:6).
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old
man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Ephesians 4:22)
As far salvation is concerned, God has already forgiven us
through Christ. You are no longer a sinner seeking salvation; you're a part of
the family of God. If we do yield to the flesh, we do not try to reclaim
salvation; we seek restoration,
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who
hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. (1 Peter 2:9)”
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself,
lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
There is nothing wrong with asking God for forgiveness, even
if He had already forgiven us,
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”
(Mathew 6:12).
Neither is it wrong to repent after being forgiven,
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous
therefore, and repent. (Revelation 3:19)”
Or be baptized in water after being baptized in the Holy
Ghost,
“Can any man forbid water, that these should not be
baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” (Acts 10:47).
Who would object to a salvation that is so stable and sure?
And yet there are objectors to the truth,
“A false teacher is one who teaches salvation without the
need for repentance or godly living.”
“You are denying the Lord when you claim to do His will and
live in sin.”
“You must continue and not give up doing good to reap
eternal life, according to true grace teaching. If you give up and start to
please the sinful nature you will not reap eternal life—you will go to hell. Do
not be deceived. Do not let the heresy of eternal security drag you and your
loved ones down to hell. Resist the devil and his lies.”
The false teacher ignores Christ’s death, burial and
resurrection by trying to live right and merit His own acceptance. He ignores
the teaching of grace and thinks that by his attempts at right living he will
bring himself to Heaven's gate.
The only thing that will count for something is the work of
God in Christ Jesus, who died for our sin and was raised from the dead. The
final work of repentance will be accomplished only in Christ's work of
salvation, apart from man's will. Which is better, reforming a dead body of
sin, or being transformed into a new spiritual man incapable of sinning?
God likes man's righteous attitude in wanting to eradicate
all sin from their lives, but it's his method, apart from God, that stinks to
high Heaven above. Only Christ can eradicate our sins and remove them
completely from us,
“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed
our transgressions from us.” (Psalms 103:12).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)