Divine Sugar Sticks for February 2000

Tuesday, February 29, 2000

John 10:28, “NO MAN shall pluck them out of My hand.”

The word “man” is in italics, which means that it is not in the Greek text, and has been supplied by the translator.
There are two words in the Greek language for “man,” but neither is used here.

The word “any” is an indefinite pronoun in the Greek. And the word “one” would complete its meaning therefore the word “man.”
The translation “anyone” is truer in the sense of the original, which includes Satan.

The word “pluck” is literally “snatch” and is often used in a bad sense or when death snatches its victim or when someone carries something off by force.

When we consider the size of God’s hand, large enough to hold all of the oceans on Earth and wide enough to stretch from where the East begins and where the West ends. Isa 40:12.

We can understand why no one, including Satan himself, is able to snatch the believer out of His promised care.

Greek Grammar and the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ

The New Testament in its English translation plainly teaches that Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Trinity, possessing the same essence as God the Father.

It is interesting to know that a rule of Greek grammar brings out the same truth. The rule is as follows:

When two nouns in the same case are connected by the Greek word “and” and the first noun is preceded by the article “the,” and the second noun is not preceded by the article, the second noun refers to the same person or thing to which the first noun refers and is a further description of it.

For instance, Eph 4:11, “I gave some pastors and teachers.”

The word pastors and teachers are in the same case and are connected by the word “and.” The word “pastors” is preceded by the article “the” whereas the word “teachers” is not. This construction requires us to understand that the words “pastors” and “teachers” refer to the same individual, and that the word “teachers” is a further description of the individual called a “pastor.” The expression therefore refers to pastors which are teachers, literally, “teaching pastors.”

This rule also applies in passages where the names God and Father are in the same case and are connected by the Greek word “and.” While the word God is preceded by the article and the word Father is not.

The Greek Word “and”

The Greek word “and” can be translated by any of the following words: AND, EVEN, ALSO, depending upon the context in which it is found.

It is translated as “and” or “even” in Rom 15:6; 2 Cor 1:3, 11:31; Gal 1:1; Eph 5:20; Phil 4:20; 1 Thes 1:3, 3:11, 13 where “God and Father” are not two people but one and the same and the word “Father” is a further description of the Person called “God.”

Greek Grammar Gems!

In 2 Pet 1:11, 2:20 and 5:18 we have the phrase, “Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Here we find the same construction in the Greek text. The same rule of grammar applies. The Lord and the Saviour are the same Person, the word “Saviour” being a further description of the Person described as Lord. This speaks of the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because the Greek word translated “Lord” was used as a name of Deity, KURIOS. This is the word used in the Roman Empire as a name for the ruling Caesar, who was worshipped as a god.

Christianity challenged interpretation of the Caesars by announcing that there was
Luke 2:11, “That there was born in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.”

The word “Lord” was an accepted title of Deity in the terminology of Israel, the Roman Empire, and Christianity.

Thus, a simple rule of Greek grammar teaches the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Greek Grace Gems!

Now to make the case even stronger as to the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, we find in 2 Pet 1:1 the expression, “God and our Saviour Jesus Christ,” where the same Greek construction occurs, and the same rule of grammar applies.

Solid ground for correct translation and interpretation is found in a careful application of the rules of Greek grammar. The inspired writers of the New Testament held to the grammar of the international Greek spoken throughout the Roman world. Only in that way could they expect to be correctly understood.

The Greek grammar testifies that Jesus Christ is Lord—the Jehovah—of the Old Testament, and Deity—the God—of the Old Testament.

The apostles uniformly testify that Jesus Christ is God and this is just another example of the statements challenging the imperial cult of the Caesars.
The translation should read, “through the righteousness of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.”

The Roman emperor was recognized by his subjects as their god and their savior.
Peter tells us that Jesus Christ is the God and the Saviour of Christians.

Caesar is KURIOS! No! Christ is KURIOS!

Greek Grace Gems!

Titus 2:11, “The great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

We find the same construction in the Greek and the same rule of grammar requires us to interpret the phrase as teaching that Jesus Christ is the great God.
The Greek word “for” should be translated by the word “even” where the context demands such a meaning. We are justified in rendering this phrase, “The great God, even our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

The grammatical construction demands that the first expression the “great God and Saviour Jesus Christ,” refers to one Individual.
The word “even” brings out this meaning. The translation could also be read, “Our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Thus the rules of Greek grammar teach the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace Greek Gems!

Future punishment for those who reject Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. There are two Greek words describing this punishment. “AION” is the noun. “AIONIOS” is the adjective.

In the Greek study of the first century in the Papyri, they give us two uses for the word “AION.” In the phrase from one of the early manuscripts we have :for the rest of your life.” “AION” refers to a limited period of time.

A public meeting at Oxyrhynchus was punctuated with cries of “the emperors forever,” where the word “AION” has the meaning of “unending.”

And they have this to say about “AIONIOS” without pronouncing any special meaning which the theologians have found for this word. We note that outside the New Testament in the vernacular as well as in classical Greek, it never loses the sense of “perpetus.”

They give us an illustration of the “AIONIOS” in “I confess that I should show myself grateful for your lovingkindness ‘forever’.”

Grace Greek Gems!

John 8:51, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep My saying, he shall never ‘see’ death.”

There are six words in the Greek language which means “to see.”

1. As to physical sight, Matt 12:22
2. As to mental discernment, 1 John 1:1, “have seen”
3. As a civilian watching a military parade, 1 John 1:1, “looked upon”
4. As to scrutinize for the betterment, Heb 2:6, “visitest”
5. As to fix one’s eye upon, Acts 3:4, “fastening his eyes upon him with John”
6. As to look with interest and for a purpose, John 8:51, which expresses a fixed contemplation and a full acquaintance

The death spoken of here is physical death. The Jews spoke of Abraham as being dead and our Lord does not correct them by saying He was speaking of spiritual death.

He therefore says that when a Christian is being put to sleep, as he is dying, he will not look at death with interest and for a purpose. He will be an indifferent spectator of death, for he will have his eyes fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Death is a servant to bring the believer to Christ.

And Jesus Christ, the Servant of servants, will come and bring all the believers to Himself at the Rapture. He will either send His messenger death for you, or if you wait long enough, He will come for you Himself.

Grace Greek Gems!

The Greek inscriptions show that many technical terms in pagan religion and in government circles of the first century A.D. are also found in the terminology of Christianity.

For instance, the expression “slave of the emperor” was in current use. There were imperial slaves all over the Roman world.

This throws light upon Paul’s claim to be a “bondslave of Jesus Christ,” Rom 1:1

The word “servants” coming from a Greek word, literally meaning “bondslaves,” is the same Greek word being used in the Scriptures.

Paul knew of the custom. The lord emperor was not only revered as a human ruler, but they also worshipped him as a god.

When Paul writes these words to the Christians in the imperial city of Rome, he must have been conscious of the imperialistic challenge of Christianity, proclaiming a Saviour whose bondslave he was, and who some day would displace the imperialism of Rome.

Paul was some day to stand before Nero, not as a bondslave of the lord emperor, but as a bondslave of the King of kings and Lord of lords, the One that came from the royal line of David.

Grace Greek Gems!

The word “redeemed” means “to buy in the slave market.” It was used of the purchase of slaves.

Sinners are bondslaves of Satan and sin. Rom 6:17, 18; Eph 2:2

We were purchased in the slave market and the price paid was the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. A slave cannot say that he belongs to himself but to his lord. We belong to Christ.

The word is also used in 2 Pet 2:1, where false teachers who deny the Lord who purchased them in the slave market, refuse to avail themselves of the high privilege of becoming His bondslaves.

In Rev 5:9 the saints in Heaven are singing a song which speaks of the Lamb who bought them in the slave market to become His own bondslaves.

Then Paul tells his readers who have put their trust in Jesus Christ as their Saviour were purchased in the slave market and are bondslaves of the coming King of kings. 1 Cor 7:22, 23

We are not our own, thank God.

Greek Grace Gems!

Another such technical expression is found in 1 Cor 7:22, “the Lord’s freeman.”

The title, “freedman of the emperor” is found frequently in the Greek inscriptions of the first century. To be a bondslave of the emperor was a position of servitude with a certain degree of honor attached to it. But to the emperor’s “freeman” means that the bondslave
was liberated from that servitude and promoted to a position of a freeman which was a higher station.

Paul in 1 Cor 7:22 says that the Christian is both the bondslave and the freeman of the Lord.

How can he be both at the same time? The beautiful story can be told in three Greek words translated  “bought” and “redeemed.”

You have been bought with a price. Let the redeemed say so!

Monday, February 28, 2000

Greek Grace Gems!

John 10:28, “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”
”They shall never perish.”

This is very strong in the Greek. There are two negatives before the word “perish.” Literally, “they shall not, they shall not perish.”

In addition to the double negative, there are three words which follow the word “perish” which are translated by the one word “never.” The same phrase is found in John 6:51 where it is translated “forever.”

The Greek Papyri gives an instance where the crowd in a public meeting cries repeatedly “the emperor forever” using the great phrase found in this verse. The noun in the phrase means “eternal” and has the same root as the adjective “eternal” in the words “eternal life,” in verse 28.

So the English language creaks and groans in the effort to translate the Greek here.

Literally, “they shall not, they shall not perish, no, not eternally.” The word “eternal” gives an infinite reach to the two negatives.

John 10:29, “My Father which gave them Me.”

The word “gave” in verse 29 is in the perfect tense, which refers to a past completed action having present results. The aorist tense is the customary tense to use in the Greek when the writer merely wishes to speak of the fact of an action. Whenever a writer uses another tense, he goes out of his way to do so, which means that he has some special information to convey to the reader.

The perfect tense here is a like a carpenter who drives a nail through a board, and then to assure himself that it is there to stay, he clinches it on the other side. The Father gave believers to the Lord Jesus Christ as a permanent gift to be retained permanently by Him. And then not only are we in the clasp of the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ, but we are safely resting in the hand of God the Father.

Two hands of infinite proportion are holding us in salvation. And the owners of these hands are one in essence, two Persons of the Trinity.

John 4:15-16, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

The first occurrence of the word “drinketh” is in a construction in the Greek that refers to continual action.

The second word in the original language presents the mere fact of the action without reference to the progress of the action. Literally, everyone who keeps on constantly drinking of this water shall thirst again. Then literally, “but whosoever takes a drink of the water which I shall give him, shall never thirst.”

The words “shall never thirst” are from a construction in the Greek in which there are two negatives before the verb, and a phrase which means “forever” which comes after the verb. Literally, “shall not, shall not thirst, ever.”

A double negative in the Greek does not make a positive statement but only strengthens the negation. The word “forever” gives an infinite reach to the two negatives.

In the Greek text John reports the Samaritan woman as speaking of a well of water, and the Lord as speaking of a spring of water, while both words are translated by the one English word “well.”

The person who keeps on drinking of the wells of the world, lifeless, dull, polluted, stale, will thirst again. The world with all its sin does not satisfy, and never can. But the person who takes “one drink” of the spring of eternal life never thirsts again.

Many drinks of this world will never satisfy. One drink and taste of Grace satisfies.

John 4:13-14, “But the water that I shall give shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

The reason why one drink satisfies is that when the unbeliever takes one drink of eternal life, the one drink “becomes” in him a spring of water leaping up into a fountain of eternal life.

The word “be” is in the Greek literally, “become.” And the word “well” is from a Greek word meaning “a spring.”

The one drink is itself a spring that ever keeps bubbling up, ever refreshing and satisfying the one who takes a drink of the water of life.

The spring becomes a river of living water. John 7:37-38 and this living water is just a symbol of the indwelling Holy Spirit Who constantly ministers the Lord Jesus Christ to the believer.

And because the Lord Jesus Christ completely satisfied the person who takes one drink of this living water, he never thirsts again.

Greek Grace Gems!

In 2 Thes 3:11, Paul speaks of certain Christian men in the local church who were “walking disorderly.”

The English word “disorderly” means, confused, turbulent, unruly, unmethodical. But none of these meanings exactly fit the Greek word of which it is the translation.

The use of the Greek word is clearly seen in an early account of a father who apprenticed his son to a weaver for one year. The contract provided for the details of food and clothing for the period of apprenticeship. Then the contract stated that if there were any days on which the boy “failed to attend or played truant,” the father must see that the boy report for work an equivalent number of days after the apprenticeship was over.

The word translated “disorderly” is the Greek word in the contract which means to “play truant.” These Thessalonian saints were “playing truant” from their daily employment. And the occasion for this is suggested in the context where Paul says, “The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and the patient waiting for Christ.” In this they were truant.

New Testament Greek Grace Gems!

There are two words in the Greek New Testament both meaning “testing.” It is important in the interest of accurate interpretation to distinguish between them since they refer to different kinds of testings.

One is “DOKIMAZO.” We will see some of them in Scripture. They are of great help forming an accurate judgment as to the usages of New Testament words since an illustration is often clearer than a definition.

The word is used in a manuscript of A.D. 140 that contains a plea for the exemption of physicians, and especially of those who have passed the examination. The words “passed the examination” are the translation of the word “DOKIMAZO” and from this we arrive at the definition.

The word refers to the act of testing someone or something for the purpose of approving it. These physicians had passed their examination for the degree of doctor of medicine. It is found in the sentence “which ever way then you also ‘approve of',” so it shall be. And in the phrase “to instruct if you will, the strategus or any other magistrate whom you may sanction.”

The words “approve” and “sanction” are the translation of the word “DOKIMAZO.” This word has in it the idea of proving a thing whether it be worthy to be received of men. Tested for the sense of approval.

Sunday, February 27, 2000

G.G.G.  Greek Grace Gems!

John 6:37, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

Here again we have “two negatives” before the verb. ”I will not, I will not cast out.”

The words “cast out” are from one word made up of two words, the word “to throw” and a preposition meaning “not from within.” That is our Lord is speaking of those who are in salvation in the Father’s house. He gives us a double-strength promise that He will not throw us out of His house. But there is another word in the Greek that does not appear in the English, the word “outside.”

Literally the promise reads, “the one who comes to Me, I will not, I will not throw out into the outside.” Imagine a Heavenly Father throwing His own child out. And that is exactly what the Greek word means. This same word “outside” is found in:

Rev 22:15, “For without are dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”
The same word is translated here “without.”

We have a solemn promise from our Lord that the Christian will not be ejected from the Father's house and thrown into the outside where those who have rejected His Grace are.

The two most important issues in life are not familiar to most people. And if considered, the means of attaining them are foreign to most people. Just ask yourself or someone else what are the two most important issues in life and you will find many answers.

The most important issue is life is:
How can I be saved?

And the second most important issue in life is:
How can I now as a Christian live the Christian way of life?

Satan has done a wonderful job in keeping the human race blind to the most important issue in life:
How can I have a relationship with God? He knows the issue and therefore “he blinds the mind so that we do not believe in the Gospel which is in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

To prove my point, and the point taken in the Bible, sin is not the issue in salvation, but sin is the issue in the Christian way of life and or spirituality.

You hear repeatedly that you “have to confess your sins to be saved,” or “you have to feel sorry for your sins to be saved,” or “you have to forsake or turn from your sins to be saved.”

Sin is not the issue in salvation. Christ paid for all ours sins. But the issue in salvation, or having a relationship with God, is the Person and the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. ”Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”

That handles the first most important issue in life, where you will spend eternity, and qualifies you for living the Christian way of life.

The second most important issue in life is:

How can I, as a Christian having accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour, live the Christian way of life?

Again we have people saying, you have to come to church in order to live the Christian way of life, or you have to give, or you have to read your Bible or pray, etc. But none of those things make you spiritual. They are the results not the cause of spirituality.

The Christian way of life is depicted in Scripture as a “walk,” which means a moment by moment way of life.

”Walk in the Spirit,” “Walk in love,” “Walk in Truth,” “Walk worthy of your vocation,” etc. Each moment of your life that you walk has one foot off the ground and one foot on the ground. You are off balance until you take the next step.

It is not a one shot dedication that lasts your whole Christian life but it is being in fellowship with the Lord moment by moment. The Christian can control that. He can walk in the light or he can walk in darkness.

When you are in fellowship with the Lord, anything and everything you do is constituted as being spiritual. Simply because each Christian is in full-time service at the point of salvation.

How can we be filled by the Spirit?  Simply by the use of 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Sin is not the issue in salvation. Sin is the issue in the Christian way of life. If you are out of fellowship with the Lord, the Lord will not hear your prayers.

Psa 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my mind the Lord will not hear me.”

Isa 59:1-3, “My hand is not shortened that I cannot save and My ear is not heavy that I cannot hear. But your sins have separated you from your God and He will not hear you.”

So, in order to produce the Christian way of life, sin is the issue and sin must be confessed – not to be saved, but to the saved – in order to be restored back to fellowship with the Lord. ”He restoreth my soul.”

When you are in fellowship, you produce the character of God. Gal 5:22-23.

So Satan has done a wonderful job in confusing the human race about the two most important issues in life and it is the misapplication of the principle of sin.

Col 3:1-2, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above not on things of the Earth.”

”If,” and ye are, “risen with Christ …” literally.

A risen life is a type of all noble life. And before there can be a risen life there must have been a death.

True we may say that the spiritual facts in a man’s experience which are represented by these two great symbols of death and a rising are but like the segment of a circle which seen from the one side is convex and from the other side is concave. But however loosely we may feel that the metaphors represent the facts, this is plain. Than unless there is a death to flesh and self-will and to the world, we will never live a life that is worth calling life.

Water baptism to a believer represents the principle of death and life. When you go down into the water, it is down with human good, and when you come up out of the water, you are walking in newness of life.

Down with human good and up with Divine Good, which is Eph 5:18, “Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.”

Act 1:9, “And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up, and cloud received Him out of sight.”

It is the ascended Christ who sends the Holy Spirit upon men. It is the ascended Christ who open men’s souls to hear. It is the ascended Christ who sends forth His messengers to the Gentiles. It is the ascended Christ who today is the energy of the Church’s power.
the whiteness of all the church’s purity, the vitality of all the church’s life.

He lives and therefore there is a Christian community on the face of the Earth. He lives and therefore the Church will never die.

Christ the power of God and Christ the wisdom of God.

Matt 28:16-17, “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him but some doubted.”

1 Cor 15:6, “And then He was seen of about five hundred brethren at once.”

We are always tempted to think that long ago was more full of Christ than it is today. And that away forward in the future it will again be fuller. But that at this moment it is comparatively empty. It seems that the heavens touch the Earth on the horizon in front and behind. And they are further above us just where we stand.

But no past day had more of Christ in it than today has. And that He has gone away as the condition of His coming. “He therefore departed for a season, that we might receive Him forever.”

”I am with you always, even unto the end of the Earth.”

John 21:22, “Jesus said unto him, if I will that he tarry, stay, till I come what is that to thee, follow thou Me.”

One of the perils of the Church today is the restless activity which has far more machinery than it has boiler power, for far more work that it has retiring meditation.
And which therefore, with all its energy, is but superficial and sows much and reaps little.

We don’t want fewer Christian workers, but we do need more Christian meditation and prayers. We do not want for less service but the service would be better if there was more coming apart into a solitary place with Christ, and resting awhile.

Joshua 1:8, “The Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein, for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have great success.”

When a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is in fellowship and controlled by God the Holy Spirit, that believer will produce the character of Jesus Christ on this Earth.

God the Holy Spirit, when in control of your life, will not even speak of Himself but only of the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 16:13, “Howbeit when He the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all Truth. For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatsover He shall hear, that He shall speak, and He will show you things to come.”

When you are in fellowship, walking in the Truth, the Spirit of Truth will produce the character of Jesus Christ in you. And that is what the Apostle Paul was praying for concerning the Galatian believers.
Gal 4:19, “My little children of whom I travail again until Christ be formed in you.”

And when a believer is in fellowship, this is the character of Christ he or she produces:
Gal 5:22-23, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self control,  against such there is no law.”

This is what the Holy Spirit produces in a Christian’s life when he is not grieving or quenching the Holy Spirit.

The production of the Holy Spirit is the believer’s life is:
Gal 5:22, “The fruit of the Spirit is LOVE.”

Now love, here, is AGAPE, and this is not the love that you hear about sometimes in church, when you are told to love everybody and therefore hug the person next to you. If I was in church and someone reached around and hugged my wife in the name of Christianity, you would have WWIII on your hands.

Love here is a mental attitude. “As  a man thinketh in his mind so is he.”
This mental attitude love means not having any mental attitude sins, which are the worst sins in the Bible. It means a relaxed mental attitude, not angry, not proud, not judgmental, not vindictive, no hatred.

Mental attitude love is minus mental attitude sins, like its opposite hatred.

That is the fruit of the Spirit. That it the mental attitude of a Christian in fellowship.

Gal 5:22, “The fruit of the Spirit is JOY.”

”Joy” here is not hilarity. Joy here is inner happiness. Something you carry about with you all the time, which means that your happiness is not dependent on happenings, not
dependent on circumstances. This means you are content with such things as you have.

This means that circumstances never disturb your inner happiness.  It’s inner happiness because it doesn’t depend on outer circumstances.

And it is a command. The Bible says, “Rejoice and again I say rejoice.”
Happiness is demanded, therefore Christians should be happy.

There is a human happiness that Proverbs speaks about, “And in mirth there is heaviness to the soul.”

It is not happy hour. It is inner happiness at all times.

”The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy ...” The production of the Christian way of life producing the character of Jesus Christ on this Earth. There never was a time when Christ was not loving and when Christ was not happy.

G. G. G.  Grace Greek Gems!

For a better understanding of the New Testament, the Greek language is important to know.

Heb 13:5, “He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
”He hath said” is intensive in the Greek language, which is not brought out in the English translation.
Literally it is, “He Himself hath said.” That is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself personally made this promise.

The word “leave” is not from the usual Greek word which means to leave, but from a word which means to “be upheld,” or to “sustain.” Also in the Greek language here, there are “two negatives” before the word “leave” presenting a very strong negative.

Therefore, the promise to you is this:
”I will not, I will not cease to uphold you or sustain you.”

Therefore Paul can say, Phil 4:15, “I am strong for all things through the One who infuses strength in me.”

We are assured therefore of the sustaining Grace of God as we go through trials and testing times.

G.G.G.   Grace Greek Gems!

Heb 13: 5, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”

The word “forsake” is a composition of three words: “to leave, down, and in.” The first has the idea of forsaking one. The second suggests “rejection, defeat, helplessness.” The third refers to some place or circumstance in which a person may find himself helpless, forsaken.

The meaning of the word is that of forsaking someone in a state of defeat or helplessness, in the midst of hostile circumstances. The word means in its totality “to abandon, desert, to leave in strain, to leave helpless, to leave destitute, to leave in the lurch, to let one down.”

There are three “negatives” before this word, making this promise one of triple assurance.
It is, “I will not, I will not, I will not forsake thee.”

Not only do we have the assurance of the Lord’s all-sufficient maintaining power to hold us true to Him and in perfect peace as we go through testing times. But we have His promise that He will never abandon us, never desert us, never leave us in strain but will come to our help. Never leave us destitute but will supply all our need, never leave us in the lurch, but will see to it that we are rescued from the difficulties in which we sometimes find ourselves.

He will never let us down.

John 20:27, “Reach hither thy hand. Thrust it into My side.”

John 20:17, “Jesus said unto her, Touch Me not for I am not yet ascended to My Father.”

What was the touch that was forbidden on that very morning other women were permitted to clasp His feet? And on that very morning He said to the apostle, “Handle Me and see.” A week after He said to Thomas, “Reach hither thy hand. Thrust it into My side.”

Why were they permitted? What was forbidden to Mary? Her attempt to clasp Him was the expression of a love and a faith which unduly clung to the external form and desired to perpetuate the vanished relationship. So the Lord began the educational process then and there.

Luke 24:14, “The Lord is risen indeed and has appeared to Simon.”

The consciousness of sin and the experience of pardon deepen and make more operative in life the power of Divine love. Thus the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God many times before the religious Pharisees.

So, let us all be sure that even our sins and faults may be converted into stepping stones to higher things.

Luke 24:15, “And it came to pass while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus Himself DREW NEAR AND WENT WITH THEM.” We might have expected that He would have flashed His presence upon them, and cleared up everything. Not so! They were not ready for that.

They needed instruction before they could get revelation. When the instruction came, it all revolved around one point.

Their error was in their thinking that the death of Jesus Christ was fatal to His claims to be the Messiah and the answer to that was to show that the death of Jesus Christ was not fatal to, but a confirmation of His Messianic character and the necessary condition of His Messianic glory.

John 20:26, “After eight days again the disciples went within and Thomas came with them then came Jesus.”

He is called “doubting Thomas.” He was no doubter, but flat, frank, dogged disbelief, and not hesitation or doubt was his attitude. The very form in which he puts his  requirements shows how he was hugging his unbelief. And how he had no idea that that which he asked would ever be granted.

”Unless I have so and so I will not” indicates an altogether different spiritual attitude from what “If I have so and so I will” would have indicated.

The one is the attitude of willingness to be persuaded and the other is the token of a determination to be obstinate.

John 21:14, “Now this is the third time that Jesus showed Himself to the disciples after that He was risen from the dead.”

This is more than a parable for Earth. It is a prophecy of Heaven. There on the steadfast shore He welcomes His servants from their toil on the tossing sea. And when they land, they come not empty handed, but bearing their works that follow them.

And as Isaiah says in Isa 62:9, “They that have brought it together shall drink it in the court of My holiness.”

So it may be with us all, if we will. We, too, toiling in the night, may be aware of a presence that sheds peace across the waters, like a moon beam over a stormy sea.

John 21:15, “Jesus said unto Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He said unto Him, Yea, Lord Thou knowest that I love Thee. He said unto him, Feed My lambs.”

We might have expected, “Simon, son of Jonas, are you sorry for what you did?” “Simon son of Jonas, will you promise never to do it again?”

No, “Lovest Thou Me?” Jesus Christ requires of us not obedience primarily, nor repentance, nor vows, nor conduct, but a soul and that being given all the rest will follow.

“Lovest thou Me?”

I have been studying the Bible for a few years now and I have found a “loophole” in the Bible. Now keep it to yourself because I don’t want to discourage any believer and cause them to stumble. But there is a “loophole” in the Bible. For instance:

Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

But there is something God can’t do. There is a “loophole” in the Bible. There is something God can’t do.
He can’t save anyone who does not accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.

He also cannot fail. And He cannot lie. And He cannot go back on His Word. And He cannot lose one person who has trusted in Him. And He can’t stop loving you. And He can’t forsake you. And He can’t forget you. And He can’t stop loving you.

You see, there are a lot of things God can’t do. He can’t even save Himself.

So there is a “loophole” in the Bible, but don’t tell anyone. We don’t want to discourage them. Lets keep it between us.

In World War II they said that it was the war to end all wars. But as Christ said, “There will be wars and rumors of wars till He returns.”

The third worldwide war is still to come. That will be the war to end all wars. It will be a most unusual war. Not only will people and nations be involved, but also demons and Satan and elect angels.

There is only one way of stopping that war and that is when the Prince of Peace returns, with righteousness always preceding peace.
In the midst of that last great World War, believers will live through by the Grace of God.

See Rev 16, Rev 19, Rev 20, Dan 11, Isa 63 for reference.

If you don’t think his majesty the devil is a genius, then consider this:

Satan is the motivation for the last great world war in history.
Satan is also the motivation for the last great revolt and revolution of all revolts in perfect environment.

And in the midst of all of Satan’s evil motivations, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ will be safe.
”I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”

Notice the uniqueness of this promise in the original language of Hebrew.
Isa 26:3, “I will keep him in perfect peace because in Thee he trusteth.”
Isa 26:4, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord Jehovah strength is everlasting.”

Verse 3, literally, “I will keep him in peace peace because in Thee he trusteth.”
Verse 4, “Trust in the Lord for ever for the Lord Jehovah strength is everlasting,” literally Rock of ages.

Notice the double “peace peace.”
Notice the double “trust trust.”

”Peace peace” is Shalom Shalom. “Trust trust” is Batach Batach.

It is parallel:  Peace peace   Trust trust

We trust in the Lord, we have peace with God.
We trust in the Lord and we have the peace of God.
Each trust is met with peace.
The Hebrew word “trust” is the word Batach twice, and it means to slam it on Him.

God cannot lie. He is absolute Truth.

Num 23:19, “God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should change His mind. Hath He said and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken and shall He not make it good?”

Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.”
John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one cometh unto the Father but by Me.”

Since God cannot lie and Jesus Christ is the Truth, then Jesus Christ is God. The God-man, Saviour.

God is omnipresent. Infinitely present, everywhere.

Jer 23:24, “Can any man hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? Saith the Lord. Do not I fill Heaven and Earth, saith the Lord?”
Heb 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”
Acts 17:27, “That they should seek the Lord if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us.”

God is omnipresent and Jesus Christ is omnipresent, therefore, Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, the God-man Saviour.

God is omnipotent, all powerful. “He is able.”

Psa 147:5, “Great is the Lord and of great power. His understanding is infinite.”
1 Cor 1:24, “For unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God.”

Since God is all powerful and Jesus Christ is all powerful, then Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh. The God-man Saviour.

God is eternal. There never was a time when He did not exist and there never will be a time when He will not exist. He is everlasting.

Isa 43:13, “Yea, before the day was I am He; and there is none that can deliver out of My hand: I will work, and who shall let it.”
Psa 9:7, “But the Lord shall endure forever. He hath prepared His throne for judgment.”
Psa 90:2, “Before the mountains were brought forth or ever Thou hadst formed the Earth and the world even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God.”
1 Tim 1:17, “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible. And only wise God be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Rev 1:8, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

Since God is eternal and Jesus Christ is eternal, then Jesus Christ is God, the God-man, Saviour.

See if you can get around this all-encompassing word.

Rom 11:36, “For of Him”
                    “And through Him”
                    “And to Him”
                    “Are all things”
                    “To whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

Three Greek prepositions: APO, DIA, PROS.
From the ultimate source of Him, through the instrumentality of Him, and face-to-face with Him.

”Are all things. Amen.” We believe it!

God is absolute justice.

It is impossible for Him to do anything that is unfair.

Isa 45:21, “Tell ye, and bring them near, yea, let them take counsel together; who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? Have not I the Lord. And there is no God else beside Me, a just God and a Saviour. There is none beside Me.”
What a verse! ! !  A just God!

1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

God is just, fair. Jesus Christ is just, fair. Jesus Christ is God, the God-man, Saviour.

God is sovereign. He is the Divine Ruler. He has Divine volition.

Jer 23:5, “Behold the days come saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a Righteous Branch and a King shall reign and prosper and execute judgment and justice in the Earth.”
1 Tim 6:15, “Which in His time He will show who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.”

God is sovereign. He rules and reigns. Jesus Christ is sovereign, therefore Jesus Christ is God, the God-man, Saviour.

The Scripture says, “There is none righteous, no not one.” But God is righteous.

Jer 23:6, “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the Name whereby He shall be called, the Lord our righteousness.”

1 John 2:29, “If you know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.”
God is righteous and Jesus Christ is righteous. Therefore, Jesus Christ is God, the God-man, Saviour.

Our qualification for Heaven is not our righteousness but Christ’s imputed righteousness, which qualifies us for Heaven.
2 Cor 5:21, “He made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin, that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

Imputed righteousness qualifies us for Heaven.
”Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.”

Did you ever notice the similarity and the contrast between the grave of John the baptist and the grave of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Matt 14:12, “And John’s disciples and took up his body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.”
Matt 28:8, “And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy.”

John the baptists’ disciples rescued the headless corpse of their martyred teacher from a prison grave. They performed the last office of love and felt that it was all over.

And when they laid their martyred lord in the grave, they felt also that it was all over.
John lost his head. But Jesus Christ kept His.

The grave of John was the end of a school. The grave of Jesus Christ was the beginning of the Church.

Men come and go, “but the Word of God abideth forever,“ both the Written Word and the Living Word.

Presidents' Day

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust, and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

—Theodore Roosevelt

“The birth pangs make all men the debtors of all women. The nation is in a bad way if there is no real home, if the family is not of the right kind, if the man is not a good husband and father, if he is brutal or cowardly or selfish.

If the woman has lost her sense of duty, if she is sunk in vapid self indulgence, or has let her nature be twisted so that she prefers the sterile pseudo intellectuality to that great and beautiful development of character which comes only to those whose lives know the fullness of duty done, or effort made, and self sacrifice undergone. In the last analysis, the welfare of the state depends absolutely upon whether or not the average family , the average man and woman and their children, represent the kind of citizenship fit for the foundation of a great nation.

And if we fail to appreciate this, we fail to appreciate the root morality upon which all healthy civilization is based. There are certain old truths which will be true as long as the world endures. And which no amount of progress can alter, one of these is the
truth that the primal duty of the husband is to be the breadwinner, the breadwinner for his wife and children. And the primal duty of the woman is to be the helpmeet, the housewife and the mother.

—Theodore Roosevelt

“Peace is not the end. Righteousness is the end”

”When the Saviour saw the money changers in the temple, He broke the peace by driving them out. At that moment peace would have been obtained readily enough by the simple process of keeping quiet in the presence of wrong. But instead of preserving peace at the expense of righteousness, the Saviour armed Himself with a scourge of cords and drove the money changers from the temple.”

—Theodore Roosevelt 
 

“Truth and righteousness,” said Roosevelt, “are of no value to the world until they are embodied in a personality. And there is only one Source of Truth and Righteousness.

“Except as they flow from the Almighty God Himself, they do not exist. No man can possibly stand for truth and righteousness or employ their power unless he is in a direct relationship with the Divine Source. The wireless connection must be established with God at one end and man at the other. Then the man can exclaim boldly and truly with Paul, 'I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me'.”

—Theodore Roosevelt

“Fear God and Take Your Own Part”

”Fear God in the true sense of the word means to love God, respect God, honor God, and all of this can only be done by loving your neighbor, treating him justly and mercifully and in all ways endeavoring to protect him from injustice and cruelty, thus obeying, as far as our human frailty will permit, the great immutable law of righteousness.”

—Theodore Roosevelt

“I am engaged in one of the greatest moral conflicts of the age, that of colossal lawless corporations against the government, the oppression of lawless wealth, and in the purchase of lawmakers by it, have wrecked most of the empires of the past. If not resisted and defeated, will ruin our republic.

”As executive of this nation, I am determining that no man or set of men shall defy the law of the land. The rich and the powerful must obey the law as well as the poor and the feeble, not any better, not any worse, but just the same, just the same.

”After a week of perplexing problems and in heated contests “it does so rest my soul to come into the house of the Lord and worship, and to sing and to mean it, the Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, and to know that He is my Father and takes me up in His life and plans, and to commune personally with Christ. I am sure I get a wisdom not my own, and superhuman strength, for fighting the moral evils I am called to confront.”

—Theodore Roosevelt

We still have freedom in our country to believe as we please. We can believe in Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, or we can choose not to believe. Because “with the mind man believeth unto salvation.”

We have what Jesus Christ has spoken in the Bible. In fact, the Bible is called “the mind of Christ.” So we know what He thinks. When we listen to Him, it is not just a mere man that we are listening to.

God the Father didn’t take on flesh. God the Holy Spirit didn’t take on flesh. But God the Son did. So Jesus Christ is the unique Member of the human race, equal with man and equal with God, “the God-man.”

Now, when you listen to Him, you are listening to God manifested in the flesh, and God the Father is satisfied with His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. We as members of the human race ought to be satisfied with Him also.
”This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him.”
God the Holy Spirit doesn’t speak of Himself, “but expressly of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

If the Father and the Holy Spirit can be satisfied with the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, we also ought to be more than satisfied.
”God, who spared not His only begotten Son but gave Him up for us, how shall He not freely with Him give us all things.“
 
 

Jesus Christ being the unique Person of the universe, sometimes spoke from His humanity and sometimes from His Deity and sometimes from His hypostatic union. He said, “I thirst.” “I hunger.” That is humanity speaking.

He said, “I AM.” That is Deity speaking. And when He said, “I AM,” He flattened the crowd.

He said “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  That is spoken from His hypostatic union as the God-man.
”This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him.”

If God the Father is pleased with His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, don’t you think that we can take God the Father’s Word for it and find the same satisfaction He found in Christ?

Heb 13: 5, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”

One of the old patriarchs had created a great sin, got out of fellowship, and went way down into Egypt to help himself instead trusting in the Lord. He was commanded on his return to Palestine to go to the place where he dwelt at the first and begin again at the point when he began when he first entered the land.

Gen 3:3-4, “Which being translated is just this, the only way to keep our souls vital and quick is to have recourse again and again to that same power which first imparted life. And that is done by the same means, trusting in Christ.

”Having received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.”
”What have we received that we have not received it from the Lord and why do we act as if we have not received it?”

We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.

The right to pardon sin can only be exercised by God Himself. Only God can forgive sin.
Then how do you figure out this passage?
Luke 5:24, “The Son of man hath power upon Earth to forgive sins.”

And this passage ..
Col 3:13, “Forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against you, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

If only God can forgive sin and Christ can forgive sin, than Christ must be God in the flesh.

“We must worship God in Spirit and Truth.”

God must be worshipped.

No man, not even apostles, would suffer himself to be worshipped, Acts 10:25-26, 14:8-15.
Nor will any unfallen angels accept the worship which belongs to God alone, Rev 22:8-9

But on Christ’s ascension into Heaven, they worshipped Him, Luke 24:52.
Psa 95:6, “O come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” That is Christ.

Christ said that “All men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Father which hath sent Him,” John 5:23.
Jesus Christ receives worship. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.

Jesus Christ is the Creator and Preserver of the universe, the Pardoner of sin, the One who raises the dead, the One who bestows eternal life and eternal rewards, the One who judges the world, and Who receives the worship of man and angels.

EITHER THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS GOD IN THE FULLEST SENSE OR THERE IS NO GOD AT ALL.

Take your choice!

Omniscience Belongs to God Alone

Isa 40:28, “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard? That the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the Earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding.”

John 6:64, “But there are some of you that believe not for Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who should betray Him.”

Jesus Christ is omniscient. Jesus Christ is God.

Gen 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth.” The word “create” means to create out of nothing. Man can take something that is existing and make something of it, but this is God creating something out of nothing. God makes something out of nothing.

Now, how do you reconcile the following passages about the Lord Jesus Christ?

John 1:3, “All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made.” “And the Word was made by Him,” verse 10.
Heb 1:10, “And Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the Earth and the heavens are the works of Thine hands.”
Col 1:16, “For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven and that are in the Earth, visible, invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or powers, all things were created by Him, and for Him, and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”

Since God is the only One that can create something out of nothing, and Jesus Christ is the Creator, then Jesus Christ is God, the God-man, Saviour.

Only God Can Raise the Dead

2 Cor 1:9, “That we should trust not in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.”

Jesus Christ raised the dead while He was here and He will raise the dead again in the future.
John 5:21, “For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.”

John 5:28-29, “Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in which all that are in graves shall hear His voice and shall come forth. They that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

John 11:25, “He is also the Resurrection and the Life.”

So since God only can raise the dead and Christ has raised the dead and will raise the dead, that means that Jesus Christ is God, the God-man, Saviour.
God the Father was the Planner. God the Son was the Executor of the plan. And God the Holy Spirit is the Illuminator of the plan.

Penknifes Are Dangerous

Jer 36:23, “And it came to pass that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.”

When a nation is declining, they try to get rid of the Word of God. And they try to destroy first the messenger and then the Message. They may destroy the messenger, but they can never destroy the Message, the “Word of God that liveth and abideth for ever.”

Notice Jer 36:27-28, “Then the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after that the king had burned the roll and the Words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah saying, Take thee again another roll and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll which Jehoikim the king of Judah hath burned.”

We, as believers, have the Word of God to proclaim and we may depart because of our ministry being completed or the body of Christ becoming completed, but the Word of God will always be in existence.

Matt 11:30, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

If you want to rule yourself, let Christ rule you. Put your trust in Him. Leave yourself in His hands. Lay yourself at His feet. Rest upon His great sacrifice. Look on Him for  forgiveness and then look on Him for marching orders, for pure living, and for everything else.

He will give power to your will no matter how feeble it was before. Submit to Him and He will make you lord of yourself, which is greater than being a lord over any land.

God wants to give you at least 34 things. The way in which you receive them is when you put your trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. The principle is found in:

Rom 8:32, “God who spared not His only Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?”

Joshua 24:15, “Choose this day whom ye will serve.”

We have to deliberately decide whether or not Jesus Christ is to be our Saviour and King. We have to deliberately decide that God the Father has given to us this awesome gift of free will and choice. And therefore He has laid upon us a tremendous weight of responsibility and has separated us from the less-endowed creatures all around us.

And what do most of us do with it? For the most part, more than likely, we drift along with our own opinions.
We have Christ for “our enduring Substance,” therefore we can face all varieties of conditions.
Our choice, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

1 John 4:8, “He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love.”

We are made with souls that need to rest upon an Absolute Love. We are made with a mind that needs to grasp a pure, perfect and personal Truth. We are made with wills that crave an absolute perfect Holiness. We need all that love, truth, authority, purity to be gathered into One.

The misery of the world is when we set out to look for our treasure. We have to go into many lands and many merchants to buy many goodly pearls. But we need the one Pearl of Great Price, into which all of our wealth can be invested. We need that One to be our undying and perpetual Possession.

There is only One to whom our love can cleave. “The love of God which is shed abroad in our minds by means of God the Holy Spirit.”

1 John 3:1, “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.”

Behold! We are called upon to come with our little vessels and measure the great ocean, and to plumb with our short lines the infinite depth, and not only to estimate the quantity, but the quality of love that in both surpasses all means of comparison and conception. We can neither do the one nor the other for we have no line long enough to sound the depths and no experience that will give us a standard with which to compare its quality.

But all that we can do, what John would have us to do, is to look at the working of that love till we can form some wholly inadequate idea of it.
”Behold,” keep on beholding. “Looking unto Jesus .” Keep on looking unto Jesus.

“Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God,” 1 John 3:1.

”Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world,” John 1:29.

The word “behold” is not the mere exclamation which you often find both in the Old and the New Testament, which is simply intended to emphasize the importance which follows. But this is a distinct command to do the thing, to look, and to ever look, and to look again. And to live in the habitual and devout contemplation of that infinite and wondrous love of God.

Isaiah said, “Look unto Me all ye ends of the Earth, and be saved.”

”Behold,” keep on beholding.
”Look,” keep on looking.

”Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.”

John 17, “Feed My lambs.” “Feed My sheep.” “Feed My sheep.”

The three-fold command to Peter.

First of all, to care for the sustenance of the least. Then to guide and direct the more advanced. And then to open the deepest store’s of God’s Truth, and impart wisdom as well as guidance to all, of all stages. There are the charges that love wins for its honor and its crown. Primarily they applied to Peter and then to Pastor-Teachers. And they apply to all believers in their measure and degree.

The lesson is this: The spring of all service to men is love to Christ. Historically it has been so.

”Peter lovest thou Me, feed…”  “Peter lovest thou Me, feed…”  “Peter lovest thou Me, feed…”

”Feed the flock that is among” is a challenge to all pastors.

Grace Giving, Part Two. Why Christians Give.

6. Christian giving is love giving, not law giving.
2 Cor 8:8, “I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and so prove that the sincerity of your love.”
We give because we want to, which is love, not because we have to, which is law giving.

7. As Jesus Christ voluntarily gave Himself, we in giving must have the same attitude of volition, willingly.
2 Cor 8:9, “For you know the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich.”
If you cannot give voluntarily, don’t give at all.

8. Don’t let past failures stop you from giving.
2 Cor 8:10, “And herein I give my advice, for this is expedient for you who have begun before not only to do, but to be forward a year ago.”
Certainly there are times when we fail in not giving, and if that is the case, just pick yourself up and keep moving.

9. Giving is in accordance with what you have.
2 Cor 8:11, “Now therefore perform the doing of it that as their was a readiness to will, so there my be a performance out of that which ye have.”

This fits in with the principle of giving as God has prospered you, not from that which you don’t have.
1 Cor 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God has prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

10. Even if a believer has nothing to give, it is fully accepted proving you have a willing mind to give.

2 Cor 8:12, “For if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not.”
The greatest test of our volition and mental attitude is our thinking concerning the giving of money.

”As a man thinketh in his mind so is he.”
”For out of the mind come the issue of life.”

Politicians, schools, and social programs all say that the answer to man’s problem is  environment. Well, if that was the case, there would be no reason for the “Creator to go to the Cross.” He could have made a perpetual “Garden of Eden.”

But what did Adam do in a perfect environment? What will the people after a 1000 years of perfect environment in the Millennium do?

The same thing Adam did, revolt!

Point: Environment is not the answer to man’s problems. It is not the Garden of Eden or the Millennium. It is the Cross, which is what man needs — regeneration.

I have a friend in Pittsuburgh who lives right across the street from a closed-down steel mill. Ten blocks away there is another closed down steel mill. No one wants to rebuild or build. They are empty and remain empty. Why? Because of steel mills polluting the atmosphere. The pollution that politicians are talking about is “the sweet smell of free enterprise.” What are the steel workers doing now?

The pollution of the soul is the real problem. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” ”The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Let’s work on clearing up the environment of the real you, the soul. Christ is going to take care of the environment very shortly.

We have all heard this expression “I will give you the shirt off my back.”

We all know what that means and what that doesn’t mean. We have all been told that by someone one time or another in our lives. But if we do something wrong or say something that is not compatible with “Mr. Shirtless,” what he wants to give you now is his smelly socks.

But notice this great relationship of Jonathan and David.
1 Sam 18:4, “And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to David and his garments even to his sword and to his bow, and to his girdle.”

Jonathan gave David the shirt off his back. And his sword and bow. Note there was no registration of arms in those days.

And to his girdle. Hmmmmm, it was a belt, to hold his sword on.

I have had some who have given me the shirt off their backs, as it were. Try it, you will like it. One day someone liked the tie I was wearing and I took it off and gave it to them and it shocked them. Try it, you’ll like it.

Didn’t Christ give us the shirt off His back? ”Though He was rich, He became poor that we may become rich in His Grace.”

I think that is something to think about. Jonathan gave David the shirt off his back.

Col 3:17, “Do all in the Name of Jesus Christ.”
1 Cor 11:14, “This do in remembrance of Me.”
1 Cor 11:29, “Discerning the Lord’s body.”

Not only that we are in danger of forgetting, but do this because you remember.
Do this not only that your remembrance may be strengthened, but do this because they are strong.

Seeing the Lord’s body, discerning His presence, and loving that which you discern.

”And in like manner, whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
”Do all for the sake of the character as revealed to you of Him, whom you love, do it all giving thanks unto God and the Father of Him.”

And then Col 3:23,  “Whatever you do, do it heartily.”
”Do this in remembrance of Me.”

Christ said there would be wars and rumors of wars till He comes back to this Earth. That prophecy is being fulfilled today. We have more wars going on now than ever before, in spite of the “United Notions.”

Many people are frightened by the false alarm that nukes and other sophisticated weapons will destroy this Earth, this planet Earth. False concept! No fear of that at all.

Why? Jesus Christ created the universe:
Col 1:16-17, “For by Him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are on the Earth, visible and invisible whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created by Him and for Him.” ”He is before all things and by Him all things consist.”

How does He do it? How does He keep the planet Earth from being destroyed?

Heb 1:3, “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His Person  "and upholding all things by the Word of His power when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High.”

”By the Word of His power” He holds this planet together. No one can destroy it. It will last till the end of the Millennium and then Christ Himself will destroy and create a new Heaven and a new Earth and a new Jerusalem.

”God has not given us the mind of fear but of love and power and a stabilized mentality.” There will always be people on this Earth.

”Fear thou not for I am with thee. I will help thee. I will uphold thee. I will strengthen thee with the right hand of My power.” Nukes are nothing to Christ.

The Church Age began with the baptism of the Spirit and the Church Age ends with the Rapture of the Church.

As believers living in the Church Age, we are living in the most unique age of all times.

1. There is equality among believers. “All one in Christ.”
2. The royal commission belongs to every believer.
3. Every believer is a priest.
4. Every believer is an ambassador
5. Every believer is indwelt by the Trinity.
6. Every believer is in full-time Christian service.

Do you realize that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit indwell you?
This never happened before in any age.

What the Bible says about Grace giving. Why do believers give.

1. It doesn’t start in your pocket. It starts in your mind.
2 Cor 8:2, “How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”

2. Christian giving must be free from pressure and apart from coercion. It must be free will. Volition must operate in giving.
2 Cor 8:3, “For I bear them record that according to their ability and over and beyond their ability of their own free will they gave.”
”What isn’t freely given isn’t worth having.”

3. It is to be considered a privilege to give.
2 Cor 8:4, “Praying or begging us with much entreaty they constantly begged for the favour and partnership in ministering of the saints.”

4. Giving with self and not with money.
2 Cor 8:5, “And this they did not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”
They were in fellowship before they gave.

5. Giving is Grace — a part of Grace orientation.
2 Cor 8:7, “Therefore as ye abound in every thing in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all diligence and in your love to us. And that ye abound in this Grace also.”

Love gives. If you love, you cannot not give.

Ecc 4:9, “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor.”
Ecc 4:10, “For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow, but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him.”

God said it was not good for man to be alone. And so He designed for him a help-meet, one fit specifically for him. And the two became one flesh. A compound unity.

Love is the passionate and abiding desire on the part of two people in order to produce together conditions under which each can be; and spontaneously express his or her own real self; to produce together a mental attitude and an emotional climate in which each can flourish far superior to what either could not achieve alone.

”It is not good for man to be alone.”
”I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine!”

Recently it has been snowing in Indiana. Coming from Florida and Houston, being cold was a shock to my system. But it reminded me of laying in the fields in Europe during WW II, and then I realized how fortunate I am in having a roof over my head.

I thought of King David, and how when was old he was cold, too. I always taught that there was no difference between the Old and the New Testament, only the New is the fulfillment of the Old. But there is a difference. Take King David for example. When he got cold, what did he do? Well, I was cold and I can’t do what David did.

Well, maybe the difference is, is that I am not a king. But I am a child of the King of Kings. But I guess kings have a privilege that we don’t have. Like the “king” we have in the White House.

Do you know what David did to get warm? Did he buy an electric blanket? Well, yes, in a way.

1 Kings 1:1-2, “Now King David was old and stricken in years. And they covered him with clothes but he gat no heat. Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin, and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him and let her lie in thy bosom that my lord, the king, may get heat.”

”He gat no heat.” I thought a “gat” was a gun.
“Young virgin,” well, that is hard to find today. Even Mary didn’t remain a virgin long.
This seems like an early escort service.

Now you see there is a difference between the Old and the New Testaments. God, knowing that there would not be too many young virgins, designed for us heaters. So when it gets cold, get a heater. Then again, when I was growing up, a heater was also a gun.

Ecc 4:11, again, “If two lie together, then they have warmth but how can one be warm alone?”

Heater? No, Right-Man/Right-Woman. “It is not good for man to be alone.”

Many people give “without” loving.
But you can’t love “without” giving.

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall never perish …”
Love gives.

Have you ever had someone you could call your friend? What is a true friend? Can we find a description of a true friend somewhere?  Yes ...  What is a friend?

1. A friend is straightforward. Exodus 33:11, “The Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaketh unto his friend.”
2. There is openness with a friend. Deut 13:6, “A friend which is as thine own soul.”
3. A friend is Gracious and gives. 1 Sam 18:3-4, “And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David and his garments even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle.”
   In a true sense, Jonathan gave David the shirt off his back.
4. A friend is with you in life and death. 2 Sam 15:21, “Surely in what place my lord the king shall be whether in death or in life, even there also will thy servant be.”
5. You and your friend are inseparable. 2 Kings 2:2, “As the Lord liveth and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.”
6. A friend is merciful. Job 6:14, “To him that is afflicted, pity shall be shown from his friend.”
7. A friend influences your behavior. Psa 35:14, “I behaved myself as though he had been my friend.”
8. A friend is with you in distress. Prov 17:17, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
9. A friend has winning ways. Prov 18:24, “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Christ doesn’t cling. He sticks.
10. A friend wins kings. Prov 22:11, He that loveth pureness of heart for the Grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.”
    Grace is poured upon his lips.
11. A friend always means well. Prov 27:6, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
12. A friend is a constant source of joy. Prov 27:9, “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.”
13. A friend always clings. Prov 27:10, “Thine own friend and thy father’s friend forsake not.”
14. A friend looks you in the face. Prov 21:17, “A man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
15. A friend will never harm you. Matt 20:13, “Friend, I do thee no harm.”
16. A friend always lifts you up. Friends go up higher.
17. A friend always invites you. Esther 5:10, “And when he came home, he sent and called for his friend.”
    With a friend you always have an open invitation.
18. A friend’s first duty is to his friend. Mark 5:19, “Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee and had compassion on thee.”
19. A friend shares his joys with you. Luke 15:6, “And when he cometh home, he called his friends and neighbours saying unto them, rejoice with me.” Friends have the capacity for sharing one another’s enthusiasm.
20. A friend always makes sacrifices. John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than a man lay down his life for his friends.”
21. A friend is more precious than life itself. Rom 16:3-4, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus. Who have for my life laid down their own necks.”
22. You and your friend are on a first name basis. 3 John, “Greet thy friends by name.”

Do you have a friend like this? Sure you do — the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are comforted by the Lord. Not to be made comfortable. But to be made “comforters.”

2 Cor 1:3-4, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we
ourselves are comforted of God.”

You know how nice it is to have a comforter when it is cold.

We are said to be “epistles.” 2 Cor 3:2-3, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts known and read of all men. For as much as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone but in fleshly tables of the heart.”

The only epistle anyone may read is you!
What is the Gospel according to you?

I passed by a church that was called, “St. Michael and All the Angels.”

I don’t think you want to go into any place that invites all the angels. There are some angels that are fallen, in fact Satan is one of them. They call them demons.

I don’t think I would want to go in there. Well ,if you did go in there, you had better put on a WWII helmet. Remember there is an angelic conflict going on, which is what Christians are here to resolve.

Clinton said that he brought peace to Ireland. But today the IRA pulled out of the weapons talks.

People do not understand that in Ireland, like in Israel, it is a holy war. There is a spiritual factor.

The Jews and the Arabs have the same father but different mothers, Sarah and Hagar. So there is a feud,

And, in Ireland, no one will tell you, but it is the fight between the “orange men and the Irish men,” meaning Protestants against Catholics. Clinton can not solve those wars.

The Second Advent of Christ will solve both of them. “There will be wars and rumors of wars till I come.”

There is one of the greatest worldwide wars that has ever occurred going to take place right before the Second Advent of Jesus Christ.

We can call it WW III. All the nations of the Earth will be involved in it. So much for the “United Notions” and for their stopping all wars. We have more wars now occurring on Earth than we have ever had.

So, “there will be wars and rumors of wars till Christ comes.”

And this worldwide war which ends the Tribulation, involves not only members of the human race but also elect and fallen angels.

Some one had better tell them from the “United Notions” to make peace. How can you stop angels from fighting? By resolving the angelic conflict.

So my vote is “get the U.S. out of the U.N.” and let’s stop harboring terrorists with diplomatic immunity.

Check out Rev 16 for documentation. The cause of that Mid-East crisis is anti-Semitism.

Doctors used to prescribe that “You take an aspirin and go to bed and get some rest.”

That is exactly what the Great Physician prescribes for us as Christians.

2 Thess 1:7, “And to you who are troubled, REST with us  when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels.”

The word “rest” is the Greek word ASPIRIN. Take an aspirin and go to bed and rest. This particular aspirin is a part of the “gos-pill.”

Psa 37:7, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”

Take an aspirin and go to bed and get some rest. A prescription from our Great Physician.

The “Human Spirit”

Most people don’t make the distinction between the “human spirit” and the “soul.” They are entirely different and not the same as some teach.

The Greek word for “spirit” is “pneuma” and the Greek word for “soul” is “psuche.” There is definitely a difference!

And this also distinguishes between the “human spirit” and the “Holy Spirit.” Three separate and distinct principles.

Only the Bible tells us that there is a distinction between the “human spirit” and the “soul.”

Heb 4:12, “For the Word of God is alive and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even unto the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and marrow and is a critic of the thoughts intents of the mind.”

So, from Scripture we know there is a “human spirit” and a “human soul” and they are different.

In the original creation of man, the “human spirit” was received along with the soul.
Gen 2:7, “Breath of life” is literally “breath of lives,” plural, which is the “human soul” and the “human spirit.”

God breathed into man the “human spirit” and the “human soul.”

Now the unbeliever comes into this world dead in trespasses and sins and is alienated from God and is an enemy of God. He is born “without a human spirit.” He has a body and a soul. Therefore he can’t understand any spiritual phenomena. “God is a Spirit and we must worship Him in spirit and truth.” But the unbeliever cannot.

Therefore, the term for the unbeliever is that he is dichotomous, two parts, human soul and body.

1 Cor 2:14, “The soulish man receives not the things of the Spirit ...”
Jude 1:19, “Therefore be they who separate themselves, sensual having not the spirit.”

So, the unbeliever has a problem, which is solved by the Grace of God.

The Human Spirit, Part # 2

When it comes to the unbeliever, he does not possess the Grace apparatus for perception. His perspicacity is therefore only measured in the terms of human IQ.

So, God the Holy Spirit acts as a human spirit in the presentation of the Gospel to the unbeliever.
John 16:8-11, 1 Cor 2:14-16, Gen 6:3

At the point of salvation, both the Holy Spirit and the human spirit are received.

The believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is now “trichotomous,” human spirit, human soul, human body.

1 Thess 5:23, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Human IQ is no longer a handicap or an issue.

Rom 8:16, “The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.”

Spiritual perception functions on the Grace apparatus for perception, which is the Holy Spirit, the human spirit, and the Word of God.

The Human Spirit, Part #3

The spiritual IQ of the believer is in the human spirit.
Job 32:8, “But there is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

Also found in Eph 3:16-19, and it is determined by the amount of the Word stored in the human spirit.

The human spirit is both the target and storage for the Word of God under the concept of spiritual maturity.

The filling of the Holy Spirit is necessary to get the Word of God from the Bible to the mind.

John 14:26, 1 Cor 2:9-16, 1 John 2:27

”The Comforter will teach you all things.”

The Word of God transferred by faith to the human spirit is full knowledge, which is rooted and grounded.

Eph 3:17, Col 2:7, Col 3:10

”That Christ might dwell,” be at home, “in your minds by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love.”

The Human Spirit, Part #4

The target in perspicacity by Grace is therefore the Word of God inside the human spirit, which is the basis of application. Only from the human spirit is the Word of God usable.

We exhale the Word of God toward God and toward man.

Because the Word of God resides in the human spirit, it is the basis for spiritual IQ.  Eph 3:16-18, and the human spirit becomes the area of refreshment.

2 Cor 7:13, “Therefore we were comforted in your comfort yea and exceedingly the more joyed we in the joy of Titus because his spirit was refreshed by you all.”

The Word of God stored in the human spirit constitutes the basis for Grace orientation.

Philemon 1:25, “The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

The secret to being a beautiful women is not Revlon, but “revelation.”

When a believer recognizes Jesus Christ as their Lord and submits to Him, then a beautiful relationship exists. And the believer comes under the Lord's “banner of love” and is protected and embraced and satisfied.

When Sarah called Abraham “lord” and recognized him as her lord, she became more beautiful then she ever was.

Holy women of old adorned themselves by being submissive to “their own husbands.” There is nothing more beautiful a woman responding to her lord.

We are the body of Christ and we respond to our Lord. And we reflect His glory.

Not Revlon, but revelation makes you beautiful. If the barn needs painting, well paint it, but this is inner beauty. Reflected, because He first loved us and we love because He first loved us.”

In response and submission there is beauty. You too can be beautiful.

Saturday, February 12, 2000

1. When the believer is filled with the Spirit, Jesus Christ is at home in his body.
   Eph 3:16-17, that Christ might “dwell.” This particular Greek word means “to be at home” in the soul. Comfortable and relaxed.
   
2. Therefore we have this transitional command.
   Rom 13:4, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
   The filling of the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit.
   
3. Rom 13:4, “Maketh no provision for the flesh,” which is the old sin nature.
   The use of 1 John 1:9 provides cleansing and the Holy Spirit can control. The use of growing in Grace operates unto maturity. And Christ is glorified, John 16:14.
   
4. When the believer is controlled by God the Holy Spirit, the Lord is glorified. Phil 1:20 with 1 Cor 6:19-20.

1. When the believer is controlled by God the Holy Spirit, the character of the Lord Jesus Christ is formed in the life. Gal 4:19, Gal 5:22-23
2. The fruit of the Spirit, Gal 5:22-23, is the character of Christ as He walked on this Earth.
3. All believers are ambassadors for the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 5:20, but when a believer is out of fellowship, his representation of Christ is not Christ glorifying.
4. The carnal believer is commanded to “wake up” and let the Holy Spirit glorify the Lord, be filled with the Spirit. Eph 5:14-18
5. The glorification of Christ is done through the shining forth of the maturity of the believer. Believers are lights. Reflectors.

I have noticed that a lot of people are playing the stock market. In fact you can even do it on the Internet. They are making it easy for you to lose your money. I remember the first stock market crash ... Very vividly. The stock market is just like Vegas. You can’t win.

I have decided to play the stock market and I have invested in some commodities like gold, silver and precious stones. And the rate is fixed and it is eternal.

Most of the people, even Christians, have invested in wood and hay and stubble. You talk about a stock market crash. Wait till you see that one!

It is listed on the stock market exchange under the title: 1 Corinthians chapter three.  Check it out. Invest, Invest, Invest. It is the best!

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:5, Rom 5:3-4, 1 Cor 12:13, Gal 3:26-28, Eph 4:5, Col 2:12
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is union with Christ, or positional truth.

1. Mechanics: God the Holy Spirit takes the believer at the moment of salvation and places them into union with Christ.
   
2. This did not occur in the Old Testament times or in previous dispensations. Col 1:25-26
   
3. It was first prophesied by Christ during His earthly ministry. John 14:20
   
4. The unification of believers is achieved by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Eph 4:5, Heb 2:11
   Water baptism divides.
   
5. It began the Church Age. Acts 1:5, 2:3, 11:15-17
   
6. It is the basis of current positional Truth, Eph 1:3-6
   
7. It is not an experience of any sort.

Baptized by the Holy Spirit is an aorist tense, a point of time, which excludes experience once and for all.

Water in the Bible represents:

1. Actual drinking water, H₂O, “A cup of cold water in My Name.”
2. The Word of God in Eph 5, “The washing by the water of the Word.”
3. Salvation in Isa 55, “Ho every, Come ye to the water and drink.”
4. Water baptism where literally water represents something else.
    A. The baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ, Matt 3:13-17
        1. Water represents the Father’s will and plan.
        2. Christ identified Himself with the Father’s will by going to the Cross and dying for the sins of the world.

We can’t follow Christ in baptism. That is the cross. And water baptism never saved Christ. He didn’t need to be saved. He is the Saviour.
Baptism, like communion, is for believers only. It testifies to the means of the Christian way of life.
Into the water — down with human good
Up out of the water — up with Divine Good.

John the baptist’s baptism: Matt 3:1-11, Acts 19:2-4, John 1:25-33

    A. The water represents the kingdom of God.
    B. The water was the identification of the Lord Jesus Christ and His kingdom.

John the identifier identified Christ as the Messiah and Saviour of the world. Water baptism didn’t save Jesus Christ.

The believers’ baptism: Acts 2:41, 9:18, 16:47-48

    A. The water represents the body of Christ.
    B. Identification with Christ in His death.
    C. Identification with Him in the air, a picture of union with the Lord Jesus Christ in resurrected life walking in newness of life, Divine Good.
    D. This act represents union with Christ and is a testimony to personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
    E. The ordinances for the Church:
        1. Water baptism, once, not for salvation, but represents salvation.
        2. Communion table, repeated, represents being in fellowship with Christ, necessary for living the Christian way of life.

Water baptism never saves. Paul thanked God that he only baptized Cripis and Gauis, because there was so much confusion about baptism as there still is today.

Denominations are built on water baptism for salvation and that is works. The plan of God is not of works.

There are seven baptisms listed in Scripture.

Which one saves? None!

There are four real baptisms, which are not water. They are dry.

    A. The baptism of Moses. 1 Cor 10:2, a double identification.
        1. The children of Israel were identified with Moses as they went through the Red Sea.
        2. Identification with the cloud, which represents Christ, and with the sea. But they went through dry.

    B. The baptism of fire, no water again. Matt 3:11, 13:25ff
        Here unbelievers are identified with judgment. Fire is judgment, at the end of the Tribulation, at the Second Advent of Christ.

Moses’ cloud and baptism of fire. No water in either one of them. Both of them are dry baptisms. Baptism doesn’t mean water, it means identification.

The baptism of the Cross, or the cup. Matt 20:22, Luke 12:56. Double identification.

1. Christ identified Himself with the Cross and with our sins.
2. All the sins of the world were “put in a cup and poured out on Christ.” The Father judged all our sins in Christ.

”He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

Sin is no longer the issue. Christ paid for all our sins. The issue now is “What think ye of Christ?” Whose Son is He?

There are many principles concerning God the Holy Spirit which are found in the Word of God that somehow or other never end up in the pulpit. One of my pet peeves, is the mistranslation of God the Holy Spirit as “Holy Ghost.” God is not a ghost. God is a spirit.

When the King James translation of your Bible was made in 1611 A.D., there were two schools fighting one another for superiority. One school, Oxford, translated the word “Spirit” as “spirit.” And the other school, Cambridge, translated the same word “spirit” as “ghost.” But the Greek word is “PNEUMA,” which is always spirit even in our English language.

But apart from that, God the Holy Spirit never speaks of Himself, only of the Lord Jesus Christ. That should silence some of the emotional dictating Christians from constantly saying “Oh, Holy Ghost.”

God the Holy Spirit is the Agent of witnessing. He is the one who convicts the unbeliever of unbelief in Christ. So actually, we never win any one to the Lord, but God the Holy Spirit does.

When you or I quote a salvation verse to an unbeliever, God the Holy Spirit acts as his human spirit and pipes that information into the mentality of his soul so that he can make a decision for Christ.

”For with the mind man believeth unto salvation.”

”As a man thinketh in his mind so is he.”

It is the responsibility of God the Holy Spirit to convict the unbeliever of sin of not believing in Christ.

And our responsibility is to present the Gospel.

God the Holy Spirit Glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. God the Holy Spirit did not come to indwell all believers until the Lord Jesus Christ had ascended and was glorified. John 7:38-39
2. The purpose of the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit in this dispensation is “not to glorify the Holy Spirit,” but to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, which is a big mistake with Christians of our apostate day.
3. While Jesus Christ is absent from this Earth, the Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ, John 16:14.
4. The purpose of the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit in the body of believers is to glorify Christ, and we are so commanded in 1 Cor 7:20. This is accomplished by the filling of God the Holy Spirit. Eph 5:18, 1 John 1:9.

It is very logical if God the Holy Spirit glorifies Christ, if we are in fellowship and filled with the Spirit, we also will glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in our body.

1. The believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 6:19.
This glorification occurs on the inside of the believer. 1 Cor 3:16

2. When the believer is filled with the Spirit, in fellowship, his or her life is written by the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor 3:3. Christians are epistles.

We are declared to be epistles or letters of Christ written by God the Holy Spirit, 2 Cor 3:3.

Greet the next Christian you see with “Hi there, Epistle.” That is if he is.
By the way an “Epistle” is not an “Apostle’s wife.”

Thought for today!

Since Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever, well then what about this application?

Live your life as if Christ died yesterday.
And arose today.
And is coming again tomorrow.

Col 2:6, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.”

Mark 9:20, “And they brought him unto Him. And when He saw him, straightway the spirit tare him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed foaming.”

Like a bad tenant, the Devil tried to do as much harm as he could when he got notice to move. An angry evicted tenant.

Mark 9:2, “And after six days, Jesus taketh with Him Peter and James and John and leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves and He was transfigured before them.”

This is the Christian mountain-top experience.
Spiritual, communion, occupied with Christ.

Mark 9:9, “And as they came down from the mountain …”

This is the Christian on the plain experience.
Practical, conflict, occupied for Christ.

Hope is a joyful anticipation of something great to happen in the future for the believer.

Be hopeful!
1 Pet 1:13, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind be sober and hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Hopefulness in the truest and most far-reaching sense has been made possible through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now exercise it!
Hope in 1 Pet 1:3 is a condition.
Hope in 1 Pet 1:13 is an experience.
It is our duty to hope.

1 Pet 1:3, “Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” That is the condition.

1 Pet 1:13, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind be sober and hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

That is the experience ... Claim it!

The Purpose of 1 Peter

There is a two-fold purpose in the mind of God the Holy Spirit for the purpose of 1 Peter.

1 Pet 5:12, “By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written” briefly, exhorting, and testifying “that this is the true Grace of God wherein ye stand.”

His purpose was to exhort and testify. And the theme of his testimony was ”the true Grace of God.”

Now you know the purpose of the book, so when you read it, or God forbid study it, you will know why it was written.

What is the purpose of the book of John?

John 20:30, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book.”
John 20:31, “But these things are written,
That ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might be saved.”

The purpose of the book is salvation.

Get saved!

I have talked to people and sometimes they say, “Well I don’t know if I am saved or not.” “I am trying,” or “I am holding on,” or “I am a good person,” or “No one can be sure they are going to Heaven.”

Well, we can be sure!

1 John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God. That ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God.”

That, that, that. “That” is a purpose clause.

That ye may believe.
That ye may know.
That ye may believe.

Believe ... Know …   Believe

Now, that is dogmatic and Christians hesitate in being dogmatic. But, Christ was dogmatic. Take it from your Leader.

“I am the way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes unto the Father but by Me,” John 14:6.

I don’t know if you have noticed, but the Gospel is no longer clearly taught from the pulpits of our country.

1 Peter says what we should be:

1. Be hopeful, 1 Pet 1:13
2. Be holy, 1 Pet 1:14-16
3. Be God-fearing, 1 Pet 1:1-21
4. Be loving, 1 Pet 1:22-25
5. Be increasing, 1 Pet 2:1-3
6. Be praising, 1 Pet 2:4-10
7. Be self-restrained, 1 Pet 2:11-12
8. Be submissive, 1 Pet 2:13-3:7
9. Be like-minded, 1 Pet 3:8-12

We are called in Christ to do this. And by this means we are ourselves come into blessing.

This would be a good outline for your pastor. You could take these eight subjects and spend a few months studying them!!  Study??  What is that?

We are commanded to study, but who does it?

”Study to show thy self approved, a workman than needeth not to be ashamed, thoroughly furnished unto all good works, rightly dividing the Word of God.”

The obligation for Christians to testify of the Grace of God is the subject of 1 Pet 3:15-4:6.

Notice the features by which our testimony should be marked as indicated in 1 Pet 3:15-17.

Readiness, intelligence, meekness, and well-doing.

In this way they would not only be delivered over their enemies as Christ Himself was delivered and as He triumphed. This is the significance of the Word of God.

The book of Revelation, I have been told, is mysterious and not to be read, etc., etc. And yet we are commanded to read it with a promise of blessing. If you do read it, may I suggest vulgarly, study it.

Rev 1:3, “Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the Words of this Prophecy. And keep (guard) those things which are written therein for the time is at hand.”

The Catholic Church has distorted it, naturally, and they take the woman in travail, which is Israel, as the virgin Mary. But Mary accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour, and she is not Israel being gathered back to the land in belief.

An easy way to understand the book of Revelation, which is the revelation or unveiling of the Lord Jesus Christ, is to follow this simple pattern:

Rev chapter 1-4, the Church Age.
Rev chapter 5-19, the Tribulation, Jacob’s Trouble.
Note that the Body, or the Bride, of Christ, is in Heaven in chapter four.
Rev 20-21, the Millennium and eternity.

Do you have a favorite song?

”Amazing Grace,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” “How Great Thou Art,” “A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” “He Giveth More Grace”???

Well my point is, Christianity is the only “religion” that abounds in songs.

Col 3:16, “Let the Word of God dwell in you richly in wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with Grace in your minds in the Lord.”

Atheism is songless, because it has nothing to sing about. Agnosticism has nothing to sing about. And the various forms of idolatry have nothing to sing about. But in the Old Testament it says, “O come and let sing us unto the Lord.”

And when Christ came, the angels sang and greeted His birth. And since that time Christian song has gained in fulness and strength and value with each century.

So as we greet the new century, “Let us make a joyful sound,” and remember Christians have something to sing about …   a Saviour.

Psa 22 is the Lord speaking while dying for our sins.

Psa 22:1-2, Our Saviour’s cry of distress.
Psa 22:3-5, His trust and appeal to God the Father.
Psa 22:6-8, His description of His tormentors as He hung on the Cross.
Psa 22:9-11, His plea for help.
Psa 22:12-18, His renewed description of His persecution and sufferings.
Psa 22:19-21, His renewed plea for help.
Psa 22:21-22, The answer which has come to Him from His Father’s throne bringing hope.
Psa 22:23-24, His testimony to all the saints of God as based on the experience He has passed through.
Psa 22:25-31, His prophecy concerning the future.

In this last section we behold His conviction of His resurrection from the dead, Verse 25.
And the ultimate conversion of the world, Verse 27
And the Millennial Kingdom, Verses 28-31

Psa 22:31, “They shall come and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born. That He hath done this.”

The last word “this” does not appear. And it reads  “It is finished,” which is found in John 19:30.

In Third John We Have the Christian Character of Gaius

1. He possessed the Truth, verse 3

2. He walked in the Truth, verses 3-4
    His life and conduct measured up to the light he had received from the Lord.

3. Verses 5-6, as walking in the Truth he was careful to maintain good works especially in the distribution of his means.

It is noticeable that his faithfulness in this regard is mentioned. It was not a spasmodic or impetuous thing on his part, but a steady flow of Grace through him.

3 John, Gaius’s Christian Giving

His breadth of disposition is also mentioned, which indeed illustrates his faithfulness. From another point of view.
Since his giving was not limited to those he knew, but extended to those he did not know, Verse 5
Some particular recipients of his bounty are referred to in verse 6 and a journey is mentioned toward the expense of which he was contributing.

One of the facts of giving are given concerning the recipients of Gaius’s gifts. Equally honoring to them

3 John 1:7, “Because that for His Name’s sake they went out taking nothing of the Gentiles.”

Motivation: for His Name’s sake.

And look at the Spirit actuating them.
”Taking nothing of the Gentiles.”

They took nothing from the unbelievers. Giving is for believers only.

God is Love, 1 John

How was His love manifested towards us?
1 John 4:9-10, God sent His Son. He loved us and sent His Son.

How should our love towards Him be manifested?
1 John 4:11-12, “If God so loved us, we ought to love one another.”

Such love implies fellowship.
1 John 4:13-16, “Hereby we know that we dwell in Him and He in us.”

How does it affect our spiritual life?
1 John 4:17-18, “Herein is our love made perfect that we have boldness in the day of judgment.”

And its absence destroys fellowship.
1 John 4:19-21, “If a man say I love God and hate his brother, he is a liar.”

That experience of love is another aspect of walking in the light.
1 John 5:1-4, “By this we know we love the children of God when we love God and keep His commandments.”

The source of this love is faith in Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:5-12, “Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.”

And how many things we thus know.
1 John 5:13, 15, 18, 19, 20

We know …   We know …   We know ... We know …   We know.

Num 9:16, “So it was always the cloud covering the tabernacle and the appearance of fire by night.”

“Cloud and fire.”

The fire was the center and the cloud was wrapped around it. The fire was the symbol making visible to a generation that had to be taught through their senses the inaccessible holiness and flashing brightness and purity of the Divine nature. The cloud tempered and veiled the too great brightness for the feeble eyes.

Fire = Deity; the cloud = humanity; the uniqueness of the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man. Equal with God and equal with man, therefore the only Mediator between God and man.

Eph 4:4, “There is one body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope, of your calling.”
Eph 4:5, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
Eph 4:6, “One God and Father of all who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

The seven-twisted cord of Christian unity.

Eph 5:14, “Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

This is one of the seven deaths in Scripture.

The believer out of fellowship described.
The believer out of fellowship addressed.
The believer pointed to confession of sin, and restoration back to fellowship.

The same principle as found in “I stand at the door and knock.”

Eph 5:18, “Be not drunk with wine but be filled with the Spirit.”

Both commands are equally binding. They are addressed to a believer out of fellowship.

Eph 6:11, “Able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Eph 6:13, “Able to withstand in the day of evil.”
Eph 6:16, “Able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

The armor that the Lord Jesus Christ issues the Christian upon enlistment to stand and make a stand.

Eph 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

Prayer must always be the front horse of the team.
Begin and continue and end everything with prayer.

Send for a physical if you are sick, but first pray.
Do whatever is wise, but not till you have first prayed.
”Pray without ceasing.”

Trust in the Lord, Phil 2:19, 24
Rejoice in the Lord, Phil 3:1, 4:4, 10
Stand fast in the Lord, Phil 4:1

”Rejoice and again I say rejoice.”

Why is it so important for us to teach the Word of God?

1. Because of its Authorship. Who wrote it.
    2 Pet 1:21, 2 Tim 3:16, the inspiration  of the Word.

2. Because of the importance of its Subject.
    Eph 5:17, Rom 12. To know the will of God.

3. The purpose for teaching the Word of God.
    Eph 3:10, to make known the wisdom of God.

4. The effect and the power of the Word of God.
    Rom 1:16, Heb 4:12, 2 Cor 10:4-5

The Need for Our Hearing of the Word of God

1. The right matter of hearing.
   Mark 4:24, Acts 17:11, Take heed how you hear.
   
2. The manner in which you hear.
   1 Thess 2:13, “For this cause thank we God without ceasing because when we received the Word of God which ye heard of us,  ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in Truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

There are no chapter divisions in the Bible and no periods or commas, etc.

There are distinct divisions though. Here is one.

Psa 41:13, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen.”
Psa 72:19, “And blessed be His glorious Name for ever and let the whole Earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.”
Psa 89:52, “Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen and amen.”
Psa 106:48, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting and let all the people say Amen. Praise ye the Lord.”
Psa 150:6, “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.”

So it looks like there five books.. Each book closes with a doxology.

Why Not Go for a Walk?

There are seven walks in the book of Ephesians.
Eph 2:2, “Wherein time past your walked.”
Eph 2:10, “Walk in good works.”
Eph 4:1, “Walk worthy of your vocation.”
Eph 4:17, “Walk not as other Gentiles walk.”
Eph 5:2, “Walk in love.”
Eph 5:8, “Walk as children of light.”
Eph 5:15, “Walk circumspectly.”

Two Great Kings in Israel

They both had the same environment and grew up the same way, in the same house, and they started out the same, but as they got older, what a difference there was between them. As you grow older and you grow in Grace, you keep getting better even though your physical capabilities may not be the same, but it is “as a man thinketh in his mind, so is he.”

Solomon ended up this way. “Vanity of vanity, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.”
Because he went on a frantic search for happiness apart from the Lord, and he pursued all the pursuits that were possible to a king. The book of Ecclesiastes.

David on the other hand ended up this way:
Psa 37:25, “I have been young and now am old. Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor His seed begging bread.”

And the secret:
Psa 37:4, “Delight thyself in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
Psa 37:5, “Commit thy way unto the Lord. Trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.”
Psa 37:7, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Fret not thyself because of Him who prospereth in his way because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”

How are you going to end up?

“The praise of His glory,” referring to the work of the Father, “which is blessed,” Eph 1:6
”The praise of the glory” referring to the work of the Son, “Beloved,” Eph 1:12
”The praise of His glory” referring to the work of the Holy Spirit, “His help,” Eph 1:14

Eph 2:2, “Those of us who once walked according to the Prince of the power of the air, are now built together a habitation of God,” Eph 2:22

”He has delivered us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”

Eph 1:22, “While Christ, our Head, is in Heaven, we are all right on this Earth.”

The Church is Christ’s body. There is only one Head.

Therefore, we do not speak about this body and that body of Christians. There is only one body. There is only one Head. The body of Christ is all over the world.

Eph 2:7, “The riches of His goodness, on Earth.”

The riches of His Grace, from the Cross.
The riches of His glory, upon the throne.

The panorama in which is emblazed the riches of God’s Grace takes a universe to hold it and eternity to unroll it.

Eph 2:8-9, “For by Grace you have been saved by faith. And that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

God works alone in creation, in redemption, and regeneration.
He doesn’t need our help and never asks for it.

If you try to help Him, you frustrate the Grace of God.

Eph 2:10, “Created in Christ Jesus unto good works.”

1. The starting point. Created in Christ Jesus. Cursed in the first birth, but blessed in the second.

2. The path, good works. Its general characteristic: The creature and the path are both prepared by God.

3. The pace. Walk.

Saved through faith ... Unto good works.

The household of God, verse 19
A holy temple in the Lord, verse 21
An habitation of God, verse 22

Eph 3:18, “May be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth and length and depth and height.”

The breadth, God so loved the world.
The length, that He gave His only Begotten Son.
The depth, that whosoever believeth in Him.
The height, should never perish but have everlasting life.

Eph 3:18 with John 3:16

Exodus 4:1, “And Moses answered and said but, Behold they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice, for they will say, the Lord hath not appeared unto thee.”

We are not told to be successful, just to be obedient.

It is the work of God the Holy Spirit to convict and make men believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must deliver the message. Every teacher faces human mistrust.

Moses excuse was that he was not eloquent, Exodus 4:10.

Yet, in Deut 32:1 he calls upon the Heavens and the Earth to hear him.

As if the Creator of the mouth could not touch his lips with eloquence. It is not eloquence that is needed but the Truth. 1 Cor 2:1-5

Do not be self-conscious. Think of Moses turning his great mission into a question of his own eloquence.
God could raise up a stone.
 
 What Moses would have missed if God had chosen Aaron or Joshua or Caleb:
Exodus 4:13, “And he said O my Lord, send, I pray Thee, by the hand of  him whom Thou will send.”

Biblical Friendship:

Straightforwardness, Ex 33:11
Oneness, Deut 13:6
An asset, 2 Sam 13:3
Inseparable, 2 Kings 2:2
Merciful, Job 6:14
Influences behavior, Psa 35:14
In distress, Prov 17:17
Winning ways, Prov 18:24
Source of joy, Prov 27:9
Clings, Prov 27:10
Harms not, Matt 20:13
Shares joys, Luke 15:6
Sacrifice, John 15:13
More precious than life, Rom 16:3-4
On a first name basis, 3 John 14

Five Aspects of Crucifixion in Galatians

1. Crucified in Christ, Gal 2:20
2. Christ crucified for me, Gal 3:1
3. The flesh crucified in me, Gal 5:24
4. The world crucified unto me, Gal 6:14
5. Crucified unto the world, Gal 6:14

Gal 2:20, “I was crucified, in Christ.”

There are two centers of being: self-life and Christ-life.

By faith we take what God will give.
By faithfulness, we give whatsoever God will take.

Gal 3:9, “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”

Isa 53, the Paradox of Jesus Christ

Despised, yet accepted and adored
Poor, yet rich
To die, yet to live
The rabbi's teach that there must be a double Messiah to fulfill this chapter

Isa 52. In the sight of God, a Tender Plant. In the sight of man, a Root out of dry ground.

”Though He was rich, yet became He became poor that we might be made rich in His Grace.”

God is angry with the wicked, Isa 63:10, Ezek 22:21
God is unwilling to punish, 2 Pet 3:9, Ezek 33:13
God is glad to forgive, Isa 1:18
God rejoices over the forgiven, Luke 15:6-7, 10, 23, 24, Isa 52:3-5

Our Amen to God’s Promises

Jer 11:5, “That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers. To give them a land flowing with milk and honey. As it is this day. Then answered I and said,
”So be it, O Lord.”

God’s amen to our faith.
Matt 8:13, “And Jesus said unto the centurion, go thy way and as thou hast believed so be it done unto thee, and his servant was healed in the selfsame day.”
”As thou hast believed.”

Isa 45:9, “Woe unto him that striveth with his maker. Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioned it, What makest thou? Or thy work, he hath no hands?”
”Made” is made out of clay.

But, the difference between man and clay, man can resist his Maker.
What have I done, Jer 8:6
How wilt thou do, Jer 12:5
What wilt thou say, Jer 13:21

Ezek 23:35, “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, because thou hast forgotten Me, and cast Me behind thy back therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.”

Notice the contrast.

Psa 16:8, “I have set the Lord always before me because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”
Verse 5, “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup Thou maintainest my lot.”
Verse 6, “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places, yea I have a goodly heritage.”

Notice the different ways of expressing sin:

Dan 9:5-15

We have sinned, verses 5, 8, 11, 15
Committed iniquity, verse 5
Done wickedly, verse 5
Rebelled, verses 5, 9, Departing from precepts and judgments
Hearkened not, verse 6, thy servants the prophets
Trespassed, verse 7
Been disobedient, verses 10, 11
Transgressed, verse 11
Neglected to pray, verse 13

1 John 5:4, “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even your faith.”

Unbroken fellowship means unbroken victory.

1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us.”

Promise, prayer, performance.
The three links in the chain of blessing.

If the middle link is missing, we have no right to expect the third.

What He will,
what you will.

John 15:7, “If ye abide in Me and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you.”

1 John 5:15, “If we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petition that we desire of Him.”

It is  a very serious thing to pray. We may be taken at our word.

1 John 2:1, “My little children, these things write I unto you that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.”

A saint is not free from sin. That is his burden.
But he is not free to sin, that is his blessing.
Sin is in him, but his soul is not in sin.

A field of wheat may be good and yet have weeds in it.

1 John 2:15, “Love not the world neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

A true Christian loves not the world yet he loves all the world.

”The things that are in the world,” are like shadows in a pool. The higher the object the lower the shadow. So that things that are higher in the world’s estimation are lower in Heaven.

Gold is valued highly here but the streets are paved with it in heaven. Rev 21:21, asphalt.

And the things that are lower in this world are highest there. Service is ignoble here. But in Heaven they spend their time in service. Rev 22:3

Service is honorable and heavenly.

John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one cometh unto the Father except by Me.”

The Way
Prov 8:2, “She standeth in the top of the high places by the way in the places of the path.”

The Truth
Prov 8:7, “For my mouth shall speak truth and wickedness is all an abomination to my lips.”

The Life
Prov 8:35, “But whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.”

Prov 8:34, willing, watching, waiting.
”Blessed is the man that heareth Me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.”

Prov 8 is a commentary on the Written and the Living Word.

Refreshment to those who send the message.
Refreshment to those who receive the message.
Refreshment to those who carry the message.

Prov 25:13, “As cold water in a time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters.”
Prov 25:25, “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”
Prov 11:25, “The liberal soul shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”

It is important for believers today to get behind sending the Word out. Send it yourself, support others who send it.

Prov 25:14, “Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.”

This is what Cain did and therefore he is compared to clouds without water carried about of winds.

Jude 1:12, “These are spots in your feasts of charity when they feast with you feeding themselves without fear, clouds they are without water, carried of winds, trees who fruit withereth without fruit twice dead plucked up by the roots.”

Ecc 9:15, “Now there was found in it a poor wise man.”

Jesus Christ “who became poor,” 2 Cor 8:9

Ecc 9:15, “And by His wisdom delivered the city.”
By His wisdom, Jesus Christ.

Isa 53:11, “He shall see the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied by His knowledge. Shall My righteous Servant justify many for He shall bear their iniquities.”

Ecc 9:15, “Yet no man remembered that same poor man.”

1 Cor11:24, “And when He had given thanks He brake it and said, Take, eat this is My body which is broken for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

A poor Man, a wise Man, and a forgotten Man.

Ecc 10:12, “The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.”

Luke 4:22, “And all bare Him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth and they said, Is not this Joseph’s Son?”

Psa 45:2, “Thou art fairer than the children of men, Grace is poured into Thy lips, therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.”

”Taste and see that the Lord is gracious.”

Most Christians, as far as their salvation is concerned, have only taken out a “fire insurance policy.” They have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour in a weak moment, and that is it. A fire insurance policy against going into the Lake of Fire. And they have forgotten or are not at all interested in the benefits of salvation, that it is more than a fire insurance policy. The benefit of growing in Grace by the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Imitation of Him, conformed to His image.

”Studying to show themselves approved, a workman rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”

Because “man cannot live by bread alone but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Fire insurance, yes, but what about protection? What about maintainance? What about maturity?

What about “God gave the Word and great was the number of them that published it.”

There are many names for the Lord Jesus Christ, like King of kings, like Lord of lords, like Prince of peace, etc.

What about adding these names to your list? The Lord is our:

Portion, Inheritance, Cup, Pleasant places, Heritage, Psa 16:5-6
Along with Satisfaction, Joy, Life and Light in Psa 36.

The answer to man's problem is not rehabilitation and it is not a better environment. The answer to man's problems is regeneration. What is regeneration?

1. There is a barrier between God and man at physical birth Physical life is imparted through human parents. Every member of the human race is born physically alive and spiritually dead, which means no fellowship with God.
   Eph 2:5-6, Col 2:13, “Dead in trespasses and sins.”
   
2. Regeneration is the work of Christ, the new birth.
     This is the spiritual work of God, whereby eternal life is imparted by faith to the individual.
       A.    From the Father, James 1:18
       B.     Provided by the Lord Jesus Christ, John 1:11-12, Gal 3:26
       C.    By the agency of God the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5
   Through regeneration, the new birth, the individual is made spiritually alive. Eph 2:5-6, Col 2:13, “Hath quickened us together with Christ.” This is the new nature. This is the new birth, where maturity is developed. 2 Cor 5:19, Col 2:7
   A. “Is created,” which is capable of fellowship with God.
   B. “In Christ,” which is union with Christ.
   C. “He is a new creature,” which is the new birth.
   D. “Old things are passed away,” which is the self-righteousness of man.
   E. “All things have become new,” which is the righteousness of God imparted. 2 Cor 5:21, which is the imputation of God’s righteousness at salvation.
   In salvation our volition is involved only in our decision to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour. There are five things that happen at the moment of salvation that are accomplished by God the Holy Spirit, and not by us, therefore they are not an experience.
   
3. As a result of regeneration, we are capable of a desire to do His will. Eph 2:10, “Created unto good works,” for the purpose of “Good works.” All the doing of good on this Earth is done by believers controlled by God the Holy Spirit.
   ”Ordained,” prepared, the Divine operating assets are provided by God.

”For by Grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, and "not of works" lest any man should boast.”

One of the promises of God is found in Rom 8:28, “All things work together for good.” That promise is fulfilled for us in the life of Joseph. This is found in Gen 37, all things are not good but they work together for good.

1. Jacob's favoritism. That was bad, but it worked for good, Gen 37:3
2. The hatred of his brothers. Bad, but it worked for good, Gen 37:6
3. The plot to kill Joseph. Bad, but worked together for good, Gen 37:18
4. Rueben’s intervention. Good, and works for good, Gen 37:25
5. The coming of the caravan. Good and it works for good, Gen 37:25
6. Judah suggesting selling Joseph. Bad, but works for good, Gen 37:26-27
7. Israelites and Midianites in the caravan. Bad, but works for good, Gen 37:28
8. Joseph arrives in Egypt as a slave. Bad, but works for good, Gen 39:1
9. Joseph is sold into the house of Potiphar. Bad, but works for good, Gen 37:26 Slavery bad, Potiphar, good.
10. Potiphar’s wife lied, which caused Joseph’s imprisonment. Bad, but worked for good, Gen 39:17-18
11. Joseph is in charge in prison. Good, works for good, Gen 39:22
12. Joseph trusted in man. Bad, but works for good, Gen 40:14
13. Magicians and wise men were not able to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. Bad for Pharaoh but good for Joseph, Gen 41:8
14. Good and bad are all woven into a tapestry. And God’s Grace turns cursing into blessing.

God in His omniscience works all things, bad and good, together for the good of those who belong to Him.

The Christian way of life is a supernatural life and it needs a supernatural means of execution.

The Christian way of life is described in Scripture as “walking.”

Walk in doctrine, 3 John 3-4
Walk in faith, 2 Cor 5:7
Walk in the Spirit, Gal 5:16, which includes the other walks

a.    Walk in love, Eph 5:2
b.    Walk in good works, Eph 2:10
c.    Walk in newness of life, Rom 6:4
d.    Walk worthy of the Lord, Col 2:20
e.    Walk honestly in the day, Rom 13:13
f.     Walk worthy of your vocation, Eph 4:1
g.    Walk in the light, Eph 5:8, 1 John 1:7
h.    Walk in Christ Jesus, Col 2:6
i.     Walk circumspectly, Eph 5:15-16
j.     Walk as you ought, 1 Thess 4:1

Walking describes your manner of life.

Christians think if they sin, they lose their salvation. And through the years, the sins that have told me that they have committed were like smoking. That is, regular ones, not dope sticks, and they said because they danced, etc. As if those things could separate them from the Lord!

But Scripture says, Rom 8:1, “There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.”

The reason why? Christ was judged for our sins, all of them, past, present, and future.

2 Cor 5:21, “He made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

Now, when believers sin, what they need is “self judgment.” Self judgment to believers in time.

1 Cor 11:31, 1 John 1:9, ”If we judge ourselves we will not be judged.” “If we confess our sins, God will forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

That is what was wrong with the Corinthian believers that came to Lord's table
drunk, and out of fellowship.

Christ was judged for our sins, 2 Cor 5:21

Believers who sin, judge themselves, 1 Cor 11:31

But the believers works will be judged.

Rom 14:10, 1 Cor 3:11-16, 2 Cor 5:10-11

A.    The judgment seat of Christ.
B.    Evaluation of the believer’s production.
C.    Occurs at the Rapture of the Church.
D.   All human good is judged and burned.
E.    Divine good is rewarded.

Hay, wood, and stubble = human good. It will be burned.

Gold, silver, and precious stones = Divine Good. It will not be burned, but rewarded.

“There is no judgment to them that are in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Rom 8:1

But there is judgment coming to all living Jews at the Second Advent of Christ. Ezek 20:33-38

There is a judgment of the living Gentiles, which is the same as the “baptism of fire.” This is another one of the six baptisms that doesn’t save.

Matt 24:37-41, Matt 25:1-13, 31-46

See how important Romans 1:16 really is! ”I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation, to everyone who believeth, both to the Jew and the Gentile.”

Rom 8:1, “There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.”

But, there is the judgment of all unbelievers. Rev 20:11-13. You will never guess what they are judged for …  “according to their works.” “According to their works.” Read it and weep!

This is the Great White Throne judgment. This is after the Millennium.

They are judged according to their works, not sins. Why? All sins were judged on the Cross. Sin is no longer the issue. The issue in salvation is Christ.

There is also the judgment of angels. Matt 25:41, 2 Cor 6:3. Do you know you are going to judge angels?

Something your pastor never told you! Why??

We all have read this verse and probably most have memorized it, but can you explain it? Raise your hand if you can.

Psa 36:8, “They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house, and Thou shall make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures.”

This is written to believers. Verse 7, “trusted in Thee.”

We are in His hands. As believers, we’re secure.

John 10:28, “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any one pluck them out of My hand.”

So, in one hand there we are secure, but what is in His other hand? What kind of provisions?

”A river of pleasures.” Now, the Hebrew word for “pleasures” is the Hebrew word “Eden.”

You are in one hand and He has the Garden of Eden for you in His other hand, and when He claps His hands together …   That is Christianity.

”River of Thy pleasure, the Garden of Eden, with the river flowing out of it.”

Why didn’t your pastor tell you that??? He doesn’t like to study. Neither do most people and they will pay for it.

”My people are destroyed because of the lack of knowledge of the Word of God.”
And that is a quote.

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Page updated 06/26/05 02:36 PM.