I was introduced to this phrase recently and, as I began to ponder this concept, a very important understanding emerged with regard to man’s relationship to God.
When Yahshua became flesh and dwelt among us, one of his purposes was to introduce us to the father and teach us of his ways. Following his death, his disciples continued his ministry and carried his message to the known world at that time. However, from the beginning there were those who began to corrupt the message and teach heresies. The Apostle Paul often warned the believers in his letters to be aware of these false prophets. Unfortunately the early church fathers were never completely successful in eradicating the errors that crept into the fellowship of the saints.
Fast forward to 325 A.D. Constantine was emperor of the Roman Empire. He found himself with a dilemma. The empire had become bitterly divided between pagans and the rapidly growing number of Christians. He was, himself, a worshipper of the sun-god, but due to a supposed vision he had while going to battle one day, he suddenly converted to Christianity. Many believe he never fully embraced this new faith, but it was a brilliant strategic move on his part to use for his advantage.
He convened the famous Council of Nicea in which all the bishops of the empire were assembled to lay the foundational doctrines of this new religion. It was indeed a brilliant move, but I contend it was birthed in the very heart and mind of Satan, the adversary.
Constantine established Christianity the official religion of the empire and, with one bold move, merged Christianity with paganism. Suddenly it was popular to be Christian and the pagans were baptized in great numbers. Unfortunately their conversion was not born of true faith in Messiah and they were unwilling to part with their pagan ways. They brought with them all of the customs and traditions of their previous sun-god worship and these things slowly replaced the teachings of the early church fathers and of Yahshua himself. Leaven had entered the lump and so it has remained, resulting in hundreds of differingt denominations and factions, dividing the body and making it ineffectual.
The symbols of ancient sun-god worship were given different names to make them more palatable to true believers. December 25th, the birthday of the sun-god, suddenly became the birthday of the Son of God. The Sabbath was discarded for Sunday, named in honor of the sun-god. Easter, the ancient festival of the fertility goddess Ishtar, replaced the observance of Passover. And so it went! They changed the language and changed the culture. Today we are so far removed from that time that we don’t realize where our popular customs and traditions come from.
It’s past time for true believers to return to the mountaintop, to our source, to the beginning, to the garden and see if we can, once again, earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
REVELATION
I am so awed by Yehovah's glory this day. I have begun studying the Hebrew alphabet, termed the Aleph-Bet. Ancient sages believe that these twenty-two letters are the building blocks of all of creation and that all things are held together by them. What a revelation! There is such deep meaning hidden within these letters. Like everything Yehovah has revealed in his word, they are likened to bottomless wells that never cease to offer up new insights into the very nature of our creator and his purpose for mankind. Each letter of the Aleph-Bet contains within it a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the very mind of Yehovah, for which there is no beginning, no end, eternal.
I have been studying the bible for more than thirty years and the understanding that I have gained by acknowledging his ways rather than “leaning unto my own understanding” has been astounding. As I have discarded, one by one, the vain traditions inherited by my forefathers and embraced that which Yehovah has instructed through his word, I can scarce describe the deep respect and awe that I have gained for my creator and the wonderful blessings he has bestowed upon me.
Through the shadow pictures and symbols he has outlined throughout the scriptures, he has revealed his glorious plan for our redemption. His Sabbath, along with his annual holy days, teach us that plan in a myriad of ways. The richness of each of them I am sure can never fully be grasped in a lifetime, for their meanings are deeper than the ocean, higher than the heavens. We can only glimpse their true glory as peering through a darkened glass.
The tabernacle in the wilderness, and later the temple in Jerusalem, also held within the very design and furnishings, a picture of Yehovah's dealings with man and our eternal redemption.
Alas, mankind has abandoned Yehovah’s reckoning of time, his calendar, his holy seasons and Sabbaths, his revelation, and replaced them with the ancient religious customs of long-dead civilizations. These are all vanities. Christmas trees and dyed Easter eggs cannot reveal Yeshua. They are as trinkets, mere costume jewelry in the face of pure gold. What divine revelation is seen in these customs? December 25th. is not the day of our savior’s birth, nor is Easter Sunday the day of his resurrection. If we had not abandoned Yehovah’s holy seasons, we would know this, for our savior's birth, death, burial and resurrection are revealed within them. Yeshua cannot be seen in a celebration of the ancient sun-god during the winter solstice. Nor can the ancient customs associated with the fertility goddess Ishtar (Easter) reveal anything concerning our savior’s sacrifice for us. No, his birth is seen in the Feast of Tabernacles, when he came to earth to tabernacle with man. His sacrifice is seen in Passover, as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of those who trust in him. His resurrection is seen in the events of the Feast of Firstfruits and His second coming is portrayed in the Feast of Trumpets. Yehovah gave these seasons to us that we might see and understand, that we might become a people prepared as a bride to meet our bridegroom and dwell with him for all eternity.
Only as we leave behind the dead celebrations we inherited from ages past and embrace the living oracles of Yehovah as revealed in his word, can we begin to fully understand the richness of his glory and majesty and the awesome future he has purposed for his creation.
I have been studying the bible for more than thirty years and the understanding that I have gained by acknowledging his ways rather than “leaning unto my own understanding” has been astounding. As I have discarded, one by one, the vain traditions inherited by my forefathers and embraced that which Yehovah has instructed through his word, I can scarce describe the deep respect and awe that I have gained for my creator and the wonderful blessings he has bestowed upon me.
Through the shadow pictures and symbols he has outlined throughout the scriptures, he has revealed his glorious plan for our redemption. His Sabbath, along with his annual holy days, teach us that plan in a myriad of ways. The richness of each of them I am sure can never fully be grasped in a lifetime, for their meanings are deeper than the ocean, higher than the heavens. We can only glimpse their true glory as peering through a darkened glass.
The tabernacle in the wilderness, and later the temple in Jerusalem, also held within the very design and furnishings, a picture of Yehovah's dealings with man and our eternal redemption.
Alas, mankind has abandoned Yehovah’s reckoning of time, his calendar, his holy seasons and Sabbaths, his revelation, and replaced them with the ancient religious customs of long-dead civilizations. These are all vanities. Christmas trees and dyed Easter eggs cannot reveal Yeshua. They are as trinkets, mere costume jewelry in the face of pure gold. What divine revelation is seen in these customs? December 25th. is not the day of our savior’s birth, nor is Easter Sunday the day of his resurrection. If we had not abandoned Yehovah’s holy seasons, we would know this, for our savior's birth, death, burial and resurrection are revealed within them. Yeshua cannot be seen in a celebration of the ancient sun-god during the winter solstice. Nor can the ancient customs associated with the fertility goddess Ishtar (Easter) reveal anything concerning our savior’s sacrifice for us. No, his birth is seen in the Feast of Tabernacles, when he came to earth to tabernacle with man. His sacrifice is seen in Passover, as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of those who trust in him. His resurrection is seen in the events of the Feast of Firstfruits and His second coming is portrayed in the Feast of Trumpets. Yehovah gave these seasons to us that we might see and understand, that we might become a people prepared as a bride to meet our bridegroom and dwell with him for all eternity.
Only as we leave behind the dead celebrations we inherited from ages past and embrace the living oracles of Yehovah as revealed in his word, can we begin to fully understand the richness of his glory and majesty and the awesome future he has purposed for his creation.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
The Blueprint
If you were a home builder, would you discard the blueprints that the architect drew up and attempt to build the house without the use of the owner’s planned design? That would be ridiculous, to be sure!
The bible speaks of believers in Messiah as the temple of God. In I Cor 3: 9-10, Paul tells us that we are God’s building and he is a master builder, laying the foundation, which is Christ. Our lives are to be built upon Christ, the true foundation upon which our entire walk in Him is held together. Ephesians, chapter 4 explains that believers make up the body of Christ. Each member of the body, with the gifts he or she is blessed with, serves the entire body…why? Verse 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
Heb 3:4-6 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Notice that Moses was a faithful servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after. God revealed to Moses his plan, his blueprint for bringing salvation to mankind. He did it through shadow pictures, types and symbols that represented the reality. He was given the revelation of the coming Messiah through the design of the tabernacle in the wilderness and through the Torah, the Sabbath and the annual holy days. Today, much of this knowledge has been lost because we have been led to abandon these revelations as old, done away with, no longer valid, or replaced with some so-called “New Testament” theology.
Modern Christianity has discarded the original blueprints that God presented to Moses and attempted to build the “house of God” with an inferior design and building materials that will be rejected by the master builder. I Cor 3: 12-13 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
II Cor 6:16-18 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Most Christians today have been fed a steady diet of pagan customs, traditions and teachings that bear no resemblance to the revelation of God and we know it not. When I was a child, I was taught the accepted ways of “Christianity” as it has been handed down for generations before me. Why would I question when everyone did the same things? When I was donned in the garments of witches or ghosts and sent out to proclaim trick-or-treat, or told the fabled story of Santa or sat in the kitchen dying Easter eggs with mom, did any of that seem odd to me? Why would it? These customs were endorsed by Church, school, family and neighbors. The malls were decked out with all the necessary items associated with each holiday, TV shows abounded with themes representative of the seasons as they came year after year.
It wasn’t until I grew up and had already begun my own family that I came to see the reality. I began studying the scriptures in earnest and very slowly, one step at a time, was introduced to the real teachings of my bible. I researched and studied and questioned, and I was appalled and sickened by what I discovered. I had been deceived, as all have been. I had read the book of Revelation which revealed Satan to be the deceiver of all mankind, but I had never before saw to what depths he would go to infiltrate the very worship of those who proclaimed belief in the Messiah, those who desired to follow him and live a life worthy of his calling.
From the beginning of time, God has warned those who would follow him that they were not to imitate the ways of the heathen, or to inquire as to how they worshipped their gods and do so unto him., the Creator God. They were to be separate and holy unto Him. Israel never fully obeyed and as time moved on, their descendants were merged with the pagan nations of the world and adopted the ways of sun-god worship. We are the recipients of that form of religion today. We have unwittingly abandoned the ways of our Creator and have created our own ways, all of which have their origins in the ancient religions of sun-god worship. Will we wake up and face the truth?
Jer 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
Jer 16:19? O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.
Will we always be as the prophet wrote? Isa 30:9-10 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
Jer 5:30-31 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
I pray that each Christian today will seek truth for themselves, that they will study the Word and cleave to that which is true, no matter the cost. I pray that each one will ponder the customs and traditions that we have clung to for so long and ask themselves if these things prosper, or are they just recycled pagan worship that has been stamped with the “Christian” seal of approval?
The bible speaks of believers in Messiah as the temple of God. In I Cor 3: 9-10, Paul tells us that we are God’s building and he is a master builder, laying the foundation, which is Christ. Our lives are to be built upon Christ, the true foundation upon which our entire walk in Him is held together. Ephesians, chapter 4 explains that believers make up the body of Christ. Each member of the body, with the gifts he or she is blessed with, serves the entire body…why? Verse 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
Heb 3:4-6 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Notice that Moses was a faithful servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after. God revealed to Moses his plan, his blueprint for bringing salvation to mankind. He did it through shadow pictures, types and symbols that represented the reality. He was given the revelation of the coming Messiah through the design of the tabernacle in the wilderness and through the Torah, the Sabbath and the annual holy days. Today, much of this knowledge has been lost because we have been led to abandon these revelations as old, done away with, no longer valid, or replaced with some so-called “New Testament” theology.
Modern Christianity has discarded the original blueprints that God presented to Moses and attempted to build the “house of God” with an inferior design and building materials that will be rejected by the master builder. I Cor 3: 12-13 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
II Cor 6:16-18 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Most Christians today have been fed a steady diet of pagan customs, traditions and teachings that bear no resemblance to the revelation of God and we know it not. When I was a child, I was taught the accepted ways of “Christianity” as it has been handed down for generations before me. Why would I question when everyone did the same things? When I was donned in the garments of witches or ghosts and sent out to proclaim trick-or-treat, or told the fabled story of Santa or sat in the kitchen dying Easter eggs with mom, did any of that seem odd to me? Why would it? These customs were endorsed by Church, school, family and neighbors. The malls were decked out with all the necessary items associated with each holiday, TV shows abounded with themes representative of the seasons as they came year after year.
It wasn’t until I grew up and had already begun my own family that I came to see the reality. I began studying the scriptures in earnest and very slowly, one step at a time, was introduced to the real teachings of my bible. I researched and studied and questioned, and I was appalled and sickened by what I discovered. I had been deceived, as all have been. I had read the book of Revelation which revealed Satan to be the deceiver of all mankind, but I had never before saw to what depths he would go to infiltrate the very worship of those who proclaimed belief in the Messiah, those who desired to follow him and live a life worthy of his calling.
From the beginning of time, God has warned those who would follow him that they were not to imitate the ways of the heathen, or to inquire as to how they worshipped their gods and do so unto him., the Creator God. They were to be separate and holy unto Him. Israel never fully obeyed and as time moved on, their descendants were merged with the pagan nations of the world and adopted the ways of sun-god worship. We are the recipients of that form of religion today. We have unwittingly abandoned the ways of our Creator and have created our own ways, all of which have their origins in the ancient religions of sun-god worship. Will we wake up and face the truth?
Jer 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
Jer 16:19? O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.
Will we always be as the prophet wrote? Isa 30:9-10 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
Jer 5:30-31 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
I pray that each Christian today will seek truth for themselves, that they will study the Word and cleave to that which is true, no matter the cost. I pray that each one will ponder the customs and traditions that we have clung to for so long and ask themselves if these things prosper, or are they just recycled pagan worship that has been stamped with the “Christian” seal of approval?
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Are We There Yet?
In my last post, “An Inquiring Mind Wants To Know”, I delved into the subject of life after death and the obvious question regarding the masses of humanity who lived prior to our Lord’s appearing and died without knowledge or belief in him as their savior. What is their fate? Is it the “hell” that we have been taught awaits all who have not accepted Christ in their physical lifetime?
First, let me challenge the common belief that man has an immortal soul which, at death, either ascends to heaven or descends to hell. The bible is very clear on this subject. I Tim 6:16 tells us that God, alone, possesses immortality. I Cor 15:53 reveals that man is mortal. Corruption must put on incorruption, mortal must put on immortality. Death is spoken of in many scriptures as “sleep” or “rest”. See Deut 31:16, II Sam 7:12, Job 7:21 and 14:12, Dan 12:2 and 13, Psa 13:3 and 16:9. These are a very small sampling of the biblical teaching on this subject. Continuing in this study we learn that all who are in their graves are awaiting a resurrection from the dead. While in this state, they have no knowledge of the affairs of the living. Read Gen 3:19 and Eccl 3:20, 9:5 and 10.
Rather than heaven or hell receiving those who die daily in this life, the dead are asleep in their graves awaiting a future resurrection from the dead, in which they shall be judged according to their works. I Cor 15 is often referred to as the “resurrection” chapter in the bible. It fully explains the sequence or order of events that awaits mankind at the end of days. It actually speaks of two resurrections. I Cor 15:20, 23-24 tells us that Christ was the “firstfruits” from the dead, the first human to be resurrected from mortal to immortal. Afterward those who are Christ’s at his (second) coming will rise. The remaining dead will come forth at the time in which Christ delivers up the kingdom to God, having put down all rule, authority and power.
In I Cor 15:51-52 Paul continues by telling his hearers that those who remain until the coming of Christ (those who are his at his coming) shall be changed in an instant, in the blink of an eye. I Thes 4:13:17 confirms this with Paul’s comforting words to the believers in Thessalonica that they not be troubled concerning belivers who had already “fallen asleep” or died. He assured them that, at the last trump when Christ descended from heaven, the dead in Christ would rise first and those who remained would be caught up to meet them in the air and forever be with the Lord.
The book of Revelation also makes this clear in Rev. 20:4-6, 11-15 where it tells us of both the first and second resurrections. Those who are Christ’s will rise first and reign with him for one thousand years. After the thousand years are finished, the rest of the dead are raised to face the Great White Throne Judgment.” Their fates will be decided at that time.
So the answer to the question, “Are We There Yet” is no. Whatever we may perceive to be the fate of mankind after death, either heaven or hell, we all will have to wait to find out. The real question is, which resurrection will be our destiny?
First, let me challenge the common belief that man has an immortal soul which, at death, either ascends to heaven or descends to hell. The bible is very clear on this subject. I Tim 6:16 tells us that God, alone, possesses immortality. I Cor 15:53 reveals that man is mortal. Corruption must put on incorruption, mortal must put on immortality. Death is spoken of in many scriptures as “sleep” or “rest”. See Deut 31:16, II Sam 7:12, Job 7:21 and 14:12, Dan 12:2 and 13, Psa 13:3 and 16:9. These are a very small sampling of the biblical teaching on this subject. Continuing in this study we learn that all who are in their graves are awaiting a resurrection from the dead. While in this state, they have no knowledge of the affairs of the living. Read Gen 3:19 and Eccl 3:20, 9:5 and 10.
Rather than heaven or hell receiving those who die daily in this life, the dead are asleep in their graves awaiting a future resurrection from the dead, in which they shall be judged according to their works. I Cor 15 is often referred to as the “resurrection” chapter in the bible. It fully explains the sequence or order of events that awaits mankind at the end of days. It actually speaks of two resurrections. I Cor 15:20, 23-24 tells us that Christ was the “firstfruits” from the dead, the first human to be resurrected from mortal to immortal. Afterward those who are Christ’s at his (second) coming will rise. The remaining dead will come forth at the time in which Christ delivers up the kingdom to God, having put down all rule, authority and power.
In I Cor 15:51-52 Paul continues by telling his hearers that those who remain until the coming of Christ (those who are his at his coming) shall be changed in an instant, in the blink of an eye. I Thes 4:13:17 confirms this with Paul’s comforting words to the believers in Thessalonica that they not be troubled concerning belivers who had already “fallen asleep” or died. He assured them that, at the last trump when Christ descended from heaven, the dead in Christ would rise first and those who remained would be caught up to meet them in the air and forever be with the Lord.
The book of Revelation also makes this clear in Rev. 20:4-6, 11-15 where it tells us of both the first and second resurrections. Those who are Christ’s will rise first and reign with him for one thousand years. After the thousand years are finished, the rest of the dead are raised to face the Great White Throne Judgment.” Their fates will be decided at that time.
So the answer to the question, “Are We There Yet” is no. Whatever we may perceive to be the fate of mankind after death, either heaven or hell, we all will have to wait to find out. The real question is, which resurrection will be our destiny?
Sunday, September 18, 2011
An Inquiring Mind Wants To Know
Modern Christianity today may have differing beliefs on a number of doctrinal issues, but most agree on life after death. Most accept the common teaching that, when this physical body passes away, we have an eternal soul that departs the body and goes to either heaven or hell. In order to be accepted into heaven, one must accept Jesus Christ as his/her personal savior. Indeed, Acts 4:12 tells us "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” That being said, are we missing something? II Pet 3:9 tells us that it is not God’s will that any should perish, but that all might come to repentance.
If Jesus is the only way to salvation, then I would content that the bible is the only revelation of that way. II Tim 3: 16, “ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” We also find in II Pet: 1: 20-21, “ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The bible reveals that God has a plan for mankind and that plan was established from the beginning of time. Rev 13:8 tells us that Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. We are also told that there is a definite timetable for this plan to be fulfilled. There is coming a day when all mankind will be judged according to his ways, but the bible identifies it as a future “DAY OF THE LORD” and I believe the outcome will be far different from anything we have imagined.
I want to analyze, first, the common belief that immediately upon death, the soul goes to heaven or hell. We have concluded already that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. I perceive a logistics problem already with this theory. Four thousand years preceded the appearing of our Lord. I can’t find anywhere in the Old Testament that indicates God was trying to save mankind as a whole during this time. In summary, we had the great flood, in which all but Noah and his family were spared. We then see the calling of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (one family) who would bring forth the nation that gave birth to the coming savior of the world. We find that all nations on earth prior to Messiah, other than Israel, were pagan and did not know the Creator God nor worship him. Sodom and Gomorrha were utterly destroyed for their sinful ways. When Israel entered the promised land of Canaan, they were instructed to destroy the seven nations that occupied the territory at that time. Throughout their history, wars were fought, nations were subdued, much blood was spilled on both sides leaving millions, perhaps billions, dead.
Has hell been the destination for the vast majority of mankind since the dawn of time? Even Israel, who was God’s chosen nation, was not spared the consequences of unbelief. Many died in the wilderness, never reaching the promised land. Later, both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms were sent into captivity due to idolatry. God divorced the Northern Kingdom and removed them from his sight altogether. How many people of faith do you suppose lived during that entire four thousand years of human history, people who truly worshipped the God of Israel and believed in the coming Messiah? Does the bible indicate that God tried to “save” the nations of the world at that time, that he dealt with any nation other than Israel? Were the prophets sent to these nations to preach to them or warn them of God’s judgment? Does he, however, have a future plan for these nations?
I will leave you with this. When Jesus sent out his disciples to preach, he instructed them concerning any city that would not heed their message, saying “Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.” (Matt 10:15).
Also notice his words in Matt 11:20-24 “Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”
Jude tells us that Sodom and Gomorrha are suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Did he mean that they are yet burning in hellfire or that the fire that destroyed them left them no root or branch? No civilization has ever emerged from that destruction to this day. When these people rise in the “DAY OF THE LORD”, what will be their eternal fate?
In my next post I will continue with “Are We There Yet?”
If Jesus is the only way to salvation, then I would content that the bible is the only revelation of that way. II Tim 3: 16, “ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” We also find in II Pet: 1: 20-21, “ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The bible reveals that God has a plan for mankind and that plan was established from the beginning of time. Rev 13:8 tells us that Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. We are also told that there is a definite timetable for this plan to be fulfilled. There is coming a day when all mankind will be judged according to his ways, but the bible identifies it as a future “DAY OF THE LORD” and I believe the outcome will be far different from anything we have imagined.
I want to analyze, first, the common belief that immediately upon death, the soul goes to heaven or hell. We have concluded already that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. I perceive a logistics problem already with this theory. Four thousand years preceded the appearing of our Lord. I can’t find anywhere in the Old Testament that indicates God was trying to save mankind as a whole during this time. In summary, we had the great flood, in which all but Noah and his family were spared. We then see the calling of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (one family) who would bring forth the nation that gave birth to the coming savior of the world. We find that all nations on earth prior to Messiah, other than Israel, were pagan and did not know the Creator God nor worship him. Sodom and Gomorrha were utterly destroyed for their sinful ways. When Israel entered the promised land of Canaan, they were instructed to destroy the seven nations that occupied the territory at that time. Throughout their history, wars were fought, nations were subdued, much blood was spilled on both sides leaving millions, perhaps billions, dead.
Has hell been the destination for the vast majority of mankind since the dawn of time? Even Israel, who was God’s chosen nation, was not spared the consequences of unbelief. Many died in the wilderness, never reaching the promised land. Later, both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms were sent into captivity due to idolatry. God divorced the Northern Kingdom and removed them from his sight altogether. How many people of faith do you suppose lived during that entire four thousand years of human history, people who truly worshipped the God of Israel and believed in the coming Messiah? Does the bible indicate that God tried to “save” the nations of the world at that time, that he dealt with any nation other than Israel? Were the prophets sent to these nations to preach to them or warn them of God’s judgment? Does he, however, have a future plan for these nations?
I will leave you with this. When Jesus sent out his disciples to preach, he instructed them concerning any city that would not heed their message, saying “Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.” (Matt 10:15).
Also notice his words in Matt 11:20-24 “Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”
Jude tells us that Sodom and Gomorrha are suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Did he mean that they are yet burning in hellfire or that the fire that destroyed them left them no root or branch? No civilization has ever emerged from that destruction to this day. When these people rise in the “DAY OF THE LORD”, what will be their eternal fate?
In my next post I will continue with “Are We There Yet?”
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Visions of Heaven
What images come to mind when you consider a future in heaven? I was raised primarily in a Baptist Church, although I did have contact with Catholicism as a very young child through my paternal grandparents. I was treated to visions of fluffy clouds, white robes and angel wings, harps and St. Peter greeting me at the pearly gates. It seems strange to me today that, as inquisitive as children are, more don't question such teachings. When one really considers these things, it doesn't seem all that exciting to contemplate a future with nothing to do except "roll around heaven all day", as the saying goes. Eternity would be quite boring if there were nothing to look forward to, nothing to experience. Maybe these images explain why most people are not too eager to get there.
What a different picture the bible portrays! There are numerous scriptures that tell of a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. We are told it will be a world of peace and security, one devoid of pain and suffering, disease, poverty, tears and heartache. God will descend from heaven and dwell with mankind. He will teach us the ways that lead to joy and happiness and we will live by His laws. The earth will be cleansed and there will be abundant food and clean water. Land ownership will be provided for all and our children will play in safety. There will be annual celebrations and rejoicing throughout the land. Our Savior, Jesus Christ will be king over all the earth and He will rule with justice and equity. He will put an end to war by replacing every present government with His own everlasting Kingdom.
Let's take a look at some of these exciting times!
Isaiah 65:17-19 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
Isaiah 2:2-4 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
Isaiah 11:4-9 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 65:21-25 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
Micah 4:4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
Zechariah 14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
Isaiah 66:22-23 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
Revelation 21:1-5 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
There are so many more references in God's Word regarding the future he has planned for his people. It will be an exciting time. God wants to live with his children and share his glory with us. This has always been his purpose for mankind. From the very beginning he created us in his image, after his likeness. Every animal in the garden was created after it's kind. Man was created after the God kind, like his creator. It has always been his desire to live with us throughout eternity. Remember Jesus' model prayer, Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. This should be the prayer of Christians everywhere. May he hasten the day!
What a different picture the bible portrays! There are numerous scriptures that tell of a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. We are told it will be a world of peace and security, one devoid of pain and suffering, disease, poverty, tears and heartache. God will descend from heaven and dwell with mankind. He will teach us the ways that lead to joy and happiness and we will live by His laws. The earth will be cleansed and there will be abundant food and clean water. Land ownership will be provided for all and our children will play in safety. There will be annual celebrations and rejoicing throughout the land. Our Savior, Jesus Christ will be king over all the earth and He will rule with justice and equity. He will put an end to war by replacing every present government with His own everlasting Kingdom.
Let's take a look at some of these exciting times!
Isaiah 65:17-19 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
Isaiah 2:2-4 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
Isaiah 11:4-9 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 65:21-25 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
Micah 4:4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
Zechariah 14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
Isaiah 66:22-23 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
Revelation 21:1-5 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
There are so many more references in God's Word regarding the future he has planned for his people. It will be an exciting time. God wants to live with his children and share his glory with us. This has always been his purpose for mankind. From the very beginning he created us in his image, after his likeness. Every animal in the garden was created after it's kind. Man was created after the God kind, like his creator. It has always been his desire to live with us throughout eternity. Remember Jesus' model prayer, Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. This should be the prayer of Christians everywhere. May he hasten the day!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Law vs Grace
There seems to be a great deal of confusion amongst the Christian community with regard to the biblical subjects of law and grace. It has remained a bone of contention between the various denominations and even among members of the same congregation. I, myself, have labored many years to arrive at a greater understanding of such a complex issue. My research has led me to search both the Old and New Testaments for clarity and to discard teachings I may have previously inherited from well-meaning, yet deceived teachers. I pray that I can explain in a concise, organized way the relationship between law and grace, as outlined in the scriptures.
A good starting point is with our Creator. I think we can agree that our Father is a holy God and wants His children to emulate Him. 1 PETER 1:16 Because it is written, BE YE HOLY; for I am holy. How do we learn what holy is? God has revealed his ways and purposes in an instruction book, the Holy Bible.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16 All scripture is GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
He also reveals the nature of mankind and our proclivity to gravitate toward evil and disobedience.
JEREMIAH 17:9 THE HEART IS DECEITFUL above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
ROMANS 8:7 Because the carnal mind is ENMITY AGAINST GOD: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
The bible reveals that our Creator exacts a penalty for disobedience, of which we are all guilty.
ROMANS 3:23 FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, and come short of the glory of God.
ROMANS 6:23 For the WAGES OF SIN is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
From the dawn of time, God has revealed to mankind His power, His purpose and His laws for righteous living. He called out a people for His name, a people that would become a great nation upon the earth. He taught them His laws and granted them the opportunity to be an example before all nations and teach them the awesome benefits and blessings bestowed upon any that would worship their great creator. The Old Testament is the story of their calling. We see their triumphs and their defeats, the agony and the ecstacy. We also see a universal reality. For all that God did for them, all the blessings they received, all the power displayed on their behalf, they did not have the heart to obey their maker.It didn't take God by surprise. He was well aware of their weakness, and that of all mankind, and had already prepared the remedy for it.
DEUTERONOMY 5:29 O that there were such an HEART IN THEM, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
JEREMIAH 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it IN THEIR HEARTS; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Notice that God's law is still valid. Mankind's disobedience does not do away with the law, but it's our hearts that need changing. How can this be accomplished? As we saw earlier, man is not capable of obedience on his own. His heart is, by nature, deceitful and wicked. Man needs to be saved from himself. Many have become confused because of the ways God dealt with ancient Israel. He burdened them with a great number of physical commandments, statutes and judgments, as well as sacrificial laws that regulated every aspect of their lives. However, even then, the Lord never said that these things would save them.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:11 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.
Galatians 3:16 NOW TO ABRAHAM and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Galatians 3:21 IS THE LAW THEN AGAINST THE PROMISES OF GOD? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
This is where many have gone off the track. What "LAW" was the schoolmaster spoken of in the verses above? Paul goes to great lengths in his letters to the Gentiles to confirm that man is saved by faith. The Jews thought they were saved by the law. They tried to force circumcision upon the newly converted Gentiles, telling them they could not be saved apart from that covenant. Ephesians 2:15 tells us that Christ abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments CONTAINED IN ORDINANCES; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace. It's the commandments contained in ordinaces, the sacrificial laws that served as a schoolmaster over Israel until Christ appeared. The Gentiles were never instructed to keep any of these ordinances and, in fact, Paul forbid them to submit themselves to circumcision or forfeit their salvation.
GALATIANS 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the WORKS OF THE LAW, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the WORKS OF THE LAW: for by the WORKS OF THE LAW shall no flesh be justified.
The Ten Commandments are not the WORKS OF THE LAW! Paul never told his followers that the ten commandments had been done away with.
Romans 6:
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? SHALL WE SIN, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
1 JOHN 3 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW.
Hebrews 9:10 tells us that the old tabernacle and form of worship "stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and CARNAL ORDINANCES, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
Hebrews 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience.
The Ten Commandments, however, remain. They represent God's ways. They are spiritual laws, those that God said He would write upon our hearts. They are the foundation of righteous living, and although mankind can not obey them perfectly, they are the standard whereby we confirm our love for God. Jesus kept his Father's commandments perfectly, therefore becoming the perfect sacrifice for our law-breaking, redeeming us from the PENALTY of our disobedience. However, after we have accepted his sacrifice for our sins, we must follow him in obedience to the Father as best we can. He has given us the Spirit to help us in our weaknesses and equip us to become more and more like our Saviour in newness of life. From Genesis to Revelation we see a Father seeking his children, desiring to commune with them, to share his love with them, to have them love him with all their hearts, to desire to become like Him. He sent His only Son into the world to show us the way, to be our example and to open the way for us to dwell with them forever in a righteous kingdom, where we will be free of sin for all eternity. There are more scriptures than I can possibly quote, so numerous it would take a book to contain them all, that uphold God's righteous law and His desire for our obedience. I will share only a sampling from the New Testament, as so many have been told that the Old Testament has been done away. They say we live under a "new covenant". Remember the verse I quoted from Jeremiah 31:33 earlier. What is the "new covenant"? It is reiterated in the New Testament. HEBREWS 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them IN THEIR HEARTS: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. Has God changed his mind? Do we discard His commandments because we are saved by His grace.
MATTHEW 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least COMMANDMENTS, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
MATTHEW 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the COMMANDMENTS.
MARK 10:19 Thou knowest the COMMANDMENTS, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
JOHN 14:15 If ye love me, keep my COMMANDMENTS.
JOHN 14:21 He that hath my COMMANDMENTS, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest my
self to him.
JOHN 15:10 If ye keep my COMMANDMENTS, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's COMMANDMENTS, and abide in his love.
1 CORINTHIANS 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the COMMANDMENTS of God.
1 JOHN 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his COMMANDMENTS.
1 JOHN 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his COMMANDMENTS, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 JOHN 3:22 and whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his COMMANDMENTS, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
JOHN 3:24 And he that keepeth his COMMANDMENTS dwelleth in him, and he in him. And
hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
! JOHN 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his COMMANDMENTS.
1 JOHN 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his COMMANDMENTS: and his C1 OMMANDMENTS are not grievous.
2 JOHN 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his COMMANDMENTS. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
REVELATION 12:17 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.
REVELATION 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the COMMANDMENTS of God, and the faith of Jesus.
REVELATION 22:14 Blessed are they that do his COMMANDMENTS, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
I don't believe that Christians think they can live the sinful lives they once did prior to their acceptance of Jesus as their Savior. However many will bristle when told that the ten commandments are still valid for Christian living. We can't have it both ways. We can't whine when our lawmakers forbid the public display of the commandments in our schools and federal buildings, when public prayer is not allowed, when our peace and safety is at risk because of rampant violence and crime, and at the same time disregard God's laws in our own lives and those of our children. Jesus showed us that the law was spiritual. God's law is to be in our hearts and minds to give us guidance in our daily walk with Him. The first four commandments teach us how to love and worship our Creator. The last six teach us how to love each other. One came to Jesus and asked him the following.
MATTHEW 22
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 ON THESE TWO commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
How do we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind? It is when we obey the first four commandments to have no other gods before Him, to abstain from making unto ourselves graven images or bowing down to them, to refrain from taking His name in vain and by keeping holy His Sabbath day.
How do we love our neighbor as ourself? We obey the last six commandments against murder, stealing, commiting adultery, bearing false witness and coveting. We will honor Him by honoring and obeying our parents.
Will we be perfect? Absolutely not. But we can always go to our Savior, repent and ask his forgiveness. I JOHN 1:9 IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
However, if we make light of His commandments or say that they have been done away with, we deceive ourselves. If God has placed His Holy Spirit within our hearts, we will desire to be more like him and make every effort to conform to His image. HEBREWS 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 IF THEY SHALL FALL AWAY, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Yes, we are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation can come only from His sacrifice. However, after we have accepted Him as our Savior, our desire should be to leave our old, sinful flesh behind and allow Him to change us. II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
A good starting point is with our Creator. I think we can agree that our Father is a holy God and wants His children to emulate Him. 1 PETER 1:16 Because it is written, BE YE HOLY; for I am holy. How do we learn what holy is? God has revealed his ways and purposes in an instruction book, the Holy Bible.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16 All scripture is GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
He also reveals the nature of mankind and our proclivity to gravitate toward evil and disobedience.
JEREMIAH 17:9 THE HEART IS DECEITFUL above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
ROMANS 8:7 Because the carnal mind is ENMITY AGAINST GOD: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
The bible reveals that our Creator exacts a penalty for disobedience, of which we are all guilty.
ROMANS 3:23 FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, and come short of the glory of God.
ROMANS 6:23 For the WAGES OF SIN is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
From the dawn of time, God has revealed to mankind His power, His purpose and His laws for righteous living. He called out a people for His name, a people that would become a great nation upon the earth. He taught them His laws and granted them the opportunity to be an example before all nations and teach them the awesome benefits and blessings bestowed upon any that would worship their great creator. The Old Testament is the story of their calling. We see their triumphs and their defeats, the agony and the ecstacy. We also see a universal reality. For all that God did for them, all the blessings they received, all the power displayed on their behalf, they did not have the heart to obey their maker.It didn't take God by surprise. He was well aware of their weakness, and that of all mankind, and had already prepared the remedy for it.
DEUTERONOMY 5:29 O that there were such an HEART IN THEM, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
JEREMIAH 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it IN THEIR HEARTS; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Notice that God's law is still valid. Mankind's disobedience does not do away with the law, but it's our hearts that need changing. How can this be accomplished? As we saw earlier, man is not capable of obedience on his own. His heart is, by nature, deceitful and wicked. Man needs to be saved from himself. Many have become confused because of the ways God dealt with ancient Israel. He burdened them with a great number of physical commandments, statutes and judgments, as well as sacrificial laws that regulated every aspect of their lives. However, even then, the Lord never said that these things would save them.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:11 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.
Galatians 3:16 NOW TO ABRAHAM and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Galatians 3:21 IS THE LAW THEN AGAINST THE PROMISES OF GOD? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
This is where many have gone off the track. What "LAW" was the schoolmaster spoken of in the verses above? Paul goes to great lengths in his letters to the Gentiles to confirm that man is saved by faith. The Jews thought they were saved by the law. They tried to force circumcision upon the newly converted Gentiles, telling them they could not be saved apart from that covenant. Ephesians 2:15 tells us that Christ abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments CONTAINED IN ORDINANCES; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace. It's the commandments contained in ordinaces, the sacrificial laws that served as a schoolmaster over Israel until Christ appeared. The Gentiles were never instructed to keep any of these ordinances and, in fact, Paul forbid them to submit themselves to circumcision or forfeit their salvation.
GALATIANS 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the WORKS OF THE LAW, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the WORKS OF THE LAW: for by the WORKS OF THE LAW shall no flesh be justified.
The Ten Commandments are not the WORKS OF THE LAW! Paul never told his followers that the ten commandments had been done away with.
Romans 6:
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? SHALL WE SIN, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
1 JOHN 3 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW.
Hebrews 9:10 tells us that the old tabernacle and form of worship "stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and CARNAL ORDINANCES, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
Hebrews 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience.
The Ten Commandments, however, remain. They represent God's ways. They are spiritual laws, those that God said He would write upon our hearts. They are the foundation of righteous living, and although mankind can not obey them perfectly, they are the standard whereby we confirm our love for God. Jesus kept his Father's commandments perfectly, therefore becoming the perfect sacrifice for our law-breaking, redeeming us from the PENALTY of our disobedience. However, after we have accepted his sacrifice for our sins, we must follow him in obedience to the Father as best we can. He has given us the Spirit to help us in our weaknesses and equip us to become more and more like our Saviour in newness of life. From Genesis to Revelation we see a Father seeking his children, desiring to commune with them, to share his love with them, to have them love him with all their hearts, to desire to become like Him. He sent His only Son into the world to show us the way, to be our example and to open the way for us to dwell with them forever in a righteous kingdom, where we will be free of sin for all eternity. There are more scriptures than I can possibly quote, so numerous it would take a book to contain them all, that uphold God's righteous law and His desire for our obedience. I will share only a sampling from the New Testament, as so many have been told that the Old Testament has been done away. They say we live under a "new covenant". Remember the verse I quoted from Jeremiah 31:33 earlier. What is the "new covenant"? It is reiterated in the New Testament. HEBREWS 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them IN THEIR HEARTS: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. Has God changed his mind? Do we discard His commandments because we are saved by His grace.
MATTHEW 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least COMMANDMENTS, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
MATTHEW 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the COMMANDMENTS.
MARK 10:19 Thou knowest the COMMANDMENTS, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
JOHN 14:15 If ye love me, keep my COMMANDMENTS.
JOHN 14:21 He that hath my COMMANDMENTS, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest my
self to him.
JOHN 15:10 If ye keep my COMMANDMENTS, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's COMMANDMENTS, and abide in his love.
1 CORINTHIANS 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the COMMANDMENTS of God.
1 JOHN 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his COMMANDMENTS.
1 JOHN 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his COMMANDMENTS, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 JOHN 3:22 and whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his COMMANDMENTS, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
JOHN 3:24 And he that keepeth his COMMANDMENTS dwelleth in him, and he in him. And
hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
! JOHN 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his COMMANDMENTS.
1 JOHN 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his COMMANDMENTS: and his C1 OMMANDMENTS are not grievous.
2 JOHN 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his COMMANDMENTS. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
REVELATION 12:17 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.
REVELATION 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the COMMANDMENTS of God, and the faith of Jesus.
REVELATION 22:14 Blessed are they that do his COMMANDMENTS, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
I don't believe that Christians think they can live the sinful lives they once did prior to their acceptance of Jesus as their Savior. However many will bristle when told that the ten commandments are still valid for Christian living. We can't have it both ways. We can't whine when our lawmakers forbid the public display of the commandments in our schools and federal buildings, when public prayer is not allowed, when our peace and safety is at risk because of rampant violence and crime, and at the same time disregard God's laws in our own lives and those of our children. Jesus showed us that the law was spiritual. God's law is to be in our hearts and minds to give us guidance in our daily walk with Him. The first four commandments teach us how to love and worship our Creator. The last six teach us how to love each other. One came to Jesus and asked him the following.
MATTHEW 22
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 ON THESE TWO commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
How do we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind? It is when we obey the first four commandments to have no other gods before Him, to abstain from making unto ourselves graven images or bowing down to them, to refrain from taking His name in vain and by keeping holy His Sabbath day.
How do we love our neighbor as ourself? We obey the last six commandments against murder, stealing, commiting adultery, bearing false witness and coveting. We will honor Him by honoring and obeying our parents.
Will we be perfect? Absolutely not. But we can always go to our Savior, repent and ask his forgiveness. I JOHN 1:9 IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
However, if we make light of His commandments or say that they have been done away with, we deceive ourselves. If God has placed His Holy Spirit within our hearts, we will desire to be more like him and make every effort to conform to His image. HEBREWS 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 IF THEY SHALL FALL AWAY, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Yes, we are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation can come only from His sacrifice. However, after we have accepted Him as our Savior, our desire should be to leave our old, sinful flesh behind and allow Him to change us. II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Is That in the Bible?
Since the dawn of time, mankind has chosen to disregard his creator and follow a path of wilfull disobedience. Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden of Eden because they violated the Lord's direct command. "Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?", Gen 3:11b. The great flood was brought upon mankind early in his existence because of disobedience. "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.", Gen 6:5-6.
The Holy Bible continues to be the best selling book each and every year, but its clear instructions are disregarded as mankind chooses his own thoughts and ways. It is not surprising that the unbelievers, agnostics and atheists have no respect for the word of God, but quite astonishing when those who claim to be "Christian" embrace beliefs or practice customs and traditions that are in direct oppostion to the teachings of the very Bible they revere. It is not, however, surprising to God. Jer 17:9 reveals, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" The Psalmist says, "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity", Psa 94:11.
We have all grown up in a ready-made world. Before we were old enough to distinguish between right and wrong or good and bad, our thought processes were already conditioned by our parents, peers, teachers and ministers. Most people simply follow the staus quo; the time honored beliefs, customs and traditions of the culture in which they live. Few ever think for themselves or question the authority figures in their lives. I grew up the same way. I was taught, from a very early age, to conform to the values, traditions and customs of family and society at large. I was introduced to the celebrations my individual family had embraced for generations, as well as the religious beliefs they held dear. Through the years, as I became a woman and started my own family, I raised my daughter in the same manner. Our family fit in nicely with other family members, our neighborhood, our community, our chosen religious affiliation, and so on. We were no different from anyone else, until the day I discovered what the Bible really said! Of course, it didn't really happen in a single day. It began one momentous day, with one revelation, and has continued for twenty-five years. As God has dealt with me through the years, he has patiently revealed his word to me here a little, there a little, line upon line, precept upon precept, Isa 28:9-10. I no longer blindly follow the "establishment". I read and study the word of God to discover what the Bible says and not what I've been told it says. I encourage others to do the same and dare to stand up for truth, no matter how unpopular it may be. I encourage others to question their practices and beliefs and expose them to the light of God's word. The following are only a small sampling of direct biblical teachings that fly in the face of accepted practices, teachings and beliefs.
God's word declares in Ex 20:4-5a, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them...". How does one reconcile this commandment with the statues, images and portraits of Jesus, the virgin Mary, so-called saints and angels housed in many of the churches and cathedrals throughout the world? This is a direct command written on a tablet of stone by the very Creator himself. It is plainly written and quite easy to understand. Yet, millions of people bow down and worship before these statues on a regular basis as part of their religious experience.
Ex 20:8,10 instructs,"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God." How is it that the majority of modern Christianity has disregarded this commandment and has exchanged the sabbath day with the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week and long-understood pagan celebration of the Sun-God? Many will cite the accepted explanation that we worship on Sunday now because it is the day of our Lord's resurrection. Did God give us authority to change the very day that he sanctified and made holy on creation week? No, but He did reveal that the keeping of the sabbath day is a sign between himself and his children.
Many religious leaders accept the title of "Father", even "Holy Father". Matt 23:8-9, "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." Also, there are some that have no problem being revered, worshipped or exalted. In contrast, Paul and Barnabas protested greatly when the people of Iconium attempted to worship and sacrifice before them as gods, Acts 14:11-15. Paul responded, "Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God...".
In the same vein, many religious leaders take unto themselves the role of intercessor between God and man, receiving the confessions of their followers, taking unto themselves the role of Christ. I Tim 2:5 tells us, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
Regarding the issue of priests abstaining from marriage, I Tim 4:1-3a, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron, Forbidding to marry."
There are those who pray to angels or saints. They believe that these intecede before God on their behalf. Matt 6:9 tells us "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." Concerning angels, Col 2:18 says, "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." As for saints, who are thought to reside in heaven interceding for the living, Jesus himself said, "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the son of man which is in heaven." King David, a man after God's own heart,has not yet ascended into the heavens, Acts 2:34. Hebrews 11, which catalogues all the great men and women of old, ends with these words, "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise (eternal life): God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
As for repetitious prayers, Matt 6:7 instructs, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." As a young child, the denomination I was being raised in encouraged me to pray the Lord's prayer 10 times in a row as I knelt before the alter facing a statue of my Lord. I was also taught to worship the virgin Mary in the same manner, repeating a prayer to her multiple times.
Regarding public, showy prayers, Matt 6:6a teaches, "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret..."
Some teach that man has an immortal soul which shall never die. Ezek 18:4,20 both tell us, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." I Tim 6:16 reveals that God alone possesses immortality. I Cor 15:53 declares that "mortal" man will one day put on "immortality", but we don't have it now.
Despite the fact that most of us have been taught to believe that there is no death, only eternal life in heaven or hell, the bible teaches the very opposite. John 3:16 is one of the most memorized verses in the scriptures, yet people don't really see what it says. Those who believe in Christ will be granted everlasting life, while those who don't PERISH! Mal 4:1-3, "FOR BEHOLD, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of Hosts."
There is so much more. As I stated earlier, this is just a small sampling of scriptures that absolutely fly in the face of man's traditional beliefs. It will take another article to expose our customs, traditions and celebrations, which all stem from pure paganism. What is wrong with us? Why are we so prone to close our eyes to God's word and replace it with the ancient ideologies of pagan nations that didn't even worship God? Rev 12:9 reveals that Satan has deceived the whole world. However, our very nature despises authority. We don't like to admit it, but we are hard-wired toward evil rather than righteousness. Like spoiled children we want our own way, and don't like God telling us how to behave. II Tim 4:3-4 pretty well sums up the condition we're in today. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." Isa 30:8-10 spoke of a time to come, "Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits." Jesus dealt with this while on the earth. He accused the religious leaders of his day "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.", Mark 7:9. Also, in Matt 15:8-9, he said "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Nothing has changed. Modern-day Christianity is guilty of the same today. You would think our bibles were written in an unknown language. Millions attend religious services each week, yet most don't have a clue as to what the bible says. Generation after generation follows the previous one like blind sheep. If one goes off the cliff, they all follow. No one questions; none ponders why there is so much "religion" in America, yet Americans remain so spiritually empty inside, always searching for meaning, never able to discover their true passion. It is time to lay aside our preconceived ideas based on what we have been taught and dare to open the word for ourselves, that we might discover what it really says. Don't count on anyone else to instruct you, for there are many false prophets out there. There are a multitude of ministers that continue to perpetuate the same false teachings that Satan has peddled since the dawn of time. Believe me, God will reveal himself to those who are willing to see.
The Holy Bible continues to be the best selling book each and every year, but its clear instructions are disregarded as mankind chooses his own thoughts and ways. It is not surprising that the unbelievers, agnostics and atheists have no respect for the word of God, but quite astonishing when those who claim to be "Christian" embrace beliefs or practice customs and traditions that are in direct oppostion to the teachings of the very Bible they revere. It is not, however, surprising to God. Jer 17:9 reveals, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" The Psalmist says, "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity", Psa 94:11.
We have all grown up in a ready-made world. Before we were old enough to distinguish between right and wrong or good and bad, our thought processes were already conditioned by our parents, peers, teachers and ministers. Most people simply follow the staus quo; the time honored beliefs, customs and traditions of the culture in which they live. Few ever think for themselves or question the authority figures in their lives. I grew up the same way. I was taught, from a very early age, to conform to the values, traditions and customs of family and society at large. I was introduced to the celebrations my individual family had embraced for generations, as well as the religious beliefs they held dear. Through the years, as I became a woman and started my own family, I raised my daughter in the same manner. Our family fit in nicely with other family members, our neighborhood, our community, our chosen religious affiliation, and so on. We were no different from anyone else, until the day I discovered what the Bible really said! Of course, it didn't really happen in a single day. It began one momentous day, with one revelation, and has continued for twenty-five years. As God has dealt with me through the years, he has patiently revealed his word to me here a little, there a little, line upon line, precept upon precept, Isa 28:9-10. I no longer blindly follow the "establishment". I read and study the word of God to discover what the Bible says and not what I've been told it says. I encourage others to do the same and dare to stand up for truth, no matter how unpopular it may be. I encourage others to question their practices and beliefs and expose them to the light of God's word. The following are only a small sampling of direct biblical teachings that fly in the face of accepted practices, teachings and beliefs.
God's word declares in Ex 20:4-5a, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them...". How does one reconcile this commandment with the statues, images and portraits of Jesus, the virgin Mary, so-called saints and angels housed in many of the churches and cathedrals throughout the world? This is a direct command written on a tablet of stone by the very Creator himself. It is plainly written and quite easy to understand. Yet, millions of people bow down and worship before these statues on a regular basis as part of their religious experience.
Ex 20:8,10 instructs,"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God." How is it that the majority of modern Christianity has disregarded this commandment and has exchanged the sabbath day with the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week and long-understood pagan celebration of the Sun-God? Many will cite the accepted explanation that we worship on Sunday now because it is the day of our Lord's resurrection. Did God give us authority to change the very day that he sanctified and made holy on creation week? No, but He did reveal that the keeping of the sabbath day is a sign between himself and his children.
Many religious leaders accept the title of "Father", even "Holy Father". Matt 23:8-9, "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." Also, there are some that have no problem being revered, worshipped or exalted. In contrast, Paul and Barnabas protested greatly when the people of Iconium attempted to worship and sacrifice before them as gods, Acts 14:11-15. Paul responded, "Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God...".
In the same vein, many religious leaders take unto themselves the role of intercessor between God and man, receiving the confessions of their followers, taking unto themselves the role of Christ. I Tim 2:5 tells us, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
Regarding the issue of priests abstaining from marriage, I Tim 4:1-3a, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron, Forbidding to marry."
There are those who pray to angels or saints. They believe that these intecede before God on their behalf. Matt 6:9 tells us "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." Concerning angels, Col 2:18 says, "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." As for saints, who are thought to reside in heaven interceding for the living, Jesus himself said, "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the son of man which is in heaven." King David, a man after God's own heart,has not yet ascended into the heavens, Acts 2:34. Hebrews 11, which catalogues all the great men and women of old, ends with these words, "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise (eternal life): God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
As for repetitious prayers, Matt 6:7 instructs, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." As a young child, the denomination I was being raised in encouraged me to pray the Lord's prayer 10 times in a row as I knelt before the alter facing a statue of my Lord. I was also taught to worship the virgin Mary in the same manner, repeating a prayer to her multiple times.
Regarding public, showy prayers, Matt 6:6a teaches, "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret..."
Some teach that man has an immortal soul which shall never die. Ezek 18:4,20 both tell us, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." I Tim 6:16 reveals that God alone possesses immortality. I Cor 15:53 declares that "mortal" man will one day put on "immortality", but we don't have it now.
Despite the fact that most of us have been taught to believe that there is no death, only eternal life in heaven or hell, the bible teaches the very opposite. John 3:16 is one of the most memorized verses in the scriptures, yet people don't really see what it says. Those who believe in Christ will be granted everlasting life, while those who don't PERISH! Mal 4:1-3, "FOR BEHOLD, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of Hosts."
There is so much more. As I stated earlier, this is just a small sampling of scriptures that absolutely fly in the face of man's traditional beliefs. It will take another article to expose our customs, traditions and celebrations, which all stem from pure paganism. What is wrong with us? Why are we so prone to close our eyes to God's word and replace it with the ancient ideologies of pagan nations that didn't even worship God? Rev 12:9 reveals that Satan has deceived the whole world. However, our very nature despises authority. We don't like to admit it, but we are hard-wired toward evil rather than righteousness. Like spoiled children we want our own way, and don't like God telling us how to behave. II Tim 4:3-4 pretty well sums up the condition we're in today. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." Isa 30:8-10 spoke of a time to come, "Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits." Jesus dealt with this while on the earth. He accused the religious leaders of his day "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.", Mark 7:9. Also, in Matt 15:8-9, he said "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Nothing has changed. Modern-day Christianity is guilty of the same today. You would think our bibles were written in an unknown language. Millions attend religious services each week, yet most don't have a clue as to what the bible says. Generation after generation follows the previous one like blind sheep. If one goes off the cliff, they all follow. No one questions; none ponders why there is so much "religion" in America, yet Americans remain so spiritually empty inside, always searching for meaning, never able to discover their true passion. It is time to lay aside our preconceived ideas based on what we have been taught and dare to open the word for ourselves, that we might discover what it really says. Don't count on anyone else to instruct you, for there are many false prophets out there. There are a multitude of ministers that continue to perpetuate the same false teachings that Satan has peddled since the dawn of time. Believe me, God will reveal himself to those who are willing to see.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Subject of Hell
Many Christian denominations have, as one of their key tenets of faith, a belief that there is a hell where non-believers are assigned at the end of their physical lives. This is a place of eternal torment from which there can be no escape. We are all familiar with this concept, in which an underground cave deep in the heart of the earth has been prepared as a kind of torture chamber for those who have not accepted Christ's sacrifice for their sins and spurned God's call to salvation. Satan, who is the ruler of hell, relishes in forms of punishment that we can scarce fathom. Those who dwell there are tormented with fire and brimstone continuously, and so will it be for all eternity, time without end.
Does this belief have its roots in the bible? Is this what the bible actually teaches, or does this idea stem from some other source? We owe it to ourselves to study this subject, for the bible itself tells us in II Tim 3:16, " All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness". The bible should be our only source of truth when it comes to our core beliefs.
As I have studied the subject of hell in the scriptures, I have learned that the English word "HELL" appears 53 times in the bible, 30 times in the Old Testament. The original Hebrew word from which hell was translated was "Sheol". Strong's Concordance defines Sheol as "hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates:- grave, hell, pit."
The 30 times sheol was translated hell, it was used to signify the unseen state of the dead. The bible translators for the King James Version also chose to translate sheol 29 times as "grave" and 3 times as "pit".
So, if we look at the original word sheol, we find it refers to the grave or the place of the dead. The English revisers have, therefore, inserted the Hebrew word sheol where hell, grave and pit were used in the KJV. so as to keep the integrity of the original text. See the New American Standard Bible.
The word hell appears 23 times in the New Testament and was translated from the Greek word "hades" 11 times. Strong's Condordance defines hades as "the place (state) of departed souls: - grave, hell". Hell is translated 10 times from the word "Geena", defined as "Valley of (the son of) Hinnom, gehenna (or Ge Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem: used (fig.) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment: - hell.
Hell is translated from the Greek word "tartaros" once in II Pet 2:4,"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to HELL, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment". Tartaros is defined as "(the deepest abyss of Hades); to incarcerate in eternal torment: cast down to hell". Notice that it is the abode of the ANGELS that sinned, not man.
We can see that the majority of scriptures using the word hell refer to the grave or state of the dead. However, it is the translation of the Greek word gehenna that seemingly gives the impression of eternal punishment of the wicked. Jesus Christ was the only one who used the term, except for one passage in James 3:6, most often in conjunction with fire. See the exerpts below.
MATTHEW 5:22 Thou fool, shall be in danger of HELL fire.
MATTHEW 5:29 that thy whole body should be cast into HELL.
MATTHEW 10:28 able to destroy both soul and body in HELL
MATTHEW 18:9 having two eyes to be cast into HELL fire
MATTHEW 23:33 vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of HELL?
MARK 9:43 hands to go into HELL, into the fire
MARK 9:45 to be cast into HELL, into the fire
It would seem, from Jesus' warnings, that modern Christianity is on the right track with regard to the fate of the wicked being eternal fire. However, one must view the bible in its entire context. No one can rightfully claim to understand every scripture and there are those that are hard to grasp. Others, when taken out of context, are often used to build a complete doctrine that is completely contrary to the plain teachings of God.
When one studies the bible in its overall context, a theme emerges that is quite contrary to the teachings of modern Christianity. First of all, the bible does not teach that the dead are consciously alive and dwelling in any location, be it heaven or hell, in the terms that Christians have come to believe. The dead, we are plainly told are asleep in their graves awaiting a resurrection. We are told in I Cor 15 that Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected. Verse 20 "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the FIRSTFRUITS of them that slept". Verse 23 "But every man in his own order: Christ the FIRSTFRUITS; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming". Verse 24, "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the KINGDOM to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power."
In fact, the Apostle Paul made it quite clear that the only hope for the believer is the resurrection of Christ. I Cor 16-17, " For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ RAISED: And if Christ be not RAISED, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins".
The major theme of the bible is the revelation that God has provided a way for the salvation of mankind through Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection at his first coming and that he has appointed a day in which this same Jesus will return to earth a second time to usher in the kingdom of God. As we have seen in I Cor 15:23, the righteous will be raised at the Lord's coming. Rev 20:4-6, "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a THOUSAND YEARS. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the THOUSAND YEARS were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a THOUSAND YEARS".
What happens to the unbeliever? Jesus tells us they will indeed have their part in the lake of fire. Rev 10:15 tells us, "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE". Rev 20:12, "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the BOOK OF LIFE: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the BOOK OF LIFE was cast into the lake of fire". Is it, however, a place of never-ending torment? Rev 21:8 reveals, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and BRIMSTONE: which is the second death". Did you catch that? IT IS THE SECOND DEATH! What is death? Death is not life. Death is the opposite of life! Mal 4:1 tells us,"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall BURN as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall BURN them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Verse 3 continues, "And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ASHES under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts". Rev 11:18 speaks of that day, "And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest DESTROY them which DESTROY the earth".
The wicked shall surely be destoyed in that day. But, as we see from the bible, their punishment will be swift and complete. They will be totally destoyed, no longer to have their place among the living. Our creator is a merciful God. He is not in the business of torture. In Ezek 33:11, the Lord spoke through the prophet to his people,"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel"? Surely, that is God's plea to all mankind! "Turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die"?
Does this belief have its roots in the bible? Is this what the bible actually teaches, or does this idea stem from some other source? We owe it to ourselves to study this subject, for the bible itself tells us in II Tim 3:16, " All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness". The bible should be our only source of truth when it comes to our core beliefs.
As I have studied the subject of hell in the scriptures, I have learned that the English word "HELL" appears 53 times in the bible, 30 times in the Old Testament. The original Hebrew word from which hell was translated was "Sheol". Strong's Concordance defines Sheol as "hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates:- grave, hell, pit."
The 30 times sheol was translated hell, it was used to signify the unseen state of the dead. The bible translators for the King James Version also chose to translate sheol 29 times as "grave" and 3 times as "pit".
So, if we look at the original word sheol, we find it refers to the grave or the place of the dead. The English revisers have, therefore, inserted the Hebrew word sheol where hell, grave and pit were used in the KJV. so as to keep the integrity of the original text. See the New American Standard Bible.
The word hell appears 23 times in the New Testament and was translated from the Greek word "hades" 11 times. Strong's Condordance defines hades as "the place (state) of departed souls: - grave, hell". Hell is translated 10 times from the word "Geena", defined as "Valley of (the son of) Hinnom, gehenna (or Ge Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem: used (fig.) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment: - hell.
Hell is translated from the Greek word "tartaros" once in II Pet 2:4,"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to HELL, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment". Tartaros is defined as "(the deepest abyss of Hades); to incarcerate in eternal torment: cast down to hell". Notice that it is the abode of the ANGELS that sinned, not man.
We can see that the majority of scriptures using the word hell refer to the grave or state of the dead. However, it is the translation of the Greek word gehenna that seemingly gives the impression of eternal punishment of the wicked. Jesus Christ was the only one who used the term, except for one passage in James 3:6, most often in conjunction with fire. See the exerpts below.
MATTHEW 5:22 Thou fool, shall be in danger of HELL fire.
MATTHEW 5:29 that thy whole body should be cast into HELL.
MATTHEW 10:28 able to destroy both soul and body in HELL
MATTHEW 18:9 having two eyes to be cast into HELL fire
MATTHEW 23:33 vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of HELL?
MARK 9:43 hands to go into HELL, into the fire
MARK 9:45 to be cast into HELL, into the fire
It would seem, from Jesus' warnings, that modern Christianity is on the right track with regard to the fate of the wicked being eternal fire. However, one must view the bible in its entire context. No one can rightfully claim to understand every scripture and there are those that are hard to grasp. Others, when taken out of context, are often used to build a complete doctrine that is completely contrary to the plain teachings of God.
When one studies the bible in its overall context, a theme emerges that is quite contrary to the teachings of modern Christianity. First of all, the bible does not teach that the dead are consciously alive and dwelling in any location, be it heaven or hell, in the terms that Christians have come to believe. The dead, we are plainly told are asleep in their graves awaiting a resurrection. We are told in I Cor 15 that Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected. Verse 20 "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the FIRSTFRUITS of them that slept". Verse 23 "But every man in his own order: Christ the FIRSTFRUITS; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming". Verse 24, "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the KINGDOM to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power."
In fact, the Apostle Paul made it quite clear that the only hope for the believer is the resurrection of Christ. I Cor 16-17, " For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ RAISED: And if Christ be not RAISED, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins".
The major theme of the bible is the revelation that God has provided a way for the salvation of mankind through Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection at his first coming and that he has appointed a day in which this same Jesus will return to earth a second time to usher in the kingdom of God. As we have seen in I Cor 15:23, the righteous will be raised at the Lord's coming. Rev 20:4-6, "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a THOUSAND YEARS. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the THOUSAND YEARS were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a THOUSAND YEARS".
What happens to the unbeliever? Jesus tells us they will indeed have their part in the lake of fire. Rev 10:15 tells us, "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE". Rev 20:12, "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the BOOK OF LIFE: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the BOOK OF LIFE was cast into the lake of fire". Is it, however, a place of never-ending torment? Rev 21:8 reveals, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and BRIMSTONE: which is the second death". Did you catch that? IT IS THE SECOND DEATH! What is death? Death is not life. Death is the opposite of life! Mal 4:1 tells us,"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall BURN as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall BURN them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Verse 3 continues, "And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ASHES under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts". Rev 11:18 speaks of that day, "And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest DESTROY them which DESTROY the earth".
The wicked shall surely be destoyed in that day. But, as we see from the bible, their punishment will be swift and complete. They will be totally destoyed, no longer to have their place among the living. Our creator is a merciful God. He is not in the business of torture. In Ezek 33:11, the Lord spoke through the prophet to his people,"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel"? Surely, that is God's plea to all mankind! "Turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die"?
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Fight The Good Fight
Many Christians will tell you that belief in the Lord Jesus is all that is required for salvation. Indeed, the bible does tell us we are saved by grace through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:8-9). Many of us can quote from memory John 3:16, "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". Notice the word "SHOULD", not WILL. Matt 7:21-23 quotes Jesus' teaching that not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of God. Some will declare that they have prophesied in his name, cast out devils, and performed many wonderful works, again in his name. He will say he never knew them for they were workers of iniquity.
There are no doubt billions of people who think of themselves as Christians, based upon their belief in the Lord and acceptance of his sacrifice for their sins. We are told, though, in Matt 7:13-14, that MANY will follow the path that leads to destruction. In comparison, relatively FEW will find the path that leads to life. Are we therefore missing something? Is there a disconnect with regard to our understanding?
I ponder these things as I am reminded of teachings such as those above, as well as those of the Apostle James, who tells us that faith without works is dead, James 2:20. The Apostle Peter teaches us that God will judge us according to our works (I Pet 1:17) and in II Pet 1:5-8 he instructs us to add to our faith the following; virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity. In verses 10-11 he teaches that we are to make our calling and election sure, that we MAY be granted entrance into the kingdom of God.
There are many more examples throughout the bible that admonish us to live godly lives before our God. The Apostle Paul writes in Rom 12:1-2 that we are to offer our bodies a LIVING sacrifice to our Father, and to be not conformed to this world but tranformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is the good and acceptable will of God.
He never, however, deceived those he taught into believing that it would be an easy road. He likened the Christian's life to warfare. We have to battle, not only our own flesh and the sinful nature within us, but Satan, who wants nothing more than to destroy us. He wrote in Eph 6:12, "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." He followed in verse 13, "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." I Pet 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." James 4:7 advises, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
Paul used this analogy throughout his letter to Timothy, his spiritual son and fellow-laborer in the work. He charged him to fight a good warfare, encouraging him to be strong and to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He warned him to refrain from entangling himself in the affairs of this world, but to flee the temptations that destroyed the lives of others. He reminded Timothy to study the word to show himself approved of God, rightly dividing the word of truth.
In word and in deed, Paul himself lived what he taught. But again, he didn't shy away from the truth; that it takes commitment, endurance and strength, in addition to faith, to attain unto salvation. To the Phillippians, he wrote, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before; I PRESS toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus", Phil 3:13-14. Toward the end of his life, he wrote, "For I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith (II Tim 4:6-7).
Paul was speaking of an active faith. This kind of faith is evidenced by works, as we learn from the book of James. The 11th chapter of Hebrews is often referred to as the "Faith" chapter of the Bible. We are given an historical glimspe into the lives of some of the greatest people who have ever lived, people of great faith. Each verse resonates with the results of such faith; By faith Abel offered God a more excellent sacrifice, by faith Enoch was translated, by faith Noah moved with fear and prepared an ark, by faith Abraham obeyed and went out, not knowing where he went, by faith Moses refused to be called Pharoah's son and forsook Egypt. The Bible gives numerous examples of this active faith, a faith in God so strong, that obedience to Him was never questioned. No hardship, no threat to life, no offer of fame, fortune or riches could shake such absolute faith in their God and the glory that would one day be theirs if they overcame. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego faced a fiery furnace, Daniel braved the lion's den, and our Savior spurned Satan's offer of immediate glory in exchange for his worship.
Finally, Christ's message to the seven churches of Revelation all end with the same admonition, To him who OVERCOMES! Yes, we can only be saved by God's grace, through faith. However, real faith will be evidenced by lives of overcoming, of service and obedience to God.
There are no doubt billions of people who think of themselves as Christians, based upon their belief in the Lord and acceptance of his sacrifice for their sins. We are told, though, in Matt 7:13-14, that MANY will follow the path that leads to destruction. In comparison, relatively FEW will find the path that leads to life. Are we therefore missing something? Is there a disconnect with regard to our understanding?
I ponder these things as I am reminded of teachings such as those above, as well as those of the Apostle James, who tells us that faith without works is dead, James 2:20. The Apostle Peter teaches us that God will judge us according to our works (I Pet 1:17) and in II Pet 1:5-8 he instructs us to add to our faith the following; virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity. In verses 10-11 he teaches that we are to make our calling and election sure, that we MAY be granted entrance into the kingdom of God.
There are many more examples throughout the bible that admonish us to live godly lives before our God. The Apostle Paul writes in Rom 12:1-2 that we are to offer our bodies a LIVING sacrifice to our Father, and to be not conformed to this world but tranformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is the good and acceptable will of God.
He never, however, deceived those he taught into believing that it would be an easy road. He likened the Christian's life to warfare. We have to battle, not only our own flesh and the sinful nature within us, but Satan, who wants nothing more than to destroy us. He wrote in Eph 6:12, "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." He followed in verse 13, "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." I Pet 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." James 4:7 advises, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
Paul used this analogy throughout his letter to Timothy, his spiritual son and fellow-laborer in the work. He charged him to fight a good warfare, encouraging him to be strong and to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He warned him to refrain from entangling himself in the affairs of this world, but to flee the temptations that destroyed the lives of others. He reminded Timothy to study the word to show himself approved of God, rightly dividing the word of truth.
In word and in deed, Paul himself lived what he taught. But again, he didn't shy away from the truth; that it takes commitment, endurance and strength, in addition to faith, to attain unto salvation. To the Phillippians, he wrote, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before; I PRESS toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus", Phil 3:13-14. Toward the end of his life, he wrote, "For I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith (II Tim 4:6-7).
Paul was speaking of an active faith. This kind of faith is evidenced by works, as we learn from the book of James. The 11th chapter of Hebrews is often referred to as the "Faith" chapter of the Bible. We are given an historical glimspe into the lives of some of the greatest people who have ever lived, people of great faith. Each verse resonates with the results of such faith; By faith Abel offered God a more excellent sacrifice, by faith Enoch was translated, by faith Noah moved with fear and prepared an ark, by faith Abraham obeyed and went out, not knowing where he went, by faith Moses refused to be called Pharoah's son and forsook Egypt. The Bible gives numerous examples of this active faith, a faith in God so strong, that obedience to Him was never questioned. No hardship, no threat to life, no offer of fame, fortune or riches could shake such absolute faith in their God and the glory that would one day be theirs if they overcame. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego faced a fiery furnace, Daniel braved the lion's den, and our Savior spurned Satan's offer of immediate glory in exchange for his worship.
Finally, Christ's message to the seven churches of Revelation all end with the same admonition, To him who OVERCOMES! Yes, we can only be saved by God's grace, through faith. However, real faith will be evidenced by lives of overcoming, of service and obedience to God.
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