With Whom We Have To Do

Posted on April 16, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Adrien Olichon: https://www.pexels.com/photo/inside-photography-of-church-2537598/

Hebrews 4:13-16 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. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The past few weeks we have been looking at Israel, God’s Old Testament people. The Word of God led Israel out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, through the deserts, and to the base of Mount Sinai. When God gave His Word to Israel through Moses, His people – saved by Grace – said:

Exodus 24:3 (NKJV) … All the words which the Lord has said we will do ..

The Way To Blessing Is To Hear & Obey God

Yet Israel did not do it. Rather than hear the Word of God and do it, they murmured and complained and balked. In the end the first generation of Israel did NOT go into the Promised Land (other than Joshua and Caleb) because they disobeyed His Word. God had warned Israel:

Deuteronomy 30:15-18 (ESV) See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.

Israel was saved by Grace, just as all are saved by Grace. But BLESSING only comes by obedience. But look at what our text tells us today:

Hebrews 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.

Word Study: This is a very powerful statement. All creatures – all created beings – are MANIFEST IN HIS SIGHT. The word “MANIFEST” is the Greek aphanēs (pronounced af-an-ace’) means “not hidden, clearly visible”. This word is found only here in the New Testament, but it’s meaning is found throughout all scripture. There is nothing hidden from God. When God called Israel from Egypt, He knew that the first generation was going to fail. God knows everything. One of the characteristics of God is that He is omniscient, all knowing:

Isaiah 46:9-10 (NKJV) Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’

The Bible tells us that “God’s understanding is without measure” (Psalm 147:5). Before we were ever formed in our mothers, God knew us. God knows everything, and nothing is a secret to Him, nothing a surprise.

Isaiah 40:28 (ESV) Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

God knows everything. “The hairs of your head are NUMBERED” (Matthew 10:30). You cannot hide anything from God. He knows. He knows. You cannot hide anything from God. “Can a man hide himself in secret places SO I CANNOT SEE HIM? NO! I FILL HEAVEN AND EARTH.” (Jeremiah 23:24, AP). God even knows what we are going to say next. King David said:

Psalm 139:1-4 (ESV) O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

God knows. God knows. Did God know that the first generation of Israel would fail Him, and lose the promised land? Yes, God knew. It was not a surprise to God. He saved Israel by faith, and promised to bless Israel if they would hear and do His Word. He warned Israel repeatedly against failing His Word. Yet Israel chose to disobey, and the first generation died in the desert. Was this a surprise to God? Absolutely not!

ALL THINGS are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do

Word Study: The Bible says “ALL THINGS are naked and opened”. The word “naked” (Greek gymnos, pronounced goom-nos’) means “is laid bare, cannot be covered”. The word “opened” (Greek trachēlizō, pronounced trakh-ay-lid’-zo) means “to seize by the throat or neck, to expose the gullet of a victim to kill, to bend back the neck”. This is a fighter or wrestler’s term. Why are these two words used together? Because there is nothing you can hide or cover up that God does not see. Further, you are defenseless against the gaze of our Almighty God. God knows everything.

When God made Adam and placed him in the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam His Word. He said:

Genesis 2:16-17 … Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

God made Adam with free will, and put him in a beautiful place. When Adam sinned against God, was it a surprise to God? No. Look at the words that God uses:

“in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die”

Not “IF you eat of it”, but “IN THE DAY YOU EAT OF IT”. God made Adam perfect. Adam was made in God’s image. Adam neither earned nor deserved this, and yet God in His Grace bestowed His blessings. To keep His blessings, Adam had to heed and DO God’s Word. But Adam failed to do so – and brought sin and death on both himself, and all his progeny.

God is OMNIPOTENT, all powerful. The Scripture says,

Psalm 102:25 Of old hast Thou (O God) laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.

God created all things. He said in Isaiah 48:13, “Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.” God made everything, and God knows everything. He is both OMNIPOTENT and OMNIPRESENT. God in His Trinity – Father, Son, and Spirit – made all things. And as Jesus said:

John 17:24 … Father… Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world.

Jesus Christ was with the Father, Eternal God the Son, Eternal Word of God from time past. God made us perfect, but knew we would fail. This Jesus Who “Was with God, and Was God, the Same was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-3), this same Jesus “was foreordained before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20).

There Is A Great High Priest

Hebrews 4:14-15 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

God knows our brokenness. He knew Adam’s bad choice before Adam was ever made. God did not make Adam make that bad choice – God gave Adam free will. But God knew.

Beloved, we are saved by “A GREAT HIGH PRIEST”. Israel had a High Priest who served in the Tabernacle and in the Temple, but Israel’s High Priest was just like us. Just as with all of humanity, the High Priest of Israel was himself a sinner. The Bible says:

Leviticus 16:11 (ESV) Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself.

Under the Law a sinful man called a “High Priest” made “atonement” or a covering for sin for HIMSELF by killing an ANIMAL. Only after the High Priest atoned for his sin did he make atonement for the people:

Leviticus 16:15 (ESV) Then {the High Priest} shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.

The High Priest shed the blood of a BULL – not a human but a flawless BULL – then once his sins were paid for he shed the blood of a GOAT or a SHEEP. But until the High Priest “killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. And the sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar” (Leviticus 9:7-24), until the sin offering was made for himself, he could not minister to the people.

This is why the Law of Moses could not bring a true salvation. Animals payed for the sins of mankind. Animals without spot or blemish – a representation of Someone Greater – paid for what Adam and the sons and daughters of Adam did and do daily.

The Law of Moses, the Law of CEREMONY and CIRCUMCISION and SACRIFICE were but shadows that pointed to a greater COVENANT, a greater BLESSING. That blessing is CHRIST JESUS!

The Bible says in

Galatians 3:19-26 (ESV) Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

God knew that we were broken – but WE did not know that we were broken. So God gave us the Law of sacrifice and ceremony and circumcision to teach us we are sinners. Even our High Priest was a sinner, and had to cover his sins with the blood of bullocks. But the Law of Moses was given to lead us to Christ, to show us our need for Him.

Hebrews 4:14-15 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Aaron was a GOOD High Priest, and many who followed afterwards perhaps were GOOD High Priests. They did their best. But Beloved, WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST in Jesus. Jesus Christ can trace His lineage back to Adam, but being born of the Holy Spirit. As the Angel told Mary the mother of Jesus:

Luke 1:35 (NKJV) … The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Those born fully human, Jesus’ blood line did not come from Adam, but from God Himself. All of the children of Adam are sinners, for Adam sinned. But Christ is God incarnate, God in the flesh. “The virgin was with Child. She brought forth a Son, and He is called EMMANUEL, meaning “God With Us” (Matthew 1:23, AP). Christ was not born of sinners, but He is the Eternal Son of God. He is a Great High Priest because, as our text tells us,

Hebrews 4:15 {Jesus} was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin

No Man Who walked the face of this earth was more scrutinized than Jesus was. The Pharisees who loved the Law hated Jesus, because Jesus called them on their hypocrisy. The Herodians hated Jesus, because He loved the Lord and not a political party. The Sadducees hated Jesus, because He spoke of resurrection, and they did not believe in an afterlife. The Romans hated Jesus because He would not bow the knee to Caesar. The Scribes hated Jesus because He would not bow the knee to the Chief Priests. Jesus was more examined than any person in history. What was the conclusion?

1 Peter 2:22-24 (AMP) {JESUS} COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS DECEIT EVER FOUND IN HIS MOUTH. While being reviled and insulted, He did not revile or insult in return; while suffering, He made no threats [of vengeance], but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed.

Jesus is our Great High Priest. He is sinless, and stands before God the Father making intercession for us. “He Who knew NO SIN was counted as sin in order that we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21, AP). When Jesus walked this earth, He kept the Law of God – the Law He wrote – PERFECTLY. The day that Jesus died, His executioner, Pilate, said “I find NO GUILT nor A BASIS FOR CHARGES against this Man” (Luke 23:4).

Jesus did not die because He is a sinner. He died because WE are sinners. Jesus did not offer an animal sacrifice for our sins, but offered HIMSELF, pure and holy, in our place!

Our Great High Priest died on Calvary. The Bible says that after His death:

Hebrews 9:11-12 (NKJV) Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Jesus walked through our broken world, and suffered the effects of our broken world, but He Himself remained without sin.

Jesus is SINLESS.
Jesus is ETERNAL.
Jesus is the SON OF GOD.
Jesus is at the Father’s RIGHT HAND.

What Does God Demand Of Us?

God knows our brokenness. God knows our failures. He knows our imperfections. We cannot hide our limitations from Him. But God has given us a GREAT HIGH PRIEST in Jesus. What must we do?

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

God bids us first of all to “come BOLDLY”. This does not mean to approach God with ARROGANCE, or in a DEMANDING way. But we are to come to God’s Throne WITH CONFIDENCE. God knows your brokenness, He knows all our failures. Jesus came for every person, for WHOSOEVER WILL. Will you come to Him, and humble yourself before Him?

Revelation 22:17 … (NKJV) the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

What limits you from coming to Christ, to making Him your High Priest? Nothing. Come to Him Who gave Himself for you. If you are thirsty, COME. If you are a sinner, COME. There is no one too broken to where Jesus will not intercede, Jesus will save. But you are to come “with CONFIDENCE, not ARROGANCE or GRUMBLING”. Notice we are told:

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace

Notice that this place we come is not an ALTAR OF GRACE. We do not come, as the ancient Jews did, with a sheep or goat without blemish. We do not bring anything we deem worthy to God. We make no payment nor penance before God, for there is no way that we can pay for our sins. What does God say?

Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) … we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

We bring nothing of worth to pay for Grace – Grace is a gift from God. But Grace is for whosoever will. This is not an ALTAR of Grace.

We come boldly to the THRONE of Grace

It is a THRONE because HE IS LORD. We come to Him Who is “King of Kings and lord of Lords” (Revelation 17:14). We come to “The Blessed and Only Potentate”, the Ruler and Creator of all. Beloved, let me be very clear on this:

There is no salvation, no GRACE outside of the THRONE. God calls us to salvation through UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. HE IS LORD.

Certainly, we all come to Christ broken. Certainly, we come to Him as lepers needing cleansing. And He cleanses us. He gives us IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS through the sacrifice of Himself. He represents us before the Throne of Grace. But we are HIS PEOPLE. We belong to HIS KINGDOM. What does the Scripture say?

Matthew 1:21 (NKJV) Jesus … will SAVE HIS PEOPLE from their sins

Salvation is a free gift to the person that surrenders their allegiance to the King of the Kingdom of God. Jesus was manifest to “take away sins” (1 John 3:5). The Bible says:

Titus 2:14 (ESV) {Jesus} gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

It is a THRONE of grace. Once saved by Grace, you belong to Him. You belong to Jesus. You “are not your own – YOU ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We live to bring glory to Him Who saved us. We belong to Jesus. But that’s the best place to be.

In Him.

Are you in Him? Are you in Jesus? If not, “come BOLDLY to the Throne of Grace. Here you will find MERCY, and GRACE to help in time of need”. Oh that God would draw you to Christ this very day. Hallelujiah. Amen and Amen.

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God Delivers From Evil

Posted on April 11, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Being.the.traveller: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-a-lighted-candle-2730218/

Proverbs 2:6-15 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. 10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths …

There is a reason that salvation is based on a relationship with the Lord, and not on your human works. Human works are flawed, suspect. We err. A summary of Romans 3:9-26 makes our position and God’s Grace very clear.

Everyone has sinned; Whether Jew or Gentile, we are under sin. we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. God gave us His Law to show us how far we are from perfect. Yet God in His Grace freely justifies us, brings us into His Family, and makes us right in His sight. He does this through Jesus. We are made right with God freely, without our works or worthiness, through the redemption God offers all in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the payment for and the covering of our sin. If we heed His call, and comer to Christ repenting of our former life, God brings us into a saving and joyous relationship in Him.

Once we are saved, we begin to walk with God in a personal relationship.

Proverbs 2:6-7 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

Notice how the Bible phrases this. True “knowledge and understanding” come from God. The definition of WISDOM is knowledge and understanding. Not just to know, but to apply. Notice that it says, “out of his mouth” is where this knowledge and understanding for life comes. As I speak, you hear what comes OUT OF MY MOUTH because you are either in my presence, or under technology like Facebook and are hearing what I’m saying. People who are outside of my presence cannot hear what comes out of my mouth. Likewise, the person who has no personal relationship with Christ cannot hear the Words of God, for the only way anyone can approach God is through Christ. Jesus said:

John 14:6 (NKJV) … I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

You cannot hear wisdom from the mouth of God apart from a saving relationship with Christ. The Apostles preached:

Acts 4:12 (ESV) And there is salvation in no one else {but Jesus}, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Ephesians 2:18 (ESV) For through {Jesus} we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

1 John 5:11-12 (ESV) And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

God speaks to His Children giving us “sound wisdom”. Not the wisdom of this world, but the wisdom of God. God’s Word is to us “A BUCKLER” (Hebrew māḡēn, pronunciation maw-gane’) which means “a shield, that which defends you from harm”.

We live in a world today where we are encouraged to ignore sin, to rename sin, to tolerate sin. This is foolish. What comes of ignoring sin?

Illustrate: This past Monday I started smelling a funny smell in the Fellowship Hall. I didn’t think much about it. I sprayed “Febreeze”, thinking it was just stale odors because the Hall had been shut up. After spraying, I opened the windows and vented everything out. Tuesday the smell was back. I tried ignoring it, spraying “Febreeze”. I figured a mouse had died somewhere. Wednesday I went in the Hall, and what I smelled could have knocked a buzzard off a gut wagon. It was horrible. So I put on my gloves, picked up mouse bait stations, pulled out the refrigerator and stove, and looked through every cabinet. I couldn’t find mouse droppings, nothing! I went to push the stove back in to its cubby hole, and it bound up, so I emptied the bottom drawer. I opened the stove door, then picked myself up off the floor. Something was in a metal disposable pan in the stove on to top rack, all the way back. You couldn’t see it unless you bent over, but you could smell it. It was a unused pan of macaroni and cheese – and it had a longer beard on it than I have! That stuff had sat in the stove, my best guess, probably a month or a month and a half. And it was rank. It was all I could do to get it to the dumpster – and the buzzards were grinning when I left!

Sin is like that. You cannot ignore it, or make light of it, and hope that it goes away. Sin will, if ignored, get worst and worst.

The wages of sin is death – sin unrepented of and unforgiven leads to death. The way of life is to walk with God.

Proverbs 2:8-11 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. 10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

When you decide to live your lives walking with God, you become a “saint” (Hebrew ḥāsîḏ pronunciation khaw-seed’), which means “one set apart to belong to God”. When we walk with God we are, like Jesus, salt and light. Jesus said to those who follow Him:

Matthew 5:13 … You are the SALT of the earth

Matthew 5:14 … You are the LIGHT of the world

Salt is a preservative. It was used in the ancient world – and even today – to keep foods from spoiling and rotting. “Those who are in the FLESH cannot please God” (Romans 8:8). Those who chase after self satisfaction, self identification, self promotion – these people do not better the world, but darken it.

Salt was also used as a flavor enhancer and a nutrient. We need salt to live. As one commentary put it:

“salt has a positive influence on the flavor of the food it seasons. Where there is strife, we are to be peacemakers; where there is sorrow, we are to be the ministers of Christ, binding up wounds, and where there is hatred, we are to exemplify the love of God in Christ, returning good for evil (Luke 6:35).”

Light is directly tied to God. The first thing that God created when He made all things was light. “Let there be LIGHT, and there was LIGHT” (Genesis 1:3). Before God made anything, there had to be light. Light was made before God made the stars, the sun and the moon (Genesis 1:14). Light is wisdom and knowledge from God. God’s light keeps us from stumbling. “righteousness, and judgment, and equity” can only be understood properly when it comes from God Himself. When we walk with God heeding His Word,

Proverbs 2:11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

Word Study: You will be PRESERVED (Hebrew šāmar, pronunciation shaw-mar’), that is God will put a HEDGE about your life. If you follow the Lord you will be KEPT (Hebrew nāṣar, pronunciation naw-tsar’)or GUARDEDfrom the evils of life.

Evil People Are Harmful To All

Proverbs 2:12-15 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

Word Study: There’s a word we need to define before we can understand this passage, and that is the word “froward”. What the heck does it mean to be “froward”, or to “speak frowardthings”? The word translated “FROWARD” is the Hebrew tahpuḵôṯ pronunciation tah-poo-kaw’, which means “something which is perverse, totally against faith in God”. In verse 15 we are told these people “froward in their paths”, which literally means “deliberately walk after perversity and deviousness”. These people do not stumble into perverse things – they actually seek them out.

When a person seeks to follow a perverse path apart from a righteous walk with God, they destroy themselves and others. Perhaps you’ve been following the trials of the Michigan School shooter Ethan Crumbley, and his parents James and Jennifer Crumbley. On November 30, 2021 Ethan entered Oxford High School with a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, and murdered four students and injured seven others. Crumbley was sentenced to life without parole plus 24 years. His parents were arrested on involuntary manslaughter charges, and sentenced to 10-15 years in prison.

Four days before the shooting, James Crumbley bought his 15 year old son the gun. The boy showed signs of mental illness and instability. Several hours before the shooting, the school counselor called the parents in to discuss some disturbing drawings that he had made of him killing someone, along with the words “The thoughts won’t stop. Help me. My life is useless. I want help but my parents don’t listen to me so I can’t get any help. It’s causing me to shoot up the … school”. The parents refused to do anything, but were in a hurry to get back to their jobs, and left the boy at school. And four people died.

If you ask me, the parents got off lucky with a 10-15 year sentence.

There is no blessing in walking a crooked or perverse path. It came out during the trial that the father was inattentive, the mother in a extra-marital affair, and the boy ignored. Sin ignored can lead to death. It did in this case.

People need the Lord. I pray that this young man will be found of Jesus, and those so horribly hurt by the perversity of the parents will find peace in Christ. Oh, how our America needs the Lord!

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God’s Word Our Rest – Hebrews 4:1-12

Posted on April 9, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-reading-indoor-2325729/

Hebrews 4:1-3, 8-9Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into HIS REST, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into REST, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into MY REST: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. … 8 For if Jesus had given them REST, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a REST to the people of God.

We took a break from Hebrews last Sunday to commemorate “Resurrection Sunday” or what many call “Easter”. We talked about the importance of the Resurrection of Christ, and explained how – without the Resurrection – there is no proof that Jesus of Nazareth is the One and Only Messiah. I brought out last Sunday that there were two very common names in Israel,

Mary or Miriam
Jesus or Joshua

Many parents named their daughters “Mary” because Mary or Miriam saved Moses from certain death as a baby, and put him in a little ark, floating him down the Nile River to where the Princess of Egypt was. She adopted little Moshe or Moses, and he grew up to be the Redeemer of imprisoned Israel. Parents who had little boys often named them “Jesus”, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew name “Joshua”. Joshua was a hero to Israel because he trusted the Word of God, and did as God said, leading Israel to conquer nearly all the Promised Land. I also quoted the noted Pastor G. Campbell Morgan who wrote:

“The angel came to Joseph and announced the name, “You shall call His name Jesus.” It was just an ordinary Jewish name, about as common in Judea as John is common to us. .. Jesus is a Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, meaning Savior. … the angel said: Give that name to this Boy; “It is He that shall save His people from their sins. … They are “His people.”… He is coming to identification with them.”

Why bring all this out? Because knowledge of what I’m telling you is necessary to understanding our passage today. We read in verse 8:

For if JESUS had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

The King James translates the name correctly, for here is the Greek iēsous. But nearly every other translation of the Scripture translates this word as Yehoshua or Joshua. Verse 8 is not talking about Jesus Christ our Lord, but the context of the Scripture tells us that it is talking about General Joshua who led Israel into the Promised Land. Joshua was one of the twelve spies who came back from Canaan and told Israel to enter in. Joshua told the people:

Numbers 14:7-9 (AP) “The land that God has given us is very good. If the Lord delights in us as His people, He will give us the land. Please, don’t rebel against God. Hear His Word. Do not fear the people, for the Lord is with us.”

God SAVED Israel by His Word. God SENT Israel by His Word. God blesses us if we hear and do His Word.

Did Israel listen? No, they rejected the Word of God. That’s the whole point of Hebrews 3 & 4:

Hebrews 3:7-11 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, TODAY IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, Harden not your hearts, AS IN THE PROVOCATION, in THE DAY OF TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS, When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years. WHEREFORE I WAS GRIEVED WITH THAT GENERATION, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known My ways. SO I SWARE IN MY WRATH THEY SHALL NOT ENTER INTO MY REST.

Israel was to rest on the Word of God. The Word of God that they applied in Egypt saved them. The Word of God would lead them, and give them the land. Listen Beloved: God SAVES a people that He might be glorified through them. He SAVES us so that He might SANCTIFY us, set us apart for His glory. Jesus said:

Luke 17:20-21 … The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: … behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

The Church needs to understand what Israel failed to understand: THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR WHAT YOU DO OR DO NOT DO. Have you ever thought about that word, “CONSEQUENCE”? The word “CON” means “with”, and a “SEQUENCE” is when one thing happens after another – like a sequence of events. Depart from the Word of God, fail to apply what God said, and you will not rest but will suffer. Adam departed from the Word of God and brought death and sin into the world. King David departed from the Word of God and, because of Bathsheba, brought death into His family. Judas Iscariot departed from the Word of God and brought death to himself.

If you hear the Word of God, but refuse to act on the Word of God, or decide to act against the Word of God, there is always a negative sequence of events.

To REST Is To Be BLESSED

In Chapters Three and Four the Bible speaks of the “REST” of God. Let’s count how many times God uses the word “REST” in these two chapters:

Hebrews 3:11 … they shall NOT ENTER INTO MY REST (1)

Hebrews 3:18 … to whom swore {God} that they should NOT ENTER INTO HIS REST (2), but to them that believed not

Hebrews 4:1 Let us fear, lest, a PROMISE BEING LEFT OF US OF ENTERING INTO HIS REST (3)

Hebrews 4:3 … We which HAVE BELIEVED DO ENTER INTO REST (4)

Hebrews 4:4 … and God DID REST (5) THE SEVENTH DAY from all His works

Hebrews 4:5 … If they shall ENTER INTO MY REST (6)

Hebrews 4:8 … If JOSHUA HAD GIVEN THEM REST (7)

Hebrews 4:9 .. There REMAINETH THEREFORE A REST (8) TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD

Hebrews 4:10 For HE THAT HAS ENTERED INTO HIS REST (9) has also ceased from his own works, as God did His.

Hebrews 4:11 … Let us LABOR THEREFORE TO ENTER INTO THAT REST (10) …

The word “REST” is repeated TEN TIMES
in these two chapters.

I don’t believe this is a coincidence. Do you remember how many plagues God brought on Egypt before Egypt would heed the Word of God and release Israel from bondage? TEN. TEN! The Tenth Plague brought the death of the firstborn children in every household where God’s Word was not honored. Now listen,

How many times did the first generation of Israel hear and reject the Word of God?

The Bible tells us that God was going to destroy Israel, but Moses prayed for them and God gave greater Grace. But God said:

Numbers 14:20-23 (ESV) … the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. 21 But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it.

Ten times Egypt rejected God’s Word, and then relented. Ten times Israel rejected God’s Word, and lost the blessings that would have come of their obedience. My commentary notes:

“What were the ten times the Israelites tested the LORD?

(1) Lacking faith before the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:11–12)

(2) Complaining over the bitter water at Marah (Exodus 15:24)

(3) Complaining in the Desert of Sin (Exodus 16:3)

(4) Collecting more manna than they were supposed to (Exodus 16:20)

(5) Attempting to collect manna on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:27–29)

(6) Complaining over the lack of water at Rephidim (Exodus 17:2–3)

(7) Engaging in idolatry in the golden calf incident (Exodus 32:7–10)

(8) Complaining at Taberah (Numbers 11:1–2)

(9) Complaining over the lack of food (Numbers 11:4)

(10) Failing to trust God and enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:1–4)”

Though “The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Numbers 14:18), and though “The LORD is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9), God expects us to love Him and rely on His Word.

To REST Is To RELY ON GOD’S WORD

Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

God in His Word has given us precious Promises, guarantees that He will bless us if we follow Him. When Israel got to the border of the Promised Land they feared the giants in the land more than they feared the God Who saved them.

Numbers 13:33 … we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

The “sons of Anak” were related to Goliath of Gath (2 Samuel 21:15-22; Joshua 11:22). Goliath himself was 9 feet 9 inches tall, a huge man! Yet God in His Word had told Israel that He was giving them the land. God is bigger than Goliath!

Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

The Word of God, the GOSPEL – the Good News of God’s salvation – was preached to Israel, just as it was preached to us. The GOSPEL is to believe what God has said, and to trust in what God has said. Jesus said of the Gospel:

Mark 9:37 … whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but Him that sent Me.

God the Father sent the Son to present and represent His Gospel. Jesus said “My meat is to do the will of HIM THAT SENT ME, and to FINISH HIS WORK” (John 4:34). He said “I came down from Heaven not to do My own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me” (John 6:38). Those who hear God’s Word and “MIX IT WITH FAITH” are those who are saved, and those who are blessed. The first generation of Israel was saved when they heard the Word of God and, in faith, responded to the Word of God. They sacrificed the lamb without spot and blemish, and put it’s blood on the doorposts of their homes.

To HEAR the Word, but not OBEY the Word in faith, does you no good.

Hebrews 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

When the first generation of Israel BELIEVED God and REPONDED OBEDIENTLY to His Word, they “ENTERED INTO HIS REST”. When they did not move in faith, but balked at entering the Promised Land, God said “you will NOT enter into My Rest”. God said,

the works were finished from the foundation of the world

God has a Kingdom prepared for His people that was “prepared from the foundation of the world”. God wants us to live victoriously in Him. He wants us to live above the evil of this world, trusting His Word, loving one another as Christ loves us.

We must do His Word. We must love one another. Jesus illustrated this in

Matthew 25:34-40 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Israel rejected the Fatherhood of God, and refused to enter the Promised Land. Israel did not love God first, and love their brethren in the Kingdom.

They played fast and loose with the Word of God. And because of this, they lost the blessings that should have been theirs.

Hebrews 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

Why did God rest on the seventh day? Was it because God was tired? No. It was because HIS WORD IS RELIABLE. God spoke all things into existence in six days. He breathed into Adam the breath of life. God’s Word established all of creation. Then God stepped back a day so that we can see GOD’S WORD IS RELIABLE. The Word that created all, is the Word that sustains all.

Hebrews 4:6-8 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus {Joshua, actually} had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

Had Israel listened to Joshua and Caleb, they would have entered into the Promised Land, and took the land, just as God promised. But Joshua did not give them rest, for they would not hear God’s Word. So God promised “ANOTHER DAY”, that there would still be the promise of rest for Israel, but not for the unbelieving and undoing generation.

Hebrews 4:9-10 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into His rest {God’s Rest}, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

When we enter into God’s Rest, hearing and doing what God says, we “cease from OUR own works”. We stop trying to do it our way, and seek to do it God’s Way.

We are saved by faith in His Word, that Jesus Christ made payment for our sins. We do not try to “be good” to be children of God. We receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. We trust in the Word of God, which says:

John 3:15-21 whosoever believeth in {Jesus} should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

We are to DO TRUTH, to DO HIS WORD, to believe that His Word is truth (John 17:17). His Word saves us, and His Word blesses us. We do not pick and choose the parts of His Word that we do. We do it all, just as He said.

Labor To Enter Into His Rest

Hebrews 4:11-12 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

That is a very interesting phrase, “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest”. What does that mean? There is a constant temptation – because of our old sin natures – to modify or negate the Word of God. We constantly are tempted to do so. So we LABOR to enter into His Rest. We strive against our own fallen natures, and surrender to His Word. Only by faithfully doing His Word do we not receive the Grace of God in vain. The Apostle Paul talked about this in:

1 Corinthians 15:9-10 (ESV) … I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Paul was saved by Grace, by believing in Jesus on the Damascus Road. Paul went on to serve God by doing not his will, but the Will of the Father. He heard the Word of God, and did it. Paul went on to encourage us:

2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

God did not save you just to take you to Heaven. He saved you to bring you into His Kingdom. He saved you so you can walk with Him, in victory, through this present life and into the next. You will not be blessed if you reject His Word. Remember the Admonition:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (AP) You are not your own … YOU ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE. Glorify God in your body and in your Spirit, for you belong to God.

Word Study: The Word of God is “quick, and powerful, and sharper”. The word “QUICK” (Greek zaō, means LIFE GIVING) means that it is the Word of God that saves us from spiritual death. But this same word that saves us is also “powerful” (Greek energēs, means EFFECTUALLY POWERFUL). The Word of God not only gives us life, but gives us a GREAT LIFE, a BLESSED LIFE. The Word of God is also “sharper” than any man-made thing, any philosophy or science. Every time you both HEAR and DO it, the Word of God changes your life for the better.

Beloved, it’s time to get off the fence and follow the Word of the Lord. If not, you can expect the same judgment that God placed on Israel, and on Egypt, to be on you. May God lead you to cherish and do His Word.

Amen.

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Knowing God Should Be Our Primary Desire

Posted on April 5, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by John-Mark Smith: https://www.pexels.com/photo/pink-pencil-on-open-bible-page-and-pink-272337/

Proverbs 2:1-5 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

What Value Do We Place On God’s Word?

Why are there so many who profess to be saved who seem to have no more knowledge of God than the lost or the damned atheist? Our text today explains this.

When you are saved, you are saved because you “received” the Gospel of salvation as true. The Gospel is a SEED that is sown on various ground. Jesus said:

Some SEED is RECEIVED by the way side (Matthew 13:19)
Other SEED is RECEIVED in stoney places (Matthew 13:20)
Yet other SEED is RECEIVED among thorns (Matthew 13:22)
But the SEED RECEIVED on GOOD GROUND (Matthew 13:23),

this is the SEED that brings forth the fruit of salvation. Some people harden their hearts to the Gospel of salvation. When Jesus came, the Bible says:

John 1:11-12 … He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

To RECEIVE Christ is to RECEIVE Him as He is – both Lord and Savior. When this occurs, the Holy Spirit of God comes into our lives and causes us to be BORN AGAIN. You must FIRST be BORN AGAIN before you can understand the things of God. Jesus said:

John 3:3 … Except a man be born again, he cannot SEE {Greek horaō, perceive with the mind, to know} the kingdom of God.

Illustrate: I was watching a woman the other day who was mocking Christianity, declaring that “Unless you follow the whole thing, shut the ___ up”. Her rant was against those who stand for conventional human sexuality, not progressivism (the LGBTQ+ platform so fashionable today). She quoted passages from the Old Testament that said you cannot eat bacon or shellfish, that cutting the sides of your hair is a sin, that trimming your beard is a sin, that wearing clothes made out of mixed fabrics is a sin, that planting two different types of seed in a field is sin, and so on. She declared that unless Christians did everything in both testaments, they needed to shut up about Gay and Trans behavior.

The reality is that the Bible is divided into OLD COVENANT (Old Testament) and NEW COVENANT (New Testament). Under the Old Covenant, God gave Israel a series of Laws. In Israel there were:

Ceremonial Laws, and
Civil Laws, as well as
Moral Laws

When you approach the Laws in the Old Covenant you need to realize that the Ceremonial Laws and Civil Laws only applied to Israel as a nation. However, the Moral Laws applied to everyone. These things are true today. As a retired Air Force Airman I travelled the world. As I moved from country to country I found out that each nation has Ceremonial and Civil Laws unique to that nation. For instance, in America we have Civil Laws like…

The First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The Second Amendment: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The are Civil Laws that protect my rights of free speech. But if you go to Muslim controlled countries like Egypt you will find you do NOT have free speech. If you speak against the Muslim Prophet Mohammad you will find yourself imprisoned 5 years. In India you can get 3 years imprisonment. In Afganistan, Iran, Nigera, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Somalia you can be executed for blasphemy. Civil Laws differ from nation to nation.

What about Ceremonial Law? Israel had unique Ceremonial Laws – and so does every nation in the world. In America many people get upset to see a flag burned, but in England they care little about the flag. In England to speak mocking the Crown will get you ostracized or beat up. America has no monarchy, so we revere the flag. In the Phillipines if you sit so as to expose the bottom of your feet, then you insult your host. In Japan and Korea you are expected to remove your shoes at the door before entering a home. In Muslim countries you are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages.These are Ceremonial Laws and Traditions.

Moral Laws are the same from Country to Country!

In most countries murder, rape, incest, kidnapping, adultery are considered morally unacceptable.

Until recently, in America LGBTQ+ behavior was considered immoral and unacceptable. In much of Africa, the various Muslim countries (like Sudan and Egypt), Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, aberrant human sexuality is a criminal offense. Under the Obama and Biden administration LGBTQ+ behavior has become popularized in America, so much so that we celebrate the behavior in June, called “Pride Month”. This past Easter the White House announced that March 31st was International Transgender Day of Visibility.

The day that Christ’s resurrection was to be celebrated was supplanted by “A Proclamation On Transgender Day Of Visibility”. I am not surprised. The lost and the atheist (and I am certain the White House at this time is atheist) care nothing for God.

You must be born again!

Those Who Are Received The Gospel Have
Received The Spirit of God.
They In Turn Should Receive The Word of God.

Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

Word Study: The phrase “My son” shows us that God is addressing His Children. As His Children by faith and adoption (Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 4:5-7; 1 Corinthians 2:12) we are called on to “receive” (Hebrew Qal Imperfect lāqaḥ, to lay hold on, to capture, to seize as valuable) God’s Word. God’s Word is valuable. It is to be cherished. What God has said in His Moral Laws stand forever, not just temporarily. We are to seize His Word as His gift to us. The Psalmist said:

Psalm 119:47-48 (NIV) I delight in your commands because I love them. I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees ….

Psalm 119:119 (NIV) All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; therefore, I love your statutes…

Psalm 119:127 (NIV) … I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold

When God tells us what is right, when He gives us a directive, it is for our benefit. God is much like the Parent who tells the child to don’t touch the hot stove, or stay out of the medicine cabinet. The Bible tells us that:

1 John 5:2-4 (ESV) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

God’s commandments – His moral imperatives – are “not burdensome”. They are given to us His people to protect us from evil and destruction. God will one day sort the wheat from the tares, the righteous by faith from the evil by faith. The TARES are weeds that look like wheat, but have no nutritional value and in fact are a bit poison. Jesus said:

Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Those who love the Lord will one day be in “Christ’s Barn”, that wonderful place called Heaven. But those who rejected His Word, who mock His moral imperatives, these shall find themselves in a place of burning:

Mark 9:47-48 … cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

A terrible place, a veritable “furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth”. (Matthew 13:42, 50).

The Word of God is not only to be RECEIVED, but we read:

Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive My Words, and hide my commandments with thee;

Word Study: The word translated “hide” is the Hebrew ṣāp̄an {pronounced tsaw-fan’} which means “to lay up as treasure, to store as valuable”. The Prophet Job in the midst of his torment said:

Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

In a certain Church I was at, our services started at 11 am. A fellow who was a member of the Church and a professing Christian would make it a point to get up from his seat promptly at noon – and walk out of the service. I asked him about this, especially when one Sunday he did this a soul came down the aisle to be save. His excuse? “I eat at 12:30 sharp. Period. So I leave at noon. Period.” The Bible has a word for someone like this.

Philippians 3:17-20 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our {citizenship} is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Anyone who loves anything more than God’s Word may not be a Child of God. Christians are to:

1 Peter 2:2-3 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

We Are To Both HEAR And APPLY

Proverbs 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

In order to be blessed we are to “INCLINE OUR EAR”. We must be attentive to what God is saying. We must put away our preconceptions, and get away from the noise of the world, and focus Spiritually on God’s Word. There are many passages of Scripture where the writer asks God to “incline Thine ear”:

Psalm 17:6 I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

Psalm 71:2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

Psalm 102:2 Hide not Thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

Isaiah 37:17 Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see:

As we want God to pay attention to us when we are in hurt, God wants us to pay attention to what He is saying in His Word. He does not want our argument, nor our disrespect. What God has to say is for our own good. It is best that we “INCLINE OUR EAR” to His Word – then apply what He has told us to do.

Do You Understand “Fear Of The Lord”?

Proverbs 2:3-5 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

The reason why so many know so little of God – even professing Christians – is because we do not seek knowledge of Him. We are saved by faith in Christ. But once saved, we need to pursue the Word of God and the will of God for our lives.

God here uses two phrases:

criest after knowledge
liftest up thy voice

To “criest after” (Hebrew qārā’, pronounced kaw-raw’) means “to call out to”. It was used of Isaac when God revealed Himself to him, saying:

Genesis 26:24-25 … I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake. 25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon (qārā’) the name of the LORD…

In all the times we have had Prayer Meeting at the Church, I’ve never heard anyone pray that God would give us a greater knowledge of His truths. But that’s what God wants us to do. He wants us to pursue His Word as valuable, as silver or gold, and prayerfully seek a deeper understanding of it. We are to “LIFT UP OUR VOICE”, to pray that God would open our eyes to His truths (Isaiah 40:9). Pastor David Platt – past President of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention – wrote:

“I think it makes a lot of sense based on this word from God to pray. God, right now we call out for insight. We raise our voice for understanding. Please give us understanding. Please give us insight, please give us your wisdom. Help us to live wisely today. God, we seek your wisdom like it’s silver. We search for it like it’s a hidden treasure. And yet we know, we know you’re a gracious God who dispenses wisdom, so we don’t ultimately have to try to find it here or there, because you give it to us.

So we seek what you give, we receive what you give, and as we receive it, we pray that you’d help us to grow in our understanding of the fear of you, and that we would find the knowledge of you. God, we pray that at the end of today, we would know you more than we do right now. And we pray that the end of tomorrow, we would know you more than we did at the start of tomorrow.

God, may our lives continually grow in the knowledge of you. And as we grow in the knowledge of you, fear of you, we pray that you would grant wisdom to us in every facet of our lives. And as we seek and receive your wisdom, we pray that it would increase our knowledge and fear of you. In Jesus’ name, we pray these things. Amen.”

Those who do not treasure God’s Word will know little of it. Let us pray that, as Christ’s Church, we would all treasure His Word. May God lead us to desire and know more of His Word, and to put it into practice daily. For the glory of Christ our Savior. Amen and Amen.

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Resurrection Necessary For Faith: 1 Corinthians 15

Posted on March 31, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Biola Visuals : https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-an-orange-sweatshirt-with-cropped-sleeves-looking-in-the-mirror-19916040/

1 Corinthians 15:12-17 Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

The Sadducees – the liberal crowd of Christ’s day – came into the Church teaching that “the dead rise not”. They did not believe in a life after this life. There are a lot of people like this in our world today. They live in the now, for they believe there is no afterlife. Some of these people will even say that Jesus was a great teacher and a wonderful leader of a moral revolution. But Jesus died, like all founders die. The Apostle tells us:

1 Corinthians 15:16-17 … if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

If Christ is not raised from the grave, then “your faith is vain”. The word “vain” is the Greek (mataia), which means “unreal, unproductive, ineffectual – without any standing in reality”. The fact that Jesus rose from the Grave is imperative to the Christian faith.

If Jesus Did Not Die And Rise Again,
He Is A Liar And a False Prophet

Throughout His ministry, Jesus was very clear that He was going to lay down His life for His people. We read in:

Mark 9:31 {Jesus} was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”

And again:

Matthew 16:21 (ESV) … Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

Matthew 20:18-19 (ESV) “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

Jesus had to die on the Cross of Calvary to make payment for the sins of man. We are told in our text today:

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

When Adam sinned against God by taking of the forbidden – putting himself in the place of God – he brought spiritual death on the entire world. That spiritual death was immediate. Though Adam would physically die at 930 years old (Genesis 5:5). But spiritual death – separation from God – came immediately in Adam, and on all his children. Adam’s act of hiding from God demonstrated his separation from the Lord (Genesis 3:8), as does his deflection of his sin by blaming it on his wife (Genesis 3:12). The Bible tells us that:

Romans 5:12 (ESV) … sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned …

The Bible says that all are “dead in trespasses and sin” (Ephesians 2:1) because of Adam. So God sent His Son to die on the Cross of Calvary for us. Jesus Christ is the “Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29-32). Jesus willingly laid down His life for us. Jesus said:

John 10:11, 14-15, 17-18 (ESV) … I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. … 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. … 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.

No one took Jesus’ life, but Jesus laid His life down for us. He stood in our place of punishment. He paid for Adam’s sin, for your sin, and for my sin. Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary. He did not swoon – He died. Jesus told us:

Matthew 12:40 (ESV) … just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jesus died on that Cross, just as He said He would. And Jesus rose from the grave three days and nights later, just as He said He would. If He did not, He was a liar. Liars cannot pay for sins. Liars cannot be the Lamb of God. Jesus is not a Liar, He is the Lord of Life!

The Resurrection Of Christ Proved That
What Christ Did Was Acceptable To God

The day that Christ came into this world – God becoming perfect Man – the Angel told the Shepherds:

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is CHRIST the LORD …

The word “CHRIST” or Christos means “The Messiah”. The Messiah is the “LORD”. He came into the world to “save HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS” (Matthew 1:21). How did Jesus save us? We are told in our context:

1 Corinthians 15:3 … Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

It was prophesied in the Scriptures that Christ – the Messiah – would die for our sins. The Prophet Isaiah (53:1-12) foretold that when the Messiah came He would be “despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief … He would be PIERCED for OUR TRANSGRESSIONS … He would be CRUSHED for OUR INIQUITIES … upon Him was the PUNISHMENT that should have been ours … His WOUNDS would heal us”. The Prophet Daniel (9:24-26) foretold that “One will come to put and END TO SIN, and to COVER INIQUITY, to bring in RIGHTEOUSNESS … an ANOINTED ONE would come Who would be CUT OFF”. The Prophet Zechariah (13:7) said that “The Shepherd WOULD BE STRUCK and the sheep scattered”. And the Apostle Paul – quoting the teaching of Deuteronomy 21:23 said:

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

Jesus proclaimed that He died for our sins. But how do we know that He was not just a deluded, misunderstood man? How do we know that He is the One and only Messiah?

Because of the Resurrection.

The Bible says in:

Romans 1:1-4 (ESV) Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

The Gospel is not just that Jesus died on the Cross – but that Jesus resurrected from the dead. There were many named “Jesus” who walked the earth when our Lord did. Pastor G. Campbell Morgan wrote:

“The angel came to Joseph and announced the name, “You shall call His name Jesus.” It was just an ordinary Jewish name, about as common in Judea as John is common to us. The name had not the significance that we understand today. It was a beautiful, Jewish boy’s name, a common name of the common people. … Jesus is a Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, meaning Savior. Other men have had that name. Many a mother called her boy Joshua in the hope that he would be a Savior and break oppression and set the people free. Now the angel said: Give that name to this Boy; “It is He that shall save His people from their sins. … They are “His people.” Give Him the name as one of His people; calling Him by the ordinary name of His people; He is coming to identification with them.”

How do we know that our Jesus is the right Jesus, the saving Jesus? Because He rose from the grave. Peter preached confidently on the Day of Pentecost:

Acts 2:24 (AP) … God raised Jesus up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it

This is why we are told:

1 Corinthians 15:17 … if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

We know that our Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, the One Who covered our sins because God the Father raised Him from the dead. The Apostle explains the death and resurrection of Christ this way:

Romans 4:25 (NKJV) {the righteousness of God} shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

Jesus was “DELIVERED UP BECAUSE OF OUR OFFENSES”, that is, He was lifted up on the Cross at Calvary to pay for our sins. But Jesus was “RAISED BECAUSE OF OUR JUSTIFICATION”. When God raise Christ from the dead, this was His clear declaration that GOD WAS SATISFIED with what Christ did. God accepted His payment for us. Because of Christ’s death, we are JUSTIFIED, made RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Our sins were nailed to the Cross of Christ (Colossians 2:14) – and the resurrection proves that the Father received what Christ did for us.

The Resurrection Of Christ Assures Us That We Serve A Living Savior, And That He Watches Over Us

The Apostle tells us that:

1 Corinthians 15:4-8 {Jesus} was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

The day that Jesus died “HE WAS SEEN” as dead. The Centurion in charge of His execution saw Jesus die, and said:

Luke 23:47 … Certainly this WAS a righteous man ..

He had seen many executions, and he knew that Jesus was dead. The other soldiers in charge of His execution inspected Jesus. We read:

John 19:32-37 (NKJV) … the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Experts in execution saw Jesus was dead. He was removed from the Cross, wrapped for burial, and laid in a tomb. The tomb was sealed, and guards were placed on it’s seal. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Jesus was dead.

Then He was SEEN ALIVE three days and nights later.

Jesus was seen first by “Cephas”, which was Jesus’ name for Simon, the leader of the Apostles (John 1:42; 1 Corinthians 1:12; 9:5; Galatians 2:9). Then Jesus was see by “The Twelve”. It was after this that Judas Iscariot killed himself, realizing his part in crucifying the Lord of Glory (James 2:1). Then Jesus was seen of “five hundred brethren at once”, which proves that Jesus was not a figment of the imagination. Jesus then went to His stepbrother “James”, and after this went back to visit with the eleven remaining Apostles. Then Paul says “I SAW HIM”. Paul saw Jesus on the Damascus Road when the Lord knocked him down and got his attention.

We do not follow a dead Savior, but the Living God.

The Bible says:

Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV) {Jesus} because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

The day that you received Jesus as lord and Savior, He promised “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5) and “I will be with you till the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). Jesus could not be a Good Shepherd to His Sheep (that’s us) if He ceased being with us. He died, but He rose again so that He can always be with us. The Bible says:

Romans 8:34 (NKJV) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Because Jesus Defeated Death,
We Need Not Fear Life Nor Death

1 Corinthians 15:20-26 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Jesus defeated spiritual death by making payment for our sins on Calvary. Jesus defeated physical death by rising from the Grave. We are told that Jesus is “the firstfruits of them that slept”. The “FIRSTFRUITS” is a technical term for the first crop harvested from the field. We who are Christians are told:

Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming

As Christ was resurrected from the grave and occupies a glorified body, every Christian shall one day receive a glorified body. We are promised in the Scripture:

Romans 8:11 (ESV) If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Death has no hold on the Christian. Jesus has defeated death and damnation. The body you have is NOT the body you will have in glory. In the latter part of this chapter, the Bible says:

1 Corinthians 15:36-44 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

The body you now have MUST DIE. The body you now have is flawed with the effects of Adam’s sin. You cannot enter Heaven with this mess you have right now. We are told:

1 Corinthians 15:50 … flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

There must be a change. There will be a change. Each and every person in this room will one day physically die. But if you are SPIRITUALLY alive in Christ, your soul will continue on to be with Jesus. And Jesus has promised that He will give you a glorified body wherein is no sickness or death, no disease nor sinfulness. Oh how I look forward to that day.

Do you know Jesus? Is He your Lord and Savior? If He is, then you are encouraged to keep on living your life for the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

That blessed day will come when you meet Jesus face to face. If you are not saved by faith in Him, your next stop – if you will reject Him – will be eternal damnation. Oh, how I pray you will give your lives to Him. May the Holy Spirit make this a reality today. Amen and Amen.

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Wisdom Our Helpmeet

Posted on March 31, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Alex Green: https://www.pexels.com/photo/smiling-asian-grandmother-teaching-little-granddaughter-to-cook-5693389/

Proverbs 1:20-23 Wisdom crieth without; SHE uttereth her voice in the streets: 21 SHE crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city SHE uttereth HER words, saying, 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

What Is The Difference Between
WISDOM And KNOWLEDGE?

As we are studying our way through Proverbs, at this point God personifies WISDOM. Now let me explain this statement. First of all,

What is WISDOM?

Wisdom is the ability to put KNOWLEDGE into effective action. My Dictionary states:

“Wisdom and knowledge have quite a bit in common. Both words are primarily used as nouns that are related to learning. … The word knowledge is defined first as the “acquaintance with facts, truths or principles, as from study or investigation … Wisdom is defined as “the state of being wise,” which means “having the power of discernment and judging properly as to what is true or right: possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion.” … The primary difference between the two words is that wisdom involves a healthy dose of perspective and the ability to make sound judgments about a subject while knowledge is simply knowing. Anyone can become knowledgeable about a subject by reading, researching, and memorizing facts. It’s wisdom, however, that requires more understanding and the ability to determine which facts are relevant in certain situations. Wisdom takes knowledge and applies it with discernment based on experience, evaluation, and lessons learned.”

Let’s put this into a Biblical perspective. You can KNOW what is true, but not put it into action. Wisdom is the act of putting God’s Truth into ACTION. Jesus preached His “Sermon on the Mount”, and it was recorded in Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7. In this Sermon Jesus told us what God expects us to DO if we are His followers. As Jesus closed the Sermon we read:

Matthew 7:28-29 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

The SCRIBES had knowledge. They knew all about the Bible, and were astounding in how much Scripture they memorized. But Jesus was different. He told His audience just before closing the Sermon:

Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Who is the “wise man”? The person who HEARS what Jesus said, but DOES what He said. The Scribe will HEAR the Word, but not DO it. He is not wise. The wise person both heeds and does what God said, regardless as to temptation to do otherwise.

Wisom is to HEAR and DO, to APPLY.
What do we mean by “Wisdom Is Personified”?

As God describes Wisdom, in our text He describes Wisdom as SHE and HER.

Proverbs 1:20-21 Wisdom crieth without; SHE uttereth her voice in the streets: 21 SHE crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city SHE uttereth HER words, saying,

Word Study: Why does God describe WISDOM (Hebrew ḥāḵmôṯ, (pronounced khok-moth’) as a woman? It goes back to Solomon’s request as well as Creation itself. When Solomon first became King of Israel, he prayed and asked God to give him WISDOM to perform his duties. God answered that prayer, and the Bible says:

1 Kings 4:29-31 (NKJV) God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. 30 Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men …

When Solomon was made King, he realized that though he possessed the power, he didn’t know what to do. So Solomon cried out to God. The Bible says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God” (James 1:5, NKJV). God is the Source of Wisdom. When Solomon realized he lacked, he cried out to God and God gave him a helper.

In the Creation story, the Bible says that God made Adam first. The Bible says “Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed” (Genesis 2:8, NKJV). God put Adam (like Solomon) in control of His Kingdom. Then God said:

Genesis 2:18 … It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

The woman was made to help the man. God personifies wisdom as a woman, because wisdom was given to Solomon to help him do his duty. Wisdom is personified THREE TIMES in Proverbs as a woman:

Today’s text
Proverbs 8:1-36
Proverbs 9:1-12

Just as Adam could not do what God wanted him to do in the Garden, we cannot do what God wants us to do without that “helper” called WISDOM.

The merely KNOW something doesn’t do us any good. We need to put what we know into practice. We need to DO what God says. Wisdom will not mislead us, but will stay true to God’s Word.

Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom crieth WITHOUT… (ḥûṣ; pronounced khoots; OUTSIDE)

God’s Wisdom is not like the false wisdom of this world. I was watching a sitcom the other day when an actor said, “We’re all just random atome, an accident in the universe”. That’s stupid. If we’re all accidents, then there is no such thing as morality. It’s survival of the fittest, and to kill or be killed is right. That’s stupid. It’s like the idiocy that says “We no longer need to have MEN’S sports and WOMEN’S sports – let’s just let them all play together. It doesn’t matter, because GENDER IS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT”. That is the idiocy of human wisdom. The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 1:19-21 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Man’s wisdom is not wise, but foolish, and leads to damage and damnation. God’s wisdom leads to salvation and peace. “We {Christians} speak WISDOM among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought” (1 Corinthians 2:6). “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” (1 Corinthians 3:19).

God’s Wisdom cries WITHOUT the world. It does not blend with the foolishness, but is light in the midst of darkness. Like Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, it requires that we turn from the flesh and toward the Spirit of God.

Proverbs 1:20-21 … she UTTERETH {nāṯan, pronounced naw-than’} her voice in the streets: 21 She CRIETH {qārā’, pronounced kaw-raw’} in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

Wisdom {nāṯan, pronounced naw-than’} is not hidden, but CLEARLY REPRESENTS herself. God has not hidden the truth from us, but just as He SET (nāṯan) the stars in the sky (Genesis 1:17) and GAVE US (nāṯan) plants that nutricious (Genesis 1:29), God has freely given the world His truths through Christ and His Bible. Wisdom “CRIETH {qārā’, pronounced kaw-raw’}” or CALLS OUT to whosoever will hear. God has not hidden truth from us. Whether in the fields, or in the city. God has proclaimed His truth through faithful messengers over the years.

Wisdom Is Specific In Her Direction.
Will You Hear, Or Deflect?

Proverbs 1:21-22 …. she uttereth {Qal Imperfect of ‘āmar, pronounced aw-mar’, meaning “to speak from the heart”} her words, saying, 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Wisdom addresses and rebukes three types of people now.

Word Study: The SIMPLE Ones – First, there are the “simple ones”, the Hebrew pᵊṯî (pronounced peth-ee’) which means “the foolish, the naive or silly”. These are those who have rejected the Word of God. We read in:

Psalm 19:7 (NKJV) The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

God’s Word “MAKES WISE THE SIMPLE, the pᵊṯî (pronounced peth-ee’)”. Those who are foolish or naive or silly can very well shorten their lives. The Bible says:

Psalm 116:6 (NKJV) The Lord preserves the SIMPLE ; I was brought low, and He saved me.

In order to go from SIMPLE to WISE, the heart must be willing to receive the Word of God. The Scripture says:

Psalm 119:130 (NKJV) The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

Proverbs 1:22 …. the scorners delight in their scorning

Word Study: The ARROGANT or BOASTFUL –: The second type of rejector of wisdom is the “SCORNERS” (the Hebrew lûṣ {pronounced loots}), which means “those who are arrogant and boastful. Those who KNOW they’re RIGHT, and reject the Word of God.” The Bible says:

Psalm 1:1-2 (NKJV) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Those who despise the Law of God will openly mock what He has said – and those who follow Him. The evil want us to compromise the faith of Christ. The Psalmist was often tempted, saying:

Psalm 119:51 (NKJV) The PROUD have me in great derision, Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.

The PROUD, the ARROGANT, the “SCORNERS” (the Hebrew lûṣ {pronounced loots}) often find a nesting place in the Church of God. The Apostle Paul was attacked by such people who compared him to other teachers (see 1 Corinthians 1:12-13). They often found fault with Paul rather than hearing the truth he preached and applying it to their lives. The Apostle confronted this by his resolve to focus on not himself and his flesh, but on Christ. The Apostle said:

1 Corinthians 2:1-4 (NKJV) And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Paul could have lowered himself to where the Corinthians were and attacked back, but instead he was determined to focus not on the flesh but on Jesus.

Word Study: The FOOLISH or SILLY – The third type of rejector of Wisdom is those determined not to know. This is the Hebrew kᵊsîl {pronounced kes-eel’}, which means “those who are silly, dullards, senseless ones”. This word is used in these Scriptures:

Psalm 92:5-6 (NKJV) O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. 6 A senseless man does not know, Nor does a fool understand this.

The Book of Proverbs talks more about the SENSELESS SILLY PERSON than they do others. By count, in Proverbs:

The SILLY or SENSELESS kᵊsîl {pronounced kes-eel’} is 49x
The SCORNERS or ARROGANT lûṣ {pronounced loots} is 18x
The SIMPLE or NAIVE pᵊṯî (pronounced peth-ee’) is 15x

Pastor Cole Newton wrote:

“… fools are destroyed by their complacency. This is a terrifying image. While the simple were killed because they turned toward sin, fools are destroyed by doing nothing. … This is a great warning against “Christians” who refuse to take sin and the things of God seriously. Twice Jeremiah warns the people of Judah against prophets and priests who heal “the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (6:14, 8:11). These religious leaders refused to take the sin of Judah seriously. They spoke of peace while God was crying out for His people to repent. We must take care that we do not allow a similar complacency to sweep us away. The path to damnation is open wide for those who refuse to let God’s word call them to action.”

God cannot bless those who reject His Word and His Wisdom. God says to all that the solution to life is to REPENT and TURN to the Word of God.

Proverbs 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

It is only through repentance and turning to the Word of God that the Lord will “pour out my Spirit unto you”. This is a reference to the filling of the Holy Spirit. God gave us the Holy Spirit to “guide the believer into all truth” (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit that we receive as a part of our salvation is given by Jesus to “teach us all things, and bring all things to our remembrance that Jesus said to us” (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit of God “searches everything, even the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10-13).

We must abide in the truth of God’s Word if we expect an anointing from God (1 John 2:20, 27). We cannot pick and choose what we will heed. We must heed the whole council of God, the whole Word of God. We must rely entirely on the Word of God.

If we reject God’s Word, will God bless us? No. God will tell us in His Word and through His Spirit what He wants us to do. But if we reject Him and His Word, God says:

Proverbs 1:24-27 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

When you reject the counsel of God, reject His Word, then God takes the attitude of “you made your bed – now lie in it”. Rather than build on the Rock that is Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4) you decided to go the way of the world. The Bible says:

Galatians 6:7-9 (NKJV) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Had those Wisdom addressed heeded the Word that was spoken, they would have been blessed. But they would not hear. So God said, “If that’s what you want – then here you go”. When calamity comes, God will laugh. “He that sits in the Heavens shall LAUGH: the LORD shall have them in derision” (Psalm 2:4).

Proverbs 1:28-31 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

People ask the question, “How can a ‘Loving God’ allow the evil we see active in this world?” It is because “they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord”. God told them what to do, but they pooh poohed God. They “would {have} none of my counsel. When God rebuked them, like calcitrant children they rejected Him. “they despised all my reproof”. Jesus spoke of this in His preaching. He came to save the Jewish people, but they rejected Him. The Chief Priests and Scribes hated Him, and the Pharisees and Sadducees plotted against Him. In time, God turned away.

Luke 14:21-26 (NKJV) Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ 23 Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ” 25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

God calls us to an all or nothing proposition. If we want His blessing then, like Solomon, we need to turn to Him for wisdom. We end with these words:

Proverbs 1:32-33 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

May God open your eyes, and touch your hearts with His Word. Amen and Amen.

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Holy, Not Hardened, Hearts: Hebrews 3:7-19

Posted on March 24, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Monstera Production: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crispy-toast-bread-with-cut-hearts-5874704/

Hebrews 3:7-12 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

All of the Scripture is God Breathed, God inspired, God spoken. The Apostle said in:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God {the believer} may be complete, equipped for every good work.

We know that all Scripture – this Bible we cherish – is theopneustos, God breathed out. It is the very Word of God. We know that the text we study every week is written by “holy men of God who SPOKE AS THEY WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY GHOST” (2 Peter 1:21). We know this. But here today as we read our text we see the words:

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith…

The Bible here makes it a POINT that what is being said comes from the Holy Spirit of God. This isn’t something David Buffaloe is saying. This is something God is saying. It starts with “Wherefore”. This refers back to what we studied last week. We saw a comparison between The House of Moses and The House of Christ. Both Houses are led by faithful men. But the House of Christ is SUPERIOR to the House of Moses, because Jesus is superior to Moses. The House of Moses was built by those who had faith in God, and was a shadow of the coming House of Christ. Those on the House of Moses were servants of the Most High God. But those in the House of Christ are sons and daughters of the Most High God, because Jesus Himself is the Son of God. Moses was not the Son of God, but looked forward to the coming of the Son of God. Last week we ended with this verse:

Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Though The House Of Christ Is Superior To The Shadow Of The House Of Moses, We Learn And Grow By Studying The House Of Moses

This is why verse 7 starts with the word:

Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith …

There are lessons to be learned from the House of Moses that relate to the Christian way of life. Where did the House of Moses come from? Egypt. The lost world. A world filled with false gods and goddesses. The House of Moses, which is Israel, was enslaved by Egypt, enslaved by false gods, by sin, by the world. In the same way every person who is now a Christian – in the House of Christ – was at one time enslaved by the world, by Egypt. No one starts out in this life saved. I have shown you repeatedly that the Scripture says:

Romans 3:23 … all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God …

How does a lost person come to Christ? Consider Israel. When was Israel saved from Egypt? When Israel was at ease in Egypt, they did not cry out to God. But when …

Exodus 1:13-14 (ESV) … {Egypt} ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves 14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.

When life became horrible for Israel, it was then that Israel called out to God. Their hearts were softened and their arrogance broken because of Egypt, because of the lost world. It was at this point that God raised up a redeemer in Moses. He told Moses:

Exodus 3:7-8 (ESV) Then the Lord said {to Moses}, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey

God calls His people out of Egypt, out of the world. He said, “come out from among them, and be ye separate” (2 Corinthians 6:17). God said “Be HOLY, for I am HOLY” (1 Peter 1:16).

Israel could not be a part of Egypt. God’s people cannot be one with the world. God told His people to take a Lamb without spot or blemish, kill it, and put its blood on your Home, on your life (Exodus 12:13-28). God said:

“When I see the Blood,
When I see the Blood,
When I see the Blood,
I will pass, I will pass over you!”

Where the Blood was not, death came. The Blood of the Lamb was a shadow of the Blood of Christ, the “Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:36). The Blood of the Lamb covered the House of Moses so that death would not come. The Blood of Christ covers the House of Christ so that death cannot take us. The Blood of the Lamb redeemed the House of Moses from Egypt. The Blood of Christ redeems the House of Christ from the lost world.

1 Peter 1:18-21 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain {way of life} received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

The day after Israel applied the Blood of the Lamb, Israel left Egypt praising God for His deliverance. Israel was saved from Egypt …. BUT

Would Israel Rely On God Or On Themselves?

When Israel left Egypt, they went straight to the Promised Land, and lived happily ever after. The end. Let’s go home.

No, that’s not true. Israel is a shadow of the Church, a picture of the Christian way of life. The Holy Spirit is telling us this, because the Spirit says:

Hebrews 3:7-9 … To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

God here applies the shadow of Israel leaving Egypt to the House of Christ, the Church. He tells us as Christians, “Harden not your hearts”. The Holy Spirit is not talking to unbelievers here, but to Christians. Faith and belief come from the heart. Not that pump in your chest, but that part of your soul the Bible calls the heart. It is the heart that God saves. King David cried out:

Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV) Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

If left to itself, the Bible says:

Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart …

Our Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 15:19 … out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

God calls us to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mark 12:30). How can we do that if our hearts so corrupt? We must REPENT and turn to God in faith. Salvation comes when we turn from sin and toward the Savior. We stop our love affair with Egypt, and cry out to God to save us.

Every person who has ever been saved has become fed up with Egypt. They cry out to God to save them, refocusing their heart on the Lord.

How are we saved? Again I refer to Scripture:

Romans 10:9-11 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

It was not the PHYSICAL blood of the Lamb that saved israel. It was that ISRAEL BELIEVED GOD AND DID AS HE SAID. They trusted God with all their heart. They believed on the blood of the Lamb. How is a Christian saved? The PHYSICAL Blood of Christ has long been shed, but that PHYSICAL Blood does not save you. The day that Christ died on Calvary there were soldiers all about who trampled on the Blood of Christ:

Hebrews 10:29 {they trod} under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant … an unholy thing …

Preach This: On the day that Jesus died on Calvary, the soldiers that beat Him with whips had His Blood scattered all over their clothing and faces. The soldiers who drove the spikes into His hands and feet had it spurt out upon them. When they raised the Cross and dropped it into the socket of the earth, the Blood of Jesus flowed down and spattered the ground like crimson rain. Those who mocked Christ, standing at the foot of the Cross, trod His Blood underfoot.

Not one of those unbelievers were saved by the Blood.

It was FAITH IN GOD that saved Israel from Egypt. Faith does what God says. Faith believes the Lord. Faith killed the lamb, and spinkled its blood. Faith looks to Calvary, and believes in Christ as both Lord and Savior. Faith believes His Blood was shed for ME.

When Israel was saved from Egypt, they left Egypt and headed toward the Promised Land. Then God began to test them. If you are saved, you will be tested.

God could have taken Israel directly into the Promised Land. But He didn’t. When you get saved, God wants you to be HOLY. Let me define HOLINESS. To be HOLY, is to put God first. To be HOLY, is to obey God. To be HOLY, is to love God above all else. To be HOLY, is to trust God no matter what the world throws at you.

As soon as Israel left Egypt, it wasn’t long before Egypt came to drag Israel back into its mess. When you walk with God, all that is evil will plot and plan to draw you back into it’s mess. The Bible says:

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

If the devil can’t keep you from being saved, he will do everything he can to draw you back into his world. Egypt started chasing Israel, just like the devil will chase a Christian. If he can’t keep you from being saved, the devil will try to get you to:

TOLERATE evil
COMPROMISE your faith
BLEND with the darkness

God doesn’t want you to do that. What does God do? What did God do with Israel? God led Israel to a place where they were trapped. They were trapped in Egypt, but God saved them when Israel trusted God and did as He said. So God leads Israel to the Red Sea. In front of Israel is TOO MUCH WATER. They’re trapped. What will Israel do? What did Israel do?

Exodus 14:11-12 (ESV) {Israel} said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Israel was praising Moses, their redeemer, for leading them out of Egypt. But now Israel is in an impossible situation. They do not cry out to God, but instead cry against God and the salvation He gave them. They are not loving God Who saved them, but cursing God for taking them out of Egypt.

Moses told Israel,

Exodus 14:13-14 (ESV) … “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Don’t worry. Don’t fear. You are in an impossible situation. God got you out of an impossible situation before, He will do it again. Praise Him! Love Him with all your heart. Call out to Him for salvation. God will save His people.

And God did.
Israel crossed the Red Sea unharmed,
And Egypt was destroyed!

After this event, you would think that Israel would have learned. Did they? God back to our text:

Hebrews 3:8-9 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years.

No. Israel didn’t learn from the Red Sea crossing. God parted the waters and saved them, while destroying the enemy. Israel hardened their hearts. God brought Israel into the wilderness of Shur, to a place called Marah (Exodus 15:22-25). Here the water was bitter, undrinkable. Israel went from TOO MUCH water, to BITTER water. Would they call on God? No.

Israel grumbled.

After God made the water drinkable, He told Israel:

Exodus 15: 26 (ESV) … “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”

God told Israel, “Open your hearts to Me. Stop hardening your hearts. Repent. Call on Me, as you did when you were in Egypt. Trust Me and obey Me, for I am your Healer.”

The Law of Moses was not given unto Exodus 20. God is not telling Israel to follow the Law. He is telling Israel to FOLLOW HIM, to LOVE HIM, to OBEY HIM.

Would Israel listen? Again, what does our text say?

Hebrews 3:8-9 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years.

Word Study: The word translated “provocation” is the Greek parapikrasmos (pronounced par-ap-ik-ras-mos’), which means “to provoke or irritate”. Let me illustrate PROVOKED. I have here a dog toy, a squeek. How would you like to hear it? What if you were talking, each time you tried to say something I SQUEEKED this little toy. This is what Israel was doing with God. Israel was poking the Lord. God saved them from TOO MUCH water. God saved them from BITTER water. They STILL wouldn’t trust God or rely on God.

Israel could draw near to God, and BE HOLY, or they could draw near to Self and BE HARDENED. The Christian and the Church can draw near to God and BE HOLY, or we can draw near to Self and BE HARDENED. What’s your choice?

The story continues. Israel next comes to Rephidem, later called Meribah. God brought them to a place where there was NO WATER.

TOO MUCH water.
TOO BITTER water. Now,
NO water.

Will Israel trust God? He’s saved them over and over again. Our God is faithful:

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

If there is NO WATER, and God saved us from TOO MUCH water and the BITTER water, will He not now provide? But Israel refused to be holy. Israel kept drawing toward SELF. Israel kept going back to Egypt in their hearts. Israel had an identity crisis.

Church, Do You Have An Identity Crisis?
Do You Belong To Jesus, Or Yourself?

Israel TEMPTED God, PROVED God, and SAW GOD’S WORKS for 40 years. But Israel would not draw near to God. Israel wanted to be saved from Egypt, and wanted to inherit the Promised Land, but didn’t care about God. What does the Holy Spirit tell us?

Hebrews 3:10-12 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

What kept Israel out of the Promised Land? Israel. Not God, but Israel. Their hearts were hardened. They kept “departing from the living God”. Think about that phrase, “the living God”. Why do you think the Holy Spirit calls the God of Scripture “the living God”? It is because the Source of all life is God. Jesus said:

John 5:26 (RSV) … as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself …

Life is in God. Not just future, Heavenly life, but ALL LIFE is in God. When we are saved, God calls us to walk with Him, to trust Him no matter what might occur. Our focus is God. God is self existent (Exodus 3:14). The Psalmist said of God:

Psalm 36:9 (CEV) The life-giving fountain belongs to You {o God}, and Your light gives light to each of us.

Israel was saved from Egypt by believing of God. We are saved from Egypt – this world – by believing on Christ. But you cannot shake hands with the devil and walk with the Lord. You cannot be salt and light, while abiding in darkness. Salvation is a surrender to God.

We Encourage One Another To Avoid Sin And Embrace The Savior

Hebrews 3:12-16 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort {parakaleō, to call alongside, to encourage} one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

We are not to compromise with the darkness, but are to ENCOURAGE one another DAILY – while it is today – to walk with God. We are not to harden our hearts. If you harden your heart, you rob yourselves of the blessings that God wants to bless you with.

Our God is able. Our God is able!

Hebrews 3:16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

Some provoked God – but “NOT ALL”. The children of those who left Egypt did not provoke God. The children would grow up, and enter the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb never provoked God, but trusted God, and encouraged the people to enter the Promised Land. But Israel wouldn’t. They were SELF focused, and not God focused. So they died in the wilderness.

Hebrews 3:17-19 But with whom was {God} grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

What a horrible thing it is to HARDEN the heart. A hardened heart cost Pharaoh his life. A hardened heart caused the first generation of Israel to lose the blessings of salvation. How horrible the hardened heart is! It provokes God.

Beloved, if you belong to Christ by faith, open your heart to Him. Repent of any sin in your life, and run to Him. Trust Him, and live in love toward God and your fellow man. But if you do not know Christ as Savior and Lord, I pray that today would be the day you would receive Him as He is. Turn from self, and toward the Savior.

The kingdom of God is at hand. What will you do? Holy, or hardened? The choice is yours.

May God touch your hearts with His Word. Amen and Amen.

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Do Not Join With Sinners: Proverbs 1:8-19

Posted on March 22, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Maruxa Lomoljo Koren: https://www.pexels.com/photo/red-neon-light-signage-3887574/

Proverbs 1:8-9 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

Parents are supposed to teach their children righteousness. Righteousness defined is, Biblically, “To adhere to the standard that God has set”. The Bible says in:

Isaiah 33:22 For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will save us.

God created the Laws of Gravity, Motion, Energy Conservation – the Laws that make life on Planet Earth possible. This same God “loves righteousness and justice” (Psalm 33:5, ESV). His righteousness is like the mighty mountains, and His justice like the ocean depths (Psalm 36:6, NLT). Christ paid the penalty for the believer on the Cross of Calvary. Everyone who believes in Christ has been given imputed righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Through the indwelling Holy Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) we who are saved by the Grace of God are drawn to live practical righteousness:

1 Peter 2:24 (ESV) He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

The Christian is drawn by God to “seek first His Kingdom and His RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Matthew 6:33). We are to “flee sin, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11). The Christian parent is to teach their children righteousness, whether that child is saved or not. The righteous instruction of the parents is:

be an ornament of grace unto thy head

Word Study: The word translated “GRACE” is the Hebrew ḥēn (pronounced khane). This refers to Divine Favor and Blessing. The first use of ḥēn in Scripture is with the Prophet Noah:

Genesis 6:8 But Noah found GRACE (ḥēn) in the eyes of the LORD.

When God looked at the evil of the world, He cursed it, and decided to destroy it. But Noah found GRACE because he sought and honored the righteousness of God. Noah did not EARN grace, but FOUND grace in God. Noah turned away from the evil of his day and positioned himself to find grace. Noah heeded the Word of God, not the word of man.

The child who listens to righteous instruction from their parents will find grace unto thy head. When I read this, I think about children wearing bike helmets when riding. The helmet protects their head, the seat of the human soul, in the event of a fall. Grace around your head protects your soul. This is why the Bible tells us:

Ephesians 6:11 (NKJV) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

And as the Apostle describes the armor of God, what is the HELMET that is on the head? It is “the helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17), that which protects the soul.

Parents are to teach their children righteousness as God defines it in the Bible. No righteousness = No Grace.

Illustrate: I was watching an episode of CSI the other day, the one where a little girl on a bike was run over with a car, killing her. As they investigated, they traced the car back to an elderly black man who said he ran over the child. They searched further, and it turned out that it was the elderly man’s grandson who was driving the car. When the child was hit – a black child – the grandfather convinced his grandson to run away and to lie to the police. Had the young man contacted the police, and stayed at the scene of the accident, more than likely the young man would have been given probation. It was just an accident. But hiding the act, and lying to authorities, compounded the problem. When sentenced, the elderly grandfather begged to serve the grandson’s time. Though Jesus died for our sins, we cannot pay the penalty for another. Had the grandfather taught his grandson righteousness, they both would have been better off in the long run. Running away and hiding, both showed a poor view of the value of that child’s life. The grandson went to jail. In my opinion, the grandfather should have served along with him.

You say that this is but a drama, but it plays out in our criminal justice system every day. Children who are not taught righteousness and respect for life grow up to do horrendous things.

The First Lesson Of Solomon: Avoid Those Who Love Sin

Proverbs 1:10-14 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

Word Study: The word translated “sinners” is the Hebrew ḥaṭṭā’, which means “those exposed to condemnation, of criminal intent, one accounted guilty”. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23; 5:12). King Solomon wrote, “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). There are none born of humanity outside of Christ who does not fail God, and at times sin. It doesn’t matter who it is. The Apostle wrote:

Romans 3:9 (ESV) … both Jews and Greeks, are under sin …

and in Romans 11:32 (ESV) … God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

In one sense we are all sinners. The Hebrew ḥaṭṭā’ (pronounced khat-taw’) does not refer to the universal nature of sin, but of people who deliberately seek out and rejoice in sin. The first time this word is used in the Bible is in:

Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners {ḥaṭṭā’} before the LORD exceedingly.

These are people who rejoice in their evil. You see them daily on television, saying “just follow your heart” or “you do you”. The Bible prescribes a different way of life. In the Bible, the great commandment is to “love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength”. The second great commandment is “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:38-40). Our Lord Jesus said that these two commandments are the string that holds up the entirety of “the Law and the Prophets”, the Holy Bible.

When a person embraces their brokenness, declaring it to be right and God sent rather than a thing to be repented of, then they step into the pig trough of sin.

Though All Sin, We Do Not Embrace Nor Normalize Sin

Those who embrace sin wants everyone to celebrate the evil and elevate the evil. Those who embrace sin create a rainbow flagged month where everyone should say that the lifestyle is normal. Those who embrace sin look the other way when theft occurs, saying “It is racist to stop the thief, or to expect responsible behavior from all citizens”.

When people pursue brokenness as normal, it is not long before they become MORE broken.

Proverbs 1:11-12If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit…

The one who loves and pursues sin “LAY WAIT FOR BLOOD”. They have no respect for life unless it is their own life. Other translations of this text state:

Proverbs 1:11 (NKJV) If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

Proverbs 1:11 (ESV) If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;

Proverbs 1:11 (NASB-20) If they say, “Come with us, Let’s lie in wait for blood, Let’s ambush the innocent without cause;

Word Study: The Sinner, the ḥaṭṭā’ (pronounced khat-taw’) has no respect for life. Told that a fetus has blood about the 16th day from conception, and by the 20th day the heart pumps red blood cells through the blood vessels, the Sinner says “So what? It’s my body, and I’ll do what I want to do with that fetus”. They have no love for God nor man. They delight in shedding blood, just as long as

Proverbs 1:13-14We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

The “SINNER” values stuff and self more than the life of others

Word Study: They want “precious substance”, yāqār hôn, that which is rare and valuable like gold or silver. They do not cherish God’s Word, but cherish the rocks and metals that God made, considering them greatly to be treasured. They say, “let us all have one purse”, that is, you help us rob others of their valuables, and we’ll do like the pirates did – we’ll divide the spoil evenly. Jesus warned us:

Luke 12:15-21 (ESV) “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

God is the Source of life. I do not know of one millionaire or billionaire who, on the last day of their lives, would not give all they had for just a little more time. The stuff that the Sinner entices us with will one day be left behind.

It is better to be RICH TOWARD GOD. He is the Source of Life. Those who are RICH TOWARD GOD, who have received Christ by faith and live according to the Kingdom Principles, these will live forever!

Proverbs 1:15-16 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

Jesus said “I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE” (John 14:6). To walk “in the way with them” is to court death – for the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). When Adam and Eve took just one bite of the forbidden, they thought it would be innocent. But their eyes were opened, and they died spiritually. It wasn’t long before their son Cain murdered Abel (Genesis 4:8). It all started with just one bite.

Death Starts With One Bite

I like to think of Judas Iscariot. Here was a man that Jesus hand picked to be an Apostle. Jesus loved Judas. When Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, Jesus said “Friend, do what you have come to do” (Matthew 26:50). Jesus called Judas to follow Him, and Judas did follow Jesus when many others abandoned Him (John 6:53). Along with the other eleven, Judas left everything to follow Jesus (Matthew 19:27). Judas was not a monster. But Judas had a flaw that he did not repent.

Judas loved money.

Just before Jesus was brought to trial, a woman with an Alabaster Box of very precious ointment (Matthew 26:7) came and anointed Jesus with the ointment as He ate dinner at Simon the Leper’s home. The Bible tells us that Judas asked, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” (John 12:5). Judas didn’t care about the poor, but was the Treasurer for the disciples and carried the purse. Judas starting pilfering money from that moneybag (John 12:6) – probably just a little at a time. But over time he became accustomed to getting money from that bag. I’m sure Jesus knew he was doing this – but Jesus loved him anyway.

When Judas said what he did, Jesus said “Why are you troubling this woman. She is doing a good thing, for she is preparing my body for my burial” (Matthew 26:10-13). “When the Gospel is preached, remember what she did”. What happened next?

Judas wanted to sell the Alabaster Box for three hundred denarii – about 300 days labor for a blue collar worker.

When he was rebuked, the Bible says:

Matthew 26:14-15 (ESV) … Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.

One commentary notes:

“In the Hebrew culture, thirty pieces of silver was not a lot of money. In fact, it was the exact price paid to the master of a slave if and when his slave was gored by an ox (Exodus 21:32). In order to compensate for a slave’s death and burial, it was written into law that 30 pieces of silver would account for the cost. … When Judas Iscariot bargained with the leaders of Israel for the betrayal of Jesus, he asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?” The leaders then counted out a mere “thirty pieces of silver,” (Matthew 26:15). They considered the cost of Jesus’ death to be that of a slave.”

As close as I can tell, 30 pieces of silver is worth about a hundred denarii, or a hundred days wages (A denarius is one day’s wage: Matthew 20:2). Judas valued Jesus’ life at one third of that Alabaster Box of ointment, or the price of a common slave.

Sin Shortens Your Life

Proverbs 1:17-19 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

What the sinner does, eventually comes back on them. We are told “they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives”. After Judas saw Jesus hanging on that Cross – an innocent Man suffering and dying for thirty pieces of silver – the Bible says that it was then that Judas had second thoughts.

Matthew 27:3-5 (ESV) … {Judas} changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.

Judas did NOT repent. He did NOT go to God and seek forgiveness. Instead, Judas punished himself by committing suicide. He lived by his own hand, and died by his own hand. How said it is, for Numbers 32:23 tells us, “be SURE YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT”. Judas died in his sins, unrepentant, and is probably in hell today. Ancient English Austinian Mystic Walter Hilton wrote in his book “Toward A Perfect Love”:

“Stop and think how Christ loved Judas, who was both his mortal enemy and a sinful dog. How good Christ was to him, how benign, how courteous, how humble toward him whom he knew to be damnable. He chose him for his apostle and sent him to preach with the other apostles. He gave him power to work miracles. He showed to him the same good cheer in word and deed. He shared with him his precious Body, and preached to him in the same manner as he did to the other apostles. He did not condemn him openly; nor did he abuse him or despise him, nor even speak evil of him (and yet even if he had done all of that, it would simply have been to tell the truth!)”.

We do not bless the Sinner when we help them justify their sin. We bless the Sinner by bidding them repent, and walk with Christ. In time, those who pursue sin will reap the death that comes with it. We who love the Lord should warn the Sinner, remembering that though Jesus often sat and ate with sinners, Jesus never justified their sins as righteousness.

That is like saying cancer is normal growth. It is not, and never will be. Sin must not be condoned, nor celebrated, nor courted. We who are wise will reject what God has called sin. We will walk in love, putting God first, and treating others with love and respect.

May God touch your hearts with His Word. Amen and Amen.

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The House Of Christ: Hebrews 3:1-6

Posted on March 17, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Finn Semmer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/travel-20590867/

Hebrews 3:1-6 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; {2} Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses [was faithful] in all his house. {3} For this [man] was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath built the house hath more honor than the house. {4} For every house is built by some [man]; but he that built all things [is] God. {5} And Moses verily [was] faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; {6} But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Internal Erosion Of The Church

The reason that the Book of Hebrews was written was because the devil began to try and erode the Church from the inside. As people came to know Christ as Lord and Savior, being “born again” into the Kingdom of God, the Church began to grow. Satan attacked the Church externally, but this only made it stronger. So Satan infiltrated the Church. He put on a suit and tie, and joined the local Churches. Through the Pharisees he began to teach that – in order to be saved – the Christian had to return to the “shadows” of the Law.

Males had to be circumcised.
The Church must keep the Feasts.
Every believer must continue in the animal sacrifices.
The priesthood would continue with a few select men.
Christ is our Savior, the Law our Lord.

In congregations where this didn’t work, the Devil came in the guise of the liberal Sadducees. He came teaching:

Most of the Bible is to be disregarded.
Since Christ paid for sin, we are free to sin.
God has no standard for us other than our satisfaction.
Christ is our Savior, but not our Lord.

The Devil brought POLITICS into the Church through the Herodians. He brought PERMISSIVENESS through the Sadducees. He brought the yoke of PONTIFICAL PRECEPTS through the Pharisees. Through it all, his intent is that we take our eyes off of Jesus.

Let Us Compare Jesus To Moses

Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Word Study: We are told to “CONSIDER” Jesus. This is the Greek katanoéō, {pronounced kat-an-o-eh’-o}, which means “focus your mind on the standard of”. In chapter one, we were shown that Christ is the Son of God, made lower than the angels to bring us salvation. We were shown that Jesus is in fact Eternal God in the flesh, who hates sin just as much as the Father does. We are shown that Jesus changed once when He became flesh, but Jesus never changes, for He is eternal. Jesus, Who was made lower than the angels for our sake, has always been greater than the angels.

In chapter two we learned that the Father offers a great salvation through Jesus Christ alone. God proved Christ is Messiah by signs and wonders, by miracles and supernatural giftings of the Holy Spirit. We saw that Jesus is Lord, and the High Priest of His Church. We saw that His Church is comprised of those who are “His brethren”, those who are “born again” by faith in Him.

Now as we come into Chapter Three we see a comparison between Jesus and Moses. In verse 2:

Hebrews 3:2 Who {Jesus} was faithful to Him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

Both Jesus and Moses were equally faithful to what the Father called them to do. However, Jesus is greater than Moses:

Hebrews 3:3 For this Man {Jesus} was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house.

Jesus has more glory than Moses. Now, why is the Bible comparing Jesus with Moses? Because the Pharisees often attacked Jesus for violating the Law of Moses. They claimed that Jesus was

Matthew 12:2 [AP] {allowing} Your disciples to DO WHAT IS UNLAWFUL on the Sabbath …

They attempted to stone Jesus to death “for BLASPHEMY, because You Jesus are no more than a Man, but You make Yourself God” (John 10:33, AP).

Jesus IS a Man, but He is NOT a Man as Moses is a Man. Though both Jesus and Moses are equally faithful, we have learned that Jesus is both fully Man and fully God.

Hebrews 3:4 For every house is builded by some man…

Why is Jesus superior to Moses? Because Jesus is THE SON, but Moses is THE SERVANT.

Word Study: The Bible is now going to compare two “Houses”. We’re all familiar with the word “House”. The word “House” is the Greek oikos (pronounced oy’-kos), which means “The Family, the place one dwells, the House”. We’re told that “every house is builded by some man”. Let me say this while I’m thinking it:

There are HUMAN houses, and there is a DIVINE house.

Human houses are built by men and women. A human house is where you live. If you built that house, you have authority in that house. If I go to Tony and Jane’s house, they decide what rooms are used for what. They decide when to eat, what they’re going to eat, how they’re going to cook it. When they raised children, they determined when the children would go place, where they attended school, and so on. If you are in their “house” you are under their authority.

Hebrews 3:4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

Though men build the “house”, GOD builds ALL THINGS. God built the men that built the “house”. God provides the materials that make the “house”. The “house” is the place you live and have authority. It is not a hotel, but a house. When Sherry and I go to see our grandchildren, we stay at my son’s house. We’re comfortable there – of a sort. But we’re not at our house. If I need a drinking glass, I look in his cabinet to get one – but it doesn’t feel right. We stay in the room that the owner of the “house” puts us in.

Moses Built The House As A SERVANT

Moses was raised up by God to lead His Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land of Canaan. Egypt was a land of bondage, dominated by false gods and huge tombstones called pyramids. The Lord did not want His Israel to stay bound in a land of death and destruction, slavery and destitution. God wanted to raise His people up. He wanted to save whoever would follow Him and lead them from death and unto life.

Where did Moses come from? Israel was enslaved by Egypt, a fulfillment of a prophecy God gave to Abraham, the Father of faith:

Genesis 15:13-14 … your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.

Moses was the son of Jochebed, a Hebrew, the wife of Amram. They were living in slavery, and the child was supposed to be drowned in the Nile river. His sister Miriam put her brother in a basket, and floated him down the Nile. He was discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter, who named him “Moses” (mōšê, pronounced mo-sheh’), meaning “drawn out of the water”. (Exodus 2:10). Though Moses was a slave, he was raised in the household of the King, the child of the princess.

Moses was not born into the House of Pharaoh, but was adopted by the princess. Moses was born into the House of Israel. Appearing to be royalty, he was a slave.

Hebrews 3:5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant (therapōn, a God called servant), for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

Raised in the House of Pharaoh, when Moses discovered he was actually a Hebrew, he killed a Egyptian Taskmaster (Exodus 2:12). Moses broke the Law of Egypt, but he also broke the Law of God. God told us all:

Genesis 9:6 (ESV) Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

Moses knew his action was both unlawful and sinful, for he tried to hide the man he murdered in the sand. But Moses was seen, and he fled into the wilderness for forty years. Marrying and raising a family, Moses shepherded the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. As Moses “led his flock to the west side of the wilderness of Midian, near Horeb the Mountain of God”. It was at Horeb, also called Mount Sinai, that God called Moses to serve Him from a burning bush (Exodus 3:6). As God called this man’s name, He said:

“I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”

But God did not say to Moses, “I am YOUR God”. Moses was a lost man. He was a fugitive from justice, a murderer. But God in Grace called Moses to salvation and to service. Moses was to go to Israel, to free Israel from the House of Pharaoh. Moses’ struggled with God’s call, saying:

Exodus 4:10 “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent”
Exodus 4:13 “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”

Moses was not worthy – but God never calls the worthy. Moses could not serve God in Midian. He had to go to Egypt for God. Israel could not glorify God, nor be His House, while it was part of the House of Pharaoh. Israel had to follow Moses out of Egypt. God tells His people:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (ESV) Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

The House of Moses was to leave the House of Pharaoh. The House of Moses would bind with the House of God. God built Israel as His House, and Moses was faithful as a servant in his house.

Through the House of Moses, God brought forth the Law of God. He brought forth the Feasts and the Ceremonies, the Sacrifices and the Priesthood. Moses was faithful in building that House:

Hebrews 3:5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

Moses wrote the first Five Books of Scripture, called the Books of the Law or Torah. What Moses wrote, he faithfully wrote. God said of Moses in:

Numbers 12:6-8 (ESV) … If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord.

God spoke to Moses face to face, mouth to mouth, clearly. Moses was faithful IN ALL GOD’S HOUSE. Saved by Grace, and ex-murderer, Moses was faithful to what God called him to do. But that which was given to Moses was “a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after”. The House of Moses introduced the coming House of Christ. When our Lord Jesus spoke of Moses to the Pharisees, He said:

John 5:45-47 (ESV) Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?

When God established the House of Moses, it was an introduction to a greater House, the House of Christ. We are later told in Hebrews 10:1, “the LAW WAS BUT A SHADOW of the GOOD THINGS TO COME”. The animal sacrifices were a shadow that foretold the death of Christ on the Cross for our sins. The Feasts were a shadow of the joy we who know Christ have in our hearts every day. The Priesthood was a shadow of the Priesthood of the Believer, where Christ is our High Priest, and we all have access to God.

Jesus Is Building His House As A SON

Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Moses was a SERVANT over his house, over God’s House. He was a faithful servant, but Moses is just like us all:

“There is none righteous, no, not one. “ (Romans 3:10).

Not me. Not you. Not Moses. Not Paul the Apostle, nor Peter. No naturally born human is born flawless and without sin. But Jesus IS A SON OVER HIS OWN HOUSE. Not a servant, but a Son.

Moses the faithful servant was a SINNER, but Jesus is SINLESS. Pastor Nick Batzig wrote:

“Job declared that man is “abominable and corrupt,” one who “drinks injustice like water” (Job 15:16). Solomon acknowledged, “there is no one who does not sin” (1 Kings 8:46). The apostle John warned, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves” and “make Him a liar” (1 John 1:8, 10). The apostle Paul summed it all up when he said, “none is righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10). Yet, when the Son of God took to Himself a human nature, a sinless man entered into time and space.”

The Scripture says that Jesus is our High Priest,

Hebrews 7:26 (ESV) … holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

Moses was flawed with sin, but Jesus COULD NOT BE a sinner. Under the House of Moses, animals were frequently sacrificed to cover or “atone for” sin. But in the House of Christ Jesus HIMSELF, as a LAMB WITHOUT SPOT OR BLEMISH (1 Peter 1:19) paid for our sins. Whereas under the House of Moses people took lambs to the Priests to be sacrificed, under the House of Christ the Father sent the Son to be judged in our place.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) For our sake {the Father} made {Jesus} to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, and Moses came calling Israel to be part of his house. Moses was called by Grace, and knew his work foreshadowed that which Christ would do. Jesus calls to everyone who will hear:

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. {29} Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. {30} For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus calls us into His House. But we are not called as SERVANTS, but as SONS. Go back to the beginning:

Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Word Study: If you have been saved by faith in Christ – if you have heard His call and answered Him by faith – then you are “holy brethren”.

People misunderstand the word “HOLY”, the Greek hágios, {pronounced hag’-ee-os}, means “sacred, set apart for God’s Kingdom, consecrated – a saint”. Every believer in Christ has been “born again of the Spirit” (John 3:7). Because Christ paid the penalty of your sin, His righteousness is imputed to you. You are “made the righteousness of God” because of Jesus. You are to live within the House of Christ, devoted to Him. He is a Son, but you are sons of God because of Jesus! We as members of Christ’s House are to be:

Philippians 2:15 … blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

We who were bound to the House of Satan have been freed from sin and death by Jesus. The Scripture says:

1 John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Moses was a servant. Jesus is a Son. And He, the Son of God, made us sons of God. We are …

1 Peter 1:23 … Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.

We as God’s people do not live in Egypt, in the world, subject to its whims and foolishness. We are dead to sins so that we can live in the House of Christ.

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

By His Blood we who believe have been set free. His Blood, poured out on Calvary, satisfied the eternal offenses that stood between us and God – blessed be the Name of the Lord forever! We are told that:

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

It is God’s desire that all might be saved. Yet whether you are saved or not depends on whether you believe on Him or not. The Scripture goes on to say:

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Though the Bible tells us that Christ Jesus came to this earth to suffer and die for sinners, the Bible is also careful to tell us that we must believe in Him and Him alone or we remain condemned. The saved do not have a hope so salvation, we have a know so salvation Just as Israel followed God out of Egypt, we who believe follow God out of this world. We repent of our sins, turning away from the ways we used to go. We follow Jesus, believing in Him, trusting Him, loving what He loved and hating what He hates.

The Christian Way of life begins by surrendering to Him in Whom is all life.

All to Jesus, I surrender,
All to Him I freely give,
I will ever love and trust Him,
In HIS PRESENCE daily live!

Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

We are

partakers of the heavenly calling

Word Study: “partakers” is the Greek metochos (pronounced met’-okh-os), which means “partners together with God”. We are “holy partners”, set apart to glorify God. If you are saved, you belong to the House of Christ. If you are going to succeed and win this land for God, then you will only do so as a partner with the House of Christ. Listen Beloved: your success or failure as a local Church is conditioned on whether or not you heed the One Who leads you. Look at verse 6:

Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Did you notice that? Whose House are we – we are the House of Christ – IF WE HOLD FAST. What do we hold fast? The confidence and rejoicing of the hope.

The House of Christ is designed by God to triumph in this land by leading others to Jesus. We are called to take the land for God. But we must continue to follow the One Whose House this is. Israel refused to follow Moses – God’s representative – and though Israel was saved from Egypt she died wailing in the desert. Too many professing Christians believe that they can ignore the Lord now that they have been saved. How foolish is such a concept! Israel was saved to serve the Lord Who rescued them. You are saved so that you can serve the Living God!

God is able. Follow Him. Look unto Jesus. He is our Apostle, our Lord, as well as our High Priest. Consider Him, and do as He tells you. If you do not know Him as Savior and Lord, turn to Jesus this very day. Enter His House, and obey His Word. May God touch your hearts with His Word. May God the Holy Spirit pierce the hardened heart. Amen. Amen and Amen.

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The Fear Of The Lord: Proverbs 1:1-7

Posted on March 15, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Sebastian Arie Voortman: https://www.pexels.com/photo/body-of-water-during-golden-hour-189349/

Proverbs 1:1-7 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Introduction To Proverbs

We’re starting our study through the Book of Proverbs. The Book starts with:

Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel …

Word Study: First of all, what is a “Proverb”? The word “Proverb” is the Hebrew māšāl (pronounced maw-shawl’) which means “a parable, a concise or forceful observation that contains a general truth”. Some of our modern proverbs would be like:

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
A penny saved is a penny earned.
Actions speak louder than words.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
You can’t unring a bell.
Many hands make light work.
Strike while the iron is hot.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Life is just a bowl of cherries. With it you get the pits.

These are all man-made proverbs. The proverbs found in the Book of Proverbs are GOD MADE proverbs. Though the Book starts with:

The proverbs of Solomon

Solomon himself had a God-given wisdom.

When he was first called by God to lead Israel as King, Solomon honored God by offering a thousand sacrifices on the altar (1 Kings 3:4). That night, God came to Solomon in a dream. God asked Solomon:

Whatever you ask Me for, I will give it to you.

God gave Solomon a blank check. If God gave you a blank check, what would you ask for? I’d be tempted to ask for immeasurable riches, or fame, or immense power. There was a song years ago that said “Everybody wants to rule the world”. What would Solomon ask for? Solomon told God:

1 Kings 3:7-9 (ESV) … O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?

Solomon did not ask for riches or fame, but for the wisdom to serve His God as King of Israel. Solomon showed fear of the Lord.

Our Lord Jesus told us:

Matthew 6:31-33 (NKJV) … do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Fear of the Lord is to put God first, to glorify Him first. Fear of the Lord is to listen to and DO as God says. Proverbs teaches fear of the Lord.

God said “Put Me first. Put My concerns and My Kingdom and My glory FIRST, not last. If you do this, then I will take care of your physical needs”. This is fear of the Lord. This is what Solomon did. As David’s son, he was next in line by birth to be King. But Solomon did not see his kingship as a birthright, but a privilege. As he prayerfully looked over what his calling entailed, Solomon realized he was incapable of ruling Israel in a way that would glorify God. So Solomon asked God to give him wisdom to do what he was called to do.

And God complied.

God said (1 Kings 3:11-13, ESV) “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise (ḥāḵām, pronounced khaw-kawm’, skilful, shrewd, learned, cunning, wily) and discerning (bîn, pronounced bene, understanding, prudent, that which perceives) mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.”

In short, God made Solomon’s mind the most wise, the most thoughtful, the most able of any other person who lived on the face of the earth. Solomon had a supernatural wisdom. The Bible says:

1 Kings 4:29-34 (ESV) … God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, 30 so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32 He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. 33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. 34 And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

When you exercise fear of the Lord, God will give you a long and blessed life.

God told Solomon:

(1 Kings 3:14, ESV) And IF you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.

If Solomon walked with God, the Author of Life, then God would give Solomon a long life. The Bible says that “The wages of sin is DEATH” (Romans 6:23). God gave Solomon immeasurable wisdom – but it was up to Solomon to follow the wisdom that God gave him, or else pay the consequences.

The Proverbs of Solomon are God given

Some of the Proverbs in this Book were written by Solomon during his lifetime. After Solomon died, chapters 25-29 were added by the scribes of King Hezekiah 254 years later:

Proverbs 25:1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out (ʿāṯaq, transcribed).

These were proverbs known to have been said by Solomon, but for whatever reason were not added to the text of Scripture until then. However, not all of the Proverbs are from Solomon. One chapter of Proverbs – chapter 30 is the Proverbs of Agur.

Proverbs 30:1 (KJV) The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal …

We know little about Agur other than what is read in the Proverb. One commentary notes:

“Agur was writing “to Ithiel and Ucal” (NAS); these men could have been disciples or friends of Agur, although some Bibles translate the meaning of the two names with the assumption that they do not refer to actual people. Most commentators believe Agur lived in the same era as Solomon.”

The last chapter of proverbs was written by King Lemuel:

Proverbs 31:1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

We know little about King Lemuel, though his name means “devoted to God”. My commentary notes:

“… we know that Lemuel was a king, he had a wise mother, and he wrote some poetry. Many commentators have surmised that Lemuel is actually King Solomon—in which case the mother would be Bathsheba. It could be that Lemuel was a pet name for Solomon, used by his mother in tender address, and that Solomon wrote down her advice in the manner she would have expressed it. Another theory is that Lemuel is actually King Hezekiah. A third theory is that Lemuel and his mother are fictional characters created by Solomon as a picture of an ideal king and queen mother.”

All of the Proverbs were considered the Word of God by the Jews, who were keepers of the Scripture. My Jewish Commentary notes:

“The Book of Proverbs is the second book in the Ketuvim (or Writings), the third section of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). The full Hebrew title is Mishlei Shlomo, or The Proverbs of Solomon, a reference to King Solomon, who, according to Jewish tradition, is the author of Mishlei. … Proverbs offers statements about how to conduct one’s life wisely. While the book does not offer a systematic presentation of specific doctrinal principles, Israelite or otherwise, Proverbs does convey a clear view of reward and punishment connected directly to God. Chapter 1, verse 7 sets the tone: “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.””

Fear Of The Lord Defined In Proverbs

The phrase “The Fear of the Lord” is mention fourteen times in the Book of Proverbs. That’s amazing, because the phrase is only found sixteen times in the rest of the Bible.

The Book of Proverbs is therefore focused on teaching us how important it is to fear God, and what it means to fear God. Because Solomon feared God, and put a priority on glorifying Him in all that he did as King, God gave Solomon riches and worldwide fame. Solomon put God first, so God made Solomon first.

Fear of the Lord is to respect and honor God ABOVE YOURSELF.

Proverbs 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

Let’s break this down:

To know wisdom and instruction

It is not enough to “know wisdom”. You can KNOW (Hebrew yāḏaʿ) WISDOM (Hebrew ḥāḵmâ, pronounced khok-maw’), but you also have to have with that knowledge “instruction”, the Hebrew mûsār (pronounced moo-sawr’) meaning “chastisement, discipline, correction”. You can know the right thing to do, but not do it – and it doesn’t benefit you at all. Wisdom is when God tells you the direction to take – then physically disciplines or corrects you when you don’t take the way prescribed. The Prophet Job said:

Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening – mûsār (pronounced moo-sawr’) of the Almighty:

Illustrate: I heard a preacher just this week refer to a Jerry Clower story he heard. He said Jerry came in after a long day in the field, sat on his front porch, and tried to relax. About that time his neighbor’s hound dog began to wail. The dog wailed and wailed, over and over, and Jerry got upset. He got up from his porch, walked to his neighbor’s farm, and asked him “Why don’t you do something about that dog wailing? He about to drive me crazy”. The neighbor said, “He’s wailing because where he’s sitting on the porch, there’s a nail poking up, and the nail is poking him. When he gets tired of being poked, he’ll get up and move to another place.”

A lot of people are like that old hound dog. God tells them where a nail is poking up, and warns them against sitting on it. They sit anyway.

They hear the warning – the wisdom of God – but reject the leading and discipline of God. Then they moan and moan, suffering more and more, until they repent and get up and move away from what God forbade. When you do what God says do, this is to RECEIVE it – mentioned in the next verse.

Proverbs 1:3 To RECEIVE the INSTRUCTION mûsār (pronounced moo-sawr’) of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

You RECEIVE THE DISCIPLINE of God when you hear what He says and, in respect for God Who knows best, DO what God says. Wisdom not received is useless. When Jesus came through Samaria, the Samaritans rejected Christ:

Luke 9:53 … they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

They knew Who Jesus was, but refused to RECEIVE Him as Lord and Savior. Many people know Who Jesus is, and will one day end up in hell. Why? Because of that word RECEIVE. The Bible says:

John 1:11-12 {Jesus} came unto His own, and His own {the Jews} received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

To RECEIVE – a technical term in Soteriology (the study of Salvation) – is to not just hear but to SURRENDER to, to acquiesce, to agree with and live by.

The step brother of Christ wrote:

James 1:21-25 (ESV) put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

A lot of people know what the Bible says, but have no fear of God. They do not DO what God says. To DO is to RECEIVE, to RECEIVE is to DO. The Christian not only HEARS, but DOES what God says. To hear and not DO, not RECEIVE, is to waste your time. Jesus said:

Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV) Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

You can have wisdom, but do nothing with it, and it will not do you any good at all. As we come to these Proverbs, God expects action from what we hear.

Proverbs 1:5-6 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain (Hebrew qānâ, pronounced kaw-naw’, means “to make one’s own, to possess as owner”) unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

Those who would be wise like Solomon are encouraged to LISTEN and then APPLY what is heard to their lives. Solomon warns that what we will read as we go through Proverbs will not necessarily be pleasant. This is one of the problems with American Consumer Christianity.

If it is PLEASING, if it AFFIRMS me, then I will absorb it. But if it is DARK, unpleasant, something I don’t want to do, I will reject it. This is NOT fear of the Lord.

the words of the wise, and their dark sayings

Word Study: The phrase “dark sayings” is the Hebrew ḥîḏâ (pronounced khee-daw’), which means “perplexing or difficult questions, riddles”. Some of the Proverbs may be uncomfortable. Some of the Proverbs may hurt our feelings. However, regardless as to whether the Proverb gives you a “Joel Osteen Happiness” or bring “John MacArthur Heaviness”, we must, if we would be wise, ask ourselves …

What does God want me to do with this information?
How can I put this at work in my life?

The Proverbs are not given to entertain, but to make us more like Christ, more like children of God. We will put His Word into action in our lives.

There Are Two General Types Of People: Those Who FEAR The Lord, And Those Who Are FOOLS

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

God’s children want to glorify God in their lives. We want to magnify Jesus. But “fools” hear the Word of God, but refuse to put it into practice. Who are “fools”? They are generally the lost, the people destined to go to hell for all eternity, for they will not repent and turn. The word “fool” is the Hebrew ĕvîl (pronounced ev-eel’), and is used in Scripture for those who care nothing for God. We are told:

Proverbs 14:9 FOOLS {ĕvîl (pronounced ev-eel’)} make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a FOOL {ĕvîl (pronounced ev-eel’)} is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

The “FOOL” {ĕvîl (pronounced ev-eel’)}) rejects the concept of sin, and choose his or her own way above the directive of God. This type of fool may not be as bad as the “FOOL (nāḇāl, pronounced naw-bawl’) who has said in his heart, ‘there is NO GOD’ (Psalm 14:1; Psaalm 53:1). But whether nāḇāl or ĕvîl, neither person honors God in their lives. Both type of “fool” has chosen glory of self over glory to God.

They are treading a dangerous path. You are treading a dangerous path if you are not hearing and RECEIVING what God has said in His Word. May God move you to do so this very day. Amen and Amen.

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The Danger Of Drifting And Not Walking With Jesus: Hebrews 2:1-4

Posted on March 10, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by James Wheeler: https://www.pexels.com/photo/foot-prints-in-gray-sand-1522285/

Hebrews 2:1-4 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Opening: I often order items through companies like Amazon or Walmart, because I can’t find what I want locally. It saves a lot of gas and running around, especially when I’m looking for something like an “UHB to Ethernet Adapter”. I may have to pay shipping, but I can find exactly what I want and have it delivered. Most of the time. There are times when what I ordered is late coming in, and I get a little nervous if it was delivered to the wrong address. Thank goodness that the UPS Driver always takes a picture of what he delivered when he delivered it, so I can find it.

If you weren’t at Church when I presented this, you can’t see the confusing, blurred, indecipherable image that UPS sent to my email. Take my word for it, I couldn’t tell (ane neither could you) where the package was delivered, nor even if it was dropped off on Planet Earth.

Are You Walking With Purpose Or Are You Drifting?

Word Study: In Chapter One the Lord emphasizes that Jesus is God’s only Christ, the Only Messiah. As we enter Chapter Two the Word of God uses the word THEREFORE, which is two words in the Greek dia touto, a prepositional phrase which means “on account of this”.

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

In Chapter One of Hebrews we were given no commands, but God put the spotlight on Jesus. God told us:

God spoke to humanity through His Son (vs 1-2)
God’s Son created and upholds all things (vs 2-3)
God’s Son is greater than the Angels (vs 5-7)
God’s Son is God, enthroned in Heaven (vs 8-9)
God’s Son never changes but is eternal (vs 10-12)

God’s Son sits on the right hand of the Father (13)

As God’s Son Jesus is the center of all power and prestige with the Father, dia touto – “on account of this” we are told:

Hebrews 2:1 … we ought TO GIVE THE MORE EARNEST HEED to the things we have heard …

We are given our first command in Hebrews. As all that was said in Chapter One established Jesus as the center of God we are called to FOCUS on what was said … continue reading:

Hebrews 2:1 … lest at any time we should let them slip.

Word Study:The words “let them slip” is the Greek pararrhyéō, {pronounced par-ar-hroo-eh’-o}, a NAUTICAL term which means “to flow past, to glide by you, to drift away”. Most of the other translations use “drift away” (NKJV, NIV, ESV, CSB, NASB 95 & 20, LSB, NET, RSV, ASV, NLT, AMP). Again, this is a nautical term. It’s only used here in the New Testament, but is used in ancient literature for what happens when someone doesn’t properly tie up their boat.

I love watching these Discovery Channel shows about people who live in harsh climates like Alaska. In one show a man had come in with his large fishing boat, but he neglected to properly tie it to the dock. A storm came that night, and the boat was taken by the wind and the current. The next day he came out to find his boat was gone. He had a smaller bass boat that he took out, trying to find his fishing boat. When he found it it was wrecked, up on the shore. It was badly damaged, and would end up costing him thousands of dollars to repair it to make it sea worthy once more.

How does your boat get adrift? How does your life drift and find itself destroyed in the storms of this world? How did you get to that point?

You failed to tie your line to a proper anchor. You tethered yourself to the wrong thing, or failed to tether yourself to the right anchor.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 6:19-20, “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf..”

The place we need to be tied to – the anchor of our soul – MUST be JESUS. The devil and the world is CONSTANTLY seeking to get us to tie ourselves to the wrong anchor. For instance, one thing I often hear is,

“Follow your HEART”

This is foolish. If the anchor of your soul is your heart, you have anchored yourself to a crumbling structure. The Bible says

Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

What did Jesus say about the HEART? He told us that the source of all that is evil is the unregenerate heart. Jesus said:

Mark 7:21-22 … from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.

The heart is not a good thing to anchor to. Jesus told us to anchor our hearts to God. He said in Matthew 22:37, “Love the Lord your God WITH ALL YOUR HEART”. The Bible says:

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

We are to anchor ourselves to God, to Jesus Christ, not to our hearts. Our confidence must be outside of our feelings and desires. Jeremiah 17:7 says, “Blessed is the one who TRUSTS IN THE LORD, WHOSE CONFIDENCE IS IN HIM”. God knows what’s best for us in every situation. Tie the boat of your life not to your heart, not to your feelings, but to what God has said and has done. Give your heart to Jesus. Trust only in Him. He can keep your life anchored.

Another foolishness to anchor to is false truth. I often hear people say today,

“Live your OWN TRUTH”

Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson is the father of this philosophy. He said, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment”. This is why people are trying to re-envision pronouns and human sexuality. God never said to “Live your own truth”. Jesus said:

John 17:17 … God’s WORD (the Bible) IS TRUTH

Ever since Adam ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, we as humans have tried to establish what WE think as truth. To this, Jesus says NO! Jesus said:

John 14:6 (ESV) … I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

“Jesus is the POWER of God and the WISDOM of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). We as believers WALK with Jesus. He is the WAY, the Path that God would have us walk. We define right and wrong by Jesus. Jesus is THE TRUTH. He is not A TRUTH, but THE TRUTH. Finally, Jesus is THE LIFE. This is how God wants His Children to live. We live as Jesus says. When we define our own truth, we are adrift, hopelessly carried by the currents of this life.

Illustration: Many years ago Napoleon’s Army was marching through a desert. As the way got harder and the water ran out, at one point a soldier thought he saw a lake in front of them. Yelling “water”, he started running toward it, but after a few minutes it became apparent it was just a mirage. As Pastor George Truett once said, “Human life without God is, at best, a mirage”. We must be anchored in Christ.

How Shall We Escape …

Hebrews 2:2-3 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?…

Jesus is the only Anchor that is sure and steadfast. Now the Scripture asks us all a very good question. I love the questions of the Scripture, as they make us all think. The first question in the Bible was made by God. He asked it of Adam and Eve, but He asks us the same question today:

Genesis 3:9 … Where ARE you?

Other great questions:

Job 14:14 … if a person die, shall he live again?

Job 25:4 … Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean thing? How can he who is born of woman be pure?

Acts 16:30 … What must I do to be saved?

Matthew 16:26 … What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?
What will a person give in return for his soul?

Before God asks us this Great Question, He states:

For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward

God gave His Old Testament WORD, the Scripture, “by angels”. The Word that God gave was steadfast and true. The Bible tells us in:

Jude 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

We are told “every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense”. God made promises, and directed His Old Testament believers to trust Him, to anchor their hope on Him. When Israel refused to do this – though God had saved them – when they disobeyed they “received a just recompense”. God did right by His people, and God kept His Word. But Israel drifted. They tied their faith to the wrong thing. They tied their lives to the wrong anchor. They did not obey the Lord, and “received a just recompense”. The Bible says:

Hebrews 11:6 … without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Israel refused to follow God when God said. That generation of Israel died out in the wilderness, wandering about for forty years. Why? Because God said to go. To live tethered to Him. The questions we need to be asking ourselves AS CHRIST’S CHURCH is:

Are we listening to Jesus?
Are we here worshiping Jesus?
Is our motivation to glorify Jesus?
Are we pleasing our God?
Where are our lives anchored?

God gave Israel a great salvation, then Israel began to drift away from God. Every time things got tough, Israel murmured against God. They said:

Exodus 16:3 … Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

They drifted, because they were not tied to Jesus, but to Egypt. They were tied to their old life, their old ways. In the end, they lost all blessing. In the end, they lost the Promised Land. Pastor John Piper said:

“The life of this world is not a lake. It is a river. It is flowing downward to destruction. If you do not listen earnestly to Jesus … you will go backward. You will float by… {you will drift}”

The early Church grew by leaps and bounds because it tethered itself not to the world, but to Jesus and His Teachings. The Bible says:

Acts 2:42 (NKJV) {the Church} CONTINUED STEADFASTLY in the Apostle’s doctrine …

Acts 2:44 (NKJV) Now ALL WHO BELIEVED WERE TOGETHER, and had all things in common …

Acts 2:47 (NKJV) … PRAISING God

The Church and the Christian was firmly anchored to Jesus Christ. Focused on loving and serving God the Son, the Church enjoyed the promise of God:

Psalm 121:1-3 (NKJV) I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? 2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.

The Christian is a Christian indeed, born again of God’s Spirit, when he or she ties their hope and trust entirely to Christ.

Pastor Sam Storms wrote:

“One of the unmistakable signs that you are a true Child of God, born again and justified by faith … is that if you are drifting, you won’t continue in it for long … You will sense a desire to turn your eyes and ears and hearts back upon Jesus, and be attentive and devoted to Who He is and what He says and all that He has done”

It is as Jesus said – “you shall know them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:16), and “by this shall all know you are My disciples, that you love one another” (John 13:35).

God Has Offered Us A GREAT Salvation. What Will You Do With It?

Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?…

There is NO ESCAPE if we neglect the great salvation God offers to us through Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 3:1 … consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 12:2 … Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith

If we neglect Jesus, the alternative is not good. If we anchor ourselves on ourselves and not Christ, we have no escape from the judgment of God. But if we cast ourselves on Christ, it is a GREAT Salvation for GREAT sinners. Salvation in Christ is great because IT IS ABLE.

Hebrews 7:24-25 (NKJV) But {Jesus}, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Illustrate: Jesus saves to the uttermost. Who? “Those who come to God through Him”. There is a beautiful picture that illustrates this in the Old Testament in 2 Kings 7. The Syrian Army has encamped outside of the Gates of Samaria, and four lepers are at the gates of the city. The lepers are starving to death. The lepers begin to discuss their predicament:

2 Kings 7:3-4 (NKJV) … “Why are we sitting here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.”

The lepers were in a hopeless and helpless situation. They could sit there till they died – for the city was in famine – or they could go to the Syrian Camp. They got up, went to the camp, and found that God had already defeated the Syrians. They went into the camp, and ate and drank – and carried away silver and gold and clothing – all by the Grace of God. They were not blessed because of their abilities, but because of God’s Grace.

Beloved, why do you sit there until you die? God has defeated the enemy, Satan and Death. He has given us a GREAT SALVATION. Why do you sit there until you die. You are leprous with sin. You are GREAT SINNERS. Jesus is a GREAT SAVIOR. The Apostles preached:

Acts 16:31 … BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and YOU WILL BE SAVED, you and your household ..

Untie yourself from any anchor but Christ and His Word. Tie yourselves to Him. Trust fully in what He has said. Jesus is able.

Jesus is not only ABLE to Save, He is AVAILABLE to Save.

Jesus did not come to this earth to save those who believe themselves righteous, but SINNERS. As “There are NONE RIGHTEOUS, no, NOT ONE” and “ALL have sinned, and FALL SHORT of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 23) God makes salvation available to all. But Beloved, YOU MUST CONFESS YOURSELF A SINNER (1 John 1:9). Confessing yourself a sinner, YOU MUST REPENT. You cannot be saved if your faith is tied to a godless anchor. As the Apostle Paul preached in Athens at the altar of the unknown god:

Acts 17:29-31 … (ESV) we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.

God is ABLE to save a person. Salvation is AVAILABLE to whosoever will. But God commands that we “repent”, knowing that there is a judgment day coming. No one will escape that judgment day if they neglect this GREAT SALVATION offered through Jesus Christ. God hates sin. But He has covered sin by the Blood of Christ. He offers complete salvation by the resurrection of Christ. He offers continuing salvation through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Unanswerable Question

Hebrews 2:3-4 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

There will come a day when we will all stand before God. We will give an account for our lives. When you stand before Him, and have neglected this Great Salvation offered in Christ, what will you say? A certain Welsh minister closed with this:

“Friends, I have a question to ask. I cannot answer it. You cannot answer it. If an angel from heaven were here, he could not answer it. And if a devil from hell was here, he could not answer it. The question is this?

How shall we escape is we neglect so great salvation?”

There is no escape but Christ. There is no anchor but Christ. There is no Way to live but Christ. The parameters to get into Heaven is PERFECTION. We ourselves are imperfect, but Jesus is perfect. We will all be judged before God one day. If we are imperfect, we will go to hell. But God has given us GREAT SINNERS a GREAT SALVATION in Christ. When we repent, and give our lives to Him, He stands in our place of judgment. There is no escape from damnation apart from faith in Christ Jesus. Then from the point of salvation:

TRUTH is what God says is true.
SIN is what God says is sin.
FAMILY is whatever God says is family.
SALVATION is whatever God says salvation is.
HEAVEN is whatever God says Heaven is.
HELL is whatever God says hell is.
GOD is the sole Definer and Determiner of all truth.
GOD is the highest Arbitrator of all truth.
GOD is the Judge of all that is true and what is not true.
And GOD will judge us by our relationship to JESUS CHRIST.
(taken from a sermon by Dr. Steven J. Lawson)

May God move on your hearts today. Do not sit there until you die. Choose to give yourselves to Jesus Christ by faith, and trust in Him for both temporal and eternal life. Holy Spirit, make it so. Amen and Amen.

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The Tenth Commandment: You Shall Not Covet

Posted on March 8, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Michael Steinberg: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gold-bars-366551/

The last nine weeks we have studied a commandment a week. Tonight we come to the Tenth and final of the Ten Commandments:

Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not COVET thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.

When God gave the Tenth Commandment, He was very specific. The believer is not to “covet” (Hebrew ḥāmaḏ, pronounced khaw-mad’) that which God has given to another. God said:

“You shall not DESIRE your neighbor’s WIFE (or husband)”

This leads to adultery.

“You shall not DESIRE your neighbor’s employees”

This harms another’s business.

“You shall not DESIRE your neighbors vehicles”

Appreciate the tractor or car God has given you.

“You shall not DESIRE anything of your neighbors”

This leads to theft.

It is not wrong to desire. God created us with desire – but we are to desire the proper thing.

We Are To Desire – And Cherish – What God Has Given Us

God created us with desires. When God created the Garden in Eden the Bible says:

Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is PLEASANT (TO BE COVETED, Hebrew ḥāmaḏ, pronounced khaw-mad’) to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Word Study: God made things PLEASANT, ḥāmaḏ, right after He made man (Genesis 2:7). God made us with desires, then built a Garden to put us in that would satisfy our desires. Humans are called to cherish what God gave us – but not what God forbade us. To cherish the wrong thing is to commit IDOLATRY, as we are told in:

Ephesians 5:5 (ESV) For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

What led to the first sin, the sin that caused the fall of humanity? It was when Adam and Eve, LISTENING TO THE DEVIL, began to ḥāmaḏ or COVET that which God said was forbidden. The Bible says:

Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be DESIRED (COVET, Hebrew ḥāmaḏ, pronounced khaw-mad’) to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Coveting leads to sinful behavior. James warned the Christian:

James 4:1-4 (ESV) What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Coveting anything other than the GLORY OF GOD leads to war and infighting. If we will seek God with our desires, wanting what He wants us to have, then we would be blessed. Israel never fully settled the Promised Land because they never put God first. Whereas Jesus told His Church to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33), God told His Old Testament Israel to put Him first. If Israel would covet God’s glory first, then God promised:

Exodus 34:24 … I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man DESIRE (COVET, Hebrew ḥāmaḏ, pronounced khaw-mad’) thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year.

God said “Covet ME first. Desire only what I GIVE you. If you do so, I will protect what is yours. If not, you will lose your blessings”.

Why did the first generation of Israel lose the blessings of Canaan, dying over 40 years in the wilderness? It was because they were never satisfied with what God gave them. They never thanked God for the blessings of His salvation. Anytime the life they were living got slightly uncomfortable, they began to moan, and to accuse their leadership and God Himself of hating them. When God sent the twelve spies into the Promised Land, they came out knowing it was “a land of milk and honey” (Exodus 3:5, 8) just as God promised them. Yet they complained because there were giants in the land. They complained that when God saved them, that He brought them out of Egypt, out of a land of milk and honey (Numbers 16:13-14). Israel did not count their blessings, but began to curse God and the leadership.

Exodus 17:3 … the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

They continued down this pathway until they brought the wrath of God on themselves. The Bible says:

Numbers 14:2-4, 27-38 (ESV) all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” … {God replies} …. 27 I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me. 28 Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the LORD, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: 29 your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, 30 not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. 32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.’ 35 I, the LORD, have spoken. Surely this will I do to all this wicked congregation who are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.” 36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land— 37 the men who brought up a bad report of the land—died by plague before the LORD. 38 Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive.

God Is Serious About His People Controlling Their Desires

The first generation of Israel died in the wilderness because of coveting, which is idolatrousness. When God sent the second generation of Israel into the land, God told His people that when they went into the Land of Canaan, they were to never bring the cursed thing into their homes. What was “the CURSED thing?” It was the idols of the Canaanites.

The Canaanite false gods were created from stone or wood, and adorned with gold, silver, and precious stones. When Israel conquered a city they were to DESTROY, not covet the CURSED THINGS, but utterly destroy them.

God warned in Deuteronomy 7:25-26 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not DESIRE (COVET, Hebrew ḥāmaḏ, pronounced khaw-mad’) the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. 26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.

The “cursed thing” was anything that you COVETED above your love for God and His glory. The “CURSED THING” is an idol hidden among the people of God. Once Israel settled the Promised Land, if any city of Israel departed from loving God, and started COVETING anything more than God, then the Lord said:

Deuteronomy 13:15-17 Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword. 16 And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again. 17 And there shall cleave naught of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;

As the second generation of Israel moved into the Promised Land, led by Joshua and loving God, they defeated every enemy they came against. Israel coveted only God, and His glory.

Then Israel came to the City of Ai (pronounced EYE).

Unknown to Joshua and Israel as a nation, a man named Achan was with Israel as they marched around Jericho. He was there when the walls fell down (Joshua 6:20), and witnessed the salvation of Rahab and her family from the rubble. God knocked the walls of Jericho down. God gave Israel the victory. Their next stop was Ai (pronounced EYE). Jericho was an armed and walled city, impenetrable according to those who knew. Ai was, in comparison, a tent city. It wasn’t much of a challenge. When Joshua decided to attack Ai, he just sent three thousand (3000) men (Joshua 7:4). This was going to be a cakewalk. But it WASN’T.

Israel was easily repelled at Ai. When Joshua attacked Jericho, an armed fortress, he lost no one. At Ai, Joshua lost 36 men. Joshua fell down before the Lord, and began to pray:

Joshua 7:7-9 … Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! 8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?

How did God answer Joshua? God told Joshua, “STOP PRAYING!”

Joshua 7:10-11 … Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? 11 Israel hath sinned …

Quit praying. Quit crying out to Me. You have ALL sinned against Me. How did Joshua sin? Before Joshua attacked Ai, he didn’t pray and seek God’s counsel.

Joshua sent spies out, and presumed upon God. God was not being glorified. Joshua was over confident, and arrogant. Then when told “we don’t need the whole army”, Joshua sent just 3000 men without consulting God. Pastor Dave Miller writes:

“Where did this presumption come from? What had Israel done to defeat Jericho? One thing. One thing only. They obeyed. When God said march, they marched. And the walls came a-tumblin’ down. It was not Joshua’s leadership or Israel’s military prowess that won the battle. It was God’s power. But now, Israel was taking credit for what God had done. “A mighty army like ours, having just defeated Jericho, will find little challenge against Ai.” … Remember this: In the power of God, no enemy is too big. Greater is he that is in you… But in the power of self, no enemy is too small.”

Before Joshua could pray, he needed to REPENT. Israel needed to REPENT. God will hear our prayers, but will not bless us until we REPENT. Had Joshua sought God before Ai, then God would have told him sin is in the camp. God now tells Joshua:

Joshua 7:11-12 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

Joshua coveted and took the glory of God, presuming on God. He sinned. Israel presumed on God by attacking Ai without God’s blessing. They sinned. A citizen named Achan stole idolatrous items, and his them in his family’s tent. Achan sinned. When confronted, Achan confessed:

Joshua 7:20-21 … Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

The 200 shekels of silver is worth $52.97. The gold of 50 shekels weight is about 550 grams, or 19.4 ounces. This would be about $38,712 today. What Achan took was under $40,000 in value today – a year’s wages for a middle class worker. It cost him his life. It cost him his family. It cost him everything. God is serious about coveting what He has not given us. We need to run from it!

Love God – Don’t Be Like Satan

Christians are to be like Jesus, not like Satan. The Bible tells us that Satan is the original coveter. The Prophet said:

Isaiah 14:12-14 (NKJV) “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’

Satan – the fallen Angel originally named Lucifer or the Shining One – made five “I WILL” statements. He coveted Heaven, seeking to enter it as his own. Satan coveted the worship of the angels, to elevate himself high above his brethren. Satan wanted to rule the earth. But most importantly, Satan wanted to depose God, and assume the Throne of Heaven for himself.

Though Satan deceived Eve, and has stolen dominion of the world from Adam, he only led a third of the angels of Heaven in revolt against God. Satan could not assume God’s Throne, though he tried.

Christians, we should covet – but only the things that God wants us to covet. The Apostle tells us to “COVET earnestly the BEST GIFTS” (1 Corinthians 12:31), to “COVET the Kingdom of God”(Matthew 6:33). We are to trust God with our desires. I end with these words:

1 Timothy 6:7-8 (ESV) for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

1 Timothy 6:9-10 (ESV) But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Greed and covetousness keeps us from the blessings God wants us to have. Let us be grateful for what the Lord has given us. Remember that “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35). May God bless the reading and preaching of His Word. Amen.

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The Ninth Commandment: Do Not Bear False Witness – Exodus 20:16

Posted on March 3, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Rodrigo Santos: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-holding-lighted-oil-lamp-1585584/

We’ve been working our way through the Ten Commandments. We’ve found out that the Ten Commandments are not just for the Old Testament, but that they apply today.

The FIRST Commandment, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3), before the God of Scripture, was quoted by Jesus in

Matthew 4:10 (ESV) … You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve …

The SECOND Commandment, “You shall not make an idol to bow down to it” (Exodus 20:4-6) is found in:

1 John 5:21 (ESV) Little children, keep yourselves from idols …

The THIRD Commandment, “Do not take the name of God in vain” (Exodus 20:7) is in:

1 Timothy 6:1 (ESV) … the Name of God and the teaching may not be reviled

We found every commandment but ONE, the FOURTH Commandment, repeated in the New Testament. As Christians we realize some still keep the Sabbath, whereas others celebrate Christ on FIRST DAY, the day He rose from the grave. We are told in Romans 14:5-6 that we are not to judge one another on what day we celebrate the Lord. The Sabbath was a shadow (Colossians 2:16-17) that was fulfilled in Christ’s first coming.

As long as the believer sets one day aside to worship the Lord our God, whether Saturday or Sunday, we have fulfilled the FOURTH Commandment.

The first FOUR Commandments deal with our relationship with God, but the next SIX deal with our relationship to our fellow man. We are to honor our parents (5th Commandment, Exodus 20:12). We are not to murder (6th Commandment, Exodus 20:13). We are not to violate the sanctity of marriage (7th Commandment, Exodus 20:14). We are not to steal (8th Commandment, Exodus 20:15). Tonight we come to the NINTH Commandment:

Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

The Commandment Does NOT Say You Shall NOT LIE

The Ninth Commandment is often mis-stated as “You shall not lie”. That’s not what it says. It says, “You shall not lie ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR”. The Ninth Commandment is to humanity as the Third Commandment is to God. In the Third Commandment we are told:

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
(Exodus 20:7)

One commentary notes:

“In the Old Testament, bringing dishonor on God’s name was done by failing to perform an oath or vow taken in His name (Leviticus 19:12). The man who used God’s name to legitimize his oath, and then broke his promise, would indicate his lack of reverence for God as well as a lack of fear of His holy retribution. It was essentially the same as denying God’s existence. … There is a larger sense in which people today take the Lord’s name in vain. Those who name the name of Christ, who pray in His name, and who take His name as part of their identity, but who deliberately and continually disobey His commands, are taking His name in vain. Jesus Christ has been given the name above all names, at which every knee shall bow (Philippians 2:9-10), and when we take the name “Christian” upon ourselves, we must do so with an understanding of all that signifies. If we profess to be Christians, but act, think, and speak in a worldly or profane manner, we take His name in vain. When we misrepresent Christ, either intentionally or through ignorance of the Christian faith as proclaimed in Scripture, we take the Lord’s name in vain.”

We take God’s Name in vain when we misrepresent Him. When we misrepresent our neighbor, bearing false witness against them, then we have violated the Ninth Commandment.

Though some say “Thou shalt not lie” is the Ninth Commandment, it is really “Thou shalt not lie ABOUT ANOTHER HUMAN”.

Though the Ninth Commandment does not say “Thou shalt not lie”, the Bible is very clear that we as Christians are to “speak the Truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). We are to be truth tellers, just as our God is. The Bible says in:

Proverbs 6:16-19 (ESV) There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

God hates “a lying tongue” as well as “a false witness who breathes out lies”. God says:

Proverbs 12:22 (ESV) Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Proverbs 13:5 (ESV) … The righteous hates falsehood …

And God’s standard within the Church is:

Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

The lying tongue is a mark of the lost person. The WOKE crowd lies when it looks at a man, and say’s “that’s a woman”. No, that’s a lie. The WOKE crowd says “men can have babies”. No, that’s a lie. The WOKE crowd says “marriage is two consenting adults, regardless of their biological sex”. No, that’s a lie. The WOKE crowd says “sex is a cultural construct. You can determine your sex by how you feel.” No, this is a lie.

Lies belong to the lost, because the father of lies is Satan. Jesus told the Pharisees – who often slandered Him – that:

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

The Devil, that fallen Angel called Lucifer and Satan, is “a liar and the father of lies”. It is Satan that first lied in the Garden of Eden, telling Adam and Eve:

“If you eat of the forbidden tree, YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE. God knows that the day you eat of this tree, your eyes will be opened, AND YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD HIMSELF, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5, AP)

Adam ignored the truth that God spoke (The Sum of Your Word is TRUTH, O Lord, and EVERY ONE of Your RIGHTEOUS RULES ENDURES FOREVER – Psalm 119:160) and listened to Satan. Doing so, he plunged the world and his progeny into spiritual death. Since Adam brought sin into the world “and DEATH BY SIN” (Romans 5:12-21) humans have played with the truth to their detriment. The HEART OF THE WOKE MOVEMENT is found in Paul’s description in:

Romans 1:24-28 (ESV) Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

They “exchanged the truth about God for a lie”. They rejected God’s Bible, His clear teachings. They rejected the Messiah, refusing to repent and turn to Him in faith. Lies belong to the lost. The Bible says to the Christian:

Colossians 3:9 (ESV) Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

and again:

Psalm 58:3 (ESV) The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.

Those who are saved by faith in Christ should NOT lie. Who will be not in Heaven, but cast into the Lake of Fire on judgment day? The Bible says:

Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

God does not condone lying – and particularly does not want you lying about your neighbor.

The Ninth Commandment Says You Shall Not Lie ABOUT Your Neighbor

Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

When in American Law you make a false statement and present it as a fact about someone, you can damage someone’s reputation. The person you hurt can bring a defamation lawsuit. One commentary notes:

“Libel is an untrue defamatory statement that is made in writing. Slander is an untrue defamatory statement that is spoken orally. The difference between defamation and slander is that a defamatory statement can be made in any medium. It could be in a blog comment or spoken in a speech or said on television. Libelous acts only occur when a statement is made in writing (digital statements count as writing) and slanderous statements are only made orally.”

Among God’s Old Testament believers the Lord had a simple method for dealing with false witnesses. We are told in:

Deuteronomy 19:15-21 (ESV) “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. 16 If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, 17 then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. 18 The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. 20 And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. 21 Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

The often misquoted “Eye For An Eye And Tooth For A Tooth” was not about vengeance, but about false witnesses. If someone committed a crime in Israel, and it went before the Ruling Council or the Priests, if a false witness was discovered “then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst”. In short, the false witness got the EXACT PUNISHMENT that would have went toward the accused. If the accused was going to die, the false witness would die. If the accused was in danger of losing property, the false witness would lose the same amount of property. God said, “Do not pit them … life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot”. God made an example of the false witness, and purged evil out of Israel.

“A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks lies” (Proverbs 14:25).

“A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish” (Proverbs 19:9).

God does not want us as believers telling falsehoods about those around us. If we do not know the truth, we should not “speculate” or “postulate”, but hush. What we say about others matters. There is never a time when bearing false witness against another will be blessed by God.

Are There Any Times When Lying Is Permissible?

There is never a time when we can legitimately bear false witness about a neighbor, but it is permissible to speak a lie when saving lives. For instance, in Exodus 1 Pharaoh commands that the Hebrew mid-wives:

Exodus 1:16 (AP) … if it is a son {being born}, kill him, but if it is a daughter {being born} let her live …

When the mid-wives didn’t do this and the Pharaoh asked why, they lied. They said “the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them”. God honored the mid-wives for NOT killing the baby boys, though God did not address the lie. Later in Israel’s history when Joshua sent spies into the land of Canaan, the King of Jericho …

Joshua 2:3-7 (ESV) … sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.

Rahab purposefully lied to the King of Jericho in order to save the lives of the spies. Though the Bible does not address her clear lie, it commends Rahab for protecting the lives of the spies:

Hebrews 11:30-31 (ESV) By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

James 2:24-25 (ESV) You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

Rahab feared God, and protected the lives of God’s spies. She knew where the spies were hidden, and told the soldiers who hunted for them that they had left the city whereas they were hiding on Rahab’s rooftop. She lied to save lives. Rahab was honored for her faith, and is actually in the lineage of Christ (Matthew 1:5).

Lying to save others lives may be necessary, but be aware there is no where in Scripture where God praises a lie. We need to understand that our God is the God of Truth. Jesus said in John 8:32, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” If you tell a lie, you have to remember the lie you told, or else you’ll be tripped up in time. During World War II Corrie Ten Boom as part of the Dutch Resistance helped hide Jews from Nazi soldiers, knowing that these people would be murdered if found. When discovered, Corrie and her family were put in concentration camps. Her entire family died to save the lives of innocent people.

I want to end with this note from one commentary:

“Our goal should never be to wiggle our way around the truth or search for an ethical loophole. When the psalmist describes the person who is privileged to “sojourn” in God’s tent and to “dwell” on his holy hill (Ps. 15:1–5), among the qualities cited is speaking “truth” in his heart, refusing to “slander with his tongue,” and being the sort of person “who swears to his own hurt and does not change.” “He who does these things,” David insists, “shall never be moved.”

May God touch your hearts with His Word. Amen.

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Divine Destruction Of Death: Hebrews 2:14-16

Posted on March 3, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

Hebrews 2:14-16 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Last week we saw that Jesus was NOT an Angel. Angels are superior to humans in strength and duration. Angels are spirit beings, composed of light. Humans are carbon based, who have limited earthly lives. We saw that:

Hebrews 1:4 {Jesus is} … so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Jesus is God the Son. He is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father and the Spirit. Jesus is Creator God. Hebrews 1:2 noted that through Jesus God made the worlds. So Jesus is NOT an Angel, He is BETTER than the Angels. But Jesus is also – willingly – LESSER than the Angels. We read:

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Jesus was made LOWER than the Angels. Why?

Jesus Was Made Like Us To Defeat Death

“Monster” movies just don’t scare me anymore. I remember as a child going to see movies like “Dracula” or “Frankenstein”, or watching something produced by a man named Alfred Hitchcock. It wasn’t long before I started noticing that monsters always hid behind doors, in the back seats of cars, in dark places, and always attacked just before the scary music started playing. When I’d hear the music I’d want to yell “Get out! Can’t you hear the music!” But they inevitably went to the wrong spot – the dark alley – and suffered the consequences.

What made the “Monster” movie scary wasn’t the monster, but the fact that the imaginary monster brought with it the real monster we call “death”.

We’re all familiar with death. We’ve been to funerals. We’ve seen unfortunate animals lying in horrid piles on the side of the road. We’ve seen vultures and crows feasting on the sides of roadways. But what actually is “Death”? Is it just the cessation of life? Atheist Richard Dawkins – now 82 years old – said of death “It will be like being unborn, a great nothing. Or rather as much of a nothing as before we were born.” How does he know this? He doesn’t for sure. He also said “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”

What is death? Let’s define the word “Death”, not by our experiences or opinions, but by what the Bible says. The first time the word “Die” (Hebrew mûṯ, pronounced mooth) is found in the Bible is in a warning God gave to Adam. God told Adam:

Genesis 2:16-17 (NKJV) … Of every tree of the garden {the Garden in Eden} you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die {mûṯ}.

God was very specific. Adam had free reign over the Garden, in fact, over the whole earth. God told Adam and Eve “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over {all the earth}” (Genesis 1:28). Humanity had absolute control over creation. In the midst of the Garden there were two trees: “The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9). Adam and Eve – along with their progeny – were free to eat of the Tree of Life. But they were forbidden to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God warned Adam, “in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die {mûṯ}”.

God promised Adam that death would immediately come on him when he ate of that forbidden tree. Adam, just like all of us, paid little attention to God, and ate of that which was forbidden.

Did Adam “cease to live” or “stop functioning as a human being” IN THE DAY he ate of the forbidden tree?

The Bible says in Genesis 5:5, “And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died”. Wait a minute. Did God err? God said “IN THE DAY you eat of the forbidden, YOU SHALL SURELY DIE”. But Adam lived to be 930 years old. Did God LIE? As the Scripture says:

Numbers 23:19 (ESV) God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

What God has said He would do, He did. What God warned Adam against was not PHYSICAL death, but SPIRITUAL death. Richard Dawkins is SPIRITUALLY dead. He may still be walking the earth at 82 years old, but he – along with many others – is SPIRITUALLY dead. You see, God is the Source of Life and Light. It is God Who said, “Let there be LIGHT – and there WAS LIGHT” (Genesis 1:3). It is God Who “breathed into Adam the BREATH OF LIFE” (Genesis 2:7), and because of this “man became a LIVING SOUL”. God is the Source of Life. Moses told Israel to be …

Deuteronomy 30:20 (ESV) … loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days …

And the Psalmist wrote:

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

And King Solomon wrote:

Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

God was not telling Adam that he would PHYSICALLY die the day that he disobeyed and ate that which was forbidden. God was telling Adam that he would SPIRITUALLY die, that he would be separated from the Source of Life by his sin. When the Bible speaks of Adam’s sin and it’s repercussions, it states:

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

When Adam sinned against God, he IMMEDIATELY – IN THAT DAY – separated himself from God. The Bible says that Adam first tried to cover his sin with fig leaves. Then when Adam heard God coming,

Genesis 3:8 … Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

Before Adam sinned, he walked with God in the cool of the day. After Adam sinned, he hid himself from God. Those who are SPIRITUALLY dead have no thought of God.

Psalm 10:4 (ESV) In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek {God}; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

The SPIRITUALLY dead are dead because they are separated from God. If you are SPIRITUALLY dead you will eventually PHYSICALLY die – but you will STILL be separated from God, the Source of Life.

Illustrate: We see the evidence of SPIRITUAL death daily. I was at Wendy’s just today getting their “two sausage biscuits for three dollars”. I’d been there before, so I knew that the bill would be a certain amount. I had a bunch of change, so I gave the attendant more than the bill, thinking he’d give me a few pennies back. He put the money in the register, closed it, and gave me the biscuits. It wasn’t much money so I didn’t grouse about it. But either that man was lazy and didn’t count the money, or was a thief and stole it. Either way, it is dishonest – spiritual death.

Illustrate: We see spiritual death in other ways in our world. We see it in people who murder, in school shootings. We see spiritual death in people who deny their own existence, their own DNA and sexuality. We see spiritual death in broken families, orphaned children, and aborted babies. We see spiritual death in racism and hatred. A young man just the other day – an Airman in the US Air Force – stood in front of Israel’s Embassy and – pouring lighter fluid over his body, set himself on fire. As he died screaming, he cried out “Free Palestine”. To so treat the life God gave you is spiritual death. There is spiritual death in the suicide, the alcoholic, the drug abuser, the child molester. All that is evil and horrid in this world is a result of SPIRITUAL death.

Jesus Defeated Death By Defeating The Devil

Hebrews 2:14-15 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; {15} And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Who has the power of death? Look at the latter part of verse 14: “through death He (Jesus) might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil”. Who has the power of death? Satan! Again, going back to the proper definition of “death”, death is “separation from God”. Satan was the very first one to rise up in revolt against God, separating himself from God, dying spiritually as it were. The Book of Revelation speaks of the Angel Lucifer. Created by God as an Arch Angel, it was Lucifer’s job to lead the other angels of Heaven in celebrating the God Who created all things. But Lucifer revolted from God, and led a third of the angels of Heaven in revolt against God (Revelation 12:4). Trying to take over Heaven (a lesson in futility) the Bible says:

Revelation 12:9 … the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Cast to the earth Satan, “that old serpent” was in the Garden of Eden tempting Adam and Eve to eat of the forbidden. “You shall not surely die – but the day you eat of it, you’ll be like gods!” (Genesis 3:5). It was the devil who tempted Adam to betray God. Adam took the bait, and brought SPIRITUAL death into the world.

Adam is a sinner, and his children are sinners. Spiritually dead because of sin, Adam and his children are separated from God by our own sin. We cannot make ourselves right with God. We are broken, in a hopeless and helpless situation. The devil, the author of sin and death, continued to egg us on to reject God. The scripture said:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

What hope do we have? We have Jesus. The Scripture says:

Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Jesus took upon Himself “flesh and blood”. He brought Himself into the creation that He made. Though Eternal God Jesus Christ stepped away from glory to become like us. Imagine! The Creator became the created! Though …

Colossians 2:9 … in {Jesus} dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

Jesus did not hesitate to take humanity upon Himself. He did not come to this earth in robes and splendor as was His right. He did not come with a crown upon His head, or a scepter in His hand. He did not come with ten thousands of angels heralding His approach. He did not come on a chariot of fire, nor did He come to the applause of thousands. The Bible says that Jesus …

Philippians 2:7 .. made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men …

Jesus came as a Servant. He was born the Messiah in a little town of David called Bethlehem to fulfill prophecy (Micah 5:1-2; Matthew 2:1-10; Luke 2:1-21). Jesus grew up in Nazareth to fulfill Messianic prophecy (Matthew 2:23; Isaiah 11:1). It was a saying in those days “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46), as Nazareth was such a poor and pitiful area. Jesus came from the least and the less. Though He is the “blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto” (1 Timothy 6:15-16), Jesus came into the world lowly. Why?

The Greatest of all became the Least of us so He could reach the Lowest of us. Jesus took death on Himself so that we could receive life through His sacrifice.

When God told Adam “the very day you eat the forbidden, YOU SHALL DIE”, God was serious. Adam brought spiritual death on himself and on us all. Jesus saves us from this death by being punished in our place. Jesus died to Heaven – separated Himself from Heaven – so that He could reunite us with God. Jesus died to glory – separated Himself from the glory that was rightly His – so that He could “bringing many sons unto glory”. What does the Scripture tell us?

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus Christ took death on Himself for you and for me. All of your offenses and my offenses against Eternal God were nailed to His Cross – and Jesus was then nailed over top of them! The rain of Judgment struck the Son of God on that terrible Hill Golgotha. Jesus bore the penalty for our sin then, though Immortal God, willingly surrendered His physical life. He said:

Luke 23:46 … Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

He suffered SPIRITUALLY for us, then died PHYSICALLY. Laid in a grave, He was sealed in His tomb for three days and three nights. The Devil thought he had defeated the Messiah, but he was wrong.

Jesus delivered us from spiritual death. Jesus crushed the power of the devil. Jesus defeated physical death. Oh, how Satan hated that day when death died! When Jesus Christ took the penalty of our sin on Himself He made a way whereby God could make us alive again through the operation of the Holy Spirit. ALL Trespasses are forgiven the Christian. As The Scripture aptly puts it:

Colossians 2:13-15 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; {14} Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; {15} And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Before you believed on Christ, you were dead in trespasses and sins. You walked apart from God. Once you believe on Jesus, repenting of your sin and calling on His Name, God sends the Holy Spirit to you. You are made alive apart from the works of the Law.

The Christian Is Dead To The Law Of Sacrifice, But Alive To Righteousness

Hebrews 2:16-17 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

When Jesus came, He came by showing us that God keeps His promises. In the Old Testament God promised a man named Abraham:

Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV) “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

God promised to give Abraham children, to bring a nation out of Abraham, and to bring the Messiah through Abraham and thus bless “all the families of the earth”. God keeps His promises. When Jesus came to this earth, the Messiah came from “the seed of Abraham”. Jesus came to replace the sacrificial system, where animals were killed to cover or “atone” for our sins. When Jesus died on the Cross, He died as:

John 1:29 … the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Those who are saved are saved from SPIRITUAL death by believing on Jesus. We are saved because we are ransomed …

1 Peter 1:19 (ESV) … with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

The Christian is “BORN AGAIN” or “QUICKENED” because we have received the Word of God as our own. We have heard and believed the good news that, though we are sinners, Christ died to cover our sins.

Dying for our sins as the Lamb of God, Jesus rose from the Grave and is now our Great High Priest. He is “a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people”. His death defeated Satan. His death defeated SPIRITUAL death. His resurrection defeated PHYSICAL death. Satan has no hold on the child of God.

God keeps His promises. Jesus is God. Jesus keeps His promises. He has promised:

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Those who believe in Jesus are passed from death unto life. We are no longer separated from God, but we are intimately bound with the Source of Life. Furthermore, the Christian knows that he or she has passed from death to life. How? The Scripture says:

1 John 3:14-16 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. {15} Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. {16} Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

How does the Christian know that he is a Christian? Life reigns in Him. God the Source of Life is also defined as Love, and He lives in the hearts of those who are His. Dead things exude death, but New Creatures in Christ exude Life. We as Christians are saved to LIVE above death, to LIVE outside the devil, to LIVE in victory. The devil condemns. The world condemns. The spiritually dead condemn. We who have believed on Him are ALIVE!

Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Death is dead, it’s Source is defeated, and we who believe have a High Priest Who sits in the Heavens representing us before the Heavenly Father. We are saved to the uttermost. I conclude with this.

Are you part of the Redeemed? Are you part of the Saved? Does Jesus make reconciliation for you? If you do not have a relationship with God by faith in Him then you are yet dead in your sins. The monster is out of the closet, and rules your life with glee. My prayer is that you know Him and the power of His resurrection. That you know death is dead for you. That you know Satan is a defeated enemy because He Who loves you gave Himself for you. And if you don’t know Him, today is a great day to come unto Him and be saved. May God touch your hearts with His Word. Amen and Amen.

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Jesus Is No Angel

Posted on February 27, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-hands-on-holy-bible-267559/

One of the heresies that crept into the Church was that Jesus is a great Teacher, but just a Man. Last week God told us in Hebrews that Jesus is no mere Man – that He is God in the flesh. A mere Man, no matter how moral, could not have paid for our sins on Calvary. We are all born sinners, all, that is, but Jesus Christ. He was born into humanity to save us from the condemnation of our sins.

While some were saying that Jesus is just a Man, others claimed that Jesus was no Man, but an Angel of God. The Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists and the Muslim cults teach that Jesus was an Angel or an Angelic messenger. But as we come to Hebrews once more we find out, NOT ONLY is Jesus NOT JUST a Man, but

Jesus Is Better Than The Angels

Hebrews 1:4-8 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

We can read the first verse of today’s text:

“Being made so much better than the angels”

Word Study: That’s very plain. Jesus is NOT an Angel, because Jesus is “so much better than the angels”. The word rendered “better” is the Greek kreittōn, which means “being more advantageous, more excellent, stronger, nobler, best or superior to”. This word is used frequently throughout the Book of Hebrews to show how superior Jesus is. God spoke His Word to the Old Testament Saints often through Angels. For instance, God sent the Angel Gabriel to speak to both Zechariah and Mary of Nazareth:

Luke 1:19 (ESV) … I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

To Zechariah the Angel Gabriel brought the news that John the Baptist, the Greatest Prophet who ever lived according to Jesus (Matthew 11:11) would be born out of his Elisabeth. To Mary of Nazareth the Angel came with the great news that she would bear the Son of God. In fact, the Bible says that

Galatians 3:19 (ESV) … {the Law of God} was put in place through angels by an intermediary

God used angels to bring the good news, and to share aspects of the Law of God with humanity through the Prophets. But angels could not bring what Jesus brought. Angels helped bring the Law, and told of the coming Messiah. But Jesus as THE MESSIAH brought us a BETTER {kreittōn} HOPE

Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a BETTER {kreittōn} hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

The Law of God – ordained by angels – gave man HOPE that we could be at peace with God, but the Law “made nothing perfect”, for it relied on animal sacrifices at a Temple on an altar. Animals cannot adequately atone for our sins. But Jesus, God become Man, Perfect Man, died once for all for our sins. Because of His Blood shed for us, we stand justified, righteous in the eyes of God. We are, as believers, sons and daughters of God because of our position in Christ.

Jesus took the animal’s sacrificial position for us, so that we could positionally be made sons of God in Him.

The Law was the Old Covenant, the Covenant of works. Sins could only be covered or atoned for by animal sacrifice. Various ceremonial and cleansing laws had to be strictly followed under the first covenant. But Jesus brought in a BETTER {kreittōn} covenant that offered BETTER {kreittōn} PROMISES. We read:

Hebrews 8:6 But now hath {Jesus} obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also {Jesus} is the mediator of a BETTER {kreittōn} covenant, which was established upon BETTER {kreittōn} promises.

Jesus Is MADE BETTER Than The Angels

Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels

Word Study: The words translated “Being made” is the Greek ginomai, which means “to come into existence, to come from one form into another”. We studied last week where Jesus Christ is eternal God alongside the Father and the Spirit. In order to save us, He had to enter humanity. God had to become flesh. When the Angel told Mary that she was going to have the Messiah, he said:

Luke 1:35 … The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

God would, through the virgin birth, become Man. Jesus did not become an Angel, but a Human.

Hebrews 1:7 And of the angels {The Lord our God} saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

This is a quotation of:

Psalm 104:4-5 {God Who} maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: 5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

Angels are not like humans. Humans are created from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7; 3:19). But Angels are different in their creation. They are “spirits” (Hebrew rûaḥ, pronounced roo’-akh), which means “like the wind, breath, or spirit”. When Jesus resurrected from the grave the disciples, on first seeing Him, thought He was a ghost or an angel. Jesus said:

Luke 24:9 … a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

Mankind is carbon based, just as the earth is. But Angels are SPIRIT. They are also “a flaming fire”, the Hebrew lāhaṭ ‘ēš (pronounced law-hat’ aysh) meaning “that which blazes and burns but does not burn up”. Angels are like the sun, which is why they are often referred to as “stars” (Revelation 12:4). Angels “excel in strength” (Psalm 103:20), and are so powerful that one angel killed 185,000 armed Assyrian soldiers in one day (1 Chronicles 21:15; 2 Kings 19:35). In the Created Order, Angels are much more powerful than humans. Though Jesus as Infinite God is GREATER than the Angels, in order to become human – like us – Jesus had to become LOWER THAN the Angels.

Humans are LOWER than the Angels. We are not as powerful. They are created of light, and we of carbon.

King David wrote of how God honored humans in creation. He said:

Psalm 8:4-8 (ESV) … what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the {Angels} and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

Humans are LOWER than the Angels, but Jesus as eternal God is HIGHER and greater than the Angels.

The Law could not save us. Angels could not save us. So God lowered Himself, becoming “LOWER THAN THE ANGELS” to bear the wrath that we all so richly deserve.

The Scripture says:

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Jesus Who is GREATER than the Angels allowed Himself to be made LOWER than the Angels – just like us – so that He could take the penalty of death in our place. We are told again:

Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Word Study: The word “inheritance” is the Greek klēronoméō, which means “he is the HEIR”. The HEIR of something is the one who legally is the “next of kin”, the person who will receive properties or goods from a relative. The Angels are not HEIRS of God. They are created beings. We previously studied verses 2-3 which says that “God appointed Jesus HEIR OF ALL THINGS, through Whom HE ALSO MADE THE WORLD”. Jesus is God’s Son. Jesus is eternal, without origin (John 1:1-3). The Angels had beginnings and endings. But Jesus is God. God the Father said of the Messiah:

Psalm 2:7-8 (ESV) … The Lord said to Me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

Everything created – even the Angels – belong to Jesus. He is the Heir of all things. This is why the Bible says:

Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV) Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Both We And The Angels Worship Jesus

Hebrews 1:5-6 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

Jesus is “BEGOTTEN” of God:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Word Study: The word rendered “begotten” is the Greek monogenes. My commentary notes:

“According to the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (BDAG, 3rd Edition), monogenes has two primary definitions. The first definition is “pertaining to being the only one of its kind within a specific relationship.” This is its meaning in Hebrews 11:17 when the writer refers to Isaac as Abraham’s “only begotten son” (KJV). Abraham had more than one son, but Isaac was the only son he had by Sarah and the only son of the covenant. Therefore, it is the uniqueness of Isaac among the other sons that allows for the use of monogenes in that context. The second definition is “pertaining to being the only one of its kind or class, unique in kind.” This is the meaning that is implied in John 3:16 (see also John 1:14, 18; 3:18; 1 John 4:9).”

There are many Angels, and many humans, but Jesus Christ is unique. He is the monogenes, the unique Son of God. Jesus as God was never created (as we have established before), but “became flesh and dwelt amongst us” (John 1:14). When Jesus became perfect Human, entering the world through the virgin birth, the Father said of Him “let all the angels of God worship him”. This is what happened when – that wonderful night in Bethlehem – the Angel announced Christ’s birth to the shepherds. After the announcement:

Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Angels are NOT to be worshiped. Angels serve as guardians of those who are saved by faith in Christ (Hebrews 1:14). When John the Revelator saw an angel in Heaven, he bowed down to worship it. But the angel said, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets. … Worship God!” (Revelation 22:9). Our Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 4:10 (ESV) … You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.

Only God is to be worshiped. Man is not to be worshiped. Angels are not to be worshiped. Taylor Swift is not to be worshiped. Donald Trump is not to be worshiped. Only God. Jesus is God.

And God the Father directed the angels to worship Jesus. Why? Because Jesus is God Incarnate. To hammer this point home we are told:

Hebrews 1:8-9 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Jesus Occupies A Righteous Throne

Humans sit on thrones. The fallen Angel Lucifer sought to take God’s Throne. But Jesus legitimately sits on an eternal throne. The Bible here quotes the Messianic Psalm:

Psalm 45:6-7 (ESV) Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; 7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;

Jesus sits on a Throne. There are those who say that you can be saved by receiving Jesus as Savior only, and if you later want to do so, you can receive Him as Lord. This is false doctrine. The Bible makes it clear that Christ is to be received as BOTH Lord and Savior. We read in:

Romans 10:9-13 (ESV) … if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

In the early Church Christians would never have been bothered by the Romans and the Pharisees and Chief Priests had they just said “We believe Jesus is Savior”. Had you believed that, and kept your belief to yourself, there would never be any problem. The problem was that the early Church believed Jesus was BOTH LORD AND SAVIOR, and preached this as the Gospel. Christians were not only imprisoned, but KILLED OUTRIGHT because they believed Jesus to be both Lord and Savior. In Acts chapter 5 the Apostles were brought before the Ruling Council of Israel called the Sanhedrim. The Council demanded:

Acts 5:28 … Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

The Apostles did not hesitate, saying:

Acts 5:29-32 … We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

The Apostles make some startling claims here. First, “We ought to obey God rather than men”. A “Christian” who claims to be saved, but who will not follow and obey Jesus, is no threat to anyone. I doubt they are even Christian. But second, the Apostles identified Jesus as “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior”. Jesus is both Lord and Savior. Finally, the Apostles said “God hath given to them that obey him … the Holy Spirit”. Those who OBEY Jesus are given the Holy Spirit. The Bible is clear that:

Romans 8:8-9 … they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Jesus sends the Holy Spirit of God to those who believe on Him, those who have received Him as both Lord and Savior. Obedience to Christ is the condition of receiving the Holy Spirit. Jesus said:

John 14:15-17 (ESV) “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Jesus is both Lord and Savior. We as His people are His Kingdom, the Kingdom of God. We love Him, and we follow Him.

Hebrews 1:8-9 … a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Those who are saved by Grace – like myself – often fail the Lord. But we do not revel in the failure. When we fail, we confess our sin. We repent, and turn back to the Blood of the Cross.

We as members of His Kingdom do not endorse sin, because Jesus LOVES righteousness but HATES iniquity. His scepter is RIGHTEOUSNESS.

What is “RIGHTEOUSNESS”? It is what God has said is right. God is the Creator. Jesus is Creator God.

Hebrews 1:10-12 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

People change. Times change. Fashions change. Our earth changes. In my lifetime I have seen public morality change drastically through the false doctrines of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion”. I read that a “professor” wrote in Scientific American:

“[T]he science is clear and conclusive: sex is not binary, transgender people are real.”

New Atheist and Oxford Biologist Richard Dawkins (who believes there is no such person as God) replied to the foolish professors article:

“This ridiculous article (shame on the once-great Scientific American) ignorantly misunderstands the nature of the sex binary. … Sex is not defined by chromosomes, nor by anatomy, nor by psychology or sociology, nor by personal inclination, nor by “assignment at birth”, but by gamete size. It happens to be embryologically DETERMINED by chromosomes in mammals. … But it is universally DEFINED by the binary distinction between sperms and eggs. You may argue about “gender” if you wish (biologists have better things to do) but sex is a true binary, one of rather few in biology.”

God created all things. He has given everything order. Though we may try to manipulate right and wrong, God has set all things according to His standard. If you are saved by Grace, you are called to live to honor Him Who saved you. There is not an Old Testament God and a New Testament God. What God said is wrong in the Old Testament – unless He has rescinded it – it is still wrong in the New Testament, and today.

Christians, we are to live to glorify Jesus. Jesus is coming again. Until He returns, we are to live for Him. If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I pray that God the Holy Spirit will pierce the hardness of your heart, and lead you to Him this very day. And once in Christ, I pray that you persevere, loving the Lord Who gave Himself for you.

Amen. So must it be, dear Lord. Amen.

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Exodus 20:15: Thou Shalt Not Steal

Posted on February 23, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-in-handcuff-holding-rolled-dollar-bills-6266297/

Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.

Just four words in the English, but only two words in the Hebrew, the EIGHTH Commandment says:

lō’ gānaḇ (pronounced gaw-nab’)

The words mean “you shall not carry away or steal”. The earliest use of this word is found in the story of Jacob and his father in law Laban. Laban was aging, and wanted Jacob to stay with him and tend to his herds of goats and flocks of sheep. Jacob agreed to do so, but only if Laban gave him all the speckled or spotted goats and black sheep. Laban quickly agreed to this, as the animals that were spotted or the black sheep were considered inferior quality (Genesis 30:32-36). The majority of Laban’s flock was pure white, and the goats were pure white or black. So it seemed as if Jacob was making a lopsided deal. But Jacob was in communion with God, and the Lord told Jacob how to breed the animals so as to birth speckled animals (Genesis 31:10-12). Laban was trying to STEAL from Jacob, and God wasn’t going to have it. In the end, Jacob ended up with a greater herd of speckled and spotted animals.

God knows the DNA of every person, creature, and living thing. It was nothing for God to direct Jacob in the breeding of animals to enrich His people!

Sadly, when Jacob took his leave of Laban, and carried his superior flocks and herds off, his wife Rachel “had STOLEN (gānaḇ) the idols that were her father’s” (Genesis 31:19). Rather than trust in the Lord as Jacob was learning to do, she superstitiously stole Laban’s idols, thinking they would bring blessing upon the household. Jacob allowed Rachel to keep Laban’s idols until Genesis 35:

Genesis 35:1-4 (ESV) God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem.

By keeping idols, Jacob’s family was STEALING GLORY from God. They had to put away all their theft before God could change Jacob to ISRAEL:

Genesis 35:9-12 (ESV) God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he called his name Israel. 11 And God said to him, “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. 12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.”

While Jacob had family members stealing God’s glory and worshiping false gods, God could not bless him as He wanted to do. With repentance comes blessing. “You shall not steal”.

People Rob From God When They Worship Money

God spoke to His people in:

Malachi 3:8-12 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

God gives us blessing every day. He does not want us to worship that which He has given us, but to worship Him. In faith, we return a portion of our time and tithe (our money) to the ministry of God. In the early Church God established Apostles and Pastors who tended to the Church of Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 9:7-12 (ESV) Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? 8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?…

1 Timothy 5:17-18 (ESV) Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

When you hoard your money, stashing it away, greedily worshiping it rather than contributing to God’s Kingdom, you have in essense robbed God. Your treasure is not to be your bank account, but God your Savior. Jesus warned:

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

When you leave this earth, your bank account will not go with you, nor will your home, your cars, your four wheelers, your fishing boats, or your businesses. When you stand before God every possession you have held onto a worship will not be with you. All that will be with you is your relationship with the Father through Christ. The Bible says:

Matthew 6:24 (ESV) No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (see also Luke 16:13)

It Is Wrong To Rob God, But It Is Also Wrong To Rob Government

When Jesus walked this earth, a number of groups of people despised what He had to say. One day the Herodians (supporters of Rome and King Herod) and the Pharisees (supporters of the written Law of God and the traditions of the elders) came together to try and trap our Lord. Jesus had been teaching the Jews in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, and large numbers were gathered around Him.

Matthew 22:15-22 (ESV) Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

If Jesus had answered “As a Jew, I don’t want to give to Rome”, the Herodians would have reported Him as a traitor to the nation. If Jesus had said, “Yes, we should pay our taxes to Rome”, the Pharisees would have said Jesus was a traitor to Israel. But Jesus merely had them hold up a coin. Every coin minted is minted by the government. Jesus asked, “Whose inscription is on the coin?”, to which they replied, “Caesar’s”. Jesus said:

render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, that is, Pay your Taxes!

render to … God the things that are God’s, that is, give glory and tithe to the Lord!

The government provides services to its citizens to protect them from foreign invasion and internal evil. The government has been given authority by God to protect not only the people of God, but all citizens so that they might hear the Gospel of salvation. When citizens do not pay their fair share the government cannot hire police, fire, and military services. As I am coming up on tax season (as we all are) I am aware that as an American citizen it seems like – at times – I’m taxed to death. However, taxes pay for services that we all need, whether we like it or not. The Bible tells us:

Romans 13:1-4 (ESV) Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. … 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

The One Who Steals – The Thief – Is Not Saved

Those who are saved by faith in Christ do not follow their old pattern of life. The Apostle said to the Church:

1 Peter 4:15-16 (ESV) … let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

The thief brings suffering on themselves as well as others. Judas Iscariot, one of the Apostles chosen by Christ, “was a thief” (John 12:6). He started out down the wrong path by stealing from the treasury of the Apostles. After a time, the money Judas so wanted led him to selling Christ for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13; Matthew 26:15; Matthew 27:9). After realizing that he was instrumental in the murder of the Lord of Glory, Judas “hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5) and was buried in an unmarked grave in a place called “The Field of Blood” (Matthew 27:8). Peter said of Judas:

Acts 1:17-18 For {Judas Iscariot} was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

People who steal often believe that they are not hurting anyone – not really – but they are. They are hurting themselves, and those around them. An NPR article entitled “Major Retailers Blame Theft For Their Decision To Close Locations” noted:

“Target announced this week that it will close nine stores in locations where the company has experienced too much crime. Whole Foods and Nordstrom recently closed locations in San Francisco for the same reason. Shoplifting is a problem, and so are looting incidents…”

The largest retailer in the whole world is Walmart. It is closing half its stores in Chicago. One article notes:

“In December 2022, {Walmart CEO Doug} McMillon noted that theft rates at Walmart alone were “higher than what it has historically been” and called it a significant “issue” facing the industry.” Walmart closed 20 locations in 2023 nationwide. “Eight of the closures were in Illinois, two in Oregon, and two more in Georgia, per Daily Mail. The remaining stores were scattered across 12 states, with one closure each in Florida, Washington, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico, Texas, Wisconsin, Virginia, Arkansas, and Hawaii. Walmart is one of 19 other retailers that closed a combined 2,847 locations as of Christmas”.

Theft by shoplifting and robbery closes stores down in high crime neighborhoods. Bed Bath and Beyond, Party City, and Rite Aid filed for bankrupcy because of theft. When stores close down in neighborhoods, liberals say that it is because of racism. No, it’s because people steal. There is a principal of retailing that states:

If your OUTGO exceeds your INCOME, your UPKEEP will be your DOWNFALL.

Stores have tried combating this by locking up items most likely to be stolen. Sadly, customers will avoid such places. “Thou shalt not steal”. When you steal, you end up not only hurting others, but you also hurt yourself. God tells His Children – saved by faith –

Ephesians 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

May God touch our hearts with His Word! Amen.

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The Importance Of Walking With Jesus

Posted on February 20, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-opening-a-scroll-5986492/

Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 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…

Why did God give us the Book of Hebrews? Why Is “Hebrews” So Important For Us In America Today?

People are in a constant state of confusion in America. Many children are growing up confused about their sexuality. The vast majority struggling with sexual identity come from broken homes. Their mothers or fathers – or both – abandoned them, abused them in their formative years, and so the child is confused.

A child, like a plant, will only grow and be fruitful in the proper soil and in proper care. Left to its own, the weeds of life take over. Poorly tended, children turn to crime, drug abuse, or confusion of face (furries)!

How are we going to see the rips in American society repaired? Will a political party, some man made “god” do it? No! What will fix the Church in America, the Church that has so compromised that its ministers have become molesters, and it’s mission to fly a rainbow flag? Another denomination isn’t going to fix it.

We need to get back to the Source of Life. We need to get to God. That’s what the Book of Hebrews is about.

Let’s start with the name of the Book, “HEBREWS”. According to Allan P. Ross, the author of the Baker Academic textbook “Introducing Biblical Hebrew” (2001):

“Hebrew belongs to the CANAANITE group of languages. Canaanite languages are a branch of the Northwest Semitic family of languages”

That’s fascinating. Our Old Testament is written in Hebrew and Aramaic, both languages coming from Canaan. Though Canaan was a land of “milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8; Numbers 14:8; Deuteronomy 31:20; Ezekiel 20:15), Canaan was filled with an evil and idolatrous people. Rather than worship the God Who made them, they created their own gods and goddesses. When God sent Israel into Canaan, He ordered that they “utterly destroy all in the cities” (Joshua 6:21). Why did God want the Canaanites all gone? Because God gave the Canaanites a beautiful and bountiful land. God gave them rain in due season, great harvests, and wonderful weather along with fertile soil. Rather than walk with God, the Canaanites despised God, abused that which He gave, and created false gods that they paid homage to.

And their civilization fell apart. They became savage.

Pastor Don Stewart notes:

“The Promised Land in which the Israelites were to settle was populated by the Canaanites who had corrupted and perverted God’s truth. They had corrupted themselves to the place where they were beyond saving. Had any been permitted to live, they would have infected Israel with their moral depravity.”

Canaanites followed false gods. They murdered and abused their children. They rejected a walk with God. In the midst of all this madness, we see God reach out to a person of Canaanite heritage. A HEBREW by the name of Abram.

Genesis 14:13 (ESV) … Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre …

Abram – who would follow God and become known as ABRAHAM – was from Canaanite stock. “Salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2:9). God reached out to Abram, Abram didn’t reach out to God. Abram was broken. He had no children, nor any prospect of children. God reached out and called this Hebrew to salvation. God said:

Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV) … Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Abram-Abraham was a pagan who heard a call to salvation, and began to follow the Lord because of it. He separated from his Canaanite family and Canaanite religions to honor the Lord who saved him. What did God promise Abram/ Abraham? He promised Abram a child. God said, “I will fix your broken life and the broken life of your wife if you follow Me”. God promised Abram many children. God said, “I will make of you a great nation”. God promised not only to fix Abram, but to give him a SUPERABUNDANCE OF GRACE. But what else did God promise Abram? God said, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”. God would give Abram GRACE, but a GREAT GRACE would come through Abram’s heritage. Now here’s a question for you to ponder.

What did God NOT promise the Hebrew Abram? He did not promise him HEAVEN. And yet, that is so much of the focus of preaching in America today.

It was through the lineage of Abraham – the Hebrews – that God would send the Messiah. Why did God call out to Abram/ Abraham? To lead him out of the mess of Canaanite society, and to invite him to walk with God Himself. Why did Jesus come to this earth? He came through the Hebrews to give us life RIGHT NOW. It’s not about eventual Heaven. Yes, we want to go to Heaven. The Bible tells us:

John 3:16-20 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

If you walk through this life without Jesus, without the One that the Hebrew Abraham followed, then you have CONDEMNATION. Your life is in pieces. You are not living the life God meant you to live.

Jesus came into this world to not just save you from Hell, but to lead you in this life. He came to take your brokenness and, through His Grace, bless you and give you the life the devil doesn’t want you to have.

The Target Of Salvation Is To Walk With God

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets

God has been reaching out to mankind since our start in the Garden of Eden. We’re told in verse 1 that God reached out “at sundry times and in divers manners”. This is two Hebrew words, polymerōs polytropōs. The God Who is “the Everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 40:28) reached out “at many different times, and in many different ways” to SPEAK or COMMUNICATE with us. God wants us to understand that He is the Creator of life. He is our Maker. When we walk apart from Him, we walk in darkness and in misery. God called out men whom He called “prophets”. The Prophets were the oracles of God. They, like Abraham, were willing to listen to God. These men in turn told others what God wanted them to hear.

God kept His Word, and out of Abraham raised up a nation called Israel that was to introduce the whole world to life with God. But Israel went to Egypt, and there got away from God. They gave their hearts to the gods of Egypt, turning back to the darkness. As a result the nation that was supposed to BLESS the world was CURSED in their world. Pharoah told the midwives, those who delivered the babies of the Hebrew mothers:

Exodus 1:16 … When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

When you get away from a relationship with God, He will often allow troubles to come. It is God Who brings stability to our lives.

Jeremiah 3:25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.

The Pharoah determined that he wanted the male babies of the Hebrew women to be killed. Had this happened, the Nation that God was going to bless the whole world with would have died out. When the midwives wouldn’t do this evil, Pharoah tried working the Jews to death. As slaves, he made their lives more and more difficult.

Israel cried out to the Lord for salvation when the whip of the taskmaster cut their skin. The prodigal son decided to go home to his father while he was eating out of the hog trough. Trials wake us up and remind us of God.

Israel cried out to God,

Psalm 3:7-8 Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For You strike all my enemies on the cheek; You break the teeth of the wicked. SALVATION BELONGS TO THE LORD … Selah!

When Israel called out to God, repenting and trusting in Him, God heard them. God always hears when we cry out. God called to Moses from a burning bush, saying:

Exodus 3:7-8 (ESV) … I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey…

Israel was saved by calling on the name of the Lord. They heard the voice of the Prophet Moses. God spoke to His people, saying “Follow Me and I will bless you, I will save you from wasted life.

Psalm 116:13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord …

Romans 10:13 … For WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED …

Salvation has always been by GRACE, by REPENTANCE, by turning from yourself and thrusting yourself by faith into the arms of God. Israel was saved by Grace. Abraham was saved by Grace. The New Testament tells us that:

James 2:23 Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. And he was CALLED THE FRIEND OF GOD ..

Romans 4:3 … Abraham BELIEVED GOD, and {this faith} WAS CREDITED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS (a quotation of Genesis 15:6)

Abraham was not saved by keeping a Law, but by loving and following Him Who made us. We are all broken. We think we know best, but apart from God, we do not. When we hear God’s call and follow Him, He covers our sins, and guides us into His light.

Romans 4:6-8 (ESV) … just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

To Be Saved Is To Follow God. Jesus Is God.

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

God called humans to walk with Him through His prophets. Moses was a great Prophet. But God also wanted us to understand that, though salvation is free to us – it comes at a GREAT COST.

How could God describe the GREAT COST of our salvation? He first did it with the Law, with animal sacrifice. Israel followed the Prophet Moses to Mount Sinai, and there God gave Israel an elaborate series of feasts, festivals, and sacrifices. God established a Tabernacle and later a Temple for worship. The center of the Hebrew’s life was the animal sacrifice. God told the Hebrews to gather

Exodus 12:5 … year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats

The animal was killed as “a sin offering for atonement” (Exodus 29:36). The blood of the blemishless creature COVERED the sin of the people. The Hebrews were to “make atonement for their souls” (Exodus 30:15). The animals were to be killed on an altar to God, then burned to signify the wrath of God being poured out on the blemishless creature for the penitent sinner. The animal suffered the punishment of sin. The animal sacrifice was prophetic, for it had no ability to actually pay the price of sin. Salvation is a gift of Grace, but Someone MUST pay the penalty of sin, which is death.

Some 80 times in the Bible God through the Prophets spoke of ATONEMENT, the covering of sin. In each instance, an animal without blemish was PUNISHED, killed and BURNED to pay for the sins of the people.

Word Study: The word ATONEMENT (Greek katallagē, “Reconciliation with God”) is only found FOUR TIMES in the New Testament (Romans 5:11; 11:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 5:19). In these passages it never refers to an animal sacrifice – but to what Jesus did for us. For instance, the Bible says:

Romans 5:8-11 (ESV) … but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (ATONEMENT (Greek katallagē).

We have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). In the Old Testament, the Hebrew was called to walk with God by faith, and to temporarily cover his sins by animal sacrifices. In the New Testament “we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son”. The Old Testament Law was a shadow, looking forward to the Messiah. We now walk with God by faith in Jesus Christ, believing that HIS DEATH ATONED FOR OUR SINS.

It was prophesied in the Old Testament that God Himself would come into humanity. The Scripture says:

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (meaning “God with us”)

This Messiah would come forth from God to be born in Bethlehem:

Micah 5:2 (ESV) But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

This Messiah is Jesus. He would come into the world to ATONE for our sins, so that we can, by Grace, walk with God. We are told later in this Book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 10:5-10 (ESV) Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” 8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

God was never satisfied with the sacrifices of animals, no matter how spotless they appeared. God never considered the sacrifice of animals to be an atonement for sin. No, the Messiah must come. The Prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah.

How Much Does God Want You To Walk With Him?

The Jesus that God sent into the world is no mere Man. We are told:

Hebrews 1:2 {God} Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

The Jesus Who came into this world is co-eternal and co-equal with God. Though He took upon Himself humanity, being made of virgin and Holy Spirit, Jesus is the Eternal Word of God. The Scripture says:

John 1:1-3 (ESV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

When God said “Let there be Light”, and there was Light, JESUS WAS THAT LIGHT (Genesis 1:3). God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit made life. When you walk with Jesus, you are walking with the Creator of Life:

John 1:4 (ESV) In Him {Jesus} WAS LIFE, and the life was THE LIGHT OF MEN …

Before Jesus Christ “the Word became FLESH and DWELT AMONG US” (John 1:14), Jesus is co-equal and co-eternal with the Godhead. Jesus is no mere man, a sinner like us.

Jesus is Eternal God Who BECAME FLESH so that He could BE MADE SIN FOR US, that is, in our place. “God the Father MADE Jesus to BE SIN FOR US; that WE might BE MADE the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Bible says of Jesus that

Colossians 1:13-17 (ESV) {God the Father} has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom {Jesus} we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 {Jesus}| is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by {Jesus} all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

In Jesus, all things are held together. YOUR LIFE WILL FALL APART IF JESUS IS NOT IN IT!

Hebrews 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:

Jesus is the Maker of all things, so He is the HEIR of all things. It is Jesus Who holds all things together. It is Jesus Who “by himself purged our sins”. I read somewhere that in all of the Temple, there was no place, no chair for a Priest to sit down. The Priests worked around the clock, making sacrifices, and had no time to sit. But Jesus, once He purged our sins by dying in our place, He “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high”. When He said from the Cross,

“It is finished” (John 19:30)

He drank the Cup of punishment for us. Instead of giving us a Cup of punishment, Jesus gave us a Passover Table and a Cup to remind us:

Matthew 26:27-28 (ESV) … {take this Cup}, drink of it, all of you; for this is My Blood of the {New} Covenant, which is poured out for many FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS …

If you have believed on Jesus, then the Bible says:

Ephesians 1:5 (ESV) {God the Father} has PREDESTINED US FOR ADOPTION AS SONS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, according to the purpose of His will…

We are not what we were, but are “new creatures in Christ”. We have received “the Spirit of adoption as sons” (Romans 8:15), and await eagerly for our Heavenly redemption (Romans 8:23). We are not saved by Law, but by the Blood of Him Who satisfied the Law. Now saved, we DO NOT TURN THE GRACE OF OUR GOD INTO LASCIVIOUSNESS (Jude 4), denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. We live our lives following Him Who saved us, pleasing Him in all that we do.

May God touch your hearts with His Word and Spirit. Amen.

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The Seventh Commandment – Love, Not Lust: Marriage Is Sacred

Posted on February 16, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/aerial-photo-of-man-and-woman-lying-on-grass-field-265722/

We’ve been studying the Ten Commandments the last few weeks. Tonight we’ll look at one of the most violated of the Ten:

Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Sexual Sin Destabilizes Nations, Ruins Churches,
and Cripples Families

Several years ago I predicted that the push for the normalization of homosexuality would lead to other sexual perversions. The “flavor of the day” is now called “polyamorous”. The Colson Center notes:

“… polyamory is the practice of having more than one sexual partner. In other words, it is what was called (until yesterday) “promiscuity.” However, as with each prior stop on the slippery slope of undefining marriage and the family, this one also abounds with creative euphemisms like “open relationships,” “non-monogamy,” “throuples,” “swingers,” and (worst of all) “polycules.” {A} New York Times article listed a bevy of new TV shows, movies, and books promoting polyamory as fun and even beneficial—a journey of “self-discovery” that could liven up your “marriage”.

A bumper sticker reads, “Life is short. Have an affair!”

The Huffington Post ran an article a few years ago entitled “There Are Now Greeting Cards For Cheating Spouses. (Yes, Really.)” that’s the actual title. One card said,

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Forget that I’m married,
I’m hitting on you!

That was the cleanest card I saw – others I can’t read from a public pulpit. If you type in “Greeting Cards For Adulterers” in an internet search engine, you’ll get over 3 million sources and sites where you can order such atrocities. Some of the cards depicted people with animals. Another source mocked the 7th Commandment of God, saying “Adultery is ok!”.

God recognizes (but has never endorsed) that sexual sin exists, even among His people. As Jesus was teaching one day, the Pharisees asked Him, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?”. Jesus quickly replied:

Matthew 19:4-6 (ESV) “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

The Pharisees then asked Jesus, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” They were referencing the Law in:

Deuteronomy 24:1-4 “When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house, 2 and if she goes and becomes another man’s wife, 3 and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, 4 then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination before the Lord. And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.

Jesus corrected the Pharisees. They asked, “Why did Moses COMMAND a certificate of divorce”? God through Moses NEVER COMMANDED a certificate of divorce. God recognized in the Law the failing and sinfulness of man. He said, in essense, “IF you take a wife, THEN later are dissatisfied and YOU CHOOSE TO GIVE HER a DIVORCE – then once she’s been with another man sexually YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO TAKE HER BACK INTO YOUR BED”. Why did God put these requirements in the Law? Jesus said:

Matthew 19:8-9 (ESV) “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

Under the Law – which could only PROSCRIBE (forbid) and PRESCRIBE but not cure – divorce was ALLOWED but not COMMANDED. It is only under the NEW COVENANT that God, because of the shed Blood of Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, could the heart be CORRECTED.

God was NEVER for divorce, as Jesus makes clear. God realized that as humans we are broken, and thus our relationships would be broken. Thus God said “In your brokenness I will allow you to divorce THOUGH I AM AGAINST IT”. God condemned His Old Covenant people for their laxity in maintaining sexual purity. He said:

Malachi 2:13-16 (ESV) … You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14 But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

God made marriage to be one man and one woman united together in one covenant for life. In Deuteronomy God was actually saying, “don’t divorce … BUT IF YOU DO, and she marries another, don’t make claim on her as you wife again.” To do so would be to take another man’s wife, and THAT my friend IS ADULTERY.

Polygamy, Now Popular, Is Not New.
It Was In The Old Testament World.

Did God’s people follow God’s pattern of marriage? No, they didn’t. Polygamy – the marriage between one man and multiple wives – was common in the worldly culture of the ancient world. God did not endorse it, but it happened.

Abraham had two wives, Sarai and her maid Hagar (Genesis 16:3). This caused numerous problems for Abraham and his progeny, Israel. Israel’s current war over the Gaza strip is because the children of Hagar, the Arabs, want the land that the children of Sarah have, the Jews. Throughout the Old Testament and to the present day Abraham’s poor decision in taking Hagar to wife has plagued his children, both Arab and Israeli.

Jacob had four wives (Genesis 30), King David had many wives (2 Samuel 5:13), and his son Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines or mistresses (1 Kings 11:3). Each man suffered terribly in their lives, bringing wars into their families and among their children, because they violated God’s Law of marriage. As many wives as David had, he actually stole another man’s wife – Bathsheba – then had that man {Uriah} murdered in combat. God told David:

2 Samuel 12:9-12 (ESV) Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.

David was soundly punished for his act of adultery and murder. As he did, it would be done to him. Though David repented, God required the consequences of David’s actions to follow him till he passed from this life. When God commanded:

Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Word Study: He was warning us against a terrible poison. In the original Hebrew text there are only TWO WORDS here:

lō’ nā’ap̄ (pronounced naw-af’)

Literally “NO ADULTERY”, or more specifically, “NO BREAKING THE BOND OF MARRIAGE”. God in the Law required that the sin of adultery be treated just as a murder would be treated. If you were caught in adultery, the state (in this case, Israel) was to put you to death. The Bible says:

Leviticus 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery (nā’ap̄) with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery (nā’ap̄) with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterER (nā’ap̄) and the adulterESS (nā’ap̄) shall surely be put to death.

Both The Law And Jesus Are Against Sexual Sin

One day Jesus was teaching, when the Pharisees brought a woman to Him, saying “Master, this woman was TAKEN IN ADULTERY, IN THE VERY ACT” (John 8:4). They reminded Jesus that the Law of Moses required she be executed, then asked Jesus what He thought should be done. Jesus did not initiually respond to them, but instead said:

John 8:7 … He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Jesus was actually quoting the Law of God. God said in Deuteronomy 17:6-7, “The HAND OF THE WITNESSES SHALL BE FIRST TO PUT HER TO DEATH, and afterward the hand of all the people” (Deuteronomy 17:6-7). If these men “CAUGHT HER IN THE VERY ACT” then, as witnesses, they should cast the first stone. Further, if they caught this woman “IN THE VERY ACT”, then where was THE MAN?

The Law demanded that BOTH the adulteress
AND the adulterer be executed.

Jesus used the Law, and put it back on the “witnesses”.
He caught them in a lie, and they knew it!

After they left, Jesus asked “Where are your accusers?” The woman replied, “None accuse me, Lord”. Jesus then replied,

“Neither do I condemn you: GO AND SIN NO MORE”

Jesus did not justify her act of adultery, but recognized it as sin. Nonetheless, Jesus followed the Law explicitly. As the man was not there, the woman could not lawfully be tried. Jesus told her to “GO AND SIN NO MORE”. This is God’s standard for the believer in Him. God has given us commandments that are for our own good. The Apostle said:

1 John 5:1-3 (ESV) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

God’s commandments – including this Seventh Commandment – are NOT burdensome, but are a blessing. In the hardness of our hearts we often turn away from what God has directed, but we break ourselves when we break God’s Commandments. Sexual immorality destroys lives. The Apostle reminds us of the dangers of sexual sin. He writes:

1 Corinthians 10:8 (ESV) We MUST NOT INDULGE IN SEXUAL IMMORALITY as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day …

The Apostle is referrring to when Israel bound herself sexually to the daughters of Moab, followers of the pagan god Baal (see Numbers 25:1-9). God sent a plague on Israel that killed 24,000 people – 23,000 of them in one day! When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the Priest stood up and publicly brought the death penalty on a high ranking tribal head named Zimri the son of Salu and Cozbi the daughter of Zur for their adulterous activity, God withdrew the plague from Israel.

Beloved, as the children of God we are NOT to minimize sexual sin and the destruction of Biblical marriagew, regardless as to who it upsets.

I recently watched a “Priest” wearing a rainbow painted scarf say “God is gay. God is a lesbian. God is trans. God is gender non-binary. God is straight. God is cis gender.” This is not the God of the Bible. God never endorsed people’s sins. Jesus came commanding that we follow Him, regardless as to how it effected our status with our families. Jesus said in:

Matthew 10:34-38 (ESV) Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

The Scripture repeatedly calls the believer to walk apart from sin. We are called to “live lives worthy of the calling you received” (Ephesians 4:1). We are told “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND” (Romans 12:2). Saved by Grace, as Christians we “declare the praises of Him WHO CALLED US OUT OF DARKNESS, and INTO HIS WONDERFUL LIGHT” (1 Peter 2:9).

As Christians, we honor our God when we live not to please the world, but to please our God (John 15:19; 17:15-18).

1 Thessalonians 4:3 (ESV) For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality

and again,

Colossians 3:5 (ESV) Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

and again,

Proverbs 6:32 (ESV) He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.

If you will not follow Christ on this earth, you need not believe that you will follow Him in Heaven. Saved by Grace now, we live to honor Him. Dear friend, do not believe that you can reside in sexual sin, and will one day enter Heaven. The Bible is clear:

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (ESV) Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:5 (ESV) … you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Revelation 21:8 (ESV) … But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

Those who are saved remain in the bonds of marriage, loving the Lord by loving their wives and husbands. May God help us to keep our marriages fully focused on honoring our God and Savior. Amen and Amen.

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The Sixth Commandment: Life Is Sacred

Posted on February 13, 2024 by bibleteacherorg

Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.

Poor Mr. Smith! Let’s Ignore The Victim.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is in an uproar again. The state of Alabama executed convicted murderer Kenneth Smith using Nitrogen Gas, in a procedure called nitrogen hypoxia. Smith was a part of a crew hired to murder Elizabeth Sennett. He and John Forrest Parker stabbed her to death in her home, on instructions from her husband. Convicted of murder, Smith sat on death row over 20 years. He was executed almost 36 years after he brutally assisted in murdering this woman. Alabama had tried to execute him by lethal injection (the procedure used to kill Parker) but failed because they were unable to find a suitable vein. Executed by nitrogen hypoxia, the ACLU said “Mr. Smith shook, convulsed, writhed, and gasped for minutes until he was pronounced dead at least 22 minutes after the execution began, though just how long it took is unknown since Alabama closed the execution curtain before the official time of death”.

I wonder how long Elizabeth Sennett “shook, convulsed, writhed, and gasped” as Smith and Parker drove knives into her body? Did those men deserve to die because they callously took her life? Does the state have the right to execute murders? The answer to both questions is an emphatic YES!

Tonight we’re going to look at The Sixth Commandment, and what this commandment entails. The world’s oldest profession is farming, as Adam was placed in the “Garden of Eden to work it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15).

The first sin ever committed was to ignore the clearly presented Word of God (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-7) in order to follow self. The second sin committed was when Cain ignored God’s Word as his father Adam did, and murdered his brother (Genesis 4:6-8).

Murder and killing has been with humanity since our beginning. The prohibition on murder is the one command that everyone agrees with, though not everyone agrees with how murderers are to be dealt with. Three well known characters in the Bible, Moses (Exodus 2:11-15), King David (2 Samuel 11), and the Apostle Paul before he was saved (Acts 8:1; 22:19-20; 26:9-11) were guilty of murder. Moses killed an Egyptian Taskmaster. King David killed Uriah, so he could take his wife in adultery. Saul, before he was Paul, murdered Christians. All three – though never executed – suffered horribly because of their actions.

God told David that “the sword will never depart your house because you despised Me, and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own wife” (2 Samuel 12:10). It is a universal Law of God …

Galatians 6:7 (ESV) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

David’s conscience bothered him his entire life. In Psalm 51 he wrote “my sin is ever before me” (vs 3) and “deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation” (vs 14). Not only did David have to contend with his conscience, his son Absalom rose up against him, and sought to murder his own father so he could take the throne of Israel. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness of Midian a fugitive because of his actions. The Apostle Paul never forgot what he did, saying “I am CHIEF OF SINNERS” (1 Timothy 1:15).

Murder is a sin that demands the greatest of punishments. Though the first murderer, Cain, was not executed for his sin, he was marked for life (Genesis 4:15) as a living sign that God despises murder! Life is a sacred gift from God.

In America, someone is murdered every 30 minutes. In 2023 there were 18,450 people murdered in the United States, close to half the population of Maury County. Though the ACLU would have you believe that America has the highest homicide rate, we have about 7.8 homicides per 100,000 people. Any murders are too many, but third world countries like El Salvador, Jamaica, South Africa, Nigeria, Mexico, etc, have 4 to 6 times higher numbers. The farther a people get away from the God of the Holy Bible, the more cavalier they are about the value of life.

Slide 4

Proverbs 29:18 (ESV) Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

Children are fed a diet of video games simulating murder and mayhem, and television often glorifies the taking of life. One source I found noted that by the time an American youth reaches 18 years old, that child will have witnessed 80,000 murders by television, movie, or video games.

What Does The Sixth Commandment Forbid?

Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.

Word Study: The Sixth Commandment is only 4 words in the English, but just two words in the Hebrew: lō’ rāṣaḥ (pronounced raw-tsakh’). Literally, these words mean “No Murder” or “No Assasination”. The word is only found 47 times in 40 verses in the Bible. There are other Hebrew words in the Bible for “kill”, but rāṣaḥ refers to unlawful killing.

Not all killing is unlawful. Some killing is decreed of God, Who is the Giver of life. Murder is when you take life outside of the will of God.

For instance, God allows you to defend yourself and your property. The Bible says:

Job 24:14 (ESV) The murderer rises before it is light, that he may kill the poor and needy, and in the night he is like a thief.

Exodus 22:2-3 (ESV) If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, 3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay.

If someone sneaks into your home and tries to do you or your family harm, you are allowed to kill that person. If the sun is up, and you can thwart the invader without killing him, you should do so – for life is precious. But God does not expect you to allow others to sneak in and hurt your family.

In the Book of Esther, there was a plot against the Jews. The King of Persia allowed Mordecai to write an edict of protection for Israel, saying:

Esther 8:11 (ESV) … saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods …

The purpose of government is to protect the lives of its citizens. When King David directed that General Joab “set Uriah {the husband of Bathsheba} in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down and die” (2 Samuel 11:15) David was guilty of murder for hire. As leader of Israel, it was his responsibility to protect the citizens of Israel (and Uriah was a good citizen), not to us his office to murder a man to take his wife in adultery. God condemned David, saying:

2 Samuel 12:9 Why have you DESPISED THE WORD OF THE LORD, TO DO WHAT IS EVIL IN HIS SIGHT? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites …

Was it wrong for Alabama to execute Kenneth Smith? Is this murder, and forbidden by the Sixth Commandment? Absolutely not! Government is ordained of God to protect the lives of its citizens. God told humanity when Noah disembarked from the Ark:

Genesis 9:3-6 (ESV) Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. 4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. 6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

God established human government to protect the lives of its citizens. When a person violates the will of God, God has the right to receind the life that He gave. God told Israel as they gathered at Sinai for the giving of the Law:

Exodus 19:11-13 (ESV) … be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”

God demanded that His Presence and His Word be respected. If anyone treated God’s Presence in a cavalier manner, God demanded that the COMMUNITY TAKE THAT LIFE. The Apostle Paul talks about the responsibility of human government to exercise CAPITAL PUNISHMENT in:

Romans 13:1-4 (ESV) Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

God ordains government to “BEAR THE SWORD”, that is, to execute capital punishment on those who threaten the life of its citizens. We are not to avenge ourselves (“do NOT avenge yourselves; leave room for God’s wrath … vengeance belongs to God, He will repay” – Romans 12:19). We are to allow God’s government to avenge murder. In the same Book that God forbade MURDER, He said:

Exodus 21:12-14 (ESV) Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. 13 But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 14 But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

In the Law of God, the Lord differentiated between MANSLAUGHTER and MURDER. Murder was intentional. Manslaughter was accidental. Those guilty of manslaughter could run to a city of Refuge, and would not lose their lives. But the willful murderer was to die! Period!

In Numbers 35:9-34 God told Israel to set up six …

Numbers 35:11-18 (ESV) cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there. 12 The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. 13 And the cities that you give shall be your six cities of refuge. 14 You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan, to be cities of refuge. 15 These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there. 16 “But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 17 And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 18 Or if he struck him down with a wooden tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.

The MANSLAYER who accidentally and unintentionally killed someone could go to a city of refuge, and there have his or her case examined. If the action was unintentional, the person stayed at that city of refuge – kind of like a better class of prison. But if it was intentional, God decreed “The murderer shall be put to death”.

Accidental deaths were considered MANSLAUGHTER, but deaths that could have been prevented but were not were also considered acts of murder. For instance, in the holy land the people of Israel often spent the hottest days on the roofs of their homes. God told the Israelite:

Deuteronomy 22:8 (ESV) When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring the guilt of blood upon your house, if anyone should fall from it.

A “parapet” is a low, protective wall or guard rail along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony that keeps someone from accidentally walking off the side. If you failed to put up a parapet, then you brought “the guilt of blood upon your house”, that is,you could bew considered a murderer. You knew better, and heard God’s decree – but ignored it and someone died. One Jewish Commentary notes:

“The parapet had to have a minimum size of 10 hand-breadths. The law of the parapet applies only to flat roofs on which people can walk. The Talmud (Bava Kama 15b) records that the second-century teacher, Rabbi Nathan, extended the law of the parapet to prohibit keeping a vicious dog or a precarious ladder in the home.”

Again, the difference between murder and manslaughter is based on intent and deliberation. The Bible says:

Exodus 21:28-29 (ESV) When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. 29 But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.

If a person owned an ox – which was commonly used to plow fields – if that ox gored someone and killed them, the ox was to be put down while the owner was fined (see verses 30-32). However, if the ox had gored someone before “and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in”, then BOTH the ox and the owner were to be executed. Why? Because the owner showed the same carelessness for life that a common murderer would have. It was a preventable death, and hence was MURDER.

Why Does God Require The Death Penalty For Murder?

God is the Giver of Life, and so God has the right to remove life any time He desires. When God takes life, He is not murdering – He is just removing the gift He gave. When the earth became so filleds with evil that God determined it was unredeemable, the Bible says:

Genesis 6:11-13 (ESV) Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

The Bible says “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). God can do what He will with His creation, just as you can do with what belongs to you. But Beloved, your soul is the Lord’s. He says, “BEHOLD, EVERY SOUL BELONGS TO ME” (Ezekiel 18:4). You were made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and were made to glorify God. When you murder someone, you are taking something that does not belong to you. As Job said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21). God can do what He wants with what is His – but we have no right to take life outside of the will of God.

As we have said before, the taking of life inside of the lawful government of nations is not murder. Divine punishment is not murder. The soldier who takes life under the direction of lawful government authority is not a murderer. Accidental killing is not murder.

Murder is to unlawfully and unbiblically take a life. Suicide is self murder. Abortion is murder (Psalm 51:5; Luke 1:15; Psalm 139:6). Murder is horrible, because it robs God of His property, and fails to honor the God Who gave that life. God can forgive the murderer, because He has forgiven murderers. God forgave Moses, King David, and the Apostle Paul.

God can use the murderer for His glory. But unless God intervenes – and He has the right to intervene – the murderer is supposed to pay life for life under capital punishment.

God can use the murderer. God used a murderer named Barabbas to execute His Son for our sins. The day that Jesus died for us on Calvary, the Governor Pilate offered to release Jesus and execute Barabbas. The crowd cried out:

Luke 23:18 (ESV) … Away with this man {Jesus}, and release to us Barabbas…

The Lord of Life died instead of Barabbas who deserved it. The Bible says “{Pilate} released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.”

Barabbas was a known murderer (Mark 15:6-7) but Jesus, Who had done no wrong, went to the horror of the Cross. Peter preached:

Acts 3:13-15 (ESV) The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

Jesus was murderered in a murderers place (Acts 7:51-53) for our sins, according to the Will of God (Acts 2:23-24; 4:27-28). Murderers do NOT go to Heaven (Revelation 21:8) unless they receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. He died for us all, so that we might all find life in Him.

Life is precious. The root cause of murder is selfishness, and self centered lovelessness (Matthew 5:21-22; 1 John 3:15-18). Jesus died on the Cross so that He might defeat the sin that so enslaves us, and ruins our lives. Life is precious. God does not want us squandering the great gift He has given us. Jesus was murdered for us, so that rising from the grave He could offer us lives that we cherish and enjoy. I will close with this passage from Hebrews:

Hebrews 12:22-24 (ESV) … you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

When Abel was killed by Cain, his blood cried out for vengeance. God said to Cain, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.” (Genesis 4:10-11). But when Christ was murdered, His Blood cries out in a different way. PastorDan Shambro wrote:

“Abel’s blood cried out, ‘Let my murderer be cursed in payment for my death’. Jesus’ Blood cries out, ‘Let My death be the curse in payment for My murderers.”

Murder must never be justified by the state. But those on death row have hope, the same blessed hope we all have. They have Jesus. If they would but turn to Him, repenting, their next chapter will not be eternal punishment but everlasting life. Oh, that all people would discover the joy of life in Christ. May God the Holy Spirit draw you to Christ this very day. Amen and Amen.

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The Fourth Amen

Posted on February 13, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Karolina Grabowska: https://www.pexels.com/photo/lonely-woman-crying-with-closed-eyes-4471316/

2 Peter 3:14-18 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of {of Christ} in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. AMEN.

The Fourth Amen Sums Up The Christian Way Of Life

Peter’s last letter to the Church closes with the word “AMEN”. Amen is an interesting word. It is a UNIVERSAL word. “Amen” in the Greek text, the text of our New Testament, is amēn. “Amen” in the Hebrew text, the language of the Old Testament, is āmēn. “Amen” is found in every language on the earth, though it is pronounced differently. It is a unique word that means “let it be fulfilled” or “so be it” or “this is truth”.

When you say “Amen” you are not only agreeing with what is being said, but are claiming ownership.

In Peter’s first letter to the Church, he used the word “AMEN” three times. In the first “AMEN” he gave all glory and power and praise to Jesus Christ. When we SPEAK, our words are to MAGNIFY CHRIST and not ourselves:

1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. AMEN.

1 Peter 5:11 To {God} be glory and dominion for ever and ever. AMEN.

The life of the Christian is to glorify God, not ourselves. In the third “AMEN”, we glorify God by loving one another and lifting up one another – by PUTTING OTHERS AHEAD OF OURSELVES.

1 Peter 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. AMEN.

Jesus Christ is THE AMEN, the Faithful and True Witness – The Beginning of the Creation of God (Revelation 3:14). We glorify Christ when we put God and others FIRST, and ourselves LAST. The essence of Grace is that God must be glorified by the lives we live.

The fourth and final AMEN is at the close of Peter’s second book. He says:

2 Peter 3:17-18 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. AMEN.

Before the AMEN there is a warning against “being led away with the error of the wicked”. We who are Christians need to be very careful as to who we follow. Then we are told “But grow in grace”. We are warned not to be led away by the error of the wicked, BUT to GROW IN GRACE. There are two things put before us.

Anything NOT of GRACE is ERROR.
We are to GROW in GRACE.

We as Christians are to be focused on growing in Grace. Now first of all, we are not told that Grace grows. Grace doesn’t grow. I have heard – and have said myself – that an acronym for GRACE is

God’s
Riches
At
Christ’s
Expense

I believe that’s a good definition in once sense. It is the Grace of God that came to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We are told in:

Titus 2:11 For the GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGETH SALVATION HATH APPEARED TO ALL {PEOPLE}

God manifested Himself through Christ, bringing Grace to whoever believes in Him. But Grace does not just save us – Grace changes us. The Apostle went on to say:

Titus 2:12-15 {this GRACE} TEACHES US that, DENYING UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS, we should LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY IN THIS PRESENT WORLD; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY, and purify UNTO HIMSELF A PECULIAR PEOPLE, zealous of good works.

Grace does not just save from the wrath of God, but creates children of God who want to follow Christ. Grace is not just something that gets you into Heaven, but Grace is something that gets Heaven into YOU! Our Lord Jesus “was made a little lower than the angels FOR THE SUFFERING OF DEATH …. that HE BY THE GRACE OF GOD SHOULD TASTE DEATH FOR EVERY PERSON” (Hebrews 2:9). It was Grace that paid for our sins. It is Grace that leads us to walk with Christ. As the Apostle addressed the Church of Corinth, a Church that seriously misunderstood Grace, he wrote:

2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Christians Are To GROW IN GRACE, Not In SELF

2 Peter 3:17-18 beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in grace

The phrase “grow in grace” presupposes that you are a living creature. A rock cannot grow. A dead thing cannot grow. A branch cut from a tree cannot grow. Grace is first found in the first book of Scripture. Grace is God’s undeserved goodness on us all. God created a man that He called “Adam”, and gave Adam a beautiful wife called “Eve”. Adam was given undeserved life, and placed in a perfect Paradise called the Garden of Eden. Man and woman was given the directive to “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28). Everything that Adam and Eve had was a blessing. It was a gift of Grace, something undeserved and unearned. They just had to follow God. They had to do what God said. What did they do?

They were led away with the error of the wicked.

The devil, in the guise of a serpent (Revelation 12:9), convinced them to depart from Grace and satisfy themselves. To put themselves above God. To make themselves gods, rather than love the Lord Who gave them Grace. God told Adam, “in the day that you eat of the forbidden, YOU SHALL SURELY DIE” (Genesis 2:17). Adam heard and understood these words, but followed the devil rather than God. Being “led away with the error of the wicked” Adam and his progeny DID DIE. Beloved, “The WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH” (Romans 6:23). As the Scripture says:

Romans 5:12 … by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

The error of the wicked one spread through humanity. But the Grace of God was still there. Though God could have destroyed Adam, and with him his progeny, God clothed Adam and Eve, and sent them from the Garden. But Grace gave them life.

The evil one is always striving to lead us to walk away from Grace, and to make ourselves the center of all things. He whispers to us, “you are gods”, and bids us reject the Grace of God for our own glory. Those who are lost in sin follow the darkness of the evil one. Christians are not to do this. The Scripture says:

2 Corinthians 5:17 (AP) Therefore, is ANYONE IS IN IN CHRIST, they are NEW CREATIONS; the old has passed away, the NEW HAS COME!

Christians are to GROW IN GRACE, not to imitate the world. If you are not growing in Grace, you may yet be dead in your sins. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, “This is GOD’S WILL, your SANCTIFICATION”. Sanctification is a technical term for growing to be more like Jesus, more like a child of God. You as believers are commanded to GROW IN GRACE. God would not command that you do something impossible.

God has given us His Spirit and His Scripture and His Sanctuary. Our eyes are to be on Him. Jesus said “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12). He said, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (John 14:26). We GROW IN GRACE, not in sinfulness. If we are saved, we walk loving God our Father. We walk surrendered to Christ and his Word. You are saved, a DELIVERED PEOPLE:

Colossians 1:13-14 {God} hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

God Has Given Us Beautiful Pictures Of
Growth In Grace In His Scripture

As I thought and prayed, “How can I explain GROWING IN GRACE”? the Lord spoke to my heart. “I’ve given you all you need – use it!” The first time the word GRACE is found in the Bible is:

Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

God looked at the world, and all the world had ignored Him, and had been led away by the wicked one into evil. The Bible says that “Noah WALKED WITH GOD” (Genesis 6:9). Noah was saved by Grace, because he laid his life before the Lord. Noah didn’t follow the crowd, but followed the Lord. A recipient of Grace, Noah was fully saved. Then God came to Noah.

Noah, build an Ark of gopher wood. Make it the way I tell you. I’ll guide you, but you GROW IN GRACE. Rely on Me. Do what I say, for a flood is coming. Trust Me no matter what, and I’ll see you through.

Can you imagine the ridicule that Noah went through? He built an Ark, and told others that God said a flood was coming by RAIN. No one had ever seen rain, as the earth was watered by a “mist from the earth” (Genesis 2:6-8). Pastor Andy Manning said:

“There are {only} two options. You are either being led away, or you are growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. There is no standing still in the Christian life. There is progress, or regress. The spiritual life is a steep mountain; you are either ascending or descending. It is a battle, you are either advancing or retreating. It is a race; you are either winning or losing. You are growing, or you are backsliding.”

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “The only way to avoid falling in the Christian life is to advance. The only way to avoid slipping back is to go forward. There is no such thing as being static in the Christian life ..”

What if Noah had said, “Well, I’m saved, so I’ll just REST IN GRACE. God said to build an Ark, but its too hard. I think I’ll just sit here until I drift into Heaven.” Do you know what would have happened had Noah done that? He would have drowned with the rest of the world, he and his children. All would have died – including you and I – if Noah had not GROWN IN GRACE.

There’s another person that comes to my mind when I think of GROWING IN GRACE, and that is the shepherd boy called David. When King Saul failed to honor God, abusing His Grace, God rejected him as King and sent the Prophet Samuel to the home of Jesse the Bethlehemite to find a more suitable King for Israel. As Samuel examined each of the children of Jesse, strong young men, to Samuel they all looked powerful enough or smart enough to be King. But God told Samuel:

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV) … Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

The Lord looks on the heart to see if you have surrendered to His Grace. Are you following the evil one, or seeking Him? Seven sons passed by Samuel, and to each son God said “I do not want this person – he has rejected My Grace”. Samuel asked if Jesse had any other children, and Jesse said “I have one other young son – my eighth. He is watching the sheep.” When Jesse brought David to Samuel, God said “Anoint him as King – he is the one” (1 Samuel 16:12). What made David special.

David loved the Lord. David received God’s Grace.

Did David ascend to the Throne of Israel right then, or did he seek out a following to help promote him to the Throne? No! David relied on the Grace of God. David GREW IN GRACE. He went back to the field to watch the sheep until King Saul called for David, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep” (1 Samuel 16:19). David went to the court of the King, and waited on the King, playing the harp for him.

To grow in Grace is to be like David. Though anointed King, he served the King because it pleased God his Father. David waited, and grew in Grace.

When you wait on the Grace of God, glorifying the Lord Who saved you, in time He will give you other opportunities for growth. When Israel went to battle the Philistines a giant by the name of Goliath came out and mocked Israel. This Goliath was arrogant, and brash, crying out “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together” (1 Samuel 17:10).

The armies of Israel quaked, fearing every man to go forward.
King Saul refused to fight. He was not willing to grow in Grace.

Then David came along. “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26). The children of Israel hid. His brothers mocked him. Who was David to criticize them? Well, David was a nobody who knew Somebody great. While in the pasture guarding the sheep – the lowest job in the household – David used his sling and sword to kill predators. David told Saul,

1 Samuel 17:34-37 (ESV) … Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Growing in Grace means to not make everything about YOU, but about the Lord. Growing in Grace means to step outside your comfort zone, and live to glorify God. David grabbed a lion by its beard and killed it. David killed bears with his sling and a stone. He did it to glorify God, and to honor his father. David was anointed King, but was content to wait on the Lord, to trust in Him until the time was right.

When David got ready to fight Goliath, Saul tried to give him his armor. David said, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them” (1 Samuel 17:39). David did well by trusting in the Lord, by growing in Grace. He knew that Grace would give him all he needed to defeat Goliath. He was God’s man. Hear what it sounds like to grow in Grace. David told Goliath:

1 Samuel 17:45-47 (ESV) … You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.

What if David had cowered with the rest? What if David would not go forward until he had a Sherman Tank, or a machine gun, or the skills of a Ninja warrior? That’s not growing in Grace. Growing in Grace is living surrendered to the will of God, to the glory of God. What was the outcome? David killed the Philistine with a sling and a stone – using Goliath’s own sword to cut off his head. And when David won that battle and King Saul asked, “Whose son are you, young man?”, David simply replied:

“I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”
1 Samuel 17:58

I am nobody. I am a recipient of Grace. I am growing in Grace, honoring my father and my Lord.

Growing In Grace Often Requires Suffering

As Peter talks about growing in Grace, he speaks about the Apostle Paul.

2 Peter 3:15-16 … account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Before he was Paul, Paul was SAUL, a Pharisee commissioned to hunt down and destroy Christians. Saul was very religious. He knew the Law, and was trained by the famed Rabbi Gamaliel in the Torah and Talmudic writings. As he traveled the Damascus Road one day, seeking to imprison more Christians, Jesus knocked Saul down and reached out in Grace to him. God said of the newly saved Paul:

Acts 9:15-16 (ESV) … he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.

Wait a minute! I’ve heard the televangelists tell us that the whole purpose of GRACE is to RELIEVE SUFFERING, to keep us from Hell. Beloved, they have lied to you. Grace certainly saves from hell, but Grace demands you follow Christ. Following Jesus will put you on a different path from the world. The world walks in darkness. The world is “led away with the error of the wicked”. The world follows self and Satan, sin and silliness. But we who are recipients of Grace are to “Grow in Grace”, to learn reliance upon the Lord more and more.

As God used Paul to preach the Gospel of salvation, God used him in a mighty way. But Paul never took credit for that. He said,

1 Corinthians 15:10 … by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Paul was fully reliant upon the Lord. He GREW IN GRACE. One day, the Bible says that God intentionally sent trials to Paul. We read:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 … lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Growing in Grace is only possible when God takes away your own strength, your own abilities, your own self. Paul realized this. Like the Shepherd David, Paul was saved by Grace, and grew in Grace. Every day of his life he relied upon the power of God.

Some of you have thorns in the flesh. You can give in to the thorns. You can cry over what you have lost. Or you can use the time of suffering as a time to grow in Grace. If you are saved,

1 Peter 2:9-10 … ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

As recipients of Grace – the undeserved mercy of God – let us follow Him and love Him, no matter where life may lead us. When we suffer, let us draw near to Him in prayer. When we do not understand, let us increase our knowledge of Christ.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

As Christians, let us live to learn more about Jesus. Jesus is not just our Savior, but He is “our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. Let us live to bring glory to Him – not to ourselves. For one day we will see Him face to face. On that day we will either receive reward for honoring Him through the Grace He gave us, or damnation for rejecting His Grace, “being led away with the error of the wicked”. It is “the TRUE GRACE OF GOD wherein we STAND” (1 Peter 5:12).

We stand with Jesus, because Jesus stands with us. Amen and Amen.

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Growing Victorious In This Viperous World

Posted on February 7, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by RUN 4 FFWPU: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-ripping-finish-line-strap-2524739/

2 Peter 3:1-2 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior:

In this wonderful chapter of my life – serving the Lord as a pastor and an unworthy servant – I have read many books and listened to sermons from men who were considered “greats” in our faith. The past 25 years or so I have been shocked at the fall of many of the great pastors and preachers. Johnny Hunt has been accused of sexual harassment, and is suing the SBC contrary to the direct teaching of the Scripture (1 Corinthians 6:1-11). Ravi Zacharias, a prolific author and well known apologist, was discovered (after his death) that he was systematically and sexually abusing women. Paige Patterson the former president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, was fired for improper behavior. Bill Hybels resigned from Willow Creek and Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill amidst charges of abusive leadership. Perry Noble was fired from his church for alcohol abuse. The grandson of Billy Graham, William Graham Tullian Tchividjian resigned as pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian due to an extramarital affair. Just yesterday, I read of a horrible misstep by Alistair Begg. On his “Truth For Life” radio program, Begg was asked by a grandmother what she should do about her grandson. Her grandson wanted to marry his same sex lover, and asked the grandmother to attend the ceremony. Begg said, “I suggest you do go to the ceremony. And I suggest that you buy them a gift.” American Family Radio dropped Begg’s program after this. As Christians, we are commanded to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).

Attending a homosexual marriage and giving a gift is no different from going to an abortion and holding the hand of the person killing her child. By your actions you are saying you approve!

Ever since the Devil possessed a snake and slithered into the Garden of Eden, he has proved over and over again that he is the dark master of deception. As I speak of fallen Pastors – men I did learn from who were at one time great men of God – I am not jeering. There but for the Grace of God go I! How can we as Christians Live Victorious In This Viperous World? Today Peter is going to give is four steps we need to follow that will guarantee the devil won’t get the upper hand on our lives.

1st Key To Growth: Cherish The Word Of God

2 Peter 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance…

Word Study: Why were the Scriptures given to us? Because God loves us. We start out seeing that Peter calls the believer “beloved”, the Greek agapētos which means “someone well and dearly beloved, highly esteemed, worthy of love”. The Father used this word for Jesus when He said, “This is My BELOVED (agapētos) Son, in Whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17; 17:5). Throughout the writings of the Apostles, the Church is collectively called “Beloved” (Romans 1:7; 9:25; 12:19; 1 Corinthians 10:14; 15:58; 2 Corinthians 7:1, et. al.). The Bible tells us that …

Ephesians 1:6 … {God the Father} has made us ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED…

Because Christ is God’s Beloved Son, and we have received Christ as Lord and Savior, we too are “Beloved Sons and Daughters”. Not because we are worthy, but because HE is worthy. God now applies this same word to the Christian four times in this chapter alone. We see it not just in this verse, but in:

vs 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing …

vs 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things …

vs 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before …

God gave us His Word because He loves us. He gave the greatest Sacrifice He could give to redeem us. God gave us His Beloved Son, sacrificing and punishing Him Who was sinless in our place. God gave us His Word to not only construct us into New Creations, but to Complete us. We are God’s Beloved. We have a destiny. As Beloved members of His Kingdom, He gives us HIS WORD to cherish and learn. We are told in:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Word of God is eternally secure. It contains the will of God for our lives. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:25). Our Lord Jesus said in John 10:35, “The Scripture cannot be broken”, and the Psalmist in 119:89, “Forever, O Lord, Your WORD is SETTLED in Heaven”. It was the Word of God that brought light into the darkness. “Let there be Light” (Genesis 1:3), our God commanded, and there was Light.

In the Old Testament God spoke to His people through Prophets. In the New Testament, God the Son hand picked Apostles to train and broadcast His Word. The writings of the Apostles were given …

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

The WORD of God saved us from this world. The WORD of God raises our thinking above the doctrines of this world. Jesus said:

John 15:19 (ESV) If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

And again in John 17:6 as Jesus prayed, He said “Father, I have manifested Your Name TO THE PEOPLE WHOM YOU HAVE ME OUT OF THE WORLD” (ESV). Christians are not to be part of this world in their mentality.

There is a great and ongoing battle between Satan and the Church, striving for the mind of the Christian.

1 John 2:15 (ESV) Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Christians are called out of the darkness of this world, with its philosophies and foolishness and lewdness and sloppy thinking. 2 Corinthians 4:6 tells us “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” We are not to let the fads and fashions of our day drive our minds. We are to be driven by Scripture, by what God has said.

THE INTENT OF THE SCRIPTURAL WRITINGS is to …

2 Peter 3:1 … stir up your pure minds

Word Study: The word “pure” is the Greek eilikrinḗs, which means “that judged by light”. God wants the believer’s mind to be genuine, uncorrupted by the perversions of the scoffers and false teachers who are always about. We should not be driven by lusts, but by the Scriptures. The intent of the Scripture is to “stir up” (Greek diegeirō), “to awaken or arouse, to make active” your spiritual thought process and therefore your activity for the Lord.

2 Peter 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior:

We are not to fill our minds with the gobbly-dee-goo that the world vomits out, but with the Word of God. By emphasizing the “holy prophets” along with the “apostles”. The early Church grew by leaps and bounds because …

Acts 2:42-43 … they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

The written words of the Apostles formed our New Testament, and were ordained of God. The Apostle wrote:

1 Corinthians 14:37-38 (ESV) If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

The Bible is the Word of God, and is accurate in all that it affirms (John 17:17). God has not left us as His people drifting – “We have the MIND OF CHRIST” (1 Corinthians 2:16). We have the WORD OF GOD.

2nd Key To Growth: Avoid The Junk Food

2 Peter 3:3-4 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

The devil is watching this Church, and what we are preaching! Last Wednesday I preached on the Fourth Commandment of God, and explained why we worship Jesus on the “First Day” of the week and not the “Sabbath”. If you weren’t here or didn’t listen online, I can’t re-preach this today. If you’d like a copy of the manuscript, tell me as you leave the Church and I’ll mail one to you. Whether you were here or not, the Devil was watching. During the course of the message I spoke of the “Seventh Day Adventists” and some of the strange doctrines they have taught.

On Friday I received this book in the mail, called “The Great Controversy”. It’s a beautiful book, very heavy, printed on beautiful paper with a ribbon bookmark in it. On the spine the author is listed as “White”. The title pages tell me the author is “E.G. White”. Who is this? It’s Ellen G. White, a false prophetess and false teacher from the “Seventh Day Adventists”. The Adventists were originally called “Millerites” because they followed the false prophet William Miller. Miller prophesied that Jesus would return in 1843 or 1844. He “prophesied” this though our Lord Jesus Christ Himself said,

Matthew 24:26 (NKJV) But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

The Bible says that Jesus will return “as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10). Nonetheless Miller said that God told him when Jesus was returning. When Jesus didn’t come as he “prophesied”, the Millerites disbanded. But another false prophet rose up out of the Millerites, saying that Miller was right – Jesus did return – but He didn’t come to earth but to the Heavenly Temple. This false prophet was the 17 year old Ellen G. Harmon, after her marriage to an Adventist preacher she was known as Ellen G. White. Her followers believe her writings to be the “The spirit of prophecy” written about in Revelation 19:10.

Seventh Day Adventists do not believe the soul is immortal, nor do they believe that hellfire is eternal. They teach that Jesus Christ is actually Michael the Archangel, that when you die your soul sleeps in the grave, that the wicked are burned up rather than punished with torment, and used to teach that those who worship on Sunday have received the mark of the beast. If that were true the Apostle would not have written:

Colossians 2:16-17 (ESV) Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

Most Adventists are vegan, and will not eat meat. This is because Ellen G White, their false prophet, taught them that it is wrong to eat meat – even though the Bible says:

1 Timothy 4:1-5 (ESV) Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

When the Apostle Peter was in prayer, God showed him “a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” (Acts 10:11-13). God would not have told Peter to KILL and EAT what he saw if God commanded we be vegan. It is false prophecy!

2 Peter 3:3-4 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

“SCOFFERS” rise up within the Church, like White and her ilk. “SCOFFERS” rise up outside the Church, mocking the precepts of God. The word “SCOFFERS” is the Greek empaiktēs, which means “false teachers who mock or deride”. Pharisees mocked Jesus when what He taught did not go along with the “truths of the elders”. When Jesus told them “You do the deeds of your father, the devil” (John 8:41), they mocked Jesus, saying “WE are not born of FORNICATION – WE have only ONE FATHER, God” (John 8:41). They mocked the virgin birth of Christ, implying that His mother Mary had Him out of wedlock. The chief priests, teachers of the Law and the elders (Matthew 27:41) MOCKED Christ, even as He hung dying on Calvary.

These scoffers, these false teachers are not just religious, but secular. I was listening to comedian Bill Burr the other day when he began to mock God. He said, “It kills me when someone says I’m going to be judged one day. God made me this way. God gave me free will. He had to know this would go off the rails. If I made a car, and it was messed up, I wouldn’t burn it forever. I’d examine it, and fix it.” Oh, as he mocked God, the crowd cheered and jeered. Of course, the idea that there is a God Who will judge us is ludicrous. Or is it? Bill, a human is not a car. A human is made in the image of God, given an eternal soul. When you die,

Ecclesiastes 12:7 (NLT) … the DUST WILL RETURN TO THE EARTH, and THE SPIRIT WILL RETURN TO GOD WHO GAVE IT.

God said, “ALL SOULS ARE MINE: the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is MINE: the SOUL WHO SINS shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). The human soul is immortal because it is in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), and were designed to walk with God. If we, using our free will, refuse to come to Christ and honor God by believing in Him, we will leave this life to enter a place of eternal torment. God said of the wicked “their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched” (Isaiah 66:22-24). The Prophet Daniel said “some shall awaken to everlasting LIFE, others to everlasting CONTEMPT” (Daniel 12:1-2). Jesus preached often on Hell (Matthew 18:6-9; 25:31-46; Mark 9:42-48), and taught that the unrepentant rich man “died, and in HELL lifted up his eyes, BEING IN TORMENTS” (Luke 16:23-31).

There will always be scoffers, scorners, mockers and false teachers. Turn off that television and go back to the first key to growth – cherish the Word of God.

The 3rd Key To Growth: Understand
The Patience And Longsuffering Of God

2 Peter 3:5-7 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

We must understand that God’s timing is NOT our timing. However, GOD’S WORD IS SURE. When God made the Heavens and the earth, He did so BY HIS WORD. The Psalmist said,

Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

God spoke all things into existence. It is His Word that gives light and life. “Through FAITH WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORLDS WERE FRAMED BY THE WORD OF GOD, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:3).

The Word of God that made all things is the same Word of God that makes the Christian.

We are “born again, not by corruptible seed, but by incorruptible seed, BY THE WORD OF GOD, which lives and abides FOREVER” (1 Peter 1:23). It does not matter what the scoffers say. It does not matter what the world says. What God has said stands true. Jesus Christ is coming again. When? The scoffers say, “all things are as they were. Jesus has been gone over 2000 years. Surely we have misunderstood. Surely, if He’s not come yet, He’s NEVER coming – or He came spiritually and we didn’t see Him!” No, dear fools. The Bible says:

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

When Jesus returns it will be sudden – and you’ll know it. Why does He wait? The Bible says:

2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Why does God wait? Why did He wait for E.G. White? Why did He wait for Bill Burr? Why does He wait for YOU. YOU have had plenty of time to surrender to Christ, to give your life to Him, to receive His salvation. Though the Scripture says “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. ” (Hebrews 3:12-13). Yet you tarry. You refuse Him Who calls you to salvation. The same was true in Noah’s Day. That good man preached the flood, the coming judgment, but none would REPENT (Mark 6:12; Luke 24:47; Acts 3:19; 17:30). God tarries because He loves deeply. He allows the wicked one more day. Though “NOW is the DAY OF SALVATION” (2 Corinthians 6:2) they harden their hearts (Psalm 95:7-8). Then they die suddenly, their soul called home by the Creator Who made it. What comes then? THE JUDGMENT (Hebrews 9:27). Oh, that they had called on Jesus when they could. Oh, that you had not heeded the scoffers.

Holy Spirit, break their hearts. Draw them to Christ today!

The Final Key: Live Out Your Faith

2 Peter 3:11-12 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

IF you are Christians, your life – and your eternal life – are gifts from God. We should be living our lives without compromise, following the Lord our Savior. Let us:

1. Cherish the Word of God
2. Avoid the nonsense of the false teachers
3. Understand that our God is longsuffering and loving

Live your lives, if you are Christians, looking toward eternity. You do not know when God is coming to take you home. Live every day for Him, honoring Christ in your lives. I close with:

2 Peter 3:15 … And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…

He has given us one more day to live in His Kingdom, and perhaps to lead another to trust in Christ. Let us not be lethargic in our faith. Tell others. Tell others. Live for Him. We are not promised tomorrow, let’s live for Him today. Amen and Amen.

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The Fifth Commandment To Honor Your Parents

Posted on February 1, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Elina Fairytale: https://www.pexels.com/photo/smiling-family-sitting-by-christmas-tree-5860054/

The last few weeks we have looked at the Ten Commandments of God. To review, the First Commandment is that “You will have no other gods before Yahweh”. Our God is #1! The Second Commandment is that “You will not create any idol of any type to worship or bow down to”. For this one we show the picture of the bowing number 2. The Third Commandment is that we will not “Take the Name of Yahweh in vain – to dishonor God with your lips”. The number 3 looks like a set of lips. The Fourth Commandment is to “Remember the Sabbath”, or to take one day in seven and dedicate it to the Lord. As Christians we do this on Sunday. The number 4 looks like a book end for a Bible. Now we come to the Fifth Commandment:

Exodus 20:12 Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

A Lawyer asked Jesus one day, “What is the “Great Commandment” in the Law?” (Matthew 22:35-40). His intent was to “tempt”or test Jesus, so as to show Him to be a fraud. Our Lord didn’t hesitate. He said:

Matthew 22:37-40 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Our Lord divided the Ten Commandments into two great Commandments. When we look at the Ten, the first Four Commandments are summarized as “To love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, and ALL your mind”. The last Five Commandments: you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not covet another’s property; are all summarized by “You shall love your neighbor as you want to be loved”.

The Fifth Commandment to honor your parents is a hinge that connects the two great commandments. Your parents teach you to love God with your ALL, and to love others the way you want to be loved. The civility of a nation is determined by whether this commandment is honored or not.

The Office of Parent Was Designed By God
To Be Representatives For God

Exodus 20:12 … HONOR thy father and thy mother …

Word Study: The word translated “HONOR” is the Hebrew kāḇaḏ, which means “to ascribe weight to, to give glory to, to recognize as rich or valuable”. The same word is used in:

Psalm 22:23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise Him: all ye the seed of Jacob, GLORIFY (kāḇaḏ) Him …..

Psalm 50:15 {God said} call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt GLORIFY (kāḇaḏ) Me …

Parents are not to be worshiped as we worship God – this would be a violation of the First and Second Commandments. But Parents are designed by God to be His representative on the earth. When God made Adam and Eve, the Bible says:

Genesis 1:28 (ESV) God blessed THEM. And God said to THEM, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

God blessed the first Couple, and gave THEM DOMINION or control over “every living thing that moves”. The husband and wife were to be a team, the father and mother, the PARENTS. They were to rule the earth and all living things under their control which INCLUDED THEIR CHILDREN. Parents were to teach their children to love God with their ALL (the first Four Commandments) and to love and respect OTHERS the way that they wanted to be respected and loved (the last Five Commandments).

Parents stand in the gap, teaching children to love God and to be good citizens.

Pastor and Bible Scholar Steven J. Cole stated:

“If we are rebellious and disrespectful toward our parents who gave us life and sustenance, we will also probably be rebellious and disrespectful toward the Lord God, our creator and sustainer. Disrespect toward parents and God will also carry over into disrespect for all authority, and thus will result in a breakdown of law and order, leading to a disintegration of the very basis for civilized society. Thus the keeping of the Fifth Commandment is not some outmoded, quaint idea to be set aside without consequence. It is vital to the survival of our nation.”

The reason we as a nation are failing is because the Office of Parent has been destroyed by free sexuality and promiscuity contrary to the command of God. Children are taught how to relate to others in the home, long before they ever are released into the wild. Satan has so confused our nation that we no longer can identify what a woman is or what a man is. Children are fed a diet of books like “Jennifer Has Two Daddies” or “A Tale Of Two Daddies”, or “Heather Has Two Mommies”. They are told that the normal family can be two people of any gender, just as long as they “love” one another. What’s wrong with that? It is contrary to the standard of Christ.

The Pharisees asked our Lord Jesus about marriage and divorce one day. What was Jesus’ response?

Mark 10:6-9 … from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

God’s standard was to male them MALE AND FEMALE. The MALE AND FEMALE were to multiply, that is, reproduce. These PARENTS who are FATHER and MOTHER were to rule and guide the children. And the children were to honor and obey their parents as long as the parents did not direct them to violate the Laws of God. Though humans in a misbegotten desire to be “progressive” may twist and pervert the family unit, God said to “HONOR thy father and thy mother. Children are to be punished for violating the Ten Commandments, as these laws lay the basis for an orderly and civil society. How serious was God over parental guidance of the children? The Bible says:

Exodus 21:14-15 … if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die. 15 Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.

God considered a child who so disrespected their parents so as to strike them to be as worthy of death as a premeditated murderer! God said in:

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 (ESV) If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, 20 and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Why so harsh? The Parent is the first authority that the child will know. The father and the mother, as God’s representatives, are to teach the child to respect authority and to live civilly with others. The child who will not respect authority in the home will grow up to be the adult disrespectful of order in society.

Both Father And Mother – Though They Themselves Are Imperfect – Are To Be Honored

Proverbs 1:8 Hear, my son, your Father’s instruction, and forsake not your Mother’s teaching.

Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your Father who gave you life, and do not despise your Mother when she is old

Illustrate: Children who are not raised to respect the authority of their father AND mother grow up to be adults who are confused and lawless. They make bad employees, terrible companions, and frightful lawbreakers. I stood watching a child destroy DVD covers at a local Walmart one day while the mother watched. When the young boy of color started tearing up the THIRD DVD I politely asked him, “Son, is that YOUR property?” The mother glared at me, grabbed his hand, and stomped off. I will guarantee you that the mother who does not teach her child to respect the property of others was herself a child who was not taught and corrected. Bad and spoiled children make bad and spoiled children.

Certainly parents will make mistakes. Parents, though called by God to represent God to the child, are imperfect. But even if imperfect, the child is still under the command:

Ephesians 6:1-3 (ESV) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

One of the earliest examples of disrespect toward a parent is found in the Noahic Account. When the flood waters receded and God blessed Noah and his family, the Bible says that:

Genesis 9:20-21 (ESV) Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent

Noah, a man who found “Grace in the eyes of God” (Genesis 6:8), a man who faithfully preached of coming destruction while he built an Ark – 120 years!, “planted a vineyard”. Making wine, Noah “became drunk”. That’s a sin! Believers are to …

Romans 13:13 … walk honestly, as in the day; NOT in RIOTING and DRUNKENNESS …

Those who are MURDERERS or those who pursue DRUNKENNESS are warned that THEY SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD (Galatians 5:21). Noah should not have gotten drunk. Yet even believers in Christ, recipients of Grace, fall short at times. This is not to justify what Noah did by any means. “Do NOT BE DRUNK WITH WINE, for that is excess; but BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT” (Ephesians 5:18). No, Noah had no excuse. As a man of God he should not have gotten drunk. As a parent, a father with three young boys, he should not have gotten drunk. But Noah failed God, just as we all do at time. He failed miserably, and ended up drunken and unclothed. The Bible says:

Genesis 9:22-24 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him …

One of Noah’s sons Ham came and found his drunken, naked father stretched out. His father had sinned against God. Rather than cover his sin, out of respect for his father, the Bible says that Ham goes outside and tells his other brothers about it. The commentaries I have read said that Ham was mocking or making light of what his father had done, and then went outside to enlist his brothers into doing the same. When Shem and Japheth heard what Ham had to say, rather than mock their father they took a blanket and, walking backwards out of respect for their father, they covered his sinfulness. When Noah woke up, he cursed his son Ham, saying:

Genesis 9:25 “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”

Noah did not curse HAM, but he cursed HAM’S SON CANAAN. Why is that?

Canaan was cursed rather than Ham, because disrespect of the parent is transmitted – like disease – from generation to generation.

Because the effects of violating the Fifth Commandment pass down from generation to generation. Ham had no respect for his father, and by gazing at him and mocking him, tried to enlist his other brothers into doing the same. Ham’s son Canaan would see this, and pass this same disrespect down to his children. Canaan and his children would settle in a land called “Canaan”. The people of that land would be so sinful and out of control, that when God sent His people Israel into that land He told them:

Deuteronomy 20:16-17 (ESV) In the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—as the Lord your God has commanded you.

I have read commentaries that detailed the Phallic Religions of Canaan. They often committed group orgies while false priests beat on human skin covered drums. Children were sacrificed in the fire to appease their gods. When God examined the cultures of those Canaanites, He wanted Israel to not just push them out of the land. God said:

1 Samuel 15:3 (ESV) Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.

I’m sure as you read this you are thinking this is horribly excessive. And yet, when the Fifth Commandment goes out the window, all the other Commandments are forfeited. Anarchy and hatred becomes the rule of the day. Children raised lawlessly are belligerent, and many times cannot be corrected. The Apostle Paul, writing of the degeneration he was seeing in the Roman Empire, said:

Romans 1:28-30 (ESV) … since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents …

Rome was not destroyed from without, but from within. Because children were not taught to respect authority, they grew up into adults that did not respect authority. In time, Rome was led by greater and more perverse children in adult bodies. Eventually Rome and all its glory died.

America is heading the same way, dear friends.

Parents Are To Remember They Represent God When Training Their Children

Right after the Scripture says:

Ephesians 6:1-3 (ESV) … Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

It continues with … Ephesians 6:4 FATHERS, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Our society tells us that fathers are unimportant, that a child doesn’t need a father. Yet that is wrong. God makes children using fathers AND mothers, and both are needed to raise children. In August of 2022 the State Auditor of Mississippi, Shad White, released a study called “Dads Matter: The Taxpayer Cost of Fatherlessness”. In the summary we read:

“engaged fathers are critical for a healthy society. By comparison, fatherlessness creates myriad costs, both social and economic. Studies show that fatherless children do not go as far in school, have more health problems, and are less financially secure as adults. Other studies show fatherless boys are more likely to become men who enter the corrections system. Still more research shows fatherless girls are more likely to become teenage mothers. Both incarceration and teenage pregnancy are strongly associated with the high school dropout rate. ”

Mississippi spends approximately $180 million each year to incarcerate men from fatherless homes.

If that’s true in Mississippi, what do you think the total across the United States is? Fathers matter, and what fathers do matter. Fathers are commanded to “bring {children} up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”. Whether a child can play “Grand Theft Auto” or some video game is of little consequence. Fathers are to be engaged in teaching their children, both sons and daughters, to love the Lord with their all. The Scripture says:

Colossians 3:18-21 (ESV) Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

We are to follow the pattern of the family as God has given it in the Scripture. The husband – a man – leads and loves the wife and family. The children obey their parents, both father and mother. And fathers are to encourage and train their children, teaching them the two Great Commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, strength, and love your neighbor as you yourself would be loved.

We Are To Imitate Jesus In Following The Fifth Commandment

Our Lord Jesus obeyed and honored His parents. In Luke chapter 2 when Jesus was about 12 years old, Mary and Joseph took Him to the Feast of the Passover in Jerusalem. Part of a caravan, they left at the end of the Feast, but unknown to them Jesus stayed behind. When they discovered Jesus was missing, they returned to Jerusalem and found Jesus sitting in the Temple, teaching the Rabbis the Word of God. Mary asked Jesus, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” Jesus replied, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Jesus was honoring His Heavenly Father first. But the Bible says that:

Luke 2:51 {Jesus} … went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them.

Jesus, though “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), in His humanity was the Son of Mary and the stepson of Joseph. Jesus honored His earthly parents, just as the Fifth Commandment directs. One of the first miracles Jesus ever did was turning water into wine at a Wedding Feast in Cana of Galilee (John 4:46). Mary was related to the Bride and Groom, and was invited to be there, along with Jesus and His disciples. As the Wedding celebration proceeded they ran out of wine. Mary called Jesus to the side:

John 2:3-4 … the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

When Mary told Jesus they were out of wine, Jesus explained that it was not the best time for Him to do anything. Mary didn’t argue with her Son. She expected Him to make the wine situation go away. He was able. He is God incarnate. There is nothing Jesus can’t do but sin. Guess what? Jesus obeyed His mother. He HONORED her, as He should have. The commentaries note that Joseph was not at the Wedding Feast, possibly because he was deceased. But Mary as Jesus’ parent was to be honored.

When Jesus hung dying for our sins on the Cross, Mary His mother and the Apostle John stood at the foot of the Cross watching. Joseph was no longer with the family, so Jesus was the head of the household. Knowing that He would not be around to look after His mother, the Bible says …

John 19:26-27 When Jesus therefore saw HIS MOTHER, AND THE DISCIPLE STANDING BY, WHOM HE LOVED {John}, He saith to His mother, “Woman, behold thy son”. 27 Then saith He to the disciple, “Behold thy mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her into his own home.

Jesus honored His parents. Jesus heeded His earthly parents, and honors His Heavenly Father still today. He set the pattern for obeying the Fifth Commandment.

In Conclusion

Exodus 20:12 Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Children who honor their parents are promised long lives. But children who are disrespectful of their parents often find their lives cut short. The Bible tells us of King David’s third son Absalom. Absalom rebelled against his father, and actually tried to kill David so that he could take the Throne of Israel. In the Battle of Ephraim (2 Samuel 18:9-17) Absalom’s long hair got caught in the branches of a tree, and his mount left him dangling in the air. David’s General Joab found him that way, and together with ten other soldiers stabbed him to death. Absalom was 29 years old.

The Judge and Strongman Samson died at a younger age than he should have because he would not heed his parents. His parents told him to leave Philistine women alone (Judges 14:2-3). He wouldn’t listen, and only judged Israel 20 years, probably dying before he was 30 years old.

But Joseph, the son of Jacob honored his father, and forgave his brothers for their treachery. Loving God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength, Joseph lived with honor, and became the highest ruler in Egypt next to the King. Honoring his parents, Joseph became the key to the growth of Israel as a nation. The Bible says:

Proverbs 10:27 (ESV) The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.

Proverbs 30:17 The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

I’ll end with this illustration by Joy Davidman from the book, Smoke on the Mountain:

{There was} an old man who lived with his son and daughter-in-law because he had no where else to go. The old man’s hands trembled. When he ate, he clattered the silverware, often missed his mouth with the spoon, and dribbled some of his food on the tablecloth. The daughter-in-law hated having him there because he interfered with her right to happiness. So she and her husband took the old man gently but firmly and led him to a corner of the kitchen. There they set him on a stool and gave him his food in an earthenware bowl. From then on he always ate in the corner, blinking at the table with wistful eyes. One day his hands trembled more than usual and he dropped the bowl, which broke. “If you are a pig,” said the daughter-in-law, “you must eat out of a trough.” So they made him a little wooden trough, and he got his meals in that.

This couple had a four-year-old son they were quite fond of. One night the father noticed the boy playing intently with some bits of wood and he asked what he was doing. “I’m making a trough,” he said, smiling for approval, “to feed you and Mamma out of when I get big.” The man and his wife looked at each other for a while and didn’t say anything. Then they cried a little. Then they went to the corner and took the old man by the arm and led him back to the table. They sat him in a comfortable chair and fed him his dinner on a plate. From then on nobody scolded him when he clattered or spilled or broke things.

What you sow, you will reap. Honor your parents!

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The Lord Knows, Part 2

Posted on January 29, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Brett Sayles: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-mountain-hill-1121887/

2 Peter 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Review And Opening Comments

The last few weeks we have been looking at 2 Peter 2, as the Apostle discusses false prophets and their danger to the Church. False prophets – like the Pharisees who plagued Jesus – are ravenous wolves. Our Lord said:

Matthew 7:13-15 (ESV) Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

The way to Heaven is a “narrow gate” and a “HARD WAY”. It doesn’t follow the crowd, but Jesus.

Many follow the wide and easy path, a way that Jesus said “LEADS TO DESTRUCTION”. The false prophet always offers the easy way, the cheap way, the shortcut that doesn’t lead to Heaven but to Hell.

In 2022 Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research (a Southern Baptist entity) did a study of “The State of American Theology”, that is, what people in America believe about God. Some of the news was good.

7 in 10 Americans believe God is Triune, one God in Three Persons.
2 out of 3 Americans believe that God cannot make a mistake.

But then we drift – badly.

2 out of 3 believe that God accepts worship from ALL religions.
53% of Americans believe Jesus was a great teacher, but not God.
59% believe the Holy Spirit is a Force, not a Person.
66% say that “Everyone sins a little, but most are good by nature”.
51% say that “The Bible is 100% accurate in all it teaches”.
52% say that “The Bible has the authority to tell us what to do”.
66% say that “Worshiping alone or with my family replaces regular Church attendance”. Church is not essential to the Christian way of life.

How did this worldview take over a nation that was started by Pilgrims seeking religious freedom? It was because of false prophets that infiltrated the Church of Christ. This is why Peter spends so much time addressing the evil of the false prophet. The shocking truth about false prophets is:

The False Prophet Knows The Right Path, But Forsakes
That Path For Another god

2 Peter 2:15-16 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbade the madness of the prophet.

Word Study: The false prophet is not someone who is sincere, but become deluded. The false prophet knows what the right way is, but they have “forsaken the right way”. The Greek for “forsaken” is kataleipō, which means “to depart from or leave behind, to abandon something to go another way”. The word was used for Jesus when he “LEFT {kataleipō} Nazareth to dwell in Capernaum” (Matthew 4:13). The false prophets know the right way – but have walked away from what is right. They are “gone astray”, planaō, “wander from truth, to be led into error, to choose to be deceived, to leave the right path”. They are, like Jesus said,

Matthew 15:14 … blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Illustrate: In the United States alone, some 600,000 people get lost in woods or forested area every year. Why do they get lost? First, they leave a designated trail. Second, going off trail they do not use a compass. Or third, off trail without a compass they follow someone who doesn’t know the way. Christians, we must stay on the designated trail, the Word of God. Our compass is God the Holy Spirit. Be careful who you follow, for if they do not refer to the Scripture – they themselves are deliberately lost.

False teachers are not usually deceived or tricked into what they teach, but choose to follow another god.

To help us understand what he’s saying, Peter refers to “Balaam the son of Bosor”. This is one of the most interesting passages in the Bible. In the pages of Scripture, there are two instances of talking animals. In the Garden of Eden Satan possessed a serpent or snake (Genesis 3:1, Revelation 12:9; 20:2), and through that creature enticed Adam and Eve to sin. In Numbers 22 we see a talking donkey that the Angel of God possesses. Whereas the talking Serpent led man astray, the talking Donkey led Balaam away from doing evil.

The Bible tells us that Israel was “camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan river at Jericho” (Numbers 22:1, AP). The King of Moab, Balak (bālāq, “the devastator”), son of Zippor, had witnessed how Israel had soundly defeated the Amoritesin the power of God. Israel was like a “Superman”, and Balak wanted to find the Kryptonite to destroy them. “Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel” (Numbers 22:3). So King Balak devised a plan.

He sent for “Balaam the son of Beor” (bᵊʿôr, “A burning lamp”). Peter doesn’t use the name “Balaam the son of Beor”, but the Greek equivalent “Balaam the son of Bosor”. The word “Bosor” means “a burning lamp”. Balaam was a Prophet, and as a Prophet was supposed to represent God Who is Light (1 John 1:5). Balaam also had somewhat of a relationship with God. My commentary notes:

“The best textual evidence suggests that Peter wrote, “Balaam, the son of Bosor,” Bosor being a play on the Hebrew word basar, flesh. Thus Peter indicated Balaam’s immoral character by calling him the son of flesh.”

Though Balaam’s god was the flesh, or what satisfied himself rather than glorified the Lord, the Lord did talk with him. King Balak of Moab had seen that God worked through Balaam, so he asked for his assistance.

Numbers 22:5-6 (ESV) {Balak said} “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

Word had gotten around that God used Balaam, blessing those Balaam blessed and cursing those whom Balaam cursed. Does this mean that Balaam was saved? No,

Balaam was a son of the flesh (BOSOR), just as Judas Iscariot was the son of perdition
{John 17:12, apōleia, destruction or damnation}.

Judas Iscariot walked and talked with Jesus and the other 11 Apostles, just as he himself was designated an Apostle (Matthew 10:1; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:12-16). Jesus said of Judas,

John 6:70 Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.

In the same way God talked to Balaam. Why would God use a Balaam or a Judas? “God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one” (James 1:13). But God can and does use evil people and governments to fulfill His greater good will. God used unbelieving Assyria to punish wayward Israel (Isaiah 10:5), and raised up Babylon, a ruthless and impetuous people, to “sweep across the whole earth, to seize dwellings not their own” (Habakkuk 1:6). Our God is in control. He can use anyone – believer or unbeliever – to accomplish His purpose. And God’s purposes are always GOOD. “His steadfast love endures FOREVER” (Psalm 107:1).

When approached by King Balak, Balaam wants to sleep on the deal.

Numbers 22:9-12 (ESV) … God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” 12 God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people {Israel}, for they are blessed.”

Balaam is NOT to curse Israel. God is leading them, and has promised His people “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse” (Genesis 12:3, NIV). Only God can curse Israel. Balaam goes back and tells Balak that, no, he will not curse Israel. But King Balak is persistent. He promises to give Balaam great riches if he will curse Israel. Balaam resists, saying:

Numbers 22:18-19 (ESV) “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more. 19 So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.”

God has already told Balaam to NOT curse Israel. But now MORE MONEY is on the table. So Balaam – instead of telling them to get lost – promises to seek God again. Maybe the Lord will change His mind. God did not change His mind. God warned us that “it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). A desire for money is one of the greatest false gods there is. Jesus said,

Matthew 6:24-26 (AMP) No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].

“Mammon” was the name of the Syrian and Chaldean god of wealth, similar to the Roman god called Plutus. Money is a strong god that enslaves many who do not know the Lord.

When Balaam goes back to God that night, the Lord tells him:

Numbers 22:20 (ESV) … “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”

God didn’t tell Balaam not to curse Israel – He had already done that. God told Balaam to go with the messengers back to Balak – “but only do what I tell you”. The next morning Balaam goes with the messengers, but the Bible says:

Numbers 22:22 (ESV) … God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary.

The Bible says in 1 Samuel 16:7, “the LORD sees not as we see. We look on the outward appearance. The LORD looks ON THE HEART”. Balaam began to think of the riches had decided in his heart to disobey the Lord and to curse Israel. The Bible says that “the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way” – yet Balaam’s greed had so gotten hold of him that he couldn’t see the Angel standing there.

But the Donkey could!

Numbers 22:23-33 the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again. 26 Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.” 31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”

Balaam is so taken in the throes of his desire for money, that he begins to argue with a donkey. This is how deluded people can become when they depart from the Word of God.

Balaam did not curse Israel, but later caused Israel to curse herself. Moses tells us that “Balaam advised the people of Israel to act treacherously against the LORD, causing a plague to come on Israel” (Numbers 31:16, AP).

Balaam encouraged the people of Israel to compromise with the Moabites, and worship their gods. Encouraging Israel to leave the Lord God, He punished Israel for their evil. Is there any difference between this, and what many so called “Prophets and Preachers” do today when they encourage their congregation to be “a little more secular” and “a little more inclusive”?

What The False Prophet Teaches Is Not Only
Valueless and Deadly, But Enslaving

2 Peter 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

The false prophet is called “wells without water”. A well without water is a false promise. It says that it will quench your thirst, but it only makes it worst. They are “clouds carried with a tempest”, or the better translation “mists driven by a storm”. They look like rain clouds, but are unreal. Jesus tells His followers:

John 7:37-38 (NASB, 95) “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

“Those who hunger and thirst FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6). This satisfaction is not in the false prophet, but in Jesus. Jesus promises that those who come to Him will not only find their thirst satisfied, but will be so supplied that they themselves are wells of living waters. The Christian – indwelt by the Spirit of God – leads others to the Word of God. The true Church of Christ offers satisfaction for thirst from the Word of God.

Revelation 21:6 And {Jesus} said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

Revelation 22:17 (ESV) The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

The false prophets claim to represent God, but only represent themselves. They are hypocrites, “waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted” (Jude 12). Because they have turned away from the Light and Power of God, to them “the mist of darkness is reserved FOREVER”. This is a reference to ETERNAL DAMNATION. Our Lord spoke of the empty and useless servant, saying:

Matthew 25:30 (ESV) And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

They shall spend eternity in a place where the light is but the fire of suffering, and the darkness is all about because they never had a relationship with the Lord. They professed to be saved, but were not. Beloved, “if we say we have fellowship with Jesus, but WALK IN DARKNESS, we are liars, and do not live according to the truth” (1 John 1:6). The saved walk with their Savior. The children of the Kingdom walk with their King.

If you walk in darkness in this life, you will live in darkness
and eternal flame in the next life!

2 Peter 2:18-19 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

These false prophets know how to speak. They are some of the finest orators around, but their words do not bring glory to God, nor uphold His Word. In fact, they detract from God. A quick search found these words from false prophets. Paul Crouch, Kenneth Copeland, and Creflo Dollar teach “You are little gods”. Benny Hinn said he wanted to kill his critics with the “Holy Ghost machine gun”. Suzanne Hinn, the wife of Benny Hinn, said “If your engine’s not revving up … you need a Holy Ghost enema right up your rear..” Todd Bentley kicked an elderly infirm woman in the face because he said God told him to do it to heal her. Kenneth Copeland says that you’re not much of a Christian if you’re not rich. Leroy Thompson said “God said – tell the money you don’t belong to the wicked, you belong to US… money, come to me now”. Mike Murdock said that if you donate $1000 with your credit card, your debt will be erased. Pat Robertson told a caller on the 700 Club to “divorce his wife and start all over again” because she had Alzheimer’s. When Jimmy Swaggart was caught with a second prostitute in 1991, he told his Church “The Lord told me, it’s flat none of your business”. Joel Osteen told interviewers that homosexuality is a sin, but then said “I stay in my lane. My job is to encourage and uplift, not to judge. So I don’t talk about it.”

It is so easy to be deceived if you do not read your Bibles and attend a Bible believing Church. The Scripture says:

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Word Study: We “try the spirits” by comparing what the alleged prophet has said according to the Word of God. These people use their words to “ALLURE” people into following them. The word “ALLURE” is the Greek deleazō, a fisherman’s term which means “to bait a trap or a hook”. This is the second time that Peter uses the word in this context, as back in verse 14 he said that the false prophets:

beguile (deleazō) unstable souls

When the fisherman or trapper hunts, he will take a piece of dead meat and put it in the trap or on the hook. The dead thing will disguise that which is deadly until the unsuspecting animal bites on it. Then the trap is set, the hook is set. A piece of dead meat was used to trap a living creature that will soon be dead. The wages of sin is death. The bait of the false prophet is sinful, dead meat covering a deadly thing. Do not be deceived.

Word Study:“they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption”. They are servants of “CORRUPTION”, Greek phthorá, “decay, ruin, eternal misery in hell”. The false prophets are like the 500 pound man who wrote a book on dieting, or a woman blind from birth who wrote a book on colors. They have nothing of value to offer, because their source is their own corrupt soul, and not the Word of God.

False Prophets Are Lost People Who Will Not
Lead Others Away From Christ

2 Peter 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

You can be blessed by following the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet never be saved. “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men” (John 1:4). There are many false prophets who use the precepts that Jesus taught, and are blessed by those precepts. They use the Scripture, and by it find riches in this world. But they are never saved.

The Apostle uses two phrases to describe the false prophets: “DOG” and “SOW”. In the Bible the words “DOG” and “PIG” are used for lost people. Jesus said:

Matthew 7:6 (ESV) Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

It was prophesied that DOGS would crucify the Messiah. Psalm 22:16 says “For DOGS have compassed Me: the assembly of THE WICKED have enclosed Me: they PIERCED MY HANDS AND MY FEET”. When a Canaanite woman asked Jesus to heal her child, Jesus said “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the DOGS” (Matthew 15:26, ESV). When the Apostle warned of those unrepentant Pharisees who demanded the saved male be circumcised, he wrote “Look out for the DOGS, look out for the EVILDOERS, look out for those who mutilate the flesh” (Philippians 3:2, ESV). Who shall be excluded from Heaven? The Bible says:

Revelation 22:15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

I love dogs – the animal. But humans who act like dogs and pigs are unsaved. These false prophets are unsaved – and they’ve never been saved. The Bible says that the “dog is turned to his own vomit again”. He was a dog when he was eating his vomit before. “” emphasizes that he’s just turned back and doing the same thing he used to do. The “sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire”. You can wash a pig all day long, but until you change its NATURE, it will return to the mud. These people are lost, and the lost cannot lead the lost to be saved.

They need to REPENT. They need to stop trying to be “gods”, and surrender to Jesus. They, as we all, need to surrender to our Lord and Savior. He demands unconditional – I repeat – UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. He bids us “Follow ME” and “Obey My Commands”. The key to salvation is repentance. Have you repented? Do you know Him – my dear Jesus – as Lord and Savior? If not, today is the day. Come. Repent. Give Him your broken life, and He will give you glorious liberty and joy both now and forever more. Amen and Amen.

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The Fourth Commandment To Rest

Posted on January 29, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
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Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

The last few weeks we have looked at the Ten Commandments of God. To review,

The First Commandment is that God is to be first in your life.

The Second Commandment is that you are to make no idols, nor bow down or worship anyone other than the God of the Bible.

The Third Commandment is that we not speak or represent the God Who is in an empty or blasphemous way.

Tonight we’ll be examining the Fourth Commandment, to remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.

When we started this study, I showed you how the Ten Commandments are represented in the New Testament. For instance, the First Commandment was repeated by Jesus to Satan in:

Matthew 4:10 (ESV) … “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

The Apostle Paul chastised the lost peoples for violating the Second Commandment (Romans 1:23; Acts 19:26-35). The Fifth Commandment is referred to in:

Ephesians 6:1-3 (ESV) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

The Apostle Paul quoted the bulk of the Commandments in

Romans 13:8-10 (ESV) … the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

All of the Commandments are reflected in the New Testament under the New Covenant – all but one: The Fourth Commandment, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy”. Why is this?

The Sabbath Was A Shadow Of Christ

Exodus 20:8-10 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God…

Word Study: God told His people Israel to “Rememberšabāṯ (Shabbat)”. The Hebrew for “Remember” is zāḵar, which means “to be mindful of, to call to mind, to focus upon with intensity and purpose”. When God flooded the whole earth because of sin, after a period of time the Bible says:

Genesis 8:1 … God REMEMBERED (zāḵar) Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him on the Ark …

God FOCUSED on Noah and those with him on the Ark. Because of this focus, God caused the waters to recede, and the land to dry up so they could disembark. God then placed a rainbow in the sky as something to REMEMBER (zāḵar) so that world would no longer be destroyed by a flood. When God gave Israel the Old Covenant of the Law, He required that they have one day in seven to focus on Him and His gracious provision. As Israel worked and prospered, it was possible for them, as it is with us, to forget that it is God Who provided the good we have. We may toil the fields, but it is God Who blesses. God told Israel:

Deuteronomy 11:13-14 (ESV) … if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil.

Work is a good thing. Work was commanded, even in the Garden of Eden. But we must remember that our prosperity does not come because of our efforts, but because of God’s provision. He gave us life. He gives us minds. He gives us rain in due season, so that our crops can grow. So God decreed that Israel would have a day – the seventh day – where they would FOCUS ON GOD’S PROVISION, and give Him praise. On that day they were supposed to cease work – except where absolutely necessary – and spend time with the Lord.

The Sabbath – like CIRCUMCISION – was a sign to Israel of the Mosaic Covenant. The Scripture says:

Exodus 31:16-17 (NASB 95) ‘So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’ 17 “It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

The Sabbath was specifically given to Israel. God said “I gave Israel My sabbaths to be a sign between ME AND THEM, that THEY MIGHT KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD WHO SANCTIFIES THEM” (Ezekiel 20:12, NASB 95. Also Nehemiah 9:14). The Shabbat (both the weekly and the special festival Shabbats) were given to Israel – not to the Gentiles. The Shabbat along with circumcision of males was specific to the Old Covenant.

The Apostle Paul tells us in:

Colossians 2:13-17 (ESV) … {God the Father} quickened {us} together with {Jesus Christ}, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

The Shabbat, like the rule of male circumcision, was a sign to Israel under the First or Old Covenant. The Shabbat was a “shadow of things to come” like animal sacrifice and the Temple Holy of Holies, the Festivals and Feasts. These things looked forward to the coming of the Messiah.

The New Testament NEVER commands Christians to observe the Shabbat. The Shabbat was not COMMANDED until the Law was given by Moses.

Jesus came to replace the First Commandment with the Second, the “New Covenant in His Blood” (Luke 22:20). The Scripture says:

Hebrews 8:10-13 (ESV) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” 13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete.

The First Covenant, the Covenant of Law, was EXTERNAL. The Second Covenant, the New Covenant in Christ’s Blood, would be INTERNAL.

Through the Spirit of God the believer in Christ would be born again, sanctified or set apart for the service of God. The Spirit of God would indwell the believer (Romans 8:9), drawing us to Christ and to the Father.

The Pharisees Did Not Understand The Transition Of Either Circumcision Nor Of The Shabbat

The Pharisees, the Conservatives who upheld the Law of Moses, were constantly at odds with Jesus over the Shabbat. When Jesus taught in the Synagogue of Capernaum on Shabbat, He was heckled by a man possessed of a demon:

Mark 1:24-26 (ESV) “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

The Pharisees were not upset that Jesus cast out demons on Shabbat. But when He and His disciples ate from the grainfields on Shabbat (Mark 2:23) the Pharisees said, “Why are You doing what is UNLAWFUL ON SHABBAT?” (Mark 2:24). Jesus replied:

Mark 2:27-28 (ESV) … “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

God gave the Sabbath for man to remember His goodness and grace. The Shabbat was a time for those under the Old Covenant to focus on God. But Jesus said “the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath”. The phrase “Son of Man” is a title for the Messiah (see Daniel 7:13), and Jesus called Himself the “Son of Man” (Matthew 8:20; Matthew 9:6; Matthew 11:19; Matthew 12:40; Mathew 13:37). Jesus said not just here in Mark, but in other texts like:

Matthew 12:8 … the SON OF MAN IS LORD EVEN OF THE SABBATH DAY ..

Luke 6:5 … the SON OF MAN IS LORD ALSO OF THE SABBATH …

Jesus is the fulfillment of the shadows of the Law, and the Fourth Commandment was a shadow of the Messiah. We find our rest in Jesus Christ. He is our Shabbat. We rest from useless sacrifices that can never fully pay for sin (Hebrews 10:1). Jesus …

Hebrews 10:12 (ESV) … Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,

The Bible tells us that we who are under the New Covenant have a Shabbat, a rest that we draw near to – this is Jesus. We are told in …

Hebrews 4:9-14 (ESV) … So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Jesus Christ is LORD of the SHABBAT. He is our SHABBAT, our Sabbath Rest. Jesus satisfied the requirements of the sacrifices under the Law. Jesus satisfies the requirements of our High Priest. “How shall we escape if we neglect SO GREAT A SALVATION” (Hebrews 2:3)? We rest in Christ. We rest in His Word. He follow Him daily – not just one day a week. We rely upon Him every moment of every day. Jesus Christ is our Shabbat!

John 5:18 (ESV) This was why the Jews (the Pharisees) were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

I think it is significant that the Pharisees sought Jesus’ crucifixion for violating – they believed – the Shabbat. Jesus was crucified the day before Shabbat (Mark 15:42), the special Sabbath that followed the Feast of the Passover. The Bible tells us:

Leviticus 23:4-8 (ESV) These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. 5 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the Lord’s Passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. 8 But you shall present a food offering to the Lord for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.”

The Feast of Passover is on the 14th of the month, followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is a Shabbat, a Special Sabbath. Jesus died on the Feast of Passover, for “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus was buried at the end of the Passover, just before the Special Shabbat of the Feast on Unleavened Bread. We are told in:

Luke 23:52-54 (ESV) This man {Joseph of Arimathea} went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.

John 19:31 (ESV) Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.

Dying for our sins as our Passover, Jesus went to the Tomb for Three Days and Three nights just as He declared (Matthew 12:40). The Bible tells us that Jesus rose the day following the weekly Shabbat. The women who loved Jesus came to the Tomb to finish anointing Christ’s body the day following Shabbat, the weekly Sabbath:

Matthew 28:1 (ESV) Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

Mark 16:2, 9 (ESV) And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. … 9 Now when {Jesus} rose early on the first day of the week, {Jesus} appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.

If Jesus Is Our Shabbat, Why Do Christians Today Gather On Sunday?

The Jewish Shabbat was from Friday at Sunset to Saturday at Sunset. The Bible tells us that Jesus resurrected from the Grave, and appeared to His disciples on the first day of the week:

John 20:19 (ESV) On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

After the Day of Pentecost, where God sent His Holy Spirit to the Church, the Church began to meet on the first day of the week:

Acts 20:7 (ESV) On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.

The Apostle encouraged the Church to

1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

The first day of the week began to be called “The Lord’s Day”. When John the Revelator wrote to the Church, he wrote the words of Christ “on the Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10), or on Sunday. There are other extra-Biblical sources that note the early Church met on Sundays. About 150 A.D. the early Church Pastor Justin Martyr wrote:

“On the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together in one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read. … Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Savior on the same day rose from the dead” (Justin Martyr, First Apology, 67; ANF 1:186).

And another early Pastor, Ignatius of Antioch (Letter to the Magnesians, 8 [AD 110] wrote:

“those who were brought up in the ancient order of things [i.e. Jews] have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord’s day, on which also our life has sprung up again by him and by his death”

As the early Church was comprised of both Jewish as well as Gentile converts, there was often controversy between the two groups as to whether they were to observe the Sabbath and circumcision of males. The Apostle commanded the Jews and Gentiles to not quarrel over keeping the Shabbat, saying:

Romans 14:5-6, 8 (ESV) One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. … while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. …. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

Some believers today meet on Sundays, whereas others on Saturday, or even Friday afternoon. The Apostles often went to the Jewish Synagogues on their Shabbat and preached to them, just as Jesus had done (see Luke 4:16; Acts 13:14; 13:42, 44; 16:13; 18:4).

Though many believers may believe that one day is better than another to meet, we are not to judge one another. Rather, as Christians we set apart one day a week to honor our Lord. As Baptists, we worship the Lord on Sunday because we recognize that Christ rose from the grave on Sunday. We are “New creations in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:17). He is our Shabbat.

We worship Jesus on “The Lord’s Day”, the day He rose from the Grave and made us New Creations.

But we are not dogmatic, nor do we condemn others for gathering and worshiping on other days. Shabbat was a shadow, and Christ the reality. We serve and worship Jesus every single day – but celebrate Him as a Body, His Church, on Sundays. We remember the word of Scripture:

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

If you as a Christian are weak on “meeting together” with other believers, encouraging then and being encouraged to shine for Jesus – then you will be a weak Christian. We need one another. We may not meet on the Jewish Shabbat, but we meet Sundays to worship the Lord. May God touch your hearts through His Word to commit to being faithful in honoring Him at His Church this year. May the Holy Spirit draw you into a closer walk with your brothers and sisters in the faith, for Christ’s glory. Amen and Amen.

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The Lord Knows (Part 1)

Posted on January 16, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Kássia Melo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-close-up-shot-of-a-white-peacock-butterfly-10917649/

2 Peter 2:9-14 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

Whereas 1 Peter addressed threats outside the Church, 2 Peter deals with threats inside or from within. Last week we saw the Scripture address the threats of the false prophets who rose up from within the Church. As I heard a preacher say one time,

“It isn’t the water OUTSIDE of the boat that is dangerous to those on the boat. It’s the water INSIDE the boat that will sink us, and drown us.”

As Peter – under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit – addresses these false prophets, it’s clear that he is angry, terse, and very pointed.

The False Prophets Preach Subjective Truth

It’s common to hear in America today,

“You do YOU, and I’ll do ME”, or
“Each person must live their own truth”

Is truth subjective? Subjective “truth” depends on feelings, desires, what I think as empirical. The Bible says of the false prophet:

2 Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

The mark of the false prophet is that they “walk after the flesh”. The Serpent in the Garden of Eden was a false prophet, saying “Has God REALLY said that you shall not eat of the forbidden tree?” (Genesis 3:1). Eve responded,

Genesis 3:3 (ESV) … “God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

Eve was about half right. The truth was – the RULE was – “You shall not eat of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil – Eating of it, you will SURELY die” (Genesis 2:17). The rule that God gave was fair, clear, to the point. God did not require that mankind not TOUCH the fruit. You were just to NOT EAT IT or the consequences would be death. The Serpent went on to say, “You’ll NOT die. God knows if you eat of it, you’ll BE LIKE GOD, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL” (Genesis 3:4-5, AP). What did Eve do?

“the woman SAW that the tree was good for food”
“it was a delight to the EYES”
“the tree was to be DESIRED to make one WISE”

Eve did not rely on the RULE, the FACT of what God said. Instead Eve defined what was good and evil BASED ON HER FLESH, based on what SHE felt. Truth went from being objective to subjective. It was no longer what God said, but what I FEEL or I THINK. The end result of this was, just as God said, DEATH. First came spiritual death as they, through their own choices, sinned and brought a barrier up between them and God. Second came eventual physical death. The two go hand in hand.

2 Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness…

Word Study: False prophets always “walk after the flesh”, that is, they live their lives according to their own desires and own wants. They walk after the flesh “in the lust of uncleanness”. The word rendered “uncleanness” is the Greek miasmos, which means “to be defiled, morally contaminated, polluted”. The false prophet entices others to reject the clearly presented truth of God to follow their own truth. The phrase “walk after the flesh” means to follow YOUR own path. Those who “walk after the flesh” do not want to be told what God says – they want God to agree with them.

The Bible has much to say about “walking after the flesh”. The Bible says:

Romans 8:1 … There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit …

The person who is saved – born again of God the Holy Spirit because they have called on Jesus for salvation – is under “no condemnation”. Why? Because that person is “in Christ Jesus”. Our hope is IN CHRIST JESUS. Our faith is IN CHRIST JESUS. Our salvation is IN CHRIST JESUS. We are not going to Heaven because we are on the roll of a church somewhere, but because I am IN CHRIST JESUS. Because I am IN CHRIST JESUS my name is IN THE BOOK OF LIFE. You are a Child of God because you are IN CHRIST JESUS. And because you are IN CHRIST JESUS, “walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit”. We who are saved “WALK IN THE {power of the} SPIRIT” (Galatians 5:16). The Bible says:

Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

One follows the other. Saved by faith, indwelt of God’s Spirit, we walk in the Spirit, NOT after the flesh. God saved us by faith so that we might follow Him, doing His Will.

Romans 8:3-6 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Once you are saved, you enter the Kingdom of God. God is your King, not your flesh. You seek Him and His pleasure.

False Prophets Say You Can Be Saved
Without Repentance Or Obedience

False prophets say that you can be saved by faith in Christ – a thing called Grace – but God never demands your obedience – that your obedience is optional. How did that work out in the Garden of Eden? The Scripture says of these false prophets:

2 Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

Word Study: False prophets “despise government”, and teach others to do the same. They do not want anyone telling them what is right or wrong, what is good or evil. They are “self-willed”, that is, as long as it pleases them, then it’s true. And we are told that they are “not afraid to speak evil of dignities”. When I first read this it sounded like the false prophets were not afraid to stand up to God appointed leaders – but the actual Greek is much stronger than that. The false prophets are not afraid to blasphēmeō doxa, which means “to blaspheme or verbally degrade the Majesty or the Glory”. Some versions translate this as “The Glorious Majesties”. The Bible tells us that:

Romans 13:1 (NLT) … all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

For the false prophets, there is no authority but what “I feel” or what “I think”. All others are rejected. This is rampant throughout America and the American Church.

2 Peter 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

The false prophets, like “fools rush in where angels fear to tread” (Alexander Pope). Angels have much greater power and strength than humans do – and yet these angels do not rely on their own senses and desires, but on the Word of God. What has God said? The Book of Jude tells us that these false teachers:

Jude 8-9 (ESV) … in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

When battling Satan, Michael the Archangel did not rely on his own power or deductive reasoning, but on the Word of God. False prophets care nothing for God’s Word. By walking away from the Word of God and proclaiming the word of the flesh, these false prophets have lowered themselves from God’s best plan for their lives into a state to where they are more animal than human. We read:

2 Peter 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

Word Study: God calls the false prophet “natural brute beasts”, the Greek physikos alogos zōon, which means “as physical against the Word animals”. Jesus Christ is called “The Word” or “The Logos” (John 1:1, 14), whereas the false prophet is the word Logos preceded by the alpha negative or Alogos.

A false prophet is ANTI Word. The false prophet bases perceived truth on what “I feel” or “I think”, and not what the Word of God says. God says “They shall UTTERLY PERISH in THEIR OWN CORRUPTION.

It is God’s Word that made all things. The Scripture says:

Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

It is God Who brought light out of the darkness, and order out of the chaos. God did this in CREATION by His Word – and God does the same by the CREATION of the Christian.

The False Prophets And Their Converts
Will Receive The Reward Of Unrighteousness

2 Peter 2:13-14 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

The false prophet and their followers “shall receive the reward of unrighteousness”. Those who follow the false prophets think that they can “riot in the daytime”. Several years ago, crowds of rioters destroyed property, tore down statues, defaced artwork that was not theirs to deface, and did so in the guise of “social justice”. God does not bless anarchy. When God looks at these people, He sees them as “Spots” and “blemishes”. The word translated “Spots” is the Greek spílos, which means “moral defects, that which God has said is morally reprehensible”. The word translated “blemishes” is the Greek mōmos, which means “a flaw or blot that is disgraceful”. When God looks at the works and character of the false prophet, our Lord goes “YUK”. Their works are morally reprehensible, their behavior like the wet spot of a person that has urinated on themselves. This is not what Christ gave Himself for on the Cross. The Bible says:

Ephesians 5:26-27 … Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 27 That Jesus might present to Himself a glorious Church, NOT HAVING SPOT (spílos), or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Jesus did not suffer and die on Calvary so that we could willy nilly pursue sin. Granted, dearly Beloved, there are all times when we sin, when we do not do what Christ has bid we do. However, upon recognition of sin, the genuine believer will REPENT and TURN FROM THAT SIN and back to Christ. If we get off the path of righteousness, we get back on as soon as possible. We do not make excuses. We do not blame others. We own our sin, and REPENT of our sin and return to walking with Christ.

Those who pursue sin will “receive the reward of unrighteousness”. What is the “the reward of unrighteousness”?

2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children…

When you pursue sin, sin will multiply. Their “eyes are full of adultery”. They are constantly searching, and see others as sexual conquests, something to satisfy their urgings on. They “cannot cease from sin”. Jesus said:

John 8:34 (ESV) … Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

And again, in Romans 6:16 (ESV) Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Enslaved to sin, they actively “beguile” (Greek deleazō) or ENTICE the unstablesoul. They seek to enlist others to the path they are on, as misery loves company. Their hearts are not filled with love for God or love for others, but with “covetous practices”. Then we read that they have:

cursed children (katara teknon)

Their offspring learn about God from what they themselves have done. Their children are often “cursed”. This word is used in:

Hebrews 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; {katara} whose end is to be burned.

That which is CURSED has an end to be BURNED. Oh, what a horrible picture this draws. The false prophet is headed toward hell, and is carrying others with them. This need not be!

Today Is The Day To Choose The Word Of God,
Not The Way Of Man

2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

God knows the difference between the lost and the saved, the ungodly and the godly. The Scripture says that

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations {peirasmos}

The Lord looks after His own children. He delivers those who love Him out of enticements to sin. God looks after His people. But the Scripture says that God …

reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished

There are only two types of people in the world, insofar as God is concerned. There are the GODLY, and the UNJUST or UNGODLY. How does one become GODLY? The Scripture says:

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

When a person actually HEARS the Gospel
– Hear now the Gospel of God!

1. We are all sinners, lost and unable to make ourselves right before God.


2. We all deserve eternal separation from God. We deserve hell.

3. Our sins are insurmountable barriers between us and God.

4. But God in mercy and love sent His Son Jesus to take upon Himself flesh. Perfect God became Perfect Man, and went to the horror of the Cross to pay for our sins.

5. Paying for our sins, Jesus died on that Cross, for the wages of sin is death.

6. Rising from the grave on the third day, Jesus ever lives to make intercession for those who receive Him as Lord and Savior.

7. REPENTING of our lives, we run into the arms of Jesus, trusting solely in Him.

8. Saved, we are members of the Family of God, ourselves sons and daughters of God. We follow the One Who saved us. We heed His Word, and live to please our Savior and Lord. God delivers the godly from temptations. He stays with His Children – forever. Do you know Him? Have you received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This is the only way.

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

The false prophet will not tell you these things, but Beloved, I tell you. God expects you to follow Him. Today is the day of salvation. Believe on Him without delay. Amen and Amen!

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The Third Commandment

Posted on January 13, 2024 by bibleteacherorg

The past two weeks we’ve been studying the Ten Commandments. The First Commandment is:

Exodus 20:2-3 … I am the Lord thy God … thou shalt have no other gods before Me …

God is to be number one in our lives. That’s the First Commandment. The Second Commandment is …

Exodus 20:4-5 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness … Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve (worship) them …

Remember that the number “2” looks like it’s bowing down. The believer is neither to bow down to or serve any god other than Yahweh, the God of Scripture. Tonight we’re looking at the Third Commandment:

Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Word Study Let’s break this down from the Hebrew. The word translated “take” is the Hebrew Qal Imperfect of the verb nāśā’ (pronounced naw-saw’), which means “to lift up, to bear, to carry off or take away”. God’s name is sacred. He gave His Covenant Name to those who believed in Him, who loved Him. When Moses asked God His Name, God told Moses:

Exodus 3:14-15 … God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

The Name Of God Defines God

The Name of God defines Who God is. God is “I Am”. He is Eternal, without beginning or end. “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). God has no starting place. He was never created, but has always been the Creator. God knows all things. “His understanding is beyond measure” (Psalm 147:5). Dr. Adrian Rogers wrote:

“The name Jehovah is used some 6,800 times in the Bible. It is the personal covenant name of Israel’s God. In the King James Version of the Bible, it’s translated Lord God. Not only does it speak of God’s strength, but also it speaks of the sovereignty of God and the goodness of God. The root of this name means “self-existing,” one who never came into being, and one who always will be. When Moses asked God, “Who shall I tell Pharaoh has sent me?” God said, “I AM THAT I AM.””

God is eternal and UNCHANGING. He is I AM. “I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6). Our God DEPENDS ON NO ONE. His Name is I AM. “The Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” (John 5:26). Our God is the pattern of all life. God’s Name is not “YOU ARE” but “I AM”. “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth” (Psalm 33:6). There is nothing that God cannot do except evil. Pastor John MacArthur writes:

“Although such power might seem frightful, remember that God is good. He can do anything according to His infinite ability, but will do only those things that are consistent with Himself. That’s why He can’t lie, tolerate sin, or save impenitent sinners.”

God knows and understands all things. His will will always be done. A.W. Tozer wrote:

“God perfectly knows Himself and, being the source and author of all things, it follows that He knows all that can be known. And this He knows instantly and with a fullness of perfection that includes every possible item of knowledge concerning everything that exists or could have existed anywhere in the universe at any time in the past or that may exist in the centuries or ages yet unborn.”

There is no where where God is not present. He is “I AM”. The fullness of His presence is all about us. God asks, “Am I a God at hand,’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God afar off? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:23-24). Our God is the Perfect Standard of what is right and wrong. The Bible says “The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He” (Deuteronomy 32:4).

I could go on and on. God reveals Himself to us, and does so by His Name.

God’s Name Is Not To Be Used In An Empty Way

Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain …

The phrase translated “in vain” is the Hebrew šāv’ (pronounced shawv), which means “to fill with emptiness, to falsify, to break a vow or make a lie with, to hold up as worthless or empty”.

1. Cursing uses God’s Name in an empty way

It is common to hear the Name of Jesus Christ or “God” coupled with a profane word today. It is easy to understand why people do this. Those who know and fear God will respect how His Name is used. We shouldn’t expect unbelievers to live up to Biblical standards, for they are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). The lost are “walking according to the ways of this world”. The Bible declares that “people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means” (1 Corinthians 2:14, NLT). People who curse God’s Name have a greater problem than the cursing – they are lost and undone, and need Jesus.

It is a sin to use God’s Name in an empty, worthless way. Statements like “Oh my God” are sinful, unless we are addressing God. We are to reverence the Name of God. As one commentary notes:

“God controls the universe. A single word from Him creates worlds, puts planets in place, and sets galaxies in motion. He knows every hair on your head. The tiniest bird that falls does not escape His notice. This God, whom angels revere and demons fear, experienced unspeakable torture and horrors to redeem your life from eternal extinction. His name is neither an expletive nor a curse. It is holy. … You can use God’s name when giving thanks, offering praise, and in prayer. You can also lift up His name high by reflecting His love to others, as Jesus told us: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14 NIV).”

2. Misrepresenting God’s Word Uses His Name In An EMPTY WAY

We take God’s Name in vain when we hold up as Biblical truths those things which God never said. This happens quite frequently among professing Christians and religious people. Our Lord Jesus chastised the Pharisees for dong this. Quoting Isaiah 29:13, Jesus told them:

Matthew 15:7-9 (NKJV) Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

God’s Word gives us a very clear picture of Who God is. Those who love God want to keep His commandments. The Apostle said:

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

The Pharisees took the Word of God – which is given in the Name of God – and added hard and horrific restrictions that God never placed in the Bible.

God warned His people to be only ambassadors, not editors of God’s Commands. He said:

Deuteronomy 12:32 (NKJV) Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.

God takes His Word seriously. When we modify the Word of God to suit ourselves, we are misrepresenting the character of God. God said in the last chapter of the Bible:

Revelation 22:18-19 … I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

When we modify the Word of God we distract from the richness of God’s Gospel, and can turn Christianity into a Do It Yourself religion. The Pharisees added restrictions that were never in the Law, such as …

A. Pharisees declared that you were only allowed to travel on the Sabbath “a Sabbath Day’s journey”, which the distance between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, about 2,920 – 3,034 feet (.55 of a mile to .57 of a mile). The phrase “Sabbath Day’s Journey” is only found in in Acts 1:12 – and there it is not given as a directive of God, but as a description of what the people had been taught.

B. You were not allowed to carry anything based on a poor interpretation of:

Jeremiah 17:21-22 (NKJV) Thus says the Lord: “Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; 22 nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.

If you read the context, God was chastising His people for working and doing business on the Sabbath. The “gates” of Jerusalem were how merchants came into that city to sell their goods. People would carry goods out of their homes to meet these merchants, buying and selling on the Sabbath. THIS WAS HAPPENING IN JERUSALEM, WHERE THE TEMPLE WAS. God told Israel:

Jeremiah 17:27 (NKJV) “But if you will not heed Me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.”

It is not sinful to CARRY something on the Sabbath – else Jesus would not have told the man He healedon the Sabbathto“TAKE UP YOUR BED and walk” (John 5:10-11). Jesus would not have commanded a person to violate the Law, as Jesus came “to fulfill the Law” (Matthew 5:17).

C. The Pharisees taught that you were not allowed to pick fresh corn on Sabbath day – even to fill your own belly (Matthew 12:1-8). Jesus corrected the Pharisees by quoting Scripture rather than the teachings of Rabbis.

D. The Pharisees chastised Jesus for healing people on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:10). Again, this is not found in the Scriptures. Jesus corrected the Pharisees. Other silly additions to the Law were: You could not SPIT on the Sabbath, for it would disturb the dirt and plow the ground. You could not swat a fly, for that was HUNTING. You could not look at your reflection, lest you comb your hair, which was work. If your house was on fire during the Sabbath, you couldn’t carry clothes out. However, you could put on multiple layers of clothes and wear them out of the house.

An interesting article I found stated:

“There were 613 commands in the Old Testament but the Pharisees created over 1,500 additional “fence laws” for the people to obey. They believed the best way to keep people from breaking God’s Law was to build a protective barrier around that Law, even though the Lord never told them to do this.”

By infusing Man’s word with God’s Word, the Pharisees made God appear graceless, tedious, and unloving. This drove people AWAY from salvation.

Jesus recognized this when He said:

Matthew 23:13 (NKJV) … woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

The Pharisees were not only not going to Heaven, they were leading others to hell as well. The Law of God was given to show us the character of God – not just His holiness and righteousness, but His GRACE AND MERCY. The Law was given to highlight our need for the Savior Jesus Christ. The Apostle highlights this in:

Galatians 3:19-25 (NKJV) What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Nominal Christians Take The Name Of God In Vain

Those who profess to be saved by the Blood of Christ, but who willfully and knowingly live contrary to the command of God, take the name of God in vain. “We are AMBASSADORS for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NKJV). We represent the Lord to a lost and dying world. When we do what we ought not to do willfully and without care, we represent a false image of Christianity.

There are a number of texts that bring this out. God told Israel:

1 Samuel 12:22 … the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.

God called Israel out of Abraham. Though Israel failed God numerous times, God will not forsake Israel lest it misrepresent His name. Likewise, the Christian is commanded of God to follow after RIGHTEOUSNESS for God’s Name’s sake. In the well known Shepherd’s Psalm 23 we read:

“The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He LEADETH ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAMES SAKE.”

It is a black mark on the Name of God when Christians do not walk in the Paths of Righteousness with Christ. The Bible says “If we walk in the light AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT … the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sins” (1 John 1:7). Our God calls us into salvation, commanding us to “cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Romans 13:12). What do we have to do with what God has said is sinful? We are commanded:

Ephesians 5:11 … have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

We are a people who have been saved by the Blood of Christ and by the Power of the Holy Spirit. We are “delivered from the power of darkness, and have been translated into the Kingdom of the Son of God” (Colossians 1:13). We are the “children of LIGHT, children of the DAY” (1 Thessalonians 5:5). Let us live for Jesus while we have life. I close with these words:

Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Pastor and Evangelist Dennis Kabingue noted:

“Solomon, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, rallies God’s people to secure a good name. In the book of Proverbs, he wrote, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1). In Ecclesiastes 7:1, he wrote, “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.” If God is teaching His people to do their best to preserve a good name, this should make you think how much more God treasures His own name.”

God sent curses upon Israel because they would not give glory to His Name (Malachi 2:2). The prohibition of the Third Commandment not only includes abusing the names and titles of God in cursing, but also in the violation or twisting of His Word, the misapplication of His truths, and the pursuit of false doctrines. God will not hold anyone guiltless for degrading His Name. Those who do so can expect a payday someday.

Let us live to honor the Lord Who saved us. Amen and Amen.

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The Gospel Of “I”

Posted on January 7, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/adult-lion-playing-with-lion-cub-40803/

Play video from Joel Osteen from CNN Interview (youtube link)

Please turn with me in your Bibles to:

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

It’s not my intention today to make this sermon about Joel Osteen, but I do want to use Joel to make an introductory point. I believe Joel is sincere in what he believes. But I believe as you saw in this clip, Joel has a difficult problem answering the interviewers of CNN. Why? Because Joel is detached from the historic Gospel.

Joel preaches not the Gospel of Christ,
but the Gospel of “I”

Review what he said. His focus is to “lift people’s spirits”, not to direct them to God. He wants people to leave saying “I can do better. I can rise higher.” Instead of “I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST JESUS” (Philippians 4:13). Joel’s message focuses on our power instead of the God Who says:

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) … “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

Joel said, “In the old days, you went to Church to know what you’re doing wrong, and came away thinking ‘I’m so guilty I can’t do right’”. Joel said, “I want people to leave our Church saying ‘I can do better. God has planted seeds of greatness in me’”.

Joel does not focus on sin, yet the Bible does. The Gospel does. “All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “The wages of sin is DEATH, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus OUR LORD.”

Joel admits that homosexuality is a sin, but dances around the issue rather than be blunt, using straw man arguments. He says, “I’ve stayed in my lane, and my lane is lifting people’s spirits. Pride is a sin. There are other sins”. Yes Joel, there are other sins – and all sins are evil because they are against God’s loving design for us.

Joel’s Word says “I Can”. God’s Word says “I Can’t, But God Can If I Repent. I Can Through Christ.

What does the Bible say to the question, “Will people who are practicing sexual immorality go to Heaven?” Paul, what is your answer? When the Apostle was confronted with the Church at Corinth, where the members were suing one another in court, the Apostle did not categorize this loveless act as a “little” sin or a big sin. What he said was:

1 Corinthians 6:6-10 (ESV) … brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

The Apostle tells the Church that not only those holding up Christ and His Church to ridicule WILL NOT enter Heaven, but he goes on the address ALL SEXUALLY IMMORAL people, IDOLATORS, THIEVES, GREEDY, DRUNKARDS, REVILERS, SWINDLERS and HOMOSEXUALS. But what does Paul through the Spirit of God tell us next? Here’s the GOOD NEWS.

2 Corinthians 6:11 (ESV) And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Can a REPENTANT sinner go to Heaven? Yes, if you have repented, and called upon Jesus to save you. You “WERE WASHED”. You didn’t wash yourself. God washed you. You “WERE SANCTIFIED”, set apart for God’s use. God the Holy Spirit did that to you. You “WERE JUSTIFIED”. You didn’t get better on your own, but “calling upon the Name of the Lord, you were saved” (1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 2:21).

God saves those who REPENT and COME TO JESUS. When we recognize ourselves as sinners, and come to Him Who died for sinners, you shall be saved.

You cannot be saved unless you are CONVICTED of God that YOU ARE A SINNER. You cannot be saved unless you surrender to Jesus and let Him be your Lord and Savior.

The Gospel Of “I”, Though Increasingly Popular,
Is Horribly Dangerous, For It Is A Lie

The Gospel of “I” starts with the premise that we’re all okay, and that God loves everyone the way they are. The Gospel of “I” starts – not with Scripture – but with human viewpoint. Let’s look at our text again:

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you…

Word Study Let’s start with the “But”. The word “But”, the Greek δέ (de) is a coordinating conjunction used to connect ideas that contrast. It’s different from the coordinating conjunction AND, as AND connects two things that are similar. BUT connects two things that are opposites. The BUT in verse 1 connects us to what was discussed last week:

2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Word Study God gave us the Scripture NOT from 40 people’s opinions, not based on what THEY thought, but the Scripture was given to those men – these prophecies – “as they were moved by the Holy Ghost {spirit}”. The Holy Spirit “moved”, the Greek pherō, which means “to lift up, to bear, to carry”. The same verb was used of John the Baptist’s head CARRIED (pherō) on a platter (Matthew 14:11), or when four friends CARRIED (pherō) a crippled friend to see Jesus (Mark 2:3). The Bible tells us that God controlled the writings of Scripture, the Prophesies, so that what was produced was not flawed human byproducts, but the very Word of God. God has given us His Word, and clear instructions by His Word.

BUT where ever God speaks, it isn’t long before Satan and sinful humanity will rise up with a “what about this”. It happened in the Garden of Eden. God gave very clear directives to Adam on what he could, and could NOT eat. Satan entered in and said “has God really said?” When our foreparents didn’t run him out of the Garden, he went on to say “You will NOT die if you eat of the forbidden. God is trying to rob you of your joy!” Go ahead, do it.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you…

Where there is the TRUE, there will always be the FALSE. Where there is the LIGHT, there will always be competing DARKNESS. Our Lord Jesus warned us of “false prophets”. Jesus said:

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Wolves are dangerous. Disguised wolves are doubly dangerous. Disguised wolves in the Church are fatal!

How did Jesus characterize false prophets? First of all, they do not come to you with a sign above their head saying “FALSE PROPHET”. If they did that, you would know what they are. But what false prophets do – according to our Lord – is they “come to you in sheep’s clothing”. Now what is sheep’s clothing? Do sheep wear denim, or dresses? Do they wear patent leather or pretty suits? No, sheep wear WOOL. How does a wolf come to you in sheep’s clothing? The wolf must KILL THE SHEEP. It leads sheep to death. Those who preach a Gospel of “I” are leading people not to salvation, but death.

Word Study These wolves are, as Jesus said, “ravenous” (Greek arpax), which means “extortioners”. An “extortioner” is someone who kidnaps what is rightfully yours, then charges you money or services to get what is yours back. The false prophets (Greek pseudoprophētēs) rob people of the Gospel of salvation, and instead offer false promises and false hopes.

Jude, a stepbrother of Jesus wrote of this twisting of the Gospel. He wrote:

Jude 3-4 (ESV) Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

After the resurrection and ascension of Christ, and after the Apostles went out preaching “the FAITH ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS”, it wasn’t long before people “CREPT or SLITHERED IN” (Greek pareisdýnō) to the Churches. As false prophets they began to teach various falsehoods. Some taught that Jesus never died, but just swooned on the Cross. Others taught that the blood of Christ is insufficient to save, but you must be circumcised. Yet others taught that Jesus is but One of many ways to God. False writings cropped up called pseudepigrapha and apocryphal writings. If you can imagine it, it has been taught. The intent of the false prophets and false teachers is to “pervert the grace of our God into sensuality”. To make Grace all about “I”.

I have heard preachers say “God created man because He needed man to be complete”. That’s the Gospel of “I” talking. God doesn’t NEED us, though God MADE us and God LOVES us. But God is complete in Himself.

The Gospel of salvation brings a person to call upon Jesus as Lord and Savior. But the Gospel of “I” causes a person to “deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ”. The Gospel of salvation brings a person into the Kingdom of God and, eventual Heaven. The Gospel of “I” makes a person thing that THEY are THEIR OWN KING, and are co-equal rulers with Christ in glory. Jesus said,

Matthew 24:11 … many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

Continuing with our text, these FALSE PROPHETSand FALSE TEACHERS will…

2 Peter 2:1 … privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Word Study Again, these false prophets and teachers do what they do PRIVILY (pareisagō, SECRETLY, or CRAFTILY). They sneak about. They mask their real intent. They don’t do what they do in the LIGHT or in the OPEN, but conspire and sneak about. What are they doing? They are bringing about “DAMNABLE HERESIES”, the Greek apōleia airesis, “doctrines that bring utter destruction or ruin”.

The future Antichrist is called “The Son of apōleia, utter destruction” (see 2 Thessalonians 2:3). What the false prophets and false teachers bring is damnation with them – not blessing.

They “deny the Lord that BOUGHT them”. Jesus purchased our salvation by the shedding of His Blood on Calvary. Do you not know

1 Corinthians 6:20 … ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 7:23 … Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Though A Best Seller, The Gospel Of “I”
Lies About The Nature Of God

2 Peter 2:2-3 And many shall follow their pernicious (Greek apōleia) ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Word Study The word “PERNICIOUS” is the same word translated “DAMNABLE” in verse 1, the Greek apōleia. Again, this means “something that brings total destruction”. A lot of people will follow the words of the false prophets and false teachers, because their ways require no repentance. The Gospel of “I” ignores passages like:

Psalm 145:20 The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

God despises what He has categorized as SIN, because SIN BRINGS DEATH. To those who will be saved, God will save. But in order to be saved you must REPENT. Our Lord Jesus preached:

Matthew 4:17 … REPENT: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand

Matthew 9:13 … I am not come to call the righteous, but SINNERS TO REPENTANCE

The Gospel of the Scripture declares that we are all broken. But if we will come to God, turning away from being our own gods, then He will abundantly save whosoever will. Our Lord Jesus took the cup of suffering for us. He knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane praying,

Luke 22:42 (AP) Father, if it be Thy will, let THIS CUP – THIS CROSS – pass from Me. NEVERTHELESS NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE.

Illustrate: One popular book of fiction called The Shack portrays God as saying, “I don’t need to punish people for sin…. It’s not My purpose to punish it..” Is that true? Then why did Jesus have to go to the Cross of Calvary. A false teacher called Rob Bell questioned the nature of God and hell, saying “Has God created millions of people over tens of thousands of years who are going to spend eternity in anguish? Can God do this, or even allow this, and still claim to be a loving God?” Yes, God can.

The false prophet and false teacher “through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you”. They do not love those they are writing to, speaking to, teaching. It is not love to contradict God’s Word in order to gain a following. When my mother told me not to touch a hot stove, and then spanked me when I tried to do so, was not unloving. Love speaks the truth. You do not love someone when you see them doing something dangerous. You love them when you tell them what they are doing is foolish, against God’s Word.

Rather than make up a fictitious god of the Bible, why not refer to the Holy Scripture. We have previously been told that the Prophecy did not come by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved or carried along by the Holy Spirit. So what does the Bible tell us about God’s nature?

God Punished Catastrophically Before,
He Will Do So Again

2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

There were angels that revolted from Heaven with Lucifer, also known as Satan. Some of these angels are mentioned in

Jude 6 … the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day

These angels did something so horrific that God cast them into a pit the Bible calls “chains of darkness”. These angels – powerful beings – are being imprisoned until the Day of Final Judgment, where they will be cast into the Lake of Fire. God punishes sin.

2 Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

As wickedness grew in our world, the Bible says that

Genesis 6:5-8 (ESV) The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

What made God want top destroy the world that He made? It was that “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually”. People had departed from Who God is, and had turned their back on the Gospel of salvation. People began to adhere to the Gospel of “I”. They became so wicked that God said, “I regret making them. I’m going to blot it all out”. God did not spare the “OLD WORLD”, but because of sin God purged it by water, “bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly”. The Bible says that

1 Peter 3:20 … eight souls were saved by water

Those who heard the preaching of Noah and who GOT ON THE ARK were saved by the same water that killed the rest of the world. I am certain there were false prophets mocking Noah, and telling the lost that God loved them so much that He wouldn’t drown them. They were wrong.

2 Peter 2:6-8 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

When the world became so wicked that God had to destroy it, He did so by water. But the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were utterly destroyed by God by FIRE. Why? The Bible says:

Genesis 13:13 (ESV) Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.

God calls sinners to REPENT. But when they reject God, and refuse to repent and cast themselves upon the Lord Jesus Christ, then they open the door to utter destruction. God sent two angels to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, saying:

Genesis 18:20 Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

What was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah? It was the Gospel of “I”. It was a taste for and tolerance for sin, for that which God has forbidden.

Jesus was preaching one day, telling the people to repent and come to Him. Word came to the disciples that some Galileans had been offering sacrifices at the Temple when Pilate’s solders killed them at the altar of God. People began to think, “What did those Galileans do to deserve that?” Jesus told the crowd:

Luke 13:2-5 (ESV) … “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (apollymi, be brought to utter ruin). 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (apollymi, be brought to utter ruin).”

I heard someone in our flock joking about Church. He said, “We come to Church, the Preacher tells us how bad we are, then we eat friend chicken”. That’s amusing! But Beloved, it’s my calling to tell you that “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”.

Do you know Jesus? Have you given your life to Him? You cannot be saved unless – turning from your sin and the Gospel of “I”, you run into the arms of Jesus. Oh, that God the Holy Spirit would lead you to Christ this very day. Amen and Amen.

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What You Need To Know First

Posted on January 2, 2024 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich: https://www.pexels.com/photo/golden-cup-and-statuette-6532587/

2 Peter 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Christianity is very unique among all the other religions of the world because Christianity is God made. Last week we saw that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was NOT a fantasy or a myth made up to trick people. People saw Jesus, heard God the Father say “This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I Am well pleased”, and were willing to die gruesome deaths rather than deny what they saw. Peter, James and John saw Jesus transfigured on Mount Tabor. Two out of three of these men died martyrs deaths, refusing to renounce Christ.

When God became Man (for Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us – Matthew 1:23), the Holy Spirit moved on Mary. The Bible says that Mary was told:

Luke 1:35 (ESV) … The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

Mary was not perfect – but her Son, created of God, was perfect and sinless. Mary said when hearing the Angel,

Luke 1:46-47 (ESV) … My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in GOD MY SAVIOR …

Mary needed “GOD MY SAVIOR”. If she were perfect, she would have needed no Savior. Mary was a fallen creature just as we are. Yet she produced a Child that was sinless, flawless. We are told in:

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) For our sake {God the Father} made {Jesus Christ} to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

And again,

Hebrews 4:15 (ESV) {Jesus Christ was} in every respect has been tempted as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN.

1 Peter 1:22 … (AP) in Jesus Christ there was NO DECEIT …

Jesus Christ had to be the “Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, 36; 1 Peter 1:19). If He were spotted with sin, then He could no more pay for our sins that I could. So Jesus – born of the Holy Spirit – was born perfect and holy and righteous, though His mother Mary was imperfect as we all are.

With God, NOTHING is impossible! (Luke 1:37)

Today Peter turns our attention to the witness of the Scripture, the Holy Bible. Last week he talked about the witnesses who saw Jesus, and gave their lives for the truth of Christ. Today Peter wants us to know that the witness of the Scripture is sure, right, and holy. People object. “But isn’t the Bible you read a collection of 66 books written by around 40 human authors. How do we know the Bible is without error? After all, it came through humans.” That’s true, the Bible was written by around 40 authors, people whom God picked to write it. But

Just as a sinless Jesus came from a broken Mary through the power of God the Holy Spirit, through the same Spirit God can send His Words through broken humans and the Word be flawless. The same Holy Spirit is the Author of the humanity of Christ and the Holy Bible.

Scripture Is Not A Human, But A Divine Idea

2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

God loved us so much that, even when we were fallen and cared nothing for Him, He came to us through Mary and walked amongst us. He saved humanity through a Perfect Human that He created in an imperfect vessel. When God speaks to us, He does not do so through the sky – though He has done that. He does not speak to us through visions – though He has done that. Instead, God reached out to humanity through imperfect humans, and told us what He wants and desires for our lives. God did this because God has always been relational. He did not create Adam then abandon him to tend the Garden of Eden, but walked and talked with Adam “in the cool afternoon breeze of the day” (Genesis 3:8, AMP).

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy”. In the previous context the Apostle wrote:

2 Peter 1:17-18 {Jesus} received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

Word Study Peter said “James, John and I were there, and we heard the Father speak from Heaven”. THEY heard it – but WE didn’t. Peter goes on to say “We have also a more sure word of prophecy”. The words “more sure” is the Greek bebaios, which means “stable, steadfast, trustworthy, rock solid”. What Peter, James and John experienced was something they can only testify of. But the Bible says:

Hebrews 2:2-3 if the word spoken by angels was STEDFAST (bebaios), and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

The Prophets were “ANGELS” in the sense that they were messengers of God. The Word that God spoke through the Prophets is sure, rock steady because it is THE WORD OF THE LIVING GOD. It is not a man’s idea, but God’s directive. Evangelist Billy Graham said:

“ ‘God is love’ means that He tries constantly to block your route to destruction.”

Word Study It is God’s Word – His directive – that we must heed to protect ourselves from destruction. Peter said of the Scripture that “ye do well that ye take heed” (prosechō), “turn the mind toward, be attentive to respond to”. We are to dwell on the teachings of the Scripture. Why? Peter says:

2 Peter 1:19 … take heed, (prosechō) as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn…

Treat the Word of God as if the only flashlight in a dark environment, the only candle in a dark, dark cave.

Illustrate If you have ever had the power go down at your home, you’ve stumbled through the darkness looking for the flashlight. While in the darkness the most important thing in the world is the light.

1 John 1:5 (TLV) … this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you—that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.

“God is light”. God is not darkness, but light. The very first commandment that God gave in human history was “Let there be LIGHT” (Genesis 1:3), and the Bible says “and there WAS LIGHT”. Light is a creation of God. Light is in God, and through God. The Psalmist said to God:

Psalm 119:105 (ESV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

God’s Word is our flashlight in this present darkness, this fallen world. There will come a day when we will not need the Scripture, for on that day we who believe in Jesus will be with Him Who saved us. There will come a day when Jesus will rule and reign on this earth, for our Jesus is “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; 19:16). When Jesus comes the darkness of sin will cease to grip this present earth, for Jesus is “The DAYSPRING from on high” (Luke 1:78). But until that day we who have believed on Christ “take heed to God’s Light”. We read and study the Word of God, and apply its precepts to our lives.

God’s Word is not temporal, but timeless. The Prophet said:

Isaiah 40:8 (ESV) The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

And Jesus said to Satan,

Matthew 4:4 (ESV) … Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Through Mary, God became incarnate Man.
Through the Prophets, God spoke to Man.

When Jeremiah wrote, he declared “The Word of the Lord came to me” (Jeremiah 1:4). When Samuel wrote, “The Word of the Lord came unto Samuel” (1 Samuel 15:10). King Saul was deposed from his throne because “he rejected the Word of the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:26). But David was given the Kingdom because in his song of deliverance he sang:

2 Samuel 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

“God spoke to our fathers by the Prophets” (Hebrews 1:1). When the Bible speaks, it speaks with the very auithority of God, for it is God’s Word. Early Theologian John Calvin wrote:

“We owe to the Scripture the same reverence which we owe to God, because it has proceeded from Him alone.”

The Apostle Paul, the Apostle who Jesus called to reach the Gentiles, wrote:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The Word of God is breathed out by God. It is the breath of Heaven. The Church that will be effective for Christ must cherish and apply the Scripture to its life. The Apostle said in:

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV) … we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

The Word of God has no power in a person’s life if you regard it as the writing of men. But when you receive it as the Word of God, then it WORKS in the life of the believer. It grows the believer, strengthing the power of the Church on earth. As Dr. B.B. Warfield wrote:

“The Scriptures are throughout a Divine book, created by the Divine energy and speaking in their every part with Divine authority directory to the heart of the readers.”

As Scripture Is Holy Spirit INSPIRED,
It Must Be Holy Spirit INTERPRETED

2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Word Study The words “of any private interpretation” is the Greek ídios epilysis. This means literally “an interpretation or explanation based on what you think or feel”. The Scripture was given to us by God the Holy Spirit. If you are a Christian, you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (John 14:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Colossians 1:27).

It is the indwelling Holy Spirit that helps the believer in Christ to understand and apply the Scripture to their daily life.

We are told in 1 Corinthians 2:12 (ESV) “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.”

God indwells us as the Holy Spirit not so that we can shape the Scripture according to our selves, our desires, but that the Scripture might shape us into the image of Christ. “All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). The worldly will take the the Scripture and twist it so as to appease their desires and lusts. The Godly yield themselves to the Scripture, allowing the believer to live so as to honor Christ our Savior. When you “walk by the Spirit, you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Pastor Paul Carter (Cornerstone Baptist Church, Orillia, Ontario Canada) wrote:

“Rather than grasping for a quote from the sixth or sixteenth century, Christians ought to be primarily concerned to study the example of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Word of God. He is the Spirit of Prophecy. He is God in the flesh, so if we’re looking for some guidance on how to relate to Holy Scripture, we ought to look no further than him.”

When Jesus made the statement, “I and the Father are ONE” (John 10:30, ESV) the Jews picked up stones to execute Him. To defend Himself, Jesus referred to the Scripture:

John 10:34-38 (ESV) … “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

Rather than argue His opinion with the opinions of the Pharisees, Jesus quoted Psalm 82:6 with the caveat, “Scripture cannot be broken”. Though I don’t have time to explain all the nuances of what Jesus was saying in this sermon, suffice it to say that Jesus quoted Scripture, and applied it to HIS life. Why? Why would Incarnate God not rely on His own opinion? Because He wanted to show us “Scripture cannot be broken”. The Word of God was given to us, not to twist, but to live by.

In another instance the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, tried to get Jesus’ opinion on the afterlife. Jesus told them:

Matthew 22:29-32 (ESV) … “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”

The Sadducees knew “neither the Scriptures nor the power of God”. They did not have the Holy Spirit in their lives because they were not born again of the Spirit (John 3:3, 7; 1 Peter 1:23). In the Old Testament when God was recorded as saying “I am the God” of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God did not say “I WAS”, but “I am”. The very tense of the verb proved that God was the God of the Living, for if the dead ceased to be, then God would not be their God.

Game, set, and match.

When people attacked Jesus, they always brought TRADITION or SUPERSTITION unrooted in Scripture. Jesus knew that,

Hebrews 4:12 … the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit ..

The battles that Christ and His children by faith wage are not physical battles, but spiritual ones. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Our battles are unwinnable if we attempt to win them by our opinions and desires. Principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, spiritual wickedness in high places is all much more powerful than we are. Our power is of God. Our weapons are of God.

Christ’s Church in America began to drift away from the power of God when we began to modify the Gospel message to be “inclusive” to everyone, regardless as to whether they REPENTED or not. What God has said is sin is still sin. Again from Paul Carter:

“Jesus did not commission his people to undo the Old Testament; he faced the devil with Deuteronomy 8:3. He faced the Sadducees with Exodus 3:6. He faced the Pharisees with Psalm 110:1. Jesus clearly operated under the assumption that the whole Old Testament – properly understood – was binding and decisive and to be his follower requires you to do the same.”

When the devil attacked Jesus in the wilderness, our Lord did not defend Himself with His inherent power. Jesus defended Himself with,

Matthew 4:4 … It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:7 … It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Matthew 4:10 … it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Matthew 21:13 … It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Matthew 26:24 … The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

Matthew 26:31 … Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

Jesus extensively quoted the Scripture in His earthly ministry, so much so that, if you took away all of His “it is written” statements – Jesus would have said very little.

You don’t get to have a smaller Bible than Jesus.

It is the whole of the Bible, the Scripture, that tells us of Christ (John 5:39). The Old Testament prepared people for the coming of Christ. The New Testament recorded the fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ. Everytime a lamb or a dove was sacrificed before the altar in the Old Testament, the action showed that sin is a horrible thing that leads to death. When Jesus started His earthly ministry, the Scfripture says:

Luke 24:27 (ESV) … beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, {Jesus} interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself

We know that there is a God, and know that He is holy because of Scripture. We know that we are fallen, and that we all need a Savior from our sin.

Jesus is that one and only Savior!

It is the Scripture that leads us to Jesus Christ. Praise God for the Scripture.

Let Us Rely Solely On God’s Word

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

As God the Holy Spirit moved holy, dedicated men of God, they wrote of our need for a Savior. They wrote of Jesus. There is no other Savior than Jesus. As our Lord Jesus prepared to go to the Cross for us, He once more referred to the Scripture in

Luke 24:45-47 (ESV) Then {Jesus} opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

How is a person saved? Not by our works, but by His work. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, suffered on the Cross of Calvary. He died, bearing the full penalty for our sins. But Jesus did not die and stay dead, but rose from the dead on the third day. He laid His life down, and picked up His life again. He surrendered to and suffered death for us, so that we might be saved. A person is saved THROUGH REPENTANCE, by turning away from doing things your own way, and turning to and relying on Jesus. Believing on His Name, a person is saved to serve God.

Being saved is not about ME, but about HE. Being saved because you are following Jesus. Being saved because you have given your allegiance to Him. Jesus cherished the Scripture. If you are saved by faith, His disciple, then you too will cherish the Scripture. As Sinclair B. Ferguson wrote in his book “Worthy”:

“The grace of God in Christ provides us with a new identity, a heavenly one; it follows that this—and not our natural identity—determines everything we do. Our identity, our citizenship, is heavenly. As Paul says elsewhere, our lives are “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3) … So we are to “sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land” (Psalm 137:4). That’s not a matter of legalism, for “his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Jesus tells us that being yoked to him, the meek and lowly one, brings ease, not dis-ease, and rest, not restlessness, for our souls (Matthew 11:28–30).”

Do you know Him? If not, today is the day to give your life to Christ. Only by faith are you saved, and only by faith in His applied word do you grow spiritually as a believer. May God touch your hearts with His Word.

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Introduction To The Ten Commandments And The First Commandment of God

Posted on December 30, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

Please turn with me in your Bibles to Exodus 20. As you’re turning there, I want you to see this clip from Cold Case Christianity:

View Clip Here

Introduction To The Ten Commandments

The first of the Ten Commandments is found in …

Exodus 20:1-3 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

I’m often asked “Why are there so many denominations in Christianity?” I like the way that J Warner Wallace said it,

“Because that’s who we are. That’s our nature as prideful, rebellious know it alls. We are all this way.”

It was human pride that caused the fall from Eden. Not God, but us trying to be gods. The devil told Adam and Eve:

Genesis 3:4 (AP) If you eat of the forbidden tree, you will surely NOT die. God knows that the day you eat of it you will be like Him, like a god. You will determine good and evil.

In our day today there is what is known as “An Epidemic of Despair”. The New York Times reported that “Nearly three in five teenage girls felt persistent sadness in 2021 … and one in three girls seriously considered attempting suicide”. There is rarely a day that goes by where I don’t see a death obituary that states “He or she died unexpectedly at home”. That’s code for suicide, or an unintentional death because of alcohol or drugs. The rise of “Woke Doctrine” in our society has fueled narcissism and borderline personality disorders. Why has this come about?

Because we have, as a society, divorced ourselves from the God Who made us and loves us.

For a person to be happy that person must understand that we cannot be God. It is impossible. In our songs – whether Country Music, Rap, or Rock – we sing about and set impossible standards of love for humans. Humans do not have the capability to love as deeply or as rightly as God does. We create graven images of God in our modern worship songs. As I listen to much of the Contemporary Christian Music I hear people sing things about God that are unBiblical, and are therefore a fantasy. God is defined by the Scripture He gave us, not by our wants and desires. When Jesus prayed for His Church, He prayed:

John 17:17 Sanctify them {O Father} through THY TRUTH. THY WORD IS TRUTH.

When our country was founded, our first Vice President (1789-1797) and the second President of the United States (1797-1800) John Adams stated:

“Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Our founders knew this. God as the Founder of Israel also knew this. If Israel as a nation would be stable, its people must be “moral and religious”. They must have a relationship with the God Who made them. When Israel got to the base of Mount Sinai, around fifty days after they were saved from enslavement to Egypt, God constituted Israel as not just a loose conglomeration of people, but as a nation. The Ten Commandments were given as a basic constitutional structure for God’s people. Though God went further with the Law after the giving of the Ten Commandments (He gave them ceremonial laws, dietary laws, sanitary laws, and sacrificial laws to Israel), the Ten Commandments are the basis of stability for any of God’s people, whether Jew or Gentile.

Our Lord Jesus applied the Ten Commandments to the believer. When asked by a follower “what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”, Jesus replied:

Matthew 19:17-19 … if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. … Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

The Apostle Paul said:

Romans 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

James, the stepbrother of Christ, told us:

James 1:21-25 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

The Ten Commandments are found all throughout the New Testament. They are not to be ignored, but to be cherished as a gift that God has given to His people.

The Ten Commandments Are Not Chains, But
Are The Perfect Law Of Liberty

Exodus 20:1-3 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Evangelist Ronald L. Dart notes:

“Now I realize a lot of people don’t look at the Ten Commandments and think in terms of liberty. They have a habit of thinking that, well it’s kind of restricting, it keeps us from doing the things that we might want to do, but the problem is, a lot of things we might want to do will just put us back in slavery again. The Ten Commandments are introduced by this term, “I am the Lord your God that got you out of the house of bondage.” What we’re about here at Mount Sinai is liberty. Everything that follows is about liberty. … God didn’t bring Israel out of bondage to put them back in bondage again. Just read the introductory statement to the Ten Commandments of God, “I am the Lord your God, I brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” We aren’t going there again!”

To break the commandments of God is to break yourself.

Again, I refer back to Eden. Had Adam obeyed the Commandment of God, we would still be in Paradise today, a place where there are no mosquitoes, no hard word, and no graveyards.

Death entered the world when Adam sinned, rejecting the Commandment of God. Death entered the kingdom of Israel when David ignored God’s Commandment, and took another man’s wife as his own. Eternal God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, adhered to the Commandments of God.

Jesus said in John 12:48-50 (NKJV) He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.

The command of the Father is EVERLASTING LIFE. The Bible says that

1 John 1:5 (NKJV) … God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

God did not save Israel from Egypt to enslave Israel, no more than He saves us to enslave us. God saves us to FREE us, to bring us into the LIGHT of God where we will have joy and peace.

This was the lesson that David learned the hard way. He would later prayerfully write:

Psalm 119:9-12 (NKJV) How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes.

The First Commandment Reminds Us Of
The Singularity And Uniqueness Of God

As Israel remembers their salvation through the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptian Army, God tells them:

Exodus 20:2 I am the Lord thy God

When Israel was in Egypt, they were exposed to the gods of Egypt. There were, according to one source I read, 44 male gods and 32 female goddesses in Egypt. Where Buddhism and Hinduism flourish, like India, there are some 300 million gods that are worshiped, and often the gods are at odds with one another.

Our God is not many, but ONE. God said “I am the Lord thy God”. He is singular, unified, and He wants a relationship with His people. When the second generation of Israel prepared to go into the Promised Land, God gave them the Law a second time in the Book of Deuteronomy. In that Book He wrote:

Deuteronomy 6:1-4 (NKJV) Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, 2 that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. 3 Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’ 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

God told Israel “The Lord our God, the Lord is one!”. Then The Lord summarized the first four commandments of the Ten Commandments by saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength”. Our Jesus did the same thing with the Commandments. When asked one day,

“Which is the GREAT COMMANDMENT in the Law?”

Jesus replied (Matthew 22:37-40) “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

The Law of God – the Ten Commandments – is divided into two parts. Love God with your ALL, and love your neighbor as yourself. Treat others the way you want to be treated. But ALWAYS REMEMBER that God is God and we are NOT!

There is only ONE GOD, and He is the God of the Scripture, the God Who gave the Ten Commandments at Sinai. Our God is uniquely One.

He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – but He is nonetheless ONE. Our Lord Jesus said,

John 10:27-30 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.

Jesus and the Father are ONE. When Jesus prayed for His Church, He prayed to the Father that “the Church may be ONE just as WE ARE ONE” (John 17:22). The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are uniquely One. Not three Gods, but One God in Three Persons. God told Israel:

Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

God wants us to love Him before all else. God despises idolatry, because idolatry divorces us from what is meant to be our best. We were created to walk with God, not as gods, but as adopted sons and daughters. We were meant to rely on God, not on ourselves. The Bible tells us in two places:

1 Corinthians 8:4-6 … that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

Idolatry is no more than a MAGNIFICATION OF HUMAN PRIDE. It is when we reject the true God of Scripture in favor of a false god that is more pleasing to our lusts and our own satisfactions.

The late Tim Keller wrote in his book Counterfeit Gods:

“An idol is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, and anything that you seek to give you what only God can give.”

There are many today who profess to be Christian, but follow a god of their imagination not realized in Scripture. The God of salvation says “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me”. Why? Is it because God is jealous? Yes, He is. He made us to love us, and we will not be what we were fully intended to be until we fully love Him.

Idolatry began in the Garden of Eden, when Adam tried to make himself a god. It failed. Idolatry came to Israel soon after God gave them the Ten Commandments. God had told Israel:

Exodus 19:5-6 (NKJV) if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

Israel heard this, and replied (vs 8) “all that the LORD has spoken, we will do”. And yet when Moses was 40 days on the Mountain, Israel demanded that Aaron (Exodus 32:1) “make us gods that shall go before us”. They worshiped a “golden calf”, giving this “god” credit for leading them out of Egypt. When God heard this from the Mountain, God threatened to destroy Israel and raise up a great nation out of Moses (Exodus 32:9). Had Moses not intervened in prayer, glorifying and honoring God, that nation could have died that day.

As it was, though Moses’ prayer spared Israel that day, this congregation would eventually die in the wilderness over a 40 year period because of idolatry.

When We Make The Primary Secondary, And The Secondary Primary, We Wreck God’s Work For Us

Why did Israel make the golden calf? They were driven by fear, impatience, selfishness. They loved themselves more than they loved God. We must always love God most. He must always be first in our hearts. God is the Giver of good things. I believe that God wants to give us good things. But that which God gives us must never be valued above the Giver of the good things. C.S. Lewis wrote about first things and second things. He said that first things are things that God designed to be first in our hearts – namely, loving Him; whereas second things are the good things that God has given us that are only good as long as they are secondary. I can think of a few illustrations.

I love my little dog Bella, I love her very much. I want no harm to come to her. But when she dies (and she will die) I will love God for the time He has given me with my pet.

I love my Church very much, but there will come a day I am here no more. Yet I will still love God for the time He has given me with my Church.

I love my children very much, but God saw fit to take one of my children away. Yet my love for God has no diminished, for He is the Giver of Children, that wonderful gift from Heaven. When Job lost all,

his servants,
his sheep,
his camels,
his sons,
his daughters,

Job said, (Job 1:20) Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.

God is in charge. What God gave, God took away. Does it not say,

Romans 8:28-30 we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Israel was predestined to enter the Promised Land, for God had promised that land to Abraham by faith. Even though the first generation failed to enter because of idolatry, the second generation entered. God’s will will be done!

The Christian is predestined to be “conformed to the image of His Son”, for the glory of God forever. This is why “all things work together for good to those who love God”. If you love God, and cherish His Word, everything that happens to you happens for a greater good. God is in control – not us. We are to trust Him. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32).

Israel was not saved by the Law, but by following Jesus through the Red Sea. Had Israel not followed the Lord, they would have never left Egypt and slavery. Jesus said, “Follow Me”. God says “Follow Me”. Faith follows God. Israel was not saved by the Law, but Israel was PRESERVED by the Law. While they obeyed God, they were protected and blessed.

Do not believe you can be saved, and not follow the Lord. Israel was at Sinai because they followed the Lord there. God told them:

Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

The first generation of Israel will lose the Promised Land because of Idolatry. The second generation of Israel will gain the Promised Land because the Canaanites were idolatrous. So God warned His people:

Slide 11

Deuteronomy 12:29-32 (NKJV) When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, 30 Take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ 31 You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. 32 “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.

Do you know why God dispossessed the Canaanites? Because their idolatry led them to sacrifice their children to their false gods. Americans do that today, and call it a “medical procedure” or “women’s health”. It is not. It is murder. It is idolatry. It is evil. God says, do not do that. Idolatry destroys your relationship with God and with others. It is the gateway to anarchy and absolute darkness. As Evangelist Dwight L. Moody said:

“You don’t have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods. America is full of them. Whatever you love more than God is your idol.”

May God lead us as American Christians to put Him first. Amen and Amen.

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Witnesses Of Jesus

Posted on December 30, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

2 Peter 1:13-18 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary always announces it’s “word of the year”. This year the “word of the year” is “AUTHENTIC”, which means “not false or imitation, real, actual”. Sadly, I don’t think most people understand what the word actually means. What I’ve seen advertised is “be your AUTHENTIC self”, and they attach this to transgenderism or some other abnormal fetish. Being authentic today is subjective, meaning to be true to your feelings. John Stonestreet of Breakpoint notes:

“This new definition of “authentic,” that what I feel inside is the highest truth, would have baffled people in centuries past and still baffles many non-Westerners today. However, the real problem is that this new definition of “authentic” is utter nonsense. Truth is not primarily subjective but objective. Reality is not decided by individuals but given by a Creator. One of the things our Creator both demands of us and enables us to do through redemption is conform our inner selves to His will and design, which He reveals, objectively, in both creation and Scripture.”

Comedian and Author Brad Stein – also a conservative Christian – said he had no problem understanding the difference between male and female as a child. He had a sister, and one Christmas his parents got them both bicycles. The girl’s bike has a bar in front of the seat that goes downward to the lower frame, whereas his bike – a boy’s bike – has a bar that is horizontal in front of the seat. Brad said that the first time he was standing up and slipped off the petals – he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he was a boy!

That’s AUTHENTIC!

Of all the religions in the world, the Apostle wants us to know that Christianity is not based on myths or legend.

Christianity is GREATER THAN all these other religions, because Christianity was founded by God Himself, Who became the Messiah or the Christ.

The very “WORD” that created all things came into the world. The Bible says:

John 1:1-3 (ESV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

But it doesn’t stop here. The text then tells us

John 1:14 (ESV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us …

God became Man, Perfect Man, Sinless Man and dwelt among us. He was seen of others. The Bible tells us there is a God – and the Christ made flesh PROVES there is a God.

Jesus Proves There Is A God, And
Eyewitnesses Prove There Is A Jesus

Before Jesus came, people believed there was a God Who created all things. Yet there was much misunderstanding about this God. Then Jesus came – Perfect Man, God became Man. The Prophets foresaw the coming of God in the flesh, the “Immanuel”.

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The Gospels witness the coming of Christ. When God sent an angel to Mary to tell her that she had been chosen to carry the Messiah (Luke 1:26-35), Mary responded by saying “How can this be? I am a virgin.” Mary was betrothed to Joseph, and had yet to consummate their wedding. The Angel told her “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God.” (GWT). Mary agreed to this. But there’s one problem.

Joseph.
Joseph Witnesses That Jesus Is The Messiah.

When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant – and he knew he wasn’t the father – the Bible says:

Matthew 1:19 (ESV) … her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

Had Joseph raised a fuss – had he went to the High Priest and demanded that Mary be punished – under the Law of God Mary could have been stoned with stones until she was dead (Leviticus 20:10). I’m sure that Joseph was heartbroken at first. And yet, he was not vengeful. Joseph decided to “divorce her quietly”. When he went to bed that night the Bible says:

Matthew 1:20-25 (ESV) … an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, (meaning “God our Savior”) for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Here we have three witnesses to Christ. We have the Angel, who quotes the Prophetic Witness. Then we have Joseph Himself. Joseph had, as a young bridegroom, planned on taking Mary off on a honeymoon. He planned on being with her intimately. He hoped to raise a family. But Joseph surrendered his plans to God. The Bible says Joseph “knew her not until she had given birth to a son”. He put off his own intimate plans until the Messiah came into the world. Joseph would go on to have other children by Mary (see Matthew 13:55-56; Mark 6:3), so Jesus would have step brothers and step sisters.

After Jesus resurrected from the Grave He would make an appearance to His step brother James (1 Corinthians 15:7) – ANOTHER WITNESS. Jesus encouraged His other brothers to meet Him in Galilee (Matthew 28:10). Joseph both protected Mary and Jesus, and honored the Lord by being there through Jesus’ early years.

Had Mary been pregnant because of promiscuity, Joseph would have never stayed with her. This is a powerful witness to the Messiah. But we have greater witnesses.

We have the eyewitness accounts of the martyrs of our faith. Peter wrote:

2 Peter 1:13-14 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

skēnōma Peter speaks of being “in this tabernacle” in verse 13, and in verse 14 says “shortly I must put off this my tabernacle”. The word “tabernacle” is the Greek skēnōma, which means “a skin tent in which one dwells”. In the Old Testament the “tabernacle” – a manmade tent designed to worship God in – preceded the Temple that Solomon built. Peter is not talking about the Old Testament Tabernacle, but of his own body. The Apostle often spoke of the human body as a skēnōma or a temporary abode for the soul. The Apostle Paul wanted every Christian to know that our bodies that we now have are but skēnōma, temporary tents that our souls inhabit, until we get to Heaven. The Scripture promises:

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle (skēnōma) were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house (oikia, a proper residence) not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Often “we groan in our present tent (skēnōma)” (2 Corinthians 5:4), and look forward to the time we can be with the Lord in Heaven. Peter said that “shortly I must put off this my tabernacle”, that is, his soul must soon leave his body. Why? He said “even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me”. Peter knew that he was going to be crucified for his faith in Christ. Jesus had previously told Peter:

John 21:18-19 (ESV) Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Peter was told to follow Jesus. Our Lord told Peter that “you will stretch out your hands”, a reference to his own crucifixion. Of all of the original disciples, only John (the brother of James the Greater, a son of Zebedee) died a natural death around 96 AD. Before he died, John was boiled in oil then exiled to a desert island called Patmos to die. Consider the other disciples:

Andrew was crucified, bound not nailed in Greece
Bartholomew was skinned alive and crucified in West Asia
James the Lesser (son of Alphaeus) was stoned and clubbed
Jude (Thaddeus) beaten with a club then crucified 72 AD Turkey
Matthew (Levi) staked and speared to the ground Ethiopia
Simon Peter crucified 68 AD
Philip tortured, impaled by iron hooks 54 AD in Egypt
Simon (The Canaanite) crucified 74 AD then sawn in half
Thomas (Didymus) speared to death in India
Mark (John Mark) dragged to death
Luke (The Physician) hanged on an olive tree
Paul (Saul) beheaded 66 AD
James (Christ’s stepbrother) thrown 100 feet off a wall, beaten

The two earliest martyrs (outside of Christ our Lord) was James the Greater (John’s brother) was stabbed and beheaded (Acts 12:2), and the Evangelist and Deacon Stephen (Acts 7:59) who was stoned to death. What does all this have to do with the proof of Christ. I’ll explain.

Many parents teach their children about the mythical Santa Claus and more recently the Elf on a Shelf. The concept of Santa Claus is actually based on a Christian Pastor called Saint Nicolas of Myra (March 15, 270 – December 6, 343 AD). The original Saint Nicolas preached in Turkey. The Santa Claus of the North Pole with all the elves is a myth, a fable parents tell their children. Certainly it is done in good fun, and I’m not trying to be a Scrooge, or to judge you parents. But I do have a point.

Would you die for Santa Claus?
Would you be skinned alive and crucified for Saint Nick?
Would you be hung on meat hooks, and beaten to death,
To preserve the myth of that jolly Fat Man?

Some people have died for a lie, not knowing that it was a lie. In World War II, Japanese Kamikati Pilots would take an aircraft loaded with explosives and fly them into ships. They were told by the Emperor of Japan that their actions would earn them “Paradise”. More recently, Muslim terrorists have become suicide bombers because some half baked holy “Ian” told them they would earn “Paradise”. They died for a lie – but they didn’t know it was a lie. A religious group called “Heaven’s Gate” committed mass suicide (39 people) March 22-23, 1997 when they were convinced by their leader that they had to leave their bodies to achieve a higher state of “being”. Or you may have heard of Jim Jones, leader of the People’s Temple, led 909 people to murder-suicide. The devil can convince people that evil is good. As Jesus said, “The devil is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44).

No one would suffer martyrdom knowing that
they were dying for a myth or a lie.

The Christian martyrs died willingly in horrific ways because they were eyewitnesses to the reality of Jesus Christ. This is Peter’s point here:

The Eyewitness Accounts Were Not Delusions,
But Reality That More Than One Saw

2 Peter 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

The Apostle tells us that what he has seen are not “cunningly devised fables”. This is the Greek sophizō mythos, which means “inventive or clever myths”. These are not delusions or visions from false prophets like Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism. Smith said that in 1820 the Father and the Son visited him ALONE and told him that ALL CHRISTIAN CHURCHES were corrupt. Three years later, Smith declared that the Angel Moroni visited him ALONE and gave him an everlasting gospel on golden plates called The Book of Mormon.

The founder of Islam, Mohammad claimed that when he was in the Cave of Hira, three kilometers from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, that the Angel Gabriel came and told him ALONE that he was the true Messiah and prophet. Only Mohammad saw Gabriel in that cave.

Charles Taze Russell, the founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Ellen G. White the founder of the Seventh Day Adventists all had one on one ALONE “encounters with God”. Yet their assertions do not ring true, as there are no other witnesses that were there when an Angel or God spoke to them.

This is not the case with Christianity. Peter said, “we WEre eyewitnesses of his majesty”. The Law of God given in the Old Testament did not allow one person to establish something as truth. The Law stated:

Deuteronomy 19:15 (ESV) … Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

The Apostle Paul, trained by the great Rabbi Gamaliel, well knew this requirement. He wrote:

2 Corinthians 13:1 (ESV) This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Two or three witnesses was God’s requirement on the seriousness of anything. “Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of TWO OR THREE WITNESSES” (Hebrews 10:28, ESV). Peter says that they are not following cunning myths, but they “were eyewitnesses of his majesty”. Peter says of Jesus,

2 Peter 1:17-18 For He {Jesus} received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

What is Peter speaking of? Jesus had three disciples that He chose from out of the twelve for special training. These were Peter, James and John. James and John were brothers, the Sons of Zebedee (Mark 3:16-17), and friends of Peter. All three were fishermen who had worked together, and had been with Jesus the longest (Luke 5:4-11). When Jesus resurrected Jairus’ daughter from death, only Peter, James and John were with Him (Mark 5:37).

One day Jesus called these three to go with Him:

Mark 9:2-4 (ESV) And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

Three men saw Jesus transfigured, and saw Jesus speaking with Elijah and Moses. These three men would not only see this, but would hear God the Father speak from Heaven saying “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. Peter, who would later become the leader of all the Apostles, and James the leader of the Church of Jerusalem, would both eventually suffer horrible deaths for preaching the Gospel of Christ. They would not recant. John would be horribly tortured and abandoned to die – but by the Grace of God he would live.

Christmas Is All About The Witnesses For
The Christ’s First Coming

On January 28, 1986 the US Space Shuttle Challenger was about to be launched. The engineer in charge of the rocket boosters, Alan McDonald, told NASA not to launch the Challenger. Though threatened and scorned, Alan stood his ground. The supervisors at NASA vetoed Alan. 73 seconds after launch Challenger exploded, killing 6 people. The University of Virginia noted that the disaster cost the United States over three BILLION dollars.

It didn’t have to happen.

Christmas is a time when we celebrate the coming of Christ – the one and only Messiah – into the world. God became Man, Perfect Man. His conception, His birth, and His later life was well documented by a might cloud of witnesses. The first witnesses were Shepherds, who were told by the Angel of the Lord:

Luke 2:10-12 Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The Shepherds went to Bethlehem, saw Jesus, and went about the countryside telling others what they had seen. They saw “a Savior, which is Christ the Lord”. He is the Savior of His people. He came to the lowest to raise us to the highest. Eight days after His birth, Jesus was taken to the Temple to be dedicated and circumcised (Luke 2:21). There an old man named Simeon saw Jesus … for the Holy Spirit had promised that he would not die before he saw the Christ (Luke 2:26). Seeing Jesus, this old man …

Luke 2:28 (AP) … took Jesus up in his arms, and blessed God, saying, “Lord, let me now depart this earth in peace, just as You promised. My EYES have SEEN Your salvation, the Savior You sent for all people, both for the Gentiles and the Jews.”

Witnessing Christ, Simeon was prepared for death. You are not equipped for life until you are prepared for death. Are you prepared? Have you “seen” Jesus by the eye of faith? Have you received Him as Lord and Savior? If you have, you are ready for not just eternity – but for what tomorrow will hold.

Oh, how I pray that God the Holy Spirit touch your hearts, and lead you to Jesus. May God make it so. May God make it so. Amen and Amen.

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A Little Child Shall Save Them

Posted on December 22, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Habib Musliu: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-baby-in-yellow-swaddling-clothes-lying-on-white-fur-on-a-woven-basket-13670223/

Luke 2:1-7 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

In order to please God, we are told, we are to become like a little child. Jesus said:

Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

You cannot be saved unless you put off yourself, and become like a little child. The Bible says:

Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

The Bible tells us that in the Millennial Kingdom, the 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth, that

Isaiah 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

There is no blessing unless you become as a little child before God. You must lay down your self sufficiency, and come to His open arms, trusting in Him. The importance of being a little child is seen in the birth of Christ Jesus in a Manger in Bethlehem.

In order to be saved, you must become as a little child.
In order to save us, God had to become as a little Child.

God Chose The Messiah’s Birthplace

Around 700 years before Christ was born, God spoke to a Prophet named Micah and foretold the birth of the Savior:

Micah 5:2 (ESV) But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

The Ruler of Israel, the Messiah, would come forth from little Bethlehem. This Ruler’s “whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days (Everlasting)”. The Messiah would be from eternity, from God Himself. When Herod asked the Chief Priests and Scribes where Messiah would come from,

Matthew 2:5-6 (NKJV) … they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

A Baby would be born in Bethlehem of Judea. But He would be no ordinary Baby. The Prophet Daniel wrote some 500 years before Christ came:

Daniel 7:14 (NKJV) Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

The scope of the Messiah’s power would be that “all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him”. He will one day rule the world. But

Before He could save the world or rule the world, Christ must first become a Baby in Bethlehem.

Our God controls all things. The Bible says in:

Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Just as a river winds to and fro, it’s course was ultimately charted by God. In the same way the heart of man – even if he is a King – is in the hands of God. God controls the heart! As Mary of Nazareth grew closer to her due date, God turned the heart of the King to issue a decree:

Luke 2:1-5 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary…

Caesar Augustus decreed that everyone return to their home town, so that a census could be taken, and a tax enacted on every person. Why couldn’t Mary stay in Nazareth near her family while Joseph made the trip? This was a difficult 80 mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Why not just stay home?

The genealogies of Christ are found in Matthew 1:2-16 and Luke 3:23-38. The two genealogies are different, as the one in Matthew traces Jesus’ lineage through His stepfather Joseph whereas the genealogy in Luke traces Jesus’ lineage through His mother Mary. One article I found noted:

“The lineage of Joseph and the lineage of Mary match with the same names from Abraham to David. Joseph and Mary were distant cousins. They each fulfilled the prophecy that the messiah would descend from the house and lineage of King David. Jesus’ legal title to the throne of King David was through Joseph, but his blood title to the throne was through Mary.”

BOTH Joseph and Mary were related by birth to King David, which required that BOTH return to Bethlehem. God moved the heart of Caesar to call for this taxing, that the prophecy of Christ’s birth be fulfilled in Bethlehem.

The Virgin Birth Makes Christ The “Only Begotten” Of God

Luke 2:5-7 … with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son

I want you to notice that Verse 7 states, “she brought forth HER firstborn son”. It does not say “THEIR firstborn Son” but “HER firstborn Son”. This was not her and Joseph’s son, but the Son of God given to her by the very power of God. This is the fulfillment of God’s promise to the Serpent, that old Devil:

Genesis 3:15 (AP) … the SEED OF THE WOMAN shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel …

as well as the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) “the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel”. This is uniquely Mary’s Son. God became Man – perfect and sinless Man – through the virgin Mary. It is, as the Scripture said:

Matthew 1:18 … When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

God became a little Child. God the Son became “begotten”, taking on flesh as we all do. And yet – within that baby – is all the infinite power of God. The Scripture says:

Colossians 2:9 For in [Christ] dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

In Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead. Jesus Christ is pure God, fully God, wholly God, with all the power and magnitude of God. But in Him is all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Jesus is fully God in fully perfect Human form. He is fully God and fully Man. Eternal God would inhabit humanity, first of all, through the virgin birth. Why would God the Son do this? Why was this Baby from this virgin in this manger?

To save us from our sins.

Jesus did not consent to be born as a little Baby just so we could go to Heaven. Jesus consented to be born into His creation to save us from our sins. This is what Gabriel told Joseph:

Matthew 1:21 {Mary} will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.

The name “Jesus” means “Jehovah is salvation”. Humanity needs a Savior, One Who will save us from ourselves. Think of the most righteous men of the Old Testament. Think of Abraham, the man called “The Friend of God” (2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23). Abraham did many things of faith, and so impressed God that God considered him a “friend”. Yet Abraham went in to Hagar, and produced Ishmael rather than wait on the promise of God.

Or Noah, a faithful preacher of righteousness. He preached and waited many years while building an Ark to God’s specifications. When he got off the Ark, Noah got drunken and indecently exposed himself.

Or Moses, who faithfully led Israel for 40 years. Then one day he disobeyed God, struck the rock that was Christ, and lost his blessing into the Promised Land.

Or King David, a man after God’s own heart. David stood in front of Goliath and killed him with a stone from a sling and the devil’s own ax. And yet as King, David doubted God and numbered Israel, for which He was punished. David took Uriah’s wife, and had Uriah murdered.

I could go on and on. The story of Scripture is that we as humans constantly fall short of the glory of God. We may walk with God – but we really need God to come to us. This is why God became a little child, why God the Son took upon Himself humanity. The Scripture says:

Philippians 2:7-8 (Jesus) … took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Made of the Holy Spirit in the vessel of Mary’s womb, God became “the form of a servant”. Why was He born to a Carpenter’s household? Carpenters are builders. They take raw materials, and put them together into a beautiful finished product. My Dad was an upholsterer, and people often brought him couches and chairs to renew, recondition, and repair. When Daddy did so, it was like it was brand new. Jesus does the same thing with people. He was born into this world to take the broken, the weak, the least and the lesser than and make us into sons of God.

Jesus is more than just a name. Christmas is more than just a holiday. Because Jehovah agreed to become that little baby, He became as Romans 8:29 tells us “the FIRSTBORN among MANY BRETHREN”. Jesus came to bring us into God’s family. If you have received Him as Lord and Savior, God is your Father, the Spirit your Companion, and Jesus your Elder Brother and Lord.

That Baby in the Manger had a purpose, and that is to call us to a life of purpose. The Bible says that because of Christ you are …

Romans 8:29 … predestinated [you] to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

You are to be like Christ, to live like Christ, to speak like Christ, to represent Christ. This is not something you yourself can do, but something that God will accomplish in you as you seek His face. At the appointed time Mary brought forth Christ, not because of anything she did, but because of what God did in her.

The Way Of Christ Is Obedience And Humility

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Many this Christmas will be focused more on the Christmas Tree and what’s under it, than on the Christ wrapped in swaddling clothes. That is so very sad. “swaddling clothes” are strips of cloth that were wrapped around babies to protect them from their environment. The clothes kept them from flailing their arms about where they might be hurt. They also kept the bugs and the sun off of the baby’s skin.

Mary laid Jesus in a “manger”, the Greek phatnē, which means “a crib or a stall, an eating place for animals”. In smaller towns like Bethlehem and Nazareth, many homes had lower levels where animals were kept at night. The humans slept in the upper rooms. Yet there was a reason for this. Jesus was born into the lowest of places, so He could be available for the least of people. The first visitors to the little Messiah were shepherds in the fields around Bethlehem. One commentary notes:

“God’s own Son made His appearance on earth in the lowliest of circumstances. This humble birth conveys an amazing message to creation: the transcendent God condescended to come to us. Instead of coming to earth as a pampered, privileged ruler, Jesus was born in meekness, as one of us. He is approachable, accessible, available—no palace gates bar the way to Him; no ring of guards prevents our approach. The King of kings came humbly, and His first bed was a manger.”

The manger was a borrowed crib, a place where creatures fed. Jesus would often use the symbolic language of eating to describe faith in Him. Jesus told those who followed Him:

John 6:54-56 (NKJV) Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

Later in His ministry, just before His death, Jesus would tell His disciples:

Matthew 26:26-27 (NKJV) … Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

That Baby lying in a temporary bed, a food trough, is the Savior of the world. If you intimately make Him a part of your life, He saves you from your sins and gives you entrance into Heaven. Jesus is wrapped in swaddling clothes, because this is what every parent did with their children. He was born into this world as you and I are. God told the Shepherds watching their flocks at night:

Luke 2:10-12 Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The Shepherds would see the ordinary (a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes) in an abnormal place (lying in a manger). Jesus Christ is the Bread of Heaven, the Manna that gives us life. He is the “Savior, which is Christ the Lord”. The Messiah would come, as Micah prophesied:

Micah 5:4-5 (NKJV) And He shall stand and feed His flock In the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; And they shall abide, For now He shall be great To the ends of the earth; 5 And this One shall be peace.

Jesus Christ is our PEACE. He is the fulfillment of God’s promise to us all. The reason we celebrate Christmas is to recognize that only Jesus will meet our needs for peace. As another source states:

“who is there among us that doesn’t feel the need for peace? This babe, this Shepherd, Who has come forth from God to mankind, is the only source of lasting, eternal peace for the soul. As it is written, “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:13-14) …and speaking of God’s purposes in Christ, “and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His Cross” (Colossians 2:20)”

God became a little Child to save us. We must become little children to be saved. Oh, that God would lead you to believe on Him this very day. Only then will God bless you all richly this Christmas. Amen and Amen!

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Divine Arithmetic

Posted on December 20, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Nothing Ahead: https://www.pexels.com/photo/monochrome-photo-of-math-formulas-3729557/

2 Peter 1:2-11 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today I want to talk about the Divine Arithmetic Of Salvation. We see mathematical terms in our text today.

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied…

2 Peter 1:5 add to your faith

Last week we discussed how GRACE is the engine that saves a person. We are saved by faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is very true. And yet, I do not think that many who PROFESS Christ actually POSSESS Christ. One acronym that explains the GOSPEL of salvation is:


God created us to be with Him.

Our sin separated us from God.

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds.

Paying the price for sin, Jesus paid the price.

Everyone who trusts in Christ alone has eternal life.

Life with Jesus starts now, and lasts forever.

It is the L in the acronym that too many people are confused about. Salvation is a free gift in that you cannot purchase it. But salvation cannot come unless you agree to follow Jesus. Salvation is a free gift, but it is also a commitment.

Salvation is not a “get out of hell” free card. It is an invitation to return to the Garden, to walk with the Lord.

Bible Scholar and Pastor Dallas Willard said,

“Most problems in contemporary Churches can be explained by the fact that members have never decided to follow Christ. We have taken His NAME, but have not taken His YOKE.”

There is no life with Jesus until you do a little DIVINE SUBTRACTION. There must be REPENTANCE.

I very rarely hear this preached, but it’s true. You cannot be saved – cannot receive the Gospel – unless you first REPENT. Our Lord Jesus preached:

Matthew 4:17 … REPENT, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand …

Repent = metanoeō, compound word, “meta” = to change; “noeō” = the mind. Repentance is to stop being your own god, and to choose through the power of the Spirit to follow Jesus. It is a subtraction of SELF.

When asked why He spent so much time with sinners, Jesus declared:

Luke 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

Jesus did not say “I have called sinners to SALVATION”, but He said “I have called sinners to REPENTANCE”.

Repeatedly Jesus told those who would listen,

Luke 13:3, 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Again, Jesus doesn’t say SAVED but REPENT. We do not save ourselves, but we do REPENT. Our Lord said in

Luke 15:10 … “there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Jesus sent His disciples out with the message “that people everywhere should REPENT” (Mark 6:12). The Apostle said that:

Romans 2:4 “it is the kindness of God that LEADS YOU TO REPENTANCE”.

Repentance is so very necessary to salvation. So what is repentance? It is Divine Subtraction. It is the removal of self from the equation. You cannot be saved on your own terms, but must be saved by surrendering yourself to God while seizing the Grace that He offers. There can be no half way.

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord

Repentance means that you receive Jesus Christ as LORD. Jesus never offered the Kingdom of God apart from surrender to Him. He used statements like “Follow Me”, or “If you love Me, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS”, or

John 14:21 (NLT) Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.

We are not called to TOLERATE Jesus, but to LOVE Him. And that requires DIVINE SUBTRACTION. We surrender ourselves to God. The Bible says:

Luke 14:26-33 (ESV) If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

As believers in Christ we are called to love Jesus first and foremost. We are called to love Jesus more than our own lives. We are called to love Jesus no matter what life throws our way. And Beloved, if you are a Christian, we are told in our text that:

2 Peter 1:3-4 …His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature

God has given us all that we need for life and godliness. God Who saves us, “hath called us to glory and virtue”. We are not called to walk in darkness, but to walk in the light of Christ. God has called the Christian to be “partakers of the divine nature”. We are not saved just to go to Heaven, but we are saved to walk with Christ NOW and INTO ETERNITY. The Holy Spirit bids us REPENT. Jesus said, “Take MY YOKE upon you” (Matthew 11:29). We give our lives to Jesus, for He has given His life for us. This is REPENTANCE.

Walking With Jesus, God Will Teach You Divine ADDITION

The target of every Christian is to please God, to be like Jesus. Our faith is never stagnant. Having access to the Divine Nature, we are called of God to GROW.

2 Peter 1:5-7 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

We are told to be “giving all diligence”. The word “GIVING” is the Greek pareisphérō, which means “to contribute or bring in besides”. “DILIGENCE” is the Greek spoudḗ, which means “with haste or eagerness, to be earnest in accomplishing”. Faith is a wonderful thing – it is a gift of God. When we practiced DIVINE SUBTRACTION by repenting, God gave us faith in Christ.

God the Holy Spirit leads us to REPENTANCE:

Acts 11:18 (NASB) … God has also granted to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life … (also see 2 Timothy 2:25)

God the Holy Spirit grants us FAITH:

2 Peter 1:1 … to them that have obtained like precious faith with us

But the same God leads us to ADD TO OUR FAITH.

2 Peter 1:5-6 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance…

What do we ADD? We are called into partnership with God to seek out and ADD:

  • Virtue is the Greek ἀρέτη arétē, (pronounced ar-et’-ay) which means moral goodness. We are not to be like the fallen world. We are warned in Scripture:

James 4:4 (ESV) … Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

The world is constantly demanding that Christianity absorb its abnormalities, that the light become more like the darkness. But the only way that light can become one with darkness is to extinguish its energy. To absorb the world is to become something that Christ never intended. I have heard people argue:

Well, Jesus never said ANYTHING against transgenderism or LGBTQ+. If He never said anything against it, He wasn’t against it.

This is hogwash. Jesus saidGod’s Word was TRUTH (John 17:17). When Jesus walked the earth, the Bible the Jews had was the Old Testament we have today. Jesus said that He did not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). When asked about marriage, Jesus said:

Mark 10:6-9 (ESV) … from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.

Though Jesus never specified that one type of sexual sin was more evil than the other, He did specify that what God designed and decreed was male to female marriage. Jesus came for the Jewish people first (Matthew 15:24; Romans 1:16; 2:9-10), and the Jews that Jesus preached to were well acquainted with the Bible (our Old Testament). The Law of Moses was VERY SPECIFIC about sexual immorality (Leviticus 18 & 20), and the punishment that God levied on those who did so.

For Jesus to talk about every sexual sin to a Jewish audience familiar with the Law of Moses would be like coming to America and telling everyone to drive on the right side of the road. You already know that.

We not only add to our faith virtue or moral goodness, but we also add:

  • KNOWLEDGE. Learn of Christ. Study Him. Focus on Him. You cannot read and study your Bible enough. You cannot read and study what Christ said enough. Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28-29Come unto me, all [ye] that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Watch what Jesus did. Note how He responded to others, especially those who were critical of Him. Follow in Christ’s steps, imitating Him. “Be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1). Add to this knowledge,

  • TEMPERANCE (ἐγκράτεια enkráteia, eng-krat’-i-ah), also known as SELF CONTROL. The word “temperance” refers to how you control your body, your passions and your expression of passion. Christians are to be self controlled as temperance is within the Fruit of the Spirit. Jesus was self controlled. He controlled His anger, His tongue, and His appetites in a way that glorified God.

We are not to fill ourselves with ourselves. We are to become open vessels that God can use. Temperance is a crucifixion of the flesh, with its passions and desires:

Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: (enkráteia) against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

2 Peter 1:6-7 … and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

  • Add to temperance, PATIENCE (Greek hupŏmŏnē). We are impatient people, but God is patient. He allows the world to make bad decisions day after day without dropping the hand of judgment on the earth. We are to be patient, what the Scripture often calls “longsuffering” (2 Corinthians 6:6; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 1:11; 3:12).

Add to patience GODLINESS (Greek eusébeia). To be godly is to seek to please God.

The Scripture says,

1 Timothy 6:6-8 (ESV) … godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

  • Add to godliness BROTHERLY KINDNESS (Greek philadelphia). Be kind to others. When they mess up, be kind. If you must correct someone, be kind. To be kind is to be gentle.

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Proverbs 15:1-2 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. [2] The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

Finally, the Apostle says:

  • Add to brotherly kindness CHARITY. Love all. Let love rule your lives. The word translated CHARITY is the Greek agapē, which means “Godlike, selfless love”. The Scripture says:

Romans 13:8-10 (ESV) Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Why I Must LIVE My Faith While I Can

2 Peter 1:8-10 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

The Apostle tells us to “give diligence to make your calling and election sure”. Do you KNOW that you are saved? How do you KNOW? God has “called us to glory and virtue” (verse 3). If you have no desire to serve the Lord – if to you Jesus is just a means into Heaven – then you may not be saved. You are to make sure that you were called of Christ. As the old saying goes:

If you were put on trial to determine if you are a Christian – is there enough evidence there to convict you? If not, you may not be saved. Do not allow Satan to delude you. Make your calling and election SURE.

May God bless you richly with His Word.

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God’s Blessings Come Through Little Things

Posted on December 15, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/flying-yellow-bird-459198/

Luke 1:39-46 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord ..

I have a video from Homicide Detective J. Warner Wallace. He is a Senior Fellow at the Colson Center and an Adjunct Professor of Apologetics at the Talbot School of Theology. It’s only about three minutes – but it answers the question “Are there many ways to God?”

What makes Christianity unique is Christ Jesus Himself.

He was uniquely born into this world, unlike anyone who has ever been born. It was prophesied of God in the Old Testament that the Messiah or the Christ was going to come into this world uniquely through the Prophet Isaiah. Of all the Prophets of the Old Covenant, ALL heard the Voice of God but very few looked into Heaven. Ezekiel saw into Heaven, and Elijah was snatched up by a chariot of fire. I may be wrong, but the only other Prophet I can think of who saw into Heaven in the Old Testament was Isaiah. Having seen into Heaven, Isaiah was given a special glimpse at the coming Messiah or Christ. He saw the Messiah as the Coming King in:

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

The “CHILD” would be born, but the “SON” would be given. As the co-eternal Son of God Jesus could never be “born”, as God is never born but has always existed. The Scripture equates Jesus with God. He is “The mighty God”, God become Perfect Man. Jesus is “The everlasting Father”. He said “If you have seen ME, you have seen THE FATHER” (John 14:9). Jesus said, “I and the Father are ONE” (John 10:30). Jesus prayed for His Church, prayed to the Father that “the Church MAY BE ONE and WE ARE ONE” (John 17:22). The Father recognizes the Son as God, saying:

Hebrews 1:8 … THY THRONE, O GOD is forever and ever: the scepter of Thy Kingdom is a right scepter …

And as God is the Great “I AM”, the Eternal Present Tense, the Scripture says of Jesus,

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Isaiah also saw Jesus coming through a virgin named Mary. He wrote of this in:

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The King James renders the Greek ʿalmâ as “A virgin”, but the New American Standard, the Holman Christian Standard, the English Standard, the New International Version, the New King James Version, and the Amplified Bible all render it as “THE virgin”. I think the latter is better. God hand chose Mary to be the mother of Christ’s humanity. The child born of the virgin would be called “Immanuel”, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

When the Angel came to Mary to tell her that she would have a unique Child – the Messiah – she was told that her cousin Elisabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy. Following the announcement that

Luke 1:39-43 And Mary AROSE in those days, and WENT INTO THE HILL country WITH HASTE, into a city of Juda; 40 … entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

As Mary left Gabriel and traveled to her cousin’s home, the Messiah within her was but a tiny thing – no bigger than the dot at the end of a sentence. God uses little things to do great works!

The fertilized egg begins to divide into groups of cells. There are no distinguishing features to that future child as of yet. And yet when Mary walks into Elisabeth’s home, and as soon as she says “Hello” tiny John the Baptist – six months old still in his mother’s womb – leaps! Elisabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of God overflows her life. And immediately Elisabeth begins to worship God. She recognizes that God has blessed Mary.

Luke 1:42 Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

Elisabeth does not exalt Mary, but recognizes that God has blessed her by using her to fulfill Messianic Prophecy.

Why did God choose Mary?

First, God chose Mary to fulfill the promise He made through Isaiah and to King David. We have already seen that God promised in Isaiah that the Messiah would come of a Virgin. But God also promised King David as well as Isaiah that the Messiah would come through his lineage:

To David God said (2 Samuel 7:12-13, ESV) “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever”.

To the Prophet Isaiah God said, (Isaiah 11:1, ESV) “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”

And to the Prophet Jeremiah God said, (Jeremiah 23:5-6, ESV) “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”

The Messiah MUST come from the lineage of David.

But here is the problem. Among the Jews, the lineage of the children was traced through the male line. Yet the Messiah would be born of a virgin, so there would be NO MALE LINE. How would God resolve this? He did so through BOTH Mary as well as Joseph her fiancee.

My commentary notes that the lineage of Christ in Matthew 1:1-16 is traced through Joseph’s line, the man who would be our Lord’s stepfather. The lineage of Christ in Luke 3:23-38 traces Jesus’ ancestry from MARY’S line.

Second, I believe that God chose both Mary as well as her relative Elisabeth to fulfill Bible Prophecy because both women were humble, God fearing people. Elisabeth, though she will bear a Nazarite Priest from her womb, was not pride filled. She was humbled that God would use her so. God outlined the strict requirements that the Nazarite Priest had to follow (Numbers 6:1-21), but

To my knowledge, there were only THREE Nazarite Priests from the womb: Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist.

It would be easy to be prideful over what God had done with Elisabeth, but she was not so. She recognized that God had blessed Mary, and humbly asked:

Luke 1:43 …. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

God will not save the arrogant, nor will He bless the pride filled. Elisabeth humbled herself before God as all Christians should do. She said:

Luke 1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Elisabeth not only recognized Mary as the mother of the Messiah, but encouraged Mary to believe that God was faithful, and would do as He has said. When believers come together, we do so to encourage one another in our faith. We are to point to the faithfulness of God, just as Elisabeth did with Mary.

Mary Sings In Response To Her Faith

Luke 1:46-47 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

This portion of Scripture is often called “Mary’s Song” or “The Magnificat” (Which means “My Soul Magnifies”). The books The History and Use of Hymns and Hymn Tunes David R. Breed, 2009 & Favorite Hymns Marjorie Reeves, 2006 states that the following Scriptures were one of the eight most ancient Christian hymns.

Singing is not just a time filler in a service, but is a part of Christian worship. The Psalmist wrote:

Psalm 100:1-2 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

The Apostles taught the Church to sing. Paul said:

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Ephesians 5:18-20 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Singing does not have to be perfect, but it is to be “to the Lord with your heart”. God does not care if your singing is perfect, Pharisaical perfect, but that you sing to Him WITH YOUR HEART. One Author noted:

“We’re not called to sing because we’re great singers. We sing because God is great and greatly to be praised! And, by God’s design, one of the chief ways we praise him is through song. He is worthy of our song, so we sing! And as we sing, especially for those not naturally gifted, we exercise faith. As we open our mouths to sing, we must believe the truth that God is pleased with us. We trust that because of Jesus’s work for us, our Father loves us and wants to hear our voices. Because he is good and tender and faithful, he won’t turn away if we can’t carry a tune. In a world where we rely on our senses and instincts, this will take some adjustment. We must believe the Bible over our impulse to hide. We need to trust God that our relationship with him does not depend on our performance.”

There will be many things NOT in Heaven. There will be no SIN, no PRIDE, no DEATH, no GRAVES nor HOSPITALS. But most of all, there will be NO DISOBEDIENCE to God. Singing is an act of obedience to God. The Bible says:

Psalm 95:1-2 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Singing spiritually strengthens us, reminding us that our circumstances are not outside the control of God.

When Paul and Silas were imprisoned for preaching Christ in Philippi, the Bible says:

Acts 16:25 (ESV) About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them …

It was when they were PRAYING AND SINGING HYMNS TO GOD that God sent an angel to knock down the prison doors. Even released, Paul and Silas stayed where they were, ministering to the other prisoners.

Mary Praised God With All She Had. Mary was raised in a poor but God fearing home. She didn’t have much to give God, but she gave God what she had. She gave herself.

Mary honored the Lord with her BODY. Our text says “And MARY SAID”. You ARE what you DO. A lot of people SAY they are Christian, but their actions do not back up their words. MARY SAID. She spoke her faith. She was NOT ASHAMED. When God blesses you, you are NOT ASHAMED of what He has given.

King David was NOT ASHAMED of God’s statutes and laws (Psalm 119:80)
The Apostle Paul was NOT ASHAMED of the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16)
The Christian is NOT ASHAMED to proclaim Christ (1 Peter 4:16)

Mary’s song of praise was not just external, but INTERNAL. She said:

Luke 1:46-47 … My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

Mary humbled herself before the Lord Who blessed her so. Mary took no credit for her blessings. She said:

Luke 1:48-49 For {God} hath regarded the LOW estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

Word Study: Mary sang of her LOW ESTATE, the Greek tapeinōsis. The word tapeinōsis means “spiritual abasement, moral poverty, the fact that she was, in her eyes, unworthy and filled with guilt before Almighty God. The Apostle Paul used the same word in:

Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our VILE (tapeinōsis) body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

And James used it to describe the eventual humiliation of the proud but rich person who will stand before God unjustified and lost:

James 1:10 But the rich, in that he is made low: (tapeinōsis) because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

The Catholics consider Mary the Mother of Christ to be the “Queen of Heaven”, saying:

“Understanding Mary as queen mother sheds light on her important intercessory role in the Christian life. Just like the queen mother of the Davidic kingdom, Mary serves as advocate for the people in the Kingdom of God today. Thus, we should approach our queen mother with confidence, knowing that she carries our petitions to her royal son and that he responds to her as Solomon did to Bathsheba: “I will never refuse you.”

Any student of Christ knows that our Lord Jesus taught us to pray not to Mary, but to say:

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

The Scripture says that we have “peace with God THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM WE ALSO HAVE ACCESS” (Romans 5:1-2). Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). We are told in Ephesians 2:18, “THROUGH JESUS we both HAVE ACCESS in one Spirit TO THE FATHER”. The concept that we address God through anyone … ANYONE outside of Christ … is foreign to the Scripture, a fabrication of religion. It is Jesus Christ Who is our “HIGH PRIEST FOREVER” (Hebrews 6:19-20). We as believer-priests “have confidence to enter the Holy Place BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS … we HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST over the House of God” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Mary added nothing to her calling, but honored God for it. We need not add a layer of intercessors – Mary or the Saints – that the Scripture never added. Mary was blessed not because she was sinless, the “Queen of Heaven” so called of Christ. Mary was blessed because God – in His infinite Grace – is pleased to use the humble but broken who will heed His word and His glory.

Mary Acknowledges The Proper State Of The Christian

Luke 1:50-53 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

God blesses only those who HUMBLE themselves before Him. Jesus came for whosoever will humble themselves to Him and His Gospel.He “scatters the proud” and “puts down the mighty”. Those who self sufficient, “rich in themselves” God “sends away empty”. But those who humbly follow Him will be blessed.

Illustrate A husband wanted to give his wife the perfect gift for Christmas, so he bought her the finest diamond ring he could afford. He knew she would guess what the gift was if he just wrapped the jewelry box and put it under the tree, so he put her gift inside a box of cereal and wrapped it up. The Monday before Christmas while her husband was at work she picked up the box that held her gift. Shaking it she heard what sounded like cereal. Quickly tearing the box open she saw “Kellogg’s Corn Flakes” and she went livid. Without opening the box, she took it outside, tossed it in the trash, and went inside fuming Outside she heard the sound of the garbage truck making it’s pickup. She had no idea what she had done.

Mary humbly followed God and was blessed with His mercy and grace. God uses the little things. He uses the broken, the humble, the willing but weak. Will you follow Jesus? Oh, how I pray you will! Oh Holy Spirit, drive Your wedge into the heart, and bring all souls to Christ. For God’s glory I pray. Amen and Amen. May God touch your hearts with His Word.

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The Nurture Of The Christian

Posted on December 13, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Tim Mossholder: https://www.pexels.com/photo/green-leaves-2336117/

Turn with me in your Bibles to 2 Peter chapter 1.

I heard a preacher tell a story to illustrate a point – and I liked the story at first, but now don’t know about it. A young man wanted to be a dealer in Jade, so he went to an expert in Jade to learn all he could about it. He asked this wise old Jade dealer to apprentice him – and the old man agreed. He asked the young man to come back the next morning. When he did, the old man put a piece of Jade in the young man’s hand … then he began to talk about his life. As the old man rambled on as old people often do, the young man became impatient. “What does this have to do with Jade?”, he asked. The old man assured him that, in time, it would all make sense. He then began to ramble on about his life. At the end of the day, the young man returned the Jade to the old man, and went home, promising to return the next day.

Day after day the same thing happened. The young man would come to the old man’s business, he would hand him a piece of jade to hold tightly in his hand. Then the old man would ramble, telling stories about his life. This went on for about three weeks, and the young man had become so frustrated that he was about to quit. But one day he went in and the old man slipped a piece of Jade into his hand …. but it WASN’T. It didn’t feel right. The weight was off. It was too porous

The moral of that story – so the preacher said – was Jade and the Gospel Salvation offered by Christ are the same. Like Jade, you need to receive the Gospel, and hold on to it to know its truth. There is some truth to this, for you will never know the blessings of Christ unless you follow Christ. You must receive Him and love Him.

Prior to salvation we must submit to Jesus when He calls us, saying “Follow Me”. We surrender to Him. We GRASP THE CROSS and hold it in our hearts.

We willingly become “slaves of God”, as we studied last week. However, once we are saved we are NURTURED and GROW as Christians THROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. That’s what we read in our text today.

2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The Believer in Christ HAS BEEN Saved,
IS BEING Saved, and WILL BE Saved.

Return to the first words of our focal text. Read:

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord

What does God offer to us in the glorious Gospel, this “Amazing Grace”? God offers us GRACE and PEACE. The order of these words is important. It is always GRACE first, THEN PEACE. You will never see PEACE then GRACE – ever! This is a common theme in Scripture. The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I could go on and on. Seventeen times in the New Testament this pattern is repeated. There is first GRACE, then PEACE. Now what does it mean by PEACE?

I was listening to some of the newer, modern day “Christian” songs the other day when I spotted numerous errors. I love the music of artist Tauren Wells. His recent song “Crazy About You” is a love song to God. Some of the lyrics are:

“He’s crazy about you
Died so you didn’t have to
Tore your failure apart
Now He wears your scars
That’s how much He loves you
He’s never been mad at you
He’s only been madly in love
And it’s never been about what you do
It’s always been about what He’s done
It’s something you just can’t hear enough
Oh, He’s crazy about you
Didn’t wanna live without you
He traded the stars for a chance at your heart
Just to show you it’s true”

Is that what the Bible says? No, I’m sorry, but that’s not what it says. The Bible does say:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God gave us GRACE through His Son’s death and resurrection. But why was GRACE necessary if “God’s never been mad at you, He’s only been madly in love”? Why did Jesus suffer so horribly on Calvary if God has been happy with us all? What a cruelty that would be. The very next words of Jesus to Nicodemus are:

John 3:17-18 (ESV) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Another artist named Zach Williams sang Heart of God:

“I know you’re hurtin’, I can see it in your eyes
So pull back the curtain and take off your disguise
Whoever told you, you ain’t worth the fight
The cross tells a story that’ll change your mind
‘Cause there’s only love in the heart of God
No room for shame in His open arms
There’s beauty from ashes, so come as you are
And there’s only love in the heart of God
Come, prodigal children, it’s never too late
Run home to the Father,
let Him clothe you with grace
And bury your burdens, break free from your fear
Step out of the shadows, there’s no judgment here”

So close to being true … but THERE IS JUDGMENT HERE. The Bible depicts God as a HOLY God Who is ANGERED by sin. The Bible tells us that God is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. The Prophet Isaiah looked into Heaven and saw the Angels flying about the Throne of God, crying …

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of Hosts: The whole
earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3)

and John the Revelator looked into Heaven and saw four powerful angels that never rested night nor day, but said,

“Holy, Holy, Holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is,
and is to come”. (Revelation 4:8)

God is Holy, and Righteous, and Just – and we are NOT. We are all unnaturally separated from God by our sins. We are born broken. This is the bad news. But the good news is that our God has made a way for all through Christ. The Bible describes salvation as an act of GRACE that even Abraham, that grand Old Testament Saint, enjoyed. The Bible says:

Romans 4:20-5:1 (ESV) No unbelief made {Abraham} waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Illustration God does have judgment against sin. But rather than destroy us, He gave His Son in our place. He could have drowned us, but He gave us an Ark. He calls us to come, to get on that Ark, to surrender our lives to the Ark. When Noah got on the Ark, God sealed it. Noah couldn’t steer it – he could only remain in it, trusting, waiting. Noah couldn’t escape judgment by swimming next to the Ark. He had to be IN the Ark.

You are either IN the Ark, IN Christ, or you are UNDER the condemnation of God!

Christ came to Abraham and said, “Follow Me”, and believing the Pre-Incarnate Christ Abraham was saved by Grace. When Jesus comes to the person and says “Follow Me”, when we hear His Voice and follow Him, surrendered as Abraham was, we are justified by faith. We are made right with God because of our faith in Jesus. And Beloved, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. No longer are we at war with God. No longer do we walk in darkness as a normal way of life. Spirit indwelt, we seek to follow Jesus daily.

One day at a time, one step at a time. Back to our focal text.

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord

Grace and peace are not stagnant. You don’t just get saved, then drift your way to Heaven.

Salvation is a POSITION.
Salvation is a PROGRESSION.
Salvation is a PROMISE.

When you are SAVED – that is, when you hear Jesus say “Follow Me” and you begin to walk with Him in the Light of God, then your POSITION changes. Like Simon Peter, we are now “Servants – Doulos – of Jesus Christ”. We once served sin – we now serve our Savior. We seek to please Him. We are also sons of God. The Scripture says:

Galatians 4:6 (NKJV) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

The Christian has a unique relationship with God because of Jesus Christ. We are no longer servants of sin, but are servants and sons of the Most High God. Those who profess to be saved but revel in sin and darkness are only deluding themselves. The Bible says:

Romans 6:16-18 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

If a person say “I am a Christian” and yet refuse to obey God, but choose to act as a lost soul, that person is still a lost soul. The Christian wants to grow in grace and peace. How do you grow in Grace and Peace? Again, our focal text:

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord

Word Study Grace and peace are MULTIPLIED (Greek plēthynō, to increase or abound) THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE of God and of Jesus. We gain this knowledge through the Bible, God’s Word. Jesus prayed for His Church in

John 17:17 Sanctify your Church through YOUR TRUTH, O God: Your Word is TRUTH.

As God the Son never second guessed His Father, neither do we second guess our Father. What He has said is TRUE. We need to study this Book, and let it have its effect on us to make us more like sons of God. God wants us to be STRONG in our faith.

As the salmon swims upstream to get to its birthplace to spawn and die, the Christian will swim against the currents of this world to get to Him Who gave us life!

I heard Adrian Rogers put it this way:

“The faith that FIZZLES before the FINISH
was FALSE faith from the FIRST!”

If you are truly in Christ, you will remain with Christ. HE IS YOUR LORD.

Our Father Has Given Us All That We Need To Grow

2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

God did not call us to salvation, then leave us on our own. God our Father “hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness”. Now some would read this text and add “Eternal” before the word “life” had God not added the words “and godliness”. Pastor Paul Tripp stated:

“This passage is describing the ‘here and now’ benefits of our salvation. Listen, it’s not enough for us to believe in life after death – we need to start believing in life before death. If we understand our identity that we’ve been given in Christ, we can live filled with hope and courage. Christ has not just forgiven you. He has completely and fundamentally changed who you are, and because of that, you can live in a very new and different way.

If you remember that in your marriage, if you remember that in your job, if you remember that as you face the situations and relationships of life, it will make a tremendous difference in the way that you live. You’ll begin to produce new and surprising fruit, and you’ll be used by God to help others remember their identity.”

What did the Old Testament Saint have under the Law of Moses? When they sinned, they had to take an animal sacrifice to the Temple – often several days journey – and have a priest kill it, and sprinkle its blood over them. But the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ did not enter the Temple in Jerusalem, but entered into Heaven itself. Jesus did not enter with the blood of animals, but

Hebrews 9:12 … He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

You cannot learn this by feelings, but by knowledge of God’s Word. It was no fallen man who stood before God for you, but the Son of Man, the Messiah, Jesus Christ the Son of God. The Scripture says:

Hebrews 9:24-28 (ESV) Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

If you are IN CHRIST, you have been given a COMPLETE SALVATION. “Sin has no dominion over you – YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE” (Romans 6:14). You have a complete salvation.

You not only have a COMPLETE SALVATION, but you have an INDWELLING SPIRIT, a partnership with God.

It is the Holy Spirit Who causes the believer to be “born again”. As we are told in verse 3, “his divine power hath given unto us all things”. We are not Christians because we know more than others. We are Christians because God has made us Godly. The Bible says:

Romans 8:9 (AP) … if ANY PERSON DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, they do not belong to God

Christians are saved by faith in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We As Believers Can Rest In The Promises Of God

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

I am told there are some 300,000 promises of God in the Scripture for His Children. He saved us so that we might make a difference in the world. Jesus said in:

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Jesus Christ called us into the Family of God to shine for Him, to make a difference. We are not called to be a part of the fallen world, but to be a grace oriented people. We can give by teaspooons, or we can give by gallons. The more you follow Christ, reaching out, loving, being the Children of God, the greater blessing you will bring yourself and others.

J Hudson Taylor felt led of God to bring Christ to inland China. Church Times notes:

“IT WAS in June 1865, while walking alone on the Brighton {Beach in England}, that Hudson Taylor, as he later wrote, “surrendered myself to God for this service” – to lead the mission to Christianise inland China. “I told {God} that all the responsibility must rest with Him.” He prayed for 24 fellow workers, two for each of 11 inland provinces that were without a missionary, and two for Mongolia. He then opened a bank account under the name “China Inland Mission” with “ten pounds and all the promises of God”. The {China Inland Mission} was born.”

Are you saved? God wants to nurture you, to use you to bring ligjht into this dark world. Theologian J.I. Packer said:

“There’s a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve Him, boldness to share Him, and contentment in Him.”

Do you know Him? If you do not, today is the day to come follow Christ with us. Do not delay. God has given you time to choose – choose Jesus Who gives life. May God the Holy Spirit move on your hearts this day. Amen and Amen.

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God Used A Little Old Couple

Posted on December 8, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Gustavo Fring: https://www.pexels.com/photo/happy-senior-couple-in-love-with-bunch-of-fresh-flowers-in-nature-4148984/

Please turn with me in your Bibles to Luke Chapter 2, though we will largely be in Luke Chapter 1. I thought as we came toward Christmas that I would talk about the holiday. What about Christmas? It might interest you to know that the earliest Church – the Church formed by the Apostles that Jesus hand picked – this Church did not celebrate Christmas.

The birth of Jesus is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20. And yet …

In the record of Christ’s birth we do not know the time when Christ was born, for the Scripture does not say.

The early Church put more emphasis on the death and resurrection of Jesus than it did on His birth. Jesus’ birth in a manger in Bethlehem is certainly a very important part of our faith. When Christ was born, the Bible tells us that the first announcement of His birth was to the shepherds:

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

How did we come by December 25th as the time to celebrate Christ’s birth? The earliest Pastors believed that Christ was crucified on the 15th of Nisan, 33 AD. Many Bible scholars consider this to be March 25th. Around 300 years after Christ’s crucifixion the Church came to believe that Jesus was concieved 9 months from March 25th, the day that He died on the Cross.

The early Church Pastor known as Saint Augustine (Augustine of Hippo, born November 13, 354 died August 28, 430) wrote in his Sermon 202 “On The Trinity”:

“For he [Jesus] is believed to have been conceived on the 25th of March, upon which day also he suffered; so the womb of the Virgin, in which he was conceived, where no one of mortals was begotten, corresponds to the new grave in which he was buried, wherein was never man laid, neither before him nor since. But he was born, according to tradition, upon December the 25th.”

Though we don’t know for certain what day Jesus was born, it could have been in December.

Some have said that Jesus could not have been born in December, because neither shepherds nor sheep would be out in the winter. That’s not true. The Weather Channel reports that temperatures in Jerusalem in winter range from 47.12°F to 57.2°F. The WeatherBase notes that the average December temperature in Jerusalem is 49°F. Those who have visited the Holy Land in winter have seen sheep out in the snow.

So it is possible that Jesus was born in December – though we do not know for certain. Neither the Bible nor early Church writings specify a date for His birth. We do know this:

Before Jesus Could Be Born, God Had
To Create His Herald

When God promised to send the Messiah to save us, He promised that He would be “the SEED of the WOMAN” (Genesis 3:15). Women do not have SEED, but EGGS. So God was foretelling a birth that would be accomplished WITHOUT the intervention of man. Jesus Christ – God Incarnate – would be begotten of the Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.

Luke 1:35 (NKJV) The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

As the Son of God, Jesus Christ is “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16). This is no mere mortal. He is the SON OF GOD! He is the One that the Father addressed, saying

Hebrews 1:8 … unto the Son {the Father} saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

The Immortal will become Mortal. The Unchangable will change Himself into something “lower than the angels”. He is “Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us”. (Matthew 1:23).

God must have a Herald.
The King must have a spokesman.

It was prophecied 430 years before the Christ came that God would send His messenger:

Malachi 3:1 (NKJV) “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the LORD of hosts.

It was prophecied 700 years before Christ’s birth that God would raise up a herald. His job was to be the VOICE for the King. The Scripture prophesied:

Isaiah 40:3 (ESV) A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Where would this Messenger come from? Would he come from the Palace as Moses did? Would he come from Ur of the Chaldees as Abram did? Would he come from the sheepfold as David did? Yes and no. Moses, Abraham, and David all came from different places physically, but spiritually they all came from the same place.

They were all broken. They believed in God, and served Him to the best of their abilities, but they were broken. Abram was named “The Father of”, though he and his wife were childless – and beyond having children. Moses murdered a man, and fled to the desert of Midian for 40 years, a fugitive from Pharaoh. David was the smallest and least of Jessie’s children, often ignored and put down by his family.

All of the people God used were NOT famous, NOT powerful, NOT rich. They believed in God, though they were broken. The herald of Christ will come from a LITTLE old broken couple.

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

The herald of the King of Kings will not come from the palace. “Herod, the king of Judaea” is a greedy thief, a gold digger who stole the Throne of David. An Idumean, Herod is the ancestor of Esau, not Jacob. As an Idumean he has no right to sit on the Throne of David. Only those descended from Jacob – who would later be named Israel or Prince of God – have that right. The Bible says:

James 4:6 (ESV) … God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

1 Peter 5:5 (ESV) … God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Proverbs 3:34 (ESV) … Toward the scorners {God} is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.

Herod stole what was not his, and received accolades and bows over that he stole. But Zacharias and Elisabeth his wife kept on believing in God even when things did not go their way. The Scripture says:

Luke 1:6-7 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course …

Zacharias was in danger of losing his lineage. He and his wife were childless, and not likely to have children because of their advanced age. Yet these people loved the Lord. Though things were not going their way, “they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless”. They did not depart from their faith. They were always “before God”. They obeyed God though they were shamed that they had no children. It was a common belief among the Jews that “God closed the womb”. When Rachel got upset with Jacob in that she was without children, the Scripture says:

Genesis 30:2 … Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

The Jews believed that it was God Who gave “blessings of the breasts, and of the womb” (Genesis 49:25). It is “God Who fashions us in the womb” (Job 31:15). So as Elisabeth aged without children, the other wives began to believe and perhaps whisper how God was punishing her or Zacharias for some sin.

I am sure Zacharias was tempted to walk away from God and his calling. His duty was to light the incense (Luke 1:9-10) that burned while the people prayed – and yet God had not answered his prayers.

Yet the couple did not. They trusted God, and served Him faithfully even though their lives were broken and empty. Zacharias and Elisabeth remind us that God has a right time to do what He does. He wanted Jesus to be born around six months after the herald. God had a plan. As Zacharias was serving the Lord we read:

Luke 1:11-13 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

The “altar of incense” represented the prayers of God’s children rising up to Him. As the Angel of the Lord appears to Zacharias, he stands “on the right side of the altar”. God has heard his prayers – that is – though Zacharias is in a hopeless situation, he has never stopped praying.

Oh that we would praise God in the dark, and praise God in the light. Praise Him in the valley, and praise Him on the mountaintop.

We are frail creatures subject to failure ands breaking, but we have a God Who loves us and will be faithful to us. As a priest Zacharias was familiar with the Law which promised:

Deuteronomy 7:9 (KJV) Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, THE FAITHFUL GOD, WHICH KEEPETH COVENANT AND MERCY WITH THEM THAT LOVE HIM and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

God will not be unfaithful to His people. He watches what we do. He had watched Zacharias for years as both he and his wife aged. God watched their faithfulness in service, and came to offer a child to Zacharias at a time when only God could have made a difference. Why did God wait? Because God knows the best time. We are to rest in God’s timing, knowing that He knows best.

It is not faith to move forward when you have a road map.
It is not faith to do a thing when you have all the resources at hand.
It is not faith to serve Him only when the bank account overflows.
Faith is to trust God no matter what.
Faith is to believe that God is able.
Faith is to do your part, and trust God to do His part.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Luke 1:12-13 (KJV) … when Zacharias saw {the angel}, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.  [13]  But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

God has heard your prayers Zacharias. The child you have long waited for is coming through Elisabeth. This should have caused Zacharias to jump for joy. God heard your prayers. Praise Him! Praise Him! Zacharias, you shall name this baby “John”.

“John” means “God is Gracious”!

Zacharias, name the baby “John” to remind yourself daily that I the LORD am “gracious”, filled with mercy. I love to fix the broken. I love to use the faithful.

Luke 1:14-16 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.  [15]  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. [16] And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

The baby John would bring a blessing to those around him, and would grow up to be blessed and bless others. John would be the greatest Herald ever known.

John would be “filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb”. This shows us that the filling of the Spirit is not something we earn or deserve, but it is a gracious gift from God.

Luke 1:17 {John} shall go before him {the Messiah} in the spirit and power of {Elijah}, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

John would be as great in ministry as was Elijah, one of the few people in the Scripture that never experienced death.

God Can Bless Little Strength,
But Cannot Bless Unbelief

Things were going quite well up to this point when Zacharias did something God cannot stand. He disbelieved God. He should have praised God for this wondrous answer to prayer, but instead said:

Luke 1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an OLD MAN, AND MY WIFE WELL STRICKEN IN YEARS.

Zacharias made his inabilities and his wife’s shortcomings greater than the power of God. The Scripture tells us:

Hebrews 11:6 But WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We must trust in our God even when things seem impossible. “With God, all things are possible” (Genesis 18:14; Luke 1:37)

  • When LITTLE David stood before Goliath he saw a big man but a bigger God. Taking a LITTLE stone, God defeated Goliath. Nothis is impossible wioth God.
  • When LITTLE Daniel stood before a GREAT lion’s den he did not focus on the lions but on The Lion of Judah, God Almighty.

Conversely, God will not bless the faithless.

  • When the first generation of Israel stood before the Promised Land they saw a big people – the children of Anak – but a little god. They could not enter until God weeded out the faithless. Then and only then the second generation entered the land.

But God is faithful.
God will keep His Word.
The Herald must come so that the Messiah can come.

If Zechariah will not honor God with his lips, then the Lord will take away the power of his lips.

The angel tells him:

Luke 1:20 (KJV) … And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, BECAUSE THOU BELIEVEST NOT MY WORDS, WHICH SHALL BE FULFILLED IN THEIR SEASON.

The believer loses his voice when faithlessness reigns. The Church loses its audience when it will not speak life and light to a dying and dead world. Many Churches today do not have a Voice because they do not speak God’s Word but a twisted version of it. God will remove your Lampstand and your Light if you will not speak Christ.

God took Zacharias’ voice away so that he could not minister in the Temple until John was born. Yet God was gracious. Zacharias repented of his unbelief, and named his boy John just as God decreed. God could have taken Zacharias’ life but instead just took his voice.

2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet HE ABIDETH FAITHFUL: he cannot deny himself.

God is faithful! So how is your faith? Remember that God will not bless faithlessness. He that wavers is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord! (James 1:6-7). Do not be double minded. Be single minded for God. Or as Joshua told Israel:

Joshua 24:15 (KJV) … choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

I choose the Lord Jesus. I choose my Heavenly Father. I choose the blessed Spirit. I choose to believe God is able, regardless as to the state of my life.

What do YOU choose?
May God touch your hearts with His Word.

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Nature Of The Christian

Posted on December 6, 2023 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Cindy Gustafson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/macro-photography-of-butterflies-perched-on-lavender-flower-675313/

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ

Why Is There A 2nd Peter?

Peter wrote 1st Peter, but God compelled him to write a 2nd Peter. Why?

To understand this, go back to the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples, as they fished on the Sea of Tiberias (John 21). Peter and the other ten Apostles are out fishing (Judas Iscariot has hung himself, see Matthew 27:1-10) when Jesus calls to them from the shore, inquiring as to whether or not they had caught any fish. They tell Jesus “No”, and He tells them to “cast the net on the RIGHT side of the boat” (John 21:6). Doing so, they gather so many fish that the net nearly breaks. The Bible says:

John 21:11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.

I have often wondered why there were “one hundred and fifty-three” fish in the net. Why did God make this observation? When Jesus initially met Simon Peter, his brother Andrew and James and John Zebedee, they were fishing at the Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:5-8), and just like at the Sea of Tiberius had been fishing all night and caught nothing. Jesus told them then to “let down your nets” and, on doing so, caught so many fish that their nets nearly broke. Jesus told these men,

Luke 5:10 (NKJV) Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men…

Jesus said “Follow Me, and I will make YOU fishers of men”. 153 fish represent the diverse types of people that the Gospel will net. Jesus came for ALL people. Those who have been saved toss the Gospel net for all!

After the Apostles draw the 153 fish from the Sea of Tiberius at Christ’s Word this symbolized the effectiveness of the Lord Jesus. When we do as He says, we will always produce spiritual fruit. Following this miraculous catch, Jesus three times asks Peter:

John 21:15 (NKJV) … “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

Are you SAVED Simon? Am I your life? Three times Jesus asks this – and three times “Simon, The son of Jonah” replies, “Yes Lord, You know that I love you”. Simon is affirming his salvation in his love for Jesus. Loving Jesus, our Lord tells Simon:

John 21:15 “Feed My lambs.”
John 21:16 “Tend My sheep.”
John 21:17 “Feed My sheep.”

If you’re saved by the Gospel net, YOU BELONG TO JESUS! 2 Peter examines the NATURE and the NURTURE of the Christian.

The Christian is Christ’s possession.

You belong to no man but the Son of Man. You were purchased by the Blood of Him Who saved you. “Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate” (Hebrews 13:12, NKJV). Jesus died on a “t” shaped gallows to purchase you from Satan. Jesus “ loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5, NKJV). The Scripture says that “your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NKJV). It is the Blood of Christ that saved you. It is the Blood of Christ that redeemed you from sin and Satan.

Someone let down the Gospel net at Christ’s Word – and you were caught! You are part of the 153. You no longer belong to the world.

In 1st Peter the Apostle addresses “Satan as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). This is the enemy from WITHOUT, the lost world that continually attacks the Church, watches the Church, seeks to destroy the Church. The roaring lion watches from the outside, seeking to destroy the weak and the stragglers that are pitiful in their faith. Just as the roaring lion attacks and kills the slow, the sheep that drift from the watchful eye of the shepherd, that wander away from the flock, Satan will kill the faith and the life of those who wander from Christ’s Church. He attacks by the world and the fallen flesh. He attacks from without.

In 2nd Peter the Apostle addresses “Satan as a serpent in the Garden of Eden, the enemy from WITHIN” (Genesis 3:1; 1 Corinthians 10:9; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:9). The greatest danger to the Church is not Satan the Lion from without, but Satan the Serpent from within.

Illustrate: Satan from without can be defeated much in the same way that the three little pigs defeated the big bad wolf. When the little pigs built their houses of straw and sticks, they were easily destroyed. But when they built their homes out of ROCK, the big bad wolf had no effect. He could huff and puff, but could not come in. Isn’t this what Jesus said in:

Matthew 7:25 (NKJV) … and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

The net let down at Christ’s Word will bring in 153 varieties of people. The Church focused on the Word of Christ cannot fall, for it is built upon the Rock that is Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). The big bad wolf or the Roaring Lion cannot get through the door where God’s people are.

Christians, To Defeat The Lion & The Serpent,
We Rely On The Savior And The Spirit

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ…..

Let’s start with these ten words. C.H. Spurgeon noted that one of the signs of spiritual maturity is to realize how weak you are, but how great Christ is. He said:

“Get to Christ somehow, anyhow, for if you get to Him you shall live. It is not the greatness nor the perfection of your faith, it is His greatness and His perfection which is to be depended on.”

As Peter begins this letter, let’s note how he begins it:

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter

When Peter opened his first letter, he wrote:

1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ

But now in this second letter he starts with “Simon Peter” – but this is not actually correct. In the Greek manuscripts it is actually “SIMEON Peter”.

Word Study: We’re used to calling him “Simon”, the Greek form of his name Símōn which we transliterate into “Simon”. But Simon was not born a Greek, but a Jew, a Hebrew. His Hebrew name is (in the Greek Text) Symeṓn, the Hebrew Shimʻôwn. This was his fleshly name, the name his father gave him. In John 1:42 Jesus addressed the Apostle, saying…

John 1:42 … when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon (Greek Símōn) the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Word Study: Jesus gave Simeon a second name, Kēphas which is transliterated “Cephas”, the Aramaic form of Petros or “Peter”. Peter or Cephas is the spiritual name Jesus gave Simeon/Simon. As Peter begins this 2nd letter, he begins with “SIMEON PETER” – his birth name and his born again name. When Jesus looked at Simeon and called him, he called him from where he was to where the Christ is.

Every Christian has a birth name, a fleshly past that you came from. You were named a human name like “SIMEON” by your parents. You were born of the flesh, and have a past history where you did not know Christ. But every Christian not only has a “SIMEON”, but when Jesus calls us, He calls us from “SIMEON” to “PETROS” or “PETER”. Jesus changes us from what we were to what we will be.

Jesus meets SIMEON, and says “Follow Me”. SIMEON becomes PETER, just as SAUL became PAUL. Christians are changed creatures.

The Scripture says in Romans 11:30 (AP) … in times past you did NOT BELIEVE GOD …

Not believing God, the Scripture says in Ephesians 2:2-3 (ESV) … you once walked, following the {ways} of this world, following the prince of the power of the air {that’s the devil}, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Every Christian was once a lost creature, made by God, but at war with God. We wanted to be our own god. But when we met Jesus we, like Peter, said “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful person” (Luke 5:8). We realized – through the power of God’s Holy Spirit – that we were not where we needed to be.

Every Christian is a “new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come”. (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV). We are a work in progress, the people of God. We are called to follow Christ. The Scripture says in Romans 6:4 (ESV) … “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life”.

It is God Who makes the godly …. godly.
It is God Who makes the Christian.
It is God Who says “Follow Me” – then leads us.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by Grace are ye saved through FAITH, AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES – it is the gift of God, NOT OF WORKS, lest anyone should boast ….. FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has ORDERED we walk in them!

Christians grow by intentionally partnering with God, seeking out His Word, feeding upon it, and following Christ. We realize we are not perfect – the Christian walk is not a cake walk, but a surrendered walk. The Apostle Paul said:

Romans 7:22-25 (ESV) For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

We are delivered from sin by the Blood of Christ – but we war with sin in these fallen bodies. Yet we battle that sin. How? In our own strength? No! But as both Peter and Paul learned, The Gospel that saves us is the Gospel that keeps us. We follow Jesus to be saved. We keep on following Jesus, surrendered, to have an overcoming faith. Powerful faith is not accidental, but incremental. Overcoming faith is not stumbled upon, but sought out by prayer and following. We as Christians serve our Savior.

The Christian Is First And Foremost
A SERVANT Of God

In 1st Peter the Apostle started with “Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ”. But in 2nd Peter we read:

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ…..

As Simon Peter addresses the Christian, he does not first list himself as “an apostle”. The Apostles were hand picked by Jesus, and given special powers to do what Jesus wanted them to do.

Matthew 10:1-2 (ESV) … And {Jesus} called to Him His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these …

Word Study: These twelve “apostles