“Sinners Saved By Grace”
“Sinners Saved By Grace”
Blessings folk!
Permit me to do something a little different today.
I just encountered the following article.
I do not know the writer personally.
What he says is correct.
It is a well-reasoned (from the Scriptures), well-written synopsis of the situation.
Those of y’all in our local/online Bible studies will recognize many of the issues that we discuss on a regular basis.
I encourage you to take the time to read, meditate, receive from the Lord.
It will be worth it…
Those of y'all in the local/online Bible studies will recognize these issues we have discussed.
This is a "long" (read it), well-reasoned, well-written synopsis…do not let the title dissuade you. LOL
I do not know the author personally...
Gays in Full Acceptance in Church Life and Ministry is the Obvious,
Inevitable conclusion of faulty Soteriology and Hamartiology
JAMES EDWIN COSSEY·WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2019
Multiple representatives at the recent United Methodist General Council and other similar venues present to us the heart-rending photos of practicing homosexuals and transgenders who quite sincerely are asking why they are being excluded from the life of the church. Some will suggest that the Bible never prohibits such practices, while others, while acknowledging the Bible’s obvious stated prohibitions, posit that those taboos are outdated, based on cultural interpretations peculiar only to that day, and should be overlooked. Still others, as well as many straight people who sympathize with them, contend that even if homosexuality is sin, we are all sinners saved by grace and that the church is classifying some sins are more forgivable than others. Therein lies the problem, and thus, many people deceived by our false interpretations of salvation and sin are sometimes as much victim as villain.
For generations since John Calvin, there are those within Christendom that espouse a soteriology (doctrine of salvation) that suggests God’s forgiveness and covering of sin, but not His ability to provide deliverance from sin. Together with a messed-up hamartiology (doctrine of sin) this faulty soteriology suggests terms such as “sinners saved by grace,” “saved sinners,” and “forgiven sinners.” None of these can be found in the Word of God. Jesus did not come to save sinners in our sins, but from our sins. “And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Those who propose that there is no sin too hard for God to forgive even homosexuals are exactly right, but please recall the admonition of Jesus to the woman taken in adultery. When Jesus forgave her sin, she was instructed to “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11). It’s as if the Lord told her, “change the way you’re living.” Jesus also healed a man of a debilitating illness by the Pool of Bethesda, after which He instructed the man to “sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you” (John 5:14-15). What his sickness was is not fully explained. Some suggest that his sickness was an affliction that came as the result of something sinful that he had done, but that is mere speculation. The best explanation is that Jesus both healed him of his sickness and forgave him of his sins. To paraphrase the instructions of Jesus, He told him, “change the way you’re living!” Remember that, although Jesus delighted then and He delights now to heal, the Son of Man did not come primarily to heal, but “to seek and to save that which was lost” (John 19:10).
Faulty soteriology and hamartiology has convinced an alarming multitude that we are all just sinners saved by grace, and therefore we cannot live without practicing sin. Consequently, all believers are also sinners and the only difference between us and the lost is that they are “lost sinners” and we are “saved sinners.” Such has no foundation in scripture. I have reached the point of having to suppress the urge to gag when theologically incorrect preachers including pastors preach and teach, “we are all sinners.” We are not! Born again believers are saints of God, not sinners! Don’t jump to conclusions now, read on!
The first argument in defense of the “saved sinner” concept is to ask the question, “So, are you suggesting that Christians do not sin?” Further, “Are you trying to say that you have never committed a sin since you were converted to Christ?” The answer to both questions is a resounding NO. No, I am not suggesting that Christians never sin, nor am I proposing that I have never sinned since my conversion to Christ. What I am suggesting is that there is more than one definition of sin, and that while a Christ follower may sin, he or she will quickly (because of the conviction of the indwelling Holy Spirit) fix that matter with God, cease from the sin. Further I suggest that a believer does not continue to practice the ways of sin after experiencing the sanctifying Word and grace of God together with the cleansing of the blood of Jesus.
Sin may biblically be defined as “missing the mark.” When imperfect human flesh compares itself to impeccably holy God, it is impossible but that we miss the mark. We do not in this life attain a level of perfection that renders us incapable of falling short. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The Greek word here, emarton, meaning to miss the mark, is a derivative of the word, hamartia, used at least 174 times in the New Testament and thus the most often used Greek word for sin the original language (thus Hamartiology—the doctrine of sin). In light of God’s infinite holiness and man’s finite weakness, who among us would dare suggest that we have never missed the mark. I contend, however, as do many others, that missing the mark and dealing with it does not make one a sinner. Rather, it makes one human.
From this and numerous other passages it is clear that the true meaning of the word in Romans 3:23 is to miss the mark or to fall short of the goal. This usage of the word does not always involve moral guilt or ethical failure. If I neglect my spiritual disciplines and fail to pray as I should, I have missed the mark and have therefore come up short. If I push my body when I know I should rest and refresh myself, I have come up short. If I speak harshly without justification to my spouse or child, I have come up short. If I speak a word in haste that I should not speak, I miss the mark. I am admonished in such cases that “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them” (James 4:17 NIV). This is the sin of missing the mark. It isn’t a moral or ethical failure, but it is to come short.
Sin is also defined secondly as “the transgression of the Law of God.” Listen to John: “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him” (1 John 1:3-6). The context of John’s writing makes it clear that he is speaking to something far greater than our missing the mark. He is speaking here to transgression of God’s Law as contained in the Bible—specifically in the New Testament. Why did John say Jesus was manifested? Not to forgive us and allow us to continue in our sins, but to “take away our sins.” He further states that believers do not sin (practice lawlessness) and that those who persist in sins of disobedience to God’s Word do not know Him. Thus, you see that while believers will miss the mark, a born-again Christ-follower does not continue to practice those things that constitute disobedience to God’s Word.
The above-mentioned passage is greatly illuminated by reading it from the New American Standard Bible, which many conservative scholars believe to be the nearest of our current English versions to the original texts. “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: [f]anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother” (1 John 1:4-10).
What is the conclusion then? That Christians miss the mark, but that Christians do not make it a practice to continue to practice those things that are contrary to God’s Word.
See, here’s the problem with the “We are all sinners” doctrine. If we are all sinners, society (and some in the church) concludes that we are thus judgmental if we prohibit someone who’s sin is different to ours from being involved in the life and ministry of the Church. If we are “all sinners,” then the drunken, the adulterer, the fornicator, the thief, the tax evader, the homosexual, the transgendered, and the gambler must be allowed full participation because “sin is sin” and who is to say that their sin is worse than mine. If sin is only defined as missing the mark, and if Christ-followers can never cease to practice those things that transgress God’s law, this argument is a logical conclusion. In fact, it is the ONLY logical conclusion to the “we are all sinners saved by grace” argument.
Today’s church is merely reaping what it has sown. Generations of believing that we are all sinners and cannot stop practicing disobedience to God’s Law has made us sow to the wind, and now we are reaping the whirlwind.
While all believers have missed and will miss the mark, the true body of Christ is composed of those who in the words of John Newton once were lost but now are found; were blind but now can see. The Church is made up of forgiven, transformed men and women who choose to no longer practice sin. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
I purposely used the KJV in the above passage because newer translations use the term “homosexuals” and “sodomites,” and many liberal writers argue that scripture doesn’t condemn homosexuality because these words were non-existent when the Bible was written. Yes, the New Testament was written in Greek and these modern terms were not then prevalent. However, the Greek word for “effeminate” is malakos, the noun of which refers to “the passive male partner in homosexual intercourse ”homosexual.” The Greek for homosexual in 1 Corinthians 6:9 is arsenokoites, the noun of which refers to “one who takes the active male role in homosexual intercourse.” Thayer states, “One who lies with a male as with a female, a sodomite.”
You see, the beautiful, redemptive truth about Jesus Christ and the Church is that God’s Church is composed of a bunch of “has been’s.” The Church of Jesus Christ is made up of people who have been fornicators…who have been idolaters, who have been adulterers, who have been homosexual…who have been sodomites…who have been thieves…who have been covetous…who have been drunkards…who have been revilers…who have been extortioners…people who were disqualified to “inherit the kingdom of God.” But…and this is shouting ground! “We have been washed…we have been sanctified…we have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
Those who continue to practice sin (disobedience to God’s Word) do not know Him—homosexual or heterosexual. They are not of Him. They are spiritually deceived by their father the devil. Please don’t debate that with me. Take it up with the Holy Spirit who inspired John to write it. As you see, this is not HATE speech, this is LOVE speech. “Such were some of you, but…” Believers miss the mark because we are human. Sinners are sinners because they choose to sin. Saints are saints because they received Jesus Christ and are redeemed and transformed by His grace! The grandiose argument that so many homosexuals and transgenders commit suicide because of the hate and rejection they feel from society and from the church is deceptive bunk. They feel the disconnect that they feel because they are men and women loved by God, created in His likeness, with a God-shaped hole in their hearts that can only be filled by Him. The emptiness isn’t because society has rejected them, it is because society has allowed them to be believe a lie that they are born this way and can never change (read Romans Chapter 1). Good news! “But such were some of you!” You can be rid of that pain! You can shed that guilt! God can fill that void! God did not make you that way! Telling one this truth is the greatest act of love, not hate.
The New Testament uses the word saint or saints 67 times. It always refers to the people who make up the body of Christ, the Church. Not once is it ever used of a special group of Christians who have somehow served God better than the others. No church leader, Catholic or Protestant can confer sainthood. God gives that label to every blood bought believer—not because of our righteousness, but because of His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Conversely, the words “saved sinner,” and “sinner saved by grace,” or the idea that we are “all sinners” is never found on the pages of scripture. Never once.
Pastor, teacher, evangelist, professor, please stop it! Stop telling people that “we are all sinners.” We are not! Believers miss the mark, but we do not practice disobedience to God’s Law or the precepts of His Word. If you keep preaching this erroneous soteriology (doctrine of salvation) and hamartiology (doctrine of sin), you need to be ready to accept anyone and everyone who is just another “sinner saved by grace.” You have no defense against their arguments which have tremendous validity under this false teaching. Such is the logical conclusion of this error. But it should not be.
James Edwin Cossey
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“Speak, Exhort, Reprove”
“Speak, Exhort, Reprove”
Blessings folk!
Our hope is in the Lord Jesus.
Not in the strategies of man.
Not in the structures of man.
Not in the organizations of man.
Not in the activities of religion.
Our hope is in what the Lord had done.
Our hope is in what the Lord is doing.
Our hope is in what the Lord will do in the future.
As true believers, we are saved, we are “being” saved and salvation is yet to come.
Hallelujah!
Rejoice!
Lose not sight of who we are in the Lord.
1 Ti 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior,
and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,
We must speak this.
We must exhort.
We must proclaim.
Read…
Tit 2:11-15
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly,
righteously and godly in the present age,
looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior,
Christ Jesus,
who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
The greatest act of love is proclaiming the truth of the gospel of salvation to someone.
Speak.
Exhort.
Reprove.
With the authority granted.
Let no one disregard you.
The Truth will set the captive free.
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“Jesus: The Hope”
“Jesus: The Hope”
Blessings folk!
The last days will be difficult.
The Word tells us.
2 Ti 3:1-5
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers,
disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
Just pay attention.
At the moment, on one screen of my computer a religious organization is listening to people demanding the right to sin as they desire and still be “accepted, included”. They blatantly deny the Word of God.
On another screen, a major national political party in the u. S. Senate has “gone on the record” supporting infanticide…all in the name of “women’s health care”.
Isa 5:20
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
There is hope.
Jesus is hope.
They need to hear.
We are His voice.
Proclaim.
1Pe 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:13
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
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“Liberty”
“Liberty”
Blessings folk!
Liberty!
True Believers are set free.
We are to walk in liberty.
Give heed to the Truth of the Word related to liberty…
Psa 119:45
And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.
2 Co 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
False brethren will seek to spy out our liberty…
Gal 2:4
But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in,
who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus,
in order to bring us into bondage.
They seek to bring bondage.
Many have been brought under bondage due to these false brethren.
Reject the false.
Believers do not abuse their liberty…
1 Co 8:9
But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow
become a stumbling block to the weak.
Rather…
Jas 1:25
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
Jas 2:12
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.
Walk at liberty.
Walk In the Spirit of the Lord.
Be not a stumbling block in the name of liberty.
Abide in liberty of the Lord.
Speak in liberty.
Act at liberty.
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“Free…”
“Free…”
Blessings folk!
True Believers are free.
Hear the Words of the Lord.
John 8:31-32
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him,
“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Note the process.
They had believed in Him.
Some believed.
Some truly believed.
How do we delineate between the two?
True Believers continue.
They continue in His Word, thereby proving to be disciples of Jesus.
They know the Truth.
The Truth will make us free.
Much of the professing church is not truly free.
They have not truly believed.
If they have truly believed, they do not know/continue in the Word.
They do not know the Truth.
They are still bound in the ignorance of man.
Be free!
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“Warning”
“Warning”
Blessings folk!
At the time of this writing…
The sirens are wailing.
The phone notifications are chirping.
The weather radios are squawking.
Yeah, late winter/early spring in the deep south.
Severe thunderstorms.
Tornado watches.
Tornado warnings.
Fear not.
The Lord is with us.
Isa 4:6
There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day,
and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.
Also, are you hearing the warnings?
In the natural.
In the Spirit.
The Lord is warning us.
The Lord is warning the world.
Will we listen?
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“Such Should Not Be…”
“Such Should Not Be…”
Blessings folk!
Bound.
Enslaved.
Fear-filled.
Defensive.
Powerlessness.
Confusion.
This is the state of most professing Believers today.
They are infants in the faith.
It is time.
Time to move from milk to meat…
Heb 5:12-13
For though by this time you ought to be teachers,
you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness,
for he is an infant.
Time to move into the freedom of the truth…
Jhn 8:31-32
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him,
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Time to live in liberty…
Time to proclaim liberty to the oppressed…
Luk 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
It is time to live, breath and have our very existence in the power of the Lord…
Act 17:28
for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said,
‘For we also are His children.’
1 Co 2:5
so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
Know Truth.
Abide in the Lord.
Live in Liberty.
Manifest His Power.
This is the life of the Believer…
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"They..."
“They…”
Blessings folk!
Believers are to preach (proclaim/share/etc.) the Word.
In season.
Out of season.
Believers are to:
- Reprove
- Rebuke
- Exhort
The time has come when “they”…unbelievers, religionists…will not endure sound doctrine.
Why?
Read the passage again…
2 Ti 4:1-5
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship,
do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
They:
- Want to have their ears tickled.
- Want to hear what they want
- Do not desire to have true change
- Want a “excuse, reason” to continue living like they desire
So, what do “they” do?
They accumulate for themselves teachers.
Teachers in accordance to their own desires.
Teachers that will say what they want to hear.
Teachers who fear not the Lord nor His Truth.
Teachers of the flesh.
Teachers of the soul.
They will turn away their ears from the Truth.
They will turn aside to myths,
Sadly, this is the state of most professing churches.
Listen carefully.
Is the Word taught? Is the Word honored?
Turn to the Word.
Live in the Spirit.
Reject the ways/strategies and deceptions of man.
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“They Will Not Endure Sound Doctrine”
“They Will Not Endure Sound Doctrine”
Blessings folk!
We continue to look at 2 Timothy 4.
Read again.
Repetition is the heart of learning.
2 Ti 4:1-5
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship,
do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
The Spirit tells us that the “time will come…”
The time has come.
Note what the people “do”…
They will not endure sound doctrine.
They will not endure the Truth of the Word.
Such is the case today.
Don’t believe?
Just speak the Truth of the Word consistently and watch the reaction.
I’ve been told “don’t quote the Bible so much”…yes, likely said in jest, yet an undercurrent of truth.
I’ve been told “don’t read/share/speak of Scripture during worship service…it is too close to ‘sermonating’” (Well, that has to be a favorite. LOL)
The Word is Truth.
Truth sets the captive free.
Truth rattles those who choose to be enslaved.
Will you received the Truth of the Word?
Or…
Will you give lip-service to the Word while rejecting it and remaining enslaved to the lies of the evil one, man and yourself?
Rev 1:3
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy,
and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
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“Reprove, Rebuke, Exhort”
“Reprove, Rebuke, Exhort”
Blessings folk!
Read the following again.
We have seen that we are to preach the word.
When?
In season.
Out of season.
When “prepared”.
When “not prepared”.
When expected.
Unexpected.
What does “preach the word” consist of?
2 Ti 4:1-5
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship,
do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
What are we to do?
We reprove.
We rebuke.
We exhort.
Reprove: The Greek word is elegcho and means “to expose”, “reprove”, “to convict”…to prove that one is wrong.
Rebuke: The Greek word is epitimao …”to mete out due measure”, “to censure”, to evaluate, to punish, to rebuke to charge.
Exhort: The Greek word is parakaleo…”to call to”, “to exhort”, “to encourage”, “to comfort”, “to come along side”.
This is what we are called to do.
Often, folk will say “that does not sound like love”.
This is love.
Speaking the truth.
Correcting.
Convicting.
Coming along side.
We are to do so with great patience and instruction.
Ongoing.
Without end.
It is time for the true Body of Christ to live as He has designed and equipped.
Anything else is sin.
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“Preach the Word!"
“Preach the Word!"
Blessings folk!
Following up from yesterday…
What do we do when folk are only wanting “ear-tickling”?
What do you do when that is all the “leadership” will provide?
The fuller context of the 2 Timothy passage gives some insight…
2 Ti 4:1-5
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship,
do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
We preach the Word.
This is far beyond what we call “preaching”…behind the pulpit monologues.
We…all Believers… are to speak forth the Word.
In all places.
At all times.
As led by the Spirit.
What are we to preach?
Rom 10:8-10
But what does it say?
“THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”
—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord,
and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
We are to preach Jesus born, lived, died, buried, resurrected.
We are to preach faith in Jesus Christ as Messiah.
We are to preach confession of Jesus with our mouth…confession that He is Lord.
We are to preach “believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead”.
True belief results in righteousness.
Confessing results in salvation.
Yet…I actually heard this recently from a “church leader”…some say “it is not our role to tell people to repent and confess…”.
The Word tells us differently.
Speak forth the Word of the Lord, especially to those deceived by ear-tickling.
…to be continued…
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“Tickled Ears”
“Tickled Ears”
Blessings folk!
Too many call evil good and good evil…even within the “professing organizational church”.
It is sad how many absolutely reject the Word of the Lord related to sin and practices of life.
It is simple.
They had rather have their own way…
Jdg 21:25
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Everyone…including too many “believers”…do what is right in their own eyes.
Too many “believers” have collected teachers unto themselves…
2 Ti 4:3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
The time is now.
Sound doctrine is not endured.
Sound doctrine is not even recognized.
Tickling of the ear is the norm.
People speak of “great sermons” that are nothing but the babbling of man…and more often than not, downloaded from some internet site.
…and we wonder why there is no power of God?
These false professors have accumulated teachers according to their own desires.
The fruit of such?
They were deceived.
They are now deceivers.
They were told lies.
They are now liars.
All because they chose their way rather than the Word of the Lord.
Folk, it is time.
Psa 119:126
It is time for the LORD to act,
For they have broken Your law.
Stand on the truth.
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“Woe: Evil Good, Good Evil”
“Woe: Evil Good, Good Evil”
Blessings folk!
We as believers are to speak the truth in love.
Therefore, we must know the Truth.
We must boldly speak the Truth.
But, know this.
The world will resist.
The organizational “church” will resist.
Why?
The world will have this mindset…
Isa 5:20
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
We see this increasing.
The good things of God are called evil.
The things God calls evil and abhorrent are called good.
Why is such so?
Isaiah 5 gives more insight…
Isa 5:18-24
Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood,
And sin as if with cart ropes;
Who say, “Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it;
And let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near
And come to pass, that we may know it!”
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!
Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine
And valiant men in mixing strong drink,
Who justify the wicked for a bribe,
And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!
Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble
And dry grass collapses into the flame,
So their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust;
For they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts
And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
The Lord is pronouncing “woe” upon these folk.
They:
- Drag around iniquity and sin
- They arrogantly demand that God hurry up and reveal His work so they may see
- They demand that God reveal His purpose
- Call evil good
- Call good evil
- Substitute darkness for light
- Substitute light for darkness
- Substitute bitter for sweet
- Substitute sweet for bitter
- Are wise in their own eyes
- Are clever in their own sight
- Are “heroes” in drinking wine
- Are “valiant men” in mixing strong drink
- Justify wickedness for a bribe
- Take rights of those who are right
The result?
Their root will rot.
Their blossom will blow away as the dust.
Why?
Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of Hosts.
They have despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel.
Such is the state of the world.
Such is the state of most of the “organizational church”.
They have rejected the Word.
They have despised the Word.
They continue to meet in the confabs of man to seek “solutions” and “ways forward”.
Without giving heed to the Word they will continue on the path toward the lake of fire.
…to be continued…
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“Love: Grow Up”
“Love: Grow Up”
Blessings folk!
A follow-up on “love”.
Too often even true believers succumb to the world’s mindset of love…
Ooo-wee goo-wee emotions…
Getting what one wants…
Doing/hearing what one wants…
Such is not love.
True “agapao” love desires that which is best for the other individual.
Not necessarily what is wanted.
Not necessarily what is comfortable.
That which is best.
Too often we “love” others by giving/saying what we think will make them “feel better”.
We err by doing so.
Did you see the verse in 1 Corinthians 13 yesterday?
1 Co 13:6
(love) but rejoices with the truth;
Love rejoices with the truth.
Showing love consist of speaking truth.
Therefore, truth must be spoken.
We are “loving the world into the lake of fire” when we do not speak the truth of the gospel to them.
Oh, I know.
I hear it all the time.
“We must love them no matter”.
Yes.
We are to love.
But, if you are not speaking the truth to people, you are not loving.
What is “truth”?
Jesus tells us.
He is praying/speaking to Father…
John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
The Word is Truth.
We speak the Word of God, not the opinions of man.
We do so with unbelievers and believers.
Eph 4:25
Therefore, laying aside falsehood,
SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.
Let us do so.
Lay aside falsehood.
Lay aside the fear of speaking the truth.
Know the truth.
Embrace the truth.
Live the truth.
Speak the truth.
Remember this…
John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
Boldly…
Eph 4:15a
but speaking the truth in love,…
Thereby…
Eph 4:15b
…we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
Love.
Grow up.
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“Love”
“Love”
Blessings folk!
Ah….
It is time for the pagan fertility rites of upcoming spring.
The world, and sadly far too many in the “church”, embrace these events without a second thought.
We buy into the world’s concept of love.
“Cupids”
Candy
Flowers
Bunny rabbits
Eggs
…
Such should not be.
Be reminded of what the Word says love is.
Read aloud inserting the parenthetical “love” for emphasis and reminder.
1Co 13:4-8a
Love is patient
love is kind and
(love) is not jealous;
love does not brag and
(love) is not arrogant,
(love) does not act unbecomingly;
(love) it does not seek its own,
(love) is not provoked,
(love) does not take into account a wrong suffered,
(love) does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but
(love) rejoices with the truth;
(love) bears all things,
(love) believes all things,
(love) hopes all things,
(love) endures all things.
Love never fails;
True love is found only in/through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Not in friend and family…phileo.
Not is the flesh…eros.
Only in the Lord…agape.
Anything else is fraudulent and powerless.
Love the Lord.
Love OneAnother in the Lord.
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“God Will Not Forsake…”
“God Will Not Forsake…”
Blessings folk!
Are you trusting in the Lord?
Hear the Word of the Lord…
Psa 9:1-10
For the choir director; on Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders.
I will be glad and exult in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
When my enemies turn back,
They stumble and perish before You.
For You have maintained my just cause;
You have sat on the throne judging righteously.
You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked;
You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins,
And You have uprooted the cities;
The very memory of them has perished.
But the LORD abides forever;
He has established His throne for judgment,
And He will judge the world in righteousness;
He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.
The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed,
A stronghold in times of trouble;
And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Note what the Psalmist, David…who trusted in the Lord, does.
I will…
- Give thanks
- To the Lord
- With all my heart
- Tell of Your wonders
- Be glad and exalt in You
- Sing praise to Your name
Note what the Lord God has done.
- Killed enemies
- Maintained David’s cause
- Judged righteously from His throne
- Rebuked nations
- Destroyed the wicked
- Blotted out their names forever…and ever
- Uprooted cities of the enemy
- The very memory of the enemy has perished
Note what the Lord will do.
- Abide forever
- Establish His throne for judgment
- Judge the world in righteousness
- Execute judgment for the people with equity
- Be a stronghold for the oppressed
- A stronghold in times of trouble
Conclusion?
Those who know the name of the Lord will put their trust in Him!
The Lord has not/will not forsake those who seek Him!
Seek Him!
Trust in Him!
Rejoice in Him!
Live in Him!
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“Trust and Rejoice!”
“Trust and Rejoice!”
Blessings folk!
Do you trust in the Lord?
In all things?
With what attitude do you trust?
Psa 5:11-12
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
Trust in the Lord.
Rejoice!
Shout for joy!
Why?
Because the Lord defends us!
The Lord blesses the righteous.
The Lord encompasses the righteous with favor…as a shield.
Trust in the Lord in all things.
Rejoice always!
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“Power to the People”
“Power to the People”
Blessings folk!
Hear and join the praise of the Psalmist unto the Lord God.
Move in the power that the Lord gives to those that are His.
Worship the Lord this way…
Psa 68:32-35
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth,
Sing praises to the Lord, Selah.
To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times;
Behold, He speaks forth with His voice, a mighty voice.
Ascribe strength to God;
His majesty is over Israel
And His strength is in the skies.
O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary.
The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people.
Blessed be God!
What do we learn about God?
- Rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times
- Speaks forth with His mighty voice
- Has strength
- His majesty is over Israel
- His strength is in the skies
- Awesome from Him sanctuary
- Give strength and power to the people
- Blessed
Bless Him.
Sing praises to Him.
Ascribe strength to Him.
Declare His awesomeness.
Receive strength and power from Him.
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“Wisdom and Power”
“Wisdom and Power”
Blessings folk!
Daniel had a problem.
The King had a troubling dream.
None of the King’s soothsayers could tell nor interpret the dream.
The King was furious.
He demanded that all the wise men be killed, including Daniel and friends.
Daniel sought the mind of the Lord.
The Lord answered and gave the dream and interpretation.
Dan 2:20-23
Daniel said,
“Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.
“It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.
“It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him.
“To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,
For You have given me wisdom and power;
Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You,
For You have made known to us the king's matter.”
What do we learn about God?
- Wisdom and power belong to Him
- He changes the times and epochs
- He removes kings and establishes kings
- He gives wisdom to wise men
- He gives knowledge to men of understanding
- He reveals the profound and hidden things
- He knows what is in the darkness
- Light dwells in Him
- He gave Daniel wisdom and power
- He made known what Daniel requested
- He made known the king’s matter
Wisdom and power.
God has it.
God gives it.
Why do we try to do anything in the power of the flesh and soul?
Oh yeah, Daniel, his friends and all the pagan “wisemen” of the king had their lives spared because Daniel sought the mind of the Lord.
What do you seek?
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“We Know”
“We Know”
Blessings folk!
We have seen that as true believers we are protected by the power of God.
Now, read.
Note what “we know”…
1 Jo 5:18-20
We know that no one who is born of God sins;
but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.
This is the true God and eternal life.
We know that no one who is born of God sins!
This is a “biggie”.
One who is born of God does not “have to sin”.
It is simple.
We sin because we want to.
We chose to.
We decide to no longer abide in the Lord (John 15), thereby choosing our own way.
Jesus, He who was born of God, keeps us.
Evil will not touch us, if we continue to abide in Him.
We know that we are of God.
We know that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
We know that the Son of God has come.
We know that He has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true.
We know we are in Him who Is true…in His Son Jesus Christ.
We know this is the true God and eternal life.
Do you truly know?
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“Protected By the Power of God”
“Protected By the Power of God”
Blessings folk!
Much is to be learned and gleaned with just a cursory examination of what the Word has to say about the “power of God.”
Read what Peter wrote.
To whom was he writing?
What did he say about them?
1 Pe 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away,
reserved in heaven for you,
who are protected by the power of God through faith
for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Peter is blessing God.
Why?
Because of what He had done for them and us.
According to God’s great mercy He has caused us to be born again!
Born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Any “gospel” that you encounter that does not emphasize the resurrection from the dead is a false gospel.
Note what we as believers gain…
- an inheritance
- Imperishable
- Undefiled
- Will not fade away
- Reserved in heaven for you
There is more!
We are protected by the power of God
- through faith
- for a salvation
- ready to be revealed
- in the last time
Think on that.
As a true believer your salvation is protected by the power of God.
God is protecting the salvation to be revealed in the las time.
That answers many questions that people have.
Now, as a “false professor”, “false believer”, “religionist” etc. you are not protected by the power of God.
You do not have true salvation.
You have religion.
There are many like this.
Examine yourself.
See if you are of the faith.
2 Co 13:5
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!
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“Spirit of Timidity”
“Spirit of Timidity”
Blessings folk!
More on the power of God.
Paul is encouraging Timothy…
2 Ti 1:6-7
For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God
which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity,
but of power and love and discipline.
Paul was exhorting Timothy to “kindle afresh the gift of God…”.
God has not given us a spirit of timidity…cowardice.
Apparently, Timothy was tempted to be timid.
Paul, through the Spirit, was saying “no".
Be not timid.
But rather, remember what God has given through the Spirit:
God has given us power.
God has given us love.
God has given us discipline…”sound judgment”.
Too many true believers walk in the spirit of timidity due to fear, politics correctness, ignorance and slothfulness.
Be not this way.
Walk in the power of the Lord.
Walk in the love of the Lord.
Walk in the discipline of the Lord.
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“The Work of Faith With Power”
“The Work of Faith With Power”
Blessings folk!
Hope you have been reflecting upon the power of God.
The Lord says much about it.
True Believers have the power of God.
To what purpose?
2 Th 1:11-12
To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling,
and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power,
so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him,
according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul prayed for the Body.
- That God would count them worthy of their calling
- That God would fulfill every desire for goodness
- That God would release the work of faith with power
The work of faith with power!
“Power” without faith is fraudulent, deceptive…of the flesh…of evil.
We must manifest the work of faith with power.
Why?
So that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you…and you in Him.
This is to be according to the grace of our God and the Lord the Lord Jesus Christ.
Believers!
Fulfill your calling.
Do the work of faith in power.
Glorify the Lord!
Live the grace of the Lord.
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“By the Power of God”
“By the Power of God”
Blessings folk!
What does the life of the Servant of God moving in the power of God look like?
Hang on…it is likely not what we think…
2 Co 6:1-10
And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—
for He says,
“AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,
AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.”
Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”—
giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,
in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
in the word of truth, in the power of God;
by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true;
as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death,
as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
Wow!
Do not receive the grace of the Lord in vain!
It is possible.
Lip service rather than true conversion.
Very prevalent within the religious, organization church.
Note what Believers will endure: “In…”
- Afflictions
- Hardships
- Distresses
- Beating
- Imprisonments
- Tumults
- Labors
- Sleeplessness
- Hunger
- Dishonor
- Evil reports
- Regarded as deceivers
- Unknown
- Constant dying
- Punished
- Sorrowful
- Poor
- Have nothing
Look at the reality of what we do and who we are: “In…”
- Servants of God
- Give no offense
- Endure
- Purity
- Knowledge
- Patience
- Kindness
- In the Holy Spirit
- In genuine love
- In genuine truth
- IN THE POWER OF GOD!!
- By the weapons of righteousness
- Glory
- Good report
- Living
- Rejoicing
- Rich possessing all things
By the power of God we are in the world but not of it.
Nothing could be clearer.
Are you “in…”?
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“Kingdom of God: Power”
“Kingdom of God: Power”
Blessings folk!
Let us continue to look a little more at the “power of God”.
Rare is there teaching/preaching on the power of God.
It is as if there is an assumption that Believers know the truths.
Such is not the case.
Most true Believers do not live in the fulness of the power of God.
Consider these truths…
1 Co 1:18
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The Word of the cross…the good news (Gospel) of what the Lord did…is the power of God.
1 Co 1:22-24
For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Christ is the power of God.
Christ is the wisdom of God.
Both to Jew and Greek
The Jews seek signs.
The Greeks search for wisdom.
We must preach Christ crucified.
The power of God.
It will be a stumbling block to the Jews.
The Gentiles will call it foolishness.
But, some…many!…will believe.
Know this.
Our faith does not rest on the wisdom of men…
1 Co 2:5
so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
One last thought.
Know this…
1 Co 4:20
For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.
The Kingdom of God consist of power, not words.
Is that what we see in the Body today?
Sadly, no.
We hear many words.
We see little power.
Fear not.
The Lord will release power to those who believe.
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“You Are Greatly Mistaken”
“You Are Greatly Mistaken”
Blessings folk!
We have been looking at what the Word says about the “power of God”.
A few days back we looked at a passage from Matthew where the Sadducees initiated an encounter with Jesus.
They were seeking to entrap Him with His words.
They were seeking to find fault with Him.
They were seeking to discredit Him.
Modern day Sadducees do the same.
Read what Mark says about the same encounter.
Note how Mark emphasizes the snarky hypocrisy of the Sadducees.
They did not believe in the resurrection.
Yet, they feigned sincerity in asking Jesus a question that had resurrection as a basis.
Watch how Jesus handles it.
Watch His forthrightness and boldness.
Mar 12:18-27
Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Jesus,
and began questioning Him, saying,
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that IF A MAN’S BROTHER DIES and leaves behind a wife AND LEAVES NO CHILD, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP CHILDREN TO HIS BROTHER.
“There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children.
“The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise;
and so all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also.
“In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one’s wife will she be?
For all seven had married her.”
Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken,
that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?
“For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage,
but are like angels in heaven.
“But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’?
“He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.”
Jesus tells them directly that they are mistaken.
The premise of their inquiry was incorrect.
Then He tells them their problem.
They did not understand the Scripture…a shocking declaration to these “religious experts”.
They did not understand the Power of God.
Jesus corrects their foundational misunderstanding - the resurrection from the dead.
He gives and example from the book of Moses, the Pentateuch…first five books of the Bible…
God states that He is I AM…
I AM…the God of Abraham.
I AM…the God Isaac.
I AM…the God of Jacob.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had long been dead…in the natural.
Now Jesus is declaring that they are alive.
Jesus then tells the Sadducees that they are greatly mistaken.
So is the organizational church and a large portion of the true church.
We do not understand the Scriptures.
We do not understand the Power of God.
The Lord wants to give understanding.
Do you want to receive?
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