Life Is Short!

Life Is Short
 

When we're young, we never seem to notice, except when old relatives die. In the parenting years, we're surprised by a few in our age group passing, but only some come to realize it. Finally, we come to grandparenting age, and a token few may say that time sped up when we finished schooling, but really, this is an illusion. Time moves at its appointed pace, but we notice it more as we age. God gives us an appointed number of days. One may be murdered in the womb by abortion, or live more than 100 years, but it's still very short compared to eternity. The Bible has things said of our highly valuable lifespan, and I would like to share what I've found.

David shared his observations in a number of his psalms; take this one; "LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am." (Psa. 39:4) David asks to realize how much time he has, but note he says "to know how frail I am". This evokes two thoughts for me; time is of the essence, and humbleness. Humbleness, because God can take me any way or time. Time of the essence, because Jesus recommended to store up treasure in heaven.

"Nevertheless they did flatter Him with their mouth, and they lied unto Him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with Him, neither were they stedfast in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned He His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath. For He remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. How oft did they provoke Him in the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert!" (Psa. 78:36 - 40) We are a sinful lot, every one of us, me included. I'm as far from sinless as the next. Like the Israelites, God has forsaken spilling His wrath upon us, but in knowing this, it behooves us to forsake iniquities and sinning, and replace it with working for treasure in heaven and serving God. This passage also notes we have a short time and gone. We are indeed like a short wind in the eyes of a timeless God!

David noted in his psalms also that generally, we all see death - "Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast Thou made all men in vain? What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah." (Psa. 89:47 - 48) Only Enoch and Elijah cheated death, but the rest of mankind has paid the price and died, and will continue to do so, until Jesus comes again.

"For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night...For all our days are passed away in Thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away...So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (Psa. 90:4, 9 - 10, 12) Again it is noted how swift our lifespan is in God's eye, and it makes me see how awesome is He compared to puny me; very humbling. Does it do that for you? We should live 70 - 80 years, believers applying wisdom to our lifestyle. As we read God's word, it reminds us to live each day as precious, for so it is. Each day is an opportunity to love God and one another, to store up heavenly treasure Jesus promised would never be lost. What a marvel is each of us! Started from dust is each of us, and the fall of Adam and Eve demands we return our tabernacle, this robe of flesh, to whence it came. Our lifespan is fixed in time. "For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more." (Psa. 103:14 - 16). We are indeed like grass and flowers. Have not men looked upon themselves as being in the spring, summer, fall, and winter of their lives? The last verse rules out reincarnation, yet we look to the promised regeneration! "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life." (2 Cor. 5:1 - 4)

"LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away." (Psa. 144:3 - 4) Here, David talks to God and asks Him a question that brings two things to my mind. How humbling it is to be a man and look on all that makes Him great, and what a blessing to each of us, sinful wretches all, yet He counts our hairs and bottles our tears! In His infinite greatness, He even sent His Son to be a sacrifice, that we might dwell with Him in eternity!

Job, predecessor of David, also made points of our swift arrival and departure. "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good." (Job 7:6 - 7). He notes our days go swiftly, as a brief wind, our lives are. People see us for a moment, then no more. The grave is our new home, and our house goes to another whose life is just as short.

"Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not...For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." (Job 14:1 - 2, 7 - 12) How true Job's words, that we issue forth from the womb into trial and tribulation! We find reason to cry as an infant, a child, a teenager, an adult, and even in our old age. Job notes we are different from the trees and flowers; cut them down, and they will rise again from the stump and root. But for us, it is not so.

James notes the folly of the rich man, chasing wealth as temporary as himself - "But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways." (James 1:10 - 11). The rich man is as his riches, there for the moment. "Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me." (Eccl. 2:18). Whatever we work for ends up belonging to someone else. For example, my grandmother's house, now belongs to someone else outside the family. It didn't even stay in the family!

"For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again." (Eccl. 3:19 - 20). Just like the animals all over the earth, we are born, breathe for a time, and if some disease doesn't take us, still death does. The life of animals is short, too.

Nobody has the power to stay in their body. "There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it...But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God." (Eccl. 8:8, 13) The good and the wicked die when God calls. Failure to fear God doesn't gain the wicked any more lifespan. "For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them." (Eccl. 9:12). The unsaved tarry to repent, and are taken in death; too late!

The harvest is short from generation to generation; Lord, make more workers for the harvest, that none be lost. Because our life is so short!

Mary, The Mother Of God

Mary, The Mother Of God
 

She was a key figure in the New Testament, given names like the ark of the New Covenant. She was predestined to be the mother of our Savior since the book of Genesis, and called blessed among women. Now, she's one of the most controversial women in all Christianity. Why? Why, after centuries, is she the butt of outrageous unfounded claims, even blasphemies! Let's investigate the facts the Bible gives, and dispel what untruths that have materialized over the years, shall we?

Prophecied in the Old Testament - "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Gen. 3:15) - God first referenced her to the serpent just prior to driving Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden. "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isa. 7:14) - Isaiah, too, predicted our Immanuel born of a virgin.

The New Testament - Her biography begins. Already some may be confused because two separate genealogies are found in the gospels, one starting with Matt. 1:2 and another with Luke 3:23. The secret of the genealogies is that the one in Matthew's gospel is that of Joseph, because Matt. 1:11 names Jechonias, whose line carried a curse that no descendant would prosper on the throne. "Thus saith the LORD, 'Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah." (Jer. 22:30). The genealogy of Mary is the one starting at Luke 3:23; this lineage was clean of curses or any thing that might disqualify her from bringing Jesus into the world.

Gospel Juggling Surrounding Christ's Birth - As each apostle wrote on it at different chronologies of events, so we must toggle back and forth to illustrate a valid chronology of events between the gospels of Matthew and Luke, since Mark and John did not write anything of the birth. Luke 1:26 has the angel Gabriel in the 6th Jewish month telling Mary she would conceive. This creates controversy for everyone who believes Jesus was born on Dec. 25th, because according to the Jewish civil months, Jesus would be born October - November, and according to the sacred months, March - April, throwing December totally out of the picture.

"And Mary said, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.' And the angel departed from her." (Luke 1:38). This is the key verse in the New Testament Mary was predestined to utter. God already knew she would not refuse since Gen. 3:15.   From Luke 1:28 - 38 is contained the entire conversation between the angel Gabriel and Mary. An unnamed angel appeared to Joseph to speak to him in dreams. "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matt. 1:20 - 21). "And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, 'Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him'...But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 'Saying, Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.'" (Matt. 2:13, 19 - 20).

Let it not be said Mary was just a vessel for Christ to come into the world; for Luke wrote - "And the angel came in unto her, and said, 'Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women'...And the angel said unto her, 'Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.   And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name JESUS.   He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end'...And the angel answered and said unto her, 'The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God'...And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, 'Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb'...For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name.'" (Luke 1:28, 30 - 33, 35, 42, 48 - 49).  In all this she was highly favored, and blessed among women. Now by this we do not mean only the women in her generation, but women of all time, because no woman has ever been recorded to have a virgin birth, let alone the fact the baby born was the Son of God!  Mary was the only woman on earth to conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the only woman to proclaim herself to be called blessed throughout all generations, as she deserves to be.
"And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it. But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. And when they saw Him, they were amazed: and His mother said unto Him, 'Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing.' And He said unto them, 'How is it that ye sought Me? Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?' And they understood not the saying which He spake unto them. And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but His mother kept all these sayings in her heart." (Luke 2:42 - 51). This is the first instance, with His own words, where Jesus distanced Himself from Mary and Joseph in that His words asserted His Father in heaven He recognized, as opposed to Joseph.
"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, 'They have no wine.' Jesus saith unto her, 'Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.' His mother saith unto the servants, 'Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.'" (John 2:1 - 5). We all know this was Jesus' first miracle, but for this study we want to look at the interaction between Jesus and Mary. We know she knows Jesus is the Son of God, so she speaks to Him seeking a miracle to supplant the insufficiency of the groom, who failed to acquire enough wine. What does He tell her? "Woman, what have I to do with thee?". If He had used the word "mother", it would have closer tied her to Him than the word He chose, "woman".  Yet, He did indeed perform the miracle!

There is a similar story in the first three gospels; Matt. 12:46 - 50, Mark 3:31 - 35, and Luke 8:19 - 21. Throughout the gospels Jesus never went to visit His mother Mary, He was about His Father's business, and His half-brothers and mother came to see Him.  There are many people who refuse to believe it, even though they read it plainly written, but Mary had children by Joseph after Jesus was born, so she was not "ever virgin".  Matthew writes in his gospel of Jesus visiting His home town, and reveals Joseph had at least 6 children after Jesus was born!  "And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed thence.  And when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, 'Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?  Is not this the carpenter's son?  Is not His mother called Mary?  And His brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not all with us?  Whence then hath this man all these things?" (Matt. 13:53 - 56)

It would not be until His crucifixion when Mary His mother is there.  Other Marys are there, too.  "Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children." (Matt. 27:56) "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, 'Woman, behold thy son!'  Then saith He to the disciple, 'Behold thy mother!' And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." (John 19:25 - 27).  It is in His final moment on the cross taht Jesus uses the spirit of adoption to confer Mary's motherhood onto the apostle John, and John's sonship to Mary, the mother of God.

After the gospels, Mary is mentioned one more time with Jesus' brethren. "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren." (Acts 1:14).  No more is written of her in the New Testament, although some say she is made queen of heaven in Rev. 12:1 - 5.  If they had gone one more verse, they'd realize their misinterpretation. The woman is not Mary, but Israel, as Mary never fled into a wilderness.  Also, the 12 stars are the 12 tribes of Israel. If Mary was the woman, the 12 stars would not have a logical connection to her. A woman is referred to again in Rev. 12:13 - 17, and again, the woman represents Israel.  "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days...And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Rev. 12:1 - 6, 13 - 17).

All references and possible references spent, every other belief concerning her is not biblically substantiable.  She is said to be able to give salvation, dispelled by Acts 4:10 - 12; "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:10 - 12).  She is claimed to be a mediatrix by some, which is contradicted by 1 Tim. 2:5; "For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (1 Tim. 2:5).  So believe none of the false claims about the human mother of Jesus, but only the facts provided by the word of God; the Bible!  Only what is in the Bible is the truth.

He Forgives

He Forgives
 

In this study, I would like to show that we have a very forgiving, longsuffering, gracious God. Even in the Old Testament, our Lord was in the forgiving business. I want for everyone who reads this, especially for whosoever is overly worried they have done something God won't forgive, to have confidence our Lord above has done what it takes to put their sins away, no matter the volume or severity.

"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.' But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." (Gen. 6:7 - 8) God was going to destroy all mankind. Noah and his family were spared, however; why? Noah was not sinless, but he was just and upright in comparison with all other men "These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God." (Gen. 6:9), and for this reason, he received grace, and he and his family were spared. Grace is unmerited favor; Noah and his family were the only forgiven family to elude the wrath of God.

God also had recognized man had this sin nature, and needed a way to be forgiven for a multitude of sins of all types. So Leviticus chapters 4 - 6 were created, explaining a path to forgiveness by God for sins and trespasses. This involved animals and priests and blood, and a specific manner in which all were involved to gain forgiveness for someone.

"Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to Thy mercy remember Thou me for Thy goodness' sake, O LORD...For Thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great...Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins...I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD'; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah...Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds...Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish...But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned He His anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath...Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people, Thou hast covered all their sin. Selah...If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared." (Psalms 25:7,11,18;32:5;36:5;39:8;78:38;85:2;130:3-4) David explains his understanding of sin and man and God in a number of psalms. He realized our embarrassing sinfulness of our youth was so shameful (mine was!), and that we need mercy on account of them. He also knew to confess all our sinfulness to God, and to go to Him for pardon. David asked God to forgive. Why? Can he hear God tell him that his sins were forgiven? Of course not! Not face-to-face; it's a matter of faith. But also it is written - "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) Just as David had faith in being forgiven in Psa. 32:5, so it is affirmed in the New Testament by the apostle John. David acknowledged that many times God may turn His wrath away, and not destroy us for our sins. Even in David's time, God's grace was available for iniquities! In Psa. 85:2, David dispels the lie some cleave to in false doctrine. There is only one unforgiveable sin today, and that is not accepting Christ Jesus at the last breath. It does NOT say God will not forgive such sins as murder or homosexuality, although one must give up practicing such sins in accepting Jesus as Savior. Finally, David acknowledges that the understanding that we need forgiveness induces fear of the Lord.

Nehemiah also acknowledged that we have a faithful forgiving God even when we are so stiffneckedly foolish in rebellion! "And refused to obey, neither were mindful of Thy wonders that Thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not." (Neh. 9:17)

Moses asked the Lord for a national pardon, because of His people's iniquity, and at a length Moses made a case, because they had made Him angry before, yet God forgave! "And Moses said unto the LORD, 'Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for Thou broughtest up this people in Thy might from among them;) and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that Thou LORD art among this people, that Thou LORD art seen face to face, and that Thy cloud standeth over them, and that Thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if Thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of Thee will speak, saying, "Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which He sware unto them, therefore He hath slain them in the wilderness." And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as Thou hast spoken, saying, "The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation." Pardon, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy mercy, and as Thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.' And the LORD said, 'I have pardoned according to thy word:'" (Num. 14:13 - 20)

"And hearken Thou to the supplication of Thy servant, and of Thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear Thou in heaven Thy dwelling place: and when Thou hearest, forgive...When Thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against Thee, and shall turn again to Thee, and confess Thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto Thee in this house: Then hear Thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which Thou gavest unto their fathers. When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against Thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess Thy name, and turn from their sin, when Thou afflictest them: Then hear Thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy servants, and of Thy people Israel, that Thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon Thy land, which Thou hast given to Thy people for an inheritance. If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be; What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all Thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: Then hear Thou in heaven Thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart Thou knowest; (for Thou, even Thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)" (1 Kings 8:30, 33 - 39). 2 Chron. 6:21, 24 - 27 is similarly worded, but in both passages Solomon asked God also to forgive His people, but in his wisdom Solomon asked the forgiveness based on their repentance. Solomon thought it reasonable to ask forgiveness based on a change of behavior from rebellion to obedience. God answered Solomon according to his appeal - "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chron. 7:14) King Hezekiah, too, sent out letters about being forgiven for returning to God's ways - "For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto Him...For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD. For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, 'The good LORD pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people." (2 Chron. 30:9, 17 - 20)

Daniel also acknowledged mercies and forgivenesses belong to the Lord; "To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against Him;" (Dan. 9:9), and Micah spoke of it as a unique marvel of God, because He doesn't begrudge forever in anger, but delights in being merciful and removes His people's sins. "Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:18 - 19)

Isaiah also spoke of God removing sins - "Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back." (Isa. 38:17) - And of blotting them out - "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember Thy sins." (Isa. 43:25) - And not remembering them - "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee." (Isa. 44:22) - And of redemption.

Jeremiah spoke of God no longer remembering sins - "And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD': for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jer. 31:34) - And forgiving iniquity. "And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against Me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against Me." (Jer. 33:8) Note it is written all iniquities. In all the verses this far, when God forgives, it's total.

"It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin." (Jer. 36:3) Now in Jeremiah's time, Israel is broken away from Judah, and therein is a two-house nation. Here God is offering the entire house of Judah forgiveness on the condition they turn from their sinful ways. Jeremiah also speaks of a future moment where both Israel and Judah are forgiven; the entire Jewish nation!
Jesus forgave in the body before going to the cross - "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto Him, 'Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest Thou?' This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not. So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, 'He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.' And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, 'Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?' She said, 'No man, Lord.' And Jesus said unto her, 'Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.'" (John 8:3 - 11) "And, behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; 'Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.'" (Matt. 9:2) "When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, 'Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.'" (Mark 2:5) "And when He saw their faith, He said unto him, 'Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.'" (Luke 5:20) I find the forgiving in John 8 of interest because as the scribes and Pharisees accused the adulteress, so the devil accuses us before God. As Jesus defended her, so He will defend us. All His sheep are forgiven! "For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (1 Tim. 2:5)
Remember the Old Testament directives to repent to be forgiven? "Then Peter said unto them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'" (Acts 2:38) "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" (Acts 3:19) Well, that hasn't changed, but there's more to it than before; now we see baptism in the name of Christ Jesus!

"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:10 - 12) Here Peter is connecting forgiveness with salvation, isn't he? But more, there's a three-way equation; Jesus = total forgiveness = salvation (eternal life). From here I want to solidify this equation with more scripture.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:16 - 21) - Okay, so Jesus Himself says her belief in Him = eternal life, and disbelief = condemnation. Eternal life = salvation, condemnation = perish (death). "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph. 2:8 - 9) Here again, faith (in Jesus) = grace from God, a gift that cannot be earned.

Now believing, having faith in Jesus is deep, because believing in Him means following His teaching, obeying His directives. Jesus spoke on what should be called something of a reciprocal forgiveness. This equation is represented as you forgiving everyone always = God forgiving YOU always. "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matt. 6:12, 14 - 15) "Then came Peter to Him, and said, 'Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?' Jesus saith unto him, 'I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, "Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, "Pay me that thou owest." And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, "O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?" And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.'" (Matt. 18:21 - 35) "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." (Mark 11:25 - 26)

I have two more points on forgiveness. "And Jesus answering said unto him, 'Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee.' And he saith, 'Master, say on.' 'There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?' Simon answered and said, 'I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.' And He said unto him, 'Thou hast rightly judged.' And He turned to the woman, and said unto 'Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, Thou gavest me no water for My feet: but she hath washed My feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest Me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss My feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed My feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.' And He said unto her, 'Thy sins are forgiven.'" (Luke 7:40 - 48) I wanted to show here that Jesus makes no mention of purgatory. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" (Heb. 9:27)Paul shows here absent from the body = present with the Lord. "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (2 Cor. 11:3 - 4).   For anyone to profess a purgatory is to profess an insufficient Jesus, because a purgatory would mean Jesus didn't do it all at the cross, no matter how they try to explain against the position I here present, no matter how they try to show you in their version of the Bible, the purgatory concept is what it is, and our God does nothing insufficiently - Jesus did it all at the cross! So here we've got a multi-faceted look at God's forgiveness. It has another name - grace. Shed blood brought forgiveness; the final blood shed being at the cross. Still another name for forgiveness is mercy, and our Father is faithful to forgive at every contrite confession. The need for forgiveness can be necessary even on a national level, and is achievable. In John 3:16 - 21, Jesus gives us the equation belief on Him = salvation (forgiveness) = eternal life. He also gave us the equation forgiving everyone = God forgiving us. He further gave us that the volume of sins forgiven is commensurate with the depth of love in return. Finally, the gospel of Luke and in Paul's letter to the Hebrews the false concept of purgatory is dispelled. And, there is one Mediator, no mediatrix, Jesus alone is the propitiation for sin. When God forgives, it's total!

They Know Not What They Do

They Know Not What They Do
 

It applies to all of us; me too! When it's me, I beat myself up in my head and heart. I'm not hungry, and I'm weak. Ever realize way late you've done something terrible or wrong? Can't go back and undo it; feel shame, so foolish. "Then said Jesus, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.'" (Luke 23:34). If we sin against someone, they know we're sinning; they're feeling it! "I feel like I was so blind, yet with my eyes open!" Ever been there?
"And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, 'There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.' And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, 'As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.' And Nathan said to David, 'Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, "I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife."'" (2 Sam. 12:1 - 10). King David just kept on going until his mistakes were pointed out to him. His sins of adultery and murder he ws blind to until he was confronted by Nathan. How David must've been ashamed and wanted to make his sins disappear! I know that's what I felt. I've been there. Have you? For David, his comfort came from the prophet Nathan telling him the Lord put away his sins. But us, when we realize our sins, we confess and count by faith on Jesus that our sins are removed from us.

Are we any different from the Israelites? When we realize a danger coming, or even perceive the potential of one, do we trust in the Lord to get us through it, or do we complain or fear for our lives and/or welfare? From Exod. 14:10 to 17:7, from Deut. 1:26 - 28, from Num. 11:1 - 21:9, they murmered and complained is what is written, but really what was going on inside was fear in their hearts and minds that they would die of hunger or thirst a number of times.There was also a couple of times of rebellion against the authority of Moses and Aaron. Now if you see Moses calling on the power of God to deliver so many plagues to Pharaoh, and you see Aaron's dead wooden staff bud, bloom, and bare fruit, why would you rebel against their obvious God-given authority? And if God sweetens bitter water, provides bread (manna), even quail till you're stuffed, yet you complain before receiving each time, do you realize you're rebelling and doubting God's provision, or are you blind to it? Don't we fear until we receive His provision and His protection? We know not what we do.

"For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray." (Prov. 5:21 - 23). Ever listen to an unsaved man talk? I often have to deliver mailwhere one lives at an apartment complex. He sees one in authority walk across the parking area, and cusses at him low enough not to be heard by them, but loud enough for me to hear. He brags about asking someone to step outside, and other incidents where he threatens others. One woman once talked to him about his everyday speech, and he blew it off. Nobody else talks to him about his aggressive hostility. One day, we see him with a black eye! He makes a lame excuse, and goes right back to his threat and intimidate verbiage, blind to the fact that occasionally he will continue to find people who will knock the chip off his shoulder for him. He doesn't realize what he's doing. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." (Prov. 12:15).

Drunkards and drug users create their own excuse for not knowing what they're doing. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." (Prov. 20:1). It's one thing to have a medical problem that induces some form of dementia or delusion, but another to drink or take drugs that cause hallucinations or obliviousness.

"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, 'Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.' And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things." (Acts 5:1 - 5) Just like blaspheming, some people don't realize when they're lying to God. In this case, Ananias dies for his lie! Many people don't know what blasphemy is, so they speak it or believe it because they don't know what it is! "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." (1 Tim. 1:19 - 20) To raise a human to God status is not just idolatry, but also blasphemy. Likewise, lowering God from His qualities to some imperfection is also blasphemy. Two men were demeaning women and talking about God; then I heard one say that God made a mistake and gave them a mouth. I told them that was blasphemy, and they didn't speak again in my presence that day. Another person put in writing a blasphemy calling Mary the spouse of the Holy Ghost. For one thing, she was married to Joseph, and God doesn't need a help meet! "And the LORD God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.'" (Gen. 2:18).
So many of us don't realize what we're saying or doing, and our eyes are wide open while we're saying or doing so wrong! Now while we're all human and capable of making all kinds of mistakes, not knowing what we're doing, let us also be prepared to forgive people the things they do wrong. We are plenty able to make offenses of our own. "Then came Peter to Him, and said, 'Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?' Jesus saith unto him, 'I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.' Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me that thou owest.' And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.' And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, 'O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?' And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.'" (Matt. 18:21 - 35).

METAMORPHOSIS

METAMORPHOSIS
 

This study goes hand-in-hand with a prior Bible study I published titled "Born Again? Say What?", but we'll examine in this study a breakdown of the human condition transforming from a carnal, selfish unbeliever to a spiritual, selfless Christian.

"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is Thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse Thou me from secret faults. Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my Strength, and my Redeemer." (Psa. 19:7 - 14).   God chooses a time and day, and He reveals to an open mind His will, truth, and injunctions through scripture.   A fire of reverence is kindled, and the soul converts.   Attraction to God's word does not dwindle or falter, but rather burns greatly, and the desire is to read at least even a small portion daily.   One reasons after a time of reading that it contains pure wisdom, and this creates the great draw.   One concludes the wisdom is so flawless, it is of great value.   The Bible reveals mistakes of the past, and from the wisdom we read we find the solution to the sin burdens is to confess and know the Father is faithful to forgive - "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).   We come to ask Him to help us stop the deliberate sins, those we enjoyed in the past without remorse when we had not yet been transformed.   Our metamorphosis we ask Him to accelerate, in what we say and how we feel in our heart in contrast to before being born again.

"Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee." (Psa. 51:9 - 13).   David again echoes the concept that as we come to believe, so too, we realize the need to ask forgiveness of all our iniquities.   We desire to be brought to a righteousness only God can bring us to in Christ Jesus.   "As it is written, 'There is none righteous, no, not one:'" (Rom. 3:10).   Not one of us can possess righteousness of our own, but we are able to attain a righteousness that only comes from our faith in Jesus Christ.   We look to God for salvation by believing in Jesus; we attain a spiritual joy.   By God's love found in us, so we will want to be a witness, and teach God's ways and words to ignorant sinners, that they, too, may be converted as we have been!

The prophet Ezekiel also spoke on this "born again" metamorphosis.   "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.   And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them." (Ezek. 36:26 - 27).   What type of new heart?   Is it separate from the new spirit Ezekiel writes of, or are they conjoined, or what shall we say?  Yes, they are conjoined in that they are both new.   The old heart and spirit, carnal and wicked with worldliness, they are the old nature; the old man/woman.   They are exchanged for a new heart, spirit, and nature; a new creature in Christ!   "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5:17).   Look how Ezekiel describes the heart exchange; a heart of stone traded for one of flesh.   There is a prior verse describing this another way; "And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live." (Deut. 30:6).   OUCH!   There are men who know how tender they are after circumcision, and the Bible is driving home via this illustration a transformation of the heart.   No longer stony or protected by a foreskin, the heart is now tender and fleshy, the foreskin of stiffneckedness cut away by the Spirit of God!   Ezekiel also writes that God puts His Spirit in us, giving us the concept that beforehand He was not present.

Now what about physical circumcision, as required in the Old Testament, in the days of Moses?   "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." (Gal. 6:15).   Hmmm, so this is saying the physical circumcision is no longer of importance, but rather it is the spiritual circumcision, and that of the heart, the creation of the new creature in Christ Jesus.   "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:" (Col. 2:11).   I would say this is more conclusive scripture that an unsaved person is born again and metamorphosed into a new creature by God!

I want to further illustrate the metamorphosis from a dead-in-sins sinner to a born again Christian.   Up to now we have pored over the internal metamorphosis, which must take place before evidence is demonstrated of it by an external metamorphosis.   Let us look at the outward evidence.   "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, 'Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.' For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Gal. 5:14 - 25).   Love of everyone is a huge outward sign.   We easily demonstrate love to most family and friends while unsaved, but this expands to all mankind when we become a new creature with a circumcised heart and new spirit, and one prominently expresses love for God every day.   Now Paul points out to the Galatians that the new creature has a new problem.   The old nature and new nature all the life time of the converted person will be locked in warfare.   While the old creature may win a battle now and then, yet the war is already won in Christ, and the Spirit sanctifies us, thus the consequences normally demanded by the law are of no effect.   Paul goes on to name the behavior that demonstrates works of an unsaved person and works of one led by the Spirit who is born again.

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.   If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.   But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.   And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." (2 Tim. 2:19 - 26).    Here Paul writes to Timothy that God knows who will metamorphose; all His children are foreknown by Him from conception to the grave. There will be saved and unsaved in every church, but the unsaved need not remain so.   If such a one unsaved undergoes the metamorphosis, and is born again, their works will betray this, because they will depart from works that are iniquitous and follow works of the Spirit.   The new creature also needs to be cautious with speech and questions, patient in learning, apt to teach and be an effective witness, meekly correcting and accepting correction, because the devil is always looking to snare a Christian into the practice of sin.

How interesting in such a wonderful way is the metamorphosis from an unsaved condition to a saved condition!   We have sufficient scriptural passages that describe it all begins with the heart and spirit.   Once the internal metamorphosis takes place, the external metamorphosis unfolds by an exchange of typical unsaved behaviors for a new set of consistent behaviors of a spiritual nature. "Me! Me! Me!" attitudes fall away and are replaced by "How can I be of service to you?" attitudes.   God touches the soul, the eyes are no longer blind, the heart is tenderized, and we love our neighbors as ourselves, and for many, even more so!   Many who read this will remember their metamorphosis, and prayerfully, there will be those who read this and look forward to when they are ready for their metamorphosis!

That's Tempting!

THAT'S TEMPTING!

You know, we get tempted with so many things and in so many ways, and isn't it a wonder why God allows us to be so weak and it is so easy to sin, and isn't it a marvelous curiosity that God allowed Jesus to be tempted by the devil in the desert, that He might know what we go through regarding temptation? Wouldn't it be interesting to look into this mystery of temptation and see what the Bible has to say about it?

"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, 'Yea, hath God said, "Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"' And the woman said unto the serpent, 'We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, "Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."' And the serpent said unto the woman, 'Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.' And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat." (Gen. 3:1 - 6) In the first verse the Bible says that the snake is cunning, but man does not know that. In verse 4, the devil tells Eve that God is a liar, because Satan tells her she will not die. The devil in the guise of the serpent compounds his attack on God's credibility by also stating that the day her and Adam eat of the tree, they will be like gods, and God is keeping that from them. Now as for the temptation that Eve gave in to, coupled with the words of the serpent, it is one of the three enmities with God, the lust of the eyes. You can find This in 1 John 2:16. The second area of temptation was to act on Satan's word and put their will above God's, thus putting themselves first over God. Lucifer's lie also gave another temptation irresistibility; disobedience of the will of God; rebellion!

There will always be temptation until the new heaven and new earth arrive. Ever since Adam and Eve, we have had temptation. Cain succumbed to the temptation to kill his brother Abel. The Israelites were prey of temptation in the desert. And here, Paul explains to the Corinthians that they will have similar temptations just as the Israelites in the desert, and I tell you now, we have new and more diverse temptations than they did.  Yet, they have the same ends as did the temptations of old.   "But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.   Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.   Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.   Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.   Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.   Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.   Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.   There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Cor. 10:5 - 13)   Now mind you that the way of escape may not necessarily mean relief from the temptation, but the power to tolerate and resist it.

I would suppose all if not most Christians know that Jesus was put to temptation Himself, and with all three enmities.   But of course, He did not sin, but the devil indeed tried!   "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days He did eat nothing: and when they were ended, He afterward hungered. And the devil said unto Him, 'If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.' And Jesus answered him, saying,

'It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, 'All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.' And Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.' And he brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto Him, 'If Thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give His angels charge over Thee, to keep Thee: 11 And in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone.' And Jesus answering said unto him, 'It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.' And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season." (Luke 4:1 - 13)   So first the devil tempted Jesus through His belly, then through His eyes, and finally, with the pride of life.   All three temptations against walking in the Spirit, right?

I brought up walking in the Spirit to foreshadow my next Bible passage: "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.   For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Rom. 8:12 - 14)   The unsaved practice walking in the flesh, and thereby are they known to be dead.   But the born again do practice walking in the Spirit, and thereby also they are known to be alive, for they daily confess Him who saved them, Christ Jesus! Note I used the word "practice", and by using that word, I say well, because the Spirit and the flesh lock in a lifelong war, so long as a person be born again!   There are times a Christian is tempted and they give in, but God already put in place a way to be rid of that sin, and that is confession and faith in Christ's sacrifice, and that He rose indeed from the dead!

Now one might want to know if there is a weapon against temptation, and one might also question why it is that people give in to temptation, even the best of us.   Jesus gave that answer during His ministry: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into

temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matt. 26:41)   We need to keep presence of mind about temptation and sin, and pray.   We can pray for ourselves, but this is one dire need for us to pray one for another, and that is that the devil is asking God for opportunities against us.   I need pray for your protection, and you need pray for my protection.   "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)   Okay, here's the command to pray for each other, now I want to show you chapter and verse that the devil indeed asks to attack us!   "And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.'" (Luke 22:31 - 32) Here Jesus Himself not only tells Simon Peter of the devil's desire, but also speaks of His remedy of praying for Peter, that he may be protected, and this we ought do also for one another!

Paul warned the Ephesians about needing to be protected from temptation, and named those by which temptation is presented to all God's saints on earth: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" (Eph. 6:10 - 18)   Here Paul is explaining there is this great horde of demons who want fervently for us to fall to temptation and sin in as many sorts of ways as can be done, and we have this armor given by God, but we have to acquire it in the manner it is manifested, and we have to pray always, as the devil and his demons do not sleep, and this reinforces what I wrote for you to read earlier that we should pray for one another, for the devil and his demons indeed want to eat us up for lunch in sin!   We have all the truth in the Bible; it is a weapon!   Believers practice righteousness, we know righteousness from unrighteousness, we must use it!   The gospel of peace is a weapon against all temptation to abide in unrest, chaos, divisiveness, and war; we must employ it!   We have our shield of faith given by God when we were born again, we cannot let it down for darts of doubt to get by!   Let us always be in the word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit, which reminds us of all God's wisdom against temptation, but we must meditate on it every day, and the longer, the better!   Finally, we must pray for our fellow saints, our family in Christ, because they are able to succumb to attack if we do not ask for God to intercede on their behalf!

It was known shortly after Christ's death and resurrection of His temptations, and Paul mentions it to the Hebrews; "For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted...Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 2:18, 4:14 - 16)   Paul explains that Jesus understands temptation by His human incarnate experience, thus He understands also what we are going through and offers us grace and mercy as we need it!

James also wrote about temptation, and you may find it interesting what he wrote; "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.   But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing...Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him...Let no man say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted of God': for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed...Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." (James 1:2 - 4, 12 - 14, 4:7 - 8)   Hope nobody feels beat up with what James wrote, but he does a lot of explaining about temptation.   #1, temptation works patience, and as one gains command over beating temptations of all kinds, one gains also spiritual maturity.   #2, standing the tests has a reward promised by God.   #3, If you are tempted, don't blame it one God, as though He offered it and said, "Here, buy into this".   No, we invoke temptations from within, our own selves, our own ego, from there comes the power to be tempted, and excusing one's self demonstrates that person doesn't know about God and the very nature of temptation.   #4, temptation is a sidetracking to the old nature, a seduction to be again walking in the flesh.   James urges they who are tempted back into practicing a sin to turn to God, pray, pray, pray, and I tell you, it is also good to ask your family in Christ to pray for you!

"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:...The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:" (1 Pet. 1:6, 2 Pet, 2:9)   While temptation is a bother, and a challenge to be dealt with, yet we can rejoice knowing we have a secure position in salvation because of our faith in Christ Jesus.   Peter says in his second letter that God knows how to get us out of temptations, and we also should know who read His word which is the holy Bible that we can come to Him with whatever trouble we have, whether it is temptation, or even if we have succumbed to a temptation and thus sinned, it is written also that He is faithful to forgive when we confess!   But he notes too that the unbelievers will pay, pay, pay for enjoying temptations into all diverse ways of sinning, and no matter how much they try to excuse their unbelief, they are so eternally toast for it!

The first letter of John has some words concerning temptation, and I have published a previous Bible study on what he said, and even in this one, I touched on the scripture I will once again bring to you: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.   For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (1 John 2:15 - 16)   Remember that I wrote of Jesus being tested on these three points of enmity when He was in the desert?   Because He was tempted in these three ways, so we are tempted in variations of all kinds that are suited to us, just as His temptations were suited to Him!

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." (1 John 4:4 - 6)   False teachers will tempt us in our lifetimes, and I have heard many of them, but I always have used the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith, and the belt of truth, and every false teacher that came to me I defeated in every lie they tried to get me to believe.   I have obeyed the word of the Lord given to Joshua, I have taken it upon myself just as Joshua was to do the same: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Josh. 1:8)   I have indeed had good success, for no debate with any false teacher did I lose, because the word of God, His holy Bible, I used as my sword of truth and the Spirit, and none could prevail against it!

I will post this last scripture to God's glory; "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude 1:24 - 25)   Let us not fall into temptation!

God's "Good and Evil" Formula

God's "Good and Evil" Formula
 

It's a rather simple formula, really. It's a four-part formula that is answered with whether you should "do" or "don't do". It goes like this:

Repay evil with evil - Don't do

Repay good with evil - Don't do

Repay evil with good - Do

Repay good with good - Do

Okay, I said this is God's formula, so that means I need to back it up with Bible verses. Let's look where I got this idea...

"See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men." (1 Thess. 5:15) Okay, this verse verifies the first of the 4-part formula; shall we see more?

"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD." (Lev. 19:18) Do we see here that we should repay evil with good? Now I'm not saying give your neighbor your daughter after finding out he raped your wife, but there's a legal system for handling that. But if they do you a personal wrong, say, stealing some fruits from your fruit tree, or telling lies about you to someone, we are not to act in vengeance, but pray for them, maybe talk to them about it, let them know you are aware they took fruit from your tree, and maybe ask them if they're in need so bad that maybe you can spare some more to them, or make a peaceful arrangement concerning whatever issue, but I feel one will find God wants us to demonstrate understanding and try to overcome the evil a neighbor may do with the goodness of understanding and patience, and approach them with the idea of making peace over a matter where they have committed an offense toward you.

"Say not thou, 'I will recompense evil'; but wait on the LORD, and He shall save thee." (Prov. 20:22) Here we see more of not repaying evil with evil.

"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.' But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:" (Matt. 5:39 - 45) Here we find another equation in the formula; repay evil with good. Jesus wants us to do that. 1 Cor. 6:7 - 8 also says not to sue, but rather take a loss. Why is that? Because greed and covetousness win before anyone gets in front of the judge, that's why. Christians are expected to take a loss...

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Gal. 6:9 - 10) This looks like the last two parts of the equation, doesn't it? We should always do good, whether we have had good or evil done to us. We should eventually win over an evil heart with good; sound advice!

I have more concerning rendering good for receiving evil, and this one is from Peter! "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" (1 Pet. 3:8 - 13) Here is Peter saying not to render evil for evil, as I gave for God's first part of the formula. Peter goes into discussing why in that he says we will inherit a blessing, see good days, be insulated from harm,and the Lord will hear our prayers! Peter says one more thing about following this part of the formula; "For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing." (1 Pet. 3:17)

I would like to bring out one more piece of scripture about this formula before closing the study; "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay', saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (Rom. 12:17 - 21) Here again is Paul with the first part of the formula that I mentioned. He mentions also the sin of taking vengeance, in that we steal from God the right of delivering righteous wrath upon the guilty. I mean, really, what are we doing, except inciting the situation to more wrathful exchanges between those who initiated the evil? And did you note it is written that repaying evil with good is like heaping coals of fire on their head? This means to say they will feel shame and guilt as like unto burning fire, which may lead to their repentance of their offending.

So here we have the formula of God concerning interaction regarding good and evil. The first half of the formula we don't do, and we have scripture explaining why. Likewise, we have the last half of the formula that we do want to do, and with Bible verses we also understand why. Let us go forth enthusiastically using the formula to interact with all we meet!