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The Fatherhood Presence of God - Rom. 8:28

     Christians are instructed, “do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness” (Rom 6:12-13a), “flee sexual immorality” (1 Cor 6:18), “he who steals must steal no longer” (Eph 4:28), “let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth” (Eph 4:29), “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Eph 4:30), “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Th 5:19), put aside “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth” (Col 3:8), “abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul” (1 Pet 2:11), “make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler” (1 Pet 4:15), “do not love the world nor the things in the world” (1 John 2:15), and “little children, guard yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). These commands would be pointless if it were not possible for Christians to commit all these sins. It is never the will of God that we sin (1 John 2:1), but if we sin, and “there is no man who does not sin” (1 Ki 8:46), it is God's will that we confess our sins (1 John 1:9), accept responsibility for our actions, and get back to learning God's Word (2 Tim 2:15; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18), living by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38), and pursuing holiness (1 Pet 1:15-16), and righteousness (1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22). Consequences for Sin      It is difficult for some to understand, but when Christians sin, we are not in danger of condemnation (Rom 8:1; 35-39), we do not forfeit the free gift of eternal life (John 10:28; Rom 3:24; 6:23), and we do not cease to possess the righteousness of God that was given to us at the moment of faith in Christ (Rom 5:17; Phil 3:9). When Christians sin, we are walking in darkness and have broken fellowship with God (1 John 1:5-6), and stifle the work of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (Eph 4:30; 1 Th 5:19). If we continue in sin, or leave our sin unconfessed, we are in real danger of divine discipline from God (Psa 32:3-5; Heb 12:6; 1 John 5:16-17; cf. Dan 4:37). Even though David was forgiven for his sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 12:13), he still faced earthly consequences that impacted him and his family (2 Sam 12:10-14). Serious sin, and ongoing sin, can eventuate in divine discipline to the point of physical death (1 John 5:16; cf., Lev 10:1-2; Acts 5:3-5; 1 Cor 11:30), as well as the loss of eternal rewards (1 Cor 3:10-15; 2 John 1:8). These are serious punishments by the Lord which impact a  believer in time and eternity; however, the sinning saint is not in danger of losing salvation.[1] The Way of Righteousness      As Christians, God calls us to “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Tim 2:22; cf. 1 Tim 6:11), to “present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom 6:13b), and to “present your members as slaves to righteousness” (Rom 6:19a). Addressing the Christians at Ephesus, Paul wrote, “you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light, for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth, trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Eph 5:8-10). Peter also wrote, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Pet 2:24a). Righteous living—that's what God desires from us. He wants our thoughts, words, and actions to align with His righteous character and written Word as it applies to us as Christians. But this requires positive volition and a commitment to the Lord (Rom 12:1-2), to learn His Word (2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:2) and live His Word by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38).      As Christians, God has done everything for us to live spiritually successful lives (i.e., giving a new nature, the Holy Spirit, and divine revelation). But God does not force us to live spiritually, as we must choose to live out the new life. And, like Solomon, we are always in danger of being corrupted by others (1 Cor 15:33), by Satan's world-system (1 John 2:15-16), and our fleshly natures within (Rom 13:14; Col 3:9; Gal 5:16-17; 1 John 1:8). To be faithful to the Lord to the end of our days (as God directs), one needs thinking that is properly calibrated according to Scripture (Rom 12:1-2). God has already blessed us with everything we need to live spiritually (Eph 1:3), but it's up to us to lay hold of what He's provided and to advance to spiritual maturity.      The successful Christian life starts with positive volition. Jesus said, “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself” (John 7:17). The word “willing” translates the Greek verb thelō (θέλω), which means “to desire to have or experience something.”[2] To be “willing” to know and do God's will is the starting place for our advance to spiritual maturity. Our next step is to dig into God's Word and learn it. Jeremiah expressed positive volition when he said, “Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart” (Jer 15:16a). A psalmist wrote, “How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psa 119:103), and “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces” (Psa 119:72). Peter wrote, “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Pet 2:2). Learning God's Word serves as the basis for right living (Rom 12:1-2). But once we learn it, we must walk in it, which means applying it to our life, and this by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38; 11:6). Ezra is a good example of a believer who learned and lived God's Word, as it is written, “Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). This is the proper order. When a Christian has a right will (orthothely), and operates with right thinking (orthodoxy), it establishes the basis for right behavior (orthopraxy). Positive volition, divine viewpoint thinking, and the walk of faith is what the Lord wants.      As God's people, let us constantly learn His Word (Psa 1:2-3; Ezra 7:10; 2 Tim 2:15; 1 Pet 2:2), recalibrate our thinking to align with Scripture (Rom 12:1-2), discipline our minds (2 Cor 10:5), live by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38; 11:6), confess our sins as needed (1 John 1:9), be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18), walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:16), submit ourselves to the Lord (Jam 4:7), do good (Gal 6:10), serve others (Phil 2:3-4), rejoice always (1 Th 5:16), pray without ceasing (1 Th 5:17), be thankful in everything (1 Th 5:18), maintain fellowship with other Christians (Heb 10:25), share our wealth to promote Christian ministry (1 Tim 6:17-19), and advance to spiritual maturity (Heb 6:1). If we do this, we'll glorify the Lord, bless others, and live righteously as God's expects. Conclusion      In conclusion, we must be clear: eternal life is secured by grace through faith in Christ, not by perseverance in works or moral consistency. Though a true believer may tragically fall into grievous sin—like Solomon, David, or the Corinthian Christians—their eternal security remains anchored in the unchanging promises of God and the finished work of Christ (John 10:28; Rom 8:1). What is at stake is fellowship with God in time, our witness before others, spiritual fruitfulness, eternal rewards, and divine discipline that can range from loving correction to severe consequences (1 Cor 3:15; 11:30-32; Heb 12:6). We do not minimize the seriousness of sin, but neither should we confuse it with a loss of salvation. Instead of living in fear of condemnation, we should be motivated by love, gratitude, and reverence to walk in obedience and grow in grace (2 Pet 3:18). Let us pursue righteousness—not to keep what was never ours to earn—but to honor the One who saved us, and to reflect His character in this fallen world. Steven R. Cook, D.Min, M.Div., B.Sc.     [1] Even when the prodigal son lived in the world (Luke 15:11-13), and though he lived like an unbeliever, he never ceased to be a son (Luke 15:14-16), and when he came to his senses and returned home (Luke 15:17-19), his father recognized him as his son and welcomed him back (Luke 15:20-24). A child of God is always a child of God, even if we fall into worldly living. [2] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 287.

Weekly live worship service from Cornerstone Church, North Gower (Ontario) FOLLOW US #northgowercornerstone WEBSITE https://www.knowgrowshow.ca/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/northgowercornerstone/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/northgowercornerstone/ LINKTREE https://linktr.ee/knowgrowshow The Passage: Romans 8:14-17 The One Thing: RISEN: Spirit, Slaves, Sons & Suffering Growgroup Discussion Starters Know Christ as King I. How does the Holy Spirit free us from "slavery to fear" (Rom 8:15) and allow us to cry "Abba! Father!"? What does it mean to be an "heir of God and fellow heir with Christ" (Rom 8:17), and how does this highlight Christ's kingship? II. Grow in Groups How can our church community better encourage each other to live as "sons of God" (Rom 8:14), led by the Spirit? How can we, as a church family, support one another through "suffering with him" (Rom 8:17), trusting in the promise of shared glory? III. Show Up and Serve How does our identity as "sons of God" (Rom 8:14) empower and change our motivation for serving others? How does the promise of being "glorified with him" (Rom 8:17) motivate us to serve, even when it involves hardship?

     By promoting the gospel and biblical teaching, the church disrupts Satan's domain of darkness by calling out of it a people for God. By learning God's Word, Christians can identify worldly conversations and activities and either avoid them or seek to redirect them by interjecting biblical truth, which should never be done in hostility. When sharing God's Word with others it's proper to know that not everyone wants to hear God's truth, and even though we may not agree with them, their personal choices should be respected (Matt 10:14; Acts 13:50-51). We should never try to force the gospel or Bible teaching on anyone, but be willing to share when opportunity presents itself. At times this will bring peace, and other times cause disruption and may even offend. In this interaction, the growing Christian must be careful not to fall into the exclusion trap, in which the worldly person (whether saved or lost) controls the content of every conversation, demanding the Christian only talk about worldly issues, as Scripture threatens his pagan presuppositions. Having the biblical worldview, the Christian should insert himself into daily conversations with others, and in so doing, be a light in a dark place. He should always be respectful, conversational, and never have a fist-in-your-face attitude, as arrogance never helps advance biblical truth (2 Tim 2:24-26). The worldly-minded person may not want to hear what the Christian has to say, but he should never be under the false impression that he has the right to quiet the Christian and thereby exclude him from the conversation.      As we grow spiritually and walk with God, learning and living His Word (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17), we stand in opposition to Satan's world-system and sow the seeds of spiritual insurrection in the lives of those who live and walk in his kingdom of darkness. We disrupt Satan's kingdom when we share the gospel, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4). When anyone places their faith in Christ, trusting solely in Him as Savior, they are forgiven all their sins (Acts 10:43; Eph 1:7), gifted with eternal life (John 3:16; 10:28), and the righteousness of God (Rom 4:1-5; 5:17; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9). They are rescued from Satan's enslaving power, as God liberates them from the “domain of darkness” and transfers them into “the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13). The gospel is the only way a person can be delivered from spiritual slavery; “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). Once saved, we seek to influence the thoughts and lives of other Christians through fellowship (Heb 10:23-25), prayer (Jam 5:16), edification (Eph 4:29), encouragement (1 Th 5:11), love (1 Th 4:9; cf. Eph 4:14-15), and words of grace (Col 4:6). The Sin Nature Within Us      If the devil were a broadcaster sending out his signal through the world, the sin nature in every person is that internal receiver that is always tuned to welcome his message. The sin nature, sometimes called “the flesh” (Gal 5:17, 19) or “old self” (Rom 6:6; Col 3:9), has a natural affinity for Satan's values and his world-system. More so, the sin nature is not eradicated from the believer during his time on earth, nor is it ever reformed, as though it can be made to love God.       Everyone knows what it's like to walk in the flesh, according to the sin nature, but only the Christian knows what it's like to walk in the Spirit, assuming he's growing in his walk with the Lord. Paul wrote, “For the flesh [sin nature] sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you [the Christian] may not do the things that you please”  (Gal 5:17). Concerning Galatians 5:17, MacDonald writes: "The Spirit and the flesh are in constant conflict. God could have removed the fleshly nature from believers at the time of their conversion, but He did not choose to do so. Why? He wanted to keep them continually reminded of their own weakness; to keep them continually dependent on Christ, their Priest and Advocate; and to cause them to praise unceasingly the One who saved such worms. Instead of removing the old nature, God gave us His own Holy Spirit to indwell us. God's Spirit and our flesh are perpetually at war, and will continue to be at war until we are taken home to heaven. The believer's part in the conflict is to yield to the Spirit."[1]      The sin nature is resident in every person; both saved and unsaved, and is the source of internal temptation. According to Wiersbe, “The flesh refers to that fallen nature that we were born with, that wants to control the body and the mind and make us disobey God.”[2] Since the fall of Adam, every person is born with a sin nature, and it is this nature that internally motivates men to rebel against all legitimate forms of authority, both human and divine. At the moment of salvation, God the Holy Spirit indwells us and gives us a new nature that, for the first time in our lives, has the capacity and desire to obey God. Because the sin nature is not removed from the believer after salvation, the believer begins to experience conflict within (Gal 5:17; Rom 7:14-23). Chafer states, “The presence of two opposing natures (not two personalities) in one individual results in conflict.”[3] Wiersbe adds: "The old nature (which has its origin in our physical birth) fights against the new nature which we receive when we are born again (Gal 5:16–26). No amount of self-discipline, no set of man-made rules and regulations, can control this old nature. Only the Holy Spirit of God can enable us to “put to death” the old nature (Rom 8:12–13) and produce the Spirit's fruit (Gal 5:22–23) in us through the new nature."[4] Lightner states: "Torn inside with desires to do that which we know is evil and new desires to please God, we experience the rage of the battle. The internal conflict manifests itself in everyday life as the believer is tempted to sin. The source of this conflict is the old sin nature, which is the root cause of the deeds of sin. In the conflict the believer is not passive. He has a vital role in determining to whom he will give allegiance—the old nature or the new nature. From the moment a sinner trusts Christ, there is a conflict in his very being between the powers of darkness and those of light. The one who has become a member of the family of God now faces conflicts and problems that he did not have before."[5]      As Christians, we are directed to “lay aside the old self…and put on the new self which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Eph 4:22, 24). Since we have been “born again” and given new life (1 Pet 1:3, 23), the sin nature no longer has domineering power over us, and we can choose a life of righteousness (Rom 6:5-13). As we grow spiritually, we will be transformed from the inside out and gradually become more and more righteous as we walk with God. Sinless perfection will not be attained until we leave this world, by death or by Rapture, and are “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom 8:29), who will “transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” (Phil 3:21). Until then, we are commanded to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Rom 13:14). We do this by choosing to live according to the Spirit's guiding, and starving the monster that is our sin nature. To “make no provision for the flesh” means we stop exposing ourselves to the things of the world that excite the flesh and lead to sinful behavior. The positive action is to grow spiritually with biblical teaching (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18), Christian fellowship (Heb 10:23-25), selfless living (Phil 2:3-4), prayer (1 Th 5:17), worship (Heb 13:15), and doing good (Gal 6:10; Heb 13:16). It is only by spiritual growth and drawing closer to God that we learn to glorify the Lord and live in righteousness.      Though the Christian will struggle all his life with his two natures, he also knows the victory is already won. The sin nature has been defeated and its strength diminished because of the believer's union with Christ (Rom 6:6, 11). At his resurrection, the Christian is guaranteed a new body in heaven that is free from the sin nature as it will be just the like body of our Lord Jesus (Phil 3:20-21), for “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him” (1 John 3:2), and “in Him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5).      The believer's focus must be on daily—moment-by-moment—spiritual growth, allowing the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in their life (Gal 5:22-23) while resisting the flesh by making no provision for it (Rom 13:14). This includes guarding against worldly influences that stimulate the sin nature and choosing instead to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Pet 3:18). While sinless perfection will not be attained until the believer is glorified, we are called to continually pursue righteousness (2 Tim 3:16-17; Tit 2:11-14), relying on the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18; Gal 5:16), who supplies the power to overcome the flesh. Ultimately, the Christian's victory is secured through ongoing dependence on the Holy Spirit, a willing heart, and a steady focus on spiritual growth.      In conclusion, though the battle with the flesh rages on, we do not fight alone or without hope. God has equipped us with everything necessary for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3). We have His indwelling Spirit (Eph 1:13), His inspired Word (2 Tim 2:16-17), the intercession of Christ (1 John 2:1), and the support of fellow believers to help us stand firm. Our sin nature, though still present, no longer reigns; we are no longer its slaves (Rom 6:6, 14). Each step of faith, each moment of obedience, each act of love, reflects the power of God at work within us. The war may be lifelong, but the outcome is certain. So we press on—not in fear or defeat—but in confident expectation of the day when the struggle will end and we shall see our Savior face to face, fully conformed to His image (1 John 3:2). Until then, let us walk by the Spirit (Eph 5:18; Gal 5:16), live by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38), and abound in the good works prepared for us by our gracious God (Gal 6:10; Eph 2:10). Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] William MacDonald, Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1893. [2] Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament, Vol. 2 (Colorado Springs, Col., Victor Publishing, 2001), 18. [3] Lewis S. Chafer, He that is Spiritual (Grand Rapids, Mich. Zondervan Publishing, 1967), 112. [4] Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, New Testament, Vol. 2, 480. [5] Robert P. Lightner, Handbook of Evangelical Theology (Grand Rapids, Mich., Kregel Publications, 1995), 206.

Prayer is one of the most powerful functions of your Christian life, when done according to God's protocol. Prayer is an extension and reflection of your spiritual life, based on the content of God's Word in your soul. Take your appreciation and requests to God and have the tranquility of God's peace. “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7).⁠ The Lord Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit intercede on your behalf, praying for you! “He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom 8:27). Prayer is not designed to get you out of trouble, but rather to express your helplessness and dependence on God.Download Transcript⁠: https://rhem.pub/power-prayer-8fcbd0

God's Word for Today8 May, 202515 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.16 My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.-Prov 23:15-18 ESV DO CONTINUE IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD A wise son makes his parents glad.[see v.15,16] He has "wise heart", that is, one whose thoughts and attitudes reflect the will of God (Rom 12:1–2). In contrast, it's heartbreaking to watch children chosing evil. Proper and loving discipline direct a child towards godly wisdom (Prov 1:1–7; 3:1–5). Here, he is described as a child who "[speaks] what is right" It is possible for a child to know what is right, and not do it. He might know what is right, and do what is right, but not speak up for godliness and goodness.The parents advice is for his son not to envy sinners. Among Satan's most effective tricks is making people think they are "missing out" by following God's instructions. This was the basic temptation Satan used against Eve. The psalmist Asaph almost fell to this lie. He was bitter over the way God-deniers seemed to have trouble-free, healthy lives. However, his reverence for the Lord drove him to the sanctuary of God. There, he was reminded of the ultimate, and dreadful future of all sinners (Psa 73:16–20). Proverbs 1:10 says, "My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent." It is good to recognize that what believers have in Christ is far more valuable than the fleeting value of the things of this world (Prov 23:18). It is worth to ‘continue in the fear of the Lord.'There is a certain future for those in Christ. The apostle Peter declared, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pet 1:3–5).Watch in YouTube: https://youtu.be/lPuuvKVODmgListen and FOLLOW us on our podcast Spotify: http://bit.ly/glccfil_spotify Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-applepcast Audible Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-audibleFollow us on various media platforms: https://gospellightfilipino.contactin.bio#gospellightfilipino#godswordfortoday

Col 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 3:12 “chosen of God, holy and beloved” These terms were used to describe Israel (Exod. 19:5–6), but now they describe the church (cf. Gal. 6:16; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6). Notice that the goal of the People of God is holiness (cf. Eph. 1:4), not a privileged standing. Israel was chosen as a tool to reach all humans made in the image of God. Israel missed her evangelistic mandate (cf. Gen. 12:3; Exod. 19:5). The Church has clearly been given this assignment (cf. Matt. 28:19–20; Acts 1:8). Believers are called to holiness and to be witnesses. Christians are defined here as ‘the elect of God, holy and beloved'. This means that God has chosen them from eternity for salvation. Once saved, Christians are holy before God, being set apart in Christ by the Holy Spirit who indwells them. If we are saved we are highly loved by an act of divine love that flows from his heart (Rom. 9:13a)[1] Chosen by God, set apart for God, loved by God, and forgiven by God. They all add up to GRACE! Now, because of these gracious blessings, the Christian has some solemn responsibilities before God. He must put on the beautiful graces of the Christian life. Paul named eight graces.[1] “Put on the new man,” says Paul. “Put on mercy, kindness, and humility. Put on meekness, longsuffering, and love.” In short, put on Christ.[1]  “put on” This is an AORIST MIDDLE IMPERATIVE which indicates urgency. This is the continuing use of clothing as a symbol and mandate for the Christian life. It is even possible that this was baptismal terminology (cf. Gal. 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ). Put on …NASB “a heart of compassion” and indicates deep feelings[1] NKJV “tender mercies” TEV Today's English Version “compassion” NJB The New Jerusalem Bible “heartfelt compassion”                 This is literally “bowels of compassion” (cf. 2 Cor. 6:12; Phil. 1:8; 2:1; Philemon 7, 12, 20). The ancients believed the seat of emotion was located in the lower intestines (abdomen). Kindness, gentleness and patience are part of the fruit of the Spirit that Paul describes in his letter to the Galatians (Galatians 5:22). They help Christians live in harmony with one another. Compassion and humility may sound like weaknesses. But Jesus showed in his own life that compassion and humility are at the heart of God.[1] Put on … “kindness” is the desire for another's good, and shows sweetness of disposition. This should be the Christian's response to others (cf. Rom. 2:4; 9:23; 11:22; 2 Cor. 6:6; Gal. 5:22; Col. 3:12; Titus 3:4). Put on … “humility” Humility of mind' speaks of lowliness (Eph. 4:2; Phil. 2:3–5) and allows us to recognize that we have no reason or right to be self-confident.[1] This is a uniquely Christian virtue (cf. Eph. 4:2; Phil. 2:3). The Stoics viewed meekness (humbleness) as weakness and did not include it in their list of virtues. Only two people in the Bible are called humble, Moses (cf. Num. 12:3) and Jesus (cf. Matt. 11:29; Phil. 2:8). This becomes the will of God for every believer (cf. Matt. 18:4; 23:12; James 4:6, 10; 1 Pet. 5:5, 6). This term is used in a negative sense in 2:18, 23. The pagan world of Paul's day did not admire humility. Instead, they admired pride and domination. Jesus Christ is the greatest example of humbleness of mind (Phil. 2:1ff). Humility is not thinking poorly of oneself. Rather, it is having the proper estimate of oneself in the will of God (Rom. 12:3). The person with humbleness of mind thinks of others first and not of himself.[1] Put on … “gentleness or meekness” means Power under control. This originally referred to domesticated animals (horses, camels, donkeys) whose strength had been channeled for their master's purpose. God does not want to break us, but direct His giftedness to His glory. Paul often uses this metaphor for the Christian life (cf. 1 Cor. 4:21; 2 Cor. 10:1; Gal. 5:23; 6:1; Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12; 1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:25).      Put on … ‘Meekness' is the opposite of self-interest and reveals itself in gentleness. It is a spirit of quiet submission, not weakness but rather a spirit of Christian courtesy. Thomas Watson once said, ‘Meekness is a grace whereby we are enabled by the Spirit of God to moderate our passions' (see 2 Cor. 10:1[1] Put on …Longsuffering or patience” This is often used of God's patience with people (cf. Rom. 2:4; 9:22; Titus 3:2, 1 Pet. 3:20) or Jesus' patience (cf. 1 Tim. 1:16; 2 Pet. 3:15). It is used to exhort believers in their treatment of one another (cf. 1 Cor. 13:4; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 4:2; 2 Tim. 4:2). This word is literally “long-temper.” The short-tempered person speaks and acts impulsively and lacks self-control. When a person is long-suffering, he can put up with provoking people or circumstances without retaliating. It is good to be able to get angry, for this is a sign of holy character. But it is wrong to get angry quickly at the wrong things and for the wrong reasons.[1]      Patience in the face of provocation and suffering. This is a divine attribute (Rom. 2:4; 9:22). It is the opposite of anger and ‘it is associated with mercy'. Kindness, gentleness and patience are part of the fruit of the Spirit that Paul describes in his letter to the Galatians (Galatians 5:22). They help Christians live in harmony with one another. Compassion and humility may sound like weaknesses. But Jesus showed in his own life that compassion and humility are at the heart of God.[1] Col 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  ASB, NKJV “bearing with one another” NJB “bear with one another” TEV “be tolerant with one another” Put on forbearance …bearing with one another is a PRESENT MIDDLE PARTICIPLE (used as an IMPERATIVE) which implies voluntary non-retaliation (cf. Eph. 4:2; Phil. 2:3–4). This word literally means “to hold up” or “to hold back.” God is forbearing toward sinners in that He holds back His judgment (Rom. 2:4; 3:25). Meekness, long-suffering, and forbearance go together.[1] Paul emphasizes forgiveness, as Jesus used to do. Forgiving one another and being forgiven by God belong closely together—indeed, they are inseparable (Matthew 6:14–15).[1] Put on forgiveness … “forgiving each other” This is a PRESENT MIDDLE (deponent) PARTICIPLE. It is from the same Greek root as grace, “freely forgive.” One sign of believers being forgiven is that they forgive others (cf. Matt. 5:7; 6:15; 18:22–35; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:36–38; James 2:13; 5:9). Forgiveness of others is not the basis of forgiveness, but it is its fruit. “whoever has a complaint” This is a THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE which meant probable future action. There will be complaints! Christians will be at odds with other Christians, but Jesus' cross should put a stop to it (cf. Rom. 14:1–15:13).  “just as the Lord forgave you” This is the basis for believers' actions toward others (cf. Eph. 4:32; Rom. 15:7). The point here is that of keeping oneself in check even when irritated by others, and the forgetting of offences personally received. We have to do so looking to Christ as our example: ‘even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do'. Believers can, and must, be a forgiving people (Matt. 6:14–15). Peter was told to forgive up to seventy times seven (Matt. 18:22). Note that Paul is still discoursing on Christian freedom! The antinomians will not like this clear and indisputable call from Paul because they consider themselves not under the law of obedience. However, a forgiving attitude marks out a true Christian from a false one.[1] This is the logical result of all that Paul has written so far in this section. It is not enough that the Christian must endure grief and provocation, and refuse to retaliate; he must also forgive the troublemaker. If he does not, then feelings of malice will develop in the heart; and these can lead to greater sins.[1]        Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?              John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.               “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32             Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.              hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F             The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions

Law and the Real Sabbath (1) (audio) David Eells – 5/4/25 First, let me say that we do have a Sabbath to keep in the New Covenant. If you, who have eyes to see, will be patient and hear me out, I will show you that it is the best news you have ever heard. The Sunday Sabbath folks want to bring us under the law of man, and the Saturday Sabbath folks want to bring us under the Law of the Old Covenant, which God refused to make with the Gentiles (Psa.147:19,20; Deu.7:6,11). If you hold either one of these positions, do not be afraid to examine this subject for the truth will hold up to scriptural scrutiny. The early church kept neither Sunday nor Saturday as the New Testament Sabbath until a great falling away in the third century. The Old Covenant Saturday Sabbath was a type and shadow of what is promised in the New Covenant, but as we will see, Sunday is not the fulfillment of it. (Col.2:16) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day: (17) which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's. As anyone knows, a shadow is not real; it is only darkness. It is created because what is real is in the light. When Christians try to keep the Old Covenant Sabbath, they are in darkness and have not yet come into the light of the real Sabbath. The Jews never knew what the real Sabbath was, only the shadow or type of the New Testament Sabbath. God never made the Law covenant with the Gentiles. For a Christian to come under part of the Law, like the old Sabbath, is to come under a curse for not keeping the whole Law. (Gal.3:10) For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them. Christ delivered us from the curse of failing to keep any part of God's Law. (13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. We are now justified by faith, not by keeping any part of the Law. Paul then warned the Christians not to go back under the Law in observing feast days and Sabbath days. (Gal.4:9) but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again? (10) Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years. (11) I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain. Paul warned by the Spirit that these believers could not be Christ-like under the Law. (19) My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you. Paul then warned that the Christians who go back under the Law are sons of the bondwoman Hagar and not the freewoman Sarah. (21) Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? (22) For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman. (23) Howbeit the [son] by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the [son] by the freewoman [is born] through promise. Here we come to a stern warning for those seeking to be justified by keeping the Old Covenant Sabbath or any other part of the shadow of the Law. (30) Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman. For a Christian to go under any part of the Law is for him to go into bondage and be cut off from the benefits of Christ. (5:1) For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage. (2) Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision (Or any other part of the Law), Christ will profit you nothing. (3) Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision (Or any other part of the Law), that he is a debtor to do the whole law. (4) Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace. We are “severed from Christ” when we do not follow or abide in Him, but the Law. Only under grace through faith are we united with Christ through justification and delivered from the curse. Neither Jesus nor the Apostles told us to keep the Old Covenant Sabbath. Jesus always appeared to the disciples and taught on the Lord's day after His resurrection because it was His resurrection day, the first day of the week (Luk.24:1,13; Luk.27-32; Joh.20:1,17,19, 26; Rev.1:10-13). The disciples gathered on the first day of the week (Act.20:7; 1Co.16:1,2). However, they did not make the Lord's Day into a command or law, but a custom; and they never claimed it was the Sabbath. Apostate men did that. Jesus and the disciples went to the Jews on their Sabbath to evangelize them and bring them into the New Covenant Sabbath rest through the promises. Jesus was constantly accused of breaking their shadow Sabbath (Mat.12:2; Joh.5:16-19; 9:16) because He was not under the Law. We will also be accused of this if we follow in His steps instead of being “severed from Christ” by keeping a Law that was never given to us. The Apostles and elders in Acts 15 were gathered together to see whether to bring the Gentiles under the Law. They came to a conclusion that those under the Sabbath Law need to understand. (Act.15:19) Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God; (20) but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. These few things he commanded so that the Jews would not consider them anathema. This was important for the Jews' sake so that they could be evangelized. (21) For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him (Law), being read in the synagogues every Sabbath. (28) For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.... Notice that the Sabbath was not commanded of the Gentiles. Neither were a lot of other things that the legalists bring the ignorant Christians under. The Law passed away and was fulfilled in Christ, except for those whose hearts are blinded by the veil. (2Co.3:12) Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, (13) and [are] not as Moses, [who] put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away: (14) but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed [to them] that it is done away in Christ. (15) But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart. (16) But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Don't go into bondage with the veil of Old Covenant Laws, which are just shadows or parables of what was to come. Now we, with an unveiled face see the New Covenant in Christ. (17) Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, [there] is liberty. (18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. The Law was cancelled because it could not complete or make perfect, because it was only a shadow of the good things to come in the New Covenant. (Heb.7:18) For there is a disannulling (Greek: Annulled or cancelled) of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness (19) (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope (The New covenant through grace), through which we draw nigh unto God. The purpose of those under the Law was to give us a shadow or parable of the great things to come. (Heb.8:5) who serve [that which is] a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warned [of God] when he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount. (6) But now hath he obtained a ministry the more excellent, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better promises. (7) For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second. (8) For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; (9) Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers ... (13) In that he saith, A new [covenant] he hath made the first old. But that which is becoming old and waxeth aged is nigh unto vanishing away. (10:1) For the law having a shadow of the good [things] to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh. The Law was always planned to be a temporary shadow. (Gal.3:19) What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made... So there was an end of the Olde Covenant law. The Sabbath was eternal as the legalists will tell you (Exo.31:16). So how could it be eternal and still pass away? What they do not understand is that it changed from letter to spirit in the New Covenant (2Co.3:2-11). The letter of the type, shadow, or parable as taught in the Old Covenant is now fulfilled in the spirit of the New Covenant. Jesus said in (Mat.5:17) Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. (18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. So now we must fulfill the parable. Fulfilling or accomplishing the Law is not the same as being under the Old Covenant Law as Jesus went on to demonstrate. (21) Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time (Notice that the Law was spoken unto them, not us.), Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: (22) but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment. Notice that Jesus changed the Law from regulations of our actions to regulations of our heart, as the prophets said would come (Jer.31:33) But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Jehovah: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Those who do not permit anger in their heart will fulfill the Law and not kill. (27) Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery: (28) but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Jesus interpreted the Law again. If we do what He says and avoid lust, we will fulfill the Law by not committing adultery. Jesus continued to demonstrate how changing the Law from outer actions to inner nature will fulfill it (Mat.5:33, 43). If God changed all these Laws in order to fulfill them, then He did the same with the Sabbath. The Sabbath was meant to be a change in our nature rather than a regulation of our actions, one day a week. If a person rests from his own works every day by believing in Christ's finished work, he will certainly fulfill the Law of resting for one day. The Law will be fulfilled in us, but not by keeping the letter, “For the letter kills but the spirit gives life”. It will be fulfilled through us as we walk in and by the Spirit. (Gal.5:16) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (18) But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. When you see what's written in the shadow of the Law, you must look in the New Covenant to find out what the fulfillment is. Circumcision was necessary under penalty of death, but Paul, by the Spirit, changed it from a carnal shadow to the spiritual fulfillment of baptism. (Col.2:11) ... in the circumcision of Christ; (12) having been buried with him in baptism. Under the Old Covenant, we were 90% owners and 10% stewards but according to Jesus, we are now 100% stewards, or we are not really disciples. (Luk.14:33) So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. To Peter, it was revealed that the Old Covenant carnal restriction on eating unclean beasts was spiritually a restriction of partaking of unclean people, which Solomon called beasts (Ecc.3:18), and the gospel solves that problem. (Act.10:11) and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth: 12 wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean. 15 And a voice [came] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common. Then Peter was sent with the gospel to the Gentiles and got the revelation that they were the unclean beasts that God had cleansed. (28) and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and [yet] unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean. As you can see, it was the habit of Jesus and the disciples to translate the shadow to the spiritual reality. It is a violation of the Spirit to bring old Covenant ceremonial laws into the New Covenant without translating them. Since this is so, we must find out what the Sabbath translates to. Let me explain the New Testament Sabbath rest. The Sabbath shadow was to cease from man's works one day a week. But we are commanded to do this every day.  We can cease from works of religious self-justification, works of the flesh, and various forms of salvation by man's works, through faith in the work that Christ has already accomplished. Jesus said, “All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive (Greek: received) them, and ye shall have them (Mar.11:24). Why believe that we have received everything? Notice in the following verses that all things have been received by us and that the only thing left is for us to believe it. Also note the past-tense of our sacrificial provision in the following verses: (Eph.2:8) For by grace have ye been saved through faith; (1Pe.2:24) Who his own self bare our sins in his body ...by whose stripes ye were healed; (Col.1:13) Who delivered us out of the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; (2Co.5:18) ...who reconciled us to himself; (Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ, and its no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me; (Gal.3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse; (1Pe.1:3) ...the Father ...begat us again ...by the resurrection of Jesus Christ; (Heb.10:10) We ...have been sanctified ...; (14) He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified; (Eph.1:3) ...who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing, and God (2Pe.1:3) hath granted unto us all things .... Jesus told us in His day which, of course, is also in the past that “Now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (Joh.12:31); “But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Joh.16:33); “It is finished” (Joh.19:30). This is why we are to believe we have received. The devil and the curse were conquered. We were saved, healed, delivered, and provided for. We can rest from our own works to accomplish this when we truly believe. Let me give you an example. (1Pe.2:24) who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed. The one who believes that Jesus already “bare our sins” considers himself delivered and can rest. He no longer has to worry about how to be delivered because he reckons himself to be “dead unto sin but alive unto God” (Rom.6:11). He reckons within himself, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me” (Gal.2:20). He can rest. Notice that the one who believes that “by whose stripes ye were healed” never has to resort to his own works to get healed. All he has to do is rest and receive it by faith. If a man continues to try to get healed when the Word says he was healed, he shows he does not believe the Word. He has not ceased from his own works to enter the rest by believing 1 Peter 2:24. All the sacrificial promises are past-tense to cause us to rest from our works every day. Redemption from the curse is truly finished! In fact, God's “works were finished from the foundation of the world” (Heb.4:3) when He spoke the plan into existence. The only thing left is for the true sons of God to enter into those works by faith, believing they have received. Since the works are finished, we should believe and rest from our own works to save, heal, and deliver ourselves. (3) For we who have believed do enter into that rest. Notice it is not the one who ceases from works on Saturday or Sunday but the one who believes who enters the New Covenant Sabbath rest every day. (9) There remaineth therefore a Sabbath rest (Greek: sabbatismos, “keeping of rest”) for the people of God. This constant “keeping of rest” every day, not one day a week, through the past-tense promises, is our spiritual Sabbath. (10) For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. This rest is to believe these past-tense promises and rest from our own works or man's works to save ourselves. Our faith in each of these promises brings us into more of the rest. We should be diligent not to leave out even one of these promises for our own good. (Heb.4:1) Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. (2) For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard. This is true faith and always brings the answer. Through believing the promises, we enter into rest from our own works. For a child of God to say that they believe they have received and yet continue seeking to receive, usually through worldly methods, is to be double-minded. (Jas.1:6) But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. (7) For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord; (8) a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways. Those who continue to work for what God has freely given believe in salvation by works. (Heb.4:10) For he that is entered into his rest, hath himself also rested from his works. (Jas.3:19) And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief. Since the promises of deliverance from the curse are past-tense, when we believe them, we must stop working. It is an evil heart of unbelief to not rest. God was angry with Israel because they would not believe His Word in their trial in the wilderness (Heb.3:8-10). (Heb.3:11) As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest (the Sabbath!). (12) Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God .... (14) We are become partakers of Christ (His health, holiness, and blessing) if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end. When we believe we have received, we are put in a position of weakness because we cannot do anything to bring the desired result to pass. This weakness is rest in our wilderness experiences because there is no help from Egypt or the world there. Only God's power saves in the wilderness. God says, “My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor.12:9). If we refuse to be weak, God refuses to be strong on our behalf. Our weapon against our enemies who try to talk us out of our covenant rights is the two-edged sword of these past-tense promises (Heb.4:11,12). Let me share with you a good example of the power of the true gospel through faith in our past provision. Several years ago, I ran across a lady who had two large, inoperable tumors. She listed for me several famous preachers she had been to, who had prayed for her to be healed. She said to me, “David, I just don't understand why I have not been healed”. I said, “You just told me why you have not been healed. You are looking in the wrong direction. Turn around and look behind you for 'by whose stripes ye were healed' (1Pe.2:24). You are looking forward to a healing that happened behind you. You have a little hope, but no faith. Faith 'calls the things that be not (in this case, healing) as though they were' (Rom.4:17). Faith looks back at what was accomplished at the cross, but hope looks forward to what will be accomplished. Jesus said, 'All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for believe that ye receive (Greek: “received”) them, and ye shall have them' (Mar.11:24). That is the gospel, sister, that you must believe”. With these few words, I saw the light come on in her eyes; and her face brighten up. I said, “Now we are going to pray one more time; but this time believe the Scriptures, and believe you have received whether you see an instant manifestation, or not”. She agreed, so I rebuked the infirmity and commanded her to be healed in Jesus' name. She instantly felt the tumors leave. We rejoiced and thanked God together. I said, “Sister, that is the first time you believed the true gospel concerning your healing. If you had done that when those other preachers prayed, you would have been healed.” Because she, through faith, entered into rest from her own works to save herself, she saw the works of Jesus. Many do not receive from God because they do not keep our Sabbath through faith. Many years ago, I had a dream about resting from my works in order to be caught up by the power of God to do His works. In scene one, my wife and I were resting in lawn chairs in front of our house. Our gaze was riveted on the power line that crossed our property because it was sagging between the power poles so much that it almost touched the ground. As we watched and rested, a tornado came over that power line and picked us up out of our chairs and carried us away. Interpretation: God helped me to understand this prophetic dream. As we cease from our works and enter into the rest (the lawn chairs), the power of man (power line) comes to an end, and the power of God (tornado or whirlwind) takes over. God only gives this power to those who cease from their own works, even religious works, to follow His Spirit because they believe the promises. In scene two, I found myself in front of a large church. I walked through the front door and standing in the foyer was an “old man” in a suit. I avoided this old man as if he were a rattlesnake and went into the sanctuary, so-called. I saw there a large double sink, full of water. In the water were babies; they were faced down and most were dead. I quickly went to the sink, picked up a baby, and held him in the air. He spoke to me saying, “Thank God, I knew he was going to send someone”. Interpretation: I was made to know that there are many carnal ministers (old man - Eph.4:22; Col.3:9,10) who are trying to wash up the people of God (babies in the sink) by using the word as the letter of the Law (which is the water in Eph.5:26) and they're killing them instead. (2Co.3:6) who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. The letter of the Law that is taught by the Pharisees of today only gets our eyes on our own earthly ability or inability, like being face down in the water, which kills. Many are they that sit under the condemnation of the Law, which is a powerless false gospel, only to give up in their failure to please God and go back into the world or die on a church pew. We cannot pick ourselves up by our bootstraps or be saved by our own self-will. This is an understanding that is from the earth, and is face down. Seeking this is to be “ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2Ti.3:7) that sets free. Jesus purposely spoke in parables so that only those who have eyes and ears for heavenly things would understand (Mat.13:10-14). These seek a knowledge that is born from above, I.e., face up. (Mat.16:17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. As always, those whose understanding is “face up” will be fought by those whose understanding is “face down”. The good news of the promises is the power of God given freely to save the one who believes (Rom.1:16). These promises get our eyes on God's ability and provision or face up. These promises give faith (Rom.10:17) to get grace (Eph.2:8) in order to have the power to live the Christian life and cease from our works. The Jews complained that Jesus' disciples were breaking the Sabbath by harvesting grain to eat (Mat.12:1,2), which was true according to the Law (Exo.31:14-17). Jesus replied to them; (Mat.12:5) Or have ye not read in the law, that on the Sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless? Notice that He was proclaiming that His disciples were guiltless for profaning the old Sabbath. The priests, in order to fulfill the Sabbath, had to work in the temple. They did the work of God as we should also. Jesus was rebuked for healing on the Sabbath. Those outside the temple had to cease from their own works. (6) But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here. Jesus is our New Testament temple. We who abide in Him must work His works in order to fulfill the Sabbath. We must work the works of our Father, for we are the priests of God. (Rev.1:6) and he made us [to be] a kingdom, [to be] priests unto his God and Father .... Those who do not abide in Him have not ceased from their own works and are breaking the real Sabbath. Those who follow Christ as Lord are keeping the Sabbath, for He is Lord of the Sabbath. (Mat.12:8) For the Son of man is Lord of the sabbath. If we follow the Lord, then we have rested from our works to do His works. (Joh.14:12) ... he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. If we follow the Law, we are cut off from Christ and grace and cannot be keeping the real Sabbath (Gal.5:4). Those seeking to keep the Law of the Sabbath are instead breaking it because they are not resting from the works of the Law. Those under the Law, who condemn us for following Christ on Saturday or Sunday, condemn the guiltless. (Mat.12:7) But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; ye would not have condemned the guiltless. We are to work and do good on our Sabbath. All good is legal on our Sabbath, every day, but our old works are not. (12) ...Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day. Good, of course, is God's works. (Joh.5:16) And for this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath. (17) But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I work. Notice that Jesus worked His Father's works even on their shadow Sabbath. Then Jesus specified what works are legal on our Sabbath. (19) ...The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner. We see here that works that come from self are illegal on our Sabbath, but works that our Father does through us are not. (30) I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. As sons seeking the will of God, we also may work the works of God on our spiritual Sabbath but not the works of self. Even the Old Covenant gives us clues to this principle. (Isa.58:13) If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, [and] the holy of Jehovah honorable; and shalt honor it, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words: (14) then shalt thou delight thyself in Jehovah; and I will make thee to ride upon the high places of the earth; and I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it. Jesus said that He always did the will of His Father. Therefore He always rested from His own works, and those who follow Him do also. God gives the same Spirit that Jesus had to those who wish to be empowered to follow Him and so keep the real Sabbath. (Isa.28:11) Nay, but by [men of] strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people; (12) to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. Paul declared this verse to be a promise to those who are filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues in the New Covenant (1 Cor.14:21). Jews and Christians who refuse this Spirit to rest from the works of the Law, including the old Sabbath, are said to be those who “would not hear”. If we receive and follow the Spirit, we are not under the Sabbath or any of the Law. (Gal.5:18) But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Those who receive the Spirit are empowered to live in Christ, which is the rest from the works and curse of the old Law. (Rom.8:2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. We are under the Law of the Spirit. Except for prophets and kings, Israel did not have this Spirit to guide and empower them, and therefore needed rules and regulations on their external conduct. Those who live by the Spirit of life in Christ naturally fulfill the Law, which has been written in their hearts. Those who live in Christ by the Spirit cease from their own works every day. (Gal.5:16) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Jesus said that those who received the Spirit would be witnesses of Him to the world (Acts 1:8). Jesus and His apostles never commanded to cease from work on a day. (Mat.11:28) Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden (with the Law [Mat.23:4]), and I will give you rest. The problem is that we are in and out of the rest like we are in and out of Christ. Abiding in Christ is resting in our promised benefits. Some say God gave us the gift of eternal life so he can't take it back. In Gal.3:16 we are told “to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ”. You see, the promises were given to Christ, not to you. The only way the promises are yours is if you abide in Christ. Abiding in Christ is: bearing His fruit (Joh.15:1-6), walking as he walked (1Jn.2:3-6), believing the same teachings given by Jesus and the apostles without adding or subtracting (1Jn.2:24 / Jude 3 / Mat.28:20 / Rev.22,18,19), not walking in willful sin (1Jn.3:5,6), keeping his commandments (1Jn.3:24). 1Jn.5:11 says that “God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” and that is the only place we can claim this gift. God doesn't have to take it back, his people walk out of it. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body (1Co.6:18). If we walk in willful sin, we are not abiding in his body, for there is “no sin in him” (1Jn.3:5,6). Sins of ignorance or failure are covered by the blood (Rom.7:15-8:2) but willful sin is always judged. (Heb.10:26) For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. The Spirit of life in Christ empowers us to walk in Him by faith in His promises. (Heb.4:9) There remaineth therefore a Sabbath rest (Greek: sabbatismos, “keeping of rest”) for the people of God. This constant “keeping of rest” is every day, not one day a week. Paul, comparing the weak in faith with those who are mature, said, (Rom.14:5) One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. In our Covenant, every day is the Sabbath rest. As he said in Gal.4:9,10, “how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again? Ye observe days”. Our Sabbath is freedom from bondage to the works of the Law. Since Jesus took away our sins, it is freedom from fleshly works too. (Psa.118:24) This is the day which Jehovah hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Old Jerusalem ruled over God's physical Old Testament people just as New Jerusalem rules over God's spiritual New Testament people. Paul declared that we have come to this spiritual city. He showed us that it is not a physical city that can be touched. (Heb.12:18) For ye are not come unto [a mount] that might be touched ... (22) but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem ... (23) to the general assembly and church of the firstborn.... Jesus' called-out ones come to this mountain. This is the place of God's continual rest. (Psa.132:13) For Jehovah hath chosen Zion... (14) This is my resting-place for ever: Here will I dwell; for I have desired it. Unlike those under the Law, we are not to dwell outside the temple and go there occasionally, nor are we to dwell outside the rest six days and only dwell in it one. Those who dwell in this spiritual Jerusalem remain in God's resting place. There is only one day in the New Testament Jerusalem, the spiritual city of God. That day is the real Sabbath. (Rev.21:25) And the gates thereof shall in no wise be shut by day (for there shall be no night there). Notice that there is one day and no night in the city of God where the Lamb is the light (23). There is no darkness to break up the one day of God's work for those who abide in Christ. (1Jn.1:5) And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. Those who abide in God continue in the light of day doing His works. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Those who walk in the light of our day are always in the presence of the sun (Son). Night is to have the earth between you and the sun (Son). Our flesh came from the earth (Gen.2:7) and symbolizes the earth. When the works of our flesh come between us and the Son, we are living in the darkness of night. If we are in this idolatry with the world, whether this means our flesh or the things of the world (1Jn.2:15,16), we live in the night. Walking in the light of our one Sabbath day, the works of man are destroyed. I want to remind you that the Law is a shadow, and if you are under a shadow you are not in the light. The saints live in the lighted day of ceasing from their own works, especially the works of the Law, while the wicked live in the dark night of their own works. (1Th.5:5) For ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day (the Sabbath): we are not of the night, nor of darkness; (6) so then let us not sleep (Having their eyes closed to the light of the Son), as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. (7) For they that sleep sleep in the night: and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. (8) But let us, since we are of the day (the Sabbath), be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. As long as Jesus has been in this world, either in His first body or His second corporate body, it has been day. (Joh.9:5) When I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (Mat.5:14) Ye are the light of the world. That only makes one day as long as the saints are here. (Joh.9:4) We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day (When we are ceasing from our works to do His, it is the Sabbath day.): the night cometh, when no man can work. Our works in Christ for this world are over when the Lord comes for us and then night comes for the judgment of the world. (1Th.5:2) For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (3) When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them... After the tribulation, the light of the world will be gone! (Mat.24:29) But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven (This is the falling away and reprobation of 1/3 of the stars, representing the spiritual seed of Abraham [Rev.6:12-14; Gen.22:17]). The darkening of the light of this world here is physical as well as spiritual. Joseph shared a dream that clearly showed that the people of God spiritually are the sun, moon, and stars, “the light of this world”. (Gen.37:9) ...behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars made obeisance to me. (10) And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? Starting as a star glory, Joseph went to his cross in Egypt and was promoted in glory above his brethren, the children of Israel. We grow from star glory to moon glory and then to sun glory as we continue to walk in the light that God gives us (2Co.3:18). Paul agreed that the saints manifest these three glories in 1Co.15:41,42. Now we can see that when the Lord comes and takes His sun, moon, and star glory saints, the world will be left in the darkness of night. (Mat.24:29) But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven. (30) ...and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) And he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect...Glory to God! Jesus taught that the whole Christian New Covenant era on earth is only one day. (Joh.11:9) Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. (10) But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him. Those who walk in this continual Sabbath day walk in the light. This spiritual day lasts until the judgment. (Mat.20:1) For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. Jesus started hiring laborers for His vineyard first thing in the morning, which was almost 2000 years ago. Then He gives examples of going out to hire all during the day, the third hour (verse 6), the sixth and ninth hour (verse 5), and the eleventh hour (verses 6-9). Of the eleventh hour people it was said, “These last have spent [but] one hour” (12). Then at the twelfth hour He called in all of His servants to give them their reward. (8) And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. Jesus calls in all of His servants to face Him and receive their reward at His coming. (Rev.22:12) Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is. Midnight is the twelfth hour when the Lord comes for the virgins (Mat.25:6) and also the time when the saints leave the Egypt of this world (Exo.29:12-31). At this time, even though it is midnight for the world, the saints are walking with lamps full of Holy Spirit light (Mat.25:4). From Jesus' first coming to His second coming is one day. This one day incorporates the whole Christian New Covenant era on earth. It should not surprise us that God could change something as important as the Sabbath from many carnal days to one spiritual day. He changed something much more important, our sacrifice, from many carnal sacrifices to one spiritual sacrifice, our Lord Jesus. The Lord again defines our rest as a corporate day that covers every day. (Heb.4:6) Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto, and they to whom the good tidings (the promises) were before preached failed to enter in (Even though they kept the Saturday Sabbath) because of disobedience (Greek: “apeitheia” also means unbelief), (7) he again defineth a certain day, To-day, saying in David so long a time afterward (even as hath been said before), To-day if ye shall hear his voice (the promises), Harden not your hearts. (Today is any day that you are presently in. Since this verse was written to all saints throughout the New Covenant, then “today” is every day that they live in. God was telling us that when you hear His promises, do not harden your heart as Israel did, but believe to enter the rest in the day that you live in.) (8) For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day. Today is that day saints, not Saturday or Sunday. Five times in this text, God uses the term “To-day” to define the rest. (3:13) but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. “Day by day” it has been “called To-day” for almost 2000 years. (4:9) There remaineth therefore a Sabbath rest (Greek: sabbatismos, “keeping of rest”) for the people of God. God has been merciful to our ignorance of this true Sabbath, but judgment will now be seen the world over because we have come to a second spiritual type of the Sabbath. (2Pe.3:8) But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Having read the writings of the early church fathers, I can tell you that they commonly believed in the one thousand-year prophetic day and that after six of these days from the beginning, the end time judgment would come. The Hindus, Muslims, and the Jews also believed this. Gibbon in The Rise And Fall of The Roman Empire said that the early Christians believed this. The Bible is laid out in seven prophetic one-thousand-year days. These days are numbered from the creation of Adam. There were four thousand years or four days between Adam and Jesus. Since the days of Jesus, the calendar has been tampered with extensively, but most researchers believe we are close to traversing two more days and coming to the beginning of the seventh, thousand-year period from Adam. Besides the regular spiritual Sabbath that we have already spoken of, this seventh, thousand-year day is a second spiritual Sabbath. When the body of Christ was crucified, it was a high Sabbath (Joh.19:31). That means it was a regular Sabbath and a second Passover Sabbath. This second spiritual Sabbath will also be a Passover Sabbath for those who have eaten the Lamb and are about to leave the Egypt of this world. This will also be a crucifixion to the fleshly works of the body of Christ. According to the shadow, when this end-time second spiritual Sabbath begins, God will judge those who go on in their own works. (Exo.31:12) And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily ye shall keep my sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am Jehovah who sanctifieth you. Christians who try to keep the Sabbath in the “letter” don't understand this because they don't see that this is a “sign”. (15) Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Jehovah: whosoever doeth any work on the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. This is also the time when He finishes His creative work. (Gen.2:2) And on the seventh day God finished his work, which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work, which he had made. According to this type, God is about to finish His new creation work during this morning of the seventh day and rest. Every man's work will be proven by the fiery trial on the one day Sabbath. (1Co.3:12) But if any man buildeth on the foundation (of Christ) gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; (13) each man's work shall be made manifest: for the day (one Sabbath) shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man's work of what sort it is. The wood, hay, and stubble of man's works will burn up on God's Sabbath day because, according to the shadow, there is judgment against man's work on the Sabbath. (Exo.31:14) Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Since there is only one Sabbath day, we have to rest every day from our own works, as the rest of the New Testament also teaches. (Rev.2:23) ... I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works. (25) And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations. (Exo.31:15) Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Jehovah: whosoever doeth any work on the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. Let's look again at this verse about the refreshing in Isa 28:11 Nay, but by men of strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people; 12 to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. This refreshing is coming again on the morning of the 3rd day (which is the Sabbath). There's going to be a change in the way God will deal with man when this millennium begins. There must be a ceasing from a Christian's own works and enter into the rest. Man's works have been going on in the church for six days (six thousand years). The church has been falling away from keeping the true Sabbath and we're coming to a time where if you don't cease from your own works, you will be cut off from the Body of Christ. There are many Sabbaths. There's the 7th day Sabbath, the 49th year Sabbath, there's the 50th year Sabbath, and there's the 7th millennium Sabbath. There's a Sabbath called the Jubilee. A Jubilee is a year. There are 120 Jubilees every 50 years. 120 Jubilees till Noah and another 120 till the next Noah. Noah means rest. So, 120 Jubilee years until the beginning of the Sabbath. 120 Jubilee Sabbaths bring us to the actual year 6000. We are entering into the prophetic Sabbath or the millennial Sabbath.   Reconciled to God Php 4:19  And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  (“Every need”, not greed. “Every” would include Spiritual, physical, emotional needs.)   What is faith? Heb 11:1  Now faith is assurance [substance?] of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. When you believe for something that is not yet seen, that is faith. How do we have God's faith to receive every need? Mar 11:22  And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have God's faith. (This is according to the numeric pattern proof.)  23  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. 24  Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received (Numeric) them, and ye shall have them. (This is exactly what Quantum Physics, or Quantum Mechanics has proven, Jesus said it first. And here is an important condition to receiving. 25  And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  Col 1:19  For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell; 20  and through him to reconcile (The Greek: kattallasso means “exchange” of Jesus' life for ours) all things(not Numeric) unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things those (Numeric) in the heavens. (Notice: He is not speaking of things but His people) 21  And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, 22  yet now hath he reconciled (exchanged) in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: 23  if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.  First the sons and daughters of God are exchanged and then Christ in them can deliver the creation. Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. 20  For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope 21  that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. 22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. The Lord told me that he bore the symbol of the cursed creation upon the cross. It was the crown of thorns. As we manifest our sonship we have authority over the cursed creation. We can pray for our grass, dogs, cows, bugs, trees, neighbors, etc.  Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:.. 2Co 5:14  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15  and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again. 16  Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. 17  Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things (not Numeric) are passed away; behold, they are become new. 18  But all things (not Numeric) are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; 19  to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (We reconcile others by showing them the exchange.) 20  We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God. 21  Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.    Believe You Received and Rest Suani Guzman - 01/09/2010 I want to share a quick dream that helped me a lot. We all know that we must abide in the Sabbath Rest and boldly speak the good confession, but we don't always do it. So the Lord has to remind us sometimes. I have been going through some hard trials with caring for my elderly parents. I don't want to impose my faith on them but at the same time I'm trying to stand for their spiritual and physical salvation. The Lord impressed upon me that I must abide in the rest or the enormity of the problem will overwhelm me. In the dream, my husband and I had a truck in which we went sightseeing. We parked it and left for a walk. When we came back, the truck was a wreck -- another car had hit it really badly, and it was ruined. My husband, Raul, and another man tried to fix it. I went to help. I stood there and said something like, “Jesus had fixed it”. When those words left my mouth, the truck was immediately transformed into being whole again. I was so on fire and praised God and started to witness boldly to everyone about what Jesus had just done. We then left and, as we went, the truck started to stall and I said, “Oh no, it's healed”, and immediately it got power again. That happened twice. Then we got on a freeway full of cars. We were on the outer lane and struggling up a very, very steep hill. We were driving with two tires on the road and two in a ditch. The car couldn't go up like that, so it flipped over about two times and landed away from the road. So we stopped to consider the hill. By sight, it looked almost impossible to climb. We tried to figure out another way, but could see no other way. I thought that it was going to take all my strength to do it, and still it would not be enough. End of dream. (What is impossible with men is possible with God. We must trust His promises not our works.) Mar.11:24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received (Greek) them, and ye shall have them. Heb.4:2 For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard. (3) For we who have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said, As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. (9) There remaineth therefore a sabbath (Greek: Sabatismos -- a continual rest) rest for the people of God. (10) For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. (11) Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, that no man fall after the same example of disobedience. Building the “Resting” Church  Eve Brast - 08/11/2012 (David's notes in red) | (Deb Horton's notes in green)  I dreamed I was driving east (faceing toward the coming of the Son) toward Dallas on a large highway with very sparse traffic on it. (The highway of holiness going to Dallas, which means “meadow dwelling”.) (A place of feeding with the flock.) It was dark but I could see a little light on the horizon in the east. (Near to the coming of the Lord in the Man-child on the morning of the seventh thousand year-day.) I was going to an eight-story hospital building that was under construction (the true Church of the called-out ones is being built), where my husband (representing Jesus) had instructed me to meet him. The building was oval-shaped and not square. (The building was eternal without beginning or end because of its shape and eight floors. (An “8” lying down is the sign for infinity or eternity and “8” is the number of Jesus. Since it's lying down, it could mean resting in Jesus. A hospital is a place for healing the sick, spiritually and physically, which the Church is supposed to be.)  I pulled into the parking garage and parked my old, gray (indicating mixture of good and evil, white and black), five-speed (grace received to get to this point) manual (not automatic, works by self), 1980 Toyota Corolla that had been my first car when I learned to drive. (Our first car represents our first ways of rest in the Lord. To park is a sign of coming into maturity through rest.) I went inside the building with my son's blue backpack containing surgical instruments and food my husband had asked me to bring to him. (Man's burdens and works we bear until we reach the seventh floor of rest and give them over to Jesus. Mat.11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.) I went into the ground floor lobby with a recently laid, highly polished wood floor (the human nature is under our feet to serve the spiritual man).   I waited at the only elevator (there's only one Way to God) to go up to the seventh floor (entering into the rest) (The first six floors represent the first six days of the different levels of man's works we do until we rest on the seventh spiritual day). I had to wait a bit because it was the only elevator. I was the only one waiting to go up. (The Bride will be the first to fully enter into the seventh-day rest.)  When the door opened, A black sister from UBM was the elevator attendant, but she was white and looked like me. (The white represents holiness.) She greeted me and began telling me how old the elevator was. (2000 years) She was an expert on this elevator. It was her assigned job in the building, and she knew everything about it. She told me that currently, the elevator only reaches the seventh floor, but when the construction is complete, it will go all the way up to the top, which is the eighth floor. (The eighth floor is Jesus and Heaven and new beginnings. When the building representing the Church is finished, we will go to the top, the eighth, heavenly floor.)  When I got off the elevator on the seventh floor, my husband passed by me wearing metal leg braces supported by a blue, padded waistband that girded his waist and metal crutches that braced around his forearms. (Our husband Jesus was strengthened by the Father to finish His pilgrimage as a type of the body.) (This reminds me of the command in Deuteronomy to bind the phylacteries, which are Scripture verses, on the forehead and hand, because the phylacteries are bound on the hand and are laced on from the forearm.) (David had a similar revelation where he was wearing leg braces. They strengthened his walk and helped him to stand.) (God's power is made perfect in our weakness.) He looked at me as he passed by with a knowing look (seeing eye to eye) and a smile, as if we shared a common understanding of something. (A common understanding of faith in the same promises brings people to the seventh floor of rest.) (Amo.3:3) Shall two walk together, except they have agreed?  Suddenly, I realized that I left my backpack on the elevator, or I thought I had, but it wasn't over my shoulder anymore. (We can't take our own provision or burdens to the seventh floor of the rest but we can give it all to Jesus there.) I became concerned (we will lose the rest if we think on our burdens) and turned around to push the button to go back down (A warning not to fall away from the rest).   While waiting for the elevator doors to open, I overheard an accountant from the hospital discussing a debt of $20 that they said I owed with another employee. (A warning that If we leave the rest of faith, we begin to bear the debt of sin again. The first mention of 20 in the Bible is Gen.6:3 And Jehovah said, My spirit shall not strive with man for ever, for that he also is flesh: yet shall his days be a hundred and twenty years.) They said they had tried to call my cell phone to give me this report, but I wouldn't answer because I knew it was not really my debt and that I wasn't required to pay it. (The accuser will always try to convince you that you still owe the debt that Christ already paid for you.) (If one leaves the rest, they will be tempted even more so.)  When the elevator doors finally opened, a horde of people out of nowhere rushed into the elevator, as if desperate to get out of the building. (They were in their flesh and leaving the rest.) I calmly walked in but there was barely enough room. When the doors shut, we were warned that the ride down was much scarier than the ride up because the elevator went down really fast, and it did (Because this represents the falling away. We have seen people lose all the gain of years in moments.). But it slowed down midway for safety precautions (this could represent those who are neither hot nor cold -- the fence-sitters in the middle) (also, God makes a way for His people to change their mind and Return unto thy rest, O my soul Psa.116:7) and then it sped back up until it reached the ground floor.  As I got off the elevator, the morning sunshine streamed through the lobby windows (Jesus in the Man-child is manifesting). A surgeon from the hospital who was going up said, “Isn't it exciting that the building construction will be completed in a week?!” (After the seven years of the 70th week of the tribulation, the Church will be complete, and I believe this week will start very soon.) I turned around and said, “Yeah”. But the importance of what he had just announced didn't register with me. I was concerned about finding the backpack because my husband needed me to bring it to the hospital (to give that burden to him).  I hoped I would find the backpack in my car in the parking garage, since it had not been left in the elevator. I ran out to the car and found it (the burden was in the car, representing immaturity) and brought it back into the lobby and pushed the elevator button again.   When the doors opened, my sons Noah and Elijah came out of the elevator and passed me as I went in. They were eight-foot-tall, grown men! (Their “8” size indicates they have grown up in Jesus.) They gave me the same knowing look of common understanding and smile that my husband had given me. (The faith that brings relief from our burdens and works.) They said, “Don't worry, Mom. We have everything under control”. (Jesus in the Man-child ministry beginning to reign [having given their burdens to God].) Then I woke up.  Why would we bear the burdens of the curse if we believe what Jesus said? Mar.11:23 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. 24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mat.18:18 Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.  When we pray and believe, we rest from all the curse. Gal.3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Abraham was blessed in all things. Not entering the rest or keeping the spiritual Sabbath is because of unbelief. Heb.3:11 As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. 12 Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God: 13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin: 14 for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end:...  18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient? 19 And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.

Nobody expected Jesus to rise from the dead, not even His disciples and those closest to Him expected Him to get up and walk out of the tomb. It did not matter to His disciples that Jesus said that He would suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise from the dead (Mark 8:31), because what He said fell upon deaf ears at the time. On the day of Jesus death, everyone believed that He had lost, and evil had won. There was no coming back in the minds of all who watched Him die, and for good reason! When a person was sentenced by Rome to be crucified, it was a sentence that was equally horrible as it was terminal. Jesus died and was buried in a tomb. When Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went to Jesuss tomb, they went to anoint a decomposing and dead Jesus to cover up the stench of death while His disciples mourned. What these women were expecting was a very dead body. When they arrived at the tomb and found the stone moved, they were alarmed not because they expected the resurrection, but because they thought someone messed with the body (see Mark 16:1-5). This is why the young man, who most likely was an angel, said to them: Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; see, here is the place where they laid Him (Mark 16:6). What was their response? They were terrified: ...they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid (Mark 16:8). What the disciples saw as defeat, the angels viewed at the edge of their seats, if Peter and the rest could have heard the chatter from heaven, maybe they would have heard: You just wait and see whats coming! If it were possible to hear the angels, and if they were listening closely enough, maybe they would have heard all of heaven ask: Did you not hear what Jesus said when He was with you? Did you not hear Him say, I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.... No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father. (John 10:14-15, 18)? Some of you are feeling the way the disciples and those closest to Jesus felt in the wake of His death. Some of you are feeling like the disciples did when they woke up on Sunday morning: stuck, unsure, afraid, frustrated, angry, and hopeless. I want you to know today that there is a hope within your reach that can swallow up your paralysis, uncertainty, fear, frustration, anger, and hopelessness. For me to do that, I need you to see some things in the 23rd Psalm. Everyone Experiences the Valley of the Shadow of Death Death is the great antagonist and for some strange reason, we act as though we will never experience it, and when it does come... we are surprised by it. Just before Frank Sinatra died, he said, Im losing. The comedian, Groucho Marxs last words were, This is no way to live! Caesar Borgia (chayzaarayborzhuh) said on his deathbed: While I lived, I provided for everything but death; now I must die and am unprepared to die. In Psalm 23:4, we come to a very familiar sentence that has served to comfort the anxious and fearful: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Death is something that we all must face and not one of us will be able to escape it. The valley of the shadow of death is not only death, but the deep darkness of sin, and it is a deep darkness that envelops all humankind.[1] The valley of death is a darkness that no one is exempt from, even if you are a Christian. You see, the valley of deep darkness represents the curse our world is under and the curse that affects us all, and that curse is sin. This is why our world is a mess, this is why there is sickness and disease, and this is why we have to say goodbye way too often and sometimes way too soon. The Bible says that all of us are guilty of sin (Rom. 3:23), and that it is something that has been passed down from one generation to the next. Here is what the Bible says: ...through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned.... Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the violation committed by Adam (Rom. 5:12, 14). What the valley is to you really depends on whether or not you can say with the Psalmist: The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need. You see, there is one group of people who will be swallowed up by the valley and then there is another group of people who will walk through the valley. The question is this: What group do you belong to? Not Everyone Remains in the Valley of the Shadow of Death Jesus said of the 23rd Psalm: I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11). Here is what the Bible says about all of us: All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way... (Isa. 53:3). Or to say it another way, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). All of us have sinned and fall short of meeting the standard of a Holy God. So what was Gods solution to address our sin problem? Listen to the rest of Isaiah 53:3, All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the wrongdoing [sins] of us all to fall on Him. Jesus said, I am the Lord of the 23rd Psalm but He did not stop there, He went on to say, I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep (vv. 14-15). The way that you know that the Lord of the 23rd Psalm is your Shepherd is whether or not you believe who He claimed to be and that when He laid down His life for you because of your sins, that His death on a cross is sufficient for the forgiveness of your sins. And listen, if you really believe in Jesus, if you really belong to Him, and if you really know Him... you will believe the things that He said about Himself: I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35) I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life. (John 8:12) I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:2526) Anyone can say the things Jesus said, and everyone will die one day. If all that Jesus did was lay down his life for the sheep, then all that He is... is a dead martyr and nothing more. But consider what Jesus said to the disciples that they missed, most likely because of how impossible they found it to believe what He said to be: I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father. (John 10:14-18) What the disciples missed was the most important part of what Jesus said: I lay down My life for the sheep.... I lay down My life so that I may take it back.... I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. In other words, I will die for your sins to redeem you, and then I am coming back by way of a resurrection! It should not have surprised any of the disciples or the women who knew Jesus that the tomb was empty on the third day, but because the resurrection was so impossible and so beyond the limitations of their imagination that the Good Shepherd, the Lord of the 23rd Psalm, could die for sins and then conquer death by rising from it. This is why the angel said to the women when they arrived at the place Jesus was buried: Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; see, here is the place where they laid Him (Mark 16:6). Conclusion We all want a happily ever after story. We go to the movies, and we watch sporting events just so that we might experience the impossible! We want to experience the Fellowship of the Ring and Frodo and Sams impossible mission to destroy the evil ring of Sauron. For you romantics in the room, you want Jerry Maquire to walk through the door finally believing that the love of his life is his wife, Dorothy, and maybe your heart fluttered when Dorothy told Jerry to shut up, followed by the words: You had me at hello. If you like the kinds of movies I like, then you wanted to stand and shout just before the great battle scene in Avengers: End Game. However, when it comes to experiencing the impossible for real and in our lifetime, we are shocked. When fantasy and reality merge and the impossible really happens, we are shocked. Perhaps you think your game is over because you are at the bottom of the 9th with three balls, two outs, a man on second, and you are down by one run! But wait, there is still a player on second and one more pitch to go over the plate. It was during the first game in 1988 World Series that Kirk Gibson, who played for the Dodgers, was injured and unable to run. It was surprising that he was put in as a pinch hitter at the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. Gibson hobbled up to the plate to everyones surprise. With Mike Davis on first base, Tommy Lasorda was hoping Gibson could hit a ball far enough to get Davis to home for a game tying run. Gibson fouled two pitches for two strikes, swung at another ball down the first base line for a foul, and eventually ended up with 3 out of 4 balls giving him a full count. What this meant was that if he got another ball, he would be forced to walk or if he got one more strike, he would lose the game against the As by one run. When Dennis Eckersley, the closing pitcher for the As, threw a backdoor slider, Gibson swung with just about all his upper body to hit the pitch and sent the ball over the right-field fence for a homerun. The Dodgers won the world series that year, the only time Gibson was able to step up to the plate was that one time at the bottom of the 9th in the first game to hit one of the greatest homeruns in baseball history. After Gibson stepped on home plate, the announcer said this: In a year that seemed so improbable, the impossible has happened. There is a greater event that happened that did not happen before, nor has it happened since, and that event was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. When He walked out of the tomb on Sunday, the impossible happened, and because it happened, it changed everything. The resurrection of Jesus Christ affirms all that He did and claimed to be! Because of the resurrection, we can know and experience Him to be the Bread of Life, the light of the world, the resurrection and the life, and the Good Shepherd of the 23rd Psalm. Jesus tomb is empty and because He defeated sin and the grave, He alone is qualified and able to guide me in the paths of righteousness... even through I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. His rod and staff comfort me because He swallowed up the deep darkness of the valley through His resurrection! Jesus not only walked through the valley of the shadow of death, but He also defeated it and came out on the other side as the victor and Lord of Life! Jesus Christ is risen from the grave! If you dont know Him, then the 23rd Psalm is not for you and there is no going through the valley of the shadow of death. But, if you do know Him, then not only will He lead you through the valley of the shadow of death, but there is a table at the other end of it and because of the Good Shepherd, Psalm 23:6 is for you and all who hope in Jesus as the Lord of Life: Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, And my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever. Amen. [1] Christopher Ash, The Psalms vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Crossway; 2024), p. 271.

Nobody expected Jesus to rise from the dead, not even His disciples and those closest to Him expected Him to get up and walk out of the tomb. It did not matter to His disciples that Jesus said that He would suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise from the dead (Mark 8:31), because what He said fell upon deaf ears at the time. On the day of Jesus death, everyone believed that He had lost, and evil had won. There was no coming back in the minds of all who watched Him die, and for good reason! When a person was sentenced by Rome to be crucified, it was a sentence that was equally horrible as it was terminal. Jesus died and was buried in a tomb. When Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went to Jesuss tomb, they went to anoint a decomposing and dead Jesus to cover up the stench of death while His disciples mourned. What these women were expecting was a very dead body. When they arrived at the tomb and found the stone moved, they were alarmed not because they expected the resurrection, but because they thought someone messed with the body (see Mark 16:1-5). This is why the young man, who most likely was an angel, said to them: Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; see, here is the place where they laid Him (Mark 16:6). What was their response? They were terrified: ...they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid (Mark 16:8). What the disciples saw as defeat, the angels viewed at the edge of their seats, if Peter and the rest could have heard the chatter from heaven, maybe they would have heard: You just wait and see whats coming! If it were possible to hear the angels, and if they were listening closely enough, maybe they would have heard all of heaven ask: Did you not hear what Jesus said when He was with you? Did you not hear Him say, I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.... No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father. (John 10:14-15, 18)? Some of you are feeling the way the disciples and those closest to Jesus felt in the wake of His death. Some of you are feeling like the disciples did when they woke up on Sunday morning: stuck, unsure, afraid, frustrated, angry, and hopeless. I want you to know today that there is a hope within your reach that can swallow up your paralysis, uncertainty, fear, frustration, anger, and hopelessness. For me to do that, I need you to see some things in the 23rd Psalm. Everyone Experiences the Valley of the Shadow of Death Death is the great antagonist and for some strange reason, we act as though we will never experience it, and when it does come... we are surprised by it. Just before Frank Sinatra died, he said, Im losing. The comedian, Groucho Marxs last words were, This is no way to live! Caesar Borgia (chayzaarayborzhuh) said on his deathbed: While I lived, I provided for everything but death; now I must die and am unprepared to die. In Psalm 23:4, we come to a very familiar sentence that has served to comfort the anxious and fearful: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Death is something that we all must face and not one of us will be able to escape it. The valley of the shadow of death is not only death, but the deep darkness of sin, and it is a deep darkness that envelops all humankind.[1] The valley of death is a darkness that no one is exempt from, even if you are a Christian. You see, the valley of deep darkness represents the curse our world is under and the curse that affects us all, and that curse is sin. This is why our world is a mess, this is why there is sickness and disease, and this is why we have to say goodbye way too often and sometimes way too soon. The Bible says that all of us are guilty of sin (Rom. 3:23), and that it is something that has been passed down from one generation to the next. Here is what the Bible says: ...through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned.... Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the violation committed by Adam (Rom. 5:12, 14). What the valley is to you really depends on whether or not you can say with the Psalmist: The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need. You see, there is one group of people who will be swallowed up by the valley and then there is another group of people who will walk through the valley. The question is this: What group do you belong to? Not Everyone Remains in the Valley of the Shadow of Death Jesus said of the 23rd Psalm: I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11). Here is what the Bible says about all of us: All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way... (Isa. 53:3). Or to say it another way, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). All of us have sinned and fall short of meeting the standard of a Holy God. So what was Gods solution to address our sin problem? Listen to the rest of Isaiah 53:3, All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the wrongdoing [sins] of us all to fall on Him. Jesus said, I am the Lord of the 23rd Psalm but He did not stop there, He went on to say, I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep (vv. 14-15). The way that you know that the Lord of the 23rd Psalm is your Shepherd is whether or not you believe who He claimed to be and that when He laid down His life for you because of your sins, that His death on a cross is sufficient for the forgiveness of your sins. And listen, if you really believe in Jesus, if you really belong to Him, and if you really know Him... you will believe the things that He said about Himself: I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35) I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life. (John 8:12) I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:2526) Anyone can say the things Jesus said, and everyone will die one day. If all that Jesus did was lay down his life for the sheep, then all that He is... is a dead martyr and nothing more. But consider what Jesus said to the disciples that they missed, most likely because of how impossible they found it to believe what He said to be: I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father. (John 10:14-18) What the disciples missed was the most important part of what Jesus said: I lay down My life for the sheep.... I lay down My life so that I may take it back.... I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. In other words, I will die for your sins to redeem you, and then I am coming back by way of a resurrection! It should not have surprised any of the disciples or the women who knew Jesus that the tomb was empty on the third day, but because the resurrection was so impossible and so beyond the limitations of their imagination that the Good Shepherd, the Lord of the 23rd Psalm, could die for sins and then conquer death by rising from it. This is why the angel said to the women when they arrived at the place Jesus was buried: Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; see, here is the place where they laid Him (Mark 16:6). Conclusion We all want a happily ever after story. We go to the movies, and we watch sporting events just so that we might experience the impossible! We want to experience the Fellowship of the Ring and Frodo and Sams impossible mission to destroy the evil ring of Sauron. For you romantics in the room, you want Jerry Maquire to walk through the door finally believing that the love of his life is his wife, Dorothy, and maybe your heart fluttered when Dorothy told Jerry to shut up, followed by the words: You had me at hello. If you like the kinds of movies I like, then you wanted to stand and shout just before the great battle scene in Avengers: End Game. However, when it comes to experiencing the impossible for real and in our lifetime, we are shocked. When fantasy and reality merge and the impossible really happens, we are shocked. Perhaps you think your game is over because you are at the bottom of the 9th with three balls, two outs, a man on second, and you are down by one run! But wait, there is still a player on second and one more pitch to go over the plate. It was during the first game in 1988 World Series that Kirk Gibson, who played for the Dodgers, was injured and unable to run. It was surprising that he was put in as a pinch hitter at the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. Gibson hobbled up to the plate to everyones surprise. With Mike Davis on first base, Tommy Lasorda was hoping Gibson could hit a ball far enough to get Davis to home for a game tying run. Gibson fouled two pitches for two strikes, swung at another ball down the first base line for a foul, and eventually ended up with 3 out of 4 balls giving him a full count. What this meant was that if he got another ball, he would be forced to walk or if he got one more strike, he would lose the game against the As by one run. When Dennis Eckersley, the closing pitcher for the As, threw a backdoor slider, Gibson swung with just about all his upper body to hit the pitch and sent the ball over the right-field fence for a homerun. The Dodgers won the world series that year, the only time Gibson was able to step up to the plate was that one time at the bottom of the 9th in the first game to hit one of the greatest homeruns in baseball history. After Gibson stepped on home plate, the announcer said this: In a year that seemed so improbable, the impossible has happened. There is a greater event that happened that did not happen before, nor has it happened since, and that event was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. When He walked out of the tomb on Sunday, the impossible happened, and because it happened, it changed everything. The resurrection of Jesus Christ affirms all that He did and claimed to be! Because of the resurrection, we can know and experience Him to be the Bread of Life, the light of the world, the resurrection and the life, and the Good Shepherd of the 23rd Psalm. Jesus tomb is empty and because He defeated sin and the grave, He alone is qualified and able to guide me in the paths of righteousness... even through I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. His rod and staff comfort me because He swallowed up the deep darkness of the valley through His resurrection! Jesus not only walked through the valley of the shadow of death, but He also defeated it and came out on the other side as the victor and Lord of Life! Jesus Christ is risen from the grave! If you dont know Him, then the 23rd Psalm is not for you and there is no going through the valley of the shadow of death. But, if you do know Him, then not only will He lead you through the valley of the shadow of death, but there is a table at the other end of it and because of the Good Shepherd, Psalm 23:6 is for you and all who hope in Jesus as the Lord of Life: Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, And my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever. Amen. [1] Christopher Ash, The Psalms vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Crossway; 2024), p. 271.

In the blackness of Sunday morning, the prodigal opened His eyes and murmured softly, “I will arise and go to my Father, and will say to Him, ‘Father, I have borne the sins of every human who has ever lived. I am worthy to be called your Son.'” And a reunion postponed for 33 years split the midnight of our world. Out of wretchedness came joy. Out of brokenness came healing. Love triumphed over death. Grace reclaimed what sin had stolen. The Liberator came back to life. Then the voices of a billion angels shook the galaxies and stars: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev 5:12). That's why we sing the story of the resurrection every time we can. This is the truth that underlines our certainty: “He was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised to life to make us right with God” (Rom 4:25). This stone-cold planet, rife with death, smothered in pain and gasping for life, is not our destination: “'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'”(Jer 29:11). Your future began with the resurrection of Jesus. Grace declares His victory can be yours. So stay in grace. -Bill Knott

In the blackness of Sunday morning, the prodigal opened His eyes and murmured softly, “I will arise and go to my Father, and will say to Him, ‘Father, I have borne the sins of every human who has ever lived. I am worthy to be called your Son.'” And a reunion postponed for 33 years split the midnight of our world. Out of wretchedness came joy. Out of brokenness came healing. Love triumphed over death. Grace reclaimed what sin had stolen. The Liberator came back to life. Then the voices of a billion angels shook the galaxies and stars: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev 5:12). That's why we sing the story of the resurrection every time we can. This is the truth that underlines our certainty: “He was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised to life to make us right with God” (Rom 4:25). This stone-cold planet, rife with death, smothered in pain and gasping for life, is not our destination: “'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'”(Jer 29:11). Your future began with the resurrection of Jesus. Grace declares His victory can be yours. So stay in grace. -Bill Knott

Throughout Scripture, God tells His people to sing, and as we raise our children, we’re to teach them to joyfully obey this command. Here are (8) tips to aid you in this effort. First, sing from the little ones all the way to the older ones. Second, don’t let your children mumble their way through the songs. Third, teach them to open their mouths to project their voices. Fourth, show them proper posture. Fifth, remind them to sing when they forget. Sixth, when your children are too young to know all a songs’ words, have them hum the tune. Seventh, sing the same songs at home, in the car. Eighth, make it fun. Ninth, sing on the way to church, so as you come with your children to the meeting, they’ll be ready to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Rom. 12:1). Sermon: https://churchandfamilylife.com/sermons/67ce80846f987cfc0eba618f

Jesus' death on the cross of Calvary is the remedy to at least three barriers that separate sinful humanity from the all-holy God. First of all, we are slaves to sin, to Satan, and to the world system of thought and behavior. Jesus' death on the cross is the ransom that paid the release-price so set us free from these enslavements (Matt. 20:28). Secondly, we are legally condemned before the court of God; we are guilty because of Adam's sin and because of our own personal sin. Jesus' death and resurrection removed our guilt and credited to us his righteousness (Rom. 3:21-26).Thirdly, we were enemies of God (Rom. 5:6-11) because of our wicked behavior. By his sovereign initiative, God stepped into our lives and reconciled us to himself because of the work of his Son on the cross. Through the work of the cross the ransom was paid, guilt was replaced by justification, and former enemies were adopted and made friends of God.

David wrote more than 70 divinely-inspired psalms that directly spoke to the highs and lows he experienced as a man. This points to a vital truth—that God, in His kindness, has given us songs for every aspect of our life journey. Here are key singing lessons to draw from this truth. First, sing with your whole heart (Zeph. 3:14). Second, sing to be changed. Third, sing to do battle (Num. 21; Ps. 59; 104). Fourth, sing in every season of life. Fifth, sing to impact people around you (Ps. 95). Sixth, sing the Psalms. Seventh, sing songs of lamentation. And, eighth, sing manly songs as men. In all this, present your bodies as a living sacrifice as you sing praise to God (Rom. 12:1; Ps. 100:2). Sermon: https://churchandfamilylife.com/sermons/67ce80846f987cfc0eba618f

Return of the Man-Child   (audio) David Eells – 3/5/25  Saints, today I'm going to talk to you about the Genealogy of Christ Jesus.  The Bible says, That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun (Ecc.1:9). We quite often look at the Scriptures, even in the natural, as something that's a revelation of the distant future, but we need to study the Gospels to give ourselves a revelation of soon-coming things that are now almost upon us. Years ago, I shared with you how everything that has happened in the Gospels and the Book of Acts is coming again now, except the cast of characters has been multiplied many times over, meaning that they will be corporate bodies of people all over the world walking in the steps of earlier individuals. The Lord also spoke to me years ago that the Gospels represented the first 3½ years of the Tribulation period and that the Book of Acts represented the second 3½ years of the Tribulation period.  There's a doctrine out there which teaches that Jesus ministered for only one year because they do not see that the Feasts that Jesus kept did not all happen in the same year in the Scriptures. But one very good proof is in Bible Chronology by Ivan Panin. It basically proves the correct chronology through numeric patterns. Panin's book is one of the only chronologies out there that actually uses Bible dates that can be found by cross-referencing other Bible dates. The only other book I know of was from Martin Anstey, who wrote Romance of Bible Chronology back in 1913. Both authors' chronology comes only from Bible dates. There is also a way to verify those dates with Numerics, the numeric pattern.   So here's what I've found concerning Jesus' ministry: Year one of His ministry was in AD 27, year two in AD 28, year three AD 29, and the Cross, resurrection, ascension, and Pentecost all happened in AD 30. That is cross-referenced with numeric Bible chronology. I personally already believed what they're saying because of what the Lord told me, but I think there are things we can point out and see through the Gospels that will show us that the 3½-year ministry of Jesus is just like the one we're about to enter now, only with a new reformation leadership which the Bible calls the “Man-child.”  I want to start in Matthew and share a picture of what happens through the rest of the Gospels. Some people think Matthew 1 is the dullest part of the whole Gospel because it has all those “begat”s and “begat”s. I'm not going to recite all of those, but I would like to point out a few things. First, where it speaks of The book of the generation of Jesus Christ (Mat.1:1), according to Numerics, it says simply, “The generation of Jesus Christ,” or “The genealogy of Jesus Christ.” Either way, it's the same word. The interesting thing is that the word “generation” here is the Greek word genesis, so it can be read as “The genesis of Jesus Christ.” The Book of Genesis is about the creation of Adam and the natural creation and yet here we're starting another “Genesis” of what the Bible calls “the last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45), Jesus Christ. This is not a natural creation, but the spiritual creation of the “born-again” man, Jesus Christ being the Adam of this new race of people who are created to be sons of God.   People have perplexing questions about the genealogy in Matthew 1 and one of them is, “Why does it seem to be the genealogy of Joseph?” For instance, it says, and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ (Mat.1:16). So we follow the genealogy from Abraham to Joseph here, and that Jesus was of virgin birth. Mary was with child of the Holy Spirit (Mat.1:18). In fact, Joseph really had nothing physically to do with bringing Jesus forth. Joseph was not the father of His flesh. Mary was the mother of His flesh, but the Bible tells us that it is the seed of the woman that was going to bring forth the Son who would crush the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15).   God used the DNA from Mary to create the body of Jesus, His fleshly part. He was the Son of God and Son of Man. The Son of God came in a body that He called the Son of Man. Of course, That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (Joh.3:6). That means your natural creation has been born of your fleshly parents, but your spiritual creation came from God. It's like when God breathed into the first Adam the “breath” (or ruach, which is the Hebrew word for “spirit”), the “breath of life” (Genesis 2:7). That spiritual man in you came from God, but the carnal man was passed on by your parents.  So why mention Joseph in this passage? We just want to know of whom Jesus was born. I think that's a really interesting question and it goes right to the root of why this is the genesis of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Genesis also means “birth,” “beginning,” “origin” and so forth. Jesus is the beginning and He is the end (Revelation 1:8). He is the beginning of the new creation man and He is the end; all things would be summed up in Him (Ephesians 1:10). The point here is, Joseph did have something to do with raising Jesus; he had everything to do with the spiritual man and nothing to do with the carnal man.   Joseph was ordained of God to represent Him in raising Jesus in the image of God. You say, “That doesn't make sense. He's the Son of God.” But the Bible says, And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luk.2:52). Joseph could contribute none of his physical self in bringing forth Jesus, but he contributed both words and actions into Jesus' life in order to train Him up and bring Him into the image of God that He was ordained to be. In Hebrews, it appears to be Jesus speaking when He says, a body didst thou prepare for me (Heb.10:5). The Son of God in Heaven came down to inhabit a body that was brought forth through Mary, but the lineage written is of Joseph.   It even says that in (Mat.1:16) And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. It didn't give Joseph any credit for the birth of Jesus; Jesus was of virgin birth. But Joseph had something to do with bringing forth this genesis, this new generation of man, because what he was sowing into the life of Jesus were words, actions, an example, and other such things. Even though Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, meaning “born” Son of God, and even though He was filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb, He still had to be raised up into the fullness of that image.  The seed that Joseph sowed in Jesus' life is the most important seed in bringing forth the spiritual man. In the carnal man, it is a physical seed that brings forth the physical life. But the spiritual man, which lives in all of us who have been born from above, is born by the seed of the Word of God that has been sown in us. We're told; It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life (Joh.6:63). So Jesus was doing the exact same thing that was done to Him: He was sowing in the disciples the Spirit and the life of God through the Word of God that He was speaking.   We are also told, That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed (Rom.9:8). The “children of the promise” is the promise that was spoken to them that put faith in their heart to receive the gift of God to be what they were not before. It's God working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure (Ephesians 1:5,11). Mary was not, as some people say, the “mother” of God. She was the mother of Jesus' flesh. What was sown in Jesus Christ was sent from God the Father; the Father sent His only begotten Son (John 3:16). It had nothing to do with, and was even in spite of, Mary. She even had to receive salvation and was also filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14; 2:4). But she was required and necessary to be the mother of the flesh that Jesus would come to live and walk in as the Son of God. And yet, this whole genealogy in Matthew is all about bringing forth the spiritual man and not the carnal man, or it would have been Mary's genealogy written in Matthew.   It's not the physical that's so important. Any flesh out there can manifest bearing the fruit of the Son of God if the seed is sown in it. The Lord God is showing us by this example that the important thing is what is spoken into someone's life. This is how we pass on our seed in the Kingdom through the Word of God.  In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-23), Jesus sowed the seed and the seed was the Word of God, and He brought forth in people's hearts the fruit 30-, 60- and 100- fold. Jesus was what He was, in spite of His human heritage. According to Romans 8, He had to overcome His human heritage. He was one that hath been in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin (Heb.4:15). (Rom.1:3) Concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, (4) who was declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness … Therefore, That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (Joh.3:6). That which came from Mary was the seed of David because she was in the lineage of David and God took her DNA to do that. But that which was born of God out of heaven was the Spirit of God, according to what Jesus said.  In the Scriptures, it's very plain that in the spiritual man, which is the Son of God (or the sons of God, as we are), our lineage is not according to genealogy at all. Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, in Whom we all live (Acts 17:28) and we manifest our sonship through Him. Scripture portrays Melchizedek as a theophany, very much in the same way Jesus is a Theophany or, in other words, “God in flesh.” Jesus is said to be a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek (Heb.6:20). Both Melchizedek and Jesus were without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God (Heb.7:3). It says “without father, without mother” because we're talking about the Son of God. The son of man has an earthly father, earthly mother, earthly genealogy, but the Son of God does not have any such thing. The Son of God is eternal. He is the Word which came down out of heaven (John 1:14), which we eat like the Israelites ate the manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4).  When we read this Word, we absorb it into ourselves. We spiritually eat that Word of God, which is eternal, and that recreates in us the Son of God, which has no end. There's no genealogy to the Son of God in you. (Col.1:27) … Christ in you, the hope of glory. There's no beginning of days nor end of life because He is eternal. That Word is simply recreating in you the manifestation of God. This is what the Bible refers to where it says, For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing (“manifestation”) of the sons of God (Rom.8:19). So we see that there is no earthly, or physical genealogy to a son of God. This genealogy in Matthew is a genealogy of people concluding with Joseph, who had no physical connection, but was only sowing a seed in the life of Jesus to raise Him up from a child. And we're also being raised up in the same way.  Reading now in (Mat.1:17) So all the generations from Abraham unto David are fourteen generations; and from David unto the carrying away to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon unto the Christ fourteen generations. It's very interesting that it's so neatly divided. I remember many years ago, as we read this in a Bible study in my home, somebody said, “I've counted these and there's not 14 generations there. There are 14, 14, and then 13.” So we all started counting and then we recounted it again and we said, “Hey, you're right! There's 14, 14 and then 13.” We had to be careful not to double-count the name twice between the paragraphs, where there is a paragraph break.  There's not 14 generations in the last paragraph, yet God says there were 14 generations! At the time, the answer came to me that this is not referring to Christ Himself, but that the “fourteen generations” were speaking about Jesus' offspring, meaning the body of Christ. Then it would be correct. That would make Christ the 41st generation and the people of God the 42nd generation; I still believe this explanation today. I received a word of knowledge at that time, and I believe that God was speaking to me, that in the phrase, “unto the Christ,” the word “Christ” is actually used of the saints. And, if we're “in Christ,” we are part of the 42nd generation, even though the fullness of that is coming forth in the days that we're in right now.  2 Corinthians is a good proof that the 42nd generation is speaking of Jesus' offspring. (2Co.1:21) Now he that establisheth us with you in (Greek: “into”) Christ, and anointed us, is God. Here we have the word “Christ,” which in Greek is Christos, and we have the verb “anointed,” which in Greek is the verb chrio and means the same thing. Those who are established “into Christ” are one body and “anointed,” which is the verb chrio. So when He says, “unto the Christ” in Matthew, it could very well be, this anointed body; that is the offspring of Jesus. Remember, Jesus was the progenitor of this body. He sowed the seed, which is the Word of God, that went into the hearts of men.  In the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13, the word “seed” is the Greek word sperma. The Sower sowed the sperma to bring forth fruit 30-, 60- and 100-fold. So “unto the Christ” could very well be the “anointed” because He is saying that we are those anointed. The word “anointed,” or chrio, is the very same word Jesus spoke when He read from Isaiah. (Luk.4:18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because He anointed me … So Jesus is the Chrio and His body is the Chrio. He left an individual body in order to come back in a corporate body so He could do to the whole world what He did in the Middle East. That was the whole point, a glorious work of God.   Notice that “He establisheth us into Christ.” We are the anointed because we are in Him. It's Christ in you and you in Christ, as He said in (Joh.17:21) … That they may all be one; even as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us … This is what everyone wants to call a “mystery,” but the more of Christ we get in us, the more we are the anointed. We need to be receiving what He received when He was anointed; we need to be receiving the power of the Holy Spirit. He manifestly became the Christ because He was anointed with the Holy Spirit.   And then we also see of Christ, this additional proof in (Eph.1:10) Unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things (There is no numeric pattern to include the word “things” here.) in Christ the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, [I say,] (11) in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will. He wanted to sum up all people in Christ, in the anointed, in Christos, and we are that “all people.”   Galatians 3 tells us that there is just one generation after Jesus, the 42nd generation. (Gal.3:16) Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. There is only one seed of Christ. If we abide in Him, then we are now His corporate body on the earth and Paul tells us this a little further down. (Gal.3:28) There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one [man] in Christ Jesus. (29) And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed (The “seed” is singular, just one.), heirs according to promise.   So, we become heirs according to the promise that enters our hearts. It works in us the faith to receive all the benefits of the Kingdom and to walk as Christ walked. This is an amazing thing that God is doing. The only way that we can be a part of this 42nd generation, is to receive the Word of God, which is the very seed that makes us a member of the body of Christ. That's why Joseph is listed there in Matthew 1 because Joseph could pass on to Jesus the wisdom that a child would not have.   (Luk.2:52) And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. It says, But ye are an elect race (Greek: genos, “chosen generation”) (1Pe.2:9). We are a chosen generation. There is just one generation from the time of Jesus on. We have all received the same seed, the Word of God, and allow it to bear fruit. We all come into the same body and we have been chosen to be a part of that body in the earth to do the works of God.  There is more interesting revelation found in (Psa.102:12) But thou, O Lord, wilt abide for ever; And thy memorial [name] unto all generations. So all of the generations of God's people become one generation, the 42nd generation. (13) Thou wilt arise, and have mercy upon Zion … God is going to bring His children out of bondage in Babylon back to Zion in these days. (Psa.102:13) Thou wilt arise, and have mercy upon Zion; For it is time to have pity upon her, Yea, the set time is come. The time is in our day when God is going to have pity on Zion, to raise her up again.   He will raise up Zion, whose land has been desolate because God's people were taken into Babylonish captivity. Now they're going to return by His grace to their Promised Land. (Psa.102:14) For thy servants take pleasure in her stones … “Her stones” are a symbol of separation from the world. Zion, the Tower of the Flock, separated the people from the world. It represents holiness; and being on the mountain of God; it represents overcoming the world and drawing close to His Presence, which is on top of the mountain.  (Psa.102:14) For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, And have pity upon her dust. (15) So the nations shall fear the name of the Lord, And all the kings of the earth thy glory. Before this is over, that's exactly what's going to happen: the nations will fear the name of the Lord because He is once again going to show His sovereignty and His judgments in the earth, just as He did in the time of Moses. Egypt was a type of the nations. (Psa.102:16) For the Lord hath built up Zion (who is the Bride, according to Revelation 21:2); He hath appeared in his glory. The Lord is coming in His people. It is a body made up of Himself, His Word and His life.   (Psa.102:17) He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, And hath not despised their prayer. This indicates to me that in these days many are going to draw close to the Lord because of destitution and tribulation in the world and a wilderness experience.  (Psa.102:18) This shall be written for the generation to come … Notice that it is one generation, the 42nd generation, in whom Jesus lives (Col.1:27). (Psa.102:18) This shall be written for the generation to come; And a people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. That's the 42nd generation, one generation, the generation of the Lord. Remember what was said back in Matthew: it is “the generation of Jesus Christ.” That's what the whole genealogy was about, “the genesis (same word) of Jesus Christ.”  (Psa.102:19) For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; From heaven did the Lord behold the earth; (20) To hear the sighing of the prisoner … This is referring to God's people being in bondage. He is coming once again to deliver His people out of bondage to the carnal man in Egypt. The Israelite, the spiritual man, was in bondage to the carnal man, the Egyptian. The Lord was coming down to set them free, which He is about to do again. All those are types and shadows of what is going to happen during the Tribulation period. Even the judgments that Moses poured out are the ones that the Man-child will pour out on Egypt, the world. (Psa.102:20) … To loose those that are appointed to death; (21) That men may declare the name of the Lord in Zion (Zion was the refuge of God's people.), And his praise in Jerusalem; (22) When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord. Praise God!  The same thing is spoken of in (Isa.53:8) By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who among them (The words “among them” was not in the original manuscript.) considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due? (Isa.53:9) And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Praise the Lord! This is the generation of the Lord, which is the generation or genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1.  We can see that genealogy in another Psalm, too. (Psa.22:30) A seed shall serve him; It shall be told of the Lord unto the [next] generation. However, the word “next” was not in the original. Also, the word used there for “told” can be translated as “counted,” so the verse may be read, “counted unto the Lord unto a generation.” Some of you may have a footnote that reads, “or, ‘counted unto the Lord for His generations.'” The word “generations” is singular. The translators are using their own reasoning there and I believe that what it correctly reads is, “It shall be counted unto the Lord for a generation.” This is the 42nd generation, the one referred to in Matthew, which is what the Lord came to do.   The Lord Jesus came for this generation of people from His day until ours. The real cream of the crop is coming in our day. He has saved the best wine for last (Joh.2:1-10). He refers to this generation in the next verse. (Psa.22:31) They shall come and shall declare his righteousness Unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done it. He has done it! It is finished! He has overcome the world (John 16:33). He has brought forth His children, as we just read in Isaiah 53. The Bible says, He shall see [his] seed (Isa.53:10) and again, the word “seed” is singular. Jesus gave His life in order to see this seed and said, Greater [works] than these shall he (that's you) do; because I go unto the Father (Joh.14:12).  We read This is the generation of them that seek after him (Psa.24:6). That's an awful lot of people, between the time of Jesus first raising up disciples and our day. So who is this “generation”? If you go back and read Psalm 24, you get an idea. (Psa.24:1) The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein. (2) For he hath founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the floods. (3) Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? (That is Mt. Zion.) And who shall stand in his holy place? (4) He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto falsehood, And hath not sworn deceitfully.   (5) He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. (6) This is the generation of them that seek after him, That seek thy face, [even] Jacob. Oh, praise the Lord! This generation that God has spoken about so often, this chosen generation, is the 42nd generation of 14 + 14 + 14. And this 42nd generation is made up of the eternal, spiritual man. The carnal man is not the offspring of Jesus Christ; he is the offspring of Adam, the first Adam. The last Adam is the Father of the spiritual, born-again creation man, the sons of God.  This body each of us has is a temporary thing and all of its desires and lusts are temporary; they're all going to pass away. We have a new body and a born-again soul that's been born again from the Word of God and we have a new spirit. All this is the 42nd generation, which the whole Gospel is for and about. We're looking toward the crowning of this generation in the coming days. It's an awesome work that God is about to do!  Now let's continue on in Matthew because here's another spiritual passage that concerns what God is about to do: (Mat.1:18) Now the birth (The word “birth” is the same Greek word meaning the genesis or “generation.”) of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Notice that when we speak of abortion, we refer to the child as a fetus. It says, “she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.” It is not a fetus; it is a child. Abortion kills a child and this is a child of the Holy Spirit. Spiritually-speaking, Mary represents the people of God in whom the Holy Spirit has sown a seed that is bringing forth the fruit of Jesus Christ. It was said to Mary, And blessed [is] she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord (Luk.1:45). What was spoken unto her from the Lord was that she was to bring forth the fruit of Jesus Christ.  And each one of us has also been called to be a Mary because Jesus said, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? (Mat.12:48). (50) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother. Everyone who does the Will of the Father is a part of this corporate body of Mary, which is bringing forth the fruit of Jesus Christ. He sowed the seed into the womb of the hearts of men in the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13 and He brought forth the fruit of Christ 30-, 60- and 100-fold. So we see that this is also a prophecy of things to come. We are all called to bring forth the fruit of Jesus Christ. Everyone who does that is a part of the 42nd generation. The natural Jesus was the 41st generation and we are the 42nd generation. This is how God chose to bring forth His sons, in the only begotten Son of God, one Body.  (Mat.1:19) And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. (20) But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. By the way, the word “conceived” here is the word “begotten” in Greek, gennao, and is an offshoot of the word genesis, or “born.” Notice it says that it is “born in her.” It is a child born in her at the time of conception. The Chinese count a person's birth years from the time of conception, not the time of birth, and the Bible is saying the same thing here. “That which is born in her is of the Holy Spirit.” What the Spirit is bringing forth in us is the fruit of Jesus Christ. Glory be to God!  (Mat.1:21) And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. It's interesting that it says that He is going to save His people from their sins. If we were chosen from the foundation of the world, we're going to be a part of this 42nd generation, in that we have received the seed of the Kingdom, which is the Word of God, and brought forth the fruit. Not everybody who is loosely called a “Christian” can say that. He is only talking about those who are “in Mary.” (Mat.12:50) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my … mother. The Lord is referring only to those who do His Will. The others, who are in rebellion and call themselves “Christians,” are not a part of this whole scenario.   It was the same in Jesus' day when He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not (Joh.1:11). In fact, He said to some of them, Ye are of [your] father the devil (Mat.8:44). (39) They answered and said unto him, Our father is Abraham. (41) … We have one Father, [even] God. (42) Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me … And the Bible says if we loved Him, we would keep His commandments (John 14:15). Those who are “in Mary” do the Will of the Father because they have true faith and true faith brings forth true ability from God to walk in His Will. God gives us the gift of working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure (Ephesians 1:11) when we have this gift of faith and we exercise it. (Mat.1:21) … It is he that shall save his people from their sins. Hallelujah! (22) Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us. This is the whole plan of God, that He is “with us.”   Notice that He was born unto a virgin. Is it still true today? The only way that Jesus Christ can be born in us is if we don't receive the seed of man, but we receive the seed of God, which is the Word of God. You know, a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (1Co.5:6). You don't have to add much to the Word of God to make it not be the Word of God anymore. You just need to add a little bit of man's theology and it's not the Word of God. Jesus said, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees (Mat.16:6). Why? Because what they were sowing was the seed of their father, whom Jesus said was the devil. There's only one thing that will bring forth Jesus Christ in His people, which would make them a member of this body of the 42nd generation, and it's the Word of God.   I suggest to the multitudes of people listening, who are wasting a lot of time in religion and not bearing the fruit of Jesus Christ nor walking in His steps and manifesting His power and His fruit, that they stay home and read the Bible until you get it into you enough that you can recognize true and undefiled religion. It is the Word of God that we must humble ourselves to and that brings us into the 42nd generation and the body of she who is the virgin.   We are members of Mary's body who will bring forth the fruit of Jesus Christ, if we are virgins. The Bible says of the 144,000 group in Revelation 14:4 (which is 144), These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These [are] they that follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were purchased from among men [to be] the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb (Rev.14:4). They are virgins because they refuse to receive the seed of men, which is “the leaven of the Pharisees.”   And Jesus said, beware of … the leaven of Herod (Mar.8:15) because a person can also receive the “leaven” of worldly governments, which is patriotism to worldly governments as a form of worship of worldly governments. We have a new one-world order and it's the body of Christ. We have one King over our one-world order and that's Christ Himself. He is the head. We are the body and we do not have our own will; He is our Will. He gives us His Will; in fact, that's how the Son sets us free. It's because He gives us a will that cannot be thwarted. Jesus' Will cannot be thwarted. You cannot be frustrated if you have His Will. Frustration comes when you have your will and God's Will in the same body, at war with one another. Freedom is having God work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure (Ephesians 1:11), so that we can walk after the Lamb of God whithersoever He goes and not be defiled with “women” (Revelation 14:4).  “Women” refers to religious sects, which are typed in the Scriptures as women. Virgins receive only the Word of God and will bring forth the pure fruit of Jesus Christ, just like this lineage that we looked at in Matthew. Jesus was the Son of David because He was of the lineage of David all the way down through Mary. The body He dwelt in was the Son of David, but the Son of God came through the Holy Spirit, Who is the only One Who can sow the nature and life of Jesus. A person who is inhabited by the Holy Spirit can also speak the Word of God, which brings forth the life of Christ in this body in which we dwell.  All of this genealogy was physical, but it also was a parable. Most parables were physical and Jesus spoke parables about planting corn, etc. They were physically true, but they had a spiritual revelation. A spiritual revelation is that the Gospels, the sharing of the Good News, was to bring forth the genealogy of Jesus Christ in His 42nd generation, and they would be born to a body spiritually called “Mary” because “He that doeth the Will of My Father is My mother.” Praise be to God!   In Matthew 1 and 2, five dreams gave direction, warning, protection, prophecy, and instruction. They were given to Mary, Joseph, the wise men, and to the fruit, Jesus. Today, the same thing is happening; many in this time are having dreams, visions and revelations, because we are at the same corresponding point in history. There is a period of time right here, which starts with the anointing of Jesus for His 3½-year ministry. What we're studying right now is the introduction to the beginning of the ministry of Jesus, which started when He was 30 years old.   We're leading up to the time of the anointing of the Man-child, Jesus, the One Who, according to Hosea 6:1-3, is coming as the latter rain on “the morning” of “the third day,” which is where we are right now, and He is coming in His people! He's coming in His first-fruits to begin the process of manifesting the sons of God in these latter days. It's an awesome revelation that the Lord has hidden in this literal revelation of the life of Christ. (Ecc.1:9) That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. The Gospels are giving us a revelation of the time just before the beginning of the 3½-year Tribulation. 

When we come to Luke 11:28-32, it appears that Jesus has finishedHis lessons on the subject of prayer and a crowd of both curious people and contentiousreligious leaders have “thickly gathered together” around Him and His disciples. It appears at the point thecrowd really begins to press in upon Jesus on every side and then He gives thema message of condemnation and judgement (vv. 29-36). Jesus was not impressed by the big crowds, but most likely,the disciples were. And because Jesus knew what was in their hearts of thereligious leaders and the crowd, in order to keep the Twelve from being swayedby "success," Jesus gave them some insights into what was reallyhappening as they ministered the Word to the large crowds of people thatsurrounded them. He reveals the unbelief of their hearts despite the signs thatHe had already given them over the past three years of His ministry in Galilee. Like so many people today who say, “Show me a miracle and Iwill believe”, the Jewish leaders kept asking Jesus for a sign to prove that Hewas the Messiah. The only sign He promised was "the sign of Jonah theprophet." What was the sign of Jonah? What was his story? Remember he disobeyGod's command to go to Nineveh and went the opposite direction to Tarshish. Godpunished him by putting him the belly of whale for three days and three nights.He repented and went to Nineveh with a message of coming judgement, and theyrepented. How interesting that Jonah was as displeased by the repentance ofNineveh as the religious leaders of the Lord's generation were at therepentance of people in all parts of the country!  Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites. He had been three daysand nights in what he called "the belly of hell." When he marchedthrough their streets, it was with a face livid and terrifying from the fierceaction of the gastric juices of the great fish. The man himself was as much themessage as the words that he proclaimed; he was a sign. "God will punishsin!" It was written all over the disobedient prophet. But there he was,alive from the dead, a living epistle. They could infer from that the fact that"God will pardon sinners." But Jonah was also a sign of the coming death, burial andresurrection of Jesus Christ! This is the greatest sign given by “a greaterthan Jonah”, Jesus Christ! It is the resurrection of our Lord that proves He isthe Messiah, the Son of God (Rom. 1:4), and this is what Peter preached toIsrael on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:22ff). The witness of the early churchwas centered on Christ's resurrection (Acts 1:22; 3:15; 5:30-32; 13:32-33).Jonah was a living miracle and so is our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus also reminded them of Solomon and the “Queen of theSouth”. The emphasis here is on the wisdom of a king, not the works of aprophet. The Queen of Sheba traveled many miles to hear the wisdom of Solomon(1 Kings 10), but here was the very Son of God in their midst, and the Jewswould not believe His words! Even if Jesus had performed a sign, it would nothave changed their hearts. They needed the living wisdom of God, but they werecontent with their stale religious tradition. When Jonah preached to theGentiles in Nineveh, they repented and were spared. When a Gentile queen heardSolomon's wisdom, she marveled and believed. If, with all their privileges, theJews did not repent, then the people of Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba wouldbear witness against them in the last judgment. The Lord gave Israel so manyopportunities, yet they would not believe (Luke 13:34-35; John 12:35-41). Today, we have the complete Bible, and the historical factsof the resurrection of Jesus Christ, yet still so many chose their sins andreligion over believing and putting their faith in Jesus Christ. How great willtheir condemnation and judgment be?

"Assurance is found in the finished work of Christ."Dylan Rose preached on Romans 5:1-5 on Feb. 26, 2025.

Christ's followers can unleash God's power by being thankful, prayerful, purposeful, responsible, and confident.

Faith that Sanctifies      After being justified by faith, we are instructed to walk by faith. Paul wrote, “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7). God declared, “My righteous one shall live by faith” (Heb 10:38a). Living by faith is foundational to the spiritual life, as it shapes how believers relate to God, navigate life's challenges, and grow to spiritual maturity. Every believer has a measure of faith, and this is distinct from the gift of faith that God gives to some Christians after being born again (1 Cor 12:9). This special gift of faith enables some believers “to remove mountains” (1 Cor 13:2), and accomplish great things for God. The gift of faith, according to Ryrie, “Is the ability to believe God for the supply of specific needs. Every believer should walk by faith, and each has a measure of faith, but not all have the gift of faith.”[1] Walvoord states, “As a gift, faith is a blessing bestowed upon some Christians, not all, though all Christians have some faith in God.”[2]      Faith as a noun (pistis πίστις) often refers to that which evokes trust. It is used with reference to God who is trustworthy (Rom 3:3; 4:19-21), and of people who possess faith (Matt 9:2, 22; 21:21). It is also used of Scripture itself as a body of reliable teaching (Acts 14:22; 16:5; Rom 14:22; Gal 1:23; 2 Tim 4:7). Faith as an adjective (pistos πιστός) describes someone who is trustworthy or dependable. The word is used both of man (Matt 25:23; 1 Cor 4:17; Col 1:7; 1 Tim 1:12), and God (1 Cor 1:9; 10:13; 2 Tim 2:13; Heb 10:23; Rev 1:5). Faith as a verb (pisteuō πιστεύω) means to believe, trust, or have confidence in someone or something. It is used of trust in God (Heb 11:6; cf. Rom 4:3), Jesus (Acts 16:31; 1 Pet 1:8), and Scripture (John 2:22).      Living by faith means we trust God at His Word. Christian faith starts with knowledge, as Paul wrote, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17 KJV). The writer to the Hebrews states, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). J. Dwight Pentecost states, “In Scripture, hope is never a wish, a dream, a fantasy. Hope is that settled assurance that comes to the child of God who by faith lays hold of the promises of God and claims them for himself. Hope must have a foundation, and in Scripture the foundation of hope is always that which God has promised.”[3] This means that faith involves believing in God's Word and His promises. Abraham's life is a prime example of this kind of faith; he believed God's promise to make him the father of many nations, even when it seemed impossible due to his and Sarah's old age (Rom 4:18-21).      The walk of faith is what pleases the Lord, for “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb 11:6). Faith keeps us focused on the eternal perspective, knowing that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom 8:18). It is possible to learn God's Word and not believe it. For example, the Exodus generation heard God's Word and understood it; however, “the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard” (Heb 4:2). Our faith is effective when God's Word is more real and dominant than our experiences, feelings, or circumstances. As we trust God and His Word, we are transformed and strengthened in our spiritual walk. Living by faith enables us to persevere through trials, knowing that God is working all things together for our good (Rom 8:28). Faith generally concerns what we know, what we say, and what we do. Faith to Know      There are times when the walk of faith is only mental, where we are called to actively trust God and rely on His revelation and promises. For example, the account of creation in Genesis 1-2 provides us with essential knowledge about the origin of the universe, but does not call on us to do anything other than know how it all began. By revealing that God created the heavens and the earth in six literal days, Scripture orients our minds to recognize the universe as a product of intentional and intelligent design. The author of Hebrews wrote, “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible” (Heb 11:3). This verse emphasizes that faith enables us to grasp the reality of God's creative power, even though it cannot be observed directly. This stands in stark contrast to naturalistic explanations (like evolution) which suggest that the universe is the result of accidental and random processes over time. The atheist's worldview denies the existence of God and believes the universe and earth happened by a chance explosion billions of years ago. Rather than intelligent design, he believes in unintelligent chaos, that the earth, with all its complexity of life, is merely the product of accidental evolutionary processes over millions of years. His worldview believes everything is the product of matter, motion, time and chance; that we are the accidental collection of molecules; that we are nothing more than evolving bags of protoplasm who happen to be able to think, feel, and act. The conclusion is that we came from nothing significant, that we are nothing significant, and we go to nothing significant. Ultimately, for the atheist, there's no reason for us to exist, and no given purpose to assign meaning to our lives. We are a zero. But that's not what God's Word reveals. The Bible reveals people are special, theomorphic, made in the image of God (Gen 1:27; 9:6; Jam 3:9), with the ability to think, act, and feel in ways that place us above the rest of creation. With this special revelation, we can perceive ourselves and others through the biblical lens and know we are special and unique. Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 431. [2] John F. Walvoord, The Holy Spirit (Galaxie Software, 2008), 171–172. [3] J. Dwight Pentecost and Ken Durham, Faith That Endures: A Practical Commentary on the Book of Hebrews, Rev. ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2000), 175.

     In the Christian life, faith can be seen in two ways. First, there is the single act of faith in Jesus that results in our salvation (John 3:16; 6:40; 20:31; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Eph 2:8-9). This refers to our justification before God and is a one-time event that is never repeated. Justification is declared because God has imputed His righteousness to us at the moment we trusted in Jesus as our Savior (Rom 5:17; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9). This results in our eternal salvation and is conditioned only on faith in Jesus (Rom 3:28; Gal 2:16), for “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Act 4:12). Second, after being born again, God calls us to a walk of faith where we continually trust Him at His Word and obey His directives (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38; 11:6). The walk of faith focuses largely on what we think (Rom 12:1-2), say (Eph 4:15; Col 4:6), and do (Jam 1:22). God's Word sanctifies us as we walk by faith in Him (John 17:17), and this glorifies Him and advances us to spiritual maturity. Justification sets the ground for sanctification, but does not guarantee it, as the Christian must possess positive volition and make ongoing good choices that are rooted in divine viewpoint. Some believers, like the prodigal son, may turn to a sinful lifestyle. Faith that Justifies us Before God      Our righteous standing before God starts the moment we believe in Jesus as our Savior. This is the Jesus of Scripture and history, and not a fake Jesus like those taught by Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, or one we create in our imagination. Jesus is the second Person of the Trinity; He is God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14; 20:28; Col 2:9). Prior to His incarnation, God the Son was involved in planning our salvation with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. God the Father sent God the Son into the world to fulfill a divine mission. God's Word tells us, “The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14; cf., John 4:34; 7:29; 8:29; 20:21). The Father's great mission was to make salvation available to everyone. This act of God was done in love, as it is written, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16), and “He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10; cf., Rom 5:8). The Son agreed with the Father, saying, “I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38), and “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). When God the Son came into the world and took upon Himself humanity, He executed His mission flawlessly.      The divine mission began in time and space nearly two thousand years ago when God the Son took upon Himself humanity. The writer to the Hebrews cites the words of God the Son as He was about to enter the world, saying, “Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says [to God the Father], ‘Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, but a body You have prepared for Me'” (Heb 10:5). The third Person of the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit, facilitated the mission by bringing about the hypostatic union within the womb of the virgin Mary (Isa 7:14; Luke 1:30-35; Gal 4:4). The angel Gabriel told Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). At the moment of conception in the womb of the virgin Mary, undiminished deity was combined forever with perfect humanity. Eventually, Jesus was born, and God “became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The apostle Paul tells us, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Col 2:9).      God's Word also informs us that Jesus was a Jew, born a son of Abraham, in the line of David (Matt 1:1), the promised Messiah (Matt 1:1, 16-17; John 1:41). Jesus grew in human wisdom (Luke 2:40, 52) and lived a perfectly righteous life before God and man. The record of Scripture is that Jesus “knew no sin” (2 Cor 5:21), was “without sin” (Heb 4:15), “committed no sin” (1 Pet 2:22), and “in Him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5). In His humanity, Jesus walked in perfect conformity to God the Father's holy character and divine revelation. This is important, for Jesus' sinless life qualified Him to go to the cross and pay the ransom price for our sins. Jesus said, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).      When the divinely appointed time came for Jesus to go to the cross (John 12:23; 13:1), He went willingly (Isa 53:10; John 10:18). Just hours before the crucifixion, Jesus said to His Father, “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4). Then He went to the cross and “offered Himself without blemish to God” (Heb 9:14), and “gave Himself for our sins” (Gal 1:4). Jesus paid our sin debt by means of His “precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Pet 1:19). While on the cross, “Christ died for our sins” (1 Cor 15:3), and He died in our place, “the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18).      Jesus' death on the cross was a one-time event, as He “offered one sacrifice for sins for all time” (Heb 10:12). After Jesus paid for all our sins, “He said, ‘It is finished!' And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit” (John 19:30). Jesus' death on the cross satisfied every righteous demand of God the Father concerning the payment for our sins (Rom 3:25), for “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). Jesus paid the price for all our sins. There's nothing more to pay. After Jesus died, He was placed in a grave and was resurrected to life on the third day (Acts 2:23-24; 4:10; 10:40; 1 Cor 15:3-4), never to die again (Rom 6:9). Because Christ died for everyone (John 3:16; Heb 2:9; 1 John 2:2), everyone is savable. The Bible tells us that God has brought “salvation to all men” (Tit 2:11), that He “desires all men to be saved” (1 Tim 2:4), and is “not wishing for any to perish” (2 Pet 3:9).      Once we understand who Christ is, as God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14), and what He has accomplished for us on the cross—having died for our sins, was buried, and raised again on the third day (1 Cor 15:3-4)—we can then exercise our faith by trusting in Him as our Savior. To receive salvation, the unbeliever is told to “believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31a). Jesus is the object of our faith. To believe in Christ as our Savior means we trust Him to accomplish for us what we cannot accomplish ourselves: eternal salvation from the lake of fire.      Faith in Christ is the only condition for salvation. Faith does not save; Christ saves. Faith is merely the instrument by which we receive the free gift of God, which is eternal life. Though the gift was very expensive for the Lord, it is offered totally free to us, for “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23). And it is “by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9). Only the empty hand of faith accepts the gift. It offers nothing but is open to receive that which is offered by another. God's gift is available to everyone, for “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16), and “he who believes has eternal life” (John 6:47). No payment is required from us to receive it. It's a free gift.      The only sin that keeps a person out of heaven is the sin of unbelief, the individual choice NOT to trust in Jesus as one's Savior. The one who rejects Jesus as Savior is judged by God on the sole ground that “he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). These are the ones who “are always resisting the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51; cf. John 16:8), who “do not believe” in Jesus as their Savior (John 16:9), and “are unwilling to come” to Him so that they “may have life” (John 5:40). Those who willingly reject Christ as Savior will, after death, experience eternal separation and punishment away from God for all eternity, for “if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15). This need not happen. Hell is avoidable for the one who trusts in Christ as Savior, for “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16), and “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not believe in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). Salvation is a free gift from God (Rom 3:24; 6:23), offered by grace alone (Eph 2:8-9), through faith alone (Gal 2:16; 3:26; 2 Tim 3:15), in Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), totally apart from human works (Rom 4:4-5; Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5). For lost sinners, the matter is simple: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).      Once we have trusted in Christ for salvation, God then bestows on us forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43; Eph 1:7), the gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17; Phil 3:9), eternal life (John 10:28), and many other blessings (Eph 1:3). And having entered into a relationship with God through Christ (John 1:12; Gal 3:26), we are then called to a life of holiness and righteousness (1 Pet 1:15-16), as we learn His Word (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18), walk by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38), and advance to spiritual maturity (Heb 6:1). This new walk with God will honor Him and edify others (Eph 4:1-2; 5:1-2). Dr. Steven R. Cook

I have officiated dozens of funerals over the years as a pastor, which means that I was involved in the planning of the service, the delivery of a sermon, and some form of committal service involving the burial of the deceaseds body or placement of the ashes of those bodies that were cremated. The first funeral I officiated was that of my 47-year-old father and since I have been responsible for burying people of all ages as young as grade school to the oldest who was 101 years old. I have been asked to memorialize people from all walks of life, many of whom loved and walked with Jesus as fellow Christians and some who were not Christian. The one thing that every one of the funerals and memorial services I officiated have in common is that every family and friend of the diseased who asked me to officiate the service of their loved one believed and articulated their belief that he/she was in a better place. Just as the old spiritual is true: Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die. So, it is true that we will grope for reasons to believe that our loved ones are in a better place regardless of what they believed or even how they lived. Most people do not want death for anyone they love, and when death does come, we want heaven for those we love. After officiating so many funerals, I had come to the place in my experience as a pastor that I believed that I had experienced just about everything there was to experience related to funerals and grieving family member. I am old enough and have seen enough to know better. I remember Ian Whites family who reached out to Northwest Baptist Church (the first church I served as the Lead Pastor in Colorado). Ian was not a Christian, nor was his family; he was found dead on the front steps of his apartment and was 34 years old. I remember their response when I sat down with them to plan Ians memorial service and their request after I asked if they would like a song or two for those present to sing in honor of Ians life. I expected something like Amazing Grace, but Ians family wanted everyone to sing Free Birdby Lynyrd Skynyrd. I remember a woman who started attending the church I planted in Colorado and the grief she carried with her with the death of her husband. I still remember the Sunday she wanted me to know that her dead husband was with her. In that moment I thought she meant his spirit or memory, but no... I discovered what she meant when she opened her purse to show me the urn that contained the ashes of her deceased husband. She brought the urn with her every Sunday she came, and I believe that she even sat her husbands urn on the chair next to her. I guess for this woman, the better place for her husband was in her purse. How do you know if a person who has died is really in a better place? What evidence does one have to make such a claim? What Happens After We Die? One of the things I say at every funeral is that when we die, we will experience the immediate judgment we are warned about throughout the Bible. In Hebrews 9:27-28, we have one such warning: And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. But what kind of judgment are we destined to face? To begin, you need to know that there are two types of judgment every human will face, the first has to do with where our disembodied soul must go, which is temporary. The second judgment we will all face is permanent. For the Christian, the day that you die will be the moment you will be in the presence of Jesus just as we are promised in the Bible: Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lordfor we walk by faith, not by sightbut we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6-8). Jesus told a parable in the Gospel of Luke about a rich man who lived a life of luxury while ignoring the poor man by the name of Lazarus (not to be confused with Jesus friend who Jesus raised to life in John 11:1ff.). In Jesus parable, both men died; Lazarus soul went to where Abrahams soul dwelled while the rich mans soul went to Hades where he suffered torment. Of Hades, the rich man begged for a drop of water to ease his torment because, his words: I am in agony in this flame (see Luke 16:19-31). Before Jesus told His parable about the rich man and Lazarus, He said this about money: No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth (Luke 16:13). The rich man was not in hell because he ignored Lazarus, he was in hell because he loved his money more than God. Had he loved God, he would not have been able to ignore Lazarus. Jesus spoke more about hell than he did about love or heaven, and he did so for a reason. He spoke so much about hell because he came, to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). The reason why Jesus described the distance between the rich man in hell and Lazarus in heaven as a great chasm is because hell is the place where those are sent who, will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power (2 Thess. 1:9). Jesus described the place the rich man went to immediately after he died in the following ways: A place of torture (Matt. 18:34), a place where the wicked are cut to pieces (Matt. 24:51), and a place of scourging (Luke 12:47-48), a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 8:12; 13:42; 24:51; Luke 13:20), and a place of outer darkness (Matt. 22:13; 25:30). Just as there is a new heaven and earth that is promised to the Christian, at the same time there will exist the lake of fire where the devil and his demons will be cast into forever. The lake of fire is described as a place where, ...their worm will not die and their fire will not be extinguished; and they will be an abhorrence to all mankind (Isa. 66:24b). In Revelation 20:11-15 we are told of a second judgment that we all will face: Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.... Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyones name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. There are only one of two outcomes every person will face the moment of death: eternal life with Jesus that will eventually include a physical resurrection and life on a new and resurrected earth, or eternal death apart from Jesus that will eventually result in eternity in the lake of fire. Neither the lake of fire nor a resurrected life with Jesus on a new earth are temporary, but eternal. So, the question we need to answer is if it is true that every person who dies is in a better place? Jesus Is the Hope of a Better Place There are scores of Bible passages we could have looked at today to discover whether it is true or not that all people eventually go to a better place after they die, but I thought we could settle on Revelation 1:12-18. For me, this is one of the most hopeful and encouraging passages in all the Bible! In verses 12-16, we are given certain details about Jesus to clue us into who He really is. There is a lot packed into these verses that we simply do not have the time to examine, but there are some things that I must show you in order to address the topic of this sermon. Jesus is a Better High Priest First, Jesus is a better priest. Every year, on the Day of Atonement, a high priest would go into the temple in Jerusalem to enter a place called the Holies of Holies to bring a sin offering into the presence of God on behalf of Israel. The high priest would do it with a rope around him just in case he died, and his corpse had to be pulled out due to any sin not yet addressed in his own life before entering. The High Priest wore a long robe and was fitted with a type of belt or sash that was laced with gold. Once a year, every year, the High Priest would act as a representative and advocate for all of Israel. As you know, Jesus died on a cross as the Lamb of God for our sins; when John turned to see the voice that was speaking, He saw Jesus dressed as a High Priest because the sacrifice He made was sufficient to cover all our sins for all time, once and for all. For this reason, Hebrews describes Jesus in the following way: But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things having come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by hands, that is, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all time, having obtained eternal redemption (Heb. 9:11-12). Jesus is the Only Sufficient Savior What follows in verses 14-17 are characteristics which reveal why Jesus is sufficient to redeem and save sinners such as us. First, His hair is white like wool and as bright as snow because He is profoundly and divinely wise. Yes, Jesus is fully man, but He is also fully God; Jesus is the Son and at the same time He is the ancient of Days with all the wisdom of eternity (see Dan. 7:9-14). Second, Jesus eyes were like a flame of fire which speak of His ability to see and know all things as God can only do. Third, His feet were like burnished bronze to symbolize His omnipotent strength to judge the nations, crush Satan, and triumph over death as the author and giver of life. Forth, Jesus holds the seven stars that serve as the seven messengers to the churches of which He holds in the palm of His hand; the point is that Jesus is also divinely sovereign. Fifth, out of the mouth of the Savior comes a sharp two-edged sword symbolizing His right to Judge as King of kings and Lord of lords. Sixth, the face of Jesus shines like a powerful sun because of His holiness, majesty, and absolute beauty as One worthy of our worship because He is God. Jesus is presented in Revelation 1:14-16 in the way that He is because of what Adam lost in the garden due to his sin and rebellion; Jesus is the only One qualified to redeem what was lost, for He is the second and greater Adam who is fully man and fully God in one Person. Simply put, because of Adams sin, we are sinners under a curse that God alone is able to sufficiently and completely reverse; Jesus was qualified to do just that! Jesus is the Great I AM The One titled the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5), the Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8), the Pioneer and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:1-2), and the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16), is the first and the last. Where else have we seen that kind of language: I am the first and the last? I will tell you! We see it in a host of passages, but Isaiah 44:6 will suffice: This is what the Lord says, He who is the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of armies: I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me. Because He is the first and the last He conquered death because, as the Living One, ...it was impossible for Him to be held in its power (Acts 2:24). When John saw Jesus, he fell at His feet like a dead man, but Jesus declared to him: Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore... John had no reason to fear because Jesus stood as a greater High Priest on Johns behalf, He was the sufficient savior John spent a lifetime following, and Jesus was the only One qualified to pay the penalty for Johns sin by becoming a curse in his place. John not only believed this, but trusted that Jesus was all that he needed, and that is why he had not need to fear. Conclusion This Jesus is the Almighty and the Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:12-13). He is the Author of Life (Acts 3:15). He is the Bread from Heaven (John 6:32), the Bread of Life (John 6:35), and the Bright Morning Star (Rev. 22:16). He is the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4) and He is the Deliverer (Rom. 11:26). He is the Good Shepherd of the 23rd Psalm (John 10:11). He is the rightful Heir of All Things (Heb. 1:1-2). Jesus is the Holy and Righteous One (Acts 3:14), the Horn of our Salvation (Luke 1:69), and the Great I Am (John 8:58-59). He is the Light of the World (John 8:12), the Gate for the Sheep (John 10:7), the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25), and He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)! If all who die eventually go to a better place when there exists a very real hell designed by God for the punishment of sinners, then why did Jesus who is the first and the last willingly take on flesh to become like us for the purpose of dying for us to redeem sinners like us? If some dont go to a better place, but most morally good people do, then why did Jesus say in conclusion to His sermon on the mount: Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matt. 7:13-14). If religious people end up going to a better place, then why did Jesus warn us of the following possibility? Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness (Matt. 7:22-23). If there is another way to a better place other than through and with Jesus, then why in the world did He so confidently and boldly declare the following: If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, this is the one who will save it. For what good does it do a person if he gains the whole world, but loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26) There is a judgment we must all face. The verdict from the moment of conception is this: ...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), and judgment for our guilt: The wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our lord.

I have officiated dozens of funerals over the years as a pastor, which means that I was involved in the planning of the service, the delivery of a sermon, and some form of committal service involving the burial of the deceaseds body or placement of the ashes of those bodies that were cremated. The first funeral I officiated was that of my 47-year-old father and since I have been responsible for burying people of all ages as young as grade school to the oldest who was 101 years old. I have been asked to memorialize people from all walks of life, many of whom loved and walked with Jesus as fellow Christians and some who were not Christian. The one thing that every one of the funerals and memorial services I officiated have in common is that every family and friend of the diseased who asked me to officiate the service of their loved one believed and articulated their belief that he/she was in a better place. Just as the old spiritual is true: Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die. So, it is true that we will grope for reasons to believe that our loved ones are in a better place regardless of what they believed or even how they lived. Most people do not want death for anyone they love, and when death does come, we want heaven for those we love. After officiating so many funerals, I had come to the place in my experience as a pastor that I believed that I had experienced just about everything there was to experience related to funerals and grieving family member. I am old enough and have seen enough to know better. I remember Ian Whites family who reached out to Northwest Baptist Church (the first church I served as the Lead Pastor in Colorado). Ian was not a Christian, nor was his family; he was found dead on the front steps of his apartment and was 34 years old. I remember their response when I sat down with them to plan Ians memorial service and their request after I asked if they would like a song or two for those present to sing in honor of Ians life. I expected something like Amazing Grace, but Ians family wanted everyone to sing Free Birdby Lynyrd Skynyrd. I remember a woman who started attending the church I planted in Colorado and the grief she carried with her with the death of her husband. I still remember the Sunday she wanted me to know that her dead husband was with her. In that moment I thought she meant his spirit or memory, but no... I discovered what she meant when she opened her purse to show me the urn that contained the ashes of her deceased husband. She brought the urn with her every Sunday she came, and I believe that she even sat her husbands urn on the chair next to her. I guess for this woman, the better place for her husband was in her purse. How do you know if a person who has died is really in a better place? What evidence does one have to make such a claim? What Happens After We Die? One of the things I say at every funeral is that when we die, we will experience the immediate judgment we are warned about throughout the Bible. In Hebrews 9:27-28, we have one such warning: And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. But what kind of judgment are we destined to face? To begin, you need to know that there are two types of judgment every human will face, the first has to do with where our disembodied soul must go, which is temporary. The second judgment we will all face is permanent. For the Christian, the day that you die will be the moment you will be in the presence of Jesus just as we are promised in the Bible: Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lordfor we walk by faith, not by sightbut we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6-8). Jesus told a parable in the Gospel of Luke about a rich man who lived a life of luxury while ignoring the poor man by the name of Lazarus (not to be confused with Jesus friend who Jesus raised to life in John 11:1ff.). In Jesus parable, both men died; Lazarus soul went to where Abrahams soul dwelled while the rich mans soul went to Hades where he suffered torment. Of Hades, the rich man begged for a drop of water to ease his torment because, his words: I am in agony in this flame (see Luke 16:19-31). Before Jesus told His parable about the rich man and Lazarus, He said this about money: No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth (Luke 16:13). The rich man was not in hell because he ignored Lazarus, he was in hell because he loved his money more than God. Had he loved God, he would not have been able to ignore Lazarus. Jesus spoke more about hell than he did about love or heaven, and he did so for a reason. He spoke so much about hell because he came, to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). The reason why Jesus described the distance between the rich man in hell and Lazarus in heaven as a great chasm is because hell is the place where those are sent who, will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power (2 Thess. 1:9). Jesus described the place the rich man went to immediately after he died in the following ways: A place of torture (Matt. 18:34), a place where the wicked are cut to pieces (Matt. 24:51), and a place of scourging (Luke 12:47-48), a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 8:12; 13:42; 24:51; Luke 13:20), and a place of outer darkness (Matt. 22:13; 25:30). Just as there is a new heaven and earth that is promised to the Christian, at the same time there will exist the lake of fire where the devil and his demons will be cast into forever. The lake of fire is described as a place where, ...their worm will not die and their fire will not be extinguished; and they will be an abhorrence to all mankind (Isa. 66:24b). In Revelation 20:11-15 we are told of a second judgment that we all will face: Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.... Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyones name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. There are only one of two outcomes every person will face the moment of death: eternal life with Jesus that will eventually include a physical resurrection and life on a new and resurrected earth, or eternal death apart from Jesus that will eventually result in eternity in the lake of fire. Neither the lake of fire nor a resurrected life with Jesus on a new earth are temporary, but eternal. So, the question we need to answer is if it is true that every person who dies is in a better place? Jesus Is the Hope of a Better Place There are scores of Bible passages we could have looked at today to discover whether it is true or not that all people eventually go to a better place after they die, but I thought we could settle on Revelation 1:12-18. For me, this is one of the most hopeful and encouraging passages in all the Bible! In verses 12-16, we are given certain details about Jesus to clue us into who He really is. There is a lot packed into these verses that we simply do not have the time to examine, but there are some things that I must show you in order to address the topic of this sermon. Jesus is a Better High Priest First, Jesus is a better priest. Every year, on the Day of Atonement, a high priest would go into the temple in Jerusalem to enter a place called the Holies of Holies to bring a sin offering into the presence of God on behalf of Israel. The high priest would do it with a rope around him just in case he died, and his corpse had to be pulled out due to any sin not yet addressed in his own life before entering. The High Priest wore a long robe and was fitted with a type of belt or sash that was laced with gold. Once a year, every year, the High Priest would act as a representative and advocate for all of Israel. As you know, Jesus died on a cross as the Lamb of God for our sins; when John turned to see the voice that was speaking, He saw Jesus dressed as a High Priest because the sacrifice He made was sufficient to cover all our sins for all time, once and for all. For this reason, Hebrews describes Jesus in the following way: But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things having come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by hands, that is, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all time, having obtained eternal redemption (Heb. 9:11-12). Jesus is the Only Sufficient Savior What follows in verses 14-17 are characteristics which reveal why Jesus is sufficient to redeem and save sinners such as us. First, His hair is white like wool and as bright as snow because He is profoundly and divinely wise. Yes, Jesus is fully man, but He is also fully God; Jesus is the Son and at the same time He is the ancient of Days with all the wisdom of eternity (see Dan. 7:9-14). Second, Jesus eyes were like a flame of fire which speak of His ability to see and know all things as God can only do. Third, His feet were like burnished bronze to symbolize His omnipotent strength to judge the nations, crush Satan, and triumph over death as the author and giver of life. Forth, Jesus holds the seven stars that serve as the seven messengers to the churches of which He holds in the palm of His hand; the point is that Jesus is also divinely sovereign. Fifth, out of the mouth of the Savior comes a sharp two-edged sword symbolizing His right to Judge as King of kings and Lord of lords. Sixth, the face of Jesus shines like a powerful sun because of His holiness, majesty, and absolute beauty as One worthy of our worship because He is God. Jesus is presented in Revelation 1:14-16 in the way that He is because of what Adam lost in the garden due to his sin and rebellion; Jesus is the only One qualified to redeem what was lost, for He is the second and greater Adam who is fully man and fully God in one Person. Simply put, because of Adams sin, we are sinners under a curse that God alone is able to sufficiently and completely reverse; Jesus was qualified to do just that! Jesus is the Great I AM The One titled the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5), the Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8), the Pioneer and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:1-2), and the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16), is the first and the last. Where else have we seen that kind of language: I am the first and the last? I will tell you! We see it in a host of passages, but Isaiah 44:6 will suffice: This is what the Lord says, He who is the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of armies: I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me. Because He is the first and the last He conquered death because, as the Living One, ...it was impossible for Him to be held in its power (Acts 2:24). When John saw Jesus, he fell at His feet like a dead man, but Jesus declared to him: Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore... John had no reason to fear because Jesus stood as a greater High Priest on Johns behalf, He was the sufficient savior John spent a lifetime following, and Jesus was the only One qualified to pay the penalty for Johns sin by becoming a curse in his place. John not only believed this, but trusted that Jesus was all that he needed, and that is why he had not need to fear. Conclusion This Jesus is the Almighty and the Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:12-13). He is the Author of Life (Acts 3:15). He is the Bread from Heaven (John 6:32), the Bread of Life (John 6:35), and the Bright Morning Star (Rev. 22:16). He is the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4) and He is the Deliverer (Rom. 11:26). He is the Good Shepherd of the 23rd Psalm (John 10:11). He is the rightful Heir of All Things (Heb. 1:1-2). Jesus is the Holy and Righteous One (Acts 3:14), the Horn of our Salvation (Luke 1:69), and the Great I Am (John 8:58-59). He is the Light of the World (John 8:12), the Gate for the Sheep (John 10:7), the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25), and He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)! If all who die eventually go to a better place when there exists a very real hell designed by God for the punishment of sinners, then why did Jesus who is the first and the last willingly take on flesh to become like us for the purpose of dying for us to redeem sinners like us? If some dont go to a better place, but most morally good people do, then why did Jesus say in conclusion to His sermon on the mount: Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matt. 7:13-14). If religious people end up going to a better place, then why did Jesus warn us of the following possibility? Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness (Matt. 7:22-23). If there is another way to a better place other than through and with Jesus, then why in the world did He so confidently and boldly declare the following: If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, this is the one who will save it. For what good does it do a person if he gains the whole world, but loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26) There is a judgment we must all face. The verdict from the moment of conception is this: ...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), and judgment for our guilt: The wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our lord.

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 24:1-7 In 1 Samuel 24 (as well as 1 Sam 26) we have an amazing story of mercy and restraint and faith.  As he ran for his very life from a murderous King Saul, David encountered two occasions in which he could have taken the life of his jealous pursuer.  David's men even encouraged him to kill Saul, but in a display of faith in God and respect for His established authority, David steadfastly refused.  "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD's anointed" (1 Sam 24:6; cf. 1 Sam 26:10,11). In this story we have an illustration of a principle which we find throughout the Bible, namely respect for God's established authority.  We see this principle applied in the New Testament to every area of life.  Wives are commanded to respect and follow their husband's authority because this is God's established order (Eph 5:22-24; 1 Pet 3:1-6).  Children are commanded to respect and follow their parents' authority (Eph 6:1-3; Col 3:20).  Employees are commanded to respect and follow their employer's authority (Eph 6:5-8; 1 Pet 2:18-20).  Citizens are commanded to respect and follow governmental authority (Rom 13:1-7).  People in the church are to respect and follow church leaders' authority (Heb 13:17; 1 Thess 5:12,13).  One display of the spiritual darkness of our land is an increasing spirit of rebellion against authority in every realm … in families, in schools, in law, in the workplace, in churches.  But it is a mark of Christians that they exhibit the spirit of submission to every legitimate authority because they recognize that all valid authority is established by God (Rom 13:1).  So, Christians live obedient lives as unto Him.  May God teach us the glory of obedience to His various arrangements in the ordering of our lives. 

Israel and the Church      Israel and the church are distinct. Israel is a special nation that was created by God Himself. The Lord said of Israel, “I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King” (Isa 43:15). This makes Israel unique among all the nations of the world. He even calls Israel, “My glory” (Isa 46:13). God loves Israel, declaring, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness” (Jer 31:3). God is eternal and His love is eternal, which means it never fades for His people, Israel. To possess the love of God is to love that which He loves. One cannot claim to have God's love, and simultaneously hate Israel, His chosen people.[1] Today, we observe demonically inspired hatred and attacks against Israelites. But there is no place for anti-Semitism in the heart of anyone, especially the Christian! According to Lewis S. Chafer, “When the Christian loves with a divine compassion he will acknowledge what God loves. Therefore, he too must love Israel.”[2] Satan hates God and His chosen people, Israel. Satan and his demonic forces are behind all forms of antisemitism, and if he had his way, all Jews would be destroyed.      God, who loves Israel with an everlasting love, continues to keep His Word to them. Israel has a future hope because of the promises and covenants God made through the patriarchs and prophets (Gen 12:1-3; 15:18; 17:8; Deut 30:1-10; 2 Sam 7:16; Psa 89:33-37; Jer 31:31-33). Though unbelieving Israel is currently under divine discipline (Matt 23:37-39), God's covenants and promises are still in effect (Rom 9:1-5), and will remain in force until Jesus returns and is accepted as their Messiah. Furthermore, it is wrong to think the church has replaced Israel, for “God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew” (Rom 11:2), even though there is a “partial hardening” among them until Messiah returns (Rom 11:25). Until then, unbelieving Israel is under spiritual darkness and divine judgment. The apostle Paul—a biological Jew himself—revealed that God's promises and covenants are still valid for Israel, and wished all would come to faith in Christ. Paul spoke of Israel as “my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen” (Rom 9:3-5). Though Israel is currently under divine discipline (Matt 23:37-38), God has a future for His people and national Israel will be restored. Paul tells us, “A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so, all Israel will be saved” (Rom 11:25b-26a). Our duty is to view Israel as God does: as His chosen people (Gen 12:1–3; Deut 10:15) and as “beloved for the sake of the fathers” (Rom 11:28b). This does not mean we endorse all of Israel's actions, but we recognize them as a special people chosen by God, with a divinely ordained future, and we “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psa 122:6a).      The Christian church is distinct from Israel and Gentiles, and was a mystery not revealed in the OT (Eph 3:4-6; 5:32; Col 1:24-27). The church, which is the body of Christ (Eph 1:22-23), is a company of believers, from Jews and Gentiles (1 Cor 10:32), who have been spiritually united with Christ by means of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation (1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:26-28). The church began on the day of Pentecost, in Acts 2. The primary purpose of the church is to glorify God (Eph 1:12; 3:21; cf. Rom 11:36; 16:27). Other purposes of the church include evangelizing the lost (Matt 28:18-20), edifying believers through biblical teaching so they might advance to spiritual maturity (Eph 4:11-16; 1 Pet 2:2), praying for one another (Jam 5:16), and showing love (John 13:34). Once the church is caught up to heaven at the rapture (John 14:1-3; 1 Th 4:13-18), God will resume His plan with national Israel and fulfill all the promises made to them through the covenants (Rom 9:1-5; 11:1-2; 25-27).[3] Divine Institutions for Humanity      The concept of divine institutions refers to foundational structures established by God to ensure order and stability within human society. Biblically, these institutions include: 1) individual responsibility, 2) marriage, 3) family, 4) human government, and 5) nationalism. Each of these divine institutions serve a unique purpose in promoting a stable and flourishing society. Robert B. Thieme Jr. states, “These institutions apply to believers and unbelievers—regardless of race, gender, or any other factor—and are ordained by God to restrain the sin nature and protect human freedom.”[4] Understanding and promoting these institutions allow us to align with God's plan for the human race and to stand against Satan's destructive strategies.      Individual responsibility is foundational, as God created humans in His image with the ability to make choices and the obligation to bear the consequences of their actions (Gen 1:26-28). Scripture reveals that “each one of us will give an account of himself to God” (Rom 14:12; cf. 2 Cor 5:10; 1 Pet 4:5). This personal accountability underpins moral behavior and the pursuit of righteousness. Marriage was established as a lifelong union between one man and one woman. In marriage, a man and a woman are regarded as “one flesh” in the sight of God (Gen 2:24), and Jesus said, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matt 19:6). Marriage provides companionship, love, and the proper context for raising children, reflecting the relationship between Christ and the Church (Eph 5:22-33). Family, which is closely tied to marriage, serves as the primary institution for nurturing and teaching subsequent generations. Parents are called to instill moral values and the knowledge of God in their children (Deut 6:6-7; Prov 22:6; Eph 6:4), while children are commanded to honor their parents (Ex 20:12; Eph 6:1-3), which fosters respect and stability across generations. Human government as a divine institution was instituted after the flood (Gen 9:5-6), and plays a critical role in maintaining order, upholding justice, and restraining evil. Governments are tasked with protecting the innocent and punishing criminals (Rom 13:1-7; 1 Pet 2:13-14), ensuring societal peace and security. Scripture reveals that healthy governments are “a minister of God to you for good” (Rom 13:4), and believers are called to submit to governing authorities (Rom 13:1-7; Tit 3:1; 1 Pet 2:13). However, this does not mean blind submission, as we may engage in acts of civil disobedience when necessary (Ex 1:15-17; Dan 3:1-18; 6:1-23; Acts 5:27-29). Nationalism emerged at the Tower of Babel, where God scattered humanity into distinct nations with their own languages and borders to prevent global unity in rebellion against Him (Gen 11:1-9). Scripture reveals that God “made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation” (Acts 17:26). This division hinders the potential for widespread tyranny.      Together, these divine institutions—individual responsibility, marriage, family, government, and nationalism—form the framework for a stable society. When upheld, they create a context for justice, order, and human flourishing. Neglect or distortion of these principles often leads to instability and moral decline, underscoring the importance of honoring God's design in every area of life. Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] To love the people of Israel is not a blanket endorsement of all their beliefs and behaviors. God, who loves Israel and chose them to be His people (Deut 7:6-8), also called them to be holy (Ex 19:5-6; Lev 11:45), and to live righteously (Deut 6:24-25). Under the Mosaic Law, God's blessings and curses for them were conditioned on their obedience or disobedience (Deut 11:26-28; 28:1-68). For much of Israel's history, we know they failed to walk with God, sometimes rejecting His love for them and walking in the ways of the world (see 2 Ch 36:15-16; Jer 7:25-26; 25:4-7). The national rejection and crucifixion of Jesus (Matt 27:22-23; Acts 2:22-23; 4:27-28), Israel's promised Messiah (Deut 18:15; Isa 7:14; 9:6-7; 53; 61:1; Matt 1:1, 17; Luke 1:31-33), is their greatest historical failure. Jesus loved them even though they rejected Him (Matt 23:37). Did Israel act alone in crucifying Jesus, their Messiah? No! God foretold Israel's Messiah would suffer and die (Psa 22:11-18; Isa 53); and, according to His sovereignty, He used wicked men, both Jews and Gentiles, to accomplish His will (Acts 22:22-23; 4:27-28). [2] Lewis S. Chafer, “Israel” in Systematic Theology, Vol. 7 (Grand Rapids, MI., Kregel Publications, 1993), 206. [3] For more detailed information, see my article: What is the Church? https://thinkingonscripture.com/2018/05/18/what-is-the-church/ [4] Robert B. Thieme, Jr. “Divine Institutions”, Thieme's Bible Doctrine Dictionary, 72.

This week we are studying Ezekiel 28. In Ezekiel's first two prophecies against Tyre, he condemned Tyrian civilization. In this chapter, God tells Ezekiel to address only the king of Tyre. The first ten verses deliver a warning and a condemnation. Ezekiel avoided naming the king, but historians identify him as King Ethbaal II (585-573 BCE). In biblical stories and prophecies, foreign leaders often go unnamed. That way the text can focus on the characteristics of the leader and emphasize the universal themes that make the prophecies relevant beyond their immediate historical context. For example, the Exodus story does not name the Pharaoh. His anonymity highlights his role as the quintessential oppressor, rather than his personal story. With Ezekiel 28, the arrogant Tyrian king represents all despotic leaders who elevate themselves over God, forgetting that “there is no authority except from God” (Rom. 13:1). Ezekiel accused the king of being so vain that he fancied himself to be divine. Ezekiel voiced the internal thoughts of the king, saying, “Because your heart is proud and you have said, ‘I am a god; I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas'” (28:2). The prophet did not focus on the wrongfulness of the king's actions, but his mindset. Ezekiel sharply rebuked the king's delusion of grandeur, saying, “you are but a mortal and no god” (28:2). Unlike in Egypt, Canaanite royals did not claim to be superhuman. Ezekiel did not reveal if the Tyrian king claimed godhood outwardly to his subjects, or if his ego only secretly fueled his delusions. However, he likely felt like an object of worship because so many nations relied on his vast trade network to prop up their economies. Their material success depended on Tyre's strength. Despite the gold and silver that the king amassed in his treasury, divinity was not a rank he could buy. Support the show

IMPORTANCE OF PRAISE. The Scriptures often encourage God's people to praise the LORD. The call to praise God reverberates throughout the N.T. Jesus Himself praised His Father in heaven. Paul expects all nations to glorify God (Rom. 15:9-11; Eph. 1:3,6,12) and James calls us to praise the LORD (Jas. 3:9; 5:13). And in the end, the picture in Revelation is of a vast throng of both saints and angels praising God continually (Rev. 4:9-11). Blessings, Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes FLSB

Romans 11:30-36

In Luke 7 we have the story of Simon the Pharisee who invited Jesus to his house for a dinner and how it was interrupted by a sinful woman of the street who came in and washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and then anointed them with a very expensive fragrant oil. After Simon inwardly criticized Jesus allowing this sinful woman to touch Him, Jesus told the story of a creditor who forgave two debtors a debt neither one could pay. Then Jesus looks at the woman and speaks of her great expression of love because she knew she was forgiven for all her sins. Several thing we should notice as we conclude this chapter today.   The woman was guilty of sins of commission, but Simon was guilty of sins of omission. He had not been a gracious host to the Lord Jesus. Everything that Simon neglected to do, the woman did, and she did it better! There are two errors we must avoid as we interpret our Lord's words. First, we must not conclude that this woman was saved by her tears and her gift. Jesus made it clear that it was her faith alone that saved her (Luke 7:50), for no amount of good works can pay for salvation (Titus 3:4-7).   Nor should we think that lost sinners are saved by love, either God's love for them or their love for God. God loves the whole world (John 3:16), yet the whole world is not saved. (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is love that pays a price, and that price was the death of the Son of God on the cross.   Jesus did not reject either the woman's tears or her gift of ointment, because her works were the evidence of her faith. "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:14-26). We are not saved by faith plus works; we are saved by a faith that leads to works. This anonymous woman illustrates the truth of Galatians 5:6, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love".   How did the woman know that her sins were forgiven? Jesus told her. How do we know today that we have been forgiven? God tells us so in His Word. Here are just a few verses to consider: Isaiah 1:18; 43:25-26; 55:6-7; Acts 13:38-39; Romans 4:7-8; Ephesians 4:32; and Hebrews 8:12. Once you understand the meaning of God's grace you have no trouble receiving His free and full forgiveness and rejoicing in it.   Of course, the legalistic critics at the dinner were shocked when Jesus said, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven." By saying this, Jesus was claiming to be God! (Luke 5:21) But He is God, and He died for the sins that she committed. His words of forgiveness were not cheap words; they cost Him dearly on the cross.   How was this woman saved? She repented of her sins and put her faith in Jesus Christ. How did she know she was truly forgiven? She had the assurance of His word. What was the proof of her salvation? Her love for Christ expressed in sacrificial devotion to Him. For the first time in her life, she had peace with God. Luke 7:50 literally reads, "Go into peace," for she had moved out of the sphere of enmity toward God and was now enjoying peace with God (Rom. 5:1; 8:7-8).   When Jesus healed the centurion's servant, it was a great miracle. An even greater miracle was His raising the widow's son from the dead. But in this chapter, the greatest miracle of all was His saving this woman from her sins and making her a new person. The miracle of salvation has to be the greatest miracle of all, for it meets the greatest need, brings the greatest results (and they last forever), and cost the greatest price. Simon was blind to the woman and blind to himself. He saw her past, but Jesus saw her future. I wonder how many rejected sinners have found salvation through the testimony of this woman in Luke's Gospel. She encourages us to believe that Jesus can take any sinner and make him or her into a child of God.   But God's forgiveness is not automatic! We have the choice to either accept God's pardon or reject it. Now is the time to believe and be saved. What will your choice be today?   God bless!

It takes only 31 verses in Aramaic to describe the events leading up to the fall of the Babylonian empire. The LORD weighed him out and found him lacking. As a result of the king's pride and mockery his days were numbered and his kingdom divided. But the same judgment against the king is the same judgment we each face apart from Christ. For we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). While in Daniel God reveals great mysteries, we are reminded that the greatest mystery ever revealed - whether past, present, or future - is that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

When we come to Luke 6, we believe that Jesus is finishing His first year of ministry. At this time, He has a small group of disciples with Him, He is teaching in the synagogues and also ministering to large crowds as He travels throughout the region preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. He is healing the sick, causing the lame to walk, and casting out demons.   But the Pharisees and religious leaders of the Jews are not impressed. They perceive that Jesus is a threat to their religious control over the people and they are also following Him to find fault and discredit Him in front of the people. They claim they care for the poor, sick and needy, but the truth is that they only care about their control over the people with their man-made laws that they have attached to the Law of Moses. I personally get the sense that this is exactly what is happening in the politics of the present election in America.   It is wonderful and amazing that in the midst of the controversy and public criticism that surrounded Jesus He still cares for the poor and needy and performs wonderful miracles of healing! I believe the Lord wants to do the same today in our neighborhoods, in our communities, in our churches and in our country.   In Luke 6:6-11, the Pharisees knew that it was our Lord's practice to be in the synagogue on the Sabbath, so they were there to watch Him and to gather more evidence against Him. Did they know that the handicapped man would also be there? Did they "plant" him there? We do not know, and Jesus probably did not care. His compassionate heart responded to the man's need, and He healed him. Jesus could have waited a few hours until the Sabbath was over, or He could have healed the man in private, but He did it openly and immediately. It was a deliberate violation of the Sabbath traditions.   Our Lord's defense in the field of grain was based on the Old Testament Scriptures (Luke 6:1-5), but His defense in the synagogue was based on the nature of God's Sabbath law. God gave that law to help people, not to hurt them. "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). Every man in the synagogue would rescue a sheep on the Sabbath, so why not rescue a man made in the image of God? (Matthew 12:11-12) The scribes and Pharisees had turned God's gift into a heavy yoke that nobody could bear (Acts 15:10; Gal. 5:1).   This miracle illustrates the power of faith in God's Word. Jesus commanded the man to do the very thing he could not do, and yet in obedience, he did it! (Luke 1:37). God's commandments are always God's enablements. Immediate obedience to the Word of God is the open expression of our faith! We can't save ourselves, but when we call out on the name of Jesus in obedience to His Word, He performs the miracle of salvation and spiritual healing for our soul! (Romans 10:13; Acts 16:29-31)   The scribes and Pharisees were filled with fury. It certainly did not do them any good to worship God in the synagogue that morning. So angry were they that they even joined forces with the Herodians (the Jews who supported Herod) in a plot to kill Jesus (Mark 3:6). Jesus knew their thoughts (Matthew 12:15; Luke 6:8); so He merely withdrew to the Sea of Galilee, ministered to the multitudes, and then went up to a mountain alone to pray.   Today, Jesus gives a spiritual "Sabbath rest" that is in the heart all the time (Matt. 11:28-30). Unlike the galling yoke of the Law, the yoke that Jesus gives is "well-fitting," and His "burden is light." When the sinner trusts the Savior, he has peace with God because his sins are forgiven, and he is reconciled to God (Rom. 5:1-11). As the believer yields to Christ in daily experience, he enjoys "the peace of God" in his heart and mind (Phil. 4:6-7).   Read Hebrews 4 to learn how obedience to God's Word will bring you into God's promised rest in Christ Jesus!   Have you come short of the promise of God's rest because of disobedience? (Hebrews 4:1)   God bless!

Luke records three specific temptations that the Lord Jesus was faced with by the devil in the wilderness just before He begins His three and half years of ministry. The devil's main focus for all his temptation is to distract us, or discourage us, or derail us, from accomplishing God's will and His plan and purpose for our lives. God plan and will for our lives always involves the ministry of redemption and reconciliation for the world of people around us (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).   The devil's temptations that we face are the same he has used from the beginning of time when he tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden. They will involve the “lust of the flesh”, “the lust of the eyes”, or “the pride of life”. (1 John 2:15). The devil tempted Jesus to satisfy His hungry flesh by turning a stone into bread. Next, he tempted Jesus with the “lust of the eyes” by showing Him the kingdoms of the world and promised to give them to Him if He would fall down and worship him. Now in verses 9-13, the devil tempted Jesus with the “pride of life” by asking Him to do something spectacular in front of everyone by jumping off the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem.   It is also interesting to note that Satan questioned the Father's love when he tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread. He questioned His hope when he offered Jesus the world's kingdoms this side of the Cross (see Heb. 12:1-3). Satan questioned the Father's faithfulness when he asked Jesus to jump from the temple and prove that the Father would keep His promise (Ps. 91:11-12). The enemy attacked the three basic virtues of the Christian life, faith, hope, and love. Satan continues to do the same in our lives today!   The pinnacle was probably a high point at the southeast corner of the temple, far above the Kidron Valley. Satan can tempt us even in the Holy City at the highest part of the holy temple! Following the example of Jesus, Satan decided to quote Scripture, and he selected Psalm 91:11-12. Of course, he misquoted the promise and besides he omitted "in all thy ways." The devil loves to deceive us into using passages from the Bible to make excuses for our selfish desires to do what we want to do.   When a child of God is in the will of God, he can claim the Father's protection and care. But if he willfully gets into trouble and expects God to rescue him, then he is tempting God. (For an example of this, see Ex. 17:1-7.) We tempt God when we "force" Him (or dare Him) to act contrary to His Word. It is a dangerous thing to try God's patience, even though He is indeed long-suffering and gracious.   Our Lord's reply was, "on the other hand, it is written" (Matthew 4:7); and He quoted Deuteronomy 6:16. Jesus balanced Scripture with Scripture to get the total expression of God's will. If you isolate verses from their contexts, or passages from the total revelation of Scripture, you can prove almost anything from the Bible. Almost every false cult claims to be based on the teachings of the Bible. When we get our orders from God by picking out verses from here and there in the Bible, we are not living by faith. We are living by chance and tempting the Lord. "For whatever is not of faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23), and "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17).   Satan tempted Jesus to do something spectacular in Jerusalem where the religious world was watching to get their attention to begin His ministry. Jesus answered with God's Word and reminded Satan that He knew Who He was. Jesus claimed here to be “the LORD your God”. Jesus basically was saying, “I know who I Am, and I don't have to do something spectacular to prove it.   My friend, knowing who we are “in Christ” is our great protection and provision for overcoming sin and all the temptations of the evil one. (Roman 6 & 8). The Lord is not wanting us to do something spectacular but to simply walk faithfully every day in the will of God by the Word of God.   God bless!

The night before He was crucified Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray with Peter, James, and John. Jesus instructed them to watch and pray with Him: “Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:38-41).   Remember we mentioned how Jesus was praying after His baptism (Luke 3:21) in preparation for His public ministry. If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to pray to fulfill the Father's will for His life, how much more do we need to pray! When the great temptation came to avoid the cross, Jesus prayed and accepted the Father's will and drank the cup of our sins. Jesus was ready and prepared for the suffering of the cross! Peter didn't pray but was sleeping and when he was tempted to deny Jesus he failed miserably and wept bitterly. Peter must have learned his lesson because later he wrote: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”  (1 Peter 5:8-9).   In this first temptation in verses 3-4, Satan suggested that there must be something wrong with the Father's love since His "beloved Son" was hungry. In years past Israel hungered in the wilderness, and God sent them bread from heaven; so surely Jesus could use His divine power to feed Himself and save His life. Satan subtly used this same approach on Eve: "God is holding out on you! Why can't you eat of every tree in the Garden? If He really loved you, He would share everything with you!"   But the test was even more subtle than that, for Satan was asking Jesus to separate the physical from the spiritual. In the Christian life, eating is a spiritual activity, and we can use even our daily food to glorify God (Rom. 14:20-21; 1 Cor. 10:31). Whenever we label different spheres of our lives "physical," "material," "financial," or "spiritual," we are bound to leave God out of areas where He rightfully belongs. Christ must be first in everything, or He is first in nothing (Matt. 6:33). It is better to be hungry in the will of God than satisfied out of the will of God.   When our Lord quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, He put the emphasis on the word man. As the eternal Son of God, He had power to do anything; but as the humble Son of man, He had authority to do only that which the Father willed. (Note carefully John 5:17, 30; 8:28; 10:17-18; 15:10, 15.) As the Servant, Jesus did not use His divine attributes for selfish purposes (Phil. 2:5-8). Because He was man, He hungered; but He trusted the Father to meet His needs in His own time and His own way.   You and I need bread for the body (Matt. 6:11), but we must not live by physical bread alone. We also need food for the inner person to satisfy our spiritual needs. This food is the Word of God (Ps. 119:103; Jer. 15:16; 1 Peter 2:2). What digestion is to the body, meditation is to the soul. As we read the Word and meditate on it, we receive spiritual health and strength for the inner person, and this enables us to obey the will of God.   My friend, it is absolutely necessary to take the time to pray and meditate on God's Word in preparation for the challenges each day brings! Jesus taught us to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread…, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one…” (Matthew 6:9-13).

In this episode, Cliff talks about how we are to live our lives for the benefit of others and how by living this way we glorify God (Rom. 15:1-6).

In this episode, Cliff discusses how we are not to judge one another because we will each give an account to God (Rom. 14:10-12).

In this episode, Cliff discusses how all things are to be done for the glory of God (Rom. 14:5-9).

     Scripture tells us, as Christians, to “Submit to God” (Jam 4:7), and “present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom 6:13), and “to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Rom 12:1).[1] These directives are to Christians, calling us to a surrendered life to God. Concerning Romans 12:1, Earl Radmacher states: "Based on God's mercy (Rom 9:11, 15, 16, 18, 23; 11:30–32), Paul entreats believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, meaning they should use their bodies to serve and obey God (Rom 6:13). Such giving of the body to God is more than a contrast with a dead animal sacrifice, it is “newness of life” (Rom 6:4). Holy means set apart for the Lord's use; acceptable means pleasing to Him; and reasonable indicates that such a gift is the only rational reaction to all the good gifts God has showered on us. [bolding his]"[2]      That Paul instructs his Christian readers to “present yourselves to God” (Rom 6:13) and “to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God” (Rom 12:1a) would imply they had not made this important decision but needed to do so. Paul called them to act, directing them to exercise their volition in order that they might move forward in their spiritual life, which, he says, “is your spiritual service of worship” (Rom 12:1b). God has done so much to provide our salvation, offering redemption for sins through the death of Christ on the cross; therefore, it is only natural that a life dedicated to Him, born out of gratitude and appreciation, would follow in response.      Submissive Christians will, at a point in time, dedicate their lives to Christ. This is usually some defining moment in their life, perhaps a crisis, where they commit themselves to the Lord.[3] This initial act of dedication will be followed by acts of restoration when failure occurs (1 John 1:9). Dedication is like a marriage ceremony that occurs only once. The life and health of the marriage is what follows, and this is built on many decisions to love and be faithful. If there is failure in the marriage, it does not require a new wedding ceremony, but humility, forgiveness, and the readjustment of the offender to the offended, and the walk of love that reflects a healthy relationship.      Whereas Romans 12:1 pertains to the Christian's act of dedication to God, Romans 12:2 addresses how to begin the process of moving forward in our spiritual life. Paul wrote, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2). First, we are not to be conformed to the world in which we live. The word “conformed” translates the Greek verb suschematizō (συσχηματίζω), which, according to Louw-Nida, means “to form or mold one's behavior in accordance with a particular pattern or set of standards—to shape one's behavior, to conform one's life.”[4] Here, the verb is in the imperative mood, which means it's a command to be obeyed, and in the present tense, which speaks to ongoing action. Pauls' reference to “this world” refers to Satan's world system, which consists of those values and philosophies that originate with Satan and are contrary to the character and will of God. This means we are nonconformists who refuse to be pressed into the world's mold of values and practices.      In contrast to being conformed to Satan's world system, Paul says Christians are to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2b). The word “transformed” translates the Greek verb metamorphoō (μεταμορφόω), which, according to BDAG, means “to change inwardly in fundamental character or condition, be changed, be transformed.”[5] Here we have another verb in the imperative mood, which means it's a command to be obeyed, and in the present tense, which speaks to ongoing action. Satan wants to control us by means of our sinful natures, demonic forces, and external pleasures and pressures, in order to get us to align with the world system he's created. But God does not want us to conform to Satan's system, but to be transformed on the inside so that we can walk with Him (Gal 5:16, 25) and resist Satan (Jam 4:7; 1 Pet 5:9). Transformation is a process that starts with God who works in the heart of the believer who is surrendered to Him. According to Warren Wiersbe, “The world wants to control your mind, but God wants to transform your mind (see Eph 4:17–24; Col 3:1–11)…If the world controls your thinking, you are a conformer; if God controls your thinking, you are a transformer.”[6]      This process of transformation involves the renovation of the mind and the recalibration of our thoughts according to the standard of God's Word. It means expunging a lifetime of human viewpoint and replacing it with divine viewpoint. This is a slow and disciplined process, one that brings joy as the acquisition of divine revelation floods light into a sin-darkened soul that desperately needs healing. Wiersbe states, “God transforms our minds and makes us spiritually minded by using His Word. As you spend time meditating on God's Word, memorizing it, and making it a part of your inner man, God will gradually make your mind more spiritual (see 2 Cor 3:18).”[7] Earl Radmacher adds: "Spiritual transformation starts in the mind and heart. A mind dedicated to the world and its concerns will produce a life tossed back and forth by the currents of culture. But a mind dedicated to God's truth will produce a life that can stand the test of time. We can resist the temptations of our culture by meditating on God's truth and letting the Holy Spirit guide and shape our thoughts and behaviors."[8] And Charles Ryrie states: "The believer's mind occupies a central place in his spiritual development. God uses it in his understanding of truth (Luke 24:45; 1 Cor 14:14–15). The dedicated life must include a renewed mind (Rom 12:2). The mind is involved in deciding doubtful things (1 Cor 14:5), in pursuing holiness (1 Pet 1:13), in understanding the Lord's will (Eph 5:17), and in loving the Lord (Matt 22:37). Every thought must be captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5)."[9] Dr. Steven R. Cook     [1] The word “present” translates the Greek verb paristemi (παρίστημι), which is in the aorist tense, viewing the act in a summary manner, as a snapshot, which implies a decisive action at a point in time. [2] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 1447. [3] This happened to me in August of 1988 when I woke on the grass next to an apartment complex where I'd slept the night before. I'd been using hard drugs for seven years (i.e., PCP, LSD, Cocaine, etc.) and had come to a place of homelessness with suicidal ideations. I was at a place of crisis, and like a big ship that's about to hit an iceberg and be totally destroyed, my life needed to be redirected, quickly, or I was going down to destruction. In my place of self-inflicted ruination, I cried out to the Lord, and He rescued me. Shortly afterwards, I surrendered to Him and began the journey of spiritual growth by learning and living His Word. I dedicated myself to the Lord at that time, to know Him through His Word and to walk with Him. Though I've had many points of stepping off God's path of righteousness (i.e., when I sin), I've also taken hold of His provision of being able to redirect myself back on to the path of righteousness by means of confession (1 John 1:9). [4] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 506. [5] William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 639. [6] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 554. [7] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 554. [8] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 1447. [9] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 228.

Bride, Chosen and Revealed (Audio) David Eells 8/7/24 The Glorified Bride Donna Loftus  8/3/24  (David's notes in red) I dreamed that there was a man (acquaintance) in the other room that called me and said look and I looked and there was a miniature city on a table with a golden light shining on it from above (l knew it was new Jerusalem) (Whom John said in Revelation was the Bride.) He said, “look it is the golden city coming alive”.  I then saw a piece of paper that was laying on a desk or table in the room start to flutter and move as well as other things. I started to go up in the air and kept repeating “He is risen”, “He is risen “, “He is risen”!  (Jesus' Bride will have His resurrection life.)     There is No More Time Debbie Fenske 8/4/24 Yesterday I heard the Lord speak, “There is no more time” when I was praying and doing spiritual warfare. I sat waiting and listening for Him to say more. But I didn't hear any more until today when I purposed, with my pen and tablet, to hear what more he had to say on that. Then I heard: My dear ones, you are my pearls, my prized gems. You are the love and desire of my heart. You are my chosen from before the very beginning. You are my choice. I want you as my Bride. And so, I say to you, “There is no more time.” I say again, “ There is no more time.” it is now, or never. Now is the time for groundbreaking overcoming. Let it be witnessed among you, all things being of divine newness. I have cleansed from you those who were seriously lacking, those who were lagging, and those who would not touch the divine. They have been taken out from among you. Your perfecting is almost complete. No more looking back at anything to hinder you in my purpose that I have for each of you. Only look within your hearts for any need of repentance, and repent, and be wholly new. Now is the victory over your enemies, these demon spirits that have been speaking unworthiness to you. But, now is the time to boldly proclaim, unrelentingly, that they are liars. They are against what is divine. This fight goes on, but not the fight within your own mind and heart. That time has ended. There is no more time for that. There is only time for engaging in spiritual warfare, knowing you are the victor in casting Satan and his demons down, and putting them under your feet. Yes! It is time for My desire of the ages to come forth in fighting victory. Know who you are. Speak who you are. Speak to each other who you are. Call out to the enemy who you are. You are my perfected, divine overcomers. I see the lights of my divine ones covering the earth, all joining together in one soul, one mind, and one spirit, with one purpose. I am rising up in all of you. For I Am your strength to engage, and to overcome. No more defeat. Defeat is forbidden. For it is only I in you, and you in Me. Weaknesses in you are defeated. There cannot be defeat, and there is no time for defeat. Now is the time for victory. For I have prepared you. I have cleansed and healed you of so much. You have overcome in your own sufferings, battles, and all constant attacks against you. Now, see and encourage each other as being what I am saying of you, and seeing in each of you. Always encourage one another. This is part of your overcoming. You will continue in your pursuit of only Me. There is no time to pursue any lesser thing. Remember, I have said, “There is no more time.”     Those Culled From the Bride David Eells  8/3/24 Last night I saw that people were being disqualified and removed from the Bride running. I saw the spirit of Jezebel who ruled over her husband were to be removed. I saw those who were judging others by spirits of criticism and pride were to be removed. I saw that those who were cold in their relationship to the body were removed. (This reminded me of those who got closer and closer to the back door and then were gone.) I saw those who were in willful sins are to be removed.     Removed For Willful Disobedience Marie Kelton 7/26/24  (David's notes in red) During the meeting, I had asked the Father where a certain backslider from UBM was with him. And then I had an open vision of a beautiful tree with leaves on it on a hill. I then saw a hand come from heaven and shake the tree until there were no leaves on it. (They were not capable to take in the Son for life.) And then snap the tree from the trunk. And pull it up. The roots were still in the ground though. (At this point there was still a possibility to return.) Luke 13:6-9 And he spake this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none. And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground? And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down. I wasn't sure if I was seeing clearly. (She was not wanting to make a mistake on something so important.) So the lord gave me another vision of the same tree with a rope being tied around it, being pulled up from the roots this time. I still wasn't sure so the lord gave me a vision of him standing next to me with a little potted plant in his hand and he pulled the plant up from the pot showing the roots. And yet still I wasn't sure if I was seeing clearly. So the Lord gave me another vision of me sitting in my house sitting on my couch, having an open vision of the tree with the rope around the trunk being pulled from the ground with the roots showing.  Jude 1:12 These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds (No numeric pattern) that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. The Lord then gave me another open vision during the meeting of 3 pieces of silver hitting the floor. I immediately thought of the 30 pieces of silver that Judas threw down before the Pharisees. (This person was a Judas to the Body of Christ.) Matthew 27:3-5 Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it. And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. (He was removed from among those who John the Baptist said were the Bride. “He that hath the Bride is the bridegroom.”)     Those Who Repent Will Find Grace Marie Kelton  7/19/24 During the meeting I had an open vision of me carrying a black back pack on my back (Representing the weight of mistakes and sins with condemnation and a spirit of heaviness.) I saw the Lord walk up to me and take the back pack off my shoulders and He started to carry it. We were walking on a road. As we were walking the back pack turned white and merged into the Lord. (The Lord took away condemnation for sins and the spirit of heaviness on the cross. When this happened I physically felt lighter in the meeting.) The Lord and I reached a body of water. The black back pack then appeared again on the Lord's back. He then took it off and dropped it into the water. I knew the body of water was the sea of forgetfulness.  Micah 7:19-20 He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the lovingkindness to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.     Beast Changing Human DNA to His Marie Kelton 8/5/24  (David's notes in red) During the meeting, I had an open vision. Of my spirit man, being translated to a red rocky cliff. There was a warring angel with wings standing beside me. On top of the cliff was a giant red stone that had been carved out. (The stone which the builders rejected and crucified.) A door was in the stone and a keypad was next to the door. (Jesus is the door and the key is faith.)  The Lord appeared, and opened the door which led to an elevator. Then the Lord, the angel, and I went on an elevator down to a lower level in the Earth. When the doors opened,  I saw a science lab. The Lord and I walked through the science lab. To a second door. The Lord opened that door and I saw demons working in the lab. The demons couldn't see the Lord and I.  I knew we were there on a mission to get human DNA that had not been tampered with by the demons. (The demons using the DS scientists are in the process of changing the DNA of mankind to make them their servants. The cure is to have the Lord's DNA through faith in His blood.) The Lord and I walked up to a stand where there was a double helix of human DNA in an oblong container. The Lord took the container and put it in a white satchel bag that was around him. Then we walked through the doors. And translated back to the top of the entrance on the cliff where we started. (Some will be rescued from the beasts DNA either by refusing their shots, chemtrails, or by healing. The rest will be marked by the Beast.)     The Bride is Being Chosen Marie Kelton  8/3/24  (David's notes in red) During the meeting, I had an open vision. I saw the Lord walking toward me with a nice red pillow (the blood of Jesus) with gold trim and gold tassels hanging from the four corners of the pillow.  It had a tiara on it. The tiara had a sheer white veil on it. I went to go grab the tiara. But the Lord told me that "You do not choose yourself to be in the Bride. I choose who is in the Bride. (Not by my works, but by the Lord's grace will we be in the Bride). Then the Lord, took the tiara and put it on my head. After that I saw, a bigger pillow with a bigger tiara and veil on it like the first one. I knew it was for the corporate Bride body. I turned my head in the vision and saw a really huge tall lady, next to me with blonde hair. (The corporate Bride body.)  I saw the Lord put put the tiara on her head and fix the veil. I then had another vision, of a woman walking down an aisle, with a white dress on and a veil with a long train behind her.  The woman was walking towards a really bright light, I knew there were rows of white chairs next to her on both sides. When she was walking, at first it looked like she was walking on mud or dirt, but then it turned into grass. (Peter said, “All flesh is as grass.”)(The bride has the flesh under her feet).      How to be Chosen David Eells Esther is a prophecy of the Church Age, a prophecy that is hidden (“Esther” in Hebrew means “hidden” or “secret”) and, of course, Esther is the Bride – she's hidden and secret. Also, in the Song of Solomon, the Bride was furiously running after her Beloved. It was more important to her to seek the Lord than it was to the rest of the queens, concubines and virgins. It was rather ho-hum with them, but with the Bride, this was serious business. She was desiring earnestly to come into the presence of the Master.  Looking at the type and shadow in Esther how when the Lord came and called Israel, His Old Testament Bride, to come before Him, they refused, just as Vashti refused Ahasuerus. When we read in Esther chapter 2, we see that a new Bride is to be chosen for the King.  (Est.2:1) After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. (2) Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: (Notice; the Bride did not come out of the people but the fair virgins, who came out of the people of God.)(3) and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hegai the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them.   I believe that Hegai, the King's chamberlain here, represents the Holy Spirit. He is the “keeper of the women.” It is his job to make sure that these women are beautiful to the King. The Holy Spirit's job is to manifest Jesus Christ in us and that is what is beautiful to the King: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col.1:27). So, many fair young virgins were gathered together and a Bride was going to be chosen from among these.  In the Song of Solomon, it is the Bride who is running after her Beloved, while the rest of the queens, concubines and virgins didn't seem to be so excited about this. They even questioned her, What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, O thou fairest among women? (Son.5:9). In other words, “What makes your Jesus any better than our Jesus?” And like what it says here: (Son.6:8) There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins without number. (9) My dove, my undefiled (that's the word for “perfect”), is [but] one; She is the only one of her mother (Meaning she's the only one who has come out of the mother; the rest of these are still a corporate body of the mother.); she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed; [Yea,] the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. It's going to be that way because this is also a prophecy of the end-time and, even though there are many virgins who are contending to be in this Bride, not everyone is going to be.   Back in (Est.2:4) And let the maiden that pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. A Bride will be chosen out of virgins of His New Testament people that we call the Church and that's why this is so important. (Est.2:5) There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai…. The name “Mordecai” in Hebrew means “little man” and in Persian it means “little boy,” both of which mean “Man-child.” Mordecai is the Man-child. The Man-child ministry is about to start again and the exact same thing is going to happen, except this time it's a corporate Man-child, a much larger one that covers the earth.   (Est.2:7) And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther…. “Brought up” here means “nourished”; not just fed, but nourished. All the queens and concubines get fed, but not everybody is nourished. (7) And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.  Here are more verses about the Bride: (Psa.45:9) Kings' daughters are among thy honorable women: At thy right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir. Notice that the king's daughters are not the queen. They are honorable women, but they're not the queen. (10) Hearken, O daughter, consider, and incline thine ear; Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house: (11) So will the king desire thy beauty; For he is thy lord; and reverence thou him. Who is the Lord? When we leave father and mother, we need to submit to our Lord, submit to our Husband, Who is the Lord God. The Bride is beautiful to the King because she completely submits to His Lordship since the head of every man is Christ” (1Cor.11:3). “Thy father's houses” represent the apostate denominations, or queens and concubines, of Christianity.  Back in Esther, after her mother and father were dead, Mordecai the Man-child nourished her. Who was following Jesus when John the Baptist said, He that hath the bride is the bridegroom (Joh.3:29)? Who was it was walking with Jesus, learning of Jesus, sitting at His feet? It was the Bride, but where did she come from? She came out of the apostate denominations of Judaism. We also see this in (Rev.14:4) These are they that were not defiled with women (The “women” are the queens, the concubines, the denominations, the groups, the sects.); for they are virgins…. The meaning of this is that they don't received any seed of man. (Rev.14:4) These [are] they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. Remember, the Shulamite, or “perfect one,” in the Song of Solomon was only interested in following after the Bridegroom. (Rev.14:4) …These were purchased from among men, [to be] the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb. And they're not defiled with the “women.”  Now turn back to our text in Esther. (Est.2:8) So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai (Who is, the King's chamberlain, representing the Holy Spirit), that Esther was taken into the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. (9) And the maiden pleased him…. What do we do to please the Holy Spirit? Obviously, we can grieve the Holy Spirit. Scripture speaks about that, but just the opposite is true of those who please the Holy Spirit. We can't be pleasing unto God without having faith. The Bible says, Without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing [unto him] (Heb.11:6) and the Holy Spirit is God's Spirit. (Est.2:9) And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him (We need the kindness of the Holy Spirit. We need the favor of the Holy Spirit because we're doing what is pleasing unto Him.); and he speedily gave her her things for purification….   The Bride will have a more glorious garment than the virgin bridesmaids. (Rev.19:8) And it was given unto her (the Bride) that she should array herself in fine linen, bright [and] pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. This garment is called lampros in Greek, meaning bright, glowing, or brilliant. This bright lamp represents her pure works. On the other hand, those invited to the marriage supper have only a “white” garment. Obviously, what the Lord is looking for is a purified Bride. Esther cooperated and the Holy Spirit gave to her the things that she needed for purification speedily. (Est.2:9) … and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with her portions, and the seven maidens who were meet to be given her out of the king's house….   The seven maidens were given to her because she pleased the Lord. I believe that the Lord showed me years ago that this was talking about the seven beams of light in the spectrum. Jesus said, I am the light of the world (Joh.8:12) and a prism breaks down the light into seven different attributes that we call “colors.” Joseph's “coat of many colors” (Genesis 37:3) designated him as a type of the Man-child reflecting Jesus Christ, a garment that he put on. The Bible says, Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom.13:14).  Also, this represents the seven attributes of Christ spoken of by Peter: (2Pe.1:5) Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith…. In the original, there was no comma after “diligence.” It was put there by translators who thought it needed to be there, but there is no comma there. It is “adding on your part all diligence in your faith.” Faith is a gift of God. (5) Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence in your faith, supply virtue; and in [your] virtue knowledge. (6) And in [your] knowledge self-control; and in [your] self-control patience; and in [your] patience godliness;   (7) and in [your] godliness brotherly kindness; and in [your] brotherly kindness love. (8) For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near (The Greek wording there actually means “near-sighted”; “not seeing things from afar”; not seeing what God has given us from afar.), having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. Have you forgotten that Jesus took away your sins – that you don't have those attributes that are contrary to Christ? You have now been given Christ. (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory…. What we're saying is, “Jesus lives in me because the Book says so.” He's given us this free gift of His righteousness.  Getting back to Esther, the first-fruits to enter into the Kingdom is the Man-child, and he is raising up the Bride to enter into the Kingdom. Jesus is being manifested in His first fruits, Man-child, in order to fellowship and mature the Bride and that's what He desires greatly. (Est.2:9) … And he removed her and her maidens to the best place of the house of the women. (Praise God!) (10) Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not make it known. (11) And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her. Notice that Mordecai followed her and, actually, he was her leader all the way through the Book of Esther.  (Est.2:12) Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus (to be inspected; to see who was going to be the Bride), after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women twelve months (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, [to wit,] six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women), (13) then in this wise came the maiden unto the king: Whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. This is very important, that “Whatsoever she desired was given her.” Do you have a desire? If you read Song of Solomon, you see something about the difference between the Bride and the virgins. There was a difference in desire. The desire of the Bride was to fellowship with her Lord, her King, her Beloved. Her desire was to constantly run after her Beloved, to appropriate more of Him.   Notice also that it says here very plainly that Whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. Everything we need has been supplied to us. (2Pe.1:2) Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; (3) seeing that his divine power hath granted (Everything we need has been given to us. This is what you see in the Spirit, with your eyes exercised to discern good from evil, by the Word of God. This is how you are supposed to see.) unto us all things that pertain unto life (God's life, zoë life) and godliness (He's given us all things that we need for life and godliness, or purification. That was what the virgins were going through, purification, to be ready.), through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue.  It's not just any knowledge that you can get at any church. It's God's knowledge, the knowledge of His Word. It cannot be changed; it will not be changed for the Bride. She is accepting the Word just exactly as it is, not perverting or twisting it for her ego's sake; she's not twisting it for her own doctrine's sake. She's not “adding to, or taking away from,” the Word (Rev 22:18-19).  She's a virgin, so she has not received the seed of men. (4) Whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature (He's already given us what is necessary; He's given us His “promises.”), having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.  See, it's already been done. The only thing we have to do is exercise faith. If we exercise faith, we please the Holy Spirit. If we please the Holy Spirit, He quickly gives us purification, the “seven maidens” which we just read in 2 Peter 1:5-8. The only thing that impresses the Holy Spirit is faith in the true promises of God. That's why He gives us authority. That's why He empowers us. The Holy Spirit comes to us for the purpose of manifesting Christ in us. That's what He's there for. He's our helper, our Paraclete. (2Co.7:1) Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. This is what the Bride is doing!  Going on in (Est.2:13) … Whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. (14) In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain (This is a different chamberlain here. This one has charge over the women's house, not the King's house.), who kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name. And, of course, Esther was the one who was called by name. (15) Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. We need nothing but what the Holy Spirit will give unto us – the Word of God – and nothing else. It behooves us to really seek after the truth and run after the Word.   The Bible says that we don't even have need for any man to teach us, that we have an anointing from the Holy One: (1Jn.2:27) And as for you, the anointing which ye received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that anyone teach you; but as his anointing teacheth you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, ye abide in him. However, the Holy One uses men to teach us and to preach and to lead and to guide, but He has to be in it. We have no need for men to do this; we have to make sure that we're receiving from the Lord. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Rom.8:14).  So, Esther took advantage of the fact that all she needed came from the Holy Spirit, represented in type by Hegai, the King's chamberlain, she didn't have anything but what was appointed of Him. Esther received the favor of the chamberlain, as we already read, because she pleased him in the works that she was doing, in desiring the right things. (Est.2:15) … And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her. (16) So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. We are now in the seventh year. We've already started the seventh year, or the 7000th year, of His reign. (Est.2:17) And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.  (18) Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release (the word “release” here means “rest”) to the provinces, and gave gifts…. The “rest” that the Lord promises to give unto us, which most Jews did not enter into, is referred to in Hebrews chapters three and four. We enter into this rest by ceasing from our works and believing the promises. (Heb.4:3) For we who have believed do enter into that rest…. The Lord is offering this wonderful rest, the rest from your enemies, the rest from your problems, from the curse, etc. It's a rest because the Lord has already provided everything. There's never been a time like that last seven years of the Marriage Feast, when God's going to hand out such great gifts – never in history! He's going to be celebrating with the Bride, just as John the Baptist said: He that hath the bride is the bridegroom (Joh.3:29).

by Chris Reno.

     The Christian's salvation is seen in three phases. Because we have trusted Christ as our Savior, we have been saved from the penalty of sin (John 5:24; Rom 8:1, 33-34; Eph 2:8-9), are being saved from the power of sin that we might live righteously (Rom 6:11-13; Col 3:5), and will be saved from the presence of sin when we leave this world and enter heaven (Phil 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2, 5). These three aspects of our salvation are also referred to as justification (declared just before God once for all), sanctification (our progressive righteousness over time), and glorification (removal of the sin nature after we leave this world). Our justification and glorification are accomplished by God alone, as He does all the work. But our sanctification requires positive volition on our part, as we must adjust ourselves to God's directives and provisions and learn to walk by faith. The following lessons will focus on phase two of our salvation, looking mainly at the biblical concept of spirituality and the steps the Christian can take to advance to spiritual maturity.      After we heard the gospel message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and raised again on the third day (1 Cor 15:3-4), and we trusted Jesus as our Savior (John 3:16; Acts 4:12; 16:31), we became children of God (John 1:12; Gal 3:26), and were transferred from Satan's domain of darkness into the kingdom of God's beloved Son (Col 1:13). Having been born again to new spiritual life (John 3:3; 1 Pet 1:3, 23), and indwelt by God the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16), God now expects us to feed on the nourishment of His Word (1 Pet 2:2), advance to spiritual maturity (Heb 6:1), and manifest a life of righteousness (Rom 6:13; 2 Tim 3:16-17). In His Word, God has given us everything we need to accomplish this mission. The objective for us is to learn Scripture and embark on the journey of faith that glorifies God, edifies others, and brings us to the place of spiritual adulthood. Spirituality Defined      The word “spiritual” derives from the Greek adjective pneumatikos (πνευματικός), which, according to Joseph Thayer, refers to “one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God.”[1] Spirituality is very nuanced and, according to Christopher Beetham, denotes “the whole range of activities, attitudes, experiences, etc., that ultimately depend on and derive from the Spirit and that draw their significance from the Spirit.”[2] Such an understanding is contrasted with the worldly system of values and practices that originate with Satan, which are totally at odds with the Word of God and seek to hinder the Christian's walk with the Lord (1 John 2:15-16).      The word pneumatikos (πνευματικός) is used by NT writers to refer to divine revelation (Rom 7:14; 1 Cor 2:13-14; Col 1:9), angelic forces (Eph 6:12), blessings from God (Eph 1:3), a mental attitude of joy and worship (Eph 5:18-20; Col 3:16), a mature believer who helps others (Gal 6:1), our future glorified body (1 Cor 15:42-44), the church as a spiritual house (1 Pet 2:4-5), supernatural gifts from the Spirit (Rom 1:11; 1 Cor 12:1), spiritual sacrifices we offer to God (Rom 12:1-2; Eph 5:1-2; Phil 4:18; Heb 13:15-16; 1 Pet 2:5b), and is contrasted with immature carnal Christians (1 Cor 3:1-3). Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] Joseph Henry Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Being Grimm's Wilke's Clavis Novi Testamenti (New York: Harper & Brothers., 1889), 523. [2] Christopher A. Beetham, ed., “Πνεῦμα,” Concise New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2021), 755.

When we come to Joshua 22, the conquest of the Promise Land by the twelve tribes of Israel is complete. The battles have been fought and won. The inheritance of the land has been successful distributed to all the tribes, the “Cities of Refuge” have been designated, and the priestly tribe of the Levites have settled in their forty-eight cities among the tribes to lead the nation spiritually with the Word of God.   Matter of fact, Joshua 21:43-44 ends this conquest with these words: “So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.”   It is at this point, after seven years of battles, in Joshua 22:1-4, that Joshua gives a honorable discharge to the two tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. The first thing Joshua did was to commend them (Josh. 22:1-3). These two and a half tribes had promised Moses that they would remain in the army until all the land was conquered, and they kept their promise (Numbers 32; Deuteronomy3:12-20). After the death of Moses, they had pledged that same loyalty to Joshua, their new leader (Joshua 1:12-18). These tribes had been loyal to Moses, to Joshua, and to their brothers from the other tribes. One Bible version put it this way: "For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you" (22:3).   Why had they been so loyal to their leaders and fellow soldiers? Because they were first of all loyal to the Lord their God. It was His mission they were carrying out and His name they were seeking to glorify. In the service of the Lord, far above our devotion to a leader, a cause, or even a nation is our devotion to the Lord. "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23-24).   Then in Joshua 22:4, Joshua released them from the army. Having fulfilled their mission and kept their promise, the tribes were now free to go home; for God had given His people rest. The concept of rest is important in the Book of Joshua and means much more than simply the end of the war. The word carries with it the meaning of both victory and security, and it involved Israel having their "resting place" in the land. God promised to give His people rest (Ex. 33:14; Deut. 12:9-10; 25:19; Josh. 1:13,15), and He kept His promise (Joshua 11:23; 14:15; 21:44; 22:4; 23:1).   The spiritual application of this rest for God's people today is made in Hebrews 3 and 4. When we trust Christ as Savior, we enter into rest because we're no longer at war with God (Rom. 5:1). When we yield ourselves completely to Him and claim our inheritance by faith, we enter into a deeper rest and enjoy our spiritual riches in Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." When we come to Jesus for salvation, He gives us rest. And yet we find a deeper rest, when we take His yoke of discipleship, and follow Him daily!   Imagine what it would be like for these soldiers to return home after being away for these seven years! Think of the love they would experience, the joys they would find, the treasures they would share! That's just a small picture of what happens when the children of God enter into the rest God gives to those who will yield their all to Him and trust His Word.   God bless!

July 14, 2024 - Our Unfathomable God | Rom 11 by Trinity Hinsdale

Exposition of James 2:14-26 (Full Notes Here)      James wrote, “What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” (Jam 2:14). The question demands a negative answer. No. An inactive and useless faith cannot save the Christian. Here, salvation is deliverance from divine discipline (Heb 12:6), which can be severe (1 Cor 11:30), and eventuate in physical death (Jam 5:20; 1 John 5:16), and loss of reward at the bema seat of Christ (1 Cor 3:10-15). As Christians, “we will all appear before the judgment seat of God…and each one of us will give an account of himself to God” (Rom 14:10, 12), for “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor 5:10). To be a Christian without good works is to have a useless faith, which will bring God's discipline. Earl Radmacher states, “Saved (Gk. sōzō) is used five times in James (Jam 1:21; 2:14; 4:12, 5:15; 5:20). Each time it refers to the saving of the temporal life…In this context James is referring to being ‘saved' from the judgment without mercy at the judgment seat of Christ (Jam 2:13) and possibly the saving of one's life from physical death (Jam 1:21).”[1] Thomas Constable adds, “Orthodox faith without good works cannot protect the Christian from sin's deadly consequences in this life (Jam 5:20; 1 John 5:16). That faith cannot save him from God's discipline of him as a believer. Good works in addition to faith are necessary for that kind of deliverance (salvation).”[2]      James provided a good example of useless faith, asking, “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” (Jam 2:15-16). Kind words uttered by one Christian to another are useless to help the brother or sister who needs food and clothing (cf., 1 John 3:17). James said, “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself” (Jam 2:17). For James, a dead faith is a useless faith. Throughout Scripture, death means separation, not cessation or non-existence.[3] In James' letter, a dead faith is one that is separated from the good works God expects from His people. And when faith does not produce good works, it stagnates spiritual growth in the Christian and becomes useless to others. For James, the matter is not one of true faith versus false faith, but faith that is accompanied by good works versus a faith without works.[4] Charles Bing correctly notes: "James is not concerned with the reality of his readers' faith, but the quality (Jam 1:3, 6; 2:1; 5:15) and usefulness (Jam 1:12, 26; 2:14, 16, 20) of their faith. James is not saying faith will manifest itself in works, but that without works, faith is useless or unprofitable in this life and the next. James' main concern is that his readers become “doers of the word” (Jam 1:22) which is the same as being a “doer of the work” who will “be blessed in what he does” (Jam 1:25). For example, faith that perseveres in trials earns a reward from God (Jam 1:3-12), and faith that is merciful to others receives God's mercy at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Jam 2:8-13). But faith that does not work is useless towards these blessings and useless in helping others (Jam 1:26; 2:20). The word “dead” should therefore be understood as useless or unprofitable rather than non-existent. It is used this way in everyday speech: the battery is dead; the body is dead; the project is dead. What we mean is not that these things do not exist, but that they are not vitalized so as to be useful."[5]      James then introduces an imaginary objector in the next two verses (Jam 2:18-19). He begins by saying, “But someone may well say…” (Jam 2:18a). James then presents the objector's argument: “…You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (Jam 2:18b). The “someone” here refers to anyone within proximity to the Christian who claims to have faith. The word “show” translates the Greek word deiknumi (δείκνυμι), which, according to BDAG, means “to exhibit something that can be apprehended by one or more of the senses, point out, show, make known.”[6] For example, when Jesus healed a man of leprosy, He told him, “go, show yourself to the priest” (Matt 8:4). This meant others could visibly see what was presented. This is helpful, for faith by itself is not visible to others, but only to God and the person who holds it. Faith becomes observable to others when it is put into action.      James then states, “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder” (Jam 2:19). James is referencing the Shema when he says, “You believe that God is one” (Jam 2:19a; Deut 6:4). This was the Jewish statement of faith in God, and is still used today. To this, James says, “You do well” (Jam 2:19b), which means the statement is theologically correct and James has no objection to it. But James then states, “the demons also believe, and shudder” (Jam 2:19c), which means correct theology, by itself, does not necessarily lead to beneficial action. Demons are monotheists who believe God exists, and they know that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh (Mark 3:11-12), and that their future is one of eternal punishment (Matt 8:29; 25:41; Luke 8:31; Jude 1:6). Of course, salvation is not open to fallen angels, so their belief in God's existence causes them to shudder and tremble at the truth.      James returned to address his Christian readers, saying, “But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?” (Jam 2:20). This is the main point of James' argument, “that faith without works is useless” (Jam 2:20b). The word “useless” translates the Greek adjective argos (ἀργός), which, according to BDAG, pertains to being “unemployed, idle…unproductive, useless, worthless.”[7] Christian faith, for it to benefit others, must be exercised and put into action, as this will prove useful to others who need tangible things such as food and clothing. The apostle John communicated similar language when he wrote, “whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:17-18).      Continuing his argument, James states, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?” (Jam 2:21). Abraham was saved nearly 30 years before the event of Genesis 22 when he offered up his son, Isaac (see Gen 15:6). Though Abraham was alone with Isaac on the mountain, his obedience to the Lord was heard about by others and recorded in Scripture for our benefit. Justification before God is by faith alone. Justification before others is by faith plus works. Radmacher notes: "This type of justification is before other people. In other words, James is using the word justified to mean “proved.” We prove to others our genuine faith in Christ through our works. But the justification that comes through faith is before God, and we do not “prove” ourselves to Him; instead, God declares us righteous through our association with Christ, the One who died for our sins (Rom 3:28)."[8]      Healthy faith obeys the Lord, even when the action is difficult or costly, such as when Abraham offered up his son, Isaac. Active faith helps us grow spiritually, like good nutrition and exercise help the body develop and grow strong. This seems to be James' point, as he states, “You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected” (Jam 2:22). The words “was working with” translate the Greek verb sunergeō (συνεργέω), which means, “to engage in cooperative endeavor, work together with.”[9] The idea is that faith and works naturally go together. To be “perfected” means to be brought to a place of maturity, fully developed. Faith can start out small and grow over time. We know that Abraham, who did not always trust the Lord,[10] eventually “grew strong in faith” (Rom 4:20). But this took time and testing. According to Radmacher, “The point James is making to the objector is that faith works together with works, that is, there is a relationship between the two and the relationship is works make faith perfect (Gk. teleioō), that is, mature.”[11] James continued, saying, “and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,' and he was called the friend of God” (Jam 2:23). Here, James references Abraham's conversion, when “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness” (Jam 2:23a; cf., Gen 15:6), and then his obedience to the Lord roughly 30 years later when he offered his son, Isaac (Gen 22), and as a result “was called the friend of God” (Jam 2:23b). Being called “the friend of God” was a privilege afforded to Abraham later in his life because of his obedience to do God's will. Jesus, when talking to His saved apostles, used similar language, saying, “You are My friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14). To be a friend of God means a saved person (who is already justified by faith alone) operates as an obedient child and does the Father's will (in ongoing faithfulness to the Lord).      James then tells his brethren, “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (Jam 2:24). Again, this justification is in the sight of others who question the Christian's faith. James then uses another OT person to make his point, saying, “In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?” (Jam 2:25). Rahab was saved physically when she welcomed the Israelite spies and then secured their safety by sending them out safely (see Josh 2:1-15). Her works demonstrated her faith in a visible way that benefited others (the Israelite spies), and her actions resulted in her physical salvation, as Rahab and her family were spared when Jericho was destroyed (see Josh 6:17-25).      James concluded, saying, “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (Jam 2:26). Good works animate faith, just like the presence of the spirit animates the body. Take away the spirit, and the body becomes lifeless, so take away good works, and faith dies, becoming useless. Charles Bing states, “In James 2:26, James is not saying that faith invigorates works, but that works invigorate faith. It is works which make faith useful, just as the spirit makes the body useful. The issue is not whether faith exists in a person, but how faith becomes profitable or useful to a Christian.”[12]        In summary, James wrote his letter to Christians, not to make them question their eternal salvation, but to encourage them to put their faith into action so that they might be useful to God and others. His warning to them is that if they fail to mature in their faith and make it useful in service to others, they will be subject to divine discipline. James in no way contradicts Paul. Paul wrote about justification in the sight of God, whereas James wrote about being justified in the sight of others. Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] Earl D. Radmacher, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary, (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 1667). [2] Tom Constable, Tom Constable's Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Jas 2:14. [3] Jesus, when describing the parable of the prodigal son, said he “was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found” (Luke 15:24). In the passage, dead meant lost, or separated from his father, and life meant found, or restored to his father. And Paul wrote about a widow “who gives herself to wanton pleasure” (1 Tim 5:6a), saying she “is dead even while she lives” (1 Tim 5:6b). That is, her sinful lifestyle separated her from fellowship with God and rendered her useless to Him. [4] Biblically, faith sometimes requires only mental acceptance that a proposition is true. For example, Moses wrote, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen 1:1). This statement does not call for a physical action (such as caring for a parent or feeding the hungry); it simply requires understanding and accepting that the universe and earth came into being by a sovereign act of God. Similarly, we might mentally claim a promise of God, such as when He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5). When crises arise, we can reflect on this promise and rest in the assurance that He is with us and will never leave. This operation of faith is mental and does not require a physical act. Furthermore, no one can see what happens in our minds as we think about God and claim His promises by faith. However, there are times when faith requires physical action, when God directs us to do something for the benefit of others. Sometimes the action is verbal. For example, Paul said, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Eph 4:29). He also said, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Col 4:6). These are actions of speech that benefit others. Other times, the action meets the tangible needs of others. Paul wrote about “contributing to the needs of the saints, and practicing hospitality” (Rom 12:13). James emphasized visiting “orphans and widows in their distress” (Jam 1:27). Titus wrote, “Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful” (Tit 3:14). These are acts that meet material needs in others. Wealthy Christians who have been blessed by the Lord are instructed “to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Tim 6:18). Paul was personally blessed by the financial gifts of others, as he told the Christians in Philippi, “you sent a gift more than once for my needs” (Phil 4:16). These verbal and physical acts fall under Paul's general directive: “While we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Gal 6:10). [5] Charles C. Bing, “Faith Without Works is Dead. James 2:14-26” Grace, Salvation, and Discipleship: How to Understand Some Difficult Bible Passages(Brenham, TX: Lucid Books, 2015). [6] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 214. [7] Ibid., 128. [8] Earl D. Radmacher, et al, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary, 1667. [9] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 969. [10] First, after God called Abraham to go to the land of Canaan (Gen 12:1-9), a severe famine struck the land (Gen 12:10a). In response, Abraham chose to go down to Egypt to escape the famine (Gen 12:10b). This decision can be seen as a lack of trust in God's provision. Instead of relying on God to sustain him in Canaan, the land God had promised to him and his descendants (Gen 12:7), Abraham sought refuge in Egypt. Second, the event with Hagar also displayed a lack of faith (Gen 16:1-4), as Abraham tried to produce an heir without waiting on God. Third, on two occasions, Abraham instructed Sarah to say she was his sister rather than his wife. The first instance occurred in Egypt (Gen 12:11-13), and the second with Abimelech in Gerar (Gen 20:1-2, 11). Abraham feared that because of Sarah's beauty, the men of these places would kill him to take her. By lying, Abraham showed a lack of trust in God's protection. Rather than trusting that God would safeguard them, he took matters into his own hands. [11] Earl D. Radmacher, et al, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary, 1668. [12] Charles C. Bing, “Faith Without Works is Dead. James 2:14-26” Grace, Salvation, and Discipleship: How to Understand Some Difficult Bible Passages.

Introduction (Full Notes Here)      The debate over James 2:14-26 revolves around how to reconcile faith and works in the context of salvation.[1] Catholics and Arminians traditionally see faith and works as both essential for eternal salvation. Reformed theologians see James as setting forth a litmus test for authentic faith, contending that true saving faith is evidenced by a life of obedience and good works. In other words, while salvation is by grace through faith, genuine faith results in a transformed life marked by obedience to Christ as Lord. According to John Frame, “James 2:24, which speaks of justification by works, tells us that a faith without works is not saving faith, not true faith. So, works are evidence of a true, saving faith.”[2] John MacArthur adds, “Good works are inevitable in the life of one who truly believes. These works have no part in bringing about salvation (Eph 2:9; Rom 3:20, 24; 4:5; Tit 3:5), but they show that salvation is indeed present (Eph 2:10; 5:9; 1 John 2:5).”[3] R. C. Sproul states, “every true believer bears some fruit. If he does not, he's not a believer.”[4] Even some of my favorite Bible teachers hold this view. For example, Arnold Fruchtenbaum says, “Is a faith that produces no work whatsoever really a saving faith? The obvious answer is, ‘No.' The issue here is saving faith.”[5] And Charles Ryrie states, “Can a nonworking, dead, spurious faith save a person? James is not saying that we are saved by works but that a faith that does not produce good works is a dead faith…Genuine faith cannot be ‘dead' to morality or barren to works.”[6] According to Warren Wiersbe, “Any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false declaration. That kind of faith is dead faith…Dead faith is not saving faith. Dead faith is counterfeit faith and lulls the person into a false confidence of eternal life.”[7] William MacDonald states, “works are not the root of salvation but the fruit; they are not the cause but the effect. Calvin put it tersely: ‘We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.'”[8]      Many proponents of this view assert that merely professing faith without a corresponding life of obedience can lead to self-deception and a false sense of security regarding one's salvation. One of the flaws of this view is that Christians spend much of their time looking at themselves and wondering if their works are genuine, or if they've done enough to prove their eternal salvation. Because sin continues in the lives of all Christians, and this to varying degrees, it leaves the believer in a state of uncertainty about their eternal destiny because they never know if their works represent a genuine saving faith.      In James 2:14-26; James is not distinguishing genuine from false faith; but rather, a useful faith that works to bless others, versus a useless faith that cannot save the Christian from divine discipline and loss of reward at the bema seat of Christ. For James, a dead faith is a useless faith that benefits no one, and his reference to salvation is from divine discipline, not the lake of fire. It's noteworthy that James 2:14-26 is sandwiched between two sections concerning divine judgement (Jam 2:12-13; 3:1). Biblically, disobedient Christians face God's judgment in this life as they are subject to divine discipline (Heb 12:6), which can eventuate in physical death (1 Cor 11:30; Jam 1:15, 21; 5:19-20; 1 John 5:16), as well as future judgment before the bema seat of Christ in heaven (Rom 14:10-12; 2 Cor 5:10). At the judgment seat of Christ, all Christians will stand before the Lord Jesus, not to determine if they have eternal life, for that is already secure for them (John 5:24; 10:28; 1 John 5:13), but to be evaluated on how they lived and rewards given for obedience to Him (1 Cor 3:10-15). This is important to understand, for when James poses the question, “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” (Jam 2:14), he's talking about a useful faith that benefits others and saves the Christian from divine discipline in this life, which can eventuate in physical death, and loss of reward at the bema seat of Christ. The Usefulness of Faith      For James, faith must be put into use to be beneficial to others. In one sentence, James said, “faith, if it has no works, is dead” (Jam 2:17), and in another sentence, said, “faith without works is useless” (Jam 2:20). A dead faith is a useless faith. It is useless to God and others, being of no benefit to the needy. We use similar language when we talk about a “dead battery,” we're talking about a battery that is useless. And when we talk about Latin being a “dead language,” we mean it's no longer in use. Likewise, a dead faith is a useless faith. However, unlike a dead battery or a dead language, we have volition and the ability to put our faith into practice, making it useful to others. Which is why James previously wrote, “prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves” (Jam 1:22).      The teaching of Scripture is that sinners are saved totally apart from works. Paul wrote, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Rom 3:28), and salvation comes “to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly” (Rom 4:5). We are “not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Gal 2:16), for “by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9). God “has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works” (2 Tim 1:9a), and “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness” (Tit 3:5a). Good works do not save us eternally. They never have and never will.      James is not contradicting Paul. They are addressing two different matters. Paul addresses justification before God, which is based entirely on the work of Christ at the cross and the imputed righteousness that comes to the one who trusts in Christ alone for salvation (Rom 5:17; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9). James addresses justification in the sight of others, what we might call vindication. God does not need to see our faith. He knows it's there. But others cannot see our faith, so good works help them to see what we claim to be true. Once saved, we are called to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7). God said, “My righteous one shall live by faith” (Heb 10:38), for “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb 11:6). And we know that “whatever is not from faith is sin” (Rom 14:23). Furthermore, Christians are commanded to love others (John 13:34; Gal 5:13; 1 Th 4:9). This love is to be actionable and tangible (Jam 2:15-16; 1 John 3:17-18). Also, we are directed to do good works, which glorify God and edify others. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5:16; cf. Eph 2:10). God's Word directs us to “do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Gal 6:10), “to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Tim 6:18), to be “zealous for good deeds” (Tit 2:14b), to “learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs” (Tit 3:14a), “to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Heb 10:24). Failure of Christians to put their faith into action means they are disobedient to the Lord and subject to divine discipline. Scripture reveals, “those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and chastises every son whom He receives” (Heb 12:6). Jesus said, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline” (Rev 3:19a). Paul wrote, “But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world” (1 Cor 11:32).[9] With these doctrines in mind, let's look at James 2:14-26. Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] James clearly wrote to saved persons, Jewish believers, whom he called “brethren” (Jam 1:2, 16, 19; 2:1, 5, 14; 3:1, 10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9-10, 12, 19), confirmed they were born from above (Jam 1:17-18), and said they had “faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ” (Jam 2:1). He said the Holy Spirit dwelled in them (Jam 4:5), which proved they were Christians, for “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him” (Rom 8:9). The main purpose of James' letter was to exhort Christians to spiritual maturity (Jam 1:4), which manifests itself in practical righteousness. James in no way contradicts Paul. Paul wrote about justification in the sight of God (Rom 3:28; 4:1-5; Gal 2:16), whereas James wrote about being justified in the sight of others (Jam 2:18, 24). [2] John M. Frame, Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2006), 205. [3] John F. Macarthur, Jr., “Faith According To The Apostle James” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Vol 33/1: March 1990, 18. [4] R. C. Sproul, Can I Be Sure I'm Saved?, vol. 7, The Crucial Questions Series (Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2010), 15. [5] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Messianic Jewish Epistles: Hebrews, James, First Peter, Second Peter, Jude, 1st ed., (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2005), 253 [6] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, Expanded ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1995, 1970), 1970. [7] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 354. [8] William MacDonald, Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2229. [9] He gave to us It is never the will of God that we sin (1 John 2:1), but all saints commit sin, and there is no such thing as a sinless saint. David wrote, “my sins have overtaken me…they are more numerous than the hairs of my head” (Psa 40:12), and “I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Psa 51:3). Paul said of himself, “For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want…I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good” (Rom 7:19, 21). And the John wrote, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us…If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8, 10). James said, “we all stumble in many ways” (Jam 3:2a). Though forgiven all our sins (Acts 10:43; Eph 1:7), and saved (Eph 2:8), Christians continue to possess a sin nature (Rom 6:6; 7:14-25; 13:14; Col 3:9; Gal 5:16-17, 19-22; 1 John 1:8), and commit personal acts of sin (Eccl 7:20; 1 John 1:10; 2:1). Though the power of the sin nature is broken (Rom 6:11-14), the presence of the sin nature is never removed from us until God takes us from this world and gives us a new body like the body of Jesus (Phil 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2, 5). It is possible for saints to commit any sin an unbeliever can commit, to the same degree, and for the same duration of time. That's not what God wants from us. He wants righteousness. It's possible for Christians to live sinfully, though not without consequences. Living sinfully does not mean loss of eternal salvation, for that is not possible. Jesus said, the one who believes in Him “has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24), and “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). Paul wrote, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1). But if Christians choose to operate by the sinful flesh (1 Cor 3:1-3), love the world (1 John 2:15-16), and live sinfully, like the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24), they open the door to divine discipline and great suffering (Heb 12:5-11), which can eventuate in physical death (1 Cor 11:30; Jam 1:15, 21; 5:19-20; 1 John 5:16), and the loss of eternal rewards (1 Cor 3:10-15; 2 John 1:8).  

32 And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. The book of Joshua is teaching us that we overcome the obstacles in our Christian walk by faith and obedience. We learn that there will be victories but there will also be defeats and failures. I have often thought that whenever I felt like I took three steps forward, that next I seemed to fall back five steps. Joshua 3-4 are chapters of victory as Israel miraculously crossed the Jordan River. Joshua 5-6 are chapters of conquest as the people go through the painful suffering of preparation before the walls of Jericho fall down in front of them. Joshua 7, is a chapter of defeat at Ai because of “sin in the camp”. But now again in Joshua 8, the people experience victory as they by faith obey the instructions of the LORD.   These chapters remind me of Romans 6, 7, 8, and 12. In Romans 6, after our wonderful experience of salvation, we find our position of being baptized into Jesus Christ. Like crossing the Jordan River and conquering Jericho! In Romans 7, we find we still have to deal with the “old man”, our old nature of sin. Pride sneaks in and we experience failure because of “I”. But then in Romans 8, we find the Spirit filled life and become more than conquerors through Christ and His love! In Romans 12, we come by faith to the altar of the mercy of God at Calvary and present the sacrifice of our lives to the Lord and renew our minds daily with God's Word. This sounds familiar as we study these last verses of Joshua 8.   Joshua not only built an altar (Joshua 8:30-31), but he also wrote the Law on stones (vv. 32-33). This act was in obedience to the command of Moses we find in Deuteronomy 27:1-8). In the Near East of that day, it was customary for kings to celebrate their greatness by writing records of their military exploits on huge stones covered with plaster. But the secret of Israel's victory was not their leader or their army; it was their obedience to God's Law (Joshua 1:7-8). In later years, whenever Israel turned away from God's Law, they got into trouble and had to be disciplined. Remember what Moses asked in Deuteronomy 4:8, "And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this Law which I set before you this day?"   Believers today have the Word of God written on their hearts by the Holy Spirit of God (Rom. 8:1-4; 2 Cor. 3). The Law written on stones was external, not internal, and could instruct the people but could never change them. Paul makes it clear in the Epistle to the Galatians that while the Law can convict sinners and bring them to Christ (Gal. 3:19-25), it can never convert sinners and make them like Christ. Only the Spirit of God can do that.   This is now the fourth public monument of stones that has been erected. The first was at Gilgal Josh. 4:20), commemorating Israel's passage across the Jordan. The second was in the Valley of Achor, a monument to Achan's sin and God's judgment (7:26). The third was at the entrance to Ai, a reminder of God's faithfulness to help His people (8:29). These stones on Mt. Ebal reminded Israel that their success lay only in their obedience to God's Law (1:7-8).   We need daily to remember God's Word that we have written in our minds and hearts and by faith obey it if we are to live victorious lives over the devil, sin, and the world!   God Bless!

     The gospel is the good news that addresses the bad news of human sinfulness and separation from a holy God. Despite our helplessness and deserving of eternal punishment, God's solution is the gospel of grace, which reveals Jesus Christ took our sins upon Himself, died, was buried, and resurrected on the third day (1 Cor 15:3-4). At the cross, God judged our sin as His righteousness required, and pardons the sinner as His love desires. Salvation from eternal damnation is a free gift offered to all who trust in Christ alone, which emphasizes God's infinite grace rather than our human effort. This ultimate gift, paid for by Jesus's sacrifice, underscores the Bible's message that “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23), highlighting God's generosity and the completeness of Christ's work on the cross. God is Holy      The Bible reveals God is holy. God declares of Himself, “I am holy” (Lev 11:44), the psalmist says, “holy is the LORD our God” (Psa 99:9), and the Seraphim declare, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts” (Isa 6:3). In her prayer, Hannah said, “There is no one holy like the LORD” (1 Sam 2:2). In these verses, the word “holy” translates the Hebrew word qadōsh (קָדוֹשׁ), which, according to James Swanson, refers “to being unique and pure in the sense of superior moral qualities.”[1] God's holiness is closely linked with His righteousness, justice, and perfection. Holiness denotes moral purity. J. Carl Laney states, “When we say ‘God is holy,' we mean He is totally separated from all that is unholy, defiling, or contrary to His nature. God's holiness is unique and distinctive in that it is without any contamination or impurity.”[2] Because God is absolutely holy, it is written, “no evil dwells with You” (Psa 5:4), “Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor” (Hab 1:13), and “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Evil is any thought, word, or act that is contrary to the character and will of God. According to Merrill F. Unger, moral evil “is the failure of rational and free beings to conform in character and conduct to the will of God.”[3]George Howley states, “God is separate from all evil and is in no way responsible for it…[and] It can only be attributed to the abuse of free-will on the part of created beings, angelic and human.”[4] Evil originates in the heart (Gen 6:5; Zech 8:17), is part of our nature (Matt 7:11), and results in evil actions (Neh 13:17; Prov 24:8; 1 Pet 3:12).[5] According to Scripture, “the LORD is righteous and He loves righteousness” (Psa 11:7). There is a time when “He is coming to judge the earth; and He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness” (Psa 96:13), and He will “judge the living and the dead” (2 Tim 4:1). Everyone is a Sinner      Sin is the failure to conform to God's perfect righteousness. Scripture reveals we are sinners “in Adam” (Rom 5:12-13; 1 Cor 15:21-22), sinners by nature (Psa 51:5; Jer 17:9; Rom 7:14-25; 13:12-14), sinners by choice (Eccl 7:20; Isa 59:2; Jam 1:14-15; 1 John 1:8, 10), born as “sons of disobedience” (Eph 2:2), and are “by nature children of wrath” (Eph 2:3). The Bible reveals “there is no one who does not sin” (1 Ki 8:46), and “there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins” (Eccl 7:20). Isaiah wrote, “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isa 53:6a). Paul stated that we “are all under sin” (Rom 3:9), and “there is none righteous, not even one” (Rom 3:10), for “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). James wrote, “we all stumble in many ways” (Jam 3:2a), and John declared, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us... If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8, 10). This means everyone stands guilty before God. Good Works Do Not Save      Good works have no saving merit before God. Isaiah wrote, “all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isa 64:6a). Paul wrote, “a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Gal 2:16), for “by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9), and God “saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works” (2 Tim 1:9), and “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness” (Tit 3:5a). Though human good works may have value in the sight of other people, they have absolutely no saving merit in God's sight. None at all! The Solution of the Cross      We are helpless to save ourselves, but God made a way, and this because He loves us and desires our salvation. He loves us so much that He sent His Son into the world to pay the sin debt we cannot pay. We're told, “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10). Nearly 2,000 years ago, God the Father sent God the Son into the world to take upon Himself humanity (Isa 7:14; Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1; 14; Heb 10:5), to be free from sin (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 John 3:5) and to live a perfectly righteous life. Jesus said, “I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38; cf., John 7:29; 8:29; Gal 4:4). Jesus was sent by the Father to be “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), for “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).      Jesus willingly went to the cross and paid our sin-debt (John 10:18). His death was a penal substitutionary sacrifice for us, as the Son of Man came “to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Paul wrote, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). Peter said, “Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18). His death on the cross was for all sins for all time, for “the death that He died, He died to sin once for all” (Rom 6:10), He “offered one sacrifice for sins for all time” (Heb 10:12), and “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). Because of Jesus' death on the cross, God “canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col 2:14). There's nothing for us to add to Jesus' work on the cross. Having paid our sin debt in full on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30), and then He died.      After Jesus died for our sins, He was buried in a grave, and raised on the third day, as Scripture reveals (1 Cor 15:3-4). And “Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again” (Rom 6:9). After Jesus's resurrection, He was seen alive by hundreds of people (1 Cor 15:5-8), and those eye witnesses provided a written record of what they saw and heard (Luke 1:1-4; John 20:30-31; 2 Pet 1:16-18). God's offer of salvation is available for everyone. The Bible speaks of “God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:3b-4), who has brought “salvation to all men” (Tit 2:11), and is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9).      The cross is God's righteous solution to the problem of sin, as well as His greatest display of love toward sinners. At the cross, God judged our sin as His righteousness required, and pardons the sinner as His love desires. To understand the cross of Christ is to understand the heart of God toward a fallen world He wants to save. If someone perishes eternally, it is because they failed to respond to God and His drawing them to Himself (John 3:18; 5:39-40; Acts 7:51). All who end up in the lake of fire are there by personal choice, not because God failed to love them or make provision for their eternal salvation.      Once we hear the good news about what Christ accomplished for us, we are asked to place our faith in Him, to “Believe in the Lord Jesus” for salvation (Acts 16:31). Jesus is the object of our faith. To believe in Christ as our Savior means we trust Him to accomplish for us what we cannot accomplish ourselves: eternal salvation from the lake of fire. Faith in Christ is the only condition for salvation. Faith does not save. Christ saves. Faith is merely the instrument by which we receive the gift of God. Only the empty hand of faith accepts the gift. It offers nothing, but is open to receive that which is offered by another. No payment is required by us to receive it. Christ alone saves. No one else can save us, including ourselves. Salvation is a Free Gift from God      Salvation is a gift from the Lord. It is the most precious gift ever offered. And though the gift was very expensive to God, it is absolutely free to us. The precious gift of our salvation was paid in full by the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins, who hung between heaven and earth and paid our sin-debt. According to God's Word, “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23). The words “free gift” translate the Geek noun charisma (χάρισμα) which, according to BDAG, refers to “that which is freely and graciously given, favor bestowed, gift.”[6] And Joseph Thayer defines it as “a gift of grace; a favor which one receives without any merit of his own.”[7] Paul, when writing to the Christians at Ephesus, said, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9; cf., Rom 4:4-5; Tit 3:5). To say we are saved by grace means our salvation is unearned and undeserved in any way. God's gift of salvation is totally apart from any good works we may produce, and since good works do not save, bad works cannot unsave (though they can bring divine discipline). A gift focuses on the graciousness of the giver, whereas a reward focuses on the work of the recipient. Salvation is NOT a reward for work we've accomplished; rather, it is a free gift from God and based totally on the finished work of Christ. We pay nothing. Jesus paid it all.      The realization that salvation is offered freely, based solely on the perfect work of Jesus on the cross, offers profound relief to the person who has been laboring under the yoke of a works-based system. Those who operate under a works-based system of salvation will never reach a place of certainty in their relationship with God, for they will never know whether they have done enough to gain entrance into heaven. But the truth that salvation is a grace-gift from God, received by faith alone, liberates those who accept it. When properly grasped, God's gospel of grace alleviates the pressure to perform and the fear of falling short and brings a deep sense of peace and joy, knowing our salvation is secure, not because of our own efforts, but because of Christ's finished work. Peace comes when we look to Christ and the promises of Scripture and not ourselves. This gospel of grace message transforms our relationship with God from one of fear and striving to one of gratitude and love, as the focus moves from what we must do to what Christ has already done on our behalf. This grace-based approach encourages us to live out our faith from a place of thankfulness rather than obligation, resulting in a more authentic and joyful Christian life. The Benefits of the Cross      At the moment of faith in Christ, the benefits of the cross are applied to us. Scripture reveals we are forgiven all our sins (Acts 10:43; Eph 1:7), given “eternal life” (John 5:24; 10:28; Rom 6:23), the “gift of righteousness” (Rom 5:17; Phil 3:9), have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1), become “children of God” (John 1:12; Gal 3:26), are “justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24), are “rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13), and are blessed “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3). Furthermore, as Christians, we are among those “whose names are in the book of life” (Phil 4:3). As a result, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1). We will never experience the lake of fire. Never. As Christians, “our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20). Good Works Should Follow Salvation      To be eternally saved, the only condition is faith alone in Christ alone (John 3:16; 20:31; Acts 4:14; 16:31). That's all. Once saved and justified in God's sight, the Lord expects us to submit to Him in total obedience in all areas of life (Matt 28:20; Rom 12:1-2; Jam 4:7), and to learn His Word in order to live His will in every particular (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2).      After salvation-justification, the Lord directs us to begin a lifelong journey of faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38; 11:6), and to “press on to maturity” (Heb 6:1). This glorifies God, edifies others, and results in the best life possible in this world. Good works is what God expects of His people. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5:16). Paul wrote, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph 2:10). The Lord instructs us “to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Tit 2:12) and to be “zealous for good deeds” (Tit 2:14). We agree with Paul who wrote, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Gal 6:10). God clearly calls His people to a life of obedience and good works. There is no question about this. The Scriptures are plain on the matter, instructing us, “like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior” (1 Pet 1:15). It is never the will of God that we sin; however, when we sin (and there is no Christian who does not sin), it is always His will that we handle it biblically by means of confession (1 John 1:9), which always results in forgiveness and restoration of fellowship. If we fail to walk in regular obedience to the Lord, we are subject to divine discipline in time (Heb 12:5-11), and loss of rewards in eternity (1 Cor 3:10-15; 2 John 1:8). Though believers may turn from the Lord and pursue a life of sin, these will also experience divine punishment, even to the point of physical death (1 Cor 11:30; 1 John 5:16-17), but will not forfeit their salvation, which is not possible (John 10:28).      In summary, salvation is free. The Lord Jesus purchased it for us on the cross, and He offers it without cost to those who place their trust in Him. It is freely offered and freely received, and there's nothing for us to pay. That's grace. Our justification before God is a one-and-done event that happens at the moment of faith in Christ. Good works are not a prerequisite, corequisite, or postrequisite to salvation. That is, beyond simple faith in Christ, nothing is required of us before, during, or after we believe in Him as our Savior. We are saved by grace alone (we don't deserve it), through faith alone (not by works), in Christ alone. Good works should follow salvation (Eph 2:10; Gal 6:10), but they are never the condition of it.      Once saved, God calls us to a lifelong process of sanctification. Sanctification is the life we live after being justified, and this process continues until we leave this world, either by death or rapture. The sanctified life requires us to learn and live God's Word (2 Tim 2:15; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18), walk by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38), be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18), walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:16), and make ongoing good choices to stay on the path of God's will. Dr. Steven R. Cook     [1] James Swanson, “קָדוֹשׁ”, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997). [2] J. Carl Laney Jr., eds. Charles Swindoll and Roy Zuck, “God is Holy”, Understanding Christian Theology (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003), 188. [3] Merrill Frederick Unger, “Evil” The New Unger's Bible Dictionary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1988), 382. [4] George Howley, “Evil,” ed. D. R. W. Wood et al., New Bible Dictionary (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 349. [5] To be evil means we conform ourselves to Satan's world-system (1 John 2:15-16), and that we, by default, are self-centered and not God-centered. To be righteous means we are conformed to God's character and will, both in a salvific and sanctified way. [6] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 1081. [7] Joseph Henry Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Being Grimm's Wilke's Clavis Novi Testamenti (New York: Harper & Brothers., 1889), 667.

Joshua 6 is a exciting chapter about the walls of Jericho coming down by faith! That is what it says in Hebrews 11:30, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.” That is how we have victory in our Christian life! We are to live by faith not by our feelings, not by our emotions, not by our circumstances or situation, not by looking at the problem or the obstacle, the mountains or giants that have come between us and God's best for our lives. But by faith we look up to the greatness of God and fix our eyes on Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus is our Joshua and we can walk in victory every day! I know that is easier said than done!!!!   Remember Joshua is engaged in a conversation with the Captain of the LORD's Host by the walls of Jericho. The LORD is giving him specific instructions about the next step to take. And no doubt the instructions seemed very foolish and unreasonable. But they were to be observed and obeyed! This past Sunday, in my last message as interim pastor at Friendly Community Church in Burgaw, I preached on Titus 3. Paul was giving instructions to Titus to help him organized and minister to the churches on the island of Crete. At least twice in chapter 3, Paul told Titus to teach the believers there “to learn and be careful to maintain good works”.   We all need a spiritual maintenance program for our lives. And God has given us a maintenance manual called the Bible! It has very simple instructions on what we should do on our Christian walk every day. Things we should do and things we shouldn't be doing. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16 that the Bible, God's Word, teaches us doctrine. It tells us who God is. It tells us who we are and what our purpose in life is and what life is really all about! So many people today are living vain and empty lives and they wonder why. I can tell you why and it is because we have forgotten the main instruction Book, the Bible. Not only does the Bible tell us who we are and what life is about, it gives us reproof. It warns and tells us when we are wrong and have gotten on the wrong path in life. But it does even more! It then corrects us and tells how we can be forgiven and get back on the right path. And finally, it tell us and gives us instructions on how to stay on the right path! God has an awesome maintenance program for our lives! Are you reading and applying it to your broken life, your broken family, your broken relationships?   You can't help but notice that God's in plan and instructions the emphasis is on the number seven: seven priests, seven trumpets, seven days of marching, and seven circuits of the city on the seventh day. The number seven is written clearly into the life of Israel: The Sabbath celebrated on the seventh day of the week; seven weeks from Passover is Pentecost; the seventh year is the Sabbatical Year; and after forty-nine years (seven times seven) comes the Year of Jubilee. Three of Israel's feasts fall in the seventh month: the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16), and the Feast of Tabernacles.   In biblical numerology the number seven represents completeness or perfection. The Hebrew word translated "seven" (shevah) comes from a root that means "to be full, to be satisfied." The Jews were announcing the arrival of the "Year of Jubilee" for Israel in their new land. God's people today can march in triumphal procession because of the victory of Jesus Christ over all the enemies of God (Rom. 8:37; 2 Cor. 2:14; Col. 2:15). We should be living like victors, not victims. God's people don't simply fight for victory but from victory, because the Lord has already won the battle.   Reckon on His promises and obey what He tells you to do, and you also will have the victory.   God bless!

Being Thrilled With What You Already HaveBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,Ephesians 1:3The Cup is Always FullLet's face it, we live in troubling times. Almost everywhere we look, there is division, chaos, fear, uncertainty, and corruption that erodes our confidence in our so-called “sacred institutions” and can be so depressing they often keep us from wanting to get out of bed in the morning. The future, for many, looks bleak. And the present doesn't look so hot either. But that should never be said of a believer— especially after praying through this one verse, which is part of a long, single sentence in the letter to the church at Ephesus. No, this truth should give us hope and encouragement as we see life, not from the physical, horizontal perspective, but from God's perspective. After all, His way is always better. And our problems always look smaller, almost insignificant, when viewed from heaven (Isa. 55:8-9).Remember, we don't have to choose to look at the glass as either half full or half empty. It is always full, totally, right to the brim. But it's not necessarily full of the same thing or with what we can readily see. Half may be water and the rest air. But it is still full, nevertheless. And so it is with God. Some things we can see and some things we can't. But He is still present, filling everything to the brim, even if our eyes are not open to Him moving. Then, we rely on faith in His promises and rest in the goodness of our God (Rom. 8:28). What an incredible place to live.For this is where we experience the peace that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:6-7).But don't take my word for it; experience His peace yourself. Ask Him to put you in a place where you have nowhere to look but up, and see what this will do for your faith. Still not sure, then check out Hebrews 11 for some examples.“Blessed,” “Every,” and “Heavenly Places”When you pray through Ephesians 1:3 today, focus especially on three key phrases: “has blessed us,” “every spiritual blessing,” and my favorite, “in the heavenly places.”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ – Ephesians 1:3.In our last time together, we spoke about the past-tense nature of our blessings, meaning they have already been given to us, and we possess them now (even if it doesn't feel like it so much). This is not some minor grammatical detail, but a liberating spiritual truth once you wrap your mind around it. Basically, all God has in store for His children is available to us today, right now, in our present situation. The phrase, “has blessed us” means we don't have to wait until He returns to earth to set up His kingdom, or we die and go to live with Him in heaven, or the trump of God sounds and the rapture takes place before we come into possession of “every” or “all” (pas) of our spiritual blessings. Nor do we have to earn them by living flawless lives or working ourselves ragged to gain His favor. No, we have them with us already, always— just like the Holy Spirit, who continually dwells in us.Next, we are drawn to the words “every” (pas) and the phrase “spiritual blessing.” For me, I am reminded He has held nothing back from me, and I am now completely “blessed” with “every” or “all” spiritual blessings. Our Lord, our Father, has already bestowed on us things we cannot understand— truly amazing things, unheard of things. Try this one on for size:“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man (what)...

Over these two events we may write, “Consider the goodness and severity of God” (Rom 11:22).

No one is excluded from the judgment that sin deserves, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). Today, W. Robert Godfrey opens the book of Romans to depict the universal need of saving grace in Christ. Get W. Robert Godfrey's Latest Teaching Series 'Not Ashamed' for Your Gift of Any Amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/3001/not-ashamed Don't forget to make RenewingYourMind.org your home for daily in-depth Bible study and Christian resources. A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts